No, for reals. The hard core climbers do finger pull-ups. Can you imagine? Working to strengthen some of the tiniest muscles in your body because if you don't, you're more likely to fall to your death (or land on a crash pad)? Nuts.
I spent time yesterday watching the climbing "regulars" do some bouldering. No harness, no rope, just grab rock, jump rock, and hoist your full body weight around using fingers and forearms. Fascinating. The good ones seem to defy gravity, grasping plastic rock upside down, a natural fit in what strikes you as an absurdly unnatural position.
I'd like to say I tried bouldering, but I didn't. Not yet. (I did cut my nails though with some clippers made available to customers, because you cannot have nails if you wish to hold on to pebbles for dear life). Still, three runs up and five or six times belaying wiped me out. My forearms felt like lead and my fingers stopped functioning. And I'm fairly certain I've got the start of a bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome (darn desk jobs) in my mouse hand that is affecting my range of motion and strength...
And speaking of strength, if there's one thing this foray into the indoor rock climbing world has taught me, it's that no amount of weight training can prepare you for the strength required to get your own body weight gracefully into abnormal positions. Those climbing "regulars" I spoke of? They look like dancers, partnered purposefully with the path they're blazing upwards. It's beautiful; something to strive for, at least...
I own a chalk bag now. Necessary, since I'm still a nervous wreck when on the ascent (my palms could pass for slip n' slides), and kind of fun...makes me feel a little bit legit. Too legit to quit, perhaps? Ha. Maybe.
Until next time...
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