Sometimes I get overconfident of my physical ability. I think I run 20-25 miles a week, a couple of times a week of free weight exercises at the gym and 6-8 miles walk every Sunday, I think I am all set.
Without thinking twice, perhaps I thought twice, but as usual my mind convinced me on Thursday afternoon right after I had my lunch that it would be a breeze. Breeze my ass. Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) offered a free rock climbing workshop on Saturday. So, I called them and signed up for 1:00 pm slot.
I arrived at the site, Nira Rock on Nira Avenue right behind Veteran Hospital in Jamaica Plain abound 1:30 pm. I was surprised to see how beautiful and peacefulul the site was.
Candice greeted me and handed me a couple of papers to sign. She walked me to Nira Rock and introduced me to anotherr lovely girl. I forgot her name, but she was very helpful. She showed me how to put on the harness. I put the climbing shoes and the helmet.
As I watched the first climber eased his way up the wall of the rock I thought about my right knee. Then it dawned to me that my knee wasn't completely healed. What am I doing here?
I promised myself if my right knee started to bother me, I would stop. Anyway, when it was my turn, Jeremy,the instructor the guy who held the rope told me not to worry. I won't fall he said. I was sure my face expression told him that I was about to chickening out.
To make the boring story short, despite the encouragement from Jeremy and the rest of the people who stood watching the 51 year old woman trying to swing her legs over the ledge, I managed to get only perhaps a quarter of the wall. While trying to find the spot to swing my right leg up, I knew if I forced myself, I would be miserably sitting on my butt nursing my injured knee. I told Jeremy I wanted to stop. Gently he pulled me down.
Perhaps next time I would give a try on an indoor rock climbing, perhaps not because I don't think I am brave enough to get myself swinging next to a big slab of solid rock. One thing I have to say, I salute to all the rock climbers. And yes, my arms are still sore.
Ana,
You should have told them of your knee problem. They would have cautioned you.
Though I don't climb, I was involved in the establishment of more than 50 routes for rock climbing in Gua Musang. I think rock climbing is a great healthy sport and one must be healthy and agile to enjoy it.
Give it another try when your knee gets better.
Posted by: Pak Zawi | November 07, 2008 at 04:03 AM
Good for you for trying something new - that's the real point. I'm glad you had sense and stopped before hurting yourself.
Posted by: beth | October 29, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Yes, it is the intention that counts.
Salaam Raya, belated.
Posted by: Gurindam Jiwa | October 28, 2008 at 05:54 AM
But now you know it's not for you. You don't have to wonder. I learned this about cross country skiing. It's not for me. I got snowshoes instead.
Posted by: katney | October 27, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Oh. Yeah. I've done the same thing with climbing: assumed that being in pretty good shape should see me through, and finding out that it won't. It's a pretty specialized set of heavy resistance work. I'm so glad you did what was wise!
Posted by: dale | October 27, 2008 at 09:45 PM