Whenever I get a chance to go to the ARC, I always end up doing a similar exercise routine. After running on the treadmill for about 45 minutes, I stretch and do some abs — as you can see, this isn’t the most exciting workout. However, while on the treadmill, I always have my eye on the rock-climbing wall. I always steered clear. Unfortunately, the first time I tried the ARC’s wall, it wasn’t the most successful experience. 

It was on a random fall day this past semester. My friends and I needed something new to do, and until someone suggested we try rock climbing, we all thought it was going to be another lazy afternoon of watching “Modern Family” reruns. As we made the walk over to the ARC, I was actually kind of excited to try rock climbing as a form of exercise. Plus, I hadn’t been rock climbing since I was probably 10 years old, so I thought it couldn’t be too difficult, right?

Well, I was definitely wrong. After getting all set up in my harness, I ended up totally embarrassed. I’m pretty sure I was able to get just 10 feet off the ground before terror paralyzed me. I couldn’t move any higher. Apparently, I had forgotten about my “slight” fear of heights before making the trek to the ARC with my friends. I was always the kid who had hesitated when trying to jump off the jungle gym in elementary school, and I still hate going all the way up to the eighth floor of my apartment building. Why did I think climbing up a rock wall would be any different?

Well, despite my previous bad experience with rock climbing a few months ago, I decided to give it another go this week. I challenged myself to try the rock wall at least three times during the week, inspired by recently seeing a little boy who had climbed all the way to the top of the wall. If a boy who was no older than 6 could climb to the top of the rock wall, I knew I could, too.

Even though I couldn’t climb all the way to the top, working on my rock-climbing skills led to major improvement. Each day, I told myself that I needed to go a few feet higher than the previous. It was a bit scary at times, but I’m glad I overcame my fear … at least a little bit.

I’m even happier about learning of the benefits of rock climbing. 

According to HealthGuidance.org, physical benefits of rock climbing include muscle toning, increased metabolism and burning calories, which leads to increased stamina and energy. “Rock climbing not only builds up your strength and endurance, but it also helps you increase your balance and determination,” the website says. 

I’m glad to hear that rock climbing improves one’s strength. 

Personally, I’ve always had a hard time with weight lifting. I’m an extremely weak person, and even though I know that weight lifting is a great way to improve overall health, I’m just awful at it. Instead, I always end up doing way too much cardio and tiring myself out. 

However, I know now that rock climbing can be a great alternative to weight lifting. After my first time rock climbing this week, some of my muscles, which had never been sore before, were aching. By the end of the week, I could tell that my arms had become stronger, and despite the pain, I knew it was worth it.

According to Selina Kempton, Campus Recreation employee who works the ARC’s rock-climbing wall and senior in LAS, rock climbing can be used for a few different types of exercise.

“Depending on how you do it, you can make it into cardio or you can do strength building,” Kempton said. “It’s just really fun to be fit and active.”

When it comes to using rock climbing for cardiovascular exercise, it’s important to start small and work your way up. According to fitday.com, the American Medical Association recommends climbing for 30 minutes in order to gain health benefits. In addition, fitday.com also explained that rock climbing at a moderate intensity for an hour will burn approximately 400 calories. 

I definitely hope to incorporate rock climbing into my regular workout routine — it’s perfect for those days when running on a treadmill seems too boring, or for whenever you need something fun to do to pass the time. 

Taylor is a junior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].