EP 38: Solomon Barth
October 5, 2020
Solomon Barth is a Stanford University graduate and software engineer. We talked about Solomon’s impressive two-week trip to Smith Rock, working with Alex Bridgewater to improve his footwork and bulletproof his fingers, training endurance using up-down-ups, veganism, working in tech, his desire to help make positive change in the world, and gunning for 5.15.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Podcasts
Patreon:
Follow-Ups:
thenuggetclimbing.com/follow-ups
Other Mentioned Podcasts:
Steve Bechtel on Training Beta (energy systems and endurance training)
Training Resources:
The Climb Strong Hangboard Manual (includes the Go-A-Hundred program)
Recommended Books:
Sacred Cow by Robb Wolf and Diana Rogers
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Routes Mentioned:
‘Scarface’ 5.14a, Smith Rock, OR
‘To Bolt or Not to Be’ 5.14a, Smith Rock, OR
‘Badman’ 5.14a, Smith Rock, OR
‘Mr. Yuk’ 5.14a, Smith Rock, OR
‘Burl Master’ 5.13c, Smith Rock, OR
‘Rude Boys’ 5.13c, Smith Rock, OR
‘The Green Mile’ 5.14c, Jailhouse, CA
‘La Rambla’ 5.15a, Siurana, Spain
Solomon’s Links:
Nuggets:
2:29 – Solomon’s recent climbing trip, bad weather, and land hurricanes
3:49 – Back in the gym after COVID
5:11 – Solomon’s Smith Rock trip
10:56 – Tactics for flashing routes
14:29 – Being a training geek and reaching out to Climb Strong for coaching
16:54 – Working with Alex Bridgewater and bulletproofing his fingers on the hangboard
19:03 – Solomon’s experience with the Go-A-Hundred hangboard program
21:11 – Takeaways from working with Tyler Nelson on finger injury prevention, and why “active recovery is the only recovery” for pulleys and tendons
25:01 – Working on footwork with Alex
27:19 – Working on his weakness every session, and bookending sessions with slab climbing
30:37 – Solomon’s experience with alactic circuit training
35:07 – Up-down-ups with Maya Madere
39:31 – Up-down-ups specifics and clarifications
43:46 – Solomon’s thoughts on running and cardio
46:49 – Practicing pacing, and how Maya learned to climb faster
48:18 – Reigning in the volume
49:18 – Solomon’s experience and evolution with veganism
54:14 – The vegan alternative food that Solomon is most excited about right now
54:58 – Why Solomon doesn’t put much stock in nutrition, and letting go of sacrifices to perform better
57:27 – Rituals, and “climbing is just for fun”
58:41 – Book recommendation: ’Sacred Cow’ (link in show notes)
1:00:09 – Simon’s tech job, school vs. work, and studying computer science
1:02:51 – Balancing a full-time job with climbing, a desire to help make positive change, and taking time to learn more about the world
1:06:22 – Why Solomon feels that Social Media “wasn’t for him” and thoughts about the potential of becoming a professional climber
1:08:17 – Goal setting
1:10:31 – Plans to project 5.15?
1:11:19 – Margo Hayes, ‘La Rambla’, and shifting to sport climbing
1:13:54 – Jailhouse, kneebars, and projecting ‘The Green Mile’ with Conner Herson
1:17:46 – Using Jailhouse as a training ground, and kneerbar progress
1:20:48 – Plans for Maple and Rifle
1:21:29 – Gratitude
1:22:24 – Solomon’s two book recommendations (see show notes for links)
1:25:00 – “I guess I have an Instagram…”