Getting Soft

In my last post it must have sounded like I am getting a little soft in my old age. Brett thought that I might retire from climbing. To show my resolve to continue climbing I placed an order for four new cams (climbing gear). Frotunately for me Mountain Gear sent a sale catalog and the cams I needed were on sale. I think I will go do some one armed pull ups now.

Irresponsible

I haven't been able to climb outside much in the last month or so. I have had just to many other things going that would be irresponsible for me to miss. Lots of family things with the kids, church, a bathroom remodel that is still not done. It has given me time to think about climbing.......a lot. Last month in Climbing magazine there was a tribute to four well known climbers that had died while climbing (Johnny Copp, Micah Dash, Wade Johnson and John Bachar), and this month another was added to the list (Craig Luben). These guys were professionals, not weekend warriors. When tragedies like these happen it seems that there are two opinions. The first is "At least he died doing what he loved". The other is "That is so irresponsible. How could he endanger himself like that when he has a family?" I've thought about it. Accidents happen all the time. My climbing partners are all really conscientious, and we look out for each other. We remind each other to take the extra precautions that will hopefully keep us off the deck especially if we are doing something out of the ordinary, or something where accidents often occur. Say rappelling, or cleaning anchors. Climbers rapp off the end of their ropes all the time. Saturday I didn't get to climb so I went for a ten miler, worked around the house, and hung out with the kids. I read a couple of obituaries in Rock & Ice for regular climbers like me who had died when an old piece of webbing that they were clipped into broke (I wouldn't have clipped it). I wasn't sure how I felt about participating in a sport where an error can be fatal. So I loaded the kids up and took them to the climbing gym. I guess I am just irresponsible. On that note please enjoy High Speed Dirt my music pick for the week.

Stop Eating....................

.........or You Will Look Like This. That is what I Photo shopped into this photo, and then I hung it on the refrigerator. I figured it would be good motivation. I am a terrible over eater, and am often lazy when it is time to exercise. Neither of which is a good attribute to have when trying to get rid of my love handles. I think I may have to make one for each cupboard too though.

Test Shoes

Last Saturday I received my test shoes from Brooks. The Fed Ex guy brought them (that really irks me). The color is called wasabi. They are a little more tame than my lava colored 4's. The only things that really changed are a few styling cues on the upper, the color, and the tongue is a little longer with two loops for the laces to run through. I have run in them three times so far and can't tell a difference from my two older pairs other than they aren't beat to death. When I took them out of the box I noticed some numbers hand written on different parts of the out sole and mid sole. I'm guessing they are durometer readings to tell how hard the materials are. Now I just have to run 25 miles a week in them for the next three months. The things I will do for a freebie.

New Music Monday Trivia

I put up a cover of the David Bowie song Fame for a couple of my friends who are huge Bowie fans. I hope you enjoy the Infectious Grooves rendition. The trivia question is why would I even know about Infectious Grooves? If you do a little searching there are two possible answers, but one of them will be very obvious. Happy hunting.

Steve's Arete and the Bald Spot

Yesterday Ryan, Mike and I went up to Windy Point to climb Steve's Arete. Ryan had been wanting to lead it for a couple of years and had decided to go for it, project it. It is rated 5.11-, and the first bolt is probably 20+ feet of the ground. Ryan lead it then Mike and I top roped it. That's mike above.

I made two attempts and was able to send it with no falls on my second try. It runs up the very left edge. It is the hardest climb I have ever done. I plan on leading it soon. To the right, through the dark spots is a climb called Green Ripper. It's claim to fame is that there are pictures of Lynn Hill on it. I'm sure she on sighted it at 5.12. Ryan and I tried to top rope it, but neither of us could get past the first move.

That is a picture of my right leg with a bald spot on it. Yesterday at work we had a box of wax hair remover break open on one of the belts. It was a huge mess. The packages were sticking to the slides and backing up the entire system. Well, my friend John Coons was sneaking up on people and slapping a dollop on their arm hair. Then they would have to stick a piece of paper to it and rip it off. Of course I heard I was on his list of people to get so I scraped some wax off the slide and stuck it in his arm hair. Preemptive strike as it were. I had forgotten all about it today. I was standing in my work area when I felt this warm blob on my leg. Sure enough there he was standing on the ladder that leads to my work area with a big stupid grin. He was nice enough to have a piece of paper ready to rip it off. He had even set the container of wax on his coffee maker to warm it up and make it stickier. He apparently doesn't have enough to do. Surprisingly it didn't hurt at all.

Saguaro Run

On Labor Day we ran in the Saguaro National Park 8 miler. We hadn't planned on doing it, but Friday Amy decided she wanted to run. I naturally joined in. Amy has run the race twice, but I had never run it before. All I knew about it was that there is a long hill. No big deal. I run hills all the time. Right?

The weather was nice, but a little humid since it rained the night before. The course is mostly downhill for the first 3.46 miles. Then you get to the hill. Fortunately it only lasts until mile 5.1, and never really lets up.

The hill is gnarly. I had to dig deep to continue running. After the hill I ended up running with a guy who had just run the Pikes Peak half marathon. While I was doing this Amy passed me. I thought "cool, Amy will finish before me." When it came down to it my ego just wouldn't take being beat by my wife. I shifted gears, ignored the ridiculous pain that comes from running two minutes per mile faster than what I normally average, and passed her in the last mile. Now you know the truth.

Stayc

I got to have dinner with Stayc and Porter on Saturday. It was good to see them both. Stayc is doing well after her accident. In fact she is doing so well that she feels good enough to give me a hard time about my music choices for Broken, Beat & Scarred. I decided that this week I would put on a song that she might be more familiar with. Something from her college days maybe. Enjoy Stayc.