April 25, 2017
Jose Lopez Gears up for Climb Against the Odds
This June our very own Jose Lopez will be climbing 14,179-foot Mt. Shasta as part of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners Climb Against the Odds. Jose has been hard at work training for the climb and raising money in support of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. With the climb just about a month away we checked in with Jose to talk about his training and what is motivating him to get to the summit of Shasta.
Klean: What sort of training have you been doing to get ready for the climb?
I have been going to the gym and working out 3-4 days a week, I have been stretching quite a bit to get my body loose and limber. To warm up I have been using the treadmill, doing a mix of fast walking and medium pace running to get my heart rate up to the high 170 to mid-180 beats per minute and maintaining that for extended periods as this is how it will feel on the mountain during a slow walking pace due to the low oxygen level at elevation. In addition to that I have been using the stair master quite a bit, and I have seen a major improvement in my endurance as I can now climb 100 floors without a break. I have been using stationary bikes and even did a spin class. On the weekends, I go for hikes with a weighted backpack. The last hike was 14 miles with a 45-pound pack over 6 hours including replenishment breaks.
Klean: What made you want to participate in Climb Against the Odds?
Having had women in my life who have battled cancer and having lost my grandmother to cancer makes this cause very close and dear to my heart. I have many women in my family including my sister, my mother, sister in law and 3 nieces so it is important for me to help organizations like the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners continue to do the work that they do, which is preventing breast cancer by eliminating exposures to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease.
Klean: What are you most looking forward to about this endeavor?
I have never climbed a mountain before, so getting to the top of Mount Shasta is something I am really looking forward to. Let’s do this!
If you would like to learn more about Jose’s climb or help him raise money for Breast Cancer Prevention Partners please click on the link below: