If anyone actually reads this blog, people might have asked themselves what happened to me during the last few months. I had all these ambitious plans...Washington Coloumn, Half Dome, Mt. Shasta. I've been raving about going to Tuolumne since late April, but haven't been yet... So what's wrong?
I guess where it all started was the unexpected trip to Germany for my grandmothers funeral. From there it all went downhill. My relationship started falling apart, my motivation at work took a nose dive. On the weekends I felt just drained...Mostly because of my relationship issues. There were days (and not only on weekends) when I watched ten or more episodes of 'House'. And I am not even a big fan of TV!
Well all that ended today I guess...No more relationship issues...Although I really thought that Wendy was THE ONE...but it seems as if I have been holding on to an idea I had of us from earlier. The reality had become very different from that though, being far from a supportive relationship.
So the first half, or at least the second quarter (after a promising startin January and February) of 2008 was definitely worse than last year, although I never though that that would be possible.
But hey, today is the start of the second half of the year... It's my B-day in two days...
Onward & upward!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
So much for the rest day!
Alright!
After the crossfit class yesterday I spent pretty much the whole afternoon vegging on a couch or in bed... First watching the finals of the Euro 08, then a Bruce Lee movie and in the evening the Track & Field and Swimming trials. Despite good refueling I was slightly sore today. But during the work day I got more and more restless. Upon coming home I decided to go for a run...
It turned out to be quite good! 4.55 miles in 36:49. A 8:05 pace. Not quite where I like to be but definitely a step in the right direction. Today the problem was endurance. I was not able to sustain a higher pace over long times. So I guess I need to get longer runs in. Perhaps that's something I should do in the mornings, when I am not able to run fast anyway :-/
I think my speed will benefit from crossfit. A lot of the class reminded me of my Track & Field workouts through high school and college. And back then I was able to run sub 5min 1500m at the end of a decathlon without specifically training for it.
During my run I thought that I should come up with a few goals I want to achieve in running, climbing, etc...
Something to think about more!
After the crossfit class yesterday I spent pretty much the whole afternoon vegging on a couch or in bed... First watching the finals of the Euro 08, then a Bruce Lee movie and in the evening the Track & Field and Swimming trials. Despite good refueling I was slightly sore today. But during the work day I got more and more restless. Upon coming home I decided to go for a run...
It turned out to be quite good! 4.55 miles in 36:49. A 8:05 pace. Not quite where I like to be but definitely a step in the right direction. Today the problem was endurance. I was not able to sustain a higher pace over long times. So I guess I need to get longer runs in. Perhaps that's something I should do in the mornings, when I am not able to run fast anyway :-/
I think my speed will benefit from crossfit. A lot of the class reminded me of my Track & Field workouts through high school and college. And back then I was able to run sub 5min 1500m at the end of a decathlon without specifically training for it.
During my run I thought that I should come up with a few goals I want to achieve in running, climbing, etc...
Something to think about more!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
CrossFit class
OK, after plenty of talk I took the 'Intensive Weekend CrossFit Fundamentals'-Class at my climbing gym this weekend.
The class entailed two 4-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning.
On Saturday we started out be learning about the movements in some basic exercises like the squat, the shoulder press, the push press, the push jerk, the overhead squat, and the kipping pull-up. This was followed by a short jog around the neighboring building and a round of 'burpees' and a round of '(forgot the name)'. Back at the gym we went into a 'Fran' WOD. 'Fran' consits of three series 21-15-9 of thrusters and pull-ups for time. It was pretty intense! Just what I was looking for :-) It took me 6:16 to finish.
Gosh! My pull-ups suck!
The class continued At 8AM on Sunday morning. The basics covered on the second day included the deadlift, kettleball swings, Sumo Deadlift High Pull, the snatch and the clean & jerk. The class finished with another tough WOD. 'Fight Gone Bad' was on the schedule. The workout is a circuit of Wall Ball, Kettleball Swings, Box Jumps, Push Presses and rowing. All the exercises are done of one minute without a break in between. After one round there is a one minute break. Repeat 3 times. In the end the total reps are added up. I managed 286. I am quite happy about this :-)
Tomorrow will be a rest day... or perhaps I'll do an easy run.
The class entailed two 4-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning.
On Saturday we started out be learning about the movements in some basic exercises like the squat, the shoulder press, the push press, the push jerk, the overhead squat, and the kipping pull-up. This was followed by a short jog around the neighboring building and a round of 'burpees' and a round of '(forgot the name)'. Back at the gym we went into a 'Fran' WOD. 'Fran' consits of three series 21-15-9 of thrusters and pull-ups for time. It was pretty intense! Just what I was looking for :-) It took me 6:16 to finish.
Gosh! My pull-ups suck!
The class continued At 8AM on Sunday morning. The basics covered on the second day included the deadlift, kettleball swings, Sumo Deadlift High Pull, the snatch and the clean & jerk. The class finished with another tough WOD. 'Fight Gone Bad' was on the schedule. The workout is a circuit of Wall Ball, Kettleball Swings, Box Jumps, Push Presses and rowing. All the exercises are done of one minute without a break in between. After one round there is a one minute break. Repeat 3 times. In the end the total reps are added up. I managed 286. I am quite happy about this :-)
Tomorrow will be a rest day... or perhaps I'll do an easy run.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The last week in workouts
Last Friday I started to realize my plan of getting up earlier and get some workouts in before work. A quick and easy run would be a good start. I had planned on getting up at 6:30 and hit the trail at 7, but Lesley, who wanted to come along had an early morning meeting and wanted to go earlier. Ah well... 6:30 it was. The 3 miles on the Stevens Creek trail felt pretty hard, and were quite slow that morning. Perhaps it was related to the climbing session I had the night before, which was pretty good, and which had taken quite a bit out of me.
On Saturday I hit the climbing gym with Daniela, after a hilly 5 mile hike. The gym session was good again! We did several lead climbs, as well as some hard top-rope climbs.
Sunday I was back on my mountain bike in El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve.
GOSH! The descent down Resolution Trail was scary! I need to practice on technical sections a lot! The climb bach up to Skeggs Point via the Methusalah trail was long, steep and fun...Bring on more climbing :-)
Monday was a rest day before hitting the climbing gym again on Tuesday. Here it was mostly hard top-ropes, a few cracks and a chimney. The chimney, rated at 5.8, took it out of me at the end of the day.
This morning I went for my second early morning run...4.5 miles this time. Again it felt hard and slow...Well, looking at the time...It was slow :-( Both nights I slept plenty before the runs, but they just don't feel like evening runs... Perhaps I have to change the snack I have before heading out.
Tomorrow I'll be in the climbing gym again. I'll also sign up for a intense crossfit class this coming weekend. I've been talking about this for quite a while now. So I am really excited to take the class!
In other news: I am excited to get to climb outside again! Yay! Tuolumne next weekend!
On Saturday I hit the climbing gym with Daniela, after a hilly 5 mile hike. The gym session was good again! We did several lead climbs, as well as some hard top-rope climbs.
Sunday I was back on my mountain bike in El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve.
GOSH! The descent down Resolution Trail was scary! I need to practice on technical sections a lot! The climb bach up to Skeggs Point via the Methusalah trail was long, steep and fun...Bring on more climbing :-)
Monday was a rest day before hitting the climbing gym again on Tuesday. Here it was mostly hard top-ropes, a few cracks and a chimney. The chimney, rated at 5.8, took it out of me at the end of the day.
This morning I went for my second early morning run...4.5 miles this time. Again it felt hard and slow...Well, looking at the time...It was slow :-( Both nights I slept plenty before the runs, but they just don't feel like evening runs... Perhaps I have to change the snack I have before heading out.
Tomorrow I'll be in the climbing gym again. I'll also sign up for a intense crossfit class this coming weekend. I've been talking about this for quite a while now. So I am really excited to take the class!
In other news: I am excited to get to climb outside again! Yay! Tuolumne next weekend!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Dirt on the bike again
Yes! After not using my bike in pretty much exactly half a year, and cleaning it three weeks ago, I got it dirty again today. I rode a loop in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. I have no idea on how long it was, but it was pretty fun. And although I had not been on a trail in a while I did not feel like a complete idiot :-)
The ride was also good to clear my head. After spending pretty much all of yesterday in a weird kind of delirium it was good to get out again. I also made the resolution to work out before going to work. I'll skip tomorrow though and start on Friday!
This was the third cool workout this week, after a long and good gym climbing session on Sunday and an amazing 4.5 mile run on Monday night. I hope to find a climbing buddy for tomorrow evening, or for the weekend to head to Tuolumne.
The ride was also good to clear my head. After spending pretty much all of yesterday in a weird kind of delirium it was good to get out again. I also made the resolution to work out before going to work. I'll skip tomorrow though and start on Friday!
This was the third cool workout this week, after a long and good gym climbing session on Sunday and an amazing 4.5 mile run on Monday night. I hope to find a climbing buddy for tomorrow evening, or for the weekend to head to Tuolumne.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Running...
Almost a week after the Diablo 25k I went for the first run today.
Since I realized that not running hills at all hurt me pretty bad last weekend, I decided to do a loop around the 'Dish', close to Stanford. My legs were still pretty tired, but I guess that not having slept much lately and not eating to well during the past week didn't help either. On the upside: I am definitely looking forward to get more miles in.
A possible race schedule for the rest of the year could be:
Jul 19 Sequoia 20k
Aug 23 Shoreline Park 10k
Sep 12 Palo Alto Moonlight 5k
Oct 05 San Jose Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon
Oct 26 Silly Valley Marathon
We'll see...
Since I realized that not running hills at all hurt me pretty bad last weekend, I decided to do a loop around the 'Dish', close to Stanford. My legs were still pretty tired, but I guess that not having slept much lately and not eating to well during the past week didn't help either. On the upside: I am definitely looking forward to get more miles in.
A possible race schedule for the rest of the year could be:
Jul 19 Sequoia 20k
Aug 23 Shoreline Park 10k
Sep 12 Palo Alto Moonlight 5k
Oct 05 San Jose Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon
Oct 26 Silly Valley Marathon
We'll see...
Restaurants in Moutain View
In an earlier post I announced the goal to eat myself through the restaurants on Castro Street in Mountain View, CA. So where am I in this project? As a start here's a list of all the restaurants in MV... Over time the I hope to get through the list:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)