I want to get fitter so I try to learn from experts who have proved themselves. And this is a good example. The author has done some amazing things. Quite jealous to be honest.
For me, I just want to get stronger at climbing and get back to (proper) running, all without (more) injuries. I have read before about the different cycles that top athletes so it was interesting to read about it directly and all the science behind that. I know I need to add (more) strength training and endurance. I should create a proper work plan for each week, a bit of less climbing but better prepared? But I am not clear how to use the knowledge from the book to climbing, when, at the end of day, you want to climb hard every week, as I am not going to compete or anything like that. Or saying in a different, how to handle your ego and jealousy.
Season:
- Recover Mesocycle: low volume, low intensity. This is the chapter I liked the most from the book.
— 2 strength-based rehab routines per week
— 2 endurance-based rehab routines per week at low intensity and no more than 45 minutes.
— 2 days rest
- Base Mesocycle: increase volume, low intensity
— 3 strength-based rehab routines per week
— 4 low-intensity endurance-based rehab routines per week in zone 2 (aerobic).
— 1 strongman strength session
— 1 day rest
- Build Mesocycle: reduce a bit volume, increase intensity
— 3 strength and speed sessions per week (force-velocity curve)
— 3 low and long (10km) open water swims operating in zone 2 (aerobic).
— 3 high-intensity interval sessions in zone 4-5 (anaerobic) (separated by 48h)
— 1 day rest
- Peak Mesocycle: reduce volume, increase intensity:
— 2 strength and speed sessions per week for maintenance of fitness
— 2 low and long (5km) open water swims operating in zone 2 (aerobic). Focus in tecnique.
— 3 high-intensity interval sessions in zone 4-5 (anaerobic)
— 2 day rest
Shoulder pain: Practice hangs from a bar. That’s what our “ancestors” did… Simple
Eudaimonia: fulfilment. It’s different from happiness since it openly accepts that pain and struggling should form part of the process. Happiness without fulfilment is a failure.
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmouting it. Skilful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests
Epictetus
Askesis: healthy hardship. “The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity, moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears” Dan Stevens.
Why we adventure to combat spiritual decay:
A man has achieved his present position by being the most aggressive and enterprising creature on earth….. The comfortable life lowers a man’s resistance… the comfortable life causes spiritual decay
From 1956 book “The Outsider” by Colin Wilson:
