Rock Climbing!!

So I've always wanted to go rock climbing.  For one thing, not sure exactly how to say this, but I always just thought it'd be something that my body could do.  And it looked fun.  And like problem solving.  And good exercise.  All things that I'm a fan of.

So amongst all the crossroading that has been going on around here, J and I decided we were gonna go.  She got a Groupon and we went last Friday.

Dudes, rock climbing is awesome!  I really want to do it again.  Killer upper body workout.  Great mind workout.  Really fun.

But what I didn't expect was how it would stretch me.  I didn't expect to be scared.  I'm not scared of heights.  But I'm not gonna lie, when I got to the top and looked down, wowzers!  And when I fell off the wall, scariest thing EVER.  Seriously.  And that's another thing I didn't expect - how much you need to trust.  You need to trust yourself that you can do it.  You need to trust your partner taking up your slack and lowering you down.  And you need to trust that someone set up that rope system properly.  So it was a mental stretch along with a physical workout.  I felt simultaneously shockingly vulnerable and physically capable and mentally engaged.  And that is a powerful thing.

The other thing that J and I noticed was that rock climbing is a metaphor for life.  It is hard.  Uphill battle.  It takes focus, determination, flexibility, and a little help from your friends, and sometimes a little help from the random stranger guy you just met.  When you fall down, you have to pick yourself up and try again.  Sometimes you need to stand back and plot your course, but other times you only need to see one move into the future.  Ha, and sometimes your friends on the ground can see the move you need to make more clearly that you can.  And once you see the move, you need to MAKE IT, go, NOW, because hanging on the wall thinking about the move only weakens your muscles while you wait.  Ultimately only you can make the move.

Rock climbing.  Metaphor for life.

January Goals

So, even though I haven't written my race report yet, you know I pulled out of the Day After the End of the World Half after 7 miles.  This was because at the End of the World Half I felt my right knee, the old injury from Oct 2009, tweaking around 11 miles in.  When I started the next day, it hurt from the very first step.  Those 7 miles were mostly walking, with walking itself hurting by mile 5, so I pulled out to try and avoid a long-term injury.

I have to say all of that to explain that January's athletic goal is P90X oriented.  I want to do 6 days a week, every other day P90X and the days in between core work plus some sort of aerobic cross training.  So going off the P90X recommended order, here:

1: Chest & Back

2: Core 1/XT

3: Plyometrics

4: Core 2/XT

5: Yoga X

6: Core 3/XT

7: Rest

8: Arms & Shoulders

9: Core 1/XT

10: Legs and Back

11: Core 2/XT

12: Kenpo

13: Core 3/XT

14: Rest

Rinse, repeat.

Today was day 4, and I've ridden my trainer both times for XT.  I am not ruling out a run in another week or two, but I'm really trying to listen to my knee, so we'll see.  Oh, and also, I'M SO SORE!!!

Book goal: let's go with 4 again.  I've got 2 Kindle library books checked out (Goodbye for Now and Fallen Angels), so those HAVE to get done.  And I really need to finally finish Killing Moon.  And I've already started Something Red.  So those 4, and all are related to my committee, btw.  More would be better, too!

Financial goal: Pay off Edward.

House goal: work on AD's - maids.

2013 Resolution

My resolution for 2013 is to find my happiness.  Wherever it is, whatever it takes, whatever it means.

I still think I'll do monthly goals.  But things are so up in the air right now that a month in advance is about all I can handle.  Little steps.  Towards happiness.  In happiness.

2013: be happy.

Go!

12 in 2012 - The Great Goal Review Post

Goals for the Year:
Lose 12 pounds in 2012.  Weight on 1/1 was 138.8.  Weight on 12/1 was 130.8.  Weight on 1/1 was 131.6, but really, less than a pound over the holidays = SOLD.  I didn't lose 12 lbs this year, but honestly I never thought I would.  I set the goal high and really just hoped to go sub-130.  I *did* manage that, even if only for a few days, but I'm within spitting distance of it now and know I'll hit that target range for good very soon.  All in all, didn't make my goal, but I count this a success.
Read at least 12 books (other than to my child) in 2012.  Got my 4 required books read, but barely. Total to 99 for the year!  Blew this one out of the water!
Race 12 times in 2012. 2.5 this month.  Completed the La Porte By the Bay Half, the End of the World Half, and half of the Day after the End of the World Half for my first DNF ever.  Race reports to follow.  Means I'm left with 11 for the year.  But, BUT considering how crappily the year started with all the DNS's and everything, I'm really pretty pleased with this.
And I have one other secret 12 goal. 1?  Maybe?  But met this goal a long time ago.

Goals for December:
Continued progress towards 2012 goals.  It may be unreasonable, but I'd really like to go sub 130 on my weight for the first time this year.  Check!
Complete 3 half marathons, and don't lose my mojo after.  Fail.  Started 3, finished 2.  But as I'll explain in my race report, I think DNF'ing was absolutely the right choice, and the HARDER choice, and I'm proud of myself for making it.
Start core work again. And maybe P90X after the races.  P90X started on 12/31.  Core work started with the new year.  Check.
Pick back up the committee reading, hard core.  Better, but need to keep at it.
Financial goals: liquidate SMH and reallocate to J. Get direct deposit for N.  Fail and check.  Ok.
House goals: get another quote on the floors, pick a company, and get started! Finish cleaning out AD's house AND get the maids in there AND get a quote on the work we need done there.  Massive fail.  This was probably too much to ask for a holiday month.
Other: enjoy the holidays. :-)  Not exactly - the stuff going on in my personal life really put a damper on the holidays for me this year.