Today I have no commitment until 6 PM, so I take the bus downtown, grab my climbing shoes at the office, and walk to the gym!
I pick up at 1-month pass at LA Boulders (LA.B) for $100 and check the place out.
This gym is bouldering only, like Circuit NE in Portland.
It's smaller than Circuit, but still with lots of wall space.
I climb all the V1's and V2's I can find. I finish many of them.
Looking forward to coming back here during my remaining two weeks in LA for open climbing and lessons.
]]>Running around town with a friend in her car. No motorcycle, no climbing.
]]>Brew day. No transportation, no climbing.
]]>Still no motorcycle, so instead of climbing I'm drinking while I'm using the bus to get around LA.
Climbing will commence when I get the bike back.
]]>Taking advantage of getting around via bus, I decide to drink after work before going home instead of going climbing.
My motorcycle will be out of the shop soon and once I'm riding I won't be drinking, will replace that post-work activity with climbing.
]]>I'm running all around LA (mostly on the bus, which takes a long time) and run out of time to get to the gym.
]]>Today I brew. Afterwards I'm too tired to bus to the gym.
]]>Today I fly to LA.
The day is busy and I don't have a chance to check in at my gym here.
]]>I'm in Seattle today and I climb at Stone Gardens in Bellevue.
This is where I first started climbing 2.5 months ago. All of the problems are different now.
Last day at The Circuit Northeast in Portland.
Today I climb my favorites and some new problems, too.
Today is Thanksgiving and the gym is closed.
]]>Planned to climb after work, but stayed there so late that I missed my opportunity.
]]>Didn't climb today.
]]>Today I am sick, so I don't go to the climbing gym.
]]>Was out of the city from early morning 'til the evening and decided not to climb.
]]>Climbed in the late afternoon.
Tried a couple new problems, and did some old favorites.
Also got on the slackline again, and was able to walk to the middle once or twice!
Can feel my fingers a bit sore and not quite blistery.
]]>Today I climb after work.
I start by tackling an interesting V2 problem where you start by hanging upside down, proceed that way for several moves, then climb vertically to finish. I'm not able to get to the vertical portion, and I return to this problem several times.
I also attempt to climb this set of yellow holds just using my hands and no feet. I see another guy do it first and he inspires me to try. It's hard! He must be really strong.
When I leave I am more out of breath than I am tired in my arms!
...
A while later I can feel that my fingers hurt a bit. It was perhaps more taxing of a workout than I thought.
]]>I have an appointment in the morning before work, so I don't climb then.
And I end up staying at work super late, so I don't climb at all today.
]]>I don't climb in the morning, but I do get to the gym about 20 minutes before they close tonight and squeeze in some climbing.
The places is mostly empty. I climb a few of my favorite problems and try some new ones.
I don't take much of a rest between each attempt because I have little time.
I leave with my forearms feeling pretty pumped and my fingers tired.
]]>I decide to go after work.
But I end up staying at work until the gym closes, so I don't go climbing today.
Tomorrow I will climb in the morning.
]]>Today I climb in the morning. This is the earliest I've arrived so far, and I'm the first one here.
I work on a few regular problems and top out twice.
Then I move to this section of wall where I've never practiced before. Looks like it's for practicing sideways traversal over protruding rock faces. I attempt it several times, starting from the left and the right. It's a good challenge and I get tired.
I finish the morning by practicing on the slackline for a while. Once I am able to walk to the halfway point! I feel like I make significant improvements on it today.
]]>Today I do not climb.
]]>Today I do not climb.
]]>Today I hit the gym at night. There's a party going on, but many people are done climbing and have moved on to drinking, so I have lots of space to myself on the walls.
I complete a V2, V1, V0, then tackle some other problems. I'm here with a friend who isn't climbing, so I don't hang around too long. I push myself to keep tackling problems without a break in between until I can't hang on anymore, and now I'm tired and finished.
]]>Today I leave little time between work and my even plans.
Just enough time, in fact, to show up, complete a single problem on my first try, and leave.
]]>Today I go to the gym around 9:50.
I start with my favorite V2. I like this one because of the fun movements and body positions going up, it flows nicely, and because of the thrill of climbing over the edge at the top.
After that I do a few other problems throughout the gym and a15-rep set of knee ups on the dip machine.
I find a new V2 that I like, but am unable to complete it tonight. I'm looking forward to tackling this problem tomorrow:
I try a V0, complete it, and while I'm climbing back down I jump off the wall and hit two of my fingers on my right hand on hold. At this point I am sure I'm almost done.
To finish the night I try a V0 that's on a significant overhang and complete it. Then I do another 15-rep set of knee ups.
Finally, I make eye contact with someone.
]]>Today I climb in the morning before work.
The gym opens at 9 and I aim for that, but get up an hour late, and roll in around 9:50.
I tackle a new V2, which I can't complete, even after several tries.
Then I work on a V1 and finish it.
I also do my first exercise in the gym. I do knee ups in 2 sets of 12 reps each on the dip machine.
Today I hit the gym around 9:05.
It's going to be a quick session because of the roughness and sore spots I can feel in my fingers from yesterday.
I intend to pace myself so I can actually climb every day, especially tonight, because tomorrow's session will be in the morning at 9 AM.
I start by topping out a V1 in a part of the gym I haven't done much climbing yet.
Next I return to the V2 I conquered yesterday to make sure I have it. I top out on my first try, but I do have a moment of fear at the edge when I can sense my arms going numb from strain, and I know I either have to finish this fast or I'm going to fall and I'm not in a good position to fall. I'm either going to tumble backwards or my arms are going to scrape the edge. Fortunately, I think the fear of such a fall motivates me to summon the strength I need to hoist myself over the edge.
My arms are quite sore now and I walk around for a while. I check out the workout area and do a pull up, then return to top out a V0 that I've done before.
With three top outs and only 15 minutes of climbing I decide to call it good for today and save strength for tomorrow.
]]>I go to the gym around 6:15 PM and climb for about 40 minutes.
I start by focusing on the V2 I tried yesterday. After half-dozen attempts or so I complete the problem and top out.
Next I try another V2, but am too tired. I move on to some easy V0's. I try a few V1's but am still too tired, and can feel my fingers getting raw. I know I should stop soon and pace myself if I'm going to do this every day.
Finally, I top out on a V0.
My gym has a slackline and tonight I step onto it for the first time. On a few attempts I'm able to take a few steps, but I don't get far out. I am looking forward to getting better at this!
Welcome to 30 Days of Climbing!
This is my climbing gym:
I'm in Portland now and I have a 1-month pass at The Circuit Bouldering Gym NE. It's my intention to go here every day for the remainder of my time living in Portland.
Tonight I boulder for about 20 minutes. I start with V2 problems, then drop down to V1, then V0.
Afterwards I sit on a bench, eat, and watch other people climb. This is my view:
I don't talk to anyone. Instead, I enjoy my time to myself.
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