A New City in Rock City

Back to the sport of rock climbing. It's exhilarating and refreshing. After missing morning bootcamp and deciding noon time was way too late to start a local hike, Nancy and I decided to return to the beloved hobby.

It's been awhile. I haven't rockclimbed since spring of 2008, but today, was nothing new. Nancy had found a new venue aside from Climb X and Rockreation, and it was our first day trying it out. Despite the drive, the anxious feelings in your stomach made the car trip on the 91 fly by.

For only $17, you get unlimited day pass including a harness, and shoe rentals. What a steal! They are also offering monthly and yearly memberships. I think I may switch out my Massage Envy membership (go football!) for a new additional weekend hobb.

The place was pretty busy, but there were free walls and open boulders within the warehouse. There were probably 10-15 climbing already when we had arrived.

Bouldering: Talk about intensity! Mind-muscle intensity! Full body. Not a strength and conditioning workout, but definitely a flexibility, agility AND coordinate strength workout.

After failed attempts to bouldering, we decided to rope climb. We received a lesson from a nice employee just to checkoff our rock-climbing knowledge. One time climbing, one time belaying for both Nancy and I....

We tried a 5.8 wall in 3 different ways each.
We then went back to our diagnostic wall and made it a cardio workout. Our first attempt each, we did it for time. I went first, 20 seconds to the bell! I told NaNcy, she'd be able to do it in 15 seconds, so humor me. But, she made it in the same time.

Next on the list of things: cardio, but not running, or ellipticals. Rather, we decided to go back to cardio rock-climbing. This time, we did it as a circuit, climb the wall, not just once, not twice, but 5 times!

By the third time, you already feel the lactic acid starting to build up and the beads of sweat developing from your forehead. By the third and fouth time, you get a sync of the rock locations and foot placements. The last round, you're done and you're grateful to make that last L for the drop down.....


More walls.

Finally, your fingers get numbed or seemed to be permanently hinged at the knuckles as if they are making the motion of scratching your nails on a chalkboard. That tightness in your fingers and in the pads of your hands translates into your forearms as you feel them pumped from the body pull-ups and ultimately to the medial portion of your delts..

You hang and try to summon all the energy reserves and hope that you can jump to the next rock placement, but to no avail. You gladly tap-out despite the verbal inspiration from your belay partner.

Tap-out.

Tapped out to the point where the soft landing mat making contact with your back is your final peace. You can't land on your feet on the way down, because you have no hold on your own rope.



Glycogen refuel was the local Pho place. Yummeeeee Vermecelli noodles with Shrimp and Egg-Rolls.

The icing on the cake was catching the first half of the Michigan-Iowa game.

A new city arises out of an unexpected sequence of events, creating a lasting experience and a memorable impression.

A new city awaits to be built with the building tools in your hands and a vision within the mind.... a Sims City of Rock City awaits...

::Nicole


....

Halfway through the wall