I did a thing over the weekend. A crazy thing. I tried indoor rock climbing! And, not just the beginner level rock climbing — I tried bouldering! For months now a fitness friend of mine has been trying to convince me to join her for climbing and I’ve been busy. In fact I was happy to be busy because truth be told I was terrified to even try this. I no longer have the calloused hands of my childhood when I just about lived on the monkey bars on all the playgrounds. I worried I wouldn’t have the grip strength. What’s more, I wasn’t sure I would be strong enough to climb. Lifting weights in the gym is one thing but actually being able to do something functional with your body could be an entirely different story!
Well, I’m here to tell the tale. I tried it. I conquered it! It completely surprised me. For one thing, the crowd was a completely different crowd than I’m used to. As I waited for my friend to arrive I was taking it all in wondering if I really was going to be able to do this thing. People had their own climbing gear and seemed really outdoorsy to me. I’m not a huge fan of the outdoors, by the way. I hate camping. Hiking is OK, though! Anyway, I observed carefully for about 10 minutes or so.
When she arrived, she quickly got us ready to go, explaining the various levels of bouldering and giving us a way to tackle the first wall. We, of course, started with 0, the lowest level, and we made quick work of the first route up. The walls go about 15 feet in height and the highest level I saw was a 9. I was able to do up through level 2 with ease and I think I tried a level 3 but I don’t think I made it to the top. One of the things that surprised me about climbing was the mental aspect of it. The idea that you have to kind of map it out before you climb on, as well as stick to it all the way to the top and then about halfway down is a mental exercise in itself.
My grip strength got the best of me about 90 minutes in and we stopped for the day, but not before trying a campus ladder (too fun – I felt like I was on American Ninja Warrior!) and making sure to stretch as much as possible. I wasn’t too sore until about 36 hours after climbing. Then, the forearms, lats and shoulders were on fire! But, two days later, I’m just fine! Will I go again? I’m not sure it will be a regular thing but I definitely recommend it for those who are in shape and would like to test the limits of their minds and bodies.
One of the routes in particular was hard for me. I had trouble even jumping on the first “rung” and couldn’t see how I could grab on and start the climb. After nearly 7 or 8 tries and observations of others, I finally got it. But as I reached the top, I really got into my head too much. It was high! And I had to stay very close the wall and in balance. Terrifying but exhilarating all at the same time! That was the most fun for me. Conquering something I didn’t think I could do and pushing through the scariness. It was empowering and I found myself wanting to brag to everyone!
The gym itself, Central Rock, was clean and well-organized. The staff was welcoming and friendly. I even received a follow-up email a few days later with options for participating again! There are several locations across the United States and members have access to all the gyms, which is a nice bonus for those who like to road trip or who find themselves in different cities for whatever reason.
The wine I chose to celebrate my indoor bouldering success? Well, it was nearly 95 degrees the day I went so we had subs for dinner (no cooking in that heat) along with a crisp Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc. A refreshing way to unwind after a tough rock climbing adventure!