Why I rock climb instead of using a treadmill

“There is probably no pleasure equal to the pleasure of climbing a dangerous Alp; but it is a pleasure which is confined strictly to people who can find pleasure in it.”

Climbing may not be for you. You tear up your hands, hang onto small holds at alarming heights, and get rope burn right along your hips. (I can show you my scars from this incredible rappel I did a year ago.) But you really never know if climbing is for you unless you try. So make sure at least once in your life, you hit the rock.

In one of my favorite songs by Tim McGraw, “Live like you were dying,” he tells a story about a man has just found out that he is going to die, so he decides to really live it up. The first three things he decides to do?

“I went sky diving. I went rocky mountain climbing. I went 2.7 seconds, on a bull named Fu Man Chu.”

You have to think twice about a sport that would make it to number 2 on that list, I’ve done some skydiving myself and I can tell you that sky diving and rock climbing are both incredible life experiences.  So, let me help you find some pleasure in the sport of climbing.

I have been climbing for about five years now and I have to tell you, it is one of the great things I love about living in Ontario. Like many of the things I took up, I started at a later age. My first time climbing was at an indoor gym in Nova Scotia when I was 20. I would like to say I was hooked, but I wasn’t. It wasn’t until I was training with the military in Borden, Ontario some few years later, that I really invested some time into it. I met a guy named Marshall who was an excellent instructor and did a great job at showing me the ropes (no pun intended). I took a course over a weekend, learning how to set-up natural anchors outside. I thought this was great as I prefer the outdoors over a rock climbing filled with stringbean guys who always seem to embarrass me when I would take a date to the climbing gym. Since then, I have bought my own equipment, shared my interest in the sport and love the feeling not only of accomplishment from a hard climb but from the rush of the rappel.

First off, you need to see if it is for you. I have to tell you, I’ve had some people out on the rock, and they just do not get any enjoyment out of it. (Kinda like if you threw me on an elliptical machine for 20 minutes.  Ugh.) The easiest way to do this is to head to an indoor gym and spend a couple hours trying it out. Just grab a friend and it’ll cost you less than heading out to the movies.

The first time I went into the gym this woman turned to me and asked, “You looking to belay or boulder?” I replied, “I would like to do some climbing!” Turns out, I’m a idiot. So let me help you out with a little background knowledge. She gave me an analogy that stuck with me to this day. “Essentially, bouldering is a sprint and belaying is a marathon.” Can’t explain it any easier. To be a little more specific, bouldering is done usually to a maximum of 10 feet above ground, no harnesses, but really not much harm if you fall. Belaying can take you as high as your rope is long, but you are strapped into a harness. Each are an excellent workout, in their own unique way. For your first time I would recommend belaying. Many hardcore boulderers might disagree, but I find in many indoor gyms, the belaying holds are usually easier and it gives you the opportunity to get at least a couple feet off of the ground for your first time.

Purchasing equipment

Whether you decide on belaying or bouldering you may need some equipment. I went about a month before I put any money into the sport, and I would recommend the same. Make sure it is something you like and want to commit to. The first thing you should pick up are shoes. Go to an outdoor shop (MEC for you Canadians) and get sized properly. I am not going to say any more.  Let the experts at the shop do what they do best. Beyond this, I would take a look at a harness, but it was a while before  I put down the money for that. I’ll go into more detail about climbing equipment in a future post. The only recommendation I have for picking up climbing equipment is that if you are going to get rope or anything, make sure it is new. You have to trust your kit.  It’s the only thing between you and the rock below

Go outside.

Now that you have had a chance to climb a few times inside, ask a couple people at the gym if there a group or club that heads out on weekends. If so, ask how to get involved. Join the climbing community.  Nothing makes friends faster than having to trust someone watch you while you hang on to the rock by your fingers, 50 feet in the air. If you can’t find a group through the climbing gym, go to an outdoor outfitter and speak to someone who sells climbing equipment. Most likely the staff know about groups to get involved in.

No, it doesn’t. It replaces the lat pulldown, bicep curls, bent over rows, dips, shoulder flys, wrist curls, one legged squats, and the stepper, just to name a few. (Come to think of it, the treadmill too if you count lugging all your kit to the rock face) Rock climbing gives you a whole body workout that can be more challenging than all these exercises combined. I am not a big calorie counter but if you are, go to Health Status – Internet Assessments. I discovered that rock climbing burns up to 500 calories, which is quite a bit if you compare it to burning 450 calories, running on a treadmill at 6.0 mph for the same amount of time.* There you go, a couple calories extra. Now you go out and enjoy a good pink lady apple (about 50 calories).

If you like the idea of climbing, but the outdoors are just is not for you, then I would suggest investing in a VersaClimber. These are a great piece of kit, and very low impact. You may not get mud or chalk on your hands, but you will get one hell of a workout. Try to find one at your local gym, and hop on for 10 minutes.  You will see what I mean.

Grab a buddy and head out this weekend. Fire me off an email and let me know how it goes.  If you are ever in southern Ontario, drop me a line and we can hit the rock together.

Your Digital Trainer,

Jeremiah