Climbing frenzy.

Lately it seems that my weeks are going by even faster than usual. And they're focused around Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sunday. Spelled out, climbing climbing weekend and climbing. The climbing has been going very well too. I'm not sure I mentioned it but I've taken my first 5c clean. And the other week when we went to Sthlm I climbed a 6a. Not clean but still awesome.

We also went to a climbing competition. Legends Only. Saw some really awesome climbers, the top of the male elite. Managed to get the autographs of all of them too. I was fan-girling so hard. Shook hands with some of them too. Never thought I'd get to see and meet them so close up. The high point was ofc to meet Adam Ondra and Sean McColl. *sigh* Awesome climbers.

Now if I could only get to meet Kim Jain, I'd be set for years. She's my all time favorite female climber. Who knows, maybe she'll be at the female climbing competition next spring. Also held here in Sthlm. That would be awesome.

Random picture day, legs.

A not too rare view of how my legs can look lately. Don't mind the scars, they're old. And yes, it's climbing on the agenda today. But I'm gonna have to climb a bit more careful this time, and not so many routes as last time. I might have put a bit too much pressure on my arms back then. My right elbow has been a bit upset since. Shit happens. I need to remember to work more with my legs anyhow.

First fall and Championships !

This is going to be a long one. Ehum. So yeah, yesterday. I did my first real big fall. It was scary. And at the same time not so much. I think I might have been mostly surprised and chocked. I've been avoiding falls very hard since I started climbing. Because (and this I didn't figure out until about two weeks ago) I have a large fear of falling backwards. *Doh.* Well I knew about the fear, just not that it was affecting my climbing. Stupid huh ?

So we started some light fall fall practice just a few days later. And good thing we did. I think that's what made this fall so much easier. Because I sort of knew beforehand how it would feel to fall. And yeah, figuring out why I've been avoiding it so much was a good thing too. On another note I did some awesome climbing. 8 routes and 2 tries on two other ones. My body can feel the workout pretty much everywhere now. And I couldn't be happier.

And last but not least. This Thursday it's time for the IFSC Boulder World Championships again. Happy happy happy. It's too bad they're only every other year. (Even numbered years also.) Would be awesome if it was every year. But at least it's 2014 now so... wohoo. Competition. As always I'm gonna keep my hopes up for Rustam and Akiyo, but I think it will be awesome watching all of the competitors.

Some day I would like to go see an IFSC competition in real life. But for now I'm gonna stay happy and hope that they put up the You Tube clips as fast as possible. And/or maybe, I'll try to catch the live streaming. Depends a little on what's happening this week in my life and what not. Either way, I'm happy that I've found something more to be happy about and interested in. You have to care about something to live.

www.ifsc-climbing.org

It's on.

I thought today was going to be a day of climbing and exercising, but I was wrong. Sugar quit work early and we went to the hall. Very nice and much appreciated even tho it was hellishly warm. I did 3 routes and some bouldering. Even got a free lesson in how to belay a person. And got to try it out. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. A nice surprise. I really have to go get that green climbing card soon. It would be very handy. Went home with a nice feeling of progress in my system. Some things are getting easier and easier. Happy happy joy joy.

Roped.

So yesterday was my second time climbing top rope. Wohoo !!! I only did one route, because I was already a bit tired from trying to do some bouldering. Not too successful, they haven't been too nice with the supposedly "easy" ones. Good thing we've made new ones. 

Anyway it went sort of well. There are two boulder problems that I can do now, and two rope routes. Probably a good start. Can't do much before my arms are tired anyway. And I need to keep up the weight lifting at home. My arms need more strength. But other than that, I'm happy and quite pleased.

And here's a random picture from one of my walks. Just for fun.

Awesome.

I did go out. It was lovely weather. Sugar found my lost sunglasses. And I burned my shoulders and neck fairly badly in the sun. Watched topless guys climb rocks and had a chat with a girl I've seen in the gym before. Very nice. All in all, a very awesome day. Could only have been better if I had been able to climb my self. But that time will come. Now, I have stuff to do. Give my arms some workout and take my ankle for a rehabilitating walk. And maybe sit down in the sun and do nothing for a while. Just because I can. 

My first...

So, yes. Went climbing on Tuesday anyway. Very proud. It wasn't easy to start climbing with many people there and Sugar and his friends watching. But I did it. Very awesome. Started working on a problem I haven't done before. And ofc, one unprepared fall later.... a twisted ankle. My first climbing related accident.

You have no idea how pissed I am that this happened. Good thing Sugar still had his "aircast" from when he got injured. So I borrowed that. And I didn't hurt my ankle as bad as he did, so it won't take me half a year to get back up again. But I'm counting on probably two weeks or so at least. Can only wait and see I guess.

On one hand I don't want to baby my self too much. But on the other, I don't know how careful I should be with this. Crap cakes and bitch buns. I'ma go and pop my foot up now and rest a bit. On the bright side it's a holiday on Friday so it's an extra long weekend. Three whole days of Sugar instead of two. :) Yey !!!

Oops !

A bit of randomeness from last Thursday. ( Because I still can't let it go lol.) Apparently at some point, I managed to hit Sugar with my camera. *cough* In the face. *cough* I had it in a string around my neck. We didn't think much of it after that. But I had to take a pic of it now. I guess it hit him in just the right wrong spot. Now he kinda looks like he's been in a fight. Oops...

I did it again !

Mwahaha. I went climbing again yesterday. :) Indoors this time, at the climbing gym Sugar always goes too. It was almost empty when we came there so I went for it. And happy I did. I even got Sugar and one of his friends to build a problem that was easy enough for me to climb.

Tried not to climb too much. Didn't want to end up in pain as I can get when I do stuff. But it went well. Practically no pain at all, and hardly any workout pains today either. I'm almost a bit disappointed. But it's good to know. Next time I can climb a bit harder without worries.

I'm happy I've finally started climbing. I definitely think this is a sport for me. Much better than swimming. I agree, swimming isn't bad. But I think the cold water gives me more pain, so a sweaty sport is probably a lot better. I hate being cold anyway and water has never been my best friend.

But, back to the climbing. I think, if things keep going well like this. That I'll start trying top roping soon too. Gotta stay positive and keep working.

The man, the myth.

A pic from said Bouldering adventure.

Boulder galore.

I had a most excellent day yesterday. Went out climbing with Sugar, two of his friends, and the gf of one of them. New people make me worried but she was just a peach. All in all it was a very awesome experience.

Usually they go lead climbing outside, but this time it was bouldering. Never seen it, never done it, irl. But now I've got some good shots of it. And to my own ( and probably theirs too ) surprise, I even tried climbing.

It was awesome. They were all very nice and sweet and helping. I know this already but it was still very nice. I had to take some help but in the end I did top it. My first outdoors boulder. I have to do this again.

So now I'm even more interested in getting my self a pair of climbing shoes. I have to keep this up. Went out today to see if I could find some shoes to try. I might have found a pair. But I would like to try more.

There's a special brand that I'm interested in. But looks like I gotta go to Sthlm to find them. Not sure if the neighbor city has them. No worries. I'll get there eventually. Preferably sooner than later.