Fun Run

Hammond Pond

Today I took a trip with my friend Chris down to Hammond Pond in Newton, MA. There's some really nice climbing in this park. And I was excited to be able to climb outdoors with someone who knows what they are doing. I may have been dominating artificial walls at one point, but this is a different beast for those who are not faint of heart. Or will. Which ever drives you harder.

I was worried at first. We just went out to Nubble Lighthouse to do some climbing a few nights ago and the rocks chewed me up a bit. Also, I don't think I've been more aware of how much I can really get hurt. But after working on the first boulder, I got really into and really excited to check out the other routes. My fingers and toes are sore and I can't wait to go back.

Nubble Lighthouse

Nubble Light is a popular stop for locals and tourists in York, ME. I got to check out some extra special local climbing there a couple days ago, what a treat! There's something funny about a skyline of beautiful ocean above you and a skyline above you on the other side of tourists wielding cameras. Hilarious, actually. I got some battle wounds from the incident, but I can't wait to go back and send those routes.

Thompson Farm

I've been trying to get more involved with my local climbing community. It's something I've been meaning to do for years, my schedule has just always prevented me. Thankfully, my bosses husband is an active climber and he was able to direct me to local routes that he's been working on. On is a five minute walk from my apartment! I couldn't work my way around it very well by myself. I didn't want to get hurt. But it's great knowing I can just walk down my road and work out a couple problems with some nice rocks.

The down side is that, and I'm ashamed to admit, I'm really at a loss on bouldering outdoors. I've been climbing indoors for years working on my skill level until I accidentally lacerated my hand at work almost two years ago now. I wanted to brings skills outside, but the damage to my hand had to be fixed in order to even grip anything. Eventually I lost almost all of my upper body strength, and definitely all of my core strength.

Thankfully, I have friends and I'm looking foreword to their help making me a better climber and their company while I take that journey. Definitely looking forward to checking out Hammond Pond in MA with an old friend from the climbing gym this Saturday.

Explore Local

I rememeber when I was in school and every kid thought there was nothing to do, like we all live in some drab hole simply classified as 'the sticks.' Sure we were limited in mobility because we didn't have cars or our parents didn't trust us leaving our own back yard, but I still think back to those days. Is it really that unsafe if we encourage our kids to explore? Are we really afraid of what's in our own town?

And the biggest question I have; Do the only adventures worth having exist in some exotic foreign country?

Well, I'm taking on my own challenge and I hope others challenge themselves. I went out into my area and looked for fun because I don't believe for a second that I have to spend even a dime to find adventure.

I found boulders out at the Newmarket Nature Conservancy, just a couple miles down the road from where I live. I'm looking forward to getting a couple buddies out here to climb. And a bigger crash pad.

I biked back towards Durham and decided to visit a farm. It's Durham Farm Day! And I'm a sucker for animals.

I hope the good weather keeps it up because I want to get back out tomorrow and check out those rocks!

The Universe is a Devious Beast

It's a fact. Once you put your mind to something, the Universe will do everything in its power to make it more difficult to do like your dog eating all your pillows and underwear while you're at work. No one knows how the dog found them, but he did and now it's a giant mess of stuffing and unmentionables all over your apartment.

This summer, my friend Kelsey and I set out with a few goals;
1. Hike ALL of the 4,000 footers.
2. Do ALL of the exercise.
3. FAIL miserably at not eating the worst foods for you.

I mean, we really were aiming for not failing #3, but I mean... Ice cream. You can't even think the word without drooling.

So we're working on hiking all of the 4,000 footers. Or trying to. I could swear the weather this summer is intentionally sabotaging our trips. Which brings us to goal #2. Filling in all of the extra time with other exercise. It's a bit more daunting. You have to be very motivated to keep up with running.
Runners, I salute you!

Now that we're in the home stretch of summer, I have really only accomplished two things;
I have hiked HALF the 4,000 footers and I can now (to my surprise) go running every day. Not bad. I feel like a machine. A machine that needs to sleep and eat way more than usual.