History of my climbing shoes

I don’t know why I put myself through the pain of buying my climbing shoes three sizes too small. The recommended amount is that you go down 1½—2 sizes. Yet I chose 3. I can’t go back now, because my feet are used to it!

Have you ever tried indoor rock climbing? This is a really old photo of me climbing lead back home in Newfoundland. I won’t tell you how old exactly because I feel old even thinking about how long ago it was. climbing leadIt’s such a great workout and doesn’t even feel like you’re working out until you’re done. Because it’s SO FUN to climb!

Back home my friends are all climbers. It’s how I’ve met all of my friends in Newfoundland. I miss them all and can’t wait to go back in June to see them.climbing back home

My first pair of climbing shoes I picked out on the recommendation of a friend, back in 1995 when I first started climbing. They were they 5.10 5.10 moccasym’s.

Me and my friends climbing shoes back in 2003:climbingshoes

I made them work, but they were really a basic shoe and not the best fit. Every time I came down off a climb there was air between the arch of my foot and the shoe that it made a farting noise. Talk about embarrassing, especially being a young teenager at the time. That farting noise? No man it wasn’t me.

I had them resoled a few times to get a sharper edge, and of course because the rubber was wearing thin. A few years later I knew I wanted something more aggressive for heel hooking. A shoe that would stay on my foot, and fit my feet better. I did a lot of researching and ended up purchasing the La Sportiva Miura’s back in 2004. Which ended up being a unisex shoe at the time. Now, the green one’s are the men’s version and the women have their own Miuras (in white). I loved using the miuras because it form fitted to my small heel. The edges were incredible and the way I performed on the bouldering and climbing walls were a world of difference compared to the 5.10 moccasym. katana miura

I had been eying the katana climbing shoes by La Sportiva a few years after I purchased the miura’s. But it didn’t make sense to buy new climbing shoes because at that time I was living in Ontario, an hours drive from a climbing gym and not climbing as much as I would’ve liked.

Fast forward to late summer 2011 when the new climbing gym opened up in my city. I took up climbing again after a few years break. December 2011 I entered a boulder comp, this is one of the photos my Boyf took of me on the wall :)boulder comp

In 2012 I took a “break” and didn’t really climb too much. This year I’ve amped it up and I’m climbing 2-3 times a week. Definitely not as frequent as I used to go (5-6 days a week) because I have two loves. Climbing and CrossFit. So something’s gotta give.

My mirua’s are now 9 years old, have never been resoled and it was due time to purchase another pair. Finally, the katana’s! My boyf ended up buying the Katana’s for me for my birthday.katana in box

Super pretty right? I think blue is my favorite color lately. I’ve been buying a lot of it.climbing shoes

I went into MEC and tried them on for the first time. I knew they weren’t going to be an aggressive shoe like the mirua, but I was okay with that. What about the heel hook and the fit of the shoe overall? It’s definitely a different shoe than I’m used to. I bought the same size of Katana’s as I had in the Miura.katana

I was biased about the Katana’s and wanted to buy them regardless. I had my eyes on them for years. I’ve used the Katana’s twice already and while it’ll take a while to break in, I’m overall pleased with it. The heel hook is not the same as the Mirua, the shape of the heel cup is different at the backside. But that is something I”ll have to get used to.

Have you ever tried climbing?

If you do climb, what shoes do you own?

Continue Reading

My birthday present to myself

Today is the last day of the paleo challenge. I have not cheated in the 31 days I’ve been on it. Since April 7 my lips have not touched a chocolate bar, or a sandwich or tea with 4 sugars. I’m pretty proud of myself!

My paleo goal was to buy myself some Reebok Nano 2.0’s in yellow to reward myself for not cheating. And my parents sorta bought them for me for my birthday.

I purchased them online because I got a 20% off coupon online (if you signed up for their newsletter). So I knew I’d wear them regardless. But I can officially wear them today. Brand new out of the box. Because it’s my BIRTHDAY today!

I’ll be smiling all day. Just like in this pic (that I took last night before heading to CrossFit).

Can you notice a change in my body? I sure can. Especially the waist area. I’m loving the way my body looks with clothes on lately. Like I stated before, I took before/after pictures from the Paleo challenege. You can’t really tell a difference which is disappointing. Plus, I’m a little reserved so I’m not sure if I’ll be posting a picture of me in a sports bra and shorts for the whole internet to see. You know? Who knows. I may brave it. My neighbor back home in Newfoundland told me to go for it.

Breakfast today will consist of paleo-something or other. But come 3:30pm I will be measured and weighed-in and then it’s time for a mini pig out session. Don’t worry, I’ll ease myself into it. I don’t want to be vomiting on my birthday. Or do I?

My Boyfriend bought me these climbing shoes over the weekend for a birthday gift. I tried them out on Sunday night and they were pretty sweet.

They’re the La Sportiva Katana’s in 36.5. I wear an 8.5 street shoe and I bought these in 5.5. That’s how tight they “should” feel. Nuts hey? I’ll always have gnarly toe knuckles. Too much information? I tend to over-share sometimes.

Plans for tonight? Well, I’m going to head in for a climb right after work because the Boyfriend is training super hard for his upcoming Triathlons this year. So I’ll have some time to spare before he’s back home. Then later on we’re heading out for some poutine, then frozen yogurt! Yum yum.

Cherrio folks!!!

By the way — I realized I didn’t upload my workouts from last week yet. I’m a bit behind on that. I worked out 6x last week which wore me right out. It’ll be up. Soon.

Continue Reading