What does it take to break through to the next climbing grade?

With each new milestone, the challenge grows harder—but potentially more rewarding.

In this special collaboration with The Struggle Podcast, I coach Ryan Devlin as he works to push past his current limit of 5.13a and lay the foundation for his next breakthrough in sport climbing.

No matter your level, the tips and strategies we share in this episode can help guide your own climbing progression. A key focus of our conversation is the concept of building a solid "grade pyramid"—a proven approach for long-term advancement.

This episode follows up on episodes #86, #91, #94, and #102, where I’ve been coaching Ryan on his journey toward his first-ever 5.13. You’ll get an inside look at where he stands as of April 2025, and the specific training and climbing recommendations I’ve made for his upcoming summer season, all with an eye toward peaking in the prime conditions of Fall.

Tune in to learn actionable strategies, exercises, and mindset shifts to support your next goal—whether that’s your first 5.10 or your hardest send yet.

This episode is a collaboration of Ryan's "The Struggle" podcast and my Training For Climbing podcast. I hope you enjoy it! Listen to and subscribe to The Struggle Podcast here >>

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Thank you! La Sportiva, Maxim Ropes, DMM Climbing, Friction Labs

Music by Misty Murphy

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Copyright 2025 Eric Hörst | Horst Training, LLC.

#115: Training Strategy for the Next Grade -- A collab with Ryan Devlin of the Struggle Podcast

Eric Hörst's Training For Climbing Podcast