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Camp Chaski: Nepal

Everest Base Camp Trail

Though the summit of Mt. Everest may be out of reach, the Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trail is a spectacular bucket-list trail hike or run through the Himalaya accessible to any fit and well-acclimated active person. Join Chaski's own Tyler Andrews (EBC Trail speed-record holder) and local legend Pemba Sherpa on this two-week adventure of a lifetime

Mar. 6 - 20, 2022

(15 days)

Serious challenge

$9,500

Run and hike through the most dramatic mountain valleys on Earth, Mt. Everest and other giants towering above, then relax over a cup of Sherpa Tea and do it all again tomorrow.

Details

  • Highlights: Professionally guided run/hike of the Everest Base Camp Trail with world-record holder Tyler Andrews and local guide Pemba Sherpa; relaxing in comfortable mountain huts in the evenings; enjoying local food and the incredible Sherpa hospitality.
     

  • Dates: March 6 - 20, 2022
     

  • Trip Length: 15 days, 14 nights
     

  • Price

    • $9,500 (early-bird price before September 1)

    • $10,800 after September 1, 2020

    • Singlet supplement: $900 (if you want your own room)
       

  • Difficulty: Seriously challenging
     

  • Group Size: 4-12
     

  • Leaders

    • ​Tyler Andrews - Everest Base Camp Trail World Record Holder, Professional Athlete, Coach, Guide

    • Pemba Sherpa - Local Legend with decades of experience in the Everest Region, Professional Guide
       

  • Who should come? Any trail runner aged 13-70* or traveler who enjoys being active outdoors**


    * Contact us if you’re over 70 and interested in coming or want to bring someone under 13.
    ** Is this trip only for runners? Nope! Everest Base Camp Trail is very much a run/hike kind of route, and we welcome straight hikers as well. That said, our days will be longer than the standard tourist trips and there are no options for vehicle transport in the Khumbu Region, so you should be fit enough to hike/jog 10-12 miles per day at altitude.

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Highlights
Overview

Trip Overview

The name Everest invokes a different blend of emotions in each of us: fear, excitement, wonder, anticipation, intimidation. But it sure is familiar.

 

On this trip, you’ll get up close and personal with the Big E (and many other Himalayan Giants) while being guided by EBC world record holder, Tyler Andrews, and local Nepali legend, Pemba Sherpa.

 

The summit of Mt. Everest is the highest point on earth at 8,848m and the trail to Everest Base Camp (a.k.a., EBC, located at 5,364m above sea level) is almost as famous and revered. The 105 km route climbs from the mountain town of Lukla to EBC and back, gradually gaining altitude and passing through tiny mountain towns, spectacular valleys, and even across rock and ice strewn glaciers. Whether you’re coming from altitude or sea level, the trail and our schedule allows for acclimatization en route, with days of hiking and running mixed in with days of rest and recovery.

 

Our journey begins in the bustling metropolis of Kathmandu (1,400m above sea level), where we’ll spend a day preparing for our adventure before making the short flight to Lukla (2,860m), our launch point for Everest Base Camp.

 

We’ll hike and jog our way to Namche Bazaar, where we’ll spend a day acclimatizing and resting at 3,400m in the last bigger town before heading deep into the Khumbu Valley. From here, we’ll follow a runnable trail towards the really big mountains, starting out on runnable double-track trail and then making the steep climb up to the hill-top Tengboche Monastery before heading down into the heart of the valley on the other side.

 

We’ll spend a night in the tiny town of Pangboche before crossing the Everest moraine and heading up to Lobuche at 4,900m. We’ll spend one extra night for acclimatization in Lobuche and then cross the rock-strewn plateau that leads to Gorak Shep, one of the highest permanent settlements on Earth at 5,200m.

 

We’ll have an optional climb to the top of Kala Pattar (5,648m), a high but non-technical mountain, before our last push to EBC. With Everest herself towering over us, we’ll enjoy the majesty of these incredible snow-capped peaks before a long descent to Pheriche, down at ONLY 4,250m. We’ll sleep well and take one last rest day (with an optional hike up Nangkartshang Mountain (5,073m) before heading back to Namche Bazaar and finally Lukla.

 

We’ll have one extra day built into our schedule in case bad weather or other delays, which we can spend in the mountains or back in Kathmandu, with a day hike into the nearby (much greener and much lower) mountains. Finally, say goodbye to your tripmates and guides and bid farewell to the Himalaya and Nepal.

 

Note -- if you’d like to add the option Himalaya Summit Adventure, you’ll stay in Namche and meet your climbing guide there.

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Did you know?

The Everest Base Camp Trail navigates through the Khumbu Valley, dotted with tiny (and extremely friendly) towns all the way to one of the highest permanent settlements on Earth, Gorak Shep at 5,200m, the last slice of civilization before EBC.

Included

Okay, so, what do I get?

With your payment, you get:

  • 24 hour support and access from your bi-lingual trip leaders on-the-ground and USA-based support crew

  • Private transportation from the moment you arrive in Geneva to the end of your trip

  • Local, high-end and high-quality food, three meals per day

  • 9 nights lodging (double occupancy)

  • Guided runs and hikes during the entire trip, regardless of your level

  • Meet and greet with local professional athletes and/or coaches

  • All entry fees associated with group activities (National Parks, museums, etc.)

  • Help from your leaders to organize any free time activities/excursions

  • Support from Chaski staff ahead of your trip including training advice, packing lists, and more

  • Chaski merch item of your choice - up to $79 value

  • Free access to one year of Chaski Community Membership - $199 value

  • Discounts on future Chaski Programs and partner brands

What else do I have to pay for?

  • International flights to/from Geneva, Switzerland (Airport code: GVA)

  • Visa charges (there aren’t any for most countries), overweight baggage fees

  • Personal travel insurance (required) 

  • Personal souvenirs

  • Activities outside the groups’ itinerary

  • Tips for your drivers, leaders, or anyone else outside of restaurants

  • Alcoholic drinks and food/drinks outside of meals, including energy gels/drink mix/etc for the long days on the TMB

  • Single occupancy (i.e. if you’d like a room to yourself)

  • Optional 10th night of lodging if your flight departs on the morning of day 11.

  • Optional add-ons to the trip, like the Mountain Summit Adventure

Extend Your Adventure

Optional Add-ons

Got a little more time? I mean, you’ve come this far already. You may never be back in Nepal.

 

Check this out.

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Himalaya Summit Adventure - Imja Tse (Island Peak) - 20,305 ft (6,189m) - 3 day extension

 

Want to really push your altitude limits? Challenge yourself with a summit climb to the top Imja Tse (or Island Peak). This is your opportunity to break two huge barriers in altitude: 20,000 ft. and 6,000m. This is a high altitude, glaciated mountain and is a great first big mountain if you’ve never been 

 

Chaski works exclusively with UIAGM Mountain Guides, the most well-respected and highly-certified climbing guides in the world to help get you safely to the summit of your dreams.

 

You do not need previous mountain climbing experience, but you should be in good shape and ready for a challenge.

 

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Sound great? Contact us for availability and pricing!

Extend
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Itinerary

Did you know?

The Everest Base Camp Trail has hosted a "marathon", a downhill race which started at EBC and ran about 55km back to Lukla. Trip leader Tyler Andrews broke that one-way record when he set the round trip record of 23 hours and 42 minutes for the entire 106km round trip in March of 2020.

Note: We’ll try to stick as closely as possible to this schedule but may have to move things slightly due to weather, trail conditions, etc.

Day 1 - Namaste. Welcome to Nepal.

 

Today is the day you’ll arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal (most flights will leave your home country the day prior) where your leaders will be waiting to welcome you and escort you via private transfer to our luxury hotel in Kathmandu. Depending on the timing of your arrival, there may be time for a short shakeout run or hike through some of the beautiful trails that encircle the city before our first dinner in Nepal dinner.

 

Sleep: Baber Mahal Vilas Boutique Hotel

Max Altitude: 3,400 ft. (1,400m)

Run: At home before you leave, or, optional run on trails upon arrival, depending on timing.

 

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Day 2 - Kathmandu planning, prep, and exploration.

 

We’ll start the day off with a lovely breakfast at our hotel where your guides will review the plan for our Himalayan Adventure. We’ll then head out for a run through some of the Kathmandu Valley trails, far from the smog and congestion of the city and with spectacular views looking back. We should also have time to visit Kathmandu’s famous hilltop Monkey Shrine (full of statues of and real monkeys!) before heading back for an early dinner and early night sleep to rest up!

 

Sleep: Baber Mahal Vilas Boutique Hotel

Max Altitude: 5,000 ft. (1,524m)

Run/Hike: 30-60 minutes on trails

 

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Day 3 - Into the Khumbu!

 

Today, the real adventure begins! We’ll head back to the airport for the short flight to Lukla, our launching point for Everest Base Camp. We should arrive mid-morning and, after connecting with our porters, we’ll begin the first stage of our journey, from Lukla to Namche Bazaar. This is a fairly long day in terms of mileage, but along very runnable trails. We’ll pass through tiny towns where we can stop for a rest or just to refuel and traverse spectacular suspension bridges (don’t worry, they’re frequented by 1000 kg yaks -- they’re definitely strong enough!) A last steeper climb will lead us into Namche Bazaar, the last bigger town where we’ll stay the night at a luxurious lodge with snow-capped peaks towering above.

 

Sleep: Luxury Lodge 

​Run/Hike: 11 miles (18 km),  4,400 ft (1,340m) vert. -- approximately 6-9 hours

Highest Altitude: 11,100 ft. (3,400m)

 

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Day 4 - Namche Acclimatization Day

 

One of the most important pieces of our journey is allowing our body to gradually adjust to the increasingly high altitude. These acclimatization days allow us to recover from the strain of our hiking and jog and let our bodies adapt to the thin air. We’ll take these days easy, with optional short hikes, but mostly a focus on relaxation.

 

Sleep: Luxury Lodge 

Run/hike: Optional short excursion 

Highest Altitude: 11,100 ft. (3,400m)



 

Day 5 - Namche to Pangboche

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We’ll leave Namche early and follow the smoothest and flattest trail on the whole route out of town before plunging down to a suspension bridge and then climbing through beautiful forests to the hilltop Tengboche Monastery. We’ll have incredible views back down the valley and up towards Ama Dablam and the northern Khumbu. We might even have some snow up here! We’ll make a short, steep descent to another suspension bridge and then a gentle climb will lead us to Pangboche, our home for the night, with Ama Dablam towering above us.

 

Sleep: Pangboche Teahouse/Lodge 

Run/hike: 8.5 miles (13.5 km), 1000m up, 500m down -- approximately 4.5-7 hours

Highest Altitude: 12,800 ft. (3,900m)


 

Day 6 - Pangboche to Lobuche 

 

This will be a big day as we’ll head up, up, up from Pangboche, across a wide plateau and finally up a steep climb to the bottom of the Everest Moraine. This spectacular rocky field is the leftover of millions of years of the Everest glacier slowly sliding down the valley, leaving a wake of destruction behind it. We’ll climb up the steep far side of the moraine to arrive at our homebase for the next two nights, the tiny town of Lobuche. We’ll take today easy and make sure to get to bed early to let our bodies catch up with all the work we’ve been doing.

 

Sleep: Lobuche Teahouse/Lodge 

The route: 8 miles (13km), 3,600 ft (1,100m up), 328 ft. (100m) down. approximately 5-8 hours

Highest Altitude: 16,000 ft. (4,900m)

 

 

 

Day 7 -  Lobuche Rest and Acclimatization

 

Today we’ll take the day to really recover from two big days in a row and a new high point in altitude. We’ll do some light walking just to stretch the legs and enjoy a day looking up at the giant snow-caps. 

 

Sleep: Lobuche Teahouse/Lodge 

Run/hike: Rest and recover

Highest Altitude: 16,000 ft. (4,900m)


 

Day 8 - Lobuche to Gorak Shep, optional hike to Kala Pattar

 

Today we have a short day with a gentle climb to Gorak Shep, the last settlement in the Khumbu before EBC. We’ll begin the day with steep switchbacks and then follow a beautiful stream until the final steep climb and across a boulder field which will lead us into town, where we’ll finally have our first views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and many other giant snow-caps. If you’re feeling great and we make good time, we can take the afternoon and hike up to the summit of Kala Pattar, with spectacular views of the Everest Massif.

 

Sleep: Kala Pattar Teahouse/Lodge 

Hike/run: 5km, 984 ft. (300m) up, 100 ft. (30m) down -- Approximately 2-5 hours

Highest Altitude: 17,000 ft. (5,200m) or 18,530 ft. (5,648m) (Kala Pattar summit)


 

Day 9 - Everest Base Camp

 

Finally, after more than 33 miles and 13,000 ft. of climbing, we’ll arrive at Everest Base Camp. The trail is a spectacular ridge-line single track alongside Everest and Lhotse and eventually scoots down onto the glacier all the way to EBC. We’ll take our time at EBC to admire the views and majesty of the highest peak on Earth (and maybe even get to meet some early-season climbers) before we head back and have a long descent all the way to Pheriche at 13,900 ft., (4,250m). Don’t worry - every step will bring us more oxygen and though the day is long, we’ll sleep better than ever when we arrive.

 

Sleep: Pheriche Teahouse/Lodge 

Hike/run: 12.4 miles (20km), 1000 ft. (300m) up, 3,900 ft. (1,200m) down -- Approximately 5-10 hours

Highest Altitude: 17,600 ft. (5364m)

 

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Day 10 - Acclimatization/Recovery Day, Optional Nangkartshang Summit

 

We’ll spend the day in Pheriche where we’ll have the option for complete rest if we’re feeling really cooked or a short hike up to the summit of nearby Nangkartshang (16,600 ft., 5,073m). Either way, we’ll enjoy a more relaxed day and spend the night again in Pheriche.

 

Sleep: Pheriche Teahouse/Lodge 

Hike/run:  Optional climb of 3 miles (5km), 2500 ft. (800m) gain/loss or short walk/jog

Highest Altitude: 17,600 ft. (5368m)

 

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Day 11 - Pheriche to Namche 

 

Today we’ll make our way back to our luxury lodging in Namche Bazaar. The route is mostly downhill on good trail with a short climb back up to Tengboche Monastery and finishing with very runnable double-track trail into Namche. Enjoy the “big city” perks of Namche, like consistent wifi and western food (or keep eating Dal Bhat!) 

 

Sleep: Luxury Lodge

Hike/run:  12 miles (19km), 2,000 ft. (600m) up, 4,900 ft. (1,500m) down

Highest Altitude: 14,000 ft. (4,280m)

 

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Day 12 - Namche to Lukla 

 

Our last day in the Khumbu will see us navigate the smooth trail on which we started our journey almost 50 miles (80km) earlier. We’ll descend the steep trail to the river and then follow the gently rolling (downhill!) all the way back to Lukla. We’ll have a great feast in Lukla and enjoy all the oxygen down here at 9,300 ft. (2,850m)!

 

And with that, we’ve done it! 65 miles (105km) of rugged, high altitude terrain. Be sure to savor the moment!

 

Sleep: Luxury Lodge

Hike/run:  11 miles (19km), 2,000 ft. (600m) up, 4,900 ft. (1,500m) down

Highest Altitude: 14,000 ft. (4,280m)

 

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Day 13 - Lukla to Kathmandu

 

We’ll have a relaxing morning in Lukla before bidding farewell to the Khumbu and flying back down to Kathmandu. We’ll enjoy some warmer temperatures and a LOT more oxygen down here and should have time for an afternoon exploring some of the sights of the city, getting a massage, doing some last souvenir shopping, or just relaxing and enjoying the Asian sunshine. We’ll have a final celebratory dinner at one of Kathmandu’s best restaurants and recognize our incredible accomplishment.

 

Sleep: Baber Mahal Vilas Boutique Hotel

Max Altitude: 3,400 ft (1,400m)

Run: Optional run or hike, depending on group’s desire

 

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Day 14 - Extra day

 

We’ll keep one extra day on the schedule in case of bad weather, flight delays from Lukla, or other unforeseen circumstances. 

 

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Day 15 - Until next time!

 

This will be the day you’ll fly out of Kathmandu and begin your journey home. We’ll have a (hopefully not too tearful) goodbye and, depending on what time your flight leaves, have time for a short excursion or relaxing day in the city before heading to the airport. Don’t forget some keepsakes from your journey and don’t forget to brag to your airport seat-mates about your incredible accomplishment.


See you next time!

 

Sleep: Baber Mahal Vilas Boutique Hotel

Max Altitude: 3,400 ft (1,400m)

Run: Optional run or hike, depending on group’s desire

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You’ve got Questions.

FAQ

Did you know?

Mt. Everest's summit is actually not the farthest point from the center of the Earth. It IS the highest mountain on Earth's surface, but Chimborazo Volcano in Ecuador is actually slightly farther from the center of the Earth due to the slightly bulging shape of the Earth around the equator.

  • What is a “Chaski?” How is it pronounced? What does it mean?
    “Chaski” was the title given to the messenger-runners whose duties were essential in operating the Incan Empire, the ancestors of Chaski Coaching Director Fredy Moposita. Revered for their endurance, a Chaski would run over and across the Andes Mountains and through deserts along the ancient Qhapaq Ñan, the network of Inca trails, delivering coded messages. The word “Chaski” comes from Quechua, the language of the indigenous people of the Andes and descendants of the Incas. It is pronounced “cha” (as in “cha-cha slide”) and “ski” as in what you do when you slide down a mountain with boards on your feet. The emphasis is on the first syllable: CHA-ski. As for the spelling, the Quechua writing system was lost with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century and so any Quechua word that you see written with this alphabet has simply been translated phonetically. So you might sometimes see Chaski written “chasqui” or even “chasqi;” we have chosen “Chaski” to avoid confusion about how to pronounce the second syllable. In a very cool linguistic feature, “Chaski” is also a verb meaning to exchange or share (derived from the responsibilities of the messengers). Chaski Endurance Collective hopes to embody every sense of the original Quechua meaning. We seek to embody the messenger-runners’ formidable skills at covering ground and live the act of exchanging and sharing ideas and experiences with athletes and coaches
  • What makes Chaski different from the other online coaching programs out there?
    Short answer: (1) Our collective model. (2) Our elite-athlete coaches, who all have an elite performance background in addition to their coaching training and experience. Longer answer: Chaski provides its members much more than online training plans. When you join Chaski, you become part of a community of athletes of all levels. Yes, Chaski provides adaptive, human-to-human training programs, but what makes the Chaski approach special is our unique organization that has everyone in the Collective rooting for and connected to each other. Coaches want to be better athletes and coaches themselves, which motivates them to provide unique insight from the upper echelons of the sport. Chaski Endurance Collective derives its power from the diverse knowledge and experience of our members, elite athletes and experienced coaches in a variety of endurance sports. That diversity gives us the ability to match you with the best coach for your specific needs, style, and goals. It also allows coaches to learn from and support each other as they empower the athletes they coach. This entire community of athletes can connect, share, and inspire one another. Our hope is that by building this community, we’ll be able to increase engagement in the sport at all levels and improve overall athlete health, happiness, and performance.
  • I get that Chaski coaches have all competed at a high level, but does that make them good coaches?"
    Not necessarily! Being a good athlete doesn’t make you a good coach. But a good athlete has the potential to use their experience to become a great coach. Almost all Chaski coaches have experience competing in their sport at an elite level (the few exceptions coming with tremendous coaching expertise). In addition, some of our coaches come to Chaski with decades of coaching experience, while some are relatively new to coaching. Before any Chaski coach interacts with an athlete, they must complete a certification course through USATF (USA Track & Field), along with a rigorous Chaski curriculum designed to impart our core training principles (see below), while allowing coaches to also have input based on their own experiences. Further, new coaches are paired with more experienced mentor-coaches, all of whom are encouraged to continue learning both in and outside their specialty over the course of their coaching career. Our coaching is based on principles, values, and objectives, rather than on specific “cookie cutter” training plans.
  • Do Chaski Coaches have any kind of certification?
    Yes. At a minimum, all Chaski Coaches are certified by USATF (USA Track & Field) and by Chaski by completing our own rigorous in-house coaching education curriculum. Many Chaski coaches hold additional higher-level certifications from USATF and/or RRCA (Road Runners Club of America), as well as having experience coaching at different levels. Some of our coaches also hold other specialty degrees and certifications such as degrees in nutrition, physical therapy, etc. When you join Chaski, we will match you with a coach whose certification and expertise are the perfect match for your needs and goals.
  • I’m not sure this whole online coaching thing is for me. Do I really need a coach?
    Not everyone does, or at least, not everyone is looking for what a coach can provide. If you’re on this website and reading this, it means you’re looking for something. Maybe you’re relatively new to the sport and need a lot of guidance to get started, or maybe you’re relatively experienced but you’ve hit a plateau in performance or motivation, or maybe you’d benefit from having a trusted coach who can inspire you to believe you’re capable of achieving much more, or maybe you want to understand elite-level training from an elite athlete. All these are good reasons to look for a coach, but we also know that finding a great coach is daunting -- it has to be a good fit, and a relationship in which the coach understands you as an individual athlete, with unique strengths and motivation. No problem. Because we're a collective of coaches, you're not married to any individual coach's style or personality and if the vibe isn't right, you can always switch to someone else in the group -- no hard feelings will be held! Lastly, if you really decide it's not for you in the first two weeks, we’ll refund your first month’s coaching fee and you’ll be off the hook for the remainder of what you signed up for.
  • I’m [really slow/really fast/unsure of myself]. Is Chaski for me?
    Short answer: If you are serious about improving your health, happiness, and performance, then we think Chaski is for you. Longer answer: Chaski is for everyone who cares about endurance sports and wants to learn directly from elite athletes, while being part of an amazing community of athletes and coaches. We pride ourselves on being able to help guide athletes of all levels. Our coaches have worked with athletes from the back of the back of the pack to some of the highest level competitors in endurance sport (and everything in between). In other words, we don’t think your level -- whether high or low -- will be an issue if you’re looking for guidance in your endurance training. Now, if your name begins with “E” and ends in “liud Kipchoge”, we’ll admit to being a little bit nervous about taking you on -- I mean, come on, you seem to have figured things out pretty well already -- but we’d still do our best.
  • How does “online coaching” actually work?
    Note - this is based on the Chaski Flagship Coaching Program. For a detailed description of our various coaching programs, visit Coaching & More There are many online coaching products out there, and the term “online coaching” means many things -- everything from cookie-cutter programs, to programs generated by algorithm, to connecting with a coach via email. At Chaski, “Online Coaching” refers to a one-on-one relationship between a coach and an athlete. Your coach will begin by getting to know you, including your background as an athlete and your goals. From there, the most usual next step is for your coach to provide you with a custom training program that is built out week-by-week based on your progress and specific short- and long-term goals. This plan will map out your specific training on a day-by-day basis including how long/fast training sessions should be and what your total volume for the week should look like. Each week, you’ll have a scheduled call with your coach to review the previous week’s training, go over any questions you might have, and then discuss the plan for the upcoming week. We want you to understand both what you’re doing and why you’re doing it! In addition, you’ll be able to contact your coach as much as you want during the week by text or email with quick questions that you need answered. You’ll be provided with an account to use our online coaching software (an online platform for logging your training) which will allow your coach to monitor your training on a daily basis and provide constant feedback.
  • What else does Chaski provide for me?
    Here’s an itemized list of what you’ll get with your monthly coaching payment. Note - this is based on the Chaski Flagship Coaching Program. For a detailed description of our various coaching programs, visit Coaching & More Elite athlete-coach pairing Initial intake and goal-setting call Weekly training update call Race-day planning for pacing, goals, fueling, strategy, logistics, gear, etc Post-race recovery advisory End-of-season review and planning for next steps Unlimited text/email communication Adaptive training schedule based on your actual progression A custom daily training plan updated weekly Professional analysis and feedback on workout data Macro-cycle planning including base phase, sharpening, and tapering (when applicable) Online Training Log account set-up and support Chaski Community Access Access to private Chaski coach and athlete Facebook group Bi-weekly Chaski Training Email Opportunity to be featured on Chaski blog and social media Optional connection with “virtual training partner” First access to contests, giveaways, and special events Discounts on additional Chaski products - gear, nutrition coaching, yoga, biomechanical analysis, etc. Additional Chaski premium content such as live (and archived) workout videos, strength plans, etc.
  • Who will my coach be? Do I get to pick my coach?
    The short answer: It depends, and most of the time. The long answer: Once you sign up, you’ll speak with our athlete on-boarding director who will review your history and goals. This person will explain which coaches we have available that match your needs. Of course, if you’re coming on board because you really want to work with a specific coach, we’ll try our best to match you with them, but we can’t guarantee that they’ll have openings at the time. That said, one of the benefits of the Collective model is that even if your first-choice coach is full, we guarantee we’ll be able to connect you with another coach who will take fantastic care of you and help guide you towards your endurance dreams.
  • What’s your training philosophy?
    In one sentence? Our coaching objective is to improve an athlete’s health, performance, and love for their sport by formulating an individualized, adaptive, process-oriented approach that harnesses scientific principles and human-to-human connection. In everyday language? We want our athletes to be happier, healthier, and higher-performing humans. We believe that there is no one methodology that’s perfect for all athletes, but that training must be individualized. We believe in training that is catered to an individual’s strengths, background, and goals and is adapted to how the athlete is progressing (and other events in his or her life). We believe in focusing on developing a love for the process of self-improvement and setting process-oriented goals. We believe in science and believe that data can be useful (though too much data can also be overwhelming and distracting). And we believe in the power of personal connection between humans for motivation and inspiration. For more details, visit our Coaching Philosophy page
  • How much do I need to train?
    Short answer: As much as makes sense for you. Longer answer: How much you’re going to train mostly depends on how much time you have and how much your body is used to training. If you’re training 2 hours per week or running 10 miles per week, you’re not going to suddenly start running every day and putting in 20 hours of exercise. Similarly, if you’ve been running 100 miles per week for years, we’re going to base your future training on that history (along with what your real life looks like). As mentioned above, we believe that training must be individualized and the amount of training that you’ll do is one of the important parts of that. One of the benefits of working with your own personal coach is having someone examine not only your training history but also your current lifestyle to help you determine the optimal amount of training to help you meet your goals. Maybe you’ve got tons of free time (does anyone?); maybe you’re a busy parent who only has 30 minutes a day to squeeze in their workout. Your coach will help you figure out this balance so that you can make the most of whatever time you do have.
  • Do I need a fancy watch or heart-rate monitor?
    Short answer: No. Longer answer: You don’t need any particular equipment to be an endurance athlete, especially a runner. We’d recommend shoes (and probably shorts) as a good starting point. And even a basic watch will definitely help. In reality, yes, having a GPS watch and a heart-rate monitor will help make your coach’s job easier. Why? Because these data will allow a coach to see exactly what you did during your workout and how your body responded to it. Maybe you forgot if it was the 4th or 5th rep that felt really hard; your HR data will usually tell that story for you. HR and pace data also tell us about how you’re responding to the overall training load, when it’s time to back off or when it’s time to push through. Now, all of this can be achieved through a simple question like “how did you feel?” But that relies on you, the athlete, keeping track of your effort level on each run. Establishing goals and racing strategies will also be trickier (if those goals are based on time and pace) if you and your coach don’t have an accurate sense of how far/fast you're going during training. That’s not to say it’s impossible! We’ve had plenty of clients who prefer the “old school” methodology of a simple watch and effort (and have had success). We’re not here to tell you there’s one correct way to train, so at the end of the day, it’s up to you.
  • Do you offer a trial period or refund if I decide it’s not for me?
    Yes. As mentioned above, we’ll give you two weeks to figure things out. If you feel like you and your coach aren’t clicking, we can try moving you to a new coach. If you decide that the whole online coaching thing just isn’t for you, that’s okay; we promise not to be offended. You’ll have the first two weeks as a trial period, during which time we’ll refund your first month’s coaching fee and you’ll be off the hook for the remainder of what you signed up for. Note that the one-time set-up fee is the only truly non-refundable thing you’ll pay.
  • How do I get started?
    Go to chaski.run/join-team and follow the instructions on-screen. You’ll need to fill out a form with some basic information and then we’ll be in touch to help you get started.
  • I don’t think I need a full-time coach; I just want a training plan or I have a few questions I want answered.
    Fair enough. For some people, full-time one-on-one coaching isn’t the right fit. Maybe you have a bunch of questions and want to build your own plan. Maybe you just want a long-term plan that you feel comfortable adapting yourself. Chaski offers both of these options. You can schedule a 1-time call with one of our professional athlete-coaches to ask whatever training or racing questions you might have. You can also sign up for our Chaski Select Coaching Program, which gives you more independence and is available at a lower cost. See our Coaching and More Page for details.
  • What happens if I get injured or can’t train anymore?
    Injuries suck but they happen. We don’t want to add another layer of suckiness, so we won't bill you while you're injured and unable to train for up to 2 months (if you want) while dealing with your injury. During the time you’re injured you’ll still be communicating with your coach, though you won’t be billed, because, again, injuries suck. And we don’t want to abandon our athletes. Now, if you can still work out (e.g. maybe you can bike or swim but can’t run), we’d still recommend continuing to train with your coach. But if you really can’t train, we get it. Non-injury related issues will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. We’ll be nice.
  • Are there any age or experience requirements? Do you coach youth/High School/College athletes?
    Short Answer: No, there are no set age requirements. Longer Answer: We believe that online coaching is not meant to supersede you or your child’s current coach or put your place on a team or your relationship with another coach in jeopardy. In other words, if you’re part of another team, whether that’s a youth/HS team or college/club team, and want to be coached, we’re happy to do it as long as all involved parties are aware of the situation and on board. What we don’t want is for your high school coach to be giving you one set of workouts, your Chaski Coach giving you a different set, and you doing both or some random combination of the two. If your coach is open to having you work with a Chaski coach to provide guidance, especially during the summer or during other non-competitive seasons, we’re happy to help out. We just want to make sure you, your team coach, and your Chaski coach all understand exactly what everyone else’s role is in the coaching relationship.
  • Can Chaski coach my entire team/club/group/family?
    You bet we can! While our normal model for online coaching is one-on-one, some of our Chaski Coaches are able to work with groups of people of relatively similar abilities with relatively similar goals. Contact us with specific inquiries.
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