andy popp
Well-Known Member
So, I'm going to start this by fucking it up, by not linking all the previous threads, as is the tradition. Maybe someone can correct that.
I have two aims: rebuild any claim to being a climber, rebuild some kind of fitness.
I've never been more out of shape in my adult life. The last couple of years saw a slide into a too inactive life, combined with too much drinking. The last year in particular was difficult, and saw the loss of my remaining parent and a sibling, an extremely stressful job search, and a difficult relocation process. My ways of dealing with this have not always been the best and I've gained weight and lost strength. I've never been someone who enjoyed exercise - I've been very fit at times but only ever as a by-product of being very psyched on going climbing. I'm basically extremely unsporty and respond poorly to training. Running etc. have never appealed and probably never will. But I need to find some kind of solution.
Things have begun to improve a little already since moving. I now cycle to work. It's not far but does mean 12-15 minutes of raised heart beat morning and afternoon most days of the week. Work and home are on the fourth and third floor respectively and I always use the stairs, often multiple times a day. It sounds pathetic but even just these little bits have begun to make a difference. I've also begun to cut back on drinking, having three to four booze free nights a week. I need to find a more systematic ways to build on all of this
Any meaningful claim to being a climber at this point is pretty dubious. I've climbed twice this year. Emotionally I remain deeply attached to this pastime. It's central to who I am, and I can't see that ever changing, but I need to make that a bit more of a reality. Unfortunately, I've just moved to a country with close to zero climbing (and it wouldn't really matter if there was anyway, as it seems to rain continuously). But there does appear to be a good gym ten minutes (more cycling!) from work, so I intend to start going there regularly. I think that will keep me attached enough, even though I've never really enjoyed indoors (my ex home board being the exception). Perhaps I can look to doing one or two trips to real rock each year? I don't think I have any real attachments to grades etc. any more and would be as happy doing classic easy routes as anything else.
More positively, I want to bring a multi-year, multi-volume book project to a close in 2020 - its close now and should happen. That will be very satisfying. I've just started developing another book proposal, for an edited volume, and it would be nice to get that commissioned. I've landed in a fantastic professional position that should, all going well, be the final post of my career. I want to find a truly worthy research project to which to devote myself to for the next few years and produce something I can be proud of. I've no idea what that might be, but I'm excited to be in a position to have the opportunity.
I want to see my children continue to grow and flourish and to maintain good relationships with them. It would be good to see old friends more.
I have two aims: rebuild any claim to being a climber, rebuild some kind of fitness.
I've never been more out of shape in my adult life. The last couple of years saw a slide into a too inactive life, combined with too much drinking. The last year in particular was difficult, and saw the loss of my remaining parent and a sibling, an extremely stressful job search, and a difficult relocation process. My ways of dealing with this have not always been the best and I've gained weight and lost strength. I've never been someone who enjoyed exercise - I've been very fit at times but only ever as a by-product of being very psyched on going climbing. I'm basically extremely unsporty and respond poorly to training. Running etc. have never appealed and probably never will. But I need to find some kind of solution.
Things have begun to improve a little already since moving. I now cycle to work. It's not far but does mean 12-15 minutes of raised heart beat morning and afternoon most days of the week. Work and home are on the fourth and third floor respectively and I always use the stairs, often multiple times a day. It sounds pathetic but even just these little bits have begun to make a difference. I've also begun to cut back on drinking, having three to four booze free nights a week. I need to find a more systematic ways to build on all of this
Any meaningful claim to being a climber at this point is pretty dubious. I've climbed twice this year. Emotionally I remain deeply attached to this pastime. It's central to who I am, and I can't see that ever changing, but I need to make that a bit more of a reality. Unfortunately, I've just moved to a country with close to zero climbing (and it wouldn't really matter if there was anyway, as it seems to rain continuously). But there does appear to be a good gym ten minutes (more cycling!) from work, so I intend to start going there regularly. I think that will keep me attached enough, even though I've never really enjoyed indoors (my ex home board being the exception). Perhaps I can look to doing one or two trips to real rock each year? I don't think I have any real attachments to grades etc. any more and would be as happy doing classic easy routes as anything else.
More positively, I want to bring a multi-year, multi-volume book project to a close in 2020 - its close now and should happen. That will be very satisfying. I've just started developing another book proposal, for an edited volume, and it would be nice to get that commissioned. I've landed in a fantastic professional position that should, all going well, be the final post of my career. I want to find a truly worthy research project to which to devote myself to for the next few years and produce something I can be proud of. I've no idea what that might be, but I'm excited to be in a position to have the opportunity.
I want to see my children continue to grow and flourish and to maintain good relationships with them. It would be good to see old friends more.