Phoenix Multisport’s running program is designed for runners and joggers of all levels. Are you an absolute beginner looking to give running a try? Hoping to finish your first 5k? Looking to shave a few seconds off the run leg in your next half-Ironman? We’ve got weekly runs designed for everybody, as well as special events every couple of months. Just check the calendar to find the best run for you.
As with anything, the biggest rewards come from stepping outside your comfort zone and doing things a little differently. At Phoenix you will find a supportive, safe place to take these risks, surrounded by other team members maintaining a sober lifestyle. As Phoenix Multisport continues to grow, you can expect even more options for honing your running skills and developing personal goals. Opportunities could include guest appearances by experts in performance nutrition, clinics with well-known athletes in the sport, or individual analysis and training guidance.
Rock and ice climbing are the ultimate adrenaline sports, combining physical strength and agility with acute concentration and problem-solving abilities. Climbing breeds a mental clarity and sensory focus you’re unlikely to experience in any other pursuit. You won’t be thinking about work stress or petty problems when you’re 30 feet off the ground, looking for the next hold!
Climbing is also a great social sport and a good way to build trusting friendships. The relationship between climber and belayer is like no other. Learning to let go and put your life in someone’s hands isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding to do.
History
Rock climbing began as a form of training for alpine mountaineering. To reach the tops of peaks, it was often necessary to climb difficult sections of steep rock. Sometime in the late 19th century, German, Italian and British mountaineers began honing their rock-climbing skills at local crags before taking on larger expeditions in the Alps. Around the same time, American climbers began taking on peaks in California, including an 1869 ascent of Cathedral Spire by naturalist John Muir. Rock climbing grew in popularity in the 1950’s and 1960’s as pioneers like Layton Kor, John Salathe, Warren Harding, and Royal Robbins took on big-wall ascents (generally using “aid-climbing” techniques) in Yosemite and other areas. As most of the major summits were being conquered, the focus of climbing shifted toward “free-climbing,” led by bold climbers such as Boulder local Jim Erikson , and to technically difficult ropeless ascents of smaller rocks (“bouldering”) made popular by former gymnast John Gill. Free climbing continued to grow in popularity as newer technology led to improvements in safety gear and to grippier, more flexible climbing shoes. In 1993, Lynn Hill made the first free ascent of The Nose on El Capitan, widely regarded as a major milestone, and among the most difficult climbs of its day. In recent decades, a new generation of climbers like Chris Sharma and Tommy Caldwell, introduced to the sport at a young age, has again upped the ante, pushing the limits of what is possible.
Climbing With Phoenix Multisport
Phoenix Multisport’s climbing events are designed for climbers of all levels. We work with absolute beginners at nearly every event, and we provide all the necessary equipment, so “I’ve never climbed before” is no excuse! Be it indoors or out, our instructors have the training and experience to help you get up the wall, even if you’ve never been up a ladder or are afraid of heights. Pushing through your fears is a great way to build confidence, and we’ve seen people who were initially scared to get on the gym wall go on to tackle major climbs in Eldorado Canyon!
If you’re already a climber, PM is a great way to meet sober climbing partners or help share your experience with new folks. Ice or rock, trad or sport, bouldering or top-rope…we’re well-versed in all aspects of the sport and can help you take your skills to the next level.
Phoenix Multisport offers mountain bike events for riders of all levels, including clinics designed specifically for beginners as well as advanced rides on technical terrain. As this can be a daunting sport to delve into, we provide very basic beginner clinics in which little technical ability or cardio endurance is necessary. Picture a wide, mostly flat dirt trail…if you are comfortable riding a bike on the road, you are ready to attend one of these clinics! We also provide bike maintenance clinics which cover pre-ride checks and making basic repairs on the trail. As your skill level improves, you can begin attending intermediate and advanced clinics and rides. For more advanced riders interested in representing PM in mountain bike races and spreading the word of our mission, we also have an Ambassador Athlete program for members. We typically host 4-8 events of varying difficulty each month as well as a few destination mountain biking trips annually.
• People often abuse drugs and alcohol in an attempt to fill a void they are experiencing inside. For those adjusting to living sober, mountain biking has a lot to offer. The high intensity cardio required in this sport can be limited greatly by the abuse of drugs alcohol, but a sober individual can take his/her riding to the next level without these limiting factors. After a long arduous ride, the mind and body are put at ease. The struggles of daily life seem less overwhelming and the only focus is nourishing the body with food and rest. What better way to connect with spirituality than riding your bike through the mountains or the desert during a beautiful sunset? PM members have the opportunity fill this space with a new spiritual connection to nature and physical activity.
• Phoenix Multisport offers a number of strength-training options. Participants can learn an assortment of stretches, focus on various specific muscle groups, or work on discipline-specific strength for other sports (climbing, running, etc.). Our professional staff will guide you through basics like proper form for injury prevention, or the right combination of weight, sets and repetitions are appropriate to your specific goals. With a variety of instructors bringing different approaches, we keep our events interesting and fun. We also offer special clinics including Olympic Lifting, Kettle bell training, etc.
• Strength training is really at the core of what Phoenix Multisport stands for: sober, ACTIVE lifestyle. Not everyone can (or wants to) scale a mountain or go for a long road ride, but physical activity is extremely important to long-term well-being. Done properly, weight-training helps develop well-rounded strength. This may include learning stretches to maintain flexibility or dynamic movements to increase power. Many of the movements we teach at strength training can be practiced in the comforts of one’s own home.
Sometimes it can be intimidating to step out of your comport zone and try something new with a new group of people, and for some the thought of getting involved with an active community is truly frightening. Phoenix Multisport offers non-athletic social activities as a way to get to know more about us and meet team members while relaxing with a cup of coffee at a coffee shop in town or at the coffee bar in our Champa location. We are also excited to introduce Arts and Crafts nights to our schedule, as well as special events such as slide shows, and guest speakers.
Building a community is a very important piece of Phoenix Multisport, and we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable doing so. Not all of our members or potential members are athletic, and some are intimidated by the thought of starting a new athletic activity. Our social events are a great way to get involved with us and meet other members of our community. Time after time we see new members excited to explore other activities Phoenix offers after attending a social event.
Phoenix Multisport is happy to offer yoga classes to our community. Classes are for all levels and experience. Yoga is a great way to balance your body while participating in other Phoenix events that are more physically demanding.
Yoga is an outstanding way to connect mind and body to find relaxation through movement. Yoga combines breath and movement, which helps to bring balance. Phoenix Multisport yoga classes are adaptive, so all skill levels are welcome. Our classes are fun and restorative. All of the PM yoga teachers are encouraging and supportive. Along with teaching classes for PM members, we also teach yoga at treatment centers and for the integrated drug treatment courts in Colorado. The benefits of yoga go far beyond a physical level and Phoenix Multisport is proud to offer this wonderful gift to the community.
CrossFit begins with a belief in fitness. The aim of CrossFit is to forge a broad, general and inclusive fitness. We have sought to build a program that will best prepare trainees for any physical contingency — not only for the unknown, but for the unknowable. After looking at all sport and physical tasks collectively, we asked what physical skills and adaptations would most universally lend themselves to performance advantage. Capacity culled from the intersection of all sports demands would quite logically lend itself well to all sport. In sum, our specialty is not specializing.