Moni Climbs

Monica. 31. 5’1” + 0”. Climbing Progress Blog.

[moniclimbs]

Wow, I feel like myself again. I rested my finger and elbow enough during the week to have a full mooonboard session on the weekend. I surprised myself by finishing climbs I couldn’t even do before my injuries! This one was challenging because of the cut I had to hold on the second move and then the long reach up to 15. I actually never tried the long reach before and used to do a high left foot beta, but that was much more in the arms and I couldn’t connect it from the top.

Longiness, V4

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Tennis elbow is getting better, but my pinch and lock off are extremely weak now. I’ve also been rehabbing a pulley injury from last year and am up to 35lbs on a 20mm half crimp 😭

I can’t seem to escape injuries, so I’m climbing what I can. This climb surprisingly didn’t hurt me even though I have struggled with pocket holds in the past and injured my lumbricals.

I guess that means rehab is working.

[moniclimbs]

After another long hiatus, I am back again 😅

I hurt my elbow while doing preacher curls back in June, and recovery has been soooo slow. 30s really do hit different. I’ve been doing a lot of rehab and it’s finally healed up enough to climb again, and more importantly, MOONBOARD.

Cruise V4

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I tried this climb years ago and the move to bring the right hand in from such a spanned position felt so impossible. I normally don’t kilter board because it’s so packed, but I hopped on and managed to snag the send! I’m happy to see growth in my abilities… even though I just noticed that I totally dabbed on the next move haha oh well

That One’s Good, V6, 40 degrees

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And here is more kendama.

Pull up gunslinger to whirlwind.

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Some climbing and current compound lift stats:

Bench: 2x5x105lb, 1x4x110lb

Squat: 3x5x145lb

Deadlift: 3x5x205lb

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The kendama arc has begun. Around Europe with down spikes.

I’m also trying to lift every Sunday and do some other weighted exercises throughout the week, so here’s where I’m at right now. Let’s see how it goes for the year! BW: around 125lbs

Deadlift: 3x5x195lbs

Bench: 3x3x102.5lbs

Squat: 3x5x135lbs

Pull up: 3x3-4x35lbs

Shoulder press with dumbbells: 3x8x25lbs each arm

[moniclimbs]

Proof I still kinda climb, but tbh I’ve been way more into kendama lately 😅

Tempest in a Teapot MB 2024, V5

[moniclimbs]

What a wild year it’s been for climbing. So many injuries and so much rehab made for a very up and down relationship with the sport. It’s a pretty similar journey that I’ve had with gymnastics where every time I feel like I’m making progress, I get injured. That pattern resurfacing this year makes me want to retire and enjoy other forms of physical activity that make my body happier.

I’m happy to say though that I’m ending the year healthy. My back has healed, but since I took a whole month off any kind of physical activity it’s been so hard getting back to it. I feel so weak every session and it’s frustrating not feeling like myself on the wall. I will keep at it though and get back to working out consistently again. We’ll see where this leads me next year in my climbing journey.

Hope you all have a happy new year!

Here’s a climb I struggled up last week.

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Before I strained my back, I got to send this super fun climb with a powerful move to the lip. Such a satisfying move to land!

Sucker Punch, V5

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Ending the year with another injury 🥲

I finally got to try this climb in Bishop, but my left foot slipped off the glassy foot as I was going for the victory jug. My feet slipped right out under me when I landed, so my back took the impact of the fall instead of my legs. Right after I got up and away from the pads, I could feel my back tightening up and I couldn’t bend. I spent the rest of the trip laying down in the Airbnb and decompressing.

My x ray showed no fractures or disc movement, so that’s a huge win. It’s been a little over two weeks, and I can bend again but I’m still not 100%. I will take my time coming back to climbing and will probably stick to top rope to not compress my back if I fall.

It’s a shame, but I’m not stressed since the damage isn’t terrible.

[moniclimbs]

I finished all the benchmark V4s last week, and honestly, this board is growing on me. I’m learning the holds and getting more comfortable with open hand positions, which is great because I used to really fear using any kind of pocket hold or drag position. Onto the V5s!

Ooof, I also just had a birthday and am officially part of the 30s club. Yay??

Blue Bottle, V4

[moniclimbs]

One of the best climbs I’ve ever done. It was the perfect combination of technicality, tension, mobility, and balance.

I don’t have much stoke for indoor climbing right now, so going outside to try this super overhung roof was just what I needed ☺️ also first of the outdoor grade!

Subterranean, V7

lol why did tumblr decide to label this post as mature? Strange.

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Alas, the 2024 moonboard posts begin.

I’m slowly learning how to climb this board, but it really targets my antistyles and weaknesses. So I love it and hate it at the same time.

My wrists last year could never imagine doing this opening jump 😮

Predicon, V5

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Wahhh just when my fingers healed enough to hop on moonboard again after over 5 months off, they changed the set from 2016 to 2024!!!

Here’s a vid of my first session back on the 2016 moonboard. I was actually able to do this pogo which I’ve never landed before. I was so shocked that it went, but i unfortunately couldn’t finish the climb because my fingers didn’t feel good enough to pull off the last crimp.

I wasn’t able to try again because they changed the set, but there is still a 2016 board within driving distance so I can’t complain too much.

The months off hard climbing turned out to do me good since the weight lifting helped me pull through my right arm more and push off my toes more.

Standard and Poor’s, V4

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More healing!!! I was able to climb outdoors and pull on some crimps and slopers. I’m so happy to be feeling closer to normal and my stoke to strengthen my body for the climbing season has been sparked.

Hummock, V4

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My fingers are healing 🥹

My right hand fingers have moved into the strengthening phase whereas my left hand fingers are still in rehab phase, but slow progress is being made. I was able to climb this one with no pain in my wrists or fingers, and I made sure to skip the crimp at the top since it’s a left hand. I’m glad to be back on the wall and trying fun climbs again.

I’ve been doing consistent weight training too which has surprised me with how much it helps my climbing. I feel like I can hold underclings better and have more tension through my legs, so I will def continue doing that.