Turned A Corner

I was so energized this morning. I got up and did ab work. I was going to say that a strong core is helpful for rock climbing but a strong core is good period.

I ate a champion-like breakfast: oatmeal with almond milk, cinnamon, flax seed, and a mashed banana.

As I was making a morning snack of strawberry and pineapple, I was thinking that I don't really care for strawberries by themselves but with pineapple -- yummy. Of course, I started singing Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

HER: One can have a dream, baby
HIM: Two can make that dream so real
HER: One can talk about bein' in love
HIM: Two can say how it really feels
HER: One can wish upon a star
HIM: Two can make that wish come true, yeah
HER: One can stand alone in the dark
HIM: Two can make the light shine through

CHORUS (BOTH):
It takes two, baby...

After I had climbed my second route, Patti said I think that you've turned a corner in your climbing. Patti is right. I'm more comfortable on the wall and, more importantly, I'm more conscientious.

We had so much fun today. It was an interesting dynamic because normally Patti and I or Jessica and I or Jessica and Patti will go climbing. We haven't all been together in awhile. We teased each other endlessly but, don't worry, no one got hurt. Well, I almost got hurt when I swung off of Beware of Bats but that's another story.












Route Tally for 4/10:

The Five, 5.5 (Climbed 2x's & Down Climbed 1x )
The Seven, 5.7
Sponge Bob, 5.7
Bright Idea, 5.8
Face Plant, 5.8
Hallelujah, 5.8
Rainbow Bright, 5.8
Beware of Bats, 5.9

The 5.8 by the name of Hallelujah is pretty accurate because, when I made it up to the top, that's definitely what I wanted to sing.

By the way, see that picture (the fourth one) where it looks like I'm doing a split? Wow, I didn't feel myself doing that and I can't believe that I'm that flexible now.

Ain't No Mountain...

My mother: What's next? Climbing mountains?

Me: I chuckle then I hadn't thought about that but now that you mention it...

It's funny that my mother mentioned mountains to me because I feel like I'm on top of one or that I'm right near the top, one foot down and one leg poised to push over the top.

In the immortal words of James Brown, I feel good. And I feel strong.

When I was doing some ab work, I noticed how solid my core feels and how I'm able to do tall sit ups without struggling.

While climbing, I noticed that those routes that have been a pain in the behind weren't so grueling. I felt as if I could have climbed all day.

Route tally:

Sponge Bob, 5.7
Truxton or Bust, 5.6
Bright Idea, 5.8
Face Plant, 5.8 (2x's)
JW, 5.8
Unnamed, 5.6 (Ascended and Down Climbed)
Rainbow Bright, 5.8 (Ascended 3x's + Down Climbed 1x)

JW has been my long-term nemesis but I climbed it more cleanly today. I felt as if it wasn't so hard. I'm stronger. And I did Face Plant twice today. Hello!

I need to thank Patti for indulging me. She knows that I'm a pushing specialist. So, she often throws down the gauntlet and challenges (or indulges) me...

Jessica, if you're out there listening, I went climbing with your athletic family. Your brother, who hadn't been climbing in ages, had me cracking up with his it doesn't matter which route I climb, it's all the same to me. It's so wrong that he can climb a 5.9 and hasn't been climbing in ages. Your mom (as usual) was climbing like she meant business and your father, and I'm paraphrasing here, said something like your mother was the best thing that ever happened to him. Wish you were here...