The Climb to my Birthday!

As you know, a lot has happened in the past few months. The most important thing that happened is...ready for it? MY BIRTHDAY! Martie, what ever did you do for your birthday, you might ask. Well, let me show you. :-)



Learning all about rock climbing gear!






Just a hilarious shot! SNL (aka, Sarah) using Tom to balance as she puts on her rock climbing shoes. By the way, rock climbing shoes are the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever put on my feet. And they're not cute either. I'll put up with throbbing foot pain for the sake of fashion, but this went against everything I believe in. Yes, I wanted to go rock climbing THAT much!



Finally getting to climb. Gosh, the harness is just as flattering as the shoes are!





SNL and Tom give it a go. Tom took off like a rocket. So unfair!





SNL on the descent.



Dave, showing he can be like a spider and make it to the top, too!

The experience was a great one. Our instructor sprinkled the lessons with real life climbing stories. Some did not end well, as to "drive the point home" about the importance of reliable gear and pre-climb checks. I'm so glad that Outdoors, Inc. has rock climbing classes. After completing the class, people can use the rock climbing wall on their own. After all the stories, I think I'm going to stick to indoor walls with kooshy mats to break any falls. :-) I think using the wall at Outdoors (in Cordova) is something like $5.00 an hour. Not much to pay for some fun and challenging exercise.

Well, Hello!

It seems I've been on a hiatus. Ok, I cancelled my home internet connection. I'm at "Charbucks" as we speak. All hail for free internet!! Now, if I could just stop with renting so many "on demand" movies (not the free variety, of course), maybe, just maybe, my cable bill won't be so scary.

For ages now, I've been wanting to really challenge myself, physically. Working out is a HUGE bore. Running is torture, but I do it because I love to eat. Anyway, after wondering if I could do it...and convincing myself I couldn't, I decided to prove myself wrong and participate in a triathlon! Trying to finish a 1/2 mile swim without drowning was my biggest fear. Shockingly, though, my body adjusted easiest to the swim training. Ok, so, I'm not a fast swimmer, but each day, the distance and time was easier than the last!

August 1st, I completed my challenge. It. Was. Awesome. I've definitely have the "bug" now! I think I, literally, swallowed it along the course. Oh, and on the run, it swarmed around my head for a good quarter of a mile.



It was a "dock" start. We all went into the water in 3 second intervals! No mad dash into the water.




Finishing the very hilly 23 mile bike part of the course.




Almost there...I can smell the bbq!

Overall, I was super slow, but steady. There were about 175 participants and the volunteers were wonderful. It was such a perfect introduction to triathlon racing. I'm looking very forward to next year's season. Watch. Out.