Goals

So the weather is still pretty miserable in St. Louis these days. I can’t remember the last time I saw completely dry ground. The worst part is that it is prime bouldering season and I haven’t been able to take an outside trip since New Years. On the upside though, I have been getting to the climbing gym a ton and will hopefully be in prime condition for the Gateway Boulder Bash 2010. This is the annual bouldering competition at Upper Limits (the gym where I climb). Last year I competed in the intermediate category and placed 3^rd in the men’s division. This year I am gonna try my hand at the advanced category (Elite is the highest division). Last year there were about 25 guys competing in advanced, but I have heard that there aren’t as many competitors this year. Either way, my goal is to finish in the top half of the advanced men’s. Well, my goal is actually to place in the top 5, but I would be happy with a top half finish. I know some of the people competing in advanced, but once I know everyone that is competing I will have a better gauge…unfortunately that won’t be until I get there for the comp. My friend Andrew is also competing in advanced this year after not competing last year. Anyway, the competition is next Saturday, February 13. Wish me luck….I will need it!

Speaking of goals and climbing…I never made an official resolution at the beginning of the year. It’s been on my mind lately though, so here it goes.

Before the end of 2010 I want to:

- be flashing V5 on a semi-regular basis

- climb V6 fairly consistently

- have at least five V7s under my belt

- have at least two V8s under my belt (one of them being Numerical Methods)

- have a V9 that I am projecting

I also have a couple of sport climbing goals, but I’m really not as worried about these since my main focus really isn’t on roped climbing:

- Finally red-point Flingin’ Hog (5.11a)

- Climb a route in each of the 5.10 grades I haven’t yet climbed (5.10c and 5.10d)

- Climb in the 5.11 range regularly (5.11a – 5.11d)

These are all some pretty lofty goals...but that's the point right? Anyway, in order to help myself reach some of these goals, I have another goal of getting myself into shape. Besides my regular time at the gym (which I'm trying to increase a bit...4 days a week, minimum), I will be doing core strength workouts twice a week, hangboard workouts twice a week, and I'm going to really try to get back into doing some yoga or pilates. If I do all of this on a regular basis...my climbing will definitely see an improvement.

Another one of my goals for this year is to really dive into the whole photography thing. I believe I mentioned in an earlier post that I got a Nikon D3000 dslr (same as my sister....but I got mine first!). I have been wanting to get into photography for a while now, and now is my chance. Below are some of my photos from Jazz at the Bistro where I work.

Above: The Bad Plus, January 6, 2010

Above: Vijay Iyer Trio, January 20, 2010

Lou Donaldson Quartet, February 3, 2o10

Tonight I went to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to hear Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, the "Eroica." It was quite good. This is the second time I've been to the symphony, but since I get free tickets from my friend Marc, I need to take advantage of the opportunity more often.

So I started this post earlier today, and wouldn't you know it....the ground is now covered in a snowy/slushy/soon to be icy mix. I'm getting sick of this crap, so Janet and Jim...I'm coming to visit!