So, I have planned a trip back to the Springs and to climb Pike's Peak this summer. I do cardio probably twenty minutes, 3X a week and I am nervous about how to get in cardiovascular shape for it! :| Does anyone have any tips and tricks to help out besides walking and running on hilly terrain?
Great goal! I would definitely do strength training, arms and legs, if you're doing serious mountain climbing. Also, you should check out whether there's a gym or rec center in your area with a rock wall. Where I'm from there's this place called rock town that's a big group of huge building sized rocks with natural mineral deposits that give them the surface of a plastic rock wall. Rock climbers come there from states over to practice. We go there and I've never climbed anything, except the rocks at rock town. Lol. I would google within an hour or so of your area for that type of exercise opportunities because it is definitely an activity that requires strength training.
That's all really general though because I have no experience. The fiancé and I plan on hiking the Appalachian trail after I graduate college. It's a lot of walking up mountains, not much climbing though.
I hope you'll have fun! I'm sure it will be beautiful.
I find the best way to train for hiking/climbing is to actually do it! Start with easier trails (maybe an hour round trip to start) and eventually work your way up to moderate and longer trails
Stairs. Going up AND down. When I hike with people who are in awesome shape, but don't hike, I'm almost certain to see them stumble all the way down the mountain. The amount of leg strength and balance required to descend always catches them off guard. So that would be my recommendation Good luck with the 14er.
Congrats on coming up with such a good goal for you. You're doing more than me, you couldn't drag my *** mountain climbing; it would scare me shitless.
My fiance lives in the Springs and proposed to me up at the top of the Incline. I'm in pretty good shape so I didn't have to prepare for the hike, but I attribute that to my love of the stair machine!
I would focus on single leg movements like lunges and leg presses in the gym (for strength and balance) and use the hill settings on the treadmill, elliptical and stair machines in the gym.
The biggest thing is your footwear... make sure you wear something with a seriously good grip on the sole!
My boyfriend has the men's. He was recommended this shoe by his friend. It's made of leather and the bottom of the sole is Vibram. This shoe is suppose to last like 15+ years... that being said, they do take awhile to break in but eventually conform to your feet. My bf's friend has had it for over 7 years and apparently they look brand new. My bf has had it for, I think, 3 years. I was told at the store that these shoes are made in Italy and by the time it reaches the store, 40 hands have touched 1 pair of shoes (as in, not made by machines... only by hand).
There's hardly any stitching at all and pretty waterproof (the tongue of the shoe is all one piece...and just "folds") and breathable since it's leather.
Climbing Pikes Peak
I'm in pretty good shape so I didn't have to prepare for the hike, but I attribute that to my love of the stair machine! 
