Midweek:

This week has been busy. With the day off, Kristen and I spent the day together shopping and taking care of general house things. Yesterday was her birthday, I surprised her at work and took her out to lunch (Thanks all for your help!) We went out to dinner in Gurnee, get this...not a chain restaurant. The Monkey Dish is a good place, and THANK YOU for opening a non-chain restaurant in Gurnee! Good burgers!

I'm looking forward to spending Saturday (which is also my 27th Birthday) climbing up at Devil's lake. So lets hope these storms get in and out as soon as possible!

Saturday: Leading

With the cold and rainy day upon us, we opted for a trip to Vertical Endeavors. Following warm up. I opted to practice the lead climbing cert test route. A "fun" 5.9 that I kept bailing 1 or 2 holds from the last. I decided, oh hell i'll just go for the cert. The test is you have to climb (flash) a 5.9 on lead and take a fall around the 4th draw. So I tied in, and with Dave on belay I started climbing, ::clip:: ::clip:: ::clip:: ::clip:: (well shit this is it huh?) FALL! That was a different. I fell from my knees at the 4th draw down to the first. My feet were about a foot of Dave's head. I took a short break (hanging in the air) and climbed back up. Clipped in to the last draw and my hand slipped off one of the last few holds and FALL! This was not planned I didn't fall as far as before, after I got down apparently there were a few people watching and they kinda freaked out. Well I did learn a number of things and I am over my initial fear of taking a lead fall. After the fall and a break I opted to climb the route again this time on Top Rope and did it. Next time I'm in the area I will retake the test. Now to spend the next two days relaxing!

Short info about lead climbing

Taking a break.

So for the last few days of running my knee has started to hurt. Not to much hurt I guess...more feel funny. and not "ha ha" funny. A little more then 2ish miles in to my run my knee kinda does this recoil thing and it almost seams I start limping. So I made the decision to take a week off from running. This knee always gives me issues in the spring and fall, when the seasons change. I had a ski accident as a kid and I think this still stems from that. So a big middle finger to the lady that hit me and skied away with out even checking if I was OK.

This weekend is looking to be fun. BBQ at Franck house tonight, VE on Saturday with folks. I'm really hoping I pass the lead cert test. I'd like to start getting more lead practice. I think personally, leading is 1/3 mental 1/3 physical 1/3 knowledge (placing gear) combined with a little bit of not killing yourself. Usually makes for a fun day!

Have a good three day weekend ya'll!

Breakfast: Eggs, smokey links, mini bagel Cheerios w/milk
Snack: Coffee,
Lunch: Microwave pizza, 100 cal pack
Snack: 100 cal pack
Dinner: 1/2 slab ribs, mashed taters , broccoli salad
Dessert: 100 cal packs
Exercise: 2.75 miles @26:52 / 1 hour climbing

Last few days.

I played golf Saturday for the first time in over a year. Didn't do so bad actually shot around maybe 100? Sunday I went for a 5K run, followed by some house cleaning and then did an hour or so at the climbing gym. I managed to get one move higher on one of the climbs I have been working on. Though twice when I got down and turned around I had an audience of about 30 people. The climbing wall is in the middle of a big sport complex, and I was the only climber on it at the time.

Monday was well..work...I got up at 4AM to do some server maintenance. That evening I went to the gym. Worked out there for an hour and then got the crazy notion to run home. So...kris drove the Jeep back and I ran. It was quicker then I thought only like 12:58 to run it. but it seamed to take forever because I had just been lifting weights. Well here's hoping for a good rest of the week and a fun time at VE this Saturday where i'm hoping I can get my lead cert.

Relaxing this weekend and setting goals.

This weekend will be relaxing. I'll actually be playing golf. :) It's been a while so i'm sure i'll make a fool of myself, and probably curse...alot..
I'm going to run both days. I'll try and get in (at least) 5k in each morning and if i'm lucky hit the climbing gym on Sunday afternoon. Maybe i'll even do the 8.x K loop that I have been thinking about for months now. It would be a good weekend to try it. No big climbing trips planned.

So my new goal currently is by the end of of this year. It could be a cold weekend in December down in Soill, but I'd like to get in one Trad lead, most likely in the 5.3 - 5.6 range and sport climb a 5.9+-5.10. Train all winter in the gym and run, throw in an ice climbing trip to Ouray! And come spring, work on nothing but Trad climbing. The goal is big and I know I have a long long long way to go.

Tuesday : rain

The weather was nice this morning as I stepped out for my run. Which I have started to see more and more souls out at 5am, running, walking sometimes with man's best friend. I like having light that early, it for sure makes for better running :)

Climbing gym in the evening. Kept trying two climbs that I am still working on. both I get stuck at the crux move. Both entail a fair amount of hand strength and balance. one is on an auto belay so if I fall I gotta start over. and the other is way far right of the anchor that if you fall it's a pain just to get back on the route. I'll get them.

Breakfast: Eggs, smokey links, Cheerios w/milk
Snack: Coffee,
Lunch: Microwave pizza, 100 cal pack
Snack: Granola bar
Dinner: Green Minestrone soup, mini bagel
Dessert: Angle food cake with cool whip, bananas and strawberrys
Exercise: 2.75 miles @24:12 / 1.5 hours climbing

Weekend: Great climbin'

Saturday was a blast. We set two top ropes, Dave rapped down one, and Jeff and I rapped down the other. This was the first time I rapped with my 30lbs backpack on. That was different. :) Easier then walking around the bluff, Climbers....we're a lazy bunch.
Climbing "Chicago" and "Evanston Township", then "Brinton's Crack " (picture left) This was an amazing climb, while only a (Devil's Lake) 5.6 it proved challenging. Fist jamming was key to this one. I ended up doing it a second time as my last climb of the day.
I followed and cleaned for Jeff as he lead the Berkley crack, a (Devil's Lake) 5.6 this was tough climb, especially when leading/cleaning it. I'm have also been learning more and more about placing gear, angle and force on falls and other safety issues that will get me leading.

Additional pics can be found on my flickr site.