Webster Art

We lose power as we age, especially after 70. This is not idle worrying. It’s fact I’ve lived through. I asked my son how to build pull-up power. He showed me the rings his wife used to get her first pullup at 40. Because they come with adjustable slings you can hang them low. This means you can keep your feet on the ground and do assisted pull-ups in the semi horizontal position.

So it’s a pullup, but it’s not your whole weight. Basically many reps at lower weight instead of just a few at full body weight. Turns out it works. Now, when I’m home with a regular gym partner I’ve gotten strong at the gym before without rings. But the fact that I am doing it again at 72 is significant. I onsighted a mid ten up the steep prow with only minor slowing where the holds got small. And I cleanly led an eleven minus with the big yellow volcano holds.

I also cleanly cruised a couple nines at Quartz Camp. Sue even cruised them and she hasn’t climbed in a year. Speaking of Sue, we have our ups and downs, to the point where I wonder if something is broken. But then we hit a high and it’s like we are 20 again. She still talks too much, always has going back 50 years. That is just Sue. I can be grumpy and mean. So neither of us is perfect.

I ordered $350 worth of hybrid Cuban fiber and other supplies preparatory to sewing a new light backpack. The commercial light ones are $500, plus I need hobbies and sewing is a fun one. I’ve finished the pack but I’ll put that in a new post.