So today marks a new month as well as a new activity to try out. With plenty of options around the area it was hard to narrow down what I wanted to try this time. Luckily, Groupon came out with a 2 person deal (priced for 1) for indoor rock climbing over at Hangar 18 South Bay.  Finding the location wasn’t too hard, although you could pass it on the street and would not even know there is an indoor rock climbing facility.  As Ashley and I walked in we took notice that everyone who was climbing the rock walls had a partner and that partner was supporting the climber’s weight. We both were surprised to see that. The staff was very friendly as they provided us climbing shoes (these shoes will be super tight on your feet, but make for an easier climb) and a demo on how to tie a figure 8 for the rope. After our lesson another staff member took us through the actual process on how to climb with a partner acting as an anchor. We learned about the “belay”, which is a device where the rope threads through. This piece of equipment is very important as it controls the speed of lowering a climber as well as supporting the entire weight of the climber. Besides the equipment communication is also vital to successfully rock climb. It wasn’t too difficult to remember the key words or phrases. It is basically a ready, set, and go so that the anchor and climber are both on cue.

Once the climber starts going it is a total body movement. The muscles feel like that they don’t get a break until the climber returns back safely to the ground. Even when the climber is in a stopped position, thinking of the next move he/she is about to make, the body is tensed and thus still working. After 2 climbs Ashley and I could feel the fatigue, especially in our shoulders. You can be sure that you will get a full body workout. What we liked about the inside rock climbing was that all the walls are marked with a level of difficulty. I believe the highest was 12. The highest we both attempted was a 10 and at that point the rock wall was a high climb. Needless to say, we had a great time. The very next day we both had very tired deltoids and forearms. It felt like we did Fran non-stop for an hour. Indoor rock climbing definitely ranks higher than my zumba experience and Ashley and I plan to come back to Hangar 18. 

*Be sure to sign up for next week’s rowing seminar which takes place on June 6^th and June 8^th. To register, go to our schedule and click on the workshops tab. Hope to see you there.

WOD 06.01.2013

“Conga Line”

In teams of 4-

3 Rounds of

• Row 20 Calories
• 25 Push Press (75/55)
• 25 Wall Ball Shots
• 25 Box Jumps

*Follow the leader, one person at each station at a time