A mountain climber who is preparing to climb Mount Everest will begin training a year before the date of the actual climb. Every week the climber will do a variety of training activities such as aerobic, anaerobic, strength building, and recreational. An activity is considered to be aerobic if it is steady and nonstop, it lasts for at least 12 minutes, it is at a comfortable pace, and it uses the lower body muscles. Biking, swimming, running, stair climbing, and cross-country skiing are examples of aerobic activities. Anaerobic activities keep the heart rate elevated above the training level.
Some anaerobic activities are tennis, sprinting, skiing, and weight training.
Strength-building activities should focus on arms, shoulders, back, and the abdomen. Some strength building activities using weights are rowing, military presses and squats. Recreational activities are anything that the climber enjoys for example, skiing, climbing, hiking, or kayaking. Throughout the year, the frequency and the duration of these activities will change. The closer it is to the actual climb of Mount Everest, the more intense the workout becomes.