The Testpiece Podcast
The Testpiece Podcast
Testpiece
#175 Mark Heal — The 4 Steps For Sending Any Grade, Tactics You MUST Know, How To Train For Outdoors and Designing The Best Gym In America
1 hour 34 minutes Posted Oct 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm.
Intro
Mark's Progression as a Climber
Josh Learning from Mark's Climbing
How to Improve at Execution
Support from Patreon
Mark's 4 Step Process for Coaching
Translating Indoor to Outdoor Climbing
The Ethos of Benchmark Berkeley
Optimizing Board Training
How to Go from Good to Great
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1:34:52
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Show notes

Mark and Josh have climbed all over the world together and this chat has been a long time coming! They’ve been discussing climbing for well over a decade and Mark has heavily influenced Josh’s views and understanding of how to climb at a high level.

Mark Heal is an absolute legend in the Bay Area. He’s a V14 climber, with >600 double digit sends and amazing FA’s all over the Sierras. Mark is also a top private coach with over a decade of experience. And last, but certainly not least, he is one of the founders of the incredible Benchmark Climbing gyms in SF and Berkeley.

Patreon Questions (join Patreon for extended cut with answers):

  • How to do you analyze your own video like a coach does?
  • Top easy/mod/hard boulder in Yosemite?
  • Best boulder in the North East?
  • How do you choose feet when you're outdoors and there’s so many options?
  • Top slab climbing tips?

You can find Mark on his website, https://www.reachcoaching.net/ and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/therealheal 


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