Resolutions Old and New

I made some goals at the beginning of the year last year. I thought we could take a look and see how I did. I think that some of my goals were a little vague last year so this year I am trying to do a little better.

2011
1. Red point Steve's Arete (5.11a). Ryan and I gave it a go, but neither of us were able to clip the chains without a fall.
2. Get good at placing gear. The gear I placed last week kept me off the deck, but I still find myself fumbling while trying to find the right piece sometimes. Half credit I think.
3. Save for and buy a new mt. bike. I bought one, but I am still working on paying the savings account back. What do you think? Quarter credit?
4. Climb at Red Rocks. Full credit.
5. Climb at J-Tree. Full credit.
6. Publish writing. Not only no credit, but I will give myself an Epic Fail (in the words of my son). Truth of the matter is that I hardly wrote anything at all.
7. Run Regularly. Vague at best, but I did do a decent amount of running last year. My two let down times were summer and December. Half credit I think.

2012
1. Steve's Arete, and 10 routes that I want to get done. I am still working on my the list. Ryan has his. I think we can get this done this year.
2. Get Better at placing gear. I know it's not terribly specific, but as long as I am working on it I think that will suffice.
3. Finish paying for mt. bike. Pretty specific I think.
4. Publish writing. Sounds familiar.
5. Run hard and far. I have an idea for that one. We'll see if I don't wimp out on it again.
6. Write and record a short for The Dirt Bag Diaries pod cast. My friend Steve did one a few years ago that was awesome. I still listen to it for motivation sometimes. In fact that is how I met him. I think I can make that happen.
7. Get Gus on the road. This is one that is just going to take a little money like the mt. bike. Fortunately I shouldn't need to build a chicken coop again this year.
8. Take drum lessons. I used to play the guitar, and thought I would take it back up when one of the kids got interested in it. Philip is getting pretty good for being self taught, but climbing has made my fingers to stiff for some cord shapes. Drums are cool, and I've always wanted to drum too.
9. Make a significant dent in my honey do list. Self explainatory.
10. Eat better. Shouldn't be to hard.
11. Raise money for charity to help others by exploiting my friends.

What are some of your goals for 2012? How do you plan to achieve them? Leave a comment with your ideas on the subject.

New Year's Run 2011-2012

 We had a good local turnout for our run this year. We met at Reid Park, and ran around the golf course on the paved path. This was the first year we planned to meet up and run together. Brett, Mike, Terry, Bella, Shaun, Amy, Philip and I all showed up to run out 1.55 miles before midnight, and 1.55 miles after midnight. I had a great time, and I hope everyone else did too. The Leonard clan brought hot chocolate that was so good I could have drunk gallons of it, and Amy brought gingerbread cookies.

 Here is the group coming into the finish.

Here are the finisher's awards, and a few of the Payless gift cards that were donated. If you participated your award is on the way. Special thanks to Lara at Rainbow signs for making them so professional looking. To all of you who donated to the Walter Douglas Elementary Family Resource Center we really appreciate your generous donations. There will be a few less kids in need of shoes.

We would like to make this event bigger and better next year, and possibly do something during the year to help someone in need. If you have any ideas we would love to hear them.

So consider this fair warning that it is going to happen again next year (Ann). That is of course if the world doesn't end on December 21.

Last Week of the Year in Review

The week started off with a trip to Cochise for Mike, Paul, and me. Long story short, we got on the wrong route. Fortunately it wasn't finished so I ended up about 40' run out looking for pro or bolts. I don't know why I was looking for pro. All we had was four tri-cams and three hexes because we were supposed to be on a bolted route. Won't make that mistake again. Mike did have two very nice leads on some very hard slab. We later found out that the route is unfinished. That must be why the bolts ended so abruptly, and that it is supposed to be very hard. Live and learn.

 Wednesday the family agreed to go climbing so we invited a bunch of our friends, and guess what? A bunch of our friends came. What a good day. I only wish Ryan had been off so he could have come too. Here is Bob and Vivian. They make such a great climbing team.

 Lori Olsen came too. Here she is on her second ever outdoor lead. I have never seen a new leader with such a cool head. It doesn't hurt that she is super strong. She was breaking in a new rope and draws from Christmas. I think her husband did very well.

 It was nice to have my kids along. They don't want to go climbing very often so it is a real treat to get them outside to see what their dad spends so much time doing.

 Mike came. It was good to have him. I wish his family had made it. He helped belay so everyone got in plenty of climbing. He also made sure to climb a 10 so I would feel obligated to follow so as to not be out done.

 Brett even showed up. I wasn't sure he was still climbing. At least with me. I figured it had something to do with my new climbing motto: "Safety Third".

 Amy even climbed. I think she would be pretty good at it if she decided to work at it.

 Tyler had a great time. He worked his way up several climbs, and was a real trooper for such a long day. He chattered away to me all the way back to the truck. I think he may end up being a climber.

 Some dirty hippie showed up too. No one seemed to mind to bad. I know he had a great time.

Friday Mike and I headed up to Chimney Rock so that I could try to onsight Mistaken Identity. Notice I said try. I went to make the crux move, and went for the sucker hold. I was able to lower back to a stance without going onto the rope, and made a second try although the move was significantly harder. My foot popped, and I went for a ride. It was a short ride though. Maybe twelve feet?

 The only problem is that I went for a ride on this cam. It's not very big, but it was the only piece that would fit. I am pretty confident in these little cams now as long as they are well placed. It came right out too even after being loaded, hard.

Look at the size of the lobes compared to my fingers. Anyone else want to whip on it?

I finished the climb, and figured out the crux. Then Mike took his turn. He got suckered by the awful hold too, (maybe because of all the chalk I left on it), and then his foot popped. I saw the wind in his hair, the chalk flying out of his chalkbag, and his arms windmilling. He was going for a very long ride. I moved to take in as much rope as I could, but Mike caught his heals. He inverted, and then came to a sudden stop when he hit the end of the rope and the wall at the same time. There was silence for several seconds. I wasn't sure Mike was OK, or even conscious. It was the most scarred I had ever been while climbing. Then he said he was alright. He righted himself, and asked to be lowered.

It turns out that Mike is a little banged up. His shoulder hurts, he has some rock rash, and a tweaked knee. Not to bad for an inverted twenty+ footer (without a helmet too).

I went up to retrieve Mike's gear, and was able to pull the crux. We decided that was enough fun for one day. I went home and went for a run because I was so happy to be alive..........still.

Blink 182 - I won't be home for christmas, FULL, (with lyrics)

Is it wrong? Probably. Is it funny? Definately.

Six Days

Six work days left until the end of peak season, and a week long vacation. I volunteered to work next Saturday (Christmas Eve) because it will be a time and a half day. Like Brett says "I can do anything for three Weeks". So I figure I should be able to handle six days.

Since you probably won't be hearing much from me again this week I put up a Christmas classic from Cheech and Chong. Well it is a classic If you grew up in the 1980's, and were a juvenile delinquent. I also added my kids favorite funny Christmas song. Enjoy.

Don't forget to sign up for the Team Brenton, BB&S, and Running Around On Empty 5th and 6th biannual 2.55K fun runs. Let me know if you are planning on participating so I can get your finisher's award ready.

UPS Tired

There is no tired like UPS tired during the month of December. OK, Kent, Angela, and Lisa might say that ER doc or trauma surgeon tired is far worse, and I might agree. Ann and Michelle would probably say that mother of a newborn with two toddlers tired is even worse, and I guess I would have to be a real jerk to argue. Mike, Brett and Dave might claim engineer quickly closing in on a deadline tired is the worst of all, and not being smart enough to make it out of college algebra I would have to accept their opinion.

But ultimately Ryan, Stayc, and I know from first hand experience what UPS tired is like. It seeps deep into your bones, and can only be leached out with several months of recovery. It makes my head cloudy for the whole month, and makes me feel really disconnected. If I seem strange to any of you, (stranger than normal that is), please chalk it up to UPS tired. Sometimes after I talk to one of you I wonder if I said things that were taken differently than I meant, or what I said had nothing to do with what I was thinking. In fact I have no idea what I am trying to write. Just remember it is the UPS tired talking.

Registration

We have already received a couple of registrations, (with very generous Payless Shoe gift cards). We are getting materials together for finisher prizes so register soon so we can get your prize ready to go after we run, or see your finishing pictures.

We have had a few questions about the Fun Run so I will try to answer them here.

Q.How does this Fun Run work?

A. Basically the idea is to run a 5k in two days time. We like to start just before midnight on Dec. 31st, and finish the second half on New Year's Day. We like to end and begin the year running, but you can run the first half anytime on New Year's Eve, and the second half on New Year's Day.

Q. Where is the run going to be held?

A. We are going to try to find a central location for anyone that wants to run with us, but it can be held anywhere that you are. Our run will be a no drop run. That means we will run the least fastest runner's pace.

Q. What if I don't/can't run?

A. Cover the distance any way you can as long as it is non-motorized (no DUI bikes). If you ride a bike, ride. If you snowshoe, snowshoe away. My friend Steve may ski the distance, (although he is more than capable of running the 5k and probably at a 6:00 pace).

Q. Where can we send our registration?

A. You can either send it to us:

Rik & Amy Brenton

1454 W. La Pasadita St

Tucson AZ, 85705

or

Walter Douglas Elementary

attn: Tamara McAllister

3302 N. Flowing Wells

Tucson AZ, 85705

Q. How do I know my donation will be used to help a needy kid.

A. That is why we decided to have the donation be in the form of a gift card. The family resource center is on the same campus that Amy works at so we know it to be a good cause. As for us, well I guess you will just have to take our word for it. If you see us walking around in new shoes from Payless you will know we are crooks.