The Shugyo Project

The countdown is finally here. This time next week, I’ll be travelling to Heathrow to catch my flight to Geneva and begin what promises to be a week of challenge and hardship.

I’m really looking forward to it, although I’m also feeling a little apprehensive. The week will involve a series of pre-training climbs and long walks to test whether a year of fitness work and gym sessions has prepared me well enough. All those early mornings in the gym and the countless miles spent running will soon be put to the test.

I’m confident the hard work will pay off, but first I need to print off my kit list and make sure I’ve packed everything I need. I think I’ve got everything covered, but there’s always that last-minute worry that something has been forgotten!

I’ve attached some photos of my kit laid out and ready to be packed. Seeing everything together has made the challenge feel very real. After months of preparation, training and gathering the right equipment, it’s exciting to know that I’ll soon be putting it all to use in the Alps.

With departure getting closer, I’m taking the final couple of weeks off from training to allow my body to recover and be in the best condition possible before I set off. The focus now is on recovery: red light therapy, icing any sore spots, eating well, and making sure I’m properly rested. After months of early mornings, gym sessions and miles on the road, the hard work is done. Now it’s about arriving in the Alps healthy, refreshed and ready for the challenge ahead.

More than anything, I’m excited to return to Chamonix and discover what Zermatt is like. I’ve been told many times that it’s an amazing place, so I’m looking forward to experiencing it for myself and beginning the next stage of the journey towards the Matterhorn.

A week from now, the adventure truly begins. Wish me luck!