cross fit for alpine training?

[tvashtarkatena]

True - that kind of work will give you arms of steel and buns of...of...where the hell did my ass run off to?

 

All seriousness aside, the absolute best training for alpinism IMO is pretty much the same for adventure racing (a previous life): gain lots of elevation. On foot, bike, and...the best of the best: skis. Swimming is a great low impact supplement (and keeps you from dying during the whitewater legs). Sprints once a week or so. A wee bit of weight training. Every week or so do a long one. Figure out how to choke down food, water, and electrolytes, and how to manage things like foot swelling, during those long ones. Everybody's really different regarding these things. Gels work for some (not me), sandwiches for others. Towards the end of a long day (or week during a long one), what people need to keep them going can vary a lot. There's a lot of science out there to draw from, but YMMV by quite a bit. There is one energy food that works for nearly everyone, regardless of how trashed their GI is from a long day out: mac and cheese in a squeeze baggy.

 

Most importantly, find a way to keep it fun.

Edited October 17, 2012 by tvashtarkatena

[rob]

and have lots of sex. It keeps your balls healthy, and balls are important to athletic ventures of all types.

[tvashtarkatena]

The more athletic, the better.

[denalidave]

and have lots of sex. It keeps your balls healthy, and balls are important to athletic ventures of all types.

PLUS, it keeps my forearms really strong.

[matt_warfield]

and have lots of sex. It keeps your balls healthy, and balls are important to athletic ventures of all types.

PLUS, it keeps my forearms really strong.

 

As long as you are dedicated to being ambidextrous.

 

The real deal can deliver fatigue to your tongue which doesn't help climbing that much unless the effort is returned.

[CaleHoopes]

What, you've never completed a dynamic move with your tongue? Screw the pull ups, use the tongue for its strength.

[tvashtarkatena]

Both arms may get a workout, but the sheep's hind legs are going to get the most benefit.

 

Cross Fit.

[matt_warfield]

I can do V9 with my tongue.

 

And I grew up in Montana where the sheep are always nervous.

 

But I will agree that regular life provides crossfit. My recent experience was loading 700 tires into a semi for disposal. Total crossfit.

Edited October 18, 2012 by matt_warfield

[chris]

FWIW I have friends in Boulder and Jackson who rave about the Alpine Training Center and Mountain Athlete, respectively. Sounds like these Cross-fit inspired gyms are creating programs to train on the weekdays without being wasted for the weekends. If anyone has Crossfit instructor training, and is interested in opening a similar gym in Seattle, I'm confident you could thrive here.

 

http://www.thealpinetrainingcenter.com/

 

http://www.mtnathlete.com/