Knee Pain

JEN

"I just returned from a successful climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro! I am beyond amazed that I had ZERO knee pain or physical pain of any kind on the trip.

As someone with a history of over-use injuries and intense knee pain on descents, I thought my long-distance hiking days were behind me (at 32!). 
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Rowan put a structured, easy-to-follow, and comprehensive plan into place that helped me gain strength, endurance, and mobility in the months leading up to my trip. I am so excited that I can hike without pain, it has me already planning my next mountain adventure.

I have the deepest gratitude for Rowan and all he does. I’m so thankful to have found my way back to an activity I love.  I can’t recommend working with Rowan enough!"

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Rhonda

"I had the most incredible experience with Summit Strength. It may sound dramatic, but Rowan gave me my life back. 

I am an avid hiker and suddenly developed iliotibial band syndrome in both knees.  Walking became painful, and hiking was impossible.

After countless failed treatments including steroid injection, acupuncture, physical therapy, rest, Ki release, shock wave therapy, multiple Amazon purchases, chiropractic treatment, and massage therapy, my knees were unimproved.
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I was devastated and started to believe the pain would never resolve. During one of many internet searches, I found Summit Strength.  The testimonials gave me guarded hope.  I’m a doctor, so this seemed too good to be true.  Rowan’s plan was very gradual and focused on strengthening each lower extremity separately. Initially, this helped me walk the dog without pain.  

Then, on Christmas Eve, I was able to do the first hike without pain. It was a glorious moment for me.  I was so grateful for Rowan’s expertise!  The training continued, and the hikes became longer and more difficult.  Again, no pain!  

I had signed up for a trip to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro before joining Summit Strength because I kept thinking the knee pain would get better.  Now that dream seemed attainable. Rowan kept modifying my training, and his education series on altitude/mental fortitude prepared me for the trek.  In August, I summited Mt. Kilimanjaro!  

I just completed my first solo backpacking trip, and I’m preparing for the Tour du Mont Blanc.  None of this would have been possible without Summit Strength.  Thank you so much, Rowan, for giving me back the physical ability to enjoy the outdoors!

Teresa

"I had suffered from IT Band knee pain for 6+ years, visiting numerous doctors and physical therapists. I found one therapist who helped keep my knee pain at bay while running marathons, but nothing kept the pain away while hiking - especially the downhills.

​The whole way up a mountain, I would dread the downhill, making hikes this internal war of joy, dread, and inevitable pain.

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Rowan spoke with conviction that you didn't have to accept life with pain while hiking. He gave examples of seeing people cycle through temporary fixes only to wind up back in the same pain or seeing trainers giving people wrong advice that didn’t help. I identified with his examples because I’d lived them. I kept thinking, should I try this? But like most people, I put it off!

​In August, I finished a difficult 21+ mile hike in Washington state, where I had the worst pain I’d experienced in years. I came home with the same mixed feelings of joy for finishing, but disappointment at my body’s pain-filled performance. I thought: Something has to change if I want to keep hiking. I looked at Rowan’s program again and thought, "What's to lose?" I've tried most everything else; why not give this a chance? Still a little sceptical, I signed up.

Rowan took a complete history, asking thorough questions about my goals, my previous training, prior injuries, prior therapies, current fitness levels, and more. He truly did what he said he would – customized the approach to my needs and goals. One thing I love is that Rowan never made things too hard. Doing exercises to help my pain was always a chore before. Rowan mixed up the exercises and kept them easy/moderate. I found that even on days when life happened, the fact that the exercises weren’t too taxing or time-consuming allowed me to still complete them.

He understood that I didn’t have a big goal to climb one of the world’s highest peaks. I just wanted to be able to enjoy a few big hikes a year and not be in pain, while being able to keep running as my primary focus.

As I progressed through the program, I could tell I was getting stronger, but I wasn’t sure of my true progress until a specific training run experience. There’s a wonky-pitched hill on one of my favorite running routes. I always had knee pain running down this hill. In the full marathon, I was training for, I would have to do this hill twice. It’s harder mentally when you know that every time you get to “that spot” you’re going to be in pain. I was about 2/3 into the SS program when I moved to training for the marathon on a route including the dreaded downhill.

I ran down the hill expecting the normal pain and it wasn’t there. It completely didn’t exist. I was literally in tears getting back to my car. I was in awe, thrilled. I kept saying to myself: This stuff does work! How did he do that? It was so simple! I messaged Rowan with a rambling and joyful account, telling him he was a magician!

I would absolutely choose to work with SS again. I’m continuing training with SS beyond the initial program. I was a sceptic who has become a true believer. I would love for everyone in the world who has pain to receive the gift I’ve been given. Rowan gave me a pain-free life back to enjoy my running and hiking again. THANK YOU, Summit Strength!"

Everest Base Camp ​

Carter

"I wanted to give a HUGE shoutout to Rowan and the whole Summit Strength team! I recently got back from an Everest Base Camp trek, and I 100% wouldn’t have made it without my training and preparation in advance.
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I started the trip with basically no food the first 3 days due to food poisoning (this includes the trek to Namche Bazar with nearly 3K’ of gain in the last 2 miles). 

I don’t know how I made it other than mental fortitude and my physical preparedness.
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I laugh as Kyle would probably kill me as I trained for consuming ~45g carbs an hour, and I think I maybe had 45g carbs a DAY for the first three days of the trek. haha
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I also have preexisting cervical spine, knee, and foot injuries which were a concern. I had NO pain other than some mild discomfort in my right knee the last three days (the major decline days). Which is mind-blowing because I can’t run a mile without my knee seriously hurting!

But I made it the full 80+ miles and 20K’+ elevation gain and had a phenomenal time!

Thank you to Rowan and the entire team for feedback, guidance, and the preparedness to make this dream a reality!!!"

Steve

"Rowan has been training me for well over a year now. This period has covered a trek to Everest Base Camp last year and a trek to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this.

For both treks I have felt really well prepared.

Rowan tailors his sessions and there has been a fantastic and structured build up to each trek. The result was I found the trek last year went really well and this year was all good too! No headaches at all and it is all down to the great training and advice before hand. The breathing techniques and the practice prescribed really helped!"

Victoria

"I hired Summit Strength to help prepare for an Everest Base Camp Trek. 

​Through the process, Rowan really listened, and I felt heard - I felt as though it was very tailored to my specific needs, abilities, goals, and challenges. 

I have not always had that with other trainers. Connecting me with the dietician for the nutrition piece was huge, as I knew I had not been fueling myself properly on past hikes, and it was a big element of how much I enjoyed past hikes and my success. 
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My experience was fabulous. I was most impressed with how Rowan tailored my training program and continuously altered it to meet my needs as well as hurdles that came up - getting E. coli, knee issues, foot issues, motivation, etc. Stuck with me through it all and never gave up - there was nothing he didn't have an answer for, and he was always positive, creating confidence in me for the hike. 
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Would I recommend Summit Strength to others? Yes! Would for sure work again as needed and absolutely recommend to others. Tailored to my specific needs, responded positively and proactively to hurdles faced during training, was so so positive throughout, provided additional resources through the education library, and all around great experience."

FOOT Pain

Jodi

 "I first hired Summit Strength to help improve joint pain that was impacting not only my hiking but also my day-to-day life.

When we started working together, I received tailored and re-tailored programs to address not only my feet, knee and hip pain but also came up with ways around other problems such as my vertigo.
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I loved that there was always another pain free option to address each exercise, which also means there is variety.

Summit Strength is a slow burn - it starts off feeling kind of easy and with less time commitment than I was used too but as time goes you get more out of each exercise and the results are there, oh and it gets tougher.
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There have been so many aha moments of “oh that pain in the middle of the night is gone” or “ oh I just got to the ground on that squat, and my knees are fine”. My first aha was simply going downstairs quicker and easier and without the normal pain. When I set out with Summit Strength my goal was to improve my pain levels, never to eliminate, and to be able to get out and enjoy more hikes with my friends who patiently waited for me on the downhill, anything else was a bonus. With their goal setting I put in more than I expected to achieve and have to admit that I was surprised to tick them all off and more. I don’t think I would have got here on my own.

I signed on longer to continue the great progress I made which for me was a great move. I would also recommend anyone else who needs that point of difference to their training to get them across the line whether it is a specific trip, to just improve or to deal with pain to try this because it works and is simpler than everything I was doing before. No matter your hiking experience (I was a hiking guide years ago) they will offer up ways to improve your skills on the trail."

Stephen

"I signed up with Summit Strength to help with good plantar/foot health on the trail.

The process began with a personal interview and review of past problems I have had with foot health on the trail, followed by a customized program to prepare me.
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This is a success story for me and I have already recommended Summit Strength to fellow trekkers. I have done 3 prior treks to Philmont and suffered from Plantar Fasciitis (and a stress fracture in my heel!) on all of them. But this time, I was pain-free the entire time and felt well prepared to go on the trail.
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Highly recommend Rowan's friendly and personalized approach for your next trek."

Linda

I started working with Summit Strength to help me prepare for my hike on the Bibblumum track. I had come into this program with plantar pain from a previous exercise program.  Never had it before and really didn't know how to deal with it. 

I am also very new to this world of hiking; I've done one overnight with my sister. This nearly killed me, through the very challenging Kalamunda hills, the northern section of the track.  I basically knew nothing about hiking, gear, or strength.  Nothing!!

My general experience was "outstanding".
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The detail, the explanations, the way the program was delivered, both through trainerize and the small chunks of program, so you could manage each section.  

The pace (this seriously surprised me) at one point I did think, holy crap, I'm going to loose all my hard earned previous fitness on other programs because I'm not even breaking into a sweat. How wrong was I..... very wrong!!

I got stronger than I have ever been on any other program. 

It was such an incredible, well thought out, well delivered and accountable program.  Total credit to Rowan. His years of being in this space and putting it all together in a very achievable program, where you can see major changes.  Which in turn boosts your self confidence.  

I've gone from wanting to just manage a section of the Bibblumum track with my sister, to looking at thru hikes, but solo!!

Absolutely, 100% I would I work with them again. When I get the opportunity to go on my multi day or thru hike by myself, I will be calling on Rowan to get me strong enough to tackle the challenge safely and know I can trust my body to go the distance. I've already recommended your program to many people!!"

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Mountaineer

Allie Pepper

"Since working with Rowan, I have become Australia's most accomplished female high altitude mountaineer.

In the last two years with the help of Rowan's coaching I have achieved the summits of six 8000m peaks.
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I also reached a height of 8450m without oxygen on Everest. I summited five 8000ers without oxygen including Makalu 8485m and reached the summit of K2.
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None of this would have been possible without a structured training routine. Rowan not only makes sure that I will be physically ready to achieve my climbing goals, but he also tailors my program around my lifestyle.
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I cannot recommend Rowan enough. His knowledge is through the roof, and I 100% trust him as my coach to help me achieve records on the highest peaks on the planet."

Michael

"Hey Rowan. I successfully summited Mount Everest yesterday morning. You played a major role in me achieving this goal. I wouldn’t have got there without you.

I would highly highly recommend [your services] because I don't think I would have made it  to Everest without you. I needed that structure, the knowledge and your guidance because I didn't know what I was doing in the beginning.  I was very very happy with the way that all went and it was so if there's anybody contemplating that they should without a doubt give you a call."

*Also successfully summited Rainer, Lobouche East (6119m), Pokalde (5806m) and Island Peak (6180m) during his training journey with Summit Strength

Dustin

"I hired Summit Strength to build the strength and endurance necessary to climb Antarctica’s tallest mountain in a harsh environment.

Rowan was great at breaking down the training process into individual steps and routines.

​He was sure to train the eccentric aspects of glutes/hamstrings/calves, which both strengthened my knees and allowed me to climb pain-free for the first time in years.
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Rowan is a first-class professional. He showed up in all the ways he promised he would. The moment I stood on the summit of Mount Vinson, safe & pain-free, I knew I had hired the right guy!

I will gladly work with Rowan on both my ongoing maintenance and for future high altitude climbs."