Good LUCK & have FUN !

Just a simple message to the Philippine National Climbing Team

 ...GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN

 out there!!! 

#Asian Cup Thailand !

Nothing Ordinary

It's another start…Finally got the video bug workin'…Here's a short clip on something that could be true for most.  We're not all given the same kind of circumstances that surrounds our daily lives.  While we spend days on end sometimes dreaming of the next climbing trip, we sometimes do not get the time to go out right there and then for whatever reasons. That shouldn't mean we can't give the day something extraordinary or do something about the day feeling surreally slow and uneventful, even for a short while.  Realizing a big dream or a big goal starts with doing small things.  This video is small contribution to that idea.  It's not a training video, but something like a go in between expression and a "how to".  I hope you enjoy !  Ciao !

Tapped

Short for stout words and an overloaded HD and the fact I'm desperately needing a quick pick-me-upper from this unquiet stomach leaves me with just sitting it out, reading, loping around, watching the sun go down and sprinting through the web for something…anything valid…

Luckily I've found this interesting and very simple video, sort of a pick-me-upper thing…got it from Dave Macleod's blog page.   Here's the video…

Simplicity at it's best.  No other way of putting it better … constancy is always one sure key of getting better at anything.  

Beam Me Up Scotty !

It's one of those special days . . . rainy, dark, the biting cold, the wet kind, the time usually best used for a rest day but my mind can't seem to shake off the "sending feel".  The slow days have been really, really good.  I think it started last Wednesday, going thru the motions of the daily grind and then pushing at night in the climbing gym.  Climbing felt like gushing water.  Not the turbulent kind yet strong and powerful like fluid music, it gets to your core and just keeps you moving.  I'm pleased at the progress of my recovery and the gains I've made to my climbing in the last few weeks.  Sad though I can't instantly be  at the crag to uncage everything.  "Beam me up Scotty!", is just way too futuristic.  Bad timing…I've some 3 more months before weather starts to get better.  It's been a busy first half of the year.  Mostly indoors and competitions.  I find myself staring at my fingertips and just start to wonder how nice it will be to get them babies on real rock.  I'm itching to do a project again!  Finally it's back!  A Darth Vadery feel - a presence in the force I haven't felt since . . . it has been too long and now I'm excited to push a little bit fuh-tha.  Sustaining this until the weather gets better will be a challenge !

In the meantime . . . 6 days of work . . .

 Next up . . . the secret formula !

1:07:24

Just like what it says!  I had a feeling the May 1 breeze along the hill sides of Timberland would make a run feel easier and less confronting.  It rained early afternoon and drenched the parched soil.  Cool temps at last ! The small town fiesta also provided the mental boost for the sweet PB.  Nothing like an "eat more, train more" mantra to help me get those legs pumpin'!  Ran a little bit slower on the uphill, 2-3 minutes slower but the legs and knees seem to have adapted a little bit more to the pounding downhill run.  Sshhwweeeetttt ! Nuff of that … back to climbing and counting down to Boulderactive.

Yuji Hirayama, legend.  He will be route setting for the Boulderactive 2012 !!! I've met him during my very first Asian Championships in 2000.  Shared the isolation zone with the guy which is up to this date  one of my fondest moments in competition climbing.  I'm stoked to be meeting him again soon.  He's a new age Samurai for sure ! I'ld like to fancy myself a samurai as well but I think I'm more Ninja . . .

It's time to bring out the secret weapon !!! . . .

Yep… just what the doctor ordered !!! One secret weapon coming up !!!
(something on the MTR billboards in the burrowed tunnels under Hong Kong)

Timmmberrr !!!

That is exactly how I felt on the uphill junket that is “The Wall” on the snakey road up Timberland.  From Greenland to the Timberland Gate turnaround and back…my watch read 01:16:33.  Not sure if that is a good PB but at least it was a record set in good form.   The temptation to stop and walk it was subdued maybe mainly because I had the right motivation to go the distance and push it.  The run was a good one and overall on the Borg Scale it felt like a 13, not really easy, but not too hard that I pant and suck air like a drowning puppy struggling to learn how to swim.  It’s my 2^nd run up that thing and it’s beginning to get comfortable.  Riding up on a roadie feels easier, running up that monster leadens the legs in a short count, 1,2,3,4,5…until you just can’t shake the lactic off and decide to call it quits.  My 1st run up there, I got whooped, chewed up and spitted out. It’s not the best feeling at all.


It’s a 4.1 Km uphill and back for a grand sum of 8.2 Km in 1:16:33. Not to get way too ahead of myself but that is almost 1/10^th of a TNF 100.  O.k. better stop there.  The promise of such a thing is way beyond my goals this year.   Though the height gain is addictive I must say.  Plus the view is fantastic under the dying daylight.  The 6 o’clock habit is beginning to eat me up.  I’ll go for it again and if the PB gets any better it will be worth the write.  But just like what that sport chalet plate number frame I can't get to use on the car because it's too small but is now hanging on the cork board is saying, "I'd rather be climbing."  But again, if it's something I have to do, then it's something I have to do.  Makes sense.


On the bike, the winding  road towards Timberland feels like it’s too short.  The wall has once again begun to feel a little less intimidating.  There is a new route however that have become “My New Wall.”  It goes left before the uphill towards Timberland.  It feels longer and the hardest ascent is towards the last quarter of the ride.  I’m down to my granny and still my legs feel like they're about to shatter and my lungs are about to blow up.  It will be a match for sure.


I’m trying to tie down everything this April.  Do tremendous amounts of climbing, do insanely almost at my limit runs and rides…eating right (almost), drinking just about right (beer and sangria and wine does sound a bit alcholish but if in moderation – burrppp – could be good !).

01:14:16 to San Mateo Landfill Cut-Off

01:16:33 to Timberland Gates

Seasons

The past week has been a quick recovery period.  A time to reflect on what's has gone by and what the future may hold.  For me, like my chalkbag, it's a time to wash up old rags and make them smell like new.  A short hiatus from climbing is indeed an eternity of too much thinking and a lot of open ended personal debates that sometimes are best consumed in moderation.  Well, all is not lost.  I've gained new body pains care of my new found friends.  

I've once again taken the spin doctors for a ride.  Moving near the mountains indeed provides lots of new outlets to burn all excess off.  I'm not talking about fats or calories.  It's always about the mind and keeping it from wandering off too far.  Of course there is also the benefit of getting in the burn.  I've scoped out the new areas I could take runs and rides on.  "Timberland", just by the sound of it rings a very nice tone.  I've visited this area many times before and moving to within a minute's spin is indeed a sweet reward!  The highly inclined, steep section they dubbed "the wall" has always been a main route for me.  A few years back, I joined the Timberland's  "King of the Mountain".  The route is notoriously steep.  I managed to squeak into a 2nd place podium finish for my first uphill competition.  Sweeeeetttt !!!  Well, that was all in the past, around 5 years in the past !  Now in the present though, after riding up that thing again… things felt a little bit different.  I think I slid under too much from the biking but I'm not all too stumped.  After all I'm not aiming for another uphill event.  I'm just in it for the burn.

So, not everyday can be a ride or a run…I've taken out these babies…courtesy of the old "INCA" holds company.  Suspension training !!! I've set-up some hangs and I've tested how they can be used to the max.  Waking up to sores everywhere, I'd say I think I'm getting it handed to me big time.  While I should be doing several sets at a time, I think I did less than what should be done but my body is complaining a bit.  At least I found what's effective.  Not bad for a holiday.  I'll be chalking up these lovely things in days to come.

All is not training mode ! There is time for just sitting back watching the moon, the falling leaves, the vivid colors at sunset…over a beer or two…it's all good.  The seasons change, the leaves on the Mahogany trees are falling.  The lenten season came and went.  I found new friends and am excited to share them but sadly, all is not as happy as I wish it would all end.  I lost a friend.  We lost a friend.  As I got the news a day after Easter…I almost wept.  I have a beer, my 2nd one.  He would have loved sharing his "Grande".  This one's for you Beau !  A toast to the end of seasons and the beginning of new ones…

-fin-

Just to stop you from crying…

Is this cheezy or what !!!

A highly tensioned-off climber at that !  

I'm apologetic when I say I downed a few of these myself…

but not because of the packaging !

Miyagi Style !!!

Training and home improvement are just about everything I do at the moment.  I'm definitely getting stronger, the team is getting stronger, the spirit is high and the outlook, nothing but positive.  Nothing to report from the frontlines though.  I haven't seen outdoor action for weeks!  Everything that has been going on has been happening within the confines of Power-UP TS.  Interval training, campus training, system board training . . . all the good stuff !  I'm a believer in these things !  

While home improvement has also taken much of my time, it also benefits my physical conditioning.  Mr. Miyagi would be so proud!  Wax-on, wax-off!!!  The constant up-down, left-right motion on relatively low resistance, ultra-high repetition motion I've been getting from wood work finishing has been very good for the shoulders and forearms.  Half a day working on woodwork burns so much calorie stores! It's the carpenter's workout!! The only drawback comes from the fumes.  Turpentine, lacquer and all those volatile fumes gets to me like vodka on a cold day!  Lesson - hydrate well when dealing with those things!  I think I lose 5 lbs. of sweat for 4 hours work !!!  I also feel extremely hungry by lunch time!  

If you fancy,  you can drop by the house and do some "training"!

Not good enough . . .

Yep... I guess I got too carried away with being too super positive on the capabilities of the old wide angle extender.  1st a wide open lens blurrs the majority of the image...so you're forced to stop down, use a smaller f-stop.  This becomes very difficult in very low light conditions and taking action shots.  There is a huge compromise on ISO and apperture . . . I hate compromises !  2nd under bright light the lens is subject to huge amounts of glare.  It does become challenging to balance.  On the lighter side, it does present some character that can't be expected from top notch lenses.  It will for sure be a demanding piece of equipment.  I'm not about to throw it away just yet. I still think it can be made use of aside from paper weight.  On hind sight... it's either it's not really good or I'm just sour graping because I still suck on making it work. More practice !  Practice ! PRACTICE ! Better work on it before the Ambongdolan trip !  Here's a few snaps for practice...

Focusing and Unfocusing

Focusing and Unfocusing

It's been close to a month of trying not to go climbing.  It's hard focusing to unfocus on climbing.  The rest has taken me back to running and swimming mostly.  The weather feels right for late afternoon runs and early evening swims.  Although I miss climbing, I must admit that my diversions have been really interesting.  My runs take me along the streets I used to walk on from school as a child.  The trees have really grown, the small flowers from the fire trees line the asphalt streets and the afternoon chill from the late afternoon rain always become good enough inspiration to get out and run.  Swimming at the nearby lap pool also brings a different draw.  Hmm, needless to say there are so many gorgeous things that can be seen pool side.

Of course I'll be going back climbing.  It has to be soon too.  I've a trip that hopefully becomes reality and I want to get really focused on climbing to get fit for it.  It's going to be harder again I'm sure as I've once again drowned in a new kind of high.  I'm sure I'd miss my runs and swims once I switch back to climbing mode.