[NotOnEiger]

I am in the midst of the 8 week mountaineering training plan and of course it’s calling for many “uphill” exercises. The highest stair cases that I have access to is about 10-11 floors high, there is an accessible outdoor staircase as well. Many of my training exercises however I do on a treadmill or stairmaster or both (to tackle the boredom factor…).

My question now is, what is the minimum of flights or stairs where going up and of course down that stair case (although I could take an elevator down but maybe the step down is also important?) has potentially a better benefit than being on a stairmaster/treadmill where the step moves away underneath you?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

Topic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on December 1, 2017 at 9:07 pm #6968

This topic has been discussed many times here:
https://uphillathlete.com/forums/topic-tag/muscular-endurance/ read some of these and you’ll find answers.

Stairs beat machines because you have to lift your body against gravity on stairs. But your 10 flights probably takes less than 5 minutes. so this would be best for high intensity ME workouts like these: https://uphillathlete.com/muscular-endurance-me-workout-water-carries/

For longer workouts where you want to remain in a continuous aerobic zone then the machine will be better. Or the elevator can work too.

Scott

[NotOnEiger]

NotOnEiger on December 1, 2017 at 11:51 pm #6969

Thanks Scott!