[Maria]

I try to follow the suggestions for training from the book training for new alpinism. I still do the training from the transition period, because my plan always gets disturbed. As I´m living in the middle of Germany I´m going down to the alps quite often. There is also a lot to learn…I started diving into the world of mountaineering/alpine climbing last June. So I try to squeeze in training, all my trips, learning new stuff and daily work. But there is a huge problem: I always get sick after 2-3 weeks of training!
To give you a rough idea about the last months where I started to focus on improving my fitness: I trained half of November and Dezember until christmas (with some sickness in between), then I went down to the alps for 1,5 weeks to do some ice climbing. I got injured and sick again so I had to rest for 2 weeks what forced me to go back to very light training for 2 weeks, already squeezing in another 2 day ice climbing trip to the alps. Than I´ve been away with work where I don´t have a chance to train at all. As soon as I finished that I went down to the alps again for one week, improving my ski skills. Now I´m two weeks on training and I already feel a little sick so that I don´t feel for running (but still doing the strength and climbing sessions). I want to get my training done. If I don´t go for a run in the morning it is hard for me to sit in the office the whole day. As I feel weak now I have a light training week in common, but will head to the alps next Friday to ski in a resort. I plan to do the strength sessions there, but I´ll barely put my running shoes on.

I would be happy to hear what you guys suggest about the ongoing sickness. I did a blood test last year. It turned out that everything is okay. I also eat healthy and regular, no partying and rare alcohol consumption.

Cheers
Maria

Topic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on March 20, 2017 at 10:34 am #4291

Hi Maria,

Do you think you may be dong too much too soon? Or too much with the time you have available? When you said you were “squeezing in” training and trips, that made me wonder that maybe the load is too high, whether that load is mental or physical.

I’ve made those types of mistakes many times myself, so that’s what made me wonder.

Also, in general when you’re not sick, 80-90% of your training should still be easy (below your aerobic threshold, or limited by breathing through your nose). Would that describe most of your training?

Frequent illness is typically a sign that the total stress load is too high, including physical and mental components.

I hope that helps.

Scott (S)

[Steve House]

Steve House on March 21, 2017 at 4:05 pm #4294

Hi Maria,
I think Scott S may be correct; you’re overall stress level is simply too high. With climbers at your stage, I recommend taking things in blocks. Since it is spring, with summer around the corner, I would suggest dedicating the next few months to learning (and going) climbing. Then plan on starting a training plan in say, October, when you won’t be able to go climbing as often and the weather will be bad anyways. In short: don’t try to do it all at once. Make sense?

[Maria]

Maria on March 21, 2017 at 6:00 pm #4312

Hi Scott S, hi Steve,

thanks a lot for your answers. I really appreciate your advice and yeah, you guys are right: I try to do it all at once and to much too soon. It´s just because I´m super stoked 🙂 There is a long long way to go and I don´t want to waste time. I mean, life is short.
Your advice helps me to wind down a little bit.

Maria

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on March 22, 2017 at 10:08 am #4337

Hi Maria,

You’ll get more long-term benefit by breaking things up as Steve has suggested. Getting sick will cost you more in the long-term than going slowly. Life is long! 🙂

Scott (S)