Love to Climb

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Love to Climb

Hi! I'm Katherine Schirrmacher and a climbing coach based in Sheffield, UK. I offer one to one and group coaching for people of all ages and abilities.

You're also likely to find me in the Peak District climbing (where I live)... see you there!

27/08/2026

She Climbs 2026

I thoroughly enjoyed working with this fantastic group of women on my 'fear of falling' course a couple of weekends ago as part of the 'She Climbs' event, hosted by the marvellous Plas y Brenin

There is so much power in coming together as a group. 🧡

We have to get to know our climbing partners before we can really go for it. To trust, not only with the rope, but also our vulnerabilities and feelings. At the event and also at the crag. Over the 2 days we had time to really explore the topic and for each climber to individually find ways to meet their fear.

Thank you to everyone for giving it their all. And a special shout out to Niamh, my brilliant assistant.

⛰️ Castle Inn Quarry and Bodychain, North Wales

30/07/2026

A plan to support your summer climbing...

Just letting you know that Climb Free, my online 6 week fear of falling course is available self paced (with email and community support).

And... I'm offering 35% off between now and the end of August!

》Understand your unique fear - stress response
》Gain tools to regulate difficult feelings
》Use fall practice a way that is right for YOU and establish other practices and routines that may work just as well or instead of fall practice.

My small group (6 people) course (+ live Q&A plus in person day is also open - starts October.

✏️ Get in touch if you're wondering which might be right for you.

🔗 in comments

21/07/2026

Following on from my last post about 'managed mileage' and the shortcut to harder routes might actually be easier routes (than you think), I want to talk about some days out with Graham recently.

Graham's aim was HVS. We practised managed mileage over days 1 and 2, carefully leading a volume of routes from VDiff to HS. Each route had a specific intention - each time slightly different: to notice the detail of how it felt to move without hesitation, to trust and not over question moves, to place gear quickly, to refine tactics...

In this way he missed VS out altogether and on the last day led Bamford Rib (HVS), followed immediately by Wrinkled Wall (VS). This was Graham's first HVS since 2023.

Naturally his mind and body was open and ready for something harder on day 3.

He just 'knew' he could climb Bamford Rib and he did. And had capacity for more...

That's it. The process may be subtle, yes. But really it's about careful listening to yourself and responding. Not pushing through or 'I should be doing x'. Onsighting demands the subtlety and it's so satisfying when it comes together.

My latest blog about the power or easy routes in the comments...

📸 on the left Wrinkled Wall and on the right Bamford Rib

14/07/2026

Recently a topic has come up with clients and that is the power and value of doing easy routes – or should I say much easier routes than you think - especially on the psychological. It’s not that people aren’t on board with warm ups, far from it. It’s also not that people describe easy routes as boring.

It’s not just about warm ups but also a concept that a client recently described as ‘managed mileage’. Time and time again I see the 'short cut' to a better performance isn't always just to get on something hard early in the day but to have a longer warm up than you think or spend day 1 of a short trip on 'managed mileage'. It's counter intuitive, but this approach can reap many benefits...

1. Managed mileage gives a feeling of flow and sense of movement. It’s good to find something easy. It’s good to be able to spot hands and feet quickly and confidently without hesitation.

2. Easy warm ups enable you to check in with how you’re feeling. If we have a set warm up that we stick to rigidly it doesn’t allow us to check in with ourselves and adapt our warm up and session.

3. It’s important to build familiarity with feeling good. If you experience stress or fear in your climbing, it’s not just about fire-fighting difficulties. Spending a solid proportion of your climbing session feeling good on easier climbs leaves space in your brain to push harder when it matters, in smaller doses, in a much more deliberate way.

What's your approach with mileage? How do you know you're in the right zone with it?

For the remaining 3 benefits of easier routes check out my blog via the 🔗 in the comments.

📸 Me (from a while ago!) on a 6b+ (don't know the name!) at Geyikbayiri, Turkey 🌞

18/05/2026

Recently I ran some staff training for Nottingham Climbing Centre . They are a creative bunch!

It's definitely one of my favourite things to work with a team of coaches and instructors. How do we as a coaching team operate? Are all our sessions giving similar messages? What kind of energy do we all bring to our sessions? How do we maximise learning with different types of groups?

So often coaches work alone and it's a treat to get together with your peers and explore ideas.

So many coaches and instructors I see bring such brilliant enthusiasm and love of climbing to their sessions.

I'm running a BMC FUNdamentals 1 and Mountain Training Foundation Coach course in June and I've just put up some dates for more coach education courses October onwards.

Send me a message if you're wondering if these courses are for you.

06/05/2026

The class of Climb Free 2026!

It's been a while since I ran my Climb Free fear of falling online/in-person course. The in-person course was at the end of March (pictured), but I'm somewhat behind putting things on here.

The course was a blast and it really is something to see people learn, grow and conquer something. The group almost became bigger than itself (if that makes any sense). Scroll through to hear people's experiences. As Martin said 'having like-minded and supportive people around you is an empowering thing." That's everything I wanted 😁.

I've really worked to reconfigure this course a number of times to get the content, length and right combination of online and in person to maximise learning. This really felt like it was there.

I'm really hoping to run another one this autumn. Get in touch if you're keen to join.

13/02/2026

We have 60 to 80 thousand thoughts a day and 60 to 70% are negative. This is how our brain is wired. We are wired to protect, wired to scan our environment and respond to threat.

💭 It's no wonder we feel fear related to falling. Perhaps you’ll have tough words with yourself to say ‘this fear is irrational’. But this is exactly not the time to be having an internal fight with ourselves.

It’s a case of accepting the messages your mind and body are giving you and working WITH the situation. We can certainly learn to tolerate discomfort, form new habits and learn a lot more about how we are uniquely wired as well as how to fall safely.

➡️ My ‘Climb Free’ 6 week fear of falling (small) group online/in person hybrid course starts on 24th February. In person 22nd March, Awesome Walls Sheffield

➡️➡️There is 1 more place left and the early bird discount ends TODAY Friday 13th Feb.
🔗 in comments.

05/02/2026

For the last 2 months I’ve returned to a daily breathwork practice with . I love their morning breathing sessions! I started in the good old lockdown days, but a need to really care for my full mental and emotional state at the end of (a now thankfully in the past) 2025, led me back.

I can’t emphasise enough the power of it. In climbing there is no doubt about how effective it is to regulate the nervous system for stress and anxiety. I know it works. But this time for me personally, with these regular morning sessions, something has gone to a whole new depth. I’m start each day with a much better frame of mind, more clarity and focus.

Sticking to these 6.30am starts is making me feel damn proud of myself too. I'm wondering, whatever the statistic is about how long it takes to build a habit, that I'm in, new habit formed? Regardless, I'm sold. Meditation has never quite worked for me. And I need something for this very busy mind of mine (for which climbing is the ultimate meditation).

Breathwork – it’s a big subject and one certainly we’ll be exploring on Climb Free – my hybrid online and in person fear of falling course. It’s a small group – just 6 spaces available.

➡️ We start February 24th – there’s an early bird price available till 13th Feb. Link in comments.

📸 Me on Balance It Is E7 6c Burbage South

31/01/2026

Climb Free is back! With a difference.

This will be the fourth time I've run this course. This time, the 6 week online course includes an in person day in Sheffield. Previously this additional day has been vital to people's learning so this time it's an integral part of the course.

Meeting your fear is not just about fall practice (although for some it's definitely helpful), it's about building tools and habits that enable you maximise what makes you feel GOOD in your climbing.

It's a small group - just 6 people. We start February 24th. In person day 22nd March Awesome Walls Sheffield

☆ Join me and let's make a BIG difference in you and your climbing.

♡ Early bird offer £320 until 13th Feb.

》Link in comments

08/01/2026

📢 Calling route climbers. If you have your sights on the good weather and routes you'll be doing this coming spring, now is the time to get some structure at the wall.

My plan is holistic: it offers structure for your physical training AND also guides you to think about your technique and tactics.

NEW - I just added a technique progress chart so you can score your technique progress against your goals over the 12 weeks and helps you focus on which techniques to focus on.

☆ self paced based on 2 sessions a week (or a relaxed 3)
☆ for route climbers 5 to 7b
☆ training exercises with options for training alone & with a partner
☆ tips for how to combine training with technique, tactics and mindset
☆ goal setting tool and how to adapt the plan accordingly
☆ access to online community where I will answer all your questions

🦾 Use the discount code strong2026 until 16th January and the plan is yours for just over £50

✴️ Link to the training plan is in the comments.

Address

Sheffield

Website

https://www.lovetoclimb.co.uk/

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