Bouldering (climbing)

Yes. Yes.

Nice

After I graduated HS I took some time off from running and caught the climbing bug per se. It's a great strength workout, but I'm not sure about its specificity to running. Either way it's fun so that's why I do it. You should get into sport climbing, particularly outdoors.

YMMV wrote:

Yes. Yes.

This. Dynamic foundational strength work that's mentally engaging and fun.

Chrissharmafan wrote:

Does anyone do bouldering in addition to running?

Is it an effective and functional strength training alternative for runners?

Tried it the other date and enjoyed it loads...

i mostly sport climb outdoors, but i boulder during the weeks in the gym to get power.

i've never really been sure if climbing helps my running or running help my climbing. climbing has made my back and arms quite large for a competitive runner.

on the flip side, running helps keep my weight down for climbing. running has also made my hips very tight which is very bad for climbing. so who knows.

one thing i do know is i have had my best climbing days when i do a hard workout/race in the morning.

If you want to get better at running, run more.

Climbing up a wall isn't going to help you run faster / longer

alex honnold tight wrote:

Chrissharmafan wrote:

Does anyone do bouldering in addition to running?

Is it an effective and functional strength training alternative for runners?

Tried it the other date and enjoyed it loads...

i mostly sport climb outdoors, but i boulder during the weeks in the gym to get power.

i've never really been sure if climbing helps my running or running help my climbing. climbing has made my back and arms quite large for a competitive runner.

on the flip side, running helps keep my weight down for climbing. running has also made my hips very tight which is very bad for climbing. so who knows.

one thing i do know is i have had my best climbing days when i do a hard workout/race in the morning.

Echo the comment that general lack of flexibility from running hurts climbing. Perhaps also vice versa.

I had a teammate who lost interest in running after a series of injuries and took up climbing, he seems to still be in good shape

Something I find interesting are the similarities between running training and climbing training. Bouldering is to sprinting as distance running is to sport/lead climbing. A sport climber will eventually reach a peak based on his/her bouldering ability just like a 1500 runner will eventually be limited by his/her 400m speed. Sport climbers also do bouldering workouts similarly to how distance runners run interval workouts. Climbing is comparably in its infancy in terms of specific training, but with the advent of it in the Olympics in 2020 and the popularity of gyms, it will only become more detailed and in depth.

I love running, but hate exercising. The older I get (in my 50s), the more I need to do strength training. I'm not looking to get any faster; I just need to build strength in notoriously weak areas. Bouldering takes care of that, and I love it. I actually hired an instructor for a couple sessions who noticed I was a runner and gave me specific climbing techniques that work my core and hip flexors. Basically yoga and pilates on the wall. I've also incorporated more dynamic (explosive) moves in my climbing as my skills and comfort level have improved, which all comes from the glutes and quads.

Chrissharmafan wrote:

Does anyone do bouldering in addition to running?

Is it an effective and functional strength training alternative for runners?

Tried it the other date and enjoyed it loads...

I climbed extensively in CA (bouldering mostly at Stoney Point in Chatsworth and bigger walls in Yosemite, Tuolumne, Sierra's etc) when I was training and competing. I was always quite strong, it kept me that way without the tediousness of lifting.....although I did do that once/week. It did likely take me away from my primary activity which was running to a degree, but I don't really think it hurt, and was a lot of fun.