Does running help your climbing?
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We're curious about your thoughts on the role of running in climbing training... |
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couldn't hurt. I would think trail running or hiking at high altitude would be more effective. Of course, it all depends on what you're climbing. |
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this is interested, and timely for me. Since this winter, i've been running 20-30 miles a week 90% on trails. I did not train much, maybe hit the gym 1-2 times a week to boulder/climb some routes, but generally have been pretty apathetic about anything that might be considered climbing "training". Ran my first marathon last week (Quad Rock), the day after, i sent a Boulder problem that has eluded me for 3 years 50-60 attempts. In generally i've noticed a major uptick in my climbing level, sending routes near my previous limit within a few tries. Got a 12a in Rifle i'd worked last year, after only a few tries the other weekend, had run 5 miles up the canyon that morning. |
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During my "most fit" time a few years ago-I found that running a lot-actually took from my reserves (as your link stated)... I would trail run and train like crazy when I noticed my endurance level for climbing, was actually getting worse. |
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I have done a fair bit of anecdotal research on the subject and it seems that running a little helps, running a lot hurts. Many climbers have tried to balance serious running (80-100miles/wk) with climbing with no success. |
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Completely anecdotal but yes I think running helps a lot, but only up to a point and it depends on what kind of climbing we are talking about. If your goals and interests surround big days in the mountains then running becomes a pretty necessary component to ensure success. |
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seems like with this, as with most things fitness, it really is different strokes for different folks. I really don't understand why running has helped, especially why it's helped me boulder better, but I'll take it. It could be that i've just been bouldering MORE. and maybe that's a secret sauce mix that's working for me, to train endurance through running and actually climbing routes when it strikes my fancy, but focusing at least 60% of my climbing on bouldering, while maintaining the running gives me overall fitness/endurance and power. |
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I'll point out the main reason I think running is beneficial. It stops me from climbing. Besides cardio health, weight loss, increased ability to recover, and providing a sort of mental training (pushing through walls when running) which are all beneficial to climbing in one way or another, running also gives me something else to do. I frequently think because of my obsession with climbing, I do it too much, that it actually is counterproductive. I don't recover enough and I continue to climb through it which I think does more harm than good. Climbing is the first and pretty much only thing I think about doing when I'm bored. This used to lead me to climb 5-6 days a week and none of these are ARC sessions. It's usually limit bouldering, hard sport climbing, or longer trad/alpine days. |
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Climbing endurance is local to the forearms. The capillaries in your forearms are not large enough to take advantage of any benefit gained from improved cardio in running. |
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My guess is that it depends on who you are. If you get winded on a flight of stairs(me)and don't have a history of cardio training, then it will probably improve your climbing. If you're a former cyclist/triathlete/runner, then it probably won't help. |
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Crux Crush wrote:We're curious about your thoughts on the role of running in climbing training... cruxcrush.com/2013/05/17/cl…This is LAME! You're obviously just trying to get clicks on your blog... Have you ever actually even posted a Post and not just a link to your blog? |
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No. Running is good for *you*, but not your rock climbing. It might help mountaineers. |
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I, for one, don't like, running. I do, however, enjoy watching others, run. |
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JLP wrote: Saying 40 miles a week is recovery from climbing is rather eliteTank is about as elite as they come that still bothers to respond to us wankers. The one interesting tidbit he said was the whole getting used to it part (larger volume than you can initially handle well). It seems to be a recurring theme amongst the serious climbers (not just running, but also climbing/training volume in general). Me? I'm always looking for the most gain in the least amount of time. 1/3 of Tank's running volume will be a huge step up from where I'm at now. |
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I see your link, and I'll raise you one! |
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I guess I'm inclined to agree with the, 'less is more' argument when it comes to running & climbing. But don't really know from personal experience. I've never really run more than a couple miles a day. i just know that when i started running, i showed a little improvement in climbing stamina, probably due to the increased overall health and general cardio benefits regular exercise like that gives. Also, if you can get away with it, ride your bike to work. it's ride your bike to work day after all. |
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No, I get tired,and knees hurt. I don't like access hikes anymore that are over 400 yds or so....yeah, call me old and lazy. Maybe I belong in a gym instead now days/;-( |
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Of course it does. Running helps you lose weight. Less weight makes climbing easier. |
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I was a pretty aggressive skateboarder when i was in high school and did it for nearly eight years before my joints began spazzing. I quit and did nothing for 4 years. Then i started climbing. My body was sooooo much stiffer and i felt like any small injury would seriously hurt. It made me fear falling so much more. I noticed when i started running that it kind of stretches me out a bit and gives my legs a little more strength like they used to have. I climb better. |
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in my experience, up to about 10 miles a week (weak) is ok, but any more than that and it kills my climbing workout recovery and starts giving me problems. when i look back through my workout records, i have more of an inverse correlation between aerobic fitness and climbing fitness. |
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I can't speak overall (for others of course) but Yes climbing helps big time. It helps with the long, upward approaches and it definitly helps me during contracted/crux sequences. Running keeps my body in shape, shape to flush the lactic acids out and shape for my cardio system which supplies much needed oxygen to my muscles. |