Thoughts On Applying The "Norwegian Method"
Another Take On Threshold Training
“It’s important to note that when you’re doing Norwegian-style interval workouts, they might seem too easy— like you could run each rep a lot faster. But that’s the point. It’s only as the intervals pile up that the session becomes challenging.”
I get a surprising number of messages these days about trying to apply “Norwegian” interval training to climbing. If you’re not aware of the term, this style of intervals has been credited with several world-class efforts in middle distance and endurance sport, and is imagined to be a staple of most Norwegian athletes’ training. Although this might or might not be the case (there are a lot of ways to skin the endurance cat), the idea is a sound one and aligns well with the high-low model we’ve been using for the past several years.
In a nutshell, this style of intervals is about spending maximal time at threshold with minimal muscle damage. The core principle isn’t just to “go fast”—it’s about precise threshold control. Instead of sprinting (or doing boulder circuits) until you collapse, you stay right at the edge of your anaerobic threshold to accumulate a massive volume of high-quality work without burning out.
“The workouts themselves were very doable. I always felt great the next day, I could tolerate frequent doses of threshold work, and I got fitter quickly.”
Instead of a crushing pump like you’d feel at the end of a boulder 4x4 workout, you should finish feeling like you could have done 2 or 3 more sets. As with any mode we are pulling from research in other sports, we have to remember that climbing is not just a power output sport: our interval training should allow us to maintain good climbing movement, and we need to understand that our move-by-move intensity will vary considerably.
As with any workout that takes several minutes of activity, there are practicality issues. Do I do this on a Treadwall? Can I climb up and down a Tension Board? Do I do laps on the classic 12a at my local crag on a busy Sunday?
I don’t have any easy answer, and if you’ve been training for stamina for any amount of time, you’ve run into these same questions.
