In an effort to try and be more proactive with something, I've started climbing – bouldering, specifically, which is climbing short routes on low walls without harness. Just cushion undernearth. It's also an effort of getting some content into my life that I enjoy to get my mind off work, because I've stressed myself close to the edge with my business.
So far it's been good after 6 or so sessions, because I'm enjoying the climbing quite a bit. I already bought my own shoes so I don't have to rent them, saves money long term (assuming I'll keep climbing for a long time, which I assume I'll do). The shoes are also much better than rented ones. They are just somewhat uncomfortable, because for climbing purposes you need them tighter to get better performance. If the shoe is too big, it's going to be hard to climb small footholds. In the beginning it's supposed to be bit uncomfortable though, because the shoe stretches a lot and molds into the foot, so it's getting less uncomfortable.
I don't understand how some people can jam their feet into a 4 size smaller shoe compared to a regular fit. For me a comfortable regular shoe is 43 or 44 (EU size). My climbing shoe is 42. 41 ½ was already so painful I couldn't walk.
This is how my hand looked after a good 3 hours of climbing. This is actually not bad. In the beginning the skin ripped open, but now it's getting to a point where its hardened enough that there's only minor surface damage.
The sport is like problem solving – which is an aspect I enjoy – and it involves a lot of technique especially when progressing to harder routes. Power is needed, but harder routes are impossible without proper technique. An instructor recommended that in the beginning the best way to learn is to climb lots of easier routes instead of getting stuck on trying to top a hard route, so that's what I've been going with. After I'm out of power, I step a grade lower.
Would you be interested on some video of me climbing? There's one interesting problem I've been working on (it's actually the orange one in the first picture): last time I managed to perform the beginning and the end separately but not the whole route in one go, because I was too tired at the end of the session. Next time I should be able to do it, and I'd like to capture it.
3 hours of climbing is pretty good. I am the same with shoes, I usually get similar size to what I where as running shoes. I just have to wait for boldering places to reopen...Hopefully in the coming week, we will have restrictions eased. Look forward to hearing more @celestal
How long they've been closed around there?
I am in Auckland and we have been in lockdown for just over 100 days. We are openning up on the 2nd of December. The rest of New Zealand has been more open.
Yooo, it's been a while! I've always been curious about climbing, especially to exercise the whole chicken body. But I don't know, since I broke my leg it feels I'm not still secure to take a beat if I fall. I'd be better of with harness on.
Climbing is definitely a good full body work out, surprisingly good for legs too! I have a good amount of muscle in legs from bicycling, but after some sessions my legs were still sore, it's probably due to a different kind of stimulus that climbing gives.
Yeah, if your unsure about your leg, you'd have to stick to easy routes so you can ascend back. Lead climbing is a good option though if you have the possibility, cause you don't have to jump on your feet.
Yeah, I mean, leg is fully healed now, but our mind kinda blocks our actions so I tend to always land on my "good" leg first. I think it'll go away with time. Same as running; I'm sloooowly running again, even though leg is normal.
This looks dope dude. The blisters are proof of a labor of love.
It is pretty dope, I would say :)
I did this once when I was a foreign exchange student in the US. It was quite an experience. As a kid, I climbed a lot, ranging from trees to water tank stands to elevated platforms 😂 (those were the good ole days). Now, adulting keeps hitting me left and right 😡.
From the looks of your hands, I can tell you really went in with that workout. Simply Amazing!
Oh well, it was nice dropping by.
Bouldering looks lile a lot of fun, until I see the callouses. Then again, similar to picking up a string instrument is a sign of improvement. I was once told that the secret to happiness is comfortable shoes, and I don't think I would want to squeeze my feet anymore than half a size down. I can see however why that would be crucial to safety. You have a lot of interesting hobbies btw 👀💯
Bouldering and triangles – that's my main dish nowadays. On top of crypto and blogging, of course.
I always viewed you as philisophical but also whimsical. It's always good to switch things up once in a while, I was shook the you do climbing! Just recently I started playing Splinterlands, on top of the other games I already play, Ethermon and Neon District. I need to be writing more blogs actually
Started it just a couple months back. I've done a good amount of calisthenics type of stuff though, a friend got me into it years ago.
Nice. It's a good play to get into :)