I’ve been mildly bummed out about my rock climbing lately. I’ve been stuck at that 5.10d/5.11a stage at the gym. I can zip up the 10c/d’s but stumble up 11a’s. Well, after a brief climbing trip last night I think that this is soon to change. There are a bunch of new routes at the gym, including some 11’s. And last night I DOMINATED an 11. It wasn’t clean, but it was powerful. Seriously folks, last night was epic.
Climbing is addicting. I can’t stop thinking about it. On Friday, I will attempt to climb that 11 cleanly. Perhaps I will have someone take video.
Have you asked the people at the gym if you could try your hand at making a route your self? that might be fun and a little different. you know what challenges you, so you can build a route to specifically challenge yourself, other people might love it. And if you do, name it “fatty’s Revenge” after me.
1) There’s a rock climbing gym literally within 215 feet of my apartment. I haven’t climbed there yet, but I’m planning a company social event there in about a month for a lot of the recent college hires. Should be good times.
2) I got pretty bummed out about my orienteering at Nationals when I felt completely hopeless. But since then, I’ve been rocking, placing in the top 10 in every local meet since, which is surprising to me, since I’m in horrible running shape. If I were to train and run 3 miles a day, I think I could be consistently finish in the Top 5. I’m addicted to orienteering as well.
3) Make a video! It’d be awesome, I’d like to see it. I made a video of a recent orienteering race, and I’ve gotten lots of compliments on it. Maybe you could narrate it while you climbing, explaining to us exactly what you’re doing.
4) Congrats on the 5.11. It sounds hard. It’s like Spinal Tap turning it up to 11.
5) You have me stumped (so far) on the MSPaint challenge. I can’t really think of a way to make a good pun or political statement (yet).
Actually, we do have a lot to do with the ratings on some of the climbs. Well, mostly it’s just me. The rule is: If Sander can climb it, it’s not a 10.
While I’m sure orienteering is beyond anything I’m capable of, every time I hear the word I picture some sort of competitive “nature walk tour guide” showdown, and immediately assume that you’re really lame for doing it.
Then I remember it’s probably kinda hard, and I physically couldn’t run more than a city block right now without some sort of serious heart failure.
Wrong: “competitive “nature walk tour guide†showdown” (I would like to see one if it existed, though, maybe in MSPaint…)
Right: “immediately assume that you’re really lame for doing it” (orienteerers are dorks/nerds/losers. it’s that simple. the only person i’ve managed to recruit to orienteering is my dad, and well, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.)