Bouldering - Great High, Great Workout!
bouldering, climbing, horizontal, quads, outdoor fitness
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There's something about climbing. That rush you get from defying gravity and other laws of nature, the surge of strength you feel from pulling yourself up a vertical surface and hanging like a spider.
It may be more down to earth than mountain climbing, but bouldering, the art of traversing a large rock as opposed to climbing up a cliff, will give you the same top-of-the-world feeling of accomplishment -- and a heart-pounding, muscle-pumping workout, to boot.
It doesn't take a mountain of specialized gear, either. In fact, the gear list is feather light: Shoes, a chalk bag and chalk are all you need. And if you suspect there's a nascent Sir Edmund Hillary in you who needs a little prodding, bouldering is also a great way to gauge your interest in taking on vertical challenges of the higher kind, without a huge investment in time, either.
Use the following tips to make your transition onto the rocks even faster.
Think before you act. Bouldering is as much mental as it is a physical. Before you begin, survey the rock and visualize your route. Select the most efficient path, one that won't waste effort, and try to stick to it. That said, it's also important to be flexible. If you find you picked a less-than-perfect path once you're on the rock, stay calm and find another way. The problem-solving inherent in bouldering helps strengthen the mind as well as the body.
Use your legs. Despite what you may have heard, you don't need tremendous upper-body strength to be a good climber. Certainly, a strong back, shoulders, arms and core will help you keep a hold of the rock and support yourself as you move across the surface. But remember, the real power is in the legs.
Your quadriceps are among the strongest muscles in your body and will provide the bulk of the strength you need. Focus on pushing with your legs as you pull with your arms, with all your muscles working in harmony and your power stemm... read entire entry
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on 9/7/2008
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