Hey guys,
I need some advice on training. I used to be involved in climbing when I was younger, even competing in the British Youth Climbing Championships. But I have been out of the game for about 6/7 years and have lost almost all the strength needed.
I need some advice on how to get back into it.
I would start out just going bouldering. Remembering how to move. Take a lot of rest between goes and between sessions. Don't get frustrated that you're not as good as you used to be. Focus on the movement and enjoying it. Over a couple of months build up how many problems you do per session, and how many sessions you do per week. Start picking some problems at the climbing wall that you can't do in 3-5 goes. Try to find subtle variations in the way that you climb that make them feel a bit easier. Try them lots of times over a number of weeks. But do lots of other easier problems too.
To me, that's a fun way of improving. I think once you've had it, it's easier to get it back. You just have to persevere through the phase where it's demoralising that you're not as good as you used to be, or as good compared to other people as you think you should be. Focus on how you climb, not anything else. Strength either comes with time or accompanied by injury if you try to force it too quickly.
