Save on airfare…

And just swim to France.

If google says you can do it, it must be true!

Rocks and Trails

Oh man, I hope I think of a better title before the night ends….
The past few days have been pure fitness bliss.  Yesterday I went over to the climbing gym to get a few hours of climbing in; I haven’t been able to go much more than once a week lately, so I was really eager to get to it.  And get to it I did!  There is definitely something to be said for losing weight and no sore muscles – I was having a blast doing some bouldering routes and finding that I could manage things easier than usual.  I prefer roped climbing over bouldering, though, so it was great when some people showed up and we could take turns belaying each other.  I did a few routes in the 5.8-5.9 range without even trying, and then we decided to tackle a 5.10a that was set by one of the more “difficult” route setters at the gym.  His routes are always very reachy (which is ironic, since they are reachy for me and he is like 5′8″) and in general technically demanding.  I stalled for a very short time in the middle, but I finished the route with no trouble staying up and without coming close to falling.  Very satisfying.
Today I went for a trail run up into the hills on the eastern Napa “mountains”.  I haven’t been trail running in *years*, and remembering the contentment of being in a natural setting and the challenges of uneven trails really made me smile as I went along.  As I climbed, I had some really great views of Napa that took my breath away (like I had any to spare).  I would say I made it the whole way without stopping, but that would be wrong.  I had to stop and let a mother turkey guide her little… turklings?…. down the path and out of my way before I could continue.  The last thing I wanted to do was risk her wrath!  But overall, it was spectacular.  I am going back for more on that trail, you can count on it.
Damn, no new title ideas.  Oh well……
Mood – pleased
Listening – James Taylor “The Secret O’ Life”

Something has changed within me…

Thanks, Elphaba, I’ll take it from here
I was out running this evening, and as I was walking back to my apartment to cool down, I realized something that stunned me – something was different tonight.
Ever since I started periodically running again, I have enjoyed it immensely.  However, it’s never been quite the same as I experienced it when I loved running most: high school.  How to explain?  Hmm.  Running is always a physical and mental challenge for the runner, and the specifics of the personal challenges was always what I most enjoyed.  I reveled in the challenge of hitting the wall and pushing myself past it.  Not necessarily to win (although that was often part of it), but to prove I could overcome what was in front of me.  This was why I loved running hills so much – they presented the greatest obstacles we had to overcome.  Did I always succeed?  Of course not.  But circumstances aside, I always confronted the challenges and obstacles with the determination to come out on top.  What I think I am most proud of is that rarely did I fail mentally – I was always ready to push myself past that boundary – if the flesh was willing.
Flash forward to my post-college running experience.  By and large, I have always enjoyed each run’s exertion.  But I always found myself backing off when the “going got tough.”  Even the times when I pushed my boundaries, I not only had to push myself physically, but also convince myself mentally to make the effort.  I avoid hills because they look like insurmountable mountains; if the pace feels like it might wipe me out, I slow down.  What was most disconcerting was that I never even recognized this behavior as not me.
And then today happened.  I was running along and fast approaching in my vision was the wall.  And instead of slowing down, or backing off, or playing safe – and without even recognizing it till after! – I focused on that wall and busted it down.
Hello Chris, it’s good to see you again.  Let’s go find some hills together.