Physical fitness

J

James Trotta

Mentor
Diversity Committee
I was thinking about adding this to the training thread on this forum but it deserves its own thread. Practicing with boffers, packets, and thinking things through are good ways to get ready for high larp performance, but I want to stress the difference exercise can make in larp and in life.

There are several great systems for getting in shape but some of the best exercises translate very well to larping. For example hill sprints will get you in shape for real life and make a difference next time you're caught in a bad spot all alone. I recommend rosstraining.com but this requires some serious work - if you buy say Infinite Intensity you're going to have to read the book, grok the theories, list your goals, design your own exercise plan, and then commit to do it. The rewards are great but most people find it easier to just buy some DVDs like p90x or Insanity - there's less reading involved and easier to stay on track.

Anyway, 5 or so years ago I couldn't walk more than a few hours without back pain. Now I can do all kinds of cool things. My larp performance has improved but so have a lot of other things in my life.
 
outside of hockey, I do Zumba.
fast paced, dance based work out...get excellent cardio & stamina out of it.
 
Working out definently goes a long way in this game. Before I got into larping, I was heavily into Tae Kwon Do and breakdancing (I still dance, perform, and compete).

I would say that just taking a jog everyday goes a long way (a mapped out trail, treadmill, etc.).

You shouldnt overlook diet either. Just making healthier decisions about what you eat helps you in the long run. In larping, making smart decisions about what you put into your body helps alot too. It can be brick cold outside, but you should still stay hydrated. I mean you are running around being a hero (or villain).
 
I lift weights for my own amusement, because being strong never hurt anyone, but that doesn't benefit my game directly other than strengthening my bad knees. For those of us who play in armor, I can make one great suggestion.

Throw your armor on, then go out and do some calisthenics. Pushups, situps, squats, that sort of thing. Get used to exactly how you move in it, and work the muscles that get added strain from it. This also gives you a great chance to fall down on it a few hundred times and figure out what needs to be changed in the construction and what is likely to break. Once you're comfy in moving in the armor, throw it on and go find some hills to hike for an hour or so. :twisted:

Doesn't matter how many miles you can run in shorts and running shoes if you can't hump yourself up and down hills in your full kit, after all!
 
lol, if I was going to do running training I would just get a flack-jacket (25 lbs) or (what I did in high school) a denim vest & sew in 20 lbs of sandbags at various spots.
 
Could be handy, but it doesn't give you the added benefits of working in the armor you're going to actually be fighting in. Being in armor more than three days every month or so does a lot for your ability to move well in it. ;)
 
I agree. I used to weigh 380lbs. Since joining Alliance I have gone down to 350 and falling. I realized after my first few games that fitness needed to happen or I wouldn't be able to play. While I am still in bad shape, I am headed in the right direction. Yeah LARP for making quit the fat. Maybe in a few years I will actually be able to catch those cheeky bastards who love to play run away from the fat guy. :hahaha:
 
I hear you there. I'm cutting my weight back down from 360 as well. Knee problems and being a lazy guy who loves food will pack on the pounds real fast.
 
Wraith said:
Could be handy, but it doesn't give you the added benefits of working in the armor you're going to actually be fighting in. Being in armor more than three days every month or so does a lot for your ability to move well in it. ;)
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This. This this this. Oddly enough, my mail shirt happens to fit (without so much as a telltale bump) under my work clothes. A little extra weight of any kind works, though- but you want to make life easier in your gear- spend more time in it (with mundane clothes, generally).
 
Talen said:
Oddly enough, my mail shirt happens to fit (without so much as a telltale bump) under my work clothes.
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Hmm....definitely going to have to try this out...my only worry is the clinking links. Would be great to haul around a little extra weight all day, though.
 
Warlok said:
Talen said:
Oddly enough, my mail shirt happens to fit (without so much as a telltale bump) under my work clothes.
Click to expand...

Hmm....definitely going to have to try this out...my only worry is the clinking links. Would be great to haul around a little extra weight all day, though.
Click to expand...

In my case, it's not really a problem, since it's "shark mail". But sandwiching it between two layers of cloth does muffle things a lot, anyway.
 
Glad to see some interest here. That tough mudder stuff looks awesome. Also working in your armor is an idea I like too. I have 32 pounds of plate. 20 all-out sprints in that thing is a great workout. Wearing it all day would be problematic though.
 
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