Kicked out by a mechanical bull
Late afternoon trip to TRC with Joana. The goal for the day was to toprope stuff that we could finish, alternating harder and easier routes and aiming for decent volume. That's right, we're tired of you other guys climbing all the 12s, it's time to get serious! We warmed up with some handstands (attempted in my case), and then jumped on the Grand Traverse (BL: 50, JK: 36 w/ a crux skip).
We didn't exactly stick to the plan, as we were both tired after the third climb (Joana was a bit fried from boxing, and me, well, I'm just lazy). However, I still think we got some good technique and decent endurance work in there. Next time we should probably pick more sustained routes with fewer opportunities to rest.
On the last climb, the DJs really cranked up the volume and started playing some house music. We didn't think much of it, and wrapped up with some easy V2/V3 bouldering and pullups. But the music was only the start of it, cause as we rounded the corner to collect our gear, we stumbled upon a mechanical bull sitting in the middle of the gym. Yup, that's right, a mechanical bull.
Turns out they were closing the gym early for a bar mitzvah party; bull-riding and climbing, that sounds awesome! They also installed a gangplank on the second floor that led to nowhere, who knows wtf that is for? We briefly entertained the idea of crashing the party as mature 12 year-olds - When the hell else would we get to ride a mechanical bull? (well, I can only speak for myself) - but eventually reasoned that the stubble on my chin would get us ejected before either of us got a chance to ride the bull anyways. Oh well, but at least this explains the mysterious stack of Bar/Bat Mitzvah books we saw last week.
6 comments:
Yeehaa! Think about the grip strength you could build holding on to a bull.
I actually think alternating hard climbing with volume work is a smarter way to approach things, I've always thought about instituting a more structured training plan, but amongst many considerations, I'm just plain lazy too.
I'm thinking more and more that once I hit my current goal (level II CF skills), I want to embark on a more serious regimen of climbing-specific training. I'll be looking to you guys for advice! ;)
That must've been one helluva party. Almost enough to wish I was 12. And Jewish.
Bull-riding! I want to do it, I want to do it!
OK, if Brian and Joana are getting serious, Kenway and I are in trouble (well at least I am). Kenway, we have to start training or these two will be passing on at the belay station next time we do some multi-pitch.
So Brian, do you think the idea of alternating easy and hard is good? What about down climbing? What did you think was most effective?
Alternation felt like a good strategy. I liked it cause on the easier climbs I could focus on footwork good sequencing, while on the harder climbs I could look forward to some relief after finishing it.
I ended up picking less than optimal hard routes for working power endurance. Next time, I think I'll go for hard climbs that offer fewer opportunities to rest. This may mean downgrading on the easy climbs to allow for more recovery (or picking easy climbs that have rests).
I like that entry on power-endurance, very interesting. I wonder if a good way to train for this would be to be to pick a hard route, just out of range; and alternate that route with easier climbs. You change the easy ones, but you always come back to the same hard one until you can red point it.
On another topic, I was reading about diet for climbers and found a lot of them suggesting to eat lots of carbs. That seems to run counter to my intuition that you want to stay light. What do you guys suggest? I know Biran is partial to the fired chicken bucket diet, but beside that :-)
Carbohydrate proportion can have minimal impact on performance if you are adapted to a particular macronutrient composition. I'll write more about this in a longer post.
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