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I have climbed Aconcagua, Matterhorn, Ama Dablam and attempted 2 x 8,000 m (Failed on weather on 1 and sickness on the other)

I like to run occasionally but fI am not able to run for at least 6 months of the year. This is due to the unavailability of a place to run

So I skip, walking lunges, squats, burpees and pushups in a 1 hour circuit. It keeps my heart rate at 160-180.

I work 12 hour days/7 days a week, so I can only really do 1 hour sessions at work. I sometimes fire off some pushups, chinups and squats in the office.

gobriango wrote:

Luciano136 wrote:I never run! I can find better ways to ruin my knees! I bike for cardio and mountain hike for, well, mountain training. Haven't summited any of those peaks you mention but I'm confident I could do Rainier with just that for training. If I need better shape, I just up the frequency of both.[/quot

RUNNING DOESN'T RUIN KNEES.........AN UNBALANCED BODY RUINS KNEES !!!

Well, then a lot of people have unbalanced bodies. To me, it just makes sense; when you run it puts a lot of stress on the knee because of the shock every time you hit the ground. Everyone is built differently; some people will run for 40 years and be fine. Others just have horrible knees. I think it's mainly genetics and what you did growing up. I played basketball and it most definitely made my knees worse. Running hurts them too. Hiking doesn't.

I'd say: know your own body but the majority of runners I know end up with knee issues... Biking is lot better IMO.

Luciano136 wrote:

gobriango wrote:

Luciano136 wrote:I never run! I can find better ways to ruin my knees! I bike for cardio and mountain hike for, well, mountain training. Haven't summited any of those peaks you mention but I'm confident I could do Rainier with just that for training. If I need better shape, I just up the frequency of both.[/quot

RUNNING DOESN'T RUIN KNEES.........AN UNBALANCED BODY RUINS KNEES !!!

Well, then a lot of people have unbalanced bodies. To me, it just makes sense; when you run it puts a lot of stress on the knee because of the shock every time you hit the ground. Everyone is built differently; some people will run for 40 years and be fine. Others just have horrible knees. I think it's mainly genetics and what you did growing up. I played basketball and it most definitely made my knees worse. Running hurts them too. Hiking doesn't.

I'd say: know your own body but the majority of runners I know end up with knee issues... Biking is lot better IMO.

I agree, genetics must be a huge factor.

My whole body hips down get torn up from running, I only do it 2 1/2 months of the year (crosscountry season). I sustain injuries for about a month afterwards, then it gets better.

Hiking down steep slopes without poles and with a pack also gives me knee trouble, though, I think it's just genetics.

-Mark

I run if my life depends on it. Or if it happens to occur in the context of some sport...like tennis. Otherwise, I don't see the point...and it's bad for the knees.

Mark Straub wrote:My whole body hips down get torn up from running, I only do it 2 1/2 months of the year (crosscountry season). I sustain injuries for about a month afterwards, then it gets better.

Hiking down steep slopes without poles and with a pack also gives me knee trouble, though, I think it's just genetics.

-Mark

You're probably still growing a bit as well. Especially at a younger age, knees can be damaged from excessive stress (as in running a lot). Within a few years from now, your knees might actually get a bit stronger.

My body is definitely unbalanced -- left side muscles (below C4) are weaker due to central nervous system damage. Right side sensory deficits several nerve roots down (I think) starting around mid-torso. When I jog I resemble a rag doll, barely under control. No way am I going to start running now.

But for the OP, I did Rainier in '06 (pre-injury) with a similar training regimen to what I am doing now, and Shasta three times since my injury (something like 11 times total). I train a lot partially because I have to -- with less muscle innervation I have fewer functioning muscle fibers -- the impression I get is that it is literally a use it or lose it situation.

SarahThompson wrote:I don't run at all. Have climbed Aconcagua and Rainier amongst many other things. I "train" by climbing high peaks in Colorado every weekend year round. That's it. And I've kicked butt on all of the bigger mountains I've attempted.

I can pretty much echo what Sarah says. I don't run at all (except for a bit of trail running now and then while going to/from a summit). I don't train either, but simply head into the mountains nearly 4 days a week (on average), year-round. Spent more than 150 days in the mountains last year. And like Sarah, I found the "bigger" mountains I've climbed (Rainier, Hood, Baker, Grand Teton, Moran, Orizaba, Izta, certain stuff I've done in the Andes, Alps, North Cascades, Sierra, Colorado & Canadian Rockies, etc.) to be largely rather easy (from a physical exertion standpoint). 'Course, that isn't including those miserable ascents I've done while sick...

MikeTX wrote:

radson wrote:So I skip, walking lunges, squats, burpees and pushups in a 1 hour circuit. It keeps my heart rate at 160-180.

Do you do this around a track or something? You've peaked my interest.

I do it on the helidick Mike. Its quite scenic although hot. Often when I train massive culumonimbus clouds form.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radson/3694713867/

Something along the lines of

2,000 skips (200 skips in 1.5 minutes followed by 30 seconds rest)

3 x 50 walking lunges

3 x (20 walking lunges with shoulder side raises, 20 a squats with vertical weighted arm raise, 12 x burpees. minute rest)

3 x (25 unweighted lunges, 25 x unweighted squats, 100 m run with 4 x push up. Minute rest)

4 x 25 pushups (30 second rest)

gregorpatsch wrote:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/phys-ed-can-running-actually-help-your-knees/

I remember seeing this. As my 82 year old father-in-law says "Use it or lose it!"

bird wrote:

gregorpatsch wrote:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/phys-ed-can-running-actually-help-your-knees/

I remember seeing this. As my 82 year old father-in-law says "Use it or lose it!"

I generally agree, but one should be careful how you "use it."

I've seen many people out pounding their knees and most of them could have just walked fast with very little impact and the same results. Walking up hills is great and take a pack if you need it to be harder. When I use a pack I take big water bottles and then dump it all at the top.

Exactly. How much running do you do in the mountains? None generally. Find the steepest longest hill you can find and do laps on it if you have to with a a pack and water in it. I do this going up Tiger Mountain/PooPoo point/Mount Si/Granite Mountain.

OR do it the way the paraglider folks do it. Paraglider kit weighs in around 30-40lbs or more depending on whose carrying what. Yes, it can be lighter but not generally. Hike to the top of PooPoo point on the Chiroco Trail 1.9miles 1500 feet gain and fly down saving your knees...

Brian

albanberg wrote:

bird wrote:

gregorpatsch wrote:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/phys-ed-can-running-actually-help-your-knees/

I remember seeing this. As my 82 year old father-in-law says "Use it or lose it!"

I generally agree, but one should be careful how you "use it."

I've seen many people out pounding their knees and most of them could have just walked fast with very little impact and the same results. Walking up hills is great and take a pack if you need it to be harder. When I use a pack I take big water bottles and then dump it all at the top.

gregorpatsch wrote:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/phys-ed-can-running-actually-help-your-knees/

I didn't have time to read the article but from researching in the past, I have read that running *can* indeed strengthen your knees but it is very crucial to use the right technique. That said, walking is just as good and you don't need technique, so there's really no point in running if all you want to do is make your knees stronger.

Wastral wrote:How much running do you do in the mountains? None generally.

I run in the mountains a lot.