ABS Bouldering Competition

So I had things I wanted to get done today... But I went to check out a climbing competition and later decided to enter it instead.  Way to be responsible Kevin.  Way to go!  Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I learned a bit how it all works.  I stuck most of the intermediate routes on my first or second try and a couple of the easier advanced routes but after a couple hours of climbing, I was pretty spent. It made me excited to maybe do future events.  There is one on ropes in November that I might check out and then some early next year.  Don't get me wrong, I am not at all interested in getting way competitive or anything, I am by far not good enough but it is a lot of fun and is a way to help me improve..I think.  Whatever the case may be, it was a good day.  I also met some new climbing friends so if I can get work off on Tuesday, they invited me to go climbing with them. 

This has nothing to do with the competition but are some pictures I stole from Sabra from when we went climbing last Saturday.  Parley's Canyon.

Sabra v10 Sweet picture...better climber

Amanda, Jeremy and me.  Deciding on the routes to set up.  Bottom: Ryan and Amanda.. It started to rain. yipee

...

So this picture really has nothing to do with my post, I just think it is more interesting when you have something to look at.  This is a picture taken this past August in Yosemite.  

Anyway, now completely switching the subject.  This is day one of me not eating sweets ie candy, cookies blah blah blah  No I am not giving them up completely haha yeah right, that is not going to happen but I do consume much much more than I should so I am cutting back just for kicks.. no not even because I am trying to be healthy.  I guess we will see what happens.

On to other entertaining notes, the St. george marathon is coming up soon.  I am quiet excited about it!? I look forward to it every year now just because it is a time to be with and share experiences with my family.  This year my mom is going to run it for the first time.  I ran it for the first time with my dad in 1998...It is now 2008.  It will be his 11th and my 5th St. George Marathon.  Good times.  Other than that I am still hoping to volunteer at Iron Man Arizona this year in November so I can get into it next year.  If that happens, I have a lot to do next year :)  That and a trip to Africa are the two major things I want to do next year.  If other things come my way, I am open for those as well :)  

Yeah so along with my last post, I have had some really fun climbs lately.  Yesterday, I went to the Quarry with Sabra and Ryan and climbed for a few hours.  It was way fun to get on the ropes, though indoors is sure different than outdoors.  Last Saturday, I went out to Parleys Canyon with the same bunch plus some and it was probably the best day I have had since oh a very long while :)  I am hoping to work on my lead climbing so that I can be a better climber for next season.  Anyway good times...and to come!

Messin' around.

So here are a few clips of me messing around at the Quarry climbing gym in Provo. Nothing to incredible but what ev.  I like climbing.  I am slowly getting better.  :)

Provo Marathon Race Report

Well, yesterday I ran the Provo Marathon and I finsished about the same time that I always do, though I do not know for sure because there was no official clock nor did I have a watch nor did anyone tell me when I crossed. The only reason I know is because I asked what time it was when I finished [11:04] And I know that the race was supposed to start between 6:30 and 7. There was only one bus of marathon runners so it was also the smallest race I have run as well. We get up to the start and we have to walk a ways up just so that the race would be 26.2 and there was no offcial starting line? They just had us all behind some beat up truck and then it drove off with a siren going off which I guess meant start because everyone started running. It was kind of cool actually. The first half was really nice. It was cool, beautiful and you had other people running with you. We started up past vivian park and made our way down the canyon with a little loop when we made it to bridalvale falls. The second half sad to say was pretty lame. We came out of the canyon and ran a few loops through the industrial part of the riverwoods and then on the provo river trail and through some parking lots. The aid stations did not have anyone there just a table with some water on it and then was absolutely no one cheering until the absolute finish line. With one exception, at around mile 18 there was a family passing out gatorade and jellybeans. Oh man, those jellybeans were sooooo good. I wish I had taken two cups! Also since it was so small, the second half I was basically running by myself the whole way with exceptions of relay runners blazing by me :) I also love steet signs like. Speed limit 15 miles an hour...If only! or SLOW, its like "Thanks for reminding me" haha Anyway, I finished, got my shirt and medal and I am pretty content right now. Running makes me feel better, and I do not mean physically because I am pretty stiff right now. Anyway, I am going to count this as my training run for St George in October. Plus I didn't feel too lonely doing the marathon after the fact because I found out that my parents were also on a long training run...only I get credit for mine hehe Why run if you don't get credit for it, right? That's my philosophy.

Anyway, to "celebrate" I stopped by a friends party for a little bit and then got PF Changs and a movie and slept. It was nice.....very nice!

New Phone

So after 4 years, I finally had to get a new phone.  It is nice, it takes pictures and slides open.  It'll take some time to get used to but it is probably a good thing.

Back Packing

  "The Diving Board"
So I have not written in over a month and my sister has reminded me of that once again so I thought I should at least write about my backpacking trips.  I left on July 24th to California where we (my dad and nephews) stopped at our cabin for the night.  The next morning my dad went for a run and I woke up to my nephews painting the whole main floor of our cabin with eggs, flour, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, powder sugar and who knows what else.  Not to mention them putting my phone into the "Paint."  [Which by the way, phone is now on its last limb as of today as it is split in half, hanging by  a wire.. 4 years though, not too shabby ...I want an Iphone.. haha like that will happen]  So after cleaning all that up and a little bit of fishing, we continued our journey to CA, eating at In-N-Out and dropping of the boys with mom.  I danced that night in LA and then the next night in Irvine and then stayed up the rest of the  night packing, which by the way I did not give much thought but it turned out that I had the most stellar efficient packing system. Just another little side note.  

So my dad, kyle and Brad and I start backpacking at cotton tree meadows I think on our way up to Whitney.  The night before I did not sleep much as I hiked out in the middle of the night to make some phone calls that barely went through.  I guess it was worth it.. who knows.  Anyway the first day was killer.  It was 14 miles and I was pretty tired.  Brad had a hard time the first day and then after that he did great.  The top of We made it to the top on Wednesday and were up there for a few hours as we had to wait for the whole group to get there which was not taht smart considering it is 14,495 ft.  Anyway, I packed out early on Friday to meet up with some friends and then went with them to Yosemite the next week.  Yosemite was super pretty and a lot of fun.  There was a lot of water to play in and we hiked to some pretty cool lakes and peaks including May Lake, Clouds Rest and Half Dome.  Yep so all in all over two weeks, I did not have to work and probably ended up hiking 130 + miles.  It was not entirely thrilling to come back to reality to tell you the truth.  

Anyway, so a couple of weeks ago I also decided to hike Timp with my friend Ryan.  We almost died going up the glacier but it was fun.  we saw goats and I swam in the glacier lake.

On our way out..Some lady asked if I even knew what a pay phone was.

Looking over the falls

Bouldering the last day of Yosemite.. Crazy awesome!

Hanging over the North face of half dome

Down Clouds rest and up Half Dome

Clouds Rest..we camped on top and watched the Sunset and Sunrise.  I did not sleep much, it was beautiful

Guitar Lake

Swimming in guitar lake..not the only lake I swam in.  I swam across May Lake.. very stupid!

Top of clouds rest.

Top of Whitney