262: Rise and Climb: Meredith's Kilimanjaro Expedition

Meredith didn’t just “add hills” to her training plan, she went to Tanzania and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,600 foot summit that turns every step into a decision. We talk through what it really takes: building aerobic fitness at sea level, practicing patience with “pole pole” pacing, and showing up with the right gear and the right expectations when altitude is the variable you cannot fully control. If you’ve ever wondered how runners can transition into big hikes and endurance adventures, her play-by-play makes it feel possible and real.

We also connect the mountain lessons back to everyday running and runDisney training for Wine and Dine and Marathon Weekend. We share a few very human mishaps, like watch batteries dying mid run, and a bigger takeaway from Bob’s rough 15K: carbs matter, hydration matters, and you cannot “tough it out” when your fueling plan is broken. Alysha breaks down why long runs should be slower than you think, how time on feet builds endurance, and why smart pacing protects the rest of your week.

After the Kilimanjaro summit push, Meredith squeezes in a surprise Berlin 5K and comes home to a string of new PRs, not from magic lungs but from confidence earned the hard way. Then we pivot to community notes, HydraPatch talk, upcoming meetups and Zooms, plus a packed race report spotlight including Dollywood, Margaritaville, and Berlin Marathon stories. Subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a review. What’s the biggest adventure you want to train for next?

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