Training: Rucksack/Lyon Street Steps

Two days a week, I climb the Lyon Street steps—well known to most San Franciscans. There are 291 steps in total, broken into two sections: 125 on the steeper bottom half and 166 on the top. The total elevation gain is about 150 feet per lap, and I typically aim for 1,500 feet, or around 10 laps.

I wear a rucksack loaded with 40 to 70 pounds, depending on my goal for the day. When I started, it took me about 90 minutes to complete 10 laps with 50 pounds. Now, five months into training, I can do it in just over an hour. Interestingly, my biggest improvement in time came after I started sleeping in the altitude tent.