[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on February 18, 2020 at 10:45 pm · in reply to: Mt. Rainier & Mt. Baker back-to-back #38407

Scott,

You are entirely correct about recommendations without knowing details. I am thankful Mt. Rainier comes first so recovery won’t be an issue there, this will be my 3rd attempt and 1st in early August so I hope this will finally be my year. Baker is just something ambitious I added on, I really enjoy these trips and wanted to fit something else (slightly) easier in. Worst case scenario I stick it out at high camp but I want to see where my mental toughness can take me if I want to do Aconcagua later this year or early 2021. Now that I look again in Training Peaks, I didn’t even do the 16-week but the 12-week time crunch and I saw an amazing level of difference compared to my own training in 2017. This speaks a lot since I had basically 0 cardio from powerlifting and was well overweight. To do the 24-week this year without needing to lose weight and having a decent base already I am excited to see where the program can take me.

Chang,
That sounds tough! I am not excited for the driving either. I am pretty sure the routes you went on are supposed to be more challenging than DC/Emmons, so it gives me confidence knowing someone else was able to put them together so closely. It’s a good reality check so I know I’m not biting off more than I can chew.

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on February 17, 2020 at 9:48 pm · in reply to: Mt. Rainier & Mt. Baker back-to-back #38342

Hi Scott,

Thank you for your reply. These are guided trips between IMG and AAI – with Rainier summit attempt on the 12th, I’ll have the 13th free before a day of 2775ft gain/3.75miles/35lb pack on the 14th. I am thinking it won’t be so bad since the 12th will be downhill and 14th is uphill and might recruit different muscles. The 15th is just “skills” at camp, so I would almost consider this another rest/recover day before Baker summit attempt which is 4681ft gain, 15lb pack for 3 miles. I am hoping with Rainier’s summit this will mentally make it feel like a breeze.

I’d like to see if I can hit about 16-20,000ft/gain in a single week sometime before departing, mostly at or below AeT. The IMG trip in Sept. 2017 we made it to the top of the Cleaver, but so many climbers had to turn around we were down to the last 2 guides before one of the 3 climbers left wanted to go back down. Fortunately the AAI trip last year went much smoother, however the weather stopped us from even leaving the Flats.

Unfortunately I can’t control the team’s fitness or the weather, but obviously I do not plan on being the weak link here. When I spoke with climbers from last year, I don’t think any of them with exception to the guides had read TftNA or used its principles (which could be expected since it attracts many novice climbers).

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on August 6, 2019 at 8:13 am · in reply to: Muscle Cramps #26294

Dada, no asthma that I know of. Never used any inhaler.

Stuart, I realized the other day that maybe these mixes and tablets are effective for someone that doesn’t already have cramps, but in vigorous conditions or the less-than-ideally trained individual maybe they aren’t helping because getting enough of the sodium, potassium, magnesium etc. means drinking more water, which might be negating the effects we are looking for. If using the caps or pills it may be possible this allows the body to catch up its levels without being diluted with all the extra water.

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on August 5, 2019 at 5:33 am · in reply to: ADS or Poor ME training? #26213

You would be absolutely right. I did the AeT test today as suggested based off drift. I shot for a HR below the MAF suggestion; 24 yrs old so 156bpm.

I began with 147bpm and 10% treadmill incline, 20 minute warm-up.

First 30 Minutes:
Min: 142/Avg: 153/Max: 163

Second 30 Minutes:
Min: 160/Avg: 168/Max: 177

Unfortunately, almost 10% drift. I’m going to drop my aerobic sessions down to 130-135bpm and go from there, testing again in a few weeks.

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on August 2, 2019 at 9:52 pm · in reply to: Muscle Cramps #26052

Stuart,

Where are you getting your electrolytes from? I ask because when I was using drink mixes on my trip I couldn’t help but feel like something was still missing. I’ve used the salt capsules found on amazon and haven’t had issues since. If it isn’t hydration or electrolytes, it’s probably just straight up fatigue. In training, are you strictly doing stairmill/treadmill work? Or also long weekends in the hills and mountains? Perhaps when you finally make it to the climb your muscles are taxed partially in a new way. For example I live at sea level and the only training I can do is stairs and 15% on a treadmill. I don’t have much of a way to tax my legs at 20-30-40% incline.

I strongly suggest on your breaks to try doing some stretches while eating and drinking.

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on August 2, 2019 at 5:05 am · in reply to: Muscle Cramps #25880

I’d love to know the answer to this as well.

I’ve had the same issue on my first climb of both Rainier and Hvannadalshnúkur in Iceland. In my opinion it comes from a salt deficiency or electrolyte imbalance. I was drinking Propel mix in my waters but I think the salt capsules would be ideal. Keep in mind I didn’t have these issues until the 2.5-3hr mark. How much are you sweating on the approach? Also try to look into rest stepping. This will help prevent contracting the leg muscles too much. Each time I had the cramps, they were solely in my quads and hip flexors. I too felt fine after the first day, maybe because of the salty foods and soup you have your first night at camp. You definitely are not alone in this issue.

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on August 1, 2019 at 12:32 pm · in reply to: StairMill Questions #25858

Owen,

I didn’t bother to ask since I’ve seen that question so many times online. Truthfully I don’t know the physics, but I once thought it is not as hard as real stairs because by the time you make your next step it has lowered. However, so has your back foot.

Really though I was trying to find out if the weight setting makes a difference but it seems like with the reading in manuals its just to show estimated calories burned. I’ve signed up for some phone counseling and trying to make sure my performance for the ME’s aren’t going to be impacted by ADS. It may be time to tone down to Z1 aerobic workouts and use more weight for the ME.

Kyle

[Kyle Brundage]

Kyle Brundage on July 30, 2019 at 6:39 am · in reply to: StairMill Questions #25695

Scott,

Thanks for the clarification. My goal that session wasn’t ME just cardio tempo, I just couldn’t get the machine fast enough to raise my HR to AnT without legs burning out first. I will take it as a good sign that the cardio-priority of the first part of the plan has worked.

Today I started the first weighted ME workout, choosing a weight that included my pack and ankle weights. I had to keep increasing the weight of my pack while on the StairMill. At first 30lbs with 3lbs on each ankle, then 40, then 50 but still wasn’t having much burn in my legs yet had a heart rate not quite but nearing my Z3 (150-160bpm) all nose-breathing, under those weights. I had done some weighted hiking before the program, so this weight didn’t feel overbearing at my current bodyweight (5’10, 185, 12-13% bf)

From the ME video it seems the goal is to avoid a high HR and have a burning feeling in the legs (I had a slight one, not overly so) and says to increase the weight. Might that mean I need to lower weight and go faster, or add more weight and go slower? I was powerlifting prior so I am wondering if I just need even more weight right off the bat. I have the feeling a real pair of stairs would have put me in my place.

Thank you,
Kyle