A whole podcast about hydration? That's not a very sexy topic, you might be thinking. What if I told you that proper hydration could boost your endurance by 50%? Imagine going twice as long and feeling strong without grueling workouts. Yes, it really gets to be that simple. But the funny thing is, pretty much every hiker I know is walking around semi-dehydrated. And that is not the fate I want for you! So this week on the podcast, we're talking about how to hydrate before, during, and...

When you're at your fitness peak after a summer outdoors, the arrival of fall can provoke anxiety. You may be wondering ... NOW WHAT? Like all good things, the training season must come to an end. And a lot of athletes struggle with this. They fight like mad to hold on to gains that are not sustainable. They train all the time like they are about to climb a mountain — and end up physically and mentally burned out. Friend, that's not what I want for you! That's why this week's podcast...

Does fear hold you back from your mountaineering dreams? Me too! But here's the thing. Everything you want in life is on the other side of fear. Learning how to manage fear and anxiety will supercharge your mountaineering life — and every part of your life. So in today's podcast episode, we're going to lean into fear. (Sound scary? It will be OK, I promise!) We'll talk about where fear comes from — and why it's actually a sign our brains are healthy and functioning correctly. Then I'll...

There's no way around it. Endurance training involves discomfort. A LOT of discomfort. First there's the physical and mental strain of training. Let's face it. The kind of exercise that gets results doesn't exactly feel like a massage! There's a lot of gasping and sweating and burning and feeling like you want to stop. Then you need to change your eating habits. You can still eat foods that give you pleasure, but it might happen way less often. You get to go to bed early while everyone...

What's more important – strength training or cardio training? As a coach, you wouldn't believe how often I get this question. And my extremely aggravating answer is: IT DEPENDS. Asking whether you should focus on strength or cardio to prepare for a trip is a little like asking whether you should go to college or start your own business. There are just so many variables to consider. And the answer is going to be different for human. But that doesn't mean it's not a useful question. So today...

Could your healthy lifestyle actually be making you tired? The answer is yes. As humans, we absorb a lot of misinformation about healthy diet and behavior. Endurance athletes are especially vulnerable, because we really do need excellent nutrition and exercise habits in order to reach our goals. But a lot of conventional wisdom about healthy lifestyle is actually wrong. And let's be honest. How healthy do we actually need to be anyway to reach our goals? Do we have to be perfect? Of...

How do the world's greatest endurance athletes eat? Sports journalist Matt Fitzgerald wanted to know. So he asked distance runners, triathletes, cyclists, and rowers from every continent to share their food diaries. The results were shockingly consistent. Endurance athletes at the Olympic and world championship levels share several simple, easy-to-follow nutrition practices. But do you know what's a bummer? Almost none of these are common in recreational athletes. Matt Fitzgerald wanted...

Overtraining for mountaineering? Some of you who struggle with motivation might think, "How is that even a problem? If there's an overtraining curse, smite me with it!" But the truth is, overtraining can actually be more damaging to your goals than undertraining. And as we'll see, it's not uncommon for undertrainers to evolve into overtrainers if they don't work on their mindsets. So today on the podcast, I'll share the science behind overtraining, how to catch it early — and most...

If you feel discouraged with your mountaineering training progress, I want you to imagine with me. Imagine yourself a year from now. What will you be able to climb? How different will your body feel? What will be easy for you? If you worry it might not actually be that different, consider this. Science suggests that most of us overestimate what we can accomplish in a month, but underestimate what we can accomplish in a year. And I am here to tell you that if you keep up the hard work, you...

I always tell my athletes to treat themselves like Olympic athletes. But what the French Toast does that actually mean? How do you act like an Olympian when you're a hobbyist athlete with no sponsors, a full-time job, and kids who are eating crayons behind your back? The truth is that you will probably never have the luxury of training 40 hours a week like Simon Biles of John John Florence. But do you know where you can be exactly like a champion? Your mindset. And between you and me, I...

Why do some people fail in endurance sports like mountaineering, backpacking, and ultrarunning? Here's a secret. It's usually not fitness. And no, it's not because they ate Cheetos during training. It's because they lack mental toughness. Does that sound harsh? Hear me out. By definition, endurance sports push you to your absolute limits. And often, your body can do the work before your mind is ready for that level of discomfort. Sadly, this can lead you to quit when you're just about...

Are you busting your butt in training only to see diminishing returns? Are you pushing yourself harder, faster, and further every week even when it hurts? Friend, if this lands for you, you need to learn about training cycles. You see, in order to get stronger, our bodies need rest as well as exercise. And using endurance training cycles will ensure you get the right balance of pain and gain. And in this episode, I'll explain how you can use training cycles to get more out of your...

Are you frustrated with yourself in training? Do you put down your body, calling it fat, old, or slow? Or do you constantly compare yourself to others and feel like you never measure up? Friend, if this is landing for you, you might have a problem with what I call "dirty motivation." It's the idea that you can nag, whip, or hate your way to fitness, weight loss, and other health goals. And science shows that while negative motivation can get short term results, it usually sabotages your...

Are you in a love-hate relationship with your heart rate monitor? Do you get so obsessed with the heart rate number on the screen that you forget to tune into your own body? Or maybe you're a beginner who feels overwhelmed by all the science behind heart rate training. You're already on a steep learning curve, and it's just more stuff to pack into your poor, overloaded brain! Friends, if you're looking for a super simple way to measure workout intensity so you can get the results you...

You've been busting ass to get ready for the big climb, and as the date gets near, you're feeling more and more discouraged. Despite all your work and effort, you're still slower than Suzy, who is five years older, 10 pounds heavier, and eats Cheetos on trail. It's just not fair! Friend, if you're worried that you're not making progress, know that you're not alone. So many athletes struggle with self doubt during training. Sometimes they're running into normal performance plateaus. But...

Summer is here, which means for many of us our goal trips and climbs are getting close. But for better or worse, summer also means family reunions, family vacations, and cross-country travel — all with the attendant stress and jet lag. So how the hell do you stay on track to climb Mount Rainier and still make it to Aunt Ethel's 97th birthday party in Bumpass, Iowa? In this week's podcast episode, I'll share my best tips for taking your mountaineering training on the road. It takes some...

What’s the best part of mountaineering? Your teammates! Except for those moments when they’re talking too much, bossing you around, being lazy, and just doing life wrong. Now if you’re having mean thoughts about your teammates, know that this is normal. Mountaineering and training really challenge us as people, and sometimes when we’re freezing and exhausted, we’re not as patient as we’d like to be. So how can we still show up for our teammates when the going gets tough? Today I’m...

What should you be able to do fitnesswise before you attempt to climb a mountain? I get this question a lot. Everyone's looking for a test. Should you be able to run a 5K before you climb Pikes Peak? Should you be able to ascend 1,000 feet an hour before attempting Rainier? Friends, here's the truth. There's no fitness test you need to pass before you climb your mountain. You should never let the fact that you're not meeting some imaginary benchmark stop you. However, because I know a...

Think you need to lose weight in order to climb your mountain? Here's a crazy thought. Weight loss can actually hurt your athletic performance more than it helps. You could lose muscle, make yourself more prone to injuries, and feel too tired to push yourself in training. So in this podcast episode, we're going to dive into who benefits from weight loss and how to do it the healthy way. It's all about taking it slowly and respecting your body's need for fuel. Ready? Let's do...

How fast should you hike up a mountain? Here's a secret. Almost everyone starts too fast. And then halfway up, they start to feel tired and panic. This is not a happy way to climb a mountain, and the sad thing is, it's so unnecessary! So in today's episode, I'm going to show you a super simple strategy to pace all your hikes. And I'll also share 5 pacing tips that have greatly improved my enjoyment in the mountains. Ready? Let's do this. Read Detailed Show Notes...

As humans, we've been through a traumatic year with the pandemic. Who could blame us for pouring a glass of wine when we miss our friends and loved ones — and also would rather eat broken glass than tune into one more zoom meeting? However, some of us (waves hand) have probably started to overrely on alcohol as a way to cope. And that doesn't serve us when we're trying to transform our bodies through months of endurance training. So if you can relate, you're going to love this...

Mountaineering training? Who's got time for that when the house is a mess, the kids are crying, the dog needs walked, and you spend 40 hours a week grinding away in a cubicle to pay for it all? If you feel overwhelmed by the time demands of training, this episode is for you. Today we're going to cut through all the crap and focus on the five areas that actually get you results in training. So step away from Outside.com. Put down the Training for the New Alpinism Book. And stop reading about...

Picture this. You’ve taken vacation days from work and flown across the country to climb a Colorado 14er. Let’s say it’s Longs Peak. As you’re climbing, you look into the distance and see dark clouds gathering. You wonder if you should call it a day and head down, but you don’t want to miss your only shot at Longs. Also, all the people around you — the tourists in flip flops and jean shorts — are still heading up. In this moment, how do you sort through all the feelings and doubts and...

Holy t**s, it's episode 50 of the Climb Your Mountain podcast! Thanks so much for listening and helping to make my little pandemic project such a success.This week to celebrate, I'm going to share five ways mountaineering has changed my life (and will...

You've had it with mountaineering training, and you're ready to quit. You think you should be faster and stronger by now.You're convinced you're not ready.And at this point, you're so miserable, you can't remember why you wanted to climb that stupid...