Strong Enough: Month-End Review, January

Yesterday I got an e-mail with the subject: climbing. early. sunday.

Patti: Meet at the gym at 10:00 tomorrow, ok?

Me: Roger that.

Upper Limits is having their annual membership sale so the joint was jumping.

Now, I have two memberships. One at Upper Limits and one at a regular fitness club which doesn't have a pool.

I warmed up on Truxton or Bust, a 5.6 route then Patti suggested I try to tackle my #1 nemesis, And You're Ready Now?, a 5.8b since it's best to hit the hardest routes early in the game.

Patti actually had a grout-induced blister in the middle of her hand so her husband, Mike, was my belay partner. Patti did do a 5.9 that didn't require too much gripping. Ha, I wasn't injured and could not have done it.

So, Patti and Mike are coaching me then a couple, Bruce and Megan, came along. Bruce said that And You're Ready Now? has been very friendly to him. Bruce was giving me excellent pointers and even climbed over the arête several times to show me a way to do it. Bruce talked about balance, technique and was kind enough to tell me that he knew that I was strong enough to do it by the way I was holding onto the butterfly hold with my arms. He also stuck around for quite awhile suggesting different holds for my feet and/or hands and Patti told me that half of the game is psychological...

Later on, I moved to Face Plant (5.8). It's not a route that I do smoothly but I remember a time when I couldn't make it over that arête at all. Mike told me that there's not that much difference between Face Plant and And You're Ready Now? So, hopefully, I'll make it over the hump one day.

I love it how everyone is looking up -- except for me since I was tying in and, sometimes, I get amnesia about how to tie a figure eight knot.






I continued to take the quote variety is the spice of life to heart this month:

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

Firm Flat Abs, 2 x's

Total Body Fat Burner, 2 x's

Ultra Stretch, 2 x's

10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp

Basic Training, 1 x

Fat Burning Blast, 3 x's

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

Stretching, 7 x's

Arc Trainer, 1 x

Boot Camp Class, 1 x

Cardio and Muscle Class, 3 x's

Elliptical Trainer, 1 x

Rock Climbing, 6 x's

StairMaster, 4 x's

Step Class, 4 x's

Swimming, 2 x's

Treadmill, 11 x's

Walking Pilates, 1 x

And I'm hoping to keep rockin' steady in February...