Seattle Bouldering Challenge...

 

 I wake up to the numbers 5:45 showing on my alarm clock in all the darkness. A quick realization that 5:45 is exactly 15 minutes later than it should be for me to get up, I hop out of bed, grab a towel and head for the shower.

While in the shower it dawned on me that my knee, which as little at 10 hours ago was not feeling up for the strains typically put upon it while climbing, was in fact feeling pretty amazing. So much so that I instantly got excited with the idea that I may actually be climbing today and not just driving 3 hours to watch some climbing. 

After packing up my clothes I quickly head down to the car, rush over to Tiffany's to pick everyone else up.  All five of us pack into my car, make the obligatory stop at Starbucks and head for the boarder. The drive down goes quick with only a little hiccup once arriving in the Ballard area where I missed a turn and ended up on the wrong street but with a little driving around found the right street and soon after arrived at Stone Gardens climbing gym.

We find parking around back by the train tracks and head in to register. Once registered we wait patiently for the competition to begin.

The time finally arrives, after announcing the rules of the competition we all move into the bouldering areas and start climbing. The chalk start floating through the air and the plastic holds haven't looked this appealing in a long time. 

The hours go by and everyone climbs the best they could muster that day all the while remembering that even though this is a competition, having fun takes the priority.  

It felt truly wonderful just to climb again.  The last four weeks had been very demoralizing about my future with climbing.  The recent injury to my finger while playing football and the injury to my knee not two days before the competition. The fact that I was climbing at all was refreshing and was giving me hope that I will recover and be able to climb at the same level I was at prior to.

All in all it was a great day for everyone, people left inspired and motivated.

...Pains in Life

In sheer frustration I yell near the top of my lungs "FUCK... FUUUCK"... as I sit in my car, frustrated beyond the ability to form intelligent sentences and keep my thoughts in my head.

...40 minutes earlier I jumped off of an easy climb and landed awkwardly with a pain shooting through my knee...

Instantly I know what the next month or two looks like...
...combined with the injured finger it's looking more and more like a prolonged exile from bouldering... for the first time in 5 years a significant break from climbing has forced it's way into my life... all this work... after all the success I've had this year...

...I guess this is my bodies way of saying it's time to rest... or recuperate..

My only hope is that I will come back stronger than ever before...

*sigh*