Uh-oh. Need to train!

Hi everyone, first time poster here!
OK so earlier this year, a bunch of us decided to climb Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia in December. We were all going there for a friend's wedding so hey, why not. Sure it's a bit touristy, but it's still a climb!
Fast forward to this month. I suddenly realized the climb is two months away and I need to get into bushwalking shape! I'm of average fitness (well .. maybe below average compared to some of you hardcore nuts) and have bushwalked ... mmm... maybe 5 times. In the past 25 years. Yes, embarrassing I know. I cycle semi-regularly (depending on the season) to keep some level of fitness, but I figured walking up and down a mountain will use a totally different set of muscles, so I'd better start working them.
I did Mt Warning with my friends 2 weeks ago (first 'proper' hike in maybe 8 years) and found it enjoyable... the first km was tiring, but after that it was quite OK. The final rock scramble was pretty fun. Going downhill wasn't very tiring but towards the end, my left knee and pelvis joint area was kinda hurting... maybe we were going down too quickly. If I remember right, we got to the top in about 2hrs and down in 1.5hrs.
After doing some reading here, I decided to do Mt Edwards next. I went up solo yesterday (Monday).. it was deserted. The climb up was a bit tiring - after the halfway point it just kept going up and up and up! But once I got to the top, it felt very satisfying with the nice view. The walk took about 1.5hrs up and about an hour down. It didn't feel as tiring as Mt Warning. The dam wall was a bonus - I've never actually seen a dam close up.
I've borrowed Take A Walk which was helpful for Mt Edwards (especially that indistinct junction!), but find forum posts more helpful for getting to know a track generally. Also thanks to the forums, I've learned that Kathmandu gear is to be avoided, North Face is mainly for fashion, never ask about sandshoes vs boots, Tassie is full of leeches (which should be scraped off with a fingernail, not salted), a PLB is important for longer hikes, keep to the trail to prevent erosion, and Mt Barney is for real men (and tough women). Hurrah for the internet!
OK, once you all stop laughing at the city boy whose legs are probably going to fall off at Mt Kinabalu, can anyone suggest other mountainesque half-day trails that I should check out? I was thinking of Mt Greville - how does that compare to Mt Edwards?
Also, when doing these trails solo, is there anything I should watch out for? Dangerous creepy crawlies? Plants? Ticks? I plan to only do them when the weather is awesome, i.e. no rain. I would let my friends know where I am, where I intend to go, an estimated return time, and leave all that info visible in my car with an emergency contact number and CB radio channel number which I would carry if it looks necessary.
Should newbies even be doing moderate trails solo?
Thanks!
OK so earlier this year, a bunch of us decided to climb Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia in December. We were all going there for a friend's wedding so hey, why not. Sure it's a bit touristy, but it's still a climb!
Fast forward to this month. I suddenly realized the climb is two months away and I need to get into bushwalking shape! I'm of average fitness (well .. maybe below average compared to some of you hardcore nuts) and have bushwalked ... mmm... maybe 5 times. In the past 25 years. Yes, embarrassing I know. I cycle semi-regularly (depending on the season) to keep some level of fitness, but I figured walking up and down a mountain will use a totally different set of muscles, so I'd better start working them.
I did Mt Warning with my friends 2 weeks ago (first 'proper' hike in maybe 8 years) and found it enjoyable... the first km was tiring, but after that it was quite OK. The final rock scramble was pretty fun. Going downhill wasn't very tiring but towards the end, my left knee and pelvis joint area was kinda hurting... maybe we were going down too quickly. If I remember right, we got to the top in about 2hrs and down in 1.5hrs.
After doing some reading here, I decided to do Mt Edwards next. I went up solo yesterday (Monday).. it was deserted. The climb up was a bit tiring - after the halfway point it just kept going up and up and up! But once I got to the top, it felt very satisfying with the nice view. The walk took about 1.5hrs up and about an hour down. It didn't feel as tiring as Mt Warning. The dam wall was a bonus - I've never actually seen a dam close up.
I've borrowed Take A Walk which was helpful for Mt Edwards (especially that indistinct junction!), but find forum posts more helpful for getting to know a track generally. Also thanks to the forums, I've learned that Kathmandu gear is to be avoided, North Face is mainly for fashion, never ask about sandshoes vs boots, Tassie is full of leeches (which should be scraped off with a fingernail, not salted), a PLB is important for longer hikes, keep to the trail to prevent erosion, and Mt Barney is for real men (and tough women). Hurrah for the internet!
OK, once you all stop laughing at the city boy whose legs are probably going to fall off at Mt Kinabalu, can anyone suggest other mountainesque half-day trails that I should check out? I was thinking of Mt Greville - how does that compare to Mt Edwards?
Also, when doing these trails solo, is there anything I should watch out for? Dangerous creepy crawlies? Plants? Ticks? I plan to only do them when the weather is awesome, i.e. no rain. I would let my friends know where I am, where I intend to go, an estimated return time, and leave all that info visible in my car with an emergency contact number and CB radio channel number which I would carry if it looks necessary.
Should newbies even be doing moderate trails solo?
Thanks!