Content is paramount.

Animotion
Vroom

losir logo

I was rock climbing with a bunch of company people Thursday night. Having done it only once before, I was eager to try again. It's a sport I'd like to be good at -- from yonder past when Fido and I used to climb roofs and school buildings, but I don't have the time nor dedication to practice now.

Make no mistake, climbing involves a lot of strength, but it's something I no longer have. Or rather, I didn't have that day.

I don't like to admit it, but I've got a bad case of RSI (repetitive strain injury), or Capel Tunnel Syndrome. Whatever you call it, with years of non-ergonomic mouse usage, my right forearm tendons have paid their dues ten times over. They constantly ache, and there's just no strength left in them.

So I was climbing some easier walls like a 5.9, which I remember doing the first time I tried it (wow, has it been two years?). Now I'm useless, since I can't even get up half way.

5.9 is easy enough that some holds are still shaped for specifically left/right arm, (I don't know any real techniques by the way....). But my right hand just couldn't grip anything remotely useful. On one particular stone, I'd be able to backhand with my left, yank myself up, replace with my right hand, let go with my left, and then.... fall off. I tried it maybe four times, use my left hand to half-lift, steady myself; insert right hand, and same results. Every dangling time.

It was fustrating, knowing full well the rest of my body was roaring to get up top, hampered only by my gimpy right arm. Ugly doesn't begin to describe my mood.

I even proved to myself I wasn't weak by climbing up ropes hanging from the ceiling using nothing but my arms. Admitedly the ropes weren't exactly 50 feet up, but still the point is I could get up there, if I didn't have this RSI to hold me back. Infuriating!

....or as my case may be: inflamatory! posted by losir at 11:38 AM