Pre-pairing for Denver Region in American Ninja Warrior

So its about two weeks out till Denver, CO has their turn at the ANW5. Normally I wouldn't be able to make this kind of trip but with some help from the people in my life and the CrossFit box I work out of, they are helping raise money for my trip and I do not want to disappoint! So Denver has a different elevation, a bit higher than where I'm use to coming from Central California. How is the best way to train and pre-pair my body for that elevation? Here it is...

 At higher elevation there is less pressure. Less pressure to force the oxygen into your lungs and system so the build up of acid in your muscles will be quicker. You will feel more tired and wont be able to perform as long as your use too. Plus the course takes about 1 to 2 minutes to complete. So I'm going to give you a few tips here on how to help charge your system for the course.

Condition:

There are many great ways to do conditioning. CrossFit being one of them, but I'm not here to tote for CrossFit. The best way to get your body conditioned, in a short amount of time is to help reduce the speed at which the acid begins to build by doing Interval Training.

• Running or rowing: 1 minute on, 1 minute off. For 6 to 10 rounds. Give your MAX effort for that 1 minute and then rest 1 minute. If you can do this well without getting tired to much (or without seeing a decrease in your average round) decrease your rest time by 10-15 seconds. 
• For more specific training I suggest going TABATA. This type of training can be applied to pullups, bar holds, box jumps, and any other type of movement you can perform on the course. *TABATA is a very specific format of working out. 20s of max effort work, followed by 10s of rest, do 8 rounds of that one movement and then move to the next. Usually you see TABATA is grouped with 4 movements* 
• Here is a workout I called "TABATA Bing" that you can try.
  Post your total # of reps in the comments:
       Rowing (count total meters)
       Pullups(kipping allowed)
       Back Squats at 95lbs
       Deadlift Hold w/ Fat Bar at 155lbs (count only seconds held. after bar drops do not pick it back up till        your next set)

 This type of conditioning will help train your body for that 1-2 minutes of running the course. Keeping your muscles from tiring too soon, cramping up, and keeping your heart rate down. PLUS drink lots of water!!

Eating:

We all know diet is a huge part of how we perform! I just wanted to let you on to a recent scientific study found about Spinach.  It is more of super food than we actually knew, no its not all the iron in it! An also Creatine is a big part of buffering your system to prevent muscle fatigue.

• Researches have found that eating a minimum of 3 cups(or about 300g) a day for 3 days can increase your cells ability to take in oxygen by 3-5% which is massive in such a short period of time! Translated it will allow you to take in less oxygen for the same results and you will become not as tired as quickly during physical activity.
• Here is an article written about the study if you want to read more into it: http://www.naturalnews.com/031427_spinach_muscles.html this link also contains some of the original study sources.
• Creatine Monohydrate, one of the most research supplements out there and proven. What it can do for you will increase that amount of times you can give your max effort. More explosive jumps, longer grip hold, and so on.
• Take 5 grams twice a day. Morning and night or 30 minutes before a workout and with a post workout shake.
  If you keep this up your system should have a larger amount of stored creatine needed to help give you an extra edge.

How does Canam Productions for American Ninja Warrior choose submission?

I know I wondered this when I thought I put out a killer video for this season 5 of ANW. I talked to one of the casting agents at Canam and asked, "Why was my video not chosen? Was there something wrong or didn't include? Is there something I should be marketing myself more towards?" and this is the response I got.

Paraphrasing here: "Jason we looked through every single video and for your region there was alot. Somewhere around 2000 and yours was up there among the best we picked. You had a really good video so we picked it among others and then we gave it to the producer. The producer looks over the videos and tells us which ones he wants. I'm sorry" I asked if they knew what kind of things he looks for. I just got a blank answer and saying that they don't really know.

So I was sorta shocked to hear that my video was held very high, felt honored to but didn't get picked. But as was said its a two step process. The main casting agents(Canam) do simply that cast out for potential contestants for the show. However it is not their decision who gets on, it is fully up to the Producer and whatever personality or skills hes looking for to qualify those top 100+ invites to the show.
Honestly I should have already known this seeing its exactly how it works in the walk on spots. They film around and the producers picks who he would like out of the line.

After I talked about this I asked if there was any possibly way I could get an invite to Denver? I was told it would be a really hard region to get an invite in but I did have a good video. Its just the producer rejected my video once what will keep him from doing it again? So they put my video in at the pot of videos for the Denver region. From what I was just told today Canam is finishing their call backs next week. I'll hang on tight and see if it all comes through. If not?
Its alright, I'm going to go for a walk on too so lets see how this all plays out!
Train hard my friends and if your not already from that region or high of elevation start conditioning and acclimating yourself to that environment.
PS: Elevation masks wont help. They will simply allow you to burn more calories because your taking in less oxygen. You need to increase oxygen intake not decrease it!