stretching and warming up

Post by **sendit** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:59 pm

there is this awesome stretch I learned from a buddy that uses a single length runner. It warms up the shoulders and arms really well. It's kind of tricky to explain though - imagine holding the runner with your right hand above your left and both palms facing towards you. Bring your right elbow over top of your left arm and then lift both hands over your head and reverse the squence behind you bringing it around back in front
actually, that didn't make any sense, it's the sort of thing you have to see.
Your probably better off just shaking your arms and getting on an easy route...

Post by **Xtant** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:08 pm

Warm-up: huff and puff to the crag. Drop gear. Drink Water. Mumble something under my breath about drinking too much the night before. More water. Stare at the rock. Curse again. Climb.

Works for me. Not very well, mind you, but it is my climbing warm-up routine...

Post by **Rollo** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:31 pm

i never stretch... i hate it so much and it hurts.... because i never stretch

Post by **Andrew** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:30 pm

If stretching worked, captain static would climb 5.15b

Post by **512OW** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:55 pm

Andrew wrote:If stretching worked, captain static would climb 5.15b

Post by **SCIN** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:01 pm

One day at the base of this route this lady pulled out a yoga mat and stretched for about 30 minutes before climbing. In between stretches she asked how scary and difficult this 5.10 was that she was planning on doing. It was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

Post by **sendit** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:22 pm

SCIN wrote:One day at the base of this route this lady pulled out a yoga mat and stretched for about 30 minutes before climbing. In between stretches she asked how scary and difficult this 5.10 was that she was planning on doing. It was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

Was the woman's name Horatio? 'Cause she came into your garage last night glowing about the awesome yoga she had just done. She was so stoked she decided to not even climb and ended up just meditating in the corner with her new patagucci coat on. It was so inspiring!

Post by **Shamis** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:41 pm

Being tight will make it difficult to keep your ass in on thin moves, which throws your center of gravity way out, and further strains your arms. So its probably worth it to stretch the legs. Other than that, I only stretch my shoulders a tiny bit.

I focus on warming up quite a bit though, it seems to be my best defense against tendinitis, and of course, a nasty flash pump.

Post by **pigsteak** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:29 pm

losing weight will help you WAY MORE than stretching. duh.

Post by **kirker** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:49 pm

Warming up is hard when the easiet routes at the cliff are your projects.