Fifteen years ago, I learned a very important lesson about preparation.

Even though it’s been 15 years since it happened, I can still remember every exhilarating and painful moment.  I wanted to share the short version of the story with you today to remind you about the importance of being prepared for whatever it is that life throws at you – whether it’s on the ice, in the classroom, at work or at home.

It all started bright and early at 5am on a Friday morning in July. Two friends and I started out on a 1 day 50-kilometer hike through the rugged White Mountain Range of New Hampshire.  Yes – you read that right – 50 km (or 31.6 miles) in one day.

This was no walk in the park. Over the course of the day, we climbed up and down 10 of the highest mountains in the state for a total of 18,000 feet.  We hoped to complete all 50km in less than 15 hours.

We finished at exactly 10:32pm for a grand total of 17 hours and 32 minutes on the trails.  Not bad, but we were lucky it only took us that long to finish.

Nine hours into the hike, my right knee seized up completely.  Ironically, I had just been thinking to myself, “I feel awesome today. We’re going to crush this time.” Minutes later, I took an awkward step down on a loose rock and my knee locked out. It swelled up to twice its normal size and I couldn’t put any pressure on it when it was bent.  I have never felt such intense pain and instability in my knee before, so I was more than a little bit concerned.  Especially since the only way down the mountain at this point was by airlift (not happening) or by foot.

Just 8 hours earlier, I was filled with confidence in my ability to get through this hike.  Just minutes earlier, I was thinking about how we were absolutely crushing it up there.  Then in an instant, I was filled with self-doubt. Could my knee withstand another 8+ hours of pounding?  We were just over the halfway point of our hike and there was no way out but to hike down the mountain – with one working leg.

Thankfully, we were prepared for the worst.  I had trekking poles that I was able to lean on the rest of the way through the mountains. It wasn’t pretty – I had to use my arms to bear most of my weight going both up and down the mountains and my other leg got very tired very quickly.  We had emergency supplies that would have allowed us to survive on the side of the mountain for at least another day or two.  And luckily, we ran into a guy on the next peak who was kind enough to give me a handful of Advil. I gulped them down a 5 hour energy drink or two and keep trekking.

I spent the next 8 hours and 32 minutes in intense pain. And filled with anger.

Although I had prepared myself mentally, was in great shape and had all the supplies…

I hadn’t done any hiking prior to the trip.

Yup, you read that right.

Seems pretty stupid to attempt the 2nd hardest day hike in North America without doing any hikes beforehand doesn’t it?

It wasn’t like I’d been sitting on the couch beforehand. I had been training really hard by climbing endless staircases with a heavy backpack on. I was in the middle of mountain bike racing season. And I’d been working hard in the gym a few days a week too.

But I didn’t actually put on my hiking boots and practice.

I was mad at myself for not taking the same advice that I give you and all my players all the time.

You have to prepare for the specific demands of your sport well before the season starts if you want to perform your best.   If you wait until training camp to get in shape, you can’t expect to be the best player on the ice.  If you don’t lay the foundation of hard work and repetition early in the season with your team, you won’t reap the rewards once playoff time rolls around.  If you don’t prepare before the big game by doing the work and taking care of the “little” details like nutrition, hydration and physical preparation, you might be disappointed by the results you end up with.

So I learned my lesson – after 31.6 painful miles in the mountains of New Hampshire.

Take the time to prepare properly and make the time to be great.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

Director & Founder, Total Female Hockey