James Mirembe Globally Renowned Athlete in Cross Country & Track and Field

Echo Mountain Altitude Session – Where Grit Meets Sky

Just after Christmas, when most athletes were slowing down, my coaches took us somewhere different — Browns Mountain, also known as Echo Mountain. A trail not just of beauty, but of challenge.

We climbed with purpose. Each step higher came with thinner air and colder temperatures. I carried no stopwatch, only the will to grow. Up there, I learned something that doesn’t show in race stats: real runners don’t just train — they adapt.

Training at elevation pushes your lungs, legs, and mindset. You can’t hide from the mountain. I realized this is why the best runners — from Kenya’s highlands to Colorado’s peaks — build their strength in places like this.

Running at altitude isn’t just about oxygen. It’s about discipline in discomfort. And it reminded me why I’m not here to be average — I’m here to earn every second, every placement, every scholarship