Training Tips for Chicks – Basic Rock Climbing Training Program
If you are new to the Chicks Training Tips take a few minutes to read the previous newsletters, there’s a lot of great information in there! Click here to start at the beginning or simply visit the Chicks blog and click “Training and Nutrition” from the category menu.It’s incredibly beneficial for all the Chicks to be introduced to new movements and concepts for training, and initially implementing these in a regular workout in almost any fashion will create positive change. So re-read the first nine installments to get a look at all the great movement VIDEOS that have been included:
Last installment was for climbers who already had some climbing experience and were looking to push to a new level. How about those of you who are just getting started and look around you at climbers who seem to do the impossible?
Here’s a place for the new climber to start.
Over the years I’ve taught hundreds of women to climb for the first time. One of the most common “fears” or concerns I hear voiced is: oh I’m not strong enough to climb…The truth is no climber you see was strong when they started to climb. Climbing makes you strong and truthfully it’s often an advantage to not be a thug when beginning this sport because you are forced to learn good technique. Technique gets you further than strength any day. So practice and get some good coaching to learn great technique first, then if you add some strength to that (here’s where I come in) you’ll be off to a fantastic start.
Basic Rock Climbing Training Program, 8 weeks:
Climb 2 – 3 days a week at first. Most of my gals also need work with flexibility, if you don’t great! If you do, try to squeeze in a yoga class once a week and do a little on your own. Initially I don’t have new climbers climb on back to back days. Eventually this may be productive and if you need to due to schedule then by all means. The above schedule is “ideal” move days around as you need for the “reality” of life.
Try to keep to this schedule for 8 weeks. Along the way make notes of how many routes you climb, what difficulty, etc. You won’t be able to remember where you started and as we often tend to do when starting a training program we loose track of our progress because there are always others better than us.
Monday: Yoga or an easy walk, jog, bike ride 30 – 60 min, let your muscles recover from the busy weekend.
Tuesday: Climbing – begin with a warm up route at whatever grade you warm up. This is a route that is easy for you and you don’t get terribly pumped doing. Let’s say that’s 5.7. Then try this grouping:
So that is eight routes peaking at a difficulty that you have to hang to figure it out. Pick routes that are your style at first and go back to the harder route 5.9 – 5.10 each session until you can complete them. Do not just move on because you couldn’t do the route first try, instead use the route as a teacher. Try to remember the moves, work all the moves out, then complete the route. This may take more than one gym session but you are building the strength to climb at this grade. Once you complete the 5.9/5.10 pick a new group of routes to accomplish. You can also start at a harder grade than 5.7 and put in whatever route difficulties are appropriate, easier or harder. Your goal over the next 8 weeks is to complete as many routes 5.9/5.10 that are hard for you and then begin building the number of attempts you make on routes off that difficulty, so by the end of 8 weeks maybe your gym session looks like this:
Wednesday: Strength training. In the previous chicks newsletters I’ve gone into detail about how to get strong without getting big. Once the athlete understands the lift, the movement, the skill to be performed and the athlete is properly warmed up. We want to focus on a total rep count for that movement of (12 – 25 reps) this can be done in sets and reps as such: 5 x 5, 5 x 3, 8 x 3, 6 x 2. The goal is to find a body weight movement, and external object movement or lift that requires a high muscle output from the athlete where finishing this low number of reps causes near failure (but not failure) on the last rep or two. Failure is that of strength or form, do not let your form go!!
SO:
The first four movements are the focus of your workout, you want to gain strength in these movements, the second set of four are supplemental movements that will help with core strength and stamina and be an oppositional movement for climbing muscles. Helping injury proof the athlete.
Then you put a workout together:
Now you have a framework for your workouts, use the information in previous newsletters to structure your workouts beyond this example. As well, all movements aside from Mtn Climbers, and Weighted Sit Ups which are included here, have been reviewed in previous newsletters.
Mountain Climber
Weighted Sit Ups
Friday: Rest, yes…do it. Actually rest!
Saturday: If weather permits head outside!! Nothing beats a day outdoors to practice your new sport with friends. Top rope or leading, get as many pitches in as you can and have a huge smile on your face!
Sunday: Head to the gym for your second strength session of the week, formulate it like Wednesday’s session however use different movements. Then get out again, cross training day, hike, ride, run, what ever you love to do with friends, family, your pooch.
Now you’ve got a plan and a program, again keep track of your workouts, pitches climbed, difficulty, so you can track your improvement. This is a huge motivator and most athletes loose track. I keep track for them when they train in my gym and they are always shocked and amazed by the progress they’ve made in such a short period of time.
Happy Climbing!
Hi, I love this, thank you!
I’ve been climbing at a gym for about 6 months, but have recently been posted to another town for 3 months.
There is no climbing gym and little opportunity for outdoor climbs as it rains heaps.
My question is: can I adapt this to stay climbing fit over 3 months (and maybe even improve my climbing with better upper body strength)?
Should I follow the strength training daily/sub it in for climbing days?
Thanks heaps!
Hi Tessa,
Here’s what I’d recommend:
First, yes increasing upper body strength is important, however maintaining “contact” or finger strength is just as important. My recommendation and most affordable option would be to invest in a pair of Metolius Rock rings. You can find them for $30 a pair. They are portable, easy to hang from a tree, monkey bars, a beam in an apartment, install an eye hook and clip them to that, or take them to your local fitness center when you work out.
Then: see schedule changes and be careful to not overdo the rock ring work. If any discomfort in fingers take extra rest.
I posted “Hangboard” workouts in our most recent blog training tip, these can be done at home if you find a place for your rock rings there. Use these workouts. as well your rock rings will come with some fun t things to try.
See modified schedule below:
Monday – Yoga or active recovery 30-60min
Tuesday – Supplement in a hang board and strength session from latest blog post.
Wednesday – Strength Training 60min and 30min Cardio
Thursday Endurance/Cardio work 60 – 90min
Friday – Rest
Saturday – Supplement in a hang board and strength session from latest blog post, or a rock ring designed workout.
Sunday – Strength training 60 min and cardio 60 min
Have fun and enjoy your climbing fitness benefits!
Best,
Carolyn
Greetings and salutations once again, I have a follow-up question from a workout plan I inquired about a little while ago about coordinating one, should I workout in the order of cardio, strength, then stretching or should I switch it up a different way?