In this blog series, we’ve asked each of our six coaches about the top five lessons they have learned about training. Jen Wood is our newest Lattice Coach, who’s background in competition climbing and coaching means she has gained a lot of experience about training through her time on the competition circuit. Jen has a number of Junior and Senior podium results to her name, and is well-accustomed to setting goals, tapering and peaking at the right time. This takes a lot of skill and a lot of knowledge about the way your body feels and the way it trains. Jen’s lessons are focused around just this; understanding your body and your training, not overthinking when training isn’t going your way, and knowing how it feels to try really, really hard. Read on for more lessons from Jen…

“Climbing with a big variety of people can help you see different ways of moving and tackling climbs; trying different styles and adding new moves to your repertoire.“

1. Set Goals 

Even if you don’t have a comp coming up or a trip planned, having little training goals to work towards can really help keep motivation up when the training feels like hard work. Mini goals are really easy to set on measurable sessions, such as those on the fingerboard or campus board. Even just having a specific problem you want to finish at the wall or on the board can give you a boost!

2. Train With Others

You might not even be doing the same session, but training around psyched people helps keep your training fun and ensures you are trying hard. We all want to impress our friends! There are always loads of people doing various forms of training at the wall, and normally they’d be keen for a bit of company as well. Climbing with a big variety of people can help you see different ways of moving and tackling climbs; trying different styles and adding new moves to your repertoire.

3. Understand Your Training

Some sessions are more boring than others. Sometimes they even feel useless… stretching sessions and aerobic work don’t always feel like training in the same way that weighted pull ups or a big campus session does. But a little bit of research (or just ask your coach!) into why these sessions are important can go a long way to getting motivated to get them done.

“Persevere, and it’s more than likely that your training is going to result in big improvements in the long run, despite a few rocky sessions a long the way.”

4. Don’t Overthink It

You might be lucky enough to be one of those people that feels amazing and improves every session, but the reality is that most of us aren’t. It is quite likely that your performance will fluctuate each session. Often this is because of fatigue – if you’ve had a heavy couple of weeks, then training is going to feel like hard work. Or, even if you’re a little stressed or tired from work, then it might be that bit harder to get your training done. Don’t jump to conclusions thinking you are getting worse or the training’s not working – persevere, and its more than likely going to result in big improvements in the long run, despite a few rocky sessions a long the way.

“I don’t think it ever gets easy to really give it 100%, but at least when you know what it feels like you can pull it out when it really matters.“

5. Try Really Hard 

Often you might think you are giving it 110%, but there’s often that next level of try hard you can engage. You’ll know when you find it and it feels cool. I still surprise myself when I decide to try that extra bit harder and climb way further than I expect or get a few extra pull ups in. I don’t think it ever gets easy to really give it 100%, but at least when you know what it feels like you can pull it out when it really matters.

Keep up to date with the Lattice blog for upcoming features from the rest of our coaches. Check out our Training Plans if you’d like to start your own plan with the Lattice team!