We talk a lot about how our training should be specific to our actual climbing goals.  However, when it comes to warming up, we can all acknowledge how important it is, but for most of us warming up simply consists of a couple laps on easier climbs or boulders before we move onto our project or to training.  Effective warm-ups though, just like our training, should be tailored to whatever our training session or goal for the day is.

To help us all warm up better, here’s an article by climbing coach and trainer Steve Bechtel of Climb Strong that covers all the elements that should go into effective warm-ups and how we can customize them so that they are best suited to the activities that follow them.

“The warm-up functions as a way to get the body working right for hard activity. It increases blood flow and respiration, runs the body temperature up a couple of notches, and gets the mind in the right place. In climbing we usually just climb to get going, but there is probably a better and more effective ways to prime yourself for a good session.” – Steve Bechtel

Climb Strong – Effective Warm-Ups

In his article, Bechtel suggests that all effective warm-ups should feature two separate and distinct components.  They are:

1. A General Warm-Up
2. A Specific Warm-Up

Bechtel outlines exactly what both of these steps should look like and gives some suggestions about how to do them as efficiently as possible.

To take things one step further, Steve gives us suggestions about how we can add one more step to our warm-up so that it is specific to what we will be doing that day.  He describes in detail effective warm-ups for really intense training (a progressive warm-up), a crag warm-up for route climbing, and a bouldering warm up that works both indoors and outside.

Click through below to read the full article and learn exactly what is included in each of these warm-ups.  Remember, while warming-up may not be the most interesting or exciting part of your session, if you don’t have time to warm up properly, you don’t have time to train.

Full Articles: Climb Strong – Effective Warm-Ups

(photos courtesy of climbstrong.com)

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• How To Warm Up For A Bouldering Session
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