Tia Banks never laced up hiking boots until her mid-30s—after a career as a pro basketball and flag-football athlete was cut short by a Grade 5 cartilage tear in her right knee. In this 41-minute episode, we explore:
- Reinventing yourself after injury: How she pivoted from court and field into totally unfamiliar trails, rediscovered her identity and went on to summit Kilimanjaro while battling illness, whipping winds and half the oxygen she was used to.
- Why “too late” is a myth: How a total novice built high-altitude endurance with pre-dawn weighted walks, stair-climb marathons and expert breath-work coaching.
- The power of your tribe: How one voice on a dark summit night turned “I want to quit” into “I will keep going,” and why Tia now pairs every hiker with a dedicated “partner in climb.”
- Unconventional training secrets: The mindset tools—optimism, “keep deciding” and resilience practices—that outlast raw talent on any trail.
- Mind Over Mountains: A deep dive into Tia’s interactive book and coaching platform, where you map your personal “life mountains” and transform setbacks into stepping-stones.
- From summit to spotlight: How Tia turned her late-start passion into a full-time calling—leading treks to Guadalupe Peak (Texas), Pico de Orizaba (Mexico) and beyond, and bringing mountain-born lessons into schools and boardrooms.
Whether you’re gearing up for your first day hike or facing an Everest-sized challenge at home, Tia’s journey proves it’s never too late to start—and you don’t climb alone.
Get started at tiabanks.com —grab the book, join a group trek, or book her for your next resilience workshop.
Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:
https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/
Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans:
https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/
LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast
Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms:
https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast
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