My last blog considered a way in which to set goals that would be achieved. However, as life often does, things never quite run to plan. Often things crop up which are beyond our control. The trick here is to take them on the chin and start the next short term target cycle fresh and with no regrets. This is the advantage of having short, medium and long term goals; short term weekly targets can be started fresh after a setback, and the medium and long term goals can be back on track. My biggest problem at the moment is that I’m overweight and unfit; I’m focusing on running for weight loss and fitness. I’ve got short term goals that include 2 runs per week of 40 mins + and 500+ kCals to be spent in each session. I’m also sacrificing toast in favour of cereal for breakfast, a smaller packed lunch and no pudding or evening cheese.

I’m relatively new to running, I’ve been asthmatic since I was 4 and I found running very hard at school and always thought I’d never be able to do it so never tried. Just over a year ago some friends persuaded me that running a marathon would be a good idea and got me into training for it. I didn’t do the marathon (couldn’t get in) but I kept on running. I found that it increased my stamina far more than any other climbing training I’d done before, and such a dramatic change in such a short time made me wish I’d done it in the past. For me it has been a real eye opener. I’m not brilliant at it since I’m short and heavy but I’ve made real progress in terms of climbing performance that I would recommend it to any serious climber looking for a tip on training.

I’ve gone a little of the point - last week I had a few training setbacks (mainly work commitments - details later in the year). I didn’t make my training goals for the week and my medium term target looked like it might suffer. However, this week I’ve started again and pulled it back on track. If you do have a hiccup, focus on achieving the next short term goal cycle and you’ll make it in the end.

 Half term is my first target deadline. It’s also my first chance to put it all into practice on the local cliffs. It’s also a time to go on a trip (watch out North Wales).

It’s also time to round up old projects (see picture - 3 year build project) so that I can focus fully on my ultimate aim - get better at climbing. Fingers crossed for the weather to be nice in a couple of weeks time ; )

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[Transmission begins…]

I have been continuing on my regime to return as a fully functioning climber, back at the grades that I was once achieving some years ago. I have been reading around and from sources such as Training for Climbing and from my own profession it is clear that target setting is the first stage to realising your goals. However, to coin a teaching term (possibly borrowed from American corporate bullsh*t) they need to be SMART. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. For example; I will do 1 one-armed pull up by Easter with my left and right arms. This hits all the criteria for me from this model, being specific in the exercise that I will perform (could be a route or a grade), measurable in that I must do 1 on each arm, it is attainable as I have done them before, realistic in that I am not far off it now and the time frame is long enough to achieve it and time bound in that I must do it by Easter. Having looked at Fiend’s blog it is clear that some of his targets fall short in one or more of these ideas and may lead to many left unfulfilled.

SMART targets are a good step, one that you can truly say “yes, I have achieved that” , “no” or even “I have managed 50% within my time frame” and progress can be seen and measured. However targets alone will not make a good climber and as Eric suggests goal setting needs sacrifice. For every target there needs to be a sacrifice; for my one-arm pull up aim I might sacrifice alcohol until Easter. This might sound extreme but how much do I want to realise this goal? With a sacrifice you can focus on the goal to be achieved and prove to yourself just how much you want it.

 It is also clear that targets need to come in short, medium and long term time frames. Short term targets should concern day to day small things that will make a big difference in the end. Medium term objectives need to address the larger increases in strength, grade, etc. Whilst long term goals should aim for the ultimate goal, the big step you want to make real like do the climb of your life.

 So be SMART and make that sacrifice…

training continues; 2 more runs, 2 more campus sessions, 2 more wall sessions, 1 bouldering session and lost 2 lbs (only 1 stone to go)

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Hello to all of you who can be bothered to read yet more pointless information on the web,

If I were you I’d go out climbing or something; well actually I wouldn’t because on my current record of not climbing more then 6 times in the last 12 months it would be wrong of me to set such a standard. Why haven’t I climbed for so long? Well when you get to a certain period in your life you seem to have more to do than you expected. Work, children, family holidays, DIY, build a sports car, etc, etc… you get the idea.

However, this year is my come back year (a bit like last year the year before that and the year before that except I really mean it this time!). I’m starting with some running for fitness and a diet to aid weight loss. I aim to lose a stone. I’ve also started some campus sessions for basic strength and low level endurance. At present I can’t manage more than half an hour before my fingers and arms are blown. I need to read my books again like Eric Horsts “Training for Climbing” and maybe use the intenet (e.g. http://www.trainingforclimbing.com/) to help formulate a more concrete plan of attack.

I’m sure that there are many people in my situation, good luck to you all.

So far I’ve had 3 campus sessions, put on 2pounds (aim to lose 1st 2lbs now) and gone for a 40 min run…

Over and out… [end of transmission]