Roca Verde

Las mejores guías de Escalada Deportiva de la Cordillera Cantábrica. Sport climbing guides to north-west Spain: Asturias, Leon, Cantabria. Me contacten / Contact me: richie@rocaverdeclimbing.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Roca Verde
    • About Roca Verde
    • Where is Roca Verde?
    • Flights and Access 2023
    • Where to Stay
    • Weather
    • Valles del Trubia – Destination Guide
    • Desfiladero de La Hermida – Destination Guide
    • Sample Topos
    • Reviews
    • Bolt Fund
    • Advertisers
    • The Author
    • Contact Us
    • Useful Links
  • Buy Roca Verde 3A UK/EU
  • Comprar Roca Verde 3A
    • Roca Verde (Es)
    • Ejemplos de páginas
    • Fondo de Chapas
    • Localización
    • Sponsors
  • Comprar La Hermida 2 (Es)
    • Sobre La Hermida – los hechos y las cifras…
  • Buy La Hermida 2 – UK/EU
    • La Hermida guide – The facts and figures
  • RV3 Errata / Errors
    • Errores con los símbolos del sol
    • Errata – vías de Roca Verde 3
    • Errors with sun symbols
    • Errors – Routes in Roca Verde 3
  • Croquis Nuevos / New Topos
    • Restricciones por nidificación Mayo 2021 – IMPORTANTE
    • New Bird Bans – May 2021 – Please Read!
    • Mergullo – PDF – Asturias Centro
    • Navalones – PDF – Asturias Centro
    • Baiña – PDF Asturias Centro 02032022
    • Teverga Sectores – PDF – Valles de Trubia
    • Ordiales -PDF – Teverga
    • Villa de Sub – PDF – Valles de Trubia
    • Gamoniteiru – PDF – Asturias Valles de Trubia
    • Valle de Lago – PDF – Valles de Trubia
    • Següenco – PDF – Asturias Oriente
    • Trincherona_Fitu – PDF – Asturias Oriente
    • Amieva – PDF – Asturias Oriente
    • Cabañes – PDF – Sectores
    • La Cueta – PDF – León
    • Sena de Luna – PDF – Croquis/Topo
    • Genicera – PDF – León
    • León – Piedrasecha Sectores
    • León – Pedrosa
    • Cuevas Sectores – PDF – Valles de Aller
    • Pelúgano_Paredón_PDF – Valle de Aller
    • Panondres
    • Valdolayes – Valles del Trubia
  • Videos
  • Apartamento Roca Verde – Teverga
  • Roca Verde Apartment – Teverga
  • Spanish Property North
  • Blog
    • Grimer´s review of Roca Verde…
You are here: Home / Climbing / Happy, surprised and and psyched: Old Dogs New Tricks Day 5 #2 – The Results

Happy, surprised and and psyched: Old Dogs New Tricks Day 5 #2 – The Results

January 31, 2016 by Roca Verde Climbing 5 Comments

In the end my results from my bruising test (see Blog here) were delayed a bit longer as Tom and I went down to the Schoolroom to talk to Ben Moon and for Tom to have the chance show me a few key exercises on the TRX etc before I had to head back to Spain.

It was interesting to hear Ben’s take on it all. He’d been in the same position as me about 24 months ago – getting himself up off the sofa (not literally like me) to jump right back into the world of hurt that is top-end climbing. Ben being Ben he ended up with a 9a ascent. Slightly more than I was aiming for and his grade jump was probably less than mine but in a lot of ways I felt that what he’d done was similar.

His take was very simple – he loved it and he missed it and because of that it was no hardship to start training. Ben had always trained and trained hard – and methodically. This time was slightly different as he’d approached Tom to try and get him an edge: his goal was in sight but eluding him, could Tom’s input give him the vital few % that he needed?

Chatting to Ben at the Schoolroom..
Chatting to Ben at the Schoolroom..

Naturally Ben loved training and so he wasn’t phased by the work; Tom had added some volume and he was struggling with time but his advice to me was simple – enjoy it and put the time in and you’ll see the rewards. As he knew me well he also added the caveat of avoiding injury and taking it steady – he’d seen my ‘bull in a chinashop’ personality up-close a few times and was keen to point out that slow and steady wins the race!!

So, plucking up courage I asked him the $64,000 question; would I get up my 8b+?

Another smile, another hesitation, and another slightly embarrassed silence followed (much like that of Steve McClure); then Ben, sounding like he was trying to convince himself, came out with an elongated ‘Yes’…a yes which to all intents and purposes sounded like a no…However, Ben did firm his yes up and was a bit more positive but repeated the caveats of injury and overenthusiasm before tailing off.

I hadn’t climbing with Ben in 15 years so it was great watching him in action again, seeing how much effort he put in and as ever he was strong and smooth on the board as he sent a set of intervals. Jealous!

Heading back to Tom’s I sat about as he fiddled the figures eventually pulling up my ‘dashboard’ – a summary of my results in the form of a series of ‘speedometer’ like dials. Tom smiled as I looked at them, realising by my face that I was pleased with how they looked but had no idea what they meant.

Dash-board

I asked him to help – and to summarise for a layman. Cracking a smile he told me that the best summary was just to say that the results were better than he thought the would be and that, in his opinion I had the basic materials in place to climb around 8b/8b+ with a bunch of training. There was no obvious weakpoint, no trapdoor, which my body had set – even my stamina which I thought of as terrible wasn’t that bad.

Happy, surprised and  and psyched I felt some relief too. I had thought that I wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t get back there but it was good to have it confirmed. Flushed I pushed Tom for his view on my chances; and he said that I could do it.

Pushing harder I asked what chance he’d give me, ‘put a number on it’ I said – unblinking he thought for a minute and softly replied 25%…

Old Dogs New Tricks – The 8b+ Challenge – I am a 49 year old climber who is trying to better myself by trying to climbing 8b+ from my carrent grade of 7b+ in the year before my 50th birthday. 

See more here

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: 8b_ Challenge, Ben Moon, Betamonkeys, Lattice Board, Moon Climbing, Old dogs new tricks, Rab, richie patterson, roca verde climbing, rock climbing, Steve McClure, Tenaya, Tom Randall, training, wild country

Comments

  1. Neal says

    February 1, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    This is the best blog I’ve come across in ages 🙂 Best of luck on the adventure – you’re giving me some inspiration (that shouldn’t be needed) on my own little target this year.

    Look forward to more updates,
    Neal – Ireland.

    Reply
    • Roca Verde Climbing says

      February 3, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      Neal,
      thanks for the kind words, I’ll keep blogging it until my arms fall off and beyond (could be quite soon)…and get going on yours whatever it is…no excuses!!

      Reply
  2. Ben Tye says

    February 3, 2016 at 9:00 am

    Good stuff Richie. Those results are encouraging. I’m back in the harness myself with a lot of work to do but enjoying it. See you soon pal. Ben

    Reply
    • Roca Verde Climbing says

      February 3, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Ben, good to hear…I was quite pleased that the results are OK but a bit gripped about how much training will be involved. Keep in touch…

      Reply
  3. Neal says

    February 15, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    Keep it up 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Blog Posts

  • Croquis Nuevos – Cueva del Mar / New Topos – Cueva del Mar June 10, 2023
  • Más materiales comprado – More gear bought April 21, 2023
  • Viás nuevas en Quirós / New routes in Quirós April 12, 2023
  • Nuevo Sector y más material donado… April 4, 2023
  • Perspectives – To lessons unlearned… March 23, 2023

rocaverdeclimb

Nunca me cansan las vias de Bóvedas, Teverga porq Nunca me cansan las vias de Bóvedas, Teverga porque siempre algo para aprender o un amigo para enseñar una escalada preciosa de chorreras y líneas brutales.
Never get tired of the routes at Bóvedas, Teverga because the climbing is so good and there's always someone new to show the off to. Mick on the first pitch of Quién tiene la broca se equivoca, 6b+.
@roca_verde_rentals #rocaverdeapartment #apartamentorocaverde #sportclimbing #paraisonatural #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbingpassion #climbtheworld #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #spain #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion
Hay que sacar el calendario para recordar unos eve Hay que sacar el calendario para recordar unos eventos próximos y apuntarse pronto. Primero tienes el 4° Encuentro de la muyereda que empieza en Morcin, día 22 de Septiembre con unas charlas chulas y luego, con la inspiración a tope, la semana después hay el segundo maratón de escalada en Pelugano. Sigues @lamuyerada y @maraton_escalada_pelugano para más información. Y estoy muy contento apoyar ambos eventos con unos libros.
#rockclimbing #climbinglife #sportclimbing #paraisonatural #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #escaladaenroca #montanas #morcin #pelugano #lamuyerada #maraton
Después de unas semanas parado por el tema de un Después de unas semanas parado por el tema de un dedo tocado volvemos para retomarla cuerda con unos amigos en Muro Techo. Y a pesar de la lluvia todo seco y como siempre mejor con unas nubes. 😉
After a few weeks off with a bad finger it's nice to get out again at Muro Techo with a few mates.
📸 Simon Webster on Fisioterapia, 7a.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #klettern #desnivel #escalar @roca_verde_rentals #rocaverdeapartment #apartamentorocaverde
Cuando llegó la segunda edición de mi guía del Cuando llegó la segunda edición de mi guía del Desfiladero de la Hermida durante de la pandemia...
The second edition of my guide arrived during the pandemic...
#asturias #rocaverde #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #Spain #cantabria
Padre y hijo en la misma vía...uno con éxito el Padre y hijo en la misma vía...uno con éxito el otro no ¿puedes adivinar quien llego a la cadena? . Dos ángulos de una día típica de Pingalagua, Teverga, Paquito el vacilón, 7c+, pasos exigentes entre presas malas 🤣🤣
Dad and son on the same route, one succeeds the other doesn't, can you guess which? A typically brutal route from the sector Pingalagua in Teverga, Paquito el vacilón, 7c+, is a series of hard snatches between poor holds. 👍👍
@ibbertsonjosh 
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #paraisonatural @roca_verde_rentals #rocaverdeapartment #apartamentorocaverde
Josh Ibbertson @ibbertsonjosh probando El replican Josh Ibbertson @ibbertsonjosh probando El replicante, Pingalagua, Teverga.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #paraisonatural @roca_verde_rentals #rocaverdeapartment #apartamentorocaverde #sportclimbing
Probando el Dron #4k #mavic #mini3pro Probando el Dron #4k #mavic #mini3pro
La Bocandia, un sitio un poco olvidado pero una ve La Bocandia, un sitio un poco olvidado pero una vez vuelves es obvio que es un sitio con mucho calidad y un montón de vias chulisimas. Muchas gracias a Diego, @diegonaranjorivas y Pablo @cervezaasgaya por su trabajo tremendo en abrir el sector. Un sector que merece la pena especialmente si escalas en los séptimos, entre 7a y 7c. Sombra después de las tres. 
📸 David Rothstein en Yernes 13, 6b...
La Bocandia, a bit forgotten but we'll worth a visit with a ton of great routes across the grades especially if you're climbing in the mid 7s. Shade after 3pm too. 
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural #escaladadeportiva #escalar #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #rocaverde3A #rocaverdeapartment #apartamentorocaverde @roca_verde_rentals
Hace un par de días en Sector Río, con condició Hace un par de días en Sector Río, con condiciónes perfectas, German @yasiesovuelvo encadenando Río bravo, 7c, sin problemas mientras lo grabó todo (con un teléfono 😱) Andrelo Hoc @andrelo.hoc En el video Germán hace la parte de arriba, (pillado por Cote @coteailva14) lo más dura de esta excelente vía: entonces si quieres hacerla a vista mejor que no mires el video 😉😉
Un placer conocer estos chavales tan motivados y muchas gracias por compartir el video. Espero que nos vemos pronto. 💪💪
Y si alguien quiere saber el teléfono es un Pixel 7 pro... 
(para ti @chileniia 😘)
Instagram post 18372026413029099 Instagram post 18372026413029099
Load More... Follow on Instagram

About us

Want to find out a bit more about the author of Roca Verde… click here

Our Mission

Have fun, climb a lot and make great guidebooks!

Recent Posts

  • Croquis Nuevos – Cueva del Mar / New Topos – Cueva del Mar
  • Más materiales comprado – More gear bought
  • Viás nuevas en Quirós / New routes in Quirós
  • Nuevo Sector y más material donado…

Search / Buscar

Copyright © 2023 · Outreach Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in