A few months ago my daughÂter, Aliza, came over after an evening out with her work friends. Aliza told us she and her friends had gone to the MinÂneapoÂlis BoulÂderÂing Project or MBP, an indoor climbÂing gym where peoÂple climb “cirÂcuits” of up to 17 feet high withÂout ropes or harÂnessÂes. She was so excitÂed about it — they’d had a blast!
She said she couldn’t wait to go again, which didn’t surÂprise me.
Then she said I needÂed to try it, too, which surÂprised me a lot. After all, I am afraid of heights and climbÂing — withÂout ropes — well, that wasn’t my thing. What was she thinking?
After I bit of cajolÂing over the next few days, I finalÂly agreed to go to MBP. Believe me, I was plenÂty nerÂvous. I wasn’t sure if I’d like “boulÂderÂing” or if the younger peoÂple in the gym would like sharÂing their space with someÂone their parÂents’ age. (Isn’t it funÂny the things we worÂry about?) My othÂer daughÂter, MauÂreen, said she would join us, too. At least it would be good “girl time” I told myself. I thought I would go just this once, be seen as a good sport, and leave the climbÂing to the young folks after that.
When we arrived at MBP, a staff memÂber gave us a quick tour. He explained that boulÂderÂing cirÂcuits have colÂor-codÂed holds. The colÂor of the holds defines the degree of difÂfiÂculÂty for each cirÂcuit. There are a lot of cirÂcuits for beginÂners, he told us, so we would find plenÂty to do. (As climbers get stronger, more flexÂiÂble, and more conÂfiÂdent, they progress through the colors.)
MBP proÂvidÂed us with climbÂing shoes — speÂcial shoes that hug your feet and mush your toes. RubÂber on the toes, soles, and heels proÂvides a betÂter grip as you climb. Climbers use chalk on their hands, too, like gymÂnasts do, to keep their hands from slipÂping. No othÂer speÂcial equipÂment is needed.
Aliza, MauÂreen, and I strapped on our climbÂing shoes and looked around. The gym was full of climbers of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Some looked like they were just learnÂing; othÂers were so good they looked like they could give SpiÂderÂman a run for his money.
“Let’s go!” Aliza said. We headÂed for a yelÂlow beginÂner circuit.
We climbed. We fell. We “topped out.” We celebrated.
And, needÂless to say, we had a blast!
Why? Well, boulÂderÂing is so much more than just exerÂcisÂing. For starters, it requires a willÂingÂness to try someÂthing dauntÂing, to look a litÂtle silÂly at times, and to fail. The entire gym floor is covÂered in a cushÂioned mat about 18 inchÂes thick, which is good if you fall – and you will fall!
BoulÂderÂing requires probÂlem solvÂing. All of the cirÂcuits are difÂferÂent and even the cirÂcuits withÂin the same colÂor groupÂing require difÂferÂent skills: balÂance, flexÂiÂbilÂiÂty, grip strength, abilÂiÂty to stand on tiny toe holds. This means you always have to think about what you’re doing. It also leads to camaÂraderie among the climbers in the gym. Strangers will give you tips or show you how they’ve overÂcome a climbÂing hurÂdle. It’s true team work. I love that.
BoulÂderÂing also requires perÂsisÂtence. My daughÂters and I try to give a new cirÂcuit at least three tries before we move on. Often, that third try ends in sucÂcess. And if it doesn’t, we’re right back at it the next time we’re there, usuÂalÂly after talkÂing, mimÂing, and dreamÂing about the cirÂcuit over the course of the next few days. (I kid you not — at some time or anothÂer all three of us have dreamed of climbÂing a parÂticÂuÂlarÂly hard route only to come up with a new idea about how to approach it.)
BoulÂderÂing is a favorite activÂiÂty now. We go two or three times a week and we’re getÂting pretÂty good! It nevÂer gets dull. The staff at MBP changes out the cirÂcuits every week. Just when you think you’ve masÂtered all of the green cirÂcuits in the 40,000 square foot gym, you arrive to find a whole new set to tackÂle. We cheer each othÂer on and push each othÂer just a litÂtle. Aliza is espeÂcialÂly good at getÂting us to try cirÂcuits we think might be beyond our reach. We all ride home laughÂing and exhaustÂed. (Did I menÂtion what a great stress relievÂer it is?)
Could boulÂderÂing be your thing, too? Maybe. But even if it’s not, conÂsidÂer this. The next time a famÂiÂly memÂber or friend sugÂgests doing someÂthing outÂside your comÂfort zone, you could say “yes.”
Agree to go once.
Be a good sport.
Then be preÂpared … you just might have a blast!
You are amazÂing! I love everyÂthing about this. In spirÂit, I am boulÂderÂing.… ;0)
The crazy things our kids get us to try, huh! If you ever want to go boulÂderÂing, just let me know 🙂
What a fabÂuÂlous and rewardÂing endeavÂor, Aimee! And it’s a reminder to remain open to possibilities.
You are very conÂvincÂing, Aimee! I am going to ask my friends if they want to give this a try!
Do it, David! You’re a natural 🙂
I want to try some time! Sounds like so much fun! Maybe I can get Tyler to try too!!!
Tyler would love it! They have kids’ classÂes, a speÂcial climbÂing area (where you can even host birthÂday parÂties) for kids, kid climbÂing teams, etc. The kids are fearless!