Hey Marcel, was about to get in touch to let you know the video was up, glad you saw it anyway. Thanks for the words of wisdom and well done for making the top so quickly in less than perfect conditions - just goes to show you need to be fit enough for whatever the mountain throws at you! Best John.
Hi Keith, sorry we couldn't get you up there in June, it's not a failure if the weather turns against you though. More than happy to have you back for another go anytime. Best John.
Thanks! Once again very interesting even though the climbs I am pondering aren't nearly as high, it's certainly applicable and worth thinking about. I problaby won't be fit enough for the big one ever again, but despite mid 50s, I am about the same height as Pogacar and Blumenfeldt and splash dot between them in weight, so I guess it's something to work on but not worry too much about. I was surprised about what looked like Z3 sessions of 90 minutes but remembering the efforts at altitude in the rockies in March, I wonder if it's the oxygen. Besides running a half marathon, I hardly ever stay at Z3 for all of 90 minutes (and the HM ends in Z4 normally), though some long runs are at the edge of Z2/Z3 due to heart-rate drift. I'll clearly look into ways of improving my training and the role of Z3.
Maybe I can share something about this. I have done a tonne of swimming to be able to surf when I can, but I think I got much fitter from cycling and even more so from running. I was training to climb my first 4000m last month but unfortunately wasn't able to go. But I got up to running over 30km per week, my fitness felt amazing, also any hikes I done were really easy on my legs! When I was swimming a lot my legs were not strong at all. Hope that helps.
Does mont blanc require technical training at all? Only have access to UK mountains and none require the use of fixed lines or multi pitch climbing so not an easy thing to train in? Done basic courses but at low level. Great advice with training though thanks!
Great video, John. I completely agree. It was a pleasure climbing with you. Thanks for this extra summit footage 😊
Hey Marcel, was about to get in touch to let you know the video was up, glad you saw it anyway. Thanks for the words of wisdom and well done for making the top so quickly in less than perfect conditions - just goes to show you need to be fit enough for whatever the mountain throws at you! Best John.
Excellent advice, see you in June 2026! Wish I could do it sooner, can't wait, you are the best!
Great video. I'm glad I put the training in before hand, just a shame the weather beat us when I joined you in June. I'll be back soon though!
Hi Keith, sorry we couldn't get you up there in June, it's not a failure if the weather turns against you though. More than happy to have you back for another go anytime. Best John.
Thanks! Once again very interesting even though the climbs I am pondering aren't nearly as high, it's certainly applicable and worth thinking about. I problaby won't be fit enough for the big one ever again, but despite mid 50s, I am about the same height as Pogacar and Blumenfeldt and splash dot between them in weight, so I guess it's something to work on but not worry too much about. I was surprised about what looked like Z3 sessions of 90 minutes but remembering the efforts at altitude in the rockies in March, I wonder if it's the oxygen. Besides running a half marathon, I hardly ever stay at Z3 for all of 90 minutes (and the HM ends in Z4 normally), though some long runs are at the edge of Z2/Z3 due to heart-rate drift. I'll clearly look into ways of improving my training and the role of Z3.
Thank you! Training commences in Jan 👍🏻
Good luck with it Sophie, we'll see you in summer!
Thank you. Very informative! How do you feel about swimming instead of cycling?
Maybe I can share something about this. I have done a tonne of swimming to be able to surf when I can, but I think I got much fitter from cycling and even more so from running. I was training to climb my first 4000m last month but unfortunately wasn't able to go. But I got up to running over 30km per week, my fitness felt amazing, also any hikes I done were really easy on my legs! When I was swimming a lot my legs were not strong at all. Hope that helps.
🍀🍀👌👌
Does mont blanc require technical training at all? Only have access to UK mountains and none require the use of fixed lines or multi pitch climbing so not an easy thing to train in? Done basic courses but at low level. Great advice with training though thanks!
No you don't need any technical training to climb Mont blanc with a guide, just be fit.
Seconded!
If you want to learn ropes why not go up to glencoe?
👍🧗♂🧗♂