"I tapped into every area to create a recipe for good physical training."

Posted July 21, 2016By Tania Haas, Staff Writer

Mary, an elementary school teacher who has lived with chronic hip pain since childhood, shares her pre-trip perspective for this year’s Medcan Kilimanjaro expedition July 22 to 31, 2016.

Going beyond her personal limits

“Kilimanjaro was never on my bucket list – I didn’t want to risk being the slow one or the one who couldn’t manage. But through my training I’ve pushed myself even further than I could possibly imagine. I’ve gone beyond my physical and mental limits. I’ve really stepped up my expectations of myself – and credit an incredible team of health professionals and my fiancee for supporting me in this journey.” 

Mary has lived with the effects of congenital hip dysplasia (that’s where the hip joint is the wrong shape, or that the hip socket is not in the correct position to completely cover and support the femoral head), leading to a distinguishable limp or episodes of chronic pain as in Mary’s case.

So strong mentally, she’s dreaming of mountains

“I’m trying to think very positively because I have major hip issues that are congenital, so I live with chronic pain. But it has never stopped me from doing things I want to do. This has been as much a mental challenge as a physical one. There is no doubt in my mind that I can do this. I’m so well prepared mentally that I’m even dreaming about running up mountains. I don’t usually dream that I can run, and not that I plan to do that since I’m a very mindful walker. But in my dream, I have the physical ability to move quickly and head for the mountain top. “

Mary’s personal challenge: managing chronic hip pain 

“Despite the pain, I love movement. I love that feeling of accomplishment of staying fit and moving, and throughout my life that movement has trumped any consequence I’ve paid later. Sometimes, I do stop and recognize that I am in a great deal of discomfort, but then I choose to be mindful of the the good things I can achieve. In the grand scheme of things, doing these activities, keeping myself strong, has kept me as healthy as I am.  Because of it, I am able to walk today. I don’t focus on the pain, I focus on the gain.”

She defines mindfulness as being able to fully experience and appreciate every step of the journey; not focusing only on the goal of reaching the summit.  She also likes to think that her Italian ancestry with a genetic predisposition to the Alps is working in her favour for Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru peak.

Physical strategy: trained in some way, every day

“No matter how I felt, I would do something every day without being too overzealous. I accessed all avenues of health: from endurance work with a trainer, to stretching with a therapist, to mindfulness on my own, to hiking on vacation with my fiancee, I tapped into every area to create a recipe for good physical training.”

Planned strategy for the climb’s greatest challenges

“I know that the team doctor will be there to support me should I need it, but I also hope to be a supportive team member to my fellow climbers. During the most challenging times I plan to certainly turn to the mental preparedness I have strengthened during my training. I also plan to rely on music – it’s always a constant friend. Whether it’s lyrics or the rhythm, I use music as a teacher and also in my personal training to get the brain tapped into another area. It’s amazing how distraction can serve you well.”

Check back with Medcan.com or our Instagram account to follow up with Mary and other members of the Medcan Kilimanjaro 2016 trip.