"Gym Climbing"

By chance, I would visit the gym to climb. (Never got really into it) John and I would frequent the vertical  outdoor more. My visit to the  gym yesterday made me think that I really should consider going more often. 

We went to Chelsea Piers yesterday with the invitation from a fellow AMC climber. I did four climbs, but only completed two, one of which I failed to finish the first time. After being absent from climbing  for a while, my arm muscle strength has just gotten too weak. (I seemed to have lost the willingness to do it.)

I thought I'd go for another try for one of the climbs I didn't finish, a yellow 5.6 climb on the right side of the wall. John says,"C'mon you can do it; it's just psychological."(Yeah, right.)

I started the climb; when I reached the hump, where I got stuck the first time, I stopped. Just too difficult for my height to reach that one small yellow thing past the hump. And my hands were slippery.  Never like using chalks in climbing.(But  can be really useful) In between, I would wipe my hands on my pants and rest.

While thinking of what moves ( kept on trying a few, even ungraceful ones) to make, eyes were on me waiting patiently for my finish; a pair was in line  to use the same rope for a climb next to mine(Pressure, pressure). Determined to reach the end of the height, I went for it and finally completed the climb.  Thought I would never finish. Perhaps, I'll go back to it another time and try a different a move or two that came across my mind, but didn't pursue.

Anyhow, I still I felt good that I did the climb the second time, struggled but well satisfied. Afterwards, I went for a run in the loop and John joined me later.
1/12/06