Intro to Climbing

Last night I took a course at a climbing gym to learn how to tie ropes, put on a harness, and belay. So now I can not only go to the gym to risk my own neck, but the necks of countless others as well... Actually, according to Dave, the owner of the gym and my instructor, it's us new climbers who are safest because we triple check everything. It's still going to be a while before I climb outside, and before I'm entirely over my fear of heights, but I'm thinking it should get easier now that I know what I'm doing and don't have to rely on anyone else to help me with my gear. Guessing it's also going to be a while before I no longer feel like I have four feet while I'm trying to get up a 5.9 route.

One month, 5 km

As of today I have two more reasons to keep running - I bought new shoes on Friday, and registered this morning for the Scotiabank 5 km race on June 28. This gives me 33 days to break in the shoes and train to beat my PB of just under 30 minutes.

Reality TV inspires the runner in me

"You want to know how you train for a marathon? You run." - personal trainer to a weight-loss contestant on an American reality TV show. 

Keeping it simple. I love it. 

Hiking

The Grouse Grind is still officially closed for the season, and for good reason. You'd think, with this beautiful spring weather that it's just an extra precaution, but they weren't kidding - there is a lot of snow pack three-quarters of the way up the trail. All cold and in the way. Very hostile. Being in running shoes and a tank top doesn't make things easier when you're scrambling up what you think must be the trail while trying to dodge flying snowballs the size of watermelons hurtling their way past you to splatter on tree trunks in a way that is eerily suggestive of what would happen to your head if you were to slip and go hurtling down the hill yourself.

But we made it to the top eventually, and were oggled by tourists in parkas at the lodge who took our picture, standing sweaty and barely clothed against the backdrop of the afternoon sky over "the peak of Vancouver." I'm not even sore today. I think this bodes well for a multi-day trek this summer on the West Coast Trail.

Death-defying postponed

Sky-diving put off till August, when (ideally) I'll have had a few months of work and therefore won't have to decide between eating and jumping out of a plane. Also, planning to do the West Coast Trail this summer. Another two steps towards completing my long list...

Down to Earth

With my up-coming graduation from J-school I think it will be appropriate to go skydiving next month. When I got my degree three years ago I had set a date to go with my roommate, but had to cancel due to inclement weather. So, in the spirit of graduation, I am going to make it my goal, once more, to celebrate by hurling myself out of a small airplane many thousands of feet above the ground and let fate and chance and gravity take over. Anyone want to join me?

The Key to Life

Will Smith on how to succeed: