Training Routine / The "Suicide" Drill

This routine has a terrible name. Has anyone else tried this, done this, or regularly incorporate this into their climbing practice? I'm curious to hear people's thoughts.

As a way to get more comfortable pushing myself on sport routes a staff member at my gym suggested I do "suicide" drills. If you're unfamiliar, this drill mimics drills we all probably did in middle/high school physical ed class or as part of a basketball practice. Here's the layout:

1. Climb to the first bolt, clip, climb down (to the ground)
2. Immediately climb to the second bolt, clip, climb down
3. Immediately climb to the third bolt, clip, climb down
4. Repeat until you've completed the route

It takes a while. For a first attempt, I chose a totally vertical 5.7 route. I was with a small group that got impatient and asked me to quit after the 6th bolt -- I compromised and after the 6th bolt finished the 9 bolt route and climbed down from the finish --  but that was enough to generate a serious sweat and trash my arms and legs. After a short rest, I hopped on an overhung 5.9 and was surprised at how much more trust I had in my movement up the wall.

It sounds a lot like a drill in Rock Climber's Training Manuel (ARCing on lead routes). It would be a good way to increase aerobic ability.

Seth Bleazard wrote: It sounds a lot like a drill in Rock Climber's Training Manuel (ARCing on lead routes). It would be a good way to increase aerobic ability.

Rock Climber's Training Manuel! There are so many books. I'll have to check that out. I'm assuming there are more training ideas contained therein?

Thom Glick wrote: ... or as part of a basketball practice...

Oh god yes...and it worked.

I like it.  Climbing is way too damn slow anyways.

Thom Glick wrote:

Rock Climber's Training Manuel! There are so many books. I'll have to check that out. I'm assuming there are more training ideas contained therein?

RCTM is basically the bible of climbing training. I personally think it's one of the best resources out there.

"Suicide" as a drill name (at least as I know it) stems from a basketball drill:

Starting at the baseline

run to the near freethrow line and back
run to half court and back
run to the far freethrow line and back
run to the far baseline and back
throw-up

repeat and get fit.

Seth Bleazard wrote: RCTM is basically the bible of climbing training. I personally think it's one of the best resources out there.

If you like doing repeaters and crash dieting

Logical Progression
Steve Bechtel
A much more pragmatic, non robotic approach to becoming a better / stronger climber.

RCTM is great for people who really really love hangboards....... in an unhealthy way.

Me and my partner do it all the time but we unclip on our way down if its overhanging to avoid a nasty swing if you fall while climbing back to your highpoint 

You can also add a variante where once you’ve clip the last bolt you start unclipping the draws using the same approach.
1- clip last bolt and climb down to the ground
2 - climb up to last bolt and unclip then climb down to the ground.
3- climb up to before last bolt, unclip and climb down OTO the ground.
and so on and so forth

THAT will mess up you forearms pretty bad :P