Adding Occasional Hangboard Workout to Base Fitness Phase?

[tango]

    Looking to get some feedback/analysis on the idea of adding the occasional Hangboard workout during the Base Fitness phase.  Would adding something like one (or possibly two) HB workout per week have any benefit as additional strength training (in anticipation of, or as a primer for, the subsequent Strength phase)?

    Or, would it be at all reasonable to add substantial ARC workouts to the Strength phase?  I see in some of the example Training Plans that there are 'Optional ARC' workouts listed.  Surely combining the Base Fitness and Strength phases altogether would be too murky, but is there any anticipated benefit at all from having more than a little crossover?  For example, would it be too detrimental for the majority of the ARC training to be packed into the Strength phase?

    Thanks in advance for any thoughts, guidance, expertise.

[tedwelser]

I hear where you are coming from. There is a sense in which we want to have our cake and eat it too during each of the stages. However, my best experiences have come from fully devoting myself to the focus of each stage. When I was ARC-ing last August I got up at 8 am in SE Ohio to dodge the humidity/heat in my attic wall, and I did two 30 min sets, then, that night I did another 30 min. My skin was screaming by the end. I needed every bit of rest I could get before the next training day.

Same thing applies to each cycle. If you really push your HB routine it is hard to imagine adding anything extra to it-- your skin will hurt too bad. You will be too exhausted.

Finally, I would say that it is hard, but it is best to accept patience and enjoy each stage and trust in the fact that if you really commit to each cycle you will get better and you will get better in a way that minimizes the risk of injury so that you can keep enjoying the progressive increase in performance and capacity.

[joev9]

Well said, Ted!

[brendann]

I like to do some very light HB workouts before the full blown HB phase to remind my finger/neurons about trying really hard. I don't expect these workouts to increase strength, but they hopefully prevent a shock injury.

[cirquebound]

I have been blending HB workouts into my strength phase, but I reduce the maximum weights on all the hangs, which is still challenging for me and I am finding it to be a good rehab to blend into my workouts.

I hope that helps!