Connie Sciolino - Building Stronger & Tougher Outdoor Athletes

Published: April 29, 2016, 3:33 a.m.

Connie Sciolino is the owner and head coach at The Alpine Training Center in Boulder, Colorado. The ATC is a no-frills gym on the outskirts of town that helps outdoor athletes become better skiers, climbers, runners, and bikers through strength training. Connie trains everyone from professional athletes to weekend warriors, including one of the climbers in the hit mountaineering documentary, Meru. • The workouts are grueling, both physically and mentally. But her clients' results speak for themselves—committed athletes leave the gym stronger, tougher, more resistant to injury, and better equipped to tackle the challenges of the high mountains. Thanks to her diverse collection of educational, professional, athletic, and outdoor experiences, Connie is setting a new standard for training for mountain-focused sports. • http://mountainandprairie.com/connie-sciolino/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 6:25 - Connie explains her work 7:00 - History of the Alpine Training Center 9:55 - How is ATC different than Crossfit 11:25 - “Special” ATC exercises (i.e. "sandbag getups” and “Curtis Ps") 14:15 - Connie’s athletic, educational, and professional background 18:15 - Early days of experimenting with ski-focused weight training 23:10 - Connie’s athletic experiences in Jackson Hole and the West 26:00 - How Connie built ATC’s unique culture 30:20 - How Connie builds programs for such a wide range of abilities 33:15 - How Connie trains mental toughness 36:55 - The coaching team at ATC 49:25 - Gym Jones 53:00 - Meru and training Renan Ozturk 1:02:30 - Advice for ATC-like training if you don’t live in Boulder 1:05:40 - Connie’s 1-hour body weight challenge: As many push-ups, air squats, and sit-ups. Equal reps across. (Ed’s note: You may want to start with 100-100-100. You will be destroyed.) 1:08:20 - One of Connie’s favorite success stories 1:12:50 - Favorite books 1:15:15 - Connie’s favorite place in the West 1:18:30 - Connie’s request of listeners 1:21:50 - Find the ATC online --- This episode is sponsored by Mountain Khakis. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless. What started as a casual conversation at the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson Hole, WY has become a top-performing mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand. Established in 2003, Mountain Khakis quickly became a staple in the wardrobe of everyone from ranch hands to golf pros, those who travel by jet, as well as those who travel by thumb. The Mountain Khakis brand story continues to resonate as it connects to the enthusiast who believes that freedom and rugged adventure is a way of life. Join the conversation at MountainKhakis.com