It's 5:04 and my cats are sitting looking at me like I haven't fed them in months, which I know for fact isn't true. Yet, I'm getting an unrelenting Tigger death stare. OK, so I will write about my post-Thanksgiving hike and climbing today, and then feed the starving cats!
I ate way too much, as always, for Thanksgiving. But, it was so good! Especially the stuffing. When I finished eating, I had to lie on the couch for a while and feel remorse. To compensate, the next day I went for a meet up hike on Pack Monadnock. The trail that we took was 5.9 miles and 1300 ish feet of elevation gain, so definitely a real hike, but not like a 4000 footer. I thought I could do it as a meet up, and mostly it was fine. There were 9 of us, plus one dog, on the hike, and I was in the front pack of 4 for pretty much the entire time! I was pretty impressed with me - we went at a pace that had me breathing hard, but not about to die. There were a couple people in the group who were super slow, so we had to keep stopping and waiting. But that was OK. After I went black Friday shopping in NH, where there are no sales taxes! I got a toaster oven so I can have better avocado toast (my old toaster only worked on one side) and an Amazon Echo to replace the alarm clock that I haven't loved for about 11 years. In the morning I can ask Alexa about the weather and my commute. And I can make a shopping list :) If I was a person who made shopping lists.
Today I went to a class at BKBX where we got to use the bouldering wall for part of the class. I climbed a V1 on an overhang! It took me two tries. The first time I got to the second to last move and couldn't quite make it. I fell, and wasn't even scared! Of course, their wall isn't that high. But still I was impressed with how far I've come on the falling.
Yesterday I also bought a turkey because it was only 49 cents a pound - so it went from like $30 to $5. Mmmm, turkey - it's in the fridge thawing, but tomorrow the plan is to cook and freeze. And then I can feel this stuffed for months.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Saturday, November 23, 2019
3.32 mile run and a V2!
On Thursday I went to BKBX for a Foundations class - it was a really good workout, and more aerobic than some of the others. I got there 45 minutes early so I could boulder, of course. They just changed the wall, so the V1 with the dino that I couldn't do was gone, but there's a new, cool, V1 in its place that I worked on for a bit and didn't get. There was also a V2 on a flat wall that was crimpy and I thought I could do, and I was able to flash the first try! I thought the V2 was way easier than some of the V1's. I've been working on doing V0 and V1 on overhang, since those are climbs that I would usually not do at all. That's definitely a project!
Today we celebrated my mom's 90th birthday! 90. She's doing pretty well, she had been sick and kind of confused for a while, but she's much more aware now. As a present, we decided to give the gift of us - we hired a photographer to take pictures of the family for an hour. She was really good, and hopefully we will get awesome photos :) After the photos, we ate so much - I had cheese, bread, fruit, onion rings, fries, half a flatbread pizza, and carrot cake for dessert. I'm still full, and it's 8:30 (we ate at like 2 pm). After I got home, I was feeling so gross, and I am out of points for class pass until tomorrow.
So, I decided to go for a run. I wasn't sure I would be up for it, but I actually ran my old 5K ish - I started by going uphill for some reason - maybe I wasn't sure I was going to make it, and the at the end I had to take a detour because there's a bridge that's out. According to map my run I ran 3.32 miles and according to my fitbit it took me 43 minutes, which is a 13 minute mile, which is pretty slow. But, I ran the whole time, with only 3 short stops when I had to wait to cross the street (which I quite enjoyed). I was breathing pretty hard, but not dying. I did get cramps at about mile 1.5, so I had to slow down for a bit. But I kept going and was fine! I could have run longer, but I confess was glad to stop. I remember when I first started running and had to stop and walk. I'm pretty psyched that I'm in good enough shape that I could run for 43 minutes, even if it was pretty slow.
A few months ago I read this article in the Washington post by a woman who is face blind, describing her experience. There were some tests linked to the article, and a contact with someone who's doing a study. I was able to connect with the person at the Boston VA and do 2 of the 3 parts (the third part was an MRI, and I freaked out and couldn't do it). I talked to the researcher and he confirmed that yes, I have moderate prosopagnosia = face blindness. In fact, on a couple of the tests I had some of the lowest scores he had seen, even in people with prosopagnosia. It's a little bit validating - I can't recognize people who I've met before because I can't, not because I just need to try harder. And, it makes me a little sad, because trying harder won't make a difference.
Today we celebrated my mom's 90th birthday! 90. She's doing pretty well, she had been sick and kind of confused for a while, but she's much more aware now. As a present, we decided to give the gift of us - we hired a photographer to take pictures of the family for an hour. She was really good, and hopefully we will get awesome photos :) After the photos, we ate so much - I had cheese, bread, fruit, onion rings, fries, half a flatbread pizza, and carrot cake for dessert. I'm still full, and it's 8:30 (we ate at like 2 pm). After I got home, I was feeling so gross, and I am out of points for class pass until tomorrow.
So, I decided to go for a run. I wasn't sure I would be up for it, but I actually ran my old 5K ish - I started by going uphill for some reason - maybe I wasn't sure I was going to make it, and the at the end I had to take a detour because there's a bridge that's out. According to map my run I ran 3.32 miles and according to my fitbit it took me 43 minutes, which is a 13 minute mile, which is pretty slow. But, I ran the whole time, with only 3 short stops when I had to wait to cross the street (which I quite enjoyed). I was breathing pretty hard, but not dying. I did get cramps at about mile 1.5, so I had to slow down for a bit. But I kept going and was fine! I could have run longer, but I confess was glad to stop. I remember when I first started running and had to stop and walk. I'm pretty psyched that I'm in good enough shape that I could run for 43 minutes, even if it was pretty slow.
A few months ago I read this article in the Washington post by a woman who is face blind, describing her experience. There were some tests linked to the article, and a contact with someone who's doing a study. I was able to connect with the person at the Boston VA and do 2 of the 3 parts (the third part was an MRI, and I freaked out and couldn't do it). I talked to the researcher and he confirmed that yes, I have moderate prosopagnosia = face blindness. In fact, on a couple of the tests I had some of the lowest scores he had seen, even in people with prosopagnosia. It's a little bit validating - I can't recognize people who I've met before because I can't, not because I just need to try harder. And, it makes me a little sad, because trying harder won't make a difference.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
V1
I think V1 is my match level bouldering climb and V2 would be a reach. I went about 45 minutes early for climbing today so I could boulder - I was actually really looking forward to bouldering, which is kind of cool and definitely new. Anyhow, I stared with a VB which I guess is a beginner? The B's are pretty much like ladders, you just saunter up. I did a warm up with one, and it's kind of cool because I didn't feel scared at all doing it! Then, I did a V1 and I flashed it the first try, using my technique with hands and feet. Although I got up it clean, I did it 3 more times until I felt like I got up really well, with ninja feet. There was another V1 that I tried that was overhung, which I tried several times, but freaked out each time as I got a little high. So, that's a project I guess.
During regular climbing I practiced having two feet on the wall, shifting my weight, and then moving my hand. I also practiced keeping my top arm straight. It was hard. Really hard! Especially as I got to the higher levels. I was proud of myself because I did one climb that was overhung and scary high. And, I did a 5.9 and went back to it a second time to project on it.
My climbing is definitely much worse than it was before, but I am optimistic that it's going to improve and really become a lot better!
Friday, November 15, 2019
Dinos
I went to an athletics class at BKBX this evening. This one was mostly upper body with medicine balls, rings, and sleds (their sleds have wheels, which is super easy. And, when we did "wall balls" we didn't have to hit the wall, we just threw the ball up and caught it. I did 30, which seemed like a lot, but not in comparison with crossfit!)
I got there about forty five minutes early so I could boulder for a half hour. I can definitely do V0 (though there was one that was pretty overhung that I couldn't do, but I think that was part mental) and I can do V1, though sometimes it takes a few tries. There was a V1 that I projected that was super fun, the last move, though, was a jump (dyno) to a really good hold. It was really scary to think about doing the jump. I tried a couple times, sort of half heartedly. In class the teacher said that the were resetting next week, which is too bad because they're going to take it down.
In class, we did this exercise where you stood on one hold, grabbed another, and then jumped and tried to touch a dot on the wall. It was really fun, and I realized good practice for doing dinos. In the training beta podcast, this woman was talking about getting over fear by taking small, incremental steps that are just a little scary, but not terrifying - after a while these little steps help you to overcome fear and can make a big difference. Which is to say that I think I'll try the dino exercise in the gym for a little while so that the next time I can finish a climb like this.
Anyhow, when climbing I focused on only moving my hands when both feet were on the wall, and on keeping the arm that was holding the wall straight. And it really made a difference! I also got on a V2, and the first move required that I turn my body so my hip was to the wall. So I did! That was the only move I could do, but I felt good about it :)
I got there about forty five minutes early so I could boulder for a half hour. I can definitely do V0 (though there was one that was pretty overhung that I couldn't do, but I think that was part mental) and I can do V1, though sometimes it takes a few tries. There was a V1 that I projected that was super fun, the last move, though, was a jump (dyno) to a really good hold. It was really scary to think about doing the jump. I tried a couple times, sort of half heartedly. In class the teacher said that the were resetting next week, which is too bad because they're going to take it down.
In class, we did this exercise where you stood on one hold, grabbed another, and then jumped and tried to touch a dot on the wall. It was really fun, and I realized good practice for doing dinos. In the training beta podcast, this woman was talking about getting over fear by taking small, incremental steps that are just a little scary, but not terrifying - after a while these little steps help you to overcome fear and can make a big difference. Which is to say that I think I'll try the dino exercise in the gym for a little while so that the next time I can finish a climb like this.
Anyhow, when climbing I focused on only moving my hands when both feet were on the wall, and on keeping the arm that was holding the wall straight. And it really made a difference! I also got on a V2, and the first move required that I turn my body so my hip was to the wall. So I did! That was the only move I could do, but I felt good about it :)
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The Climbing Project
I've decided that I've gotten sloppy with my climbing and so I'm getting worse at it, rather than better. So, I'm embarking on The Climbing Project (which I came up with after reading the book The Rosie Project) which will be designed to improve my climbing technique, and lead to me getting more joy out of climbing. I was listening to this podcast on climbing, climbing beta, and they interviewed this climber John Kettle, who went from climbing V7 to V9 in like 9 weeks by improving his technique, and then wrote a book about it. Which I bought, and am going to follow.
Step one was to work on climbing with your legs more and your arms less. Yup, really need to do that. My first exercise was only moving a hand when I had two feet on the wall. Which was really hard! But, as I practiced it today, I noticed was really helpful, and something that I hadn't been doing well. I also practiced keeping the arm that was still holding the wall straight, keeping the weight on the bigger muscles of my back, instead of using the smaller muscles in my arms. That got especially hard when I was in a scary place, and it was hard. Third thing that I practiced was not just doing slab, but also climbing overhang.
I climbed only 5.8 and 5.9, with a 5.7 at the end. My best climbs were one 5.9 that I did a good job with moving my feet up before moving an arm, and an overhung 5.8 - same thing.
My friend Lynne decided that she wants to go with me sailing in Myanmar! I'm psyched because it's a small boat, and it will be nice to have a friend on board. She was looking at tickets today, and got overwhelmed and didn't get one. When I looked this evening, the trip was gone. I was so upset because I thought it was sold out, but then it turned out that there was something weird with the website, and now it's back. OK, now we both know that this is the plan that we want :)
Also, even though when I booked the trip they told me it absolutely wouldn't go on sale, it went on sale. I contacted the company and was like "WTF?" and they gave me the sale price! Go me - I negotiated something!!
Step one was to work on climbing with your legs more and your arms less. Yup, really need to do that. My first exercise was only moving a hand when I had two feet on the wall. Which was really hard! But, as I practiced it today, I noticed was really helpful, and something that I hadn't been doing well. I also practiced keeping the arm that was still holding the wall straight, keeping the weight on the bigger muscles of my back, instead of using the smaller muscles in my arms. That got especially hard when I was in a scary place, and it was hard. Third thing that I practiced was not just doing slab, but also climbing overhang.
I climbed only 5.8 and 5.9, with a 5.7 at the end. My best climbs were one 5.9 that I did a good job with moving my feet up before moving an arm, and an overhung 5.8 - same thing.
My friend Lynne decided that she wants to go with me sailing in Myanmar! I'm psyched because it's a small boat, and it will be nice to have a friend on board. She was looking at tickets today, and got overwhelmed and didn't get one. When I looked this evening, the trip was gone. I was so upset because I thought it was sold out, but then it turned out that there was something weird with the website, and now it's back. OK, now we both know that this is the plan that we want :)
Also, even though when I booked the trip they told me it absolutely wouldn't go on sale, it went on sale. I contacted the company and was like "WTF?" and they gave me the sale price! Go me - I negotiated something!!
Friday, November 8, 2019
Mayor Pete
Since we were there so early, we were able to get seats in the front row. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves. I guess we were looking pretty happy and enthusiastic, because one of the campaign managers came over and asked us if we wanted to sit on the stage behind the mayor, as his human props. We were like "Hell Yes!" I mean, I don't know if I'm going to vote for the guy, but it just seemed so fun. And it was :) I was really impressed with Buttigieg - he's very articulate, I like his policy ideas, and he seems like someone who could be "presidential." If there's one thing that trump has taught me, it's that we need a leader who represents the ideas of everyone in the country, and so many people are opposed to Medicare for all (which I don't understand), that I have a hard time with Warren for that. Buttigieg is doing well in the polls; he could have a real shot!It was a fun morning, definitely better than sitting on the couch and feeling sorry for myself for having a cold, which had been the plan. I'm going to have to stalk his website to see if I find myself on it anywhere.
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