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rockies, alberta
Canada
252 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2012 : 09:33 AM
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| I have begun to work with a trainer this year who uses the term "functional fitness". She as well asked questions about what I wanted to achieve with the workout sessions and built a routine to match. I think if you have found that with the crossfit trainer, you will find the routine will work well for you. And you continue to build muscle every trip you do as well, and really you're tougher than the most of your group already! |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
359 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2012 : 10:23 AM
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I've seen a few crossfit competitions in my job, but I've never done it. Just based on what I saw, I can see it being good for general fitness, but there are a lot of exercises in there that strengthen movement with no real practical application to climbing. For example, hand stand push-ups are kind of a goofy exercise, in my opinion. It's an incredible stress on your shoulders to build muscles that don't need to be that built for most activities. I couldn't shake the feeling that crossfit is a bit about showmanship and not just fitness. It's all very dramatic movements, but sometimes really unspectacular minor exercises are critically important to avoid injury. I say all this being very aware of the intense love most crossfit members express for their activity and I don't mean to offend.
I guess I got a bit off point. My point is if you're not aiming for general fitness and/or vanity goals, but rather specific goals with specific movements (like scrambling etc) then you are at an advantage and don't need to use general fitness programs. The best would be to find a program designed for mountaineering and use that rather than wasting time building up movements you won't use.
You could also pay a fair bit of money to get a kinesiologist to outline an exercise program. What I would do, though, is determine the basic movements required in mountaineering and research what might strengthen those movements. Then it would just be a trial and error fine tuning. Obviously, there are risks to amateurs making their own exercise programs, but if you don't have the money, the internet can be a fairly good resource. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1133 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2012 : 2:43 PM
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John,
You mustn't sleep! How do you find the time for all that with kids, teaching, and chores?
Cody |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3523 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2012 : 3:18 PM
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My plyo-box training consists of a timed interval of stepping up and down with a heavy pack, then losing the pack and doing no-rest box jumps. A combination of endurance and explosive movements. Since adding it in the fall, I've noticed I'm stronger when doing large step up movements and balancing.
Interesting take on my partners. We have a curve that intersects at some point where the terrain gets very steep/technical. On the approach and moderate terrain (say kicking steps on steep snow, setting a skin track, breaking trail) I'm ahead. As we reach technical terrain, I lose my advantage. Say 5.4-5.6 rock, 45-50 degree ice, I'm right with most of the folk I go out with. More difficult rock, 5.7+, or steep ice (water ice) and I'm falling behind. I can't hold my body weight with my left hand, so I slow down considerably. Swinging a tool quickly fatigues me. So, I end up doing most of the work with my right hand.
I work hard to compensate for my increasing difficulty as the terrain gets harder by being technically proficient. Anchors, systems, transitions, and anything of that nature I obsess over being at the top of my game as I want to minimize the impact to our group movement. I'm great at route finding, expert with map/compass, and other movement related skills. I also try to increase my skills in other areas that benefit the group (and me) like Wilderness First Responder First Aid, AST 2 on a regular basis, and so on. |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
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Crossfit for climbing?
