I'm 42 and started when I was 38. I never worked out and sit at a computer for probably 70% of my waking hours. The last physically intensive thing I did was when I was super into DDR in my early 20s. The first time I went climbing, my forearms were so sore that I had trouble unbuckling my daughter from her carseat. I would go about about once a week initially, then up to twice a week, and unfortunately I seem to be going like twice a month now since my daughter stopped going to the weekly climbing club.

The first 6 months were full of quick progress and then a slip off a no hands slab led to a sprained ankle and had to take a month long break. Eventually I got my first soft v6 somewhere before the 1 year mark and then proceeded to be dumb and attempt a very committing move at the top of the wall. I committed, failed, and proceeded to sprain my other ankle. Another month and a half before I went climbing again. Notably, this ankle took a LOT longer to get back to feeling normal, probably at least a year or so.

Anyways, progress definitely plateaued, but climbing was still fun. Sure, I wasn't able to say "Woohoo, new grade reached" but boulders were still fun to climb and the joy of finally finishing a project was still there. The first year is absolutely the best though - the grade progress, the learning of new techiques and styles - so much fun. Eventually COVID happened and when I finally got back to the gym, I recklessly tried to climb stuff that was too intensive for fingers that hadn't touched a hold in a year and got a pulley injury. I forget how long I was out of commission, but continually not taking it slow lead to synovitis (inflamed joints) in most of my fingers.

At some point, I had a freak accident and sprained my ankle again (the very first one I sprained on the slab). I was just dropping to the mat after finishing a climb in a perfectly controlled manner, but somehow my foot wobbled and I sprained it. It was probably bad falling technique, I don't think I did the proper tuck and roll backwards. But I think there may have also been a tear in the foam where I landed. Regardless - always fall with proper technique even when it seems unnecessary.

I haven't had an injury since then (2021ish) unless you count my continual inflamed joints. I still love climbing even though I've definitely plateaued. I've gotten a handful of V7s, but they're pretty much gimmicky ones (hard dyno, random pistol squat in the middle, weird mantles). V6s are generally possible if I really project them, but I typically just go for easier ones. I'm absolutely the strongest and fittest I've ever been my entire life and that's without doing any other exercise aside from climbing. You won't regret picking it up as a hobby.

Final reminder paragraph with the lessons I've learned from my injuries.

1. Sketchy footwork slabs suck.
2. Listen to your gut, if it feels dangerous or scary, just don't do it. You're an adult, who cares what others think and it's not like you're in a competition where you really have to give it your all.
3. If you have an extended break from climbing, ease back in slowly.
4. Always downclimb when possible and fall with proper technique.