Spider-Man

So I've got a new nickname.

This grainy pic is brought to you by Ninjacq. (Can you say, "Super Camera Zoom, Activate"?)

I am nowhere near the skill level of the pros, but I think I'm progressing nicely. I take pride in the fact that I've finished walls that some guys haven't finished. Haha. (Sorry boys, it's not a diss!) I'm happy I successfully climbed wall 4 again (Lei, I only fell once. And no dancing this time!), and even happier that I got to climb the wall pictured above. I looove the feeling of conquering a wall, and overcoming the pain and exhaustion.

Must give props to Roaches "MVP" Ruel, who coached me when I got to the hard part. Hearing the instructions he hollered from below, I learned a bit about twisting, and using rocks I otherwise would have dismissed, and resting against a corner. I finally understood why people use chalk though. Some of the rocks were so hard to grasp coz my hands were a bit sweaty.

I was touched to hear people cheering from below--it's cool having people who want you to finish that wall, supporting you, rah-rah-rah-ing away as you painstakingly make your way to the top. As I tapped the top of the wall and wiped the sweat dripping from my brow (and neck and back...), a sense of fulfillment just washed over me. Mike's quotable quote: "Tamo 'tong si Tisha, wala na ngang kalaban, competitive pa rin!" What can I say? I ain't no quitter!

Because it's there

Mostly for lack of other activity options, my teammates and I started climbing a few weeks ago. Disc was canceled and we had no other shoes but kleats, so we had to figure out what we could do sans trainers. We headed to PowerUp, and have gone back twice since then (a couple of others went on their own for "secret training sessions").

Yesterday was my third time there, and I was beginning to understand why Marie is a hardcore climber. At first, it was just an alternative workout, but last night, I began to see that it was possible for me to love it, too. I was hanging on that pesky Wall 4, on my third attempt to finish it, and it hit me: It's really about challenging yourself. True, I raced with a Man-Who-Shall-Remain-Unnamed (haha) and that was fun. But there's something to be said about climbing alone, just you, the wall, and some seemingly impossible-to-grasp rocks. It's about tapping into yourself and finding the determination to finish something you started, no matter how difficult or daunting or painful.

Papa G asked why we do it, and I answered that it's a lot like climbing Mt. Everest--because it's there. Personally, I've realized: It's because I can, if only I try hard enough.