Boxing class and Learn to Climb 10/22/09

Boxing class was fairly run-of-the-mill. Did three rounds. The first two were rote patterns of bob-and-weave; one to the right, one to the left. The last round was freestyle, with bobbing and weaving in both directions mixed in with unanswered mitt-hitting. What I've realized, to my disappointment, is that I now exit class fully capable of seeing, whereas before, it wasn't an exercise session if I hadn't had to blink sweat out of my eyes on at least two occasions per session.

Rock-climbing was surprisingly fun. Steff took me, Jocelyn, and Gaomin to climb. After signing a horrific-sounding waiver, we were off. The helper chick, against the longest odds, was also a former Boldt Hall occupant, so that was cool. She looked like Tina Fey. We got suited up, shod, and tied up, and started with bouldering, climbing sideways. We each covered about six to ten feet. Then she belayed us as we climbed to the top of a fairly easy, artificial wall.

As the first one on, I wanted to quit on at least two occasions. The first was a bit after I crossed the yellow line past which belaying equipment was mandatory. Another time was when I was nearing the top. When I got to the top, I pulled myself up and looked down in horror until she told me how to get off. Descent is a bit of a strange sensation; aside from the 120-pound instructor chick, the only thing holding me up was friction (which, I later discovered, is very significant, so that's good). But on top of that, I had to begin my descent by getting off a flat platform, which is essentially the equivalent of hanging off a cliff. I was basically Mufasa. When she told me to put the soles of my feet against the wall, the natural reaction was... What?

Anyway, I came down safely and had fun watching the others ascend the wall, though none of them chose to sit on top of the world and gaze down at the twenty-or-so-feet they'd conquered. Afterward, I tried to boulder by myself, but it was way harder. I'm guessing it's a combination of the wall being more difficult and bouldering's being inherently more difficult. It's an expensive affair, but it was fun, and I might be paying it a visit next Friday or so.

Over and out.