The Average Climber Podcast

You might think you have a liberated mindset towards food, but do you? Do you really? In this episode we unpack the sneaky ways diet culture might be influencing your relationship with food (that you might not even think about). There's a difference between caring about your nutrition and being overcome by perfectionist tendencies - sometimes this line is finer than you think. So strap in and get...

If you started training two weeks before a climbing trip, we'd probably look at you a little funny... You might be surprised to know that you should look at your approach to nutrition in a similar way. In this Snack Break we're checking out what it means to plan your nutrition around a performance objective so you aren't caught unprepared when it counts. Want to know how you can use periodized nut...

Being a climber isn’t the same as being a competitive weight lifter. Or a marathon runner. So why would we train like it is? In this episode we’re taking a look at periodization - or the way we intentionally manipulate our training to elicit specific adaptations. And spoiler alert, as climbers, the way we periodize our training should be designed to fit the demands of our sport - not someone else'...

You might think you're doing this, but there's a good chance you actually aren't. What are we talking about? Deliberate practice. In this episode we discuss how to shift your mindset from a performance to a practice focus to learn more and become a better rock climber. While both are valuable ways to frame your climbing sessions, many climbers spend too much time focused on performing and not enou...

For some climbers - especially those who participate in multiple climbing disciplines - it can be tough to manage expectations. It might feel like you're supposed to be good at everything all the time. Or that you should be able to perform your best constantly. And that any nutrition strategy you adopt should be something you stick with forever and always.  Perhaps that's working for you. Or perha...

A continuation of our previous episode on endurance, we're digging into some more details about what endurance progression can look like over a 12 week training cycle - yep, even if you're a boulderer. Make sure to check out our previous endurance episode before diving into this!  And if navigating the ocean of endurance session options is making your head spin, then get excited because Good Spray...

Are you a boulderer wondering if endurance training even applies to you? Or maybe you're a sport climber seeking out ways to get better at being pumped? Endurance development is a little more complex than meets the eye.  In this episode we're taking a tour of all the flavors and facets of endurance for rock climbers. You'll leave with a well-developed understand of endurance - guaranteed! If getti...

Dreaming about outdoor climbing season? Excited to stand on a ridgeline looking at fields of wildflowers? Ready for more walks in the woods?  While all that sounds lovely in theory, some of it can actually suck if you suffer from seasonal allergies. So in this episode, we're taking you through some nutrition interventions to support you during allergy season. So listen in, and don't spend a day at...

One of the biggest struggles we support athletes with is managing our relationship with climbing and training when life gets messy. It seems like we should be able to compartmentalize and make our climbing goals happen no matter what, right? But is that a reality? And is that truly the best way to move through life and climbing? In this episode, we're digging into all that and more. We are so thri...

You probably want to climb your best when you go outdoors, but how can you prepare for the unique demands of outdoor climbing if you mainly have access to climbing in a gym?  While climbing outside is the primary way you'll get better at - well, climbing outside, don't stress. There are still plenty of methods you can use in the gym to get prepped. In this Snack break we're evaluating outdoor prep...

Whether you're a plant-based athlete or you're more of an omnivore, this weeks' episode is for you. We took your questions on protein and packed them into this highly actionable episode. Whether you're confused about how much protein to eat on rest days, or what to do if eating protein has you stuffed, we've got your back! Need specific nutrition recommendations tailored to your own needs? Caitlin...

When it comes to nutrition, the number of health-promoting foods you could consume in a day is pretty overwhelming. You need protein - but also carbs, fats, vegetables, and fiber! The list goes on. Here at the Average Climber Podcast, we've found that a well-made smoothie can be a fast and easy way to pack a hefty nutritional punch. So in this episode, we're giving you a masterclass on making qual...

It's another Plug Tone Crossover Episode! Today we put Ryan Devlin, host of The Struggle Climbing Show in the hot seat. We discuss all that he's learned from the countless A-list pros he has interviewed and how he's applied these lessons to his own climbing - with great results, we might add. While we can't do everything like the pros, there are certainly some great lessons to be learned.  You can...

In this Snack Break, we're crowdsourcing the best tips we received on climbing and training in the cold. From layering, to eating, to "whacky-but-it-works" tactics - we're bringing you the good stuff from our very own Average Climber Community. If you're sick of cold weather shutting you down, you had better give this a listen. Want to learn more about working with us? You can go to  www.goodspray...

On this episode of the we're talking send temps. Is the cold really ideal for sending? What nutritional changes do you need to make if it's cold? How does the cold impact your hands - and does this effect differ between men and women? Bundle up, we're digging into all that and more as we explore cold weather climbing and training! Work with Caitlin: www.dirtbagnutritionist.com Work with Lauren: ww...

It's high time for some more myth busting and in this episode we're breaking down three common misconceptions about SNACKING. Is snacking good? Bad? Should we stop doing it? We'll answer all that in more in this Snack Break.  In other news, we have something pretty SWEET to tell you about. As of today, February 23, the Breakthrough Kickstart Bundle is on sale! Inside of the kick start bundle you'l...

In January 2023, the gals took a trip to Hueco Tanks. Caitlin, the OG, showed Lauren around and visited old projects. Lauren on the other hand, got a crash course in climbing in Hueco.  This snack break gets into the mind games of visiting old projects, checking out a totally new area, and developing new skills via both strength and practice.  Whether you're visiting Hueco or you're looking at som...

Many athletes pick a season for a solid 12 week long training cycle -- wintertime being a particularly popular time of year to train. In this episode, we're give you our top 6 tips for getting the most out of a training cycle - nutrition advice included.  If you're looking to make the most out of your training, this episode is for you. ... and speaking of optimizing your training, don't forget tha...

The next round of Breakthrough starts on February 20th. To get you in the know about all this program has to offer, we recorded an episode about it. To learn about who Breakthrough is for, what you'll gain from the program, and how it all works, give this episode a listen.  Early bird registration for Breakthrough starts on January 27, 2023. Early bird registrants will receive $400 off enrollment....

What do you need to do to build muscle for climbing? Should you be putting on muscle at all? How does your nutrition need to change to build muscle? And what does strength training look like if muscle growth is on your mind? If you’ve ever wondered about any of these questions, listen up. This episode is for you. And if taking a holistic approach to climbing is intriguing to you, then get excited...

It's that time of year again, where the entire internet is yelling at you to do better in the New Year. In the spirit of improvement, we want to share a few things we've learned in our own goal setting ventures.  If you're ready to hear the tea on how we've changed our approaches to setting goals, you'll want to listen in.  Don't forget to sign up for Protein Pals! You can register here to join in...

Building strength supports your climbing. From mitigating injuries to helping you do hard moves, getting stronger will help you be a better climber and athlete. The good news is, there are many ways to go about strength training - the bad news? All of the options can get pretty damn confusing. In this episode we're answering your questions to help you get from confused to confident.  If this got y...

The media surrounding health and fitness always seems to take a turn for the toxic around this time of year. So in this Snack Break, we're clapping back - and giving you four helpful tips for navigating your training and nutrition throughout the holiday season.  [Spoiler alert, we won't be telling you to "earn your Christmas cookies"] Also, we're so excited to announce that our holistic group prog...

Ever felt like your body could climb harder if your head wasn't getting in your way? If so, you aren't alone. Which is why this weeks' episode is all about mental game.  This topic is so important that we brought in guest expert and coach, Karly Rager to talk about it. Karly is a climbing coach specializing in headgame and mental performance and she's about to change the way you look at improving...

In this snack break, we're featuring our honored guest Emily Smith MS, CNS, The Outdoor Nutritionist. Armed with the knowledge of not one, but TWO nutrition professionals, we're diving into what you need to know about body composition.  Speaking of body composition, if this episode tickled your fancy, this is just the tip of the iceburg. There is a lot more to learn inside of Body Comp Pro, a cour...