Climbing/Training Tips

So here are two things to keep in mind while thinking about training.

If you are interested in training or at least applying the logic of training to your climbing schedule, remember this:

1. You can train grip, strength, power, crimps, face, overhangs, roofs, pockets and movements in variety of ways, as long as you are doing it repeatedly you will get better. This is just like going climbing or doing certain exercises once or twice a week. Time will improve your weaknesses (if you train them) but it will be slow.
2. Or you can get specific and apply a regime to your training and make it a cycle. This requires dedication and a major commitment to giving up the time to follow thru with your plan. You will reap greater rewards (most likely faster too), but at a greater cost of giving up the "other" stuff in your life.

Remember this though, there isn't a shortcut to improvement. Everything takes time, you get what you put into your workout and no more.

Always feel free to send me questions in the comments section and I will do my best to answer them asap. Since I do not know everything about training, I will always consult those who do or who are more knowledgable about the subject. But I will always share what I do know or what personal expereince has told me.

I am really glad that you have visited my blog.
Thanks and I hope to see and hear from you soon.
Rob Pizem

And last but not least, don't forget to check out my favorite sites:

http://www.scarpa.net
http://www.arcteryx.com
http://camp-usa.com
http://sterlingrope.com
http://ColoradoMountainJournal.com
http://www.wunderground.com
http://climbing.com
http://rockandice.com
http://deadpointmag.com
http://urbanclimbermag.com
http://andrewburr.com
http://ladzinski.com

Climbing Tip Number Two

Fall may be upon us and the temperatures may be getting cooler, but even though the outdoor conditions are getting better for sticking to the rock, they may become a bit more unstable.

My second tip involves reminding you that when it's tough to get outside and you find yourself pulling on plastic, there are a couple things you should remember:

1. Your outdoor shoe may not be the best for indoor climbing. (ask a gym/shop employee to recommend a shoe that will be better for the style of the gym or home wall that you are climbing on)

2. Make sure that you climb inside just like you climb outside. Repeat your outdoor habits indoors, so your body will remember what your supposed to do and not get mixed up. (example of what not to do: if you are a slow and thoughtful climber outside, don't practice climbing as fast as you can on toprope. (It doesn't help you improve your technique or muscle memory or heart rate; it just makes you tired and ingrains climbing fast which is not what you want.)

3.Use the gym to practice some of the skills/movements that you have trouble on outside. That way you will build a better base for growth and development of your skill set for the future. Practice those things that you are not good at and accept that you will fail at completing them at the beginning and have faith that you will master them in a few weeks/months.