Tedy Bruschi began his training for the Kilimanjaro by working on the stair-climber and carpets in his hiking boots.
The former linebacker star New England Patriots, ex-Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Philadelphia Eagles of the former tight end Chad Lewis will be the highest Summit of Africa next week. They be joined by four injured soldiers of awareness for wounded warrior project.
"I have never done anything - and I mean anything - remotely like this," Bruschi, currently an ESPN analyst, said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.
The goal is at the Summit more 19 000 feet of Kilimanjaro from 13 to 19 may, after a day of acclimation in Tanzania.
The closest comparison for Fisher is that he ran a marathon in 2003. Bruschi was such a novice, that he knew not what to do with all the straps on the pack he sent by the sponsor under armour. He began his hiking with his wife in the hills of blue outside Boston - top of the 635 feet elevation - wearing a weighted vest.
He would go to a secondary school nearby and run on the track and place the bleachers wearing boots and that jacket. The NFL draft, Bruschi was to call his wife to ask him to buy him some trekking poles.
Bruschi received more serious training on the peaks of New Hampshire. Guides have been longtime friend Randy "Zip," Pierce, a staunch fan of Patriots is a hiker accomplished despite being blind and guide dog of Pierce.
Fisher has been cross-training - bike and ongoing execution as well as hiking. He went to Colorado last weekend.
"It's better than just stay in Nashville and running for the hills," he said.
There is gear scattered around his house now as it figures what to tighten travel of 35 lb bag.
When they first heard talk about its plans, kids of Fisher said: "You have work to do, dad." Some of his former colleagues with the Titans "thought I was mad.
Fisher participated in a USO of NFL coaches in Iraq two years tour. Bruschi was disappointed he was unable to participate in a tour of USO in Afghanistan and said the leaders of the League to keep him in mind for future projects. When he received the appeal a few months ago, "it was just something that I could not let pass."
Fisher said, "How can you say no?".
ESPN gave Bruschi free time and he began his research on mountaineering.
He learned that the altitude affects each person differently, so there is no way to predict if his group reach the Summit.
"You have just to ask your head and be determined to get to the Summit," said Fisher.
The NFL contingent is joined by Bryan Wagner of Exeter, California, and Ben Lunak of Grand Forks, n.d., who lost a leg. Mike Wilson of Annapolis, MD., who struggles with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. and Nancy Schiliro, of Hartsdale, New York, who lost an eye.
The group will meet in New York Monday to visit ground zero.
The 37-year-old Bruschi spent 13 seasons with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls before retiring in 2009. Days after playing in his only Pro Bowl in 2005, he suffered a mild stroke, but recovered to play next season.
The fisherman of 53 years separate with the Titans in January after 16 full seasons, ranging from the 147-126 and taking Tennessee to its Super Bowl lone appearance.
The 39-year old Lewis played nine seasons with the Eagles and the St. Louis Rams. He had at least 41 catches for three consecutive years of 2000-2002.
Bruschi is already beginning to understand how people get connected on hiking. The big rise has not yet started, and Bruschi suspected that it might be the first of many mountains for him.
"I was in contact with some of my friends," he said "" and said that i may be almost getting addicted to this. ""
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