I'd rather be climbing

It's been aaaages. I have been doing really well and summer motivation (work out wise) is in full force. I've been running and climbing a lot, and visiting the gym a little less. I found a little courage and registered for a bunch of races, in this order:

• Race for the Cure on the 6th (which is mostly just for fun)
• The Baltimore Half marathon, October
• Marine Corp 10k, also in October

To date, my running motivation has been pretty solid. It's not without challenges, of course. The heat and humidity are already pretty intense. For the first time in years, I felt the desire to wretch on a run the other day just from dealing with the heat. I felt like such a sissy, but it's been a long time since dealing with heat for me. Beyond that, it seems like if it's not a bajillion degrees, it's raining, torrential downpour style. My Wednesday run, at seven miles, started excellent. It was misting a little and the temperature was reasonable. I knew I wanted to hit the 7 mile mark, so when it started raining a little harder, I opted not to turn back. This, in retrospect, was an awful idea. Not only did it pour, but I ended up getting chased down by the lightning. Beyond that, I did about 3.5 to 4 miles in the pouring rain, so my feet were miserably wet and sore. My fingers even got wrinkly! All in all, it was a great run because the temperature was so comfortable, but the fear of electrocution part was a little sketchy. My knees are still pretty sore but I'm managing with icing and stretching. If I were to wish one thing, it would be that I could have a couple extra days in the week so I could actually go to yoga and pilates to do the stretches that help and the core/quad strengthening exercises I ought to be doing to keep my knee pain in check...but alas my schedule is jam packed. Running three days a week and climbing two days a week, plus one day off (Friday) from everything means that I only have one day left in the week to yoga. And there are no yoga or pilates sessions on Sundays. GAR.

Climbing has been fantastic. My partner and I have returned in full force. I've made a lot of progress in getting back to where I want to be and have just started working on some good 5.9s and 5.10s. Tuesdays are endurance training climbs - right now I've been working up to 10 climbs and I'd hope to crank it up over the next few weeks to 15 or so climbs. Thursdays are the play days when we push ourselves to stuff beyond out limit. My partner and I had an AWESOME day yesterday, with a total of 9 climbs, mixing in a few easy 6s and 7s, challenging 8s, and the couple 9s and the lone 10. I was suuuper psyched on the 10, and really happy with the 9s. All of this will hopefully culminate in a trip to New Hampshire or Kamarouska for an awesome climbing trip in the Fall. My partner is fairly set on having me learn to climb trad, which makes me uncomfortable. But I suppose that if I want to climb at Whitehorse or Cathedral in NH, well then it'll have to go. I'm definitely not into the idea of leading (yet, anyway) but I don't even know how I feel about climbing on gear. Sketches me out. Whatever, I'd rather be climbing anyway. I'd rather be climbing now. I half considered bailing on work to go play at the gym.

Tonight is a nothing night, since I've got to be up early for the race in the morning. I hope I'll see the Save the TaTas team, and Save Second Base. Should be a good time.