An uphill climb
    |
Boot camp prepares women for Mt. Rainier trek
By Kathryn Khalvati
Marinscope intern
While most people are just getting out of bed on an early Saturday morning, Carolyn Davis and Chris Brent are drinking fresh coffee up in the hills of Rodeo Beach after an intense workout.
The two 56-year-old women have been training for eight weeks with instructor Jim DiRuscio and his HitTheHill Boot Camp fitness program to reach their goal of climbing Mount Rainier in late July.
At 14,411 feet, Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in Washington state and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
Under DiRuscio’s lead, Davis of San Rafael and Brent of Tiburon have been training intensively: three demanding six-hour workout sessions a week.
“These are rare pearls,” DiRuscio said of the two women. “It would be hard to find their equivalent.”
A typical workout begins with weight training for 2½ hours and then hitting the hills wearing 60-pound army packs for an additional 3½ hours.
Through these workouts the two women are proving that age is no factor in extreme fitness, and a worthwhile goal can lead to serious motivation.
The 18 hours of grueling workouts these women endure weekly is typical of HitTheHill Boot Camp.
Based on boot camp principles DiRuscio learned in the military, the program consists of fast-paced group hikes, often carrying additional weights, and strength training. A person can work off 2,800 calories in one workout.
The unique element of the program is that it’s based in outdoor venues such as Crissy Field, Mount Tamalpais and Rodeo Beach. Mobility is facilitated by DiRuscio’s 4-ton mobile weight truck, decked out with racks of free weights, inverted sit up machines and other fitness equipment.
“The truck is a commitment to the belief,” DiRuscio said.
The fitness program caters to a wide range of active people in the Bay Area, including everyone from pre-Olympians to business people. But the ones who stay around the longest are the committed locals, who usually range in age anywhere from 19 to at most 40 years old.
So when Davis and Brent, two middle-age women, showed up and starting working at the high level of people who had been training for many years, DiRuscio was impressed and inspired.
Davis, an architect and mother of three college-age daughters, came across HitTheHill trainees while self-training for her upcoming challenge. After some research, Davis signed up Brent and herself for the program.
The two had recently received an e-mail from Anne Simpson, Davis’ longtime friend and Brent’s sister. Simpson, a pilot with Delta Airlines, was tired of getting letters from AARP, a retirement organization.
She then reached out to seven of her closest relatives and friends, all over 55 years of age, with an idea that would push back the old-age specter haunting them. She asked them to join her in climbing Mount Rainier. The trip begins Saturday, July 21.
The women agreed and formed a group also called AARP: Adventure with an Attitude Rainier Princesses. Brent and Davis are the only two women in the group from Marin.
Brent, previously a manager at IBM and the mother of an 18-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son, immediately agreed. She saw the mountain as a great opportunity to finally reach the goal of climbing the mountain of her childhood and get in shape.
“I don’t want my kids to think life is over after you turn 55,” she said.
As for Davis, her initial thoughts were skeptical. But the idea grew on her as her empty-nester status encouraged her to use the time to get in better shape.
Both women were active in their youth and played Division I sports in college, Davis at Berkeley for crew and Brent at Dartmouth for skiing. However, neither had participated in an athletic challenge this extreme. Stumbling upon DiRuscio’s program, based both on teamwork and rough terrain, proved to be a godsend.
Whether it was lifting weights, crawling up steep slopes or training nonstop for seven hours, Davis and Brent have been challenged like never before.
“Jim definitely takes you farther than you can imagine you can go,” Davis reflected on her experience so far. “I can’t imagine ever being in a gym again.”
After each extreme workout DiRuscio replenishes his students by pulling out a spread of nutritious foods, such as trail mix, lemon water, watermelon, and sometimes Italian-brewed coffee as a treat.
“A strong army guy with superb technique serving his guests food. We’re just as taken by him as he is by us,” said Brent.
Now, less than a week away from the big day, both women feel mentally and physically prepared. They say they feel stronger than ever before.
“I can tackle all kinds of things now,” Davis said. “I love being strong.”
While the women are relishing the thought of reaching the peak, both agree the journey is more important than the outcome.
So far they have bonded with the other women in the AARP group, reached new heights with their bodies, learned about the beauty of nature — and proved they can do anything they set their minds to.
“I wish more people would go out and find a goal that inspires them to push their limits,” Brent said.
For more information on HitTheHill Boot Camp, go to hitthehill.com.
Contact Jim DiRuscio 415-302-9610
The two 56-year-old women have been training for eight weeks with instructor Jim DiRuscio and his HitTheHill Boot Camp fitness program to reach their goal of climbing Mount Rainier in late July.
At 14,411 feet, Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in Washington state and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
Under DiRuscio’s lead, Davis of San Rafael and Brent of Tiburon have been training intensively: three demanding six-hour workout sessions a week.
A typical workout begins with weight training for 2½ hours and then hitting the hills wearing 60-pound army packs for an additional 3½ hours.
Through these workouts the two women are proving that age is no factor in extreme fitness, and a worthwhile goal can lead to serious motivation.
The 18 hours of grueling workouts these women endure weekly is typical of HitTheHill Boot Camp.
Based on boot camp principles DiRuscio learned in the military, the program consists of fast-paced group hikes, often carrying additional weights, and strength training. A person can work off 2,800 calories in one workout.
The unique element of the program is that it’s based in outdoor venues such as Crissy Field, Mount Tamalpais and Rodeo Beach. Mobility is facilitated by DiRuscio’s 4-ton mobile weight truck, decked out with racks of free weights, inverted sit up machines and other fitness equipment.
“The truck is a commitment to the belief,” DiRuscio said.
The fitness program caters to a wide range of active people in the Bay Area, including everyone from pre-Olympians to business people. But the ones who stay around the longest are the committed locals, who usually range in age anywhere from 19 to at most 40 years old.
So when Davis and Brent, two middle-age women, showed up and starting working at the high level of people who had been training for many years, DiRuscio was impressed and inspired.
Davis, an architect and mother of three college-age daughters, came across HitTheHill trainees while self-training for her upcoming challenge. After some research, Davis signed up Brent and herself for the program.
The two had recently received an e-mail from Anne Simpson, Davis’ longtime friend and Brent’s sister. Simpson, a pilot with Delta Airlines, was tired of getting letters from AARP, a retirement organization.
She then reached out to seven of her closest relatives and friends, all over 55 years of age, with an idea that would push back the old-age specter haunting them. She asked them to join her in climbing Mount Rainier. The trip begins Saturday, July 21.
The women agreed and formed a group also called AARP: Adventure with an Attitude Rainier Princesses. Brent and Davis are the only two women in the group from Marin.
Brent, previously a manager at IBM and the mother of an 18-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son, immediately agreed. She saw the mountain as a great opportunity to finally reach the goal of climbing the mountain of her childhood and get in shape.
“I don’t want my kids to think life is over after you turn 55,” she said.
As for Davis, her initial thoughts were skeptical. But the idea grew on her as her empty-nester status encouraged her to use the time to get in better shape.
Both women were active in their youth and played Division I sports in college, Davis at Berkeley for crew and Brent at Dartmouth for skiing. However, neither had participated in an athletic challenge this extreme. Stumbling upon DiRuscio’s program, based both on teamwork and rough terrain, proved to be a godsend.
Whether it was lifting weights, crawling up steep slopes or training nonstop for seven hours, Davis and Brent have been challenged like never before.
“Jim definitely takes you farther than you can imagine you can go,” Davis reflected on her experience so far. “I can’t imagine ever being in a gym again.”
After each extreme workout DiRuscio replenishes his students by pulling out a spread of nutritious foods, such as trail mix, lemon water, watermelon, and sometimes Italian-brewed coffee as a treat.
“A strong army guy with superb technique serving his guests food. We’re just as taken by him as he is by us,” said Brent.
Now, less than a week away from the big day, both women feel mentally and physically prepared. They say they feel stronger than ever before.
“I can tackle all kinds of things now,” Davis said. “I love being strong.”
While the women are relishing the thought of reaching the peak, both agree the journey is more important than the outcome.
So far they have bonded with the other women in the AARP group, reached new heights with their bodies, learned about the beauty of nature — and proved they can do anything they set their minds to.
“I wish more people would go out and find a goal that inspires them to push their limits,” Brent said.
For more information on HitTheHill Boot Camp, go to hitthehill.com.
Contact Jim DiRuscio 415-302-9610
