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”