Short and Sweet

It's 12:15am and I can't sleep. I can hear a snow plow outside clearing the parking lot, but my thoughts are all about climbing. I'm antsy because I didn't climb tonight. Holy crap, when did I become this obsessed rock climber chick? I should be obsessing over the work presentation that I have to give later this week, but instead I'm thinking about the 5.11 route at the gym and how I can power through the crux next time. I read a quote tonight that really resonated with me & where I am in my climbing: "I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday".

My first 5.11 beer

I recently climbed my first 5.11. It was an awesome accomplishment to celebrate my first year of climbing. As with many of my feats, it was totally unplanned. It was a Saturday morning a week ago & I had met two of my climbing friends at the gym when they opened at 10am. We top roped a few climbs and then in shear desperation of wanting to climb something new, I started to boulder this 5.11 route. I fell on my back trying to keep my grip on the 3rd handhold, so I decided to rope up and see if I could just make the next move without the fear of falling on my back. My friend Maria was really excited to see me succeed and wouldn't let me quit.  At one point when I wanted to give up on the crux, she pushed me back onto the wall to try again.  I would describe the route as a tricky start followed by the crux that has you reaching for pinch holds while awkwardly trying to get your feet and body up with an ending of pinch holds that are placed at uncomfortable distances and angles and a final hold that you need to jump to touch.

Oh, my climb was not pretty! I was hanging on the rope for a lot longer than I was actually on the wall. But, I did it! And without a boost. Climbing routes like this give you confidence and credibility, but if all of the routes in the gym were this hard & painful, I would not be a climber. My entire body hurt the following day. It was a good hurt though, as it reminded me of what I had accomplished.

I got back on this route the following Monday evening, but couldn't make it past the crux this time. This was extremely disappointing as I had gone to the gym that evening with the goal of completing this route faster/cleaner than Saturday. Fail. I had wasted too much energy trying to figure out the tricky start again & couldn't pull through the crux. I decided to continue bouldering the start to get all of the moves down so that on my next attempt I would be strong for the crux.

My last attempt happened on Wednesday evening. I was still sore from Monday's attempt, but decided to give it a shot anyway.  I sailed through the start, struggled a bit on the crux and then struggled even more on the pinch ending. I had an audience for this last climb, which I typically don't like as it distracts me, but was appreciative for their applause when I finally finished. My friend Lu then felt it was then necessary to announce my accomplishment to the other half of the gym that wasn't watching me & demanded their applause as well. Hehe, it was awesome. Thanks Lu!

So, obviously I want to climb this route again and try for a cleaner/faster climb. But, my hands are less than pleased with the abuse I've given them this past week & I might need to take a rest for awhile on the pinch holds. After Wednesday's climb, a bunch of us went out for drinks/food & I had my first 5.11 beer. Cheers!

2012: The Year I Became a Rock Climber

2012 started with a whimper and ended with a bang.  Yes, I know the saying is whisper, but in my case it really was a whimper.  It was the first New Years Eve that I'd spent alone & I didn't do a very good job in distracting myself from this depressing fact.  I don't remember all of the details, but I probably spent some time on Match.com & some time thinking about what I wanted to accomplish in the New Year.  Two things were definitely at the top of my list: going on some dates & finding a new dentist (it had been 2 years since my last visit).

However, before either of those happened, I received an email with a Groupon offer to learn how to rock climb & decided to try it.  I received a 3-hour lesson on a Friday night with about 9 other students, along with a 2-week membership- all for about $25.  I was so scared!  I was the last person in the group to get on the wall.  I was terrible at it, but the adrenaline had me hooked.  I convinced myself that if I practiced enough I would get over the fear.  That weekend I bought my first pair of climbing shoes - red suede Five Ten coyote lace-ups.

Shortly after I started climbing, I became a vegetarian.  It wasn't a planned diet change - it just sort of happened.  I had tried a vegetarian diet for a week in 2011 and had struggled with it.  I even had meat mares (dreams about eating meat or accidentally eating meat).  This time around, I really didn't think about it much & found some good sources of protein that made it easy (greek yogurt is my favorite!). I eventually worked some seafood back into my diet in July, so I'm now a pescetarian, but no plans to eat animal flesh in 2013.

Ugh... dating.  I went on my first internet date in 2012.  I had been on Match.com for a couple of months at the end of 2011 before finally deciding to pursue some dates in January.  I needed some pushing from friends to "stop being so picky" and just go on some dates.  I can't remember if I ended up meeting 2 or 3 guys... I think just two.  There was the "almost divorced" bio-chemist who liked to ski in the French Alps & lived with his sister.  I stuck it out for 4 dates with him.  Even though he was really cute, there just wasn't any chemistry & he stopped pursuing me after I refused to kiss him and told him that I didn't think we were a match.  Next was a red-headed, mountain biker who worked in advertising.  He wasn't the cutest guy, so he was going to have to win me over with his personality.  He had some experience in rock climbing, so I thought maybe we could at least be belay partners?  Wrong.  I've never wanted to climb less for someone.  He had zero personality & took our climbing date so seriously that he actually snapped at me for giving him beta on a climb.  I couldn't get rid of him fast enough - even bailed on our after climb beer plans.  However, he was good for one thing - which I never appropriately thanked him for - he introduced me to Meetup.com.  Discouraged by the internet dating scene, I was eager to join some rock climbing Meetup groups and possibly meet some single guys there.  Ha!  I quickly learned that this is not a good pool for finding single guys.  However, it is an awesome pool for finding some of the most crazy, fun, strong & sassy climbing chicks on the planet.  So thankful for the friends that I've made through Meetup!     

After much procrastination, I finally found a new dentist & started the long, painful process of restoring my teeth.  I spent at least 20 hours in my dentist's chair over the course of 5 months ticking off a 2-page list of work that needed to be done.  I also had my first (and last!) experience with in-office teeth whitening.  Ouch.  After all of that work, I decided to consult an orthodontist to straighten my teeth as well.  I'm now 21 weeks into a full-case Invisalign treatment & so far I'm really happy with the results. I have about 46 weeks to go -- which seems like forever!

I'm not sure what 2013 is going to bring, but my approach will be similar to 2012:
1.) form some loose goals
2.) keep an open mind and heart
3.) enjoy the journey

Happy New Year!