Month: July 2020

Climbing

Observation of a Route

stanarich

There’s a route at the gym that does a great job conveying certain lessons. Whether the setter intended to provide these experiences, or I am simply appreciative of happenstances that have struck me, I know not. Nor do I care whether what I perceive aligns with the designs of the setter. As with literature, being aware of an author’s intent may influence your take on it but need not dictate your understanding. What we gain from any stimulus remains ours, and we may share how we conceive events so as to influence others, which is the same point of reference and influence that I accord to any designer, namely being one voice that calls out from the thicket that any one of us might heed or ignore or accord merit to at any gradation within the continuum thereof.

It’s a 10c, and fairly graded at that. The initial moves are not that difficult, yet you can pump yourself out should you move inefficiently given that it’s an overhung route. Not steeply. Not severely. Enough, however, to feel unforgiving at times, especially if you max out at the grade. What I appreciate about the route, and this has nothing to do with whether or not I enjoy this climb, is that when you reach striking distance of the fourth bolt, you’re not in an ideal position. To linger in this stance would invite rapid fatigue. The next hold is a sideways three-finger pocket. This hold does not appear to be all that exciting and that it is not a hold onto which you can pull down directly, I can see many a climber electing to clip the rope into the nearby carabiner before moving onto it. However, that is a mistake, for despite its apparent awkwardness, you can lean into the hold as you bring up a foot, thereby providing a rather relaxing position. It looks awkward, and requires you to rotate into a restful stance, but it’s an easy clip and a restorative moment that alleviates your forearms should the below sequence had pumped out your arms.

The lesson here is that if you go higher, the route rewards you with an easier clip, helping you continue on your journey to the apex of the climb. For, the next stretch is a little technical and overhung and requires use of some smaller holds, all of which can cause your forearms to burn. Then, after clipping the next bolt, you face a large span in-between your current location and the next, massive hold, which looks to be a sloper. I have witnessed many a climber take here. Rest, and then do the big move to discover a gigantic hold, a lovely jug on which you can rest, for you can make good use of holds as feet to provide a nice relaxing position from which you can recharge to charge the anchor above. Many times I have overheard a climber lament, if only I had done the move, I could have sent this route. Two lessons here, each near each other. Move, fight the pump, search for better lays of options ahead, for sometimes the saying rings true, when in doubt, run it out.

Other Stuff

Silver Linings

stanarich

A few silver linings have arisen from 2020’s middle finger to Earth’s denizens, especially those of us who live in the country leading the charge in failing to adapt to mitigate COVID-19’s assault on our civilization. Go USA! Anyhow… So, specifically, the biggest gain has been the recapturing of segments of lost time.

Not needing to be in the office, I don’t squander time commuting or navigating related trappings. I can also make better use of the occasional flickers of workday downtime (e.g., it’s not like I necessarily made great use of five-minute gaps in-between meetings). These minutes stitched together provide ample swaths of freedom to focus on various hobbies and increase my cardio and general fitness training. For example, I have workouts that take a couple of minutes fit nicely into the various gaps throughout a workday – farewell tennis elbow, at least that’s the plan. What was once a thirty-to-forty-five-minute process, lunch has become retrieving food from the fridge that’s eaten as I work. Or, put another way, lunchtime involves a run, and then the sustenance bit need not overtake the day, unless that’s the plan.

Time spent at the climbing gym has taken a serious hit since hanging out in an enclosed space with other people, all of us breathing heavily as we exert ourselves, is no longer a wise way to spend three or four days a week. Visits typically lasted about three hours, which means a minimum of ten hours repopulate each week, mostly during weeknights. One or two nights can still see some form of exercise, such as HIIT, and then solo gaming, catching up with friends, reading, writing, or dabbling in some other pursuit (e.g., learning to cobble together videos) occupies the hours.

All in all, 2020 has become a year of learning, relaxing, exercising, and focusing on leisure alongside supporting friends and delighting in life. Staying fit has become a forefront goal; I want to retain my shape for climbing as well as keep myself as healthy as feasible so that the odds of surviving a possible COVID-19 infection remain as favorable as feasible. Asthma and allergies along with not being in my twenties or thirties aren’t going to aid me in battling the disease. Given that nebulizer treatments aren’t unknown events maintaining pulmonary health is key. Thus, I’m the lightest I’ve been during the past twenty years and am keen to keep this outcome alive.

I wouldn’t desire this fate, and this entire pandemic situation is terrible, but at least good can be wrung from it. Were someone offer me the opportunity to arise from a coma to discover Hillary Clinton is president and no novel coronavirus had overtaken our world, then, sure, let’s get the rehab going. But, outside of such an unlikely twisting of reality, whenever anything happens options arise and trying to squeeze out positive outcomes goal forever worth chasing.

Other Stuff

Preferences

stanarich

The mask did not bother me while climbing at the gym. Sure, it wasn’t easy to speak while wearing it which resulted in stifled dialogue as we strove to comprehend each other’s words, yet its presence did not impede the act of climbing. A crux arrived and my awareness of the mask receded. Heading into the experience, I had imagined that it’d feel horrific to fall while half-gagged. Though, when I fell the mask’s presence became inconsequential. Friction ended up being what bothered me the most. Over the course of two-and-a0half hours, the ear bands dug into my ears and left them raw.

I suppose I hadn’t ever worn one of these things for more than thirty or so minutes. Grocery shopping has been the primary scene within which I’ve had to filter my breath so as to help protect my fellow citizens from me recast as a dragon who may emit pathogens rather than fire. In mentioning my sore ears, Daniel responded by sharing that he prefers masks that tie behind the head. I hadn’t considered that I might have a preference.

That anyone might have such a preference had eluded me. I have encountered articles about mask fashion and have seen advertisements showing all manners of styles, yet that I’d have any mask other than the two that Kelly had made me existed outside of what my brain had yet conceived. It all seemed foreign. Masks have been ancillary, rare accoutrements adorned in passing. Yet, now the notion that I might have preferences had fallen upon me. Might I have a preference? Should I ask Kelly to manufacture me a me mask with a different means to secure it to my face? Should I attempt to sew one myself? To dredge up whatever grasp of home economics had embedded itself into me years ago? I’ll just deal with what I have for now, for my ears will become used to the mask before long. Perhaps should more extended occasions arises that require greater comfort, I’ll develop a preference. Or, I might stumble into owning more masks, of varying designs.