I took it pretty serious when I was competing. I lived in the city and it was a way for me to get out on the weekends and such. I set up a few trees in various parks with bells. I bought the bells at a party store cheap. I would run a mock work climb a few times a week. Mostly on weekends but close to competition I would run it during the week as well.
I would log 250 vertical feet a day starting one month prior to competition. This equated to 5 50 foot foot locks a day. I shot for at least 4 days a week. Very often reaching much more than 4 days because I loved the challenge. When I footlocked I would add weight to my saddle. I tied small disc weights to my saddle adding 10 pounds. I ran those up until a week before comp. then I would loose them and focus on good form and speed.
I used to hoist a tire up into the tree to about 30 feet and practice a few aerial rescues a few weeks before comp as well. This worked out good because it got me used to actually doing the rescue physically. A tire is light and was easy to move around but it was more about getting the muscle memory of rescuing. I had my wife laminate a judges score card and she would score me on the various aspects of the climb. Just making sure that I said the appropriate things at the right time.
Hey, I know, I had no life back then. Tree climbing and competing was what I lived for. I have no kids, and it was a huge hobby of mine. Now, I couldn't find the time to get in one foot lock a day!!! But it was fun when I was doing it. Never did win, but came pretty damn close a few times.
