We have this phrase in Argentina for when you get really rank. Olor a chivo. Goat smell. I guess goats smell bad, because the smell I attach with humans and olor a chivo is pretty awful. The thing about climbing is that you lift your arms over your head every time you move.
I climbed pretty hard last night. My regular partner and the one who came back from shoulder surgery for the first time came out. I started on a nice warm up, moved on to the wall I don't like (but I did very well on it) and then proceeded to beat on some 9s and part of a 10. When I say part of a 10, I mean that I was working very diligently and quickly to get this one 10 out that lives on a crack. I like the one hand on a hold and the other on a crack situation. It feels cool. But I couldn't figure out how to move past the crux. I couldn't get my feet high enough and the only hand hold available to me was basically garbage. But it was cool until then.
On this other 9 that I really enjoy (near the 10 crack), I have a really hard time with the last move. It's this greasy jutting out sloper thing, with a long move out to the next high hand. It's doable, but it's VERY static and takes a lot of core to keep from popping off the greasy hold. I can make it, but I haven't been able to make it with out taking, which makes me angry! I have to engage my core to keep on it, but I can't do it without hanging out for 30 seconds. Will have to work on that one.
And finally, I sent this other 9 that had been pissing me off for a while. The crux isn't necessarily that challenging, but you have to think for it - if you get the sequence wrong, you're screwed. In any case, my partner gave me excellent advice. There's a hold that you REEEEAAALLY want to hold. It's angled awkwardly, it looks like you could gaston or pinch or elbow or use your tongue on it. But the truth is, you have to ignore it and reach for the next big hold. And that's not necessarily easy, because it's a little far. But once my partner told me to ignore it, I could actually send the freaking climb. GAH!!
Probably not running today, but I'll take the dogs for a long walk in my new hiking shoes. Should be good.
12 days till vacation! WOO!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Not so good
Well, I didn't do a track workout. It was later in the evening by the time I got my act together, so I opted for a short distance run. 4.2 miles should not hurt. At all. Except if I'm doing hills. Which is what I did. I had done the trail around the Germantown soccerplex a couple times, which has a couple soft hills, but nothing too bad. Well this time I headed to Great Seneca Highway. Truth is when you're driving you don't really pay attention to the inclines. I would say about 3/4 of my run yesterday was a gradual climb. The other quarter was not a downhill, it just got flat. I did the run in 41 minutes, which I would like to be faster. However, given the hills, I feel alright about it.
When I took my brace off, the swelling and pain just smacked me down. Sucks. I was an idiot (or hungry, really) and so I went grocery shopping instead of stretching. Today I regret that. I also didn't have my ice pack, so I didn't even do that.
Tonight, climbing. I'll be at the gym earlier than both of the other girls, so I think I can get in a decent number of climbs tonight. Tomorrow should be my long run, but not likely given the condition my knee is in. Bleah.
The other fun thing I did yesterday was take the boys back to the soccerplex to run around. They love chasing me! And being chased...chasing each other...rolling around... they're so funny. After a certain point they just collapse from getting so worked up and you'd think they ran a marathon. That's the thing about those Italian Greyhounds. Play for 5 minutes, nap for 35 minutes. Also, I tried out my new Merrells on the walk over. They were warmer than I'm used to (given my frequent flip flop use, no wonder) and certainly much more supportive than I'm used to. The only thing I would worry about it that my toes slipped into the toe box a bit much for my taste when walking downhill. And it wasn't really a serious downhill. I think with better socks and tighter lacing, that should work itself out. That and the nasty tick making its way up my pant leg were about the most interesting things I did yesterday. I ended up having to come into work even though it was my day off. Traffic sucked. I can't live in the suburbs for real yet!
When I took my brace off, the swelling and pain just smacked me down. Sucks. I was an idiot (or hungry, really) and so I went grocery shopping instead of stretching. Today I regret that. I also didn't have my ice pack, so I didn't even do that.
Tonight, climbing. I'll be at the gym earlier than both of the other girls, so I think I can get in a decent number of climbs tonight. Tomorrow should be my long run, but not likely given the condition my knee is in. Bleah.
The other fun thing I did yesterday was take the boys back to the soccerplex to run around. They love chasing me! And being chased...chasing each other...rolling around... they're so funny. After a certain point they just collapse from getting so worked up and you'd think they ran a marathon. That's the thing about those Italian Greyhounds. Play for 5 minutes, nap for 35 minutes. Also, I tried out my new Merrells on the walk over. They were warmer than I'm used to (given my frequent flip flop use, no wonder) and certainly much more supportive than I'm used to. The only thing I would worry about it that my toes slipped into the toe box a bit much for my taste when walking downhill. And it wasn't really a serious downhill. I think with better socks and tighter lacing, that should work itself out. That and the nasty tick making its way up my pant leg were about the most interesting things I did yesterday. I ended up having to come into work even though it was my day off. Traffic sucked. I can't live in the suburbs for real yet!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Long time
I wonder how it's been so long since I visited. Plenty of things going on around here, I suppose. I'm going to Costa Rica in a couple weeks (can't wait) and I just got a cool pair of Merrell hiking shoes (not boots...I hate boots) and an EMS rain jacket. We made hotel and transportation accomodations, so, yup, life is good on that front. The trip includes a first and last night in San Jose, two nights at the Arenal volcano, and 3 nights in Manuel Antonio. SWEEEEET!
That doesn't count as my blogging material though. I'm running. I'm biking. I'm yogaing. I'm climbing.
More specifically, I have fallen off my schedule a bit with running - I had a six mile run with my cheetah friend, and a week later, a chill 5 miler... and that was a week ago. Anyway, back to the cheetah. I essentially got run around the national mall with a dude who pulls 7.35 minute miles. I didn't much care for the situation: I felt like I was holding him back and I was irritated that holding a 9.5 minute pace was pretty hard for me. I ate a lot of gnats and I was on the verge of tears by the end of the run from the sheer number of insects on me. This brings me to my next topic, which is the riding. Squishy butt pants ---> excellent for my butt. Riding has been great and I'm thoroughly enjoying having a bike. Of course I went to a bike store and I want some fancy bikes for no good reason other than they're awesome and look fun. Anyway, the most recent lesson I have is don't do stuff at dusk, cause that's when the gnats come out and get sucked into your nose, eyes and mouth. Also, learn to breathe through your nose more...at least those orifices are smaller than your mouth and you decrease the area of inhalation. So, so gross.
I've been yogaing fairly consistently, which sort of accounts for why I've been running less. And I've been good on the climbing. I climbed some fun technical short walls last Tuesday with my partner, and then I climbed like a dumb ass (harder than I can climb) on Thursday with the cheetah. Toward the end of the night it got to the point where I was no longer able to hold onto stuff. Beyond lacking the strength to haul myself up (arms AND legs), I just couldn't hold. But it was fun and was followed by good food. Can't complain too much! Hopefully we can get outside this weekend...
Tonight, hopefully I'll make it home early enough to go run. I'm dog sitting up in Germantown, so I've got quite a trek. There is a track near the house, so I'd like to do some timed track runs. I hate running on the track, but it sure helps for speed and pacing.
Ta ta.
That doesn't count as my blogging material though. I'm running. I'm biking. I'm yogaing. I'm climbing.
More specifically, I have fallen off my schedule a bit with running - I had a six mile run with my cheetah friend, and a week later, a chill 5 miler... and that was a week ago. Anyway, back to the cheetah. I essentially got run around the national mall with a dude who pulls 7.35 minute miles. I didn't much care for the situation: I felt like I was holding him back and I was irritated that holding a 9.5 minute pace was pretty hard for me. I ate a lot of gnats and I was on the verge of tears by the end of the run from the sheer number of insects on me. This brings me to my next topic, which is the riding. Squishy butt pants ---> excellent for my butt. Riding has been great and I'm thoroughly enjoying having a bike. Of course I went to a bike store and I want some fancy bikes for no good reason other than they're awesome and look fun. Anyway, the most recent lesson I have is don't do stuff at dusk, cause that's when the gnats come out and get sucked into your nose, eyes and mouth. Also, learn to breathe through your nose more...at least those orifices are smaller than your mouth and you decrease the area of inhalation. So, so gross.
I've been yogaing fairly consistently, which sort of accounts for why I've been running less. And I've been good on the climbing. I climbed some fun technical short walls last Tuesday with my partner, and then I climbed like a dumb ass (harder than I can climb) on Thursday with the cheetah. Toward the end of the night it got to the point where I was no longer able to hold onto stuff. Beyond lacking the strength to haul myself up (arms AND legs), I just couldn't hold. But it was fun and was followed by good food. Can't complain too much! Hopefully we can get outside this weekend...
Tonight, hopefully I'll make it home early enough to go run. I'm dog sitting up in Germantown, so I've got quite a trek. There is a track near the house, so I'd like to do some timed track runs. I hate running on the track, but it sure helps for speed and pacing.
Ta ta.
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