New Program is Tough

I'm on this new training program is its really tough. I can tell that it helping me out a lot I cant want until I start a new program. Well the program I am on now is really cool because it does a lot of need exercises that I love. Friday the 17th, I helped worked open climb at the Kenosha Y. We weren't all that busy so I got a lot of work done. Around 7pm Roan and Spencer came in to climb. Spencer made it to the top his first climb of the day and he dad was really proud of him; he even got Spencer Bubble Gum. I was really proud of him because it took him only 5 weeks to make it to the top and he did it by him self. Saturday the 18th  was a lot of because I went with my mom to Naperville, IL. I went with her because she as setting up for a meeting at the Westen hotel in Lombard. Our room was on the 18th floor and you could see downtown Chicago from her room. It was really cool to see that. I helped her sent up the Xbox Kinect and made sure it worked. Saturday was a lot of fun all around!! On the 19th, we headed back to Kenosha to set up for a climbing party. After the party I worked on my Eschool so I could catch up. During league I did a bunch of lead climbing to get ready for the competition on the 3rd of march. I worked on lead laps to help boost my mental game. Monday went by really fast, as did Tuesday. But Wednesday was crawling on. Finally it was 6pm and I could climb! We did a really hard climbing work out which included weighted pull ups, weighted climb, one handed bouldering, and lead climbing laps. Thursday at club we were designing our new car that we are going to build for next year. We worked on that and bounced ideas off each other for about 4 hours. Friday was fun because school went by really fast and then climbing was really cool because it was not that busy so I could get some homework done. Around 7pm Spencer and Roan came in and Spencer again made it to the top of the wall on his first try. I am really happy with how is doing and he keeps getting better. Roan made it about 18 ft up the wall and that is the farthest he has made it. Saturday I couldn't wait till 230 because then we got to go to Adventure Rock! While at Adventure Rock we did our warm up and then jumped right into the harder routes. We did a lot of 5.10+ lead climbs. I was really happy with how I did Saturday. After 4 hours of rope climbing we headed into the bouldering cave. In the bouldering cave we did one warm up then started going the V5-V6 routes. A route that I am projecting I got 3 moves farther on. This project route is a V6 or V7 I am really happy with how I am doing because the highest grade I have finished is a V4. I worked on this route for about 3 hours! It was a lot of fun and I am really happy with how I am doing bouldering wise. My grade goes up little by little each week.  Sunday was the start of trying to get Trango Climbing as a sponsor. If you go to there Facebook page and post something about why I should be on their team. This is going on till Thursday, March 1, 2012. I'm competing at VE in Warrenville on March 3 in the advanced category. I cant wait for the season to start and for the regional event!

Training Days Kicking it Hard

Since I had my competition on the 28th of January I took almost a week of recovery due to my back locking up. After a good long day of stretching it slowing started to loosen back up. On the 3rd, I went to the Y and climbed for about 2 hours. Once I completed my climbs, I helped up a good friend learn a bunch of new anchoring system so that he is all ready to go by the time outdoor climbing season comes around in this lovely state of Wisconsin. The 4th was a good day for climbing and a great day for bouldering! Before we left to go to Adventure Rock I worked on my eschool class for about 3 hours. Around 12:30 I headed to the Y to help with a climbing party. Finally 2:00pm comes, we can go to Adventure Rock and we jumped right into the top rope when we got there then into the harder routes that I was unable to completed during the competition. I did a lot of top route and lead climbing. For the day, all the routes were over 5.10+ I was really happy with how I did because I completed the female advanced final route. That really made me happy that I was able to do that route. After a really long day of rope climbing, we headed to the bouldering caves. Aah, the bouldering caves, they gave us a big challenge. We attempted V4 and up due to the fact that the V3s just became to easy. We found this one V6 that is really a ton of fun; we have decided that was going to become our project route for sometime. On the 5th I had league where I took more time to work on my lead climbing. I also helped completed a new 5.9 that we set, its a lot of fun. On the 6th we had rock climbing classes which was fun. On the 8th, I had weight training and a really hard but well worth it. For training I did my warm up and went right in my weighted climbing. For that I did 4 laps with three sets. After weighted climbing, I did weighted pull ups. After everything else was done I did lead climbing laps. Thursday I had Supermilage Club which was really cool because I got to drive the car. On Saturday, we headed to Adventure Rock. While we were there I did 2 hours of roped climbing which we mostly did 5.11s lead and I got alittle more than half way up on them. After my 2 hours of climbing, I headed to the bouldering caves to do alittle more than 3 hours of bouldering. We did mostly V5 and V6 problems. I was getting more than half way up on those to. I was really happy with how everything went this weekend. Sunday I had weight training and climbing league. During climbing league I worked on a bunch of harder routes!! In the next month I will be in Warrenville climbing. One day for training and on March 3rd for their competition. This past week I got news that I was apart of the Powerbars Advisory Board. I am really pyched about being on this board because they make really good products plus this will be my first sponsor.

First Comp of the Season!!

What a way to start off the season! The 21st I spent five hours at Adventure Rock getting in one last really hard day before Quick on the Draw!! The day went really well. I was really happy with how I did because I completed multiple routes that I have been having a hard time with. Some of them I did lead too, so I'm really happy with how things are going a week before the comp! I was able to complete a 5.10+ lead climbing it. That route was one that I have been working on for about three weeks. The 22nd I was able to work on a bunch of little things that still needed to be improved before the competition Saturday. I helped teach classes on the 23rd which was fun because I got to help teach a kid how to belay. For team practice/ meeting, on the 25th, we did a ton of little thing that make a big difference at the competitions. During practice I was able to work on a bunch of hand technique and a bunch of practice lead falls. On the 26th I had finals at school which went really well then I got a massage which afterwards I felt amazing!! The day before that comp I was able to sit and do nothing all day because of school being out, so I got the whole day to relax. Around 4:30 I headed to the y to go swim for about an hour so that I could help my muscles be ready for the comp. After I was done in the pool I had to opportunity to help Roan and Spencer out for a little over an hour. They boys are so much fun and I really enjoy working with them because they help me become a calmer person both on the wall and off the wall. They also gave me a Valentine card which I will keep forever because it will help me remember what they have showed me over time.Saturday morning we left my house at 7 for head up to Adventure Rock, we got there at 7:45. Once the team got checked in we were listening to music and getting ready for climbing. Rules were complete at 830 and we started climbing at 9. I was competing is the advanced disivion. All of my routes were anywhere from a 5.9+ to a 5.11+ both top rope and lead climbing. I was giving 12 different routes mixed with top rope lead climbing and bouldering out of the 12 i completed 5, was about 10 from the top on 4, and was not to far along and the harder routes/problems. I am guessing that some of my routes were higher than 5.11+s. I am happy with how I did considering that 7-13 places were within 500 points of each other. For the day I took 12th place overall. Sunday after the comp, I headed to the Y to do a recovery day to help the body get all back and ready.

Back in the Grove!!

Last couple weeks went great!! On the 5^th I had Supermilage club after school. It was a lot of fun because we finished up the engine and was able to take it out and drive it. I will also be one of the people driving our car because it is so small. Afterwards I went to the Y and set a new route that I am working on. I set a couple routes before that, that I am unable to complete. I am really happy I can set something that gives me a challenge because then it will help me getting better at this sport. On the 6^th I worked on a bunch of homework and then helped out Roan and Spencer when they came. They are really a lot of fun because they really like climbing and each week they get better at it. On the 7^th I worked open climb and then headed up to Adventure rock where I had a really good top rope. I was able to complete a 5.11+ that I have been working on for two weeks now. I completed multiple routes that I have been working on for quite some time. Once I was done top roping for the day I went to the bouldering caves and did about 2 hours of bouldering. I was able to complete a bunch of routes that higher than I normally can climb. I am really happy that I am climbing a lot harder grades and lead climbing harder grades.  On the 8^th I got to learn a bunch of new climbing things. I got to learn how to trad climb and practiced for about an hour with just cams. After I got more comfortable with those, I moved to hexes and stoppers (or nuts). I got pretty comfortable with those too pretty fast because I have an awesome coach that helped me get them right. A couple times he was climbing next to me to show me how to do it right and help me see what was not correct and what was. After all that I spent about 10-15mins taking lead falls to still keep up with that and get back into that grove. On the 9^th we had climbing classes which was a lot of fun because there were learning how to tie their knots. After they did that, they got to learn bouldering and the commands for that. After classes I had a core workout which was hard but it was only my second week into doing my core workouts again. On the 11^th I had a test at school which I got an A on it. After school I went to the Y to do my lifting program which I had gone up in weight for almost everything. My bench press was bumped up 10 pounds to 80 pounds (total which is also 75% of my body weight). On the 12^th I had club which we are so close to being done with our car and then we will be starting a new car. All we have left to put on that car is the body panels and to paint it. I got to go climbing after we finished up club for the day. While I was climbing I was able to complete the routes that I have been working on for a week and half. On the 13^th I worked open climb and helped Roan and Spencer when they came in. They did so good; they both got higher on all of the walls they tried. Saturday I went to Adventure Rock where I was able to get on a bunch of new routes that were set for the High School Competition. I was able to complete seven out the nine I tried and three of them I was able to complete lead climbing them. On Sunday I was did another lifting program which went really well!! For climbing I worked on placing cams and nuts again. Monday I watched a movie on reptiles for a half day which was really cool. Then I went home and relaxed for about 3 hours before I had to go to work and teach climbing classes. Today I a lifting program which I went up 10 pounds again. So I have now benching 90 pounds and can bench 85% of my body weight. I went in to the training mode for rock climbing and did a whole bunch of practice lead falls to get back in to that. Those actually went really well and I was able to complete a bunch of routes lead climbing them. I am really happy with how today went. I also got a new climbing chalk bag that is a grey wolf chalk pot. It is pretty beast looking and I am really happy about it and like it a lot! All photos from the past couple weeks and today have been loaded to facebook and will shortly be uploaded to flickr. This summer should be a great summer because we have planning a trip to Utah to go to Mt. Zion for a week of climbing!! Its going to be blast and I just cannot wait until this trip commes around.

Winter Break

 Christmas break so far has been a lot of fun!! On the 23rd we headed up to adventure rock for about 5 hours. There I was climbing a lot of 5.10s or higher to work on moves and routes that I need to work on that I have been having trouble with. At work I got to help on a 5 year old that has autism for about two hours. He is a lot of fun and I really like to work with him. Working with Roan has really helped me both as a person and a climber. Christmas Eve I helped work the rock wall till 1pm after that I went home and helped my mom bake a bunch of cookies and played games. For Christmas I got a bunch of new jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, a climbing hoodie and three new games for the PS3. On the 26th my mom, older brother, little brother, and I all went to the Harley Davidson Museum. We were there for about 3 hours and then we headed to Fridays Front Row at Miller Park for lunch. We got home about 4pm and then sat down and relaxed after a long day of walking. On the 28th we went to Adventure Rock for about 6 hours. While we were there, I did 3 hours of top rope and lead climbing. While I was top rope climbing I flashed a 5.11- and completed about 85% of a 5.11+. After that I started working on a bunch of climbs that were 5.10+ or higher because I was having a good day. Lead climbing, I completed 90% of a route that I have been projecting for a month before my accident, which is a 5.10+. After a fun and tiring day on the ropes I went to the bouldering caves. In the bouldering caves I spent the next 3 hours working on my bouldering to make sure that it matches my rope climbing (they do). While I was bouldering I completed four routes that I have been working on for a week and half. I am really happy with how I have been climbing lately. All considering its only my third week back climbing after everything went down. My climbing is back to where it was if not higher than it was before my accident. On the 29th, I helped with the installment of a volume at my local rock wall. It looks really cool and looks like it has been there for years. I took a break, some time to relax and figure out what I wanted to do for climbing for the night. The 30th I helped work open climb and help some buddies with learning how to lead climb. New years eve we had open climb and then a new year eve party till 10. They did a simulated countdown to midnight for the kids. At the rock wall we had over 75 people come through in 2.5 hours. On the 1st we headed up to adventure rock where we spent 6 hours climbing. During that time I completed multiple 5.10+ and 5.11s. I just missed flashing a 5.11 lead when my foot slipped off a rock at the top of the route. I was really bummed out about the fall but I am still happy with how I did. I also attempted two other 5.11s that I got half way up on. On the 2nd I didn't do to much but it help my body recover from all of the climbing lately.  Around 430 I headed to the Y to help teach climbing classes then after classes I did a core work out. Today, the 4th, was my first day back at school after school I headed to the Y to do a new work out. I got an hour to sit back and relax before I got to do a harder work out. Nearing the end of my work out I did a bunch of practice lead falls. I am still working on the lead falls to get back in the swing of lead climbing for competitions. All of the photos for the past two weeks have been uploaded and the vidoes will be up by the thrusday night.

Climbing back up to the Top!

This past week went great. Friday I had a half day of school so I got out at 10:15 am. I got to spend the playing a game. I had work from 4pm till 10pm. During that time I worked open climb and after open climb we had a group of Franks Neighbor Program. Saturday I got to go to my brothers work Open House till 11 which was really cool because I got to see all of the things that he gets builds. The things he builds are really cool because alot of it is over 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide. After open house we headed up to Adventure Rock to climb for the next 5 hours. During this time all of the routes that I did were 5.10s or higher. I did five lead routes, two that were easier to warm up and then three 5.10+ that I fall twice on each time. After a day of climbing i went to the bouldering caves to work on drill there. I completed my second V4 (5.12 ). I am really happy with how climbed today because it is only my second week back in to full climbing and I am climbing the same grade as I did before my accident that set me back a month. Sunday we had a birthday party for one of the kids that is on the climbing team. After the party I had a lifting program which went really well and I'm happy with. During league I worked on a lot of technique to help my body rest from the day before. Monday I worked classes after a meeting at school. Wednesday  we did alot of lead climbing to get me back into that and after we did alot of stretching with the team. Thursday I had club with alot of fun because we have to figure out how our shocks are going to fit to the frame so the car does not hit the ground. Friday after school I went out to finish my fundraiser for our Climb-A-Thon. Once I completed that I went to the Y to help work Teen Night and a program that rented the rock wall. Saturday we had 2 parties in the rockwall after open climb then we headed up to Adventure Rock to get our climb on. While we were at Adventure Rock I had like a fun day so that I could just see where I was in my climbing grades. I was climbing 5.10+ to 5.11s consistantly, that makes me slightly above the grade I was climbing before my addicent.  I am really happy with where I climbing because I am climbing at my best. Sunday I had a lifting program that all my weights were raised alittle. I am benching 80% of my body weight. After my workout we had open climb and then league. During league we had our Climb-A-Thon which was alot of fun because I climbed over 650ft. Monday during school we had a sumo-bot competition in one class and in my other class we are building clocks, I have almost done with mine. All pictures of the past two weeks will be posted on both facebook and flickr. Any vidoes have been added to youtube. Check them out. We did alot of bouldering that is really neat to watch.

Awesome Birthday Week!

This weekend was awesome! Thursday was family dinner. Friday we headed up to adventure rock for my birthday. I had so much fun and I was really happy with how I was climbing.  Since my accident I have been off climbing for about two weeks. Friday was my first real day back at it and it went so great. I completed a 5.11 lead three times. I was able to do laps on a 5.9 lead and able to complete multiple 5.10s and 5.11s top rope. I was really happy with how I was climbing for not climbing for some time. Saturday we headed up to CMP Tactical Lazer Tag for an hour and half of an awesome game of lazer tag. The setting was like an Urban Warfare setting. Three of the seven games you had to either plant a bomb or defuse it. It was a lot of fun!! Hoping to go back soon. Sunday we did cake and ice cream and presents. After cake and everything we sat down to play a three hour card game. Monday I worked at the YMCA to help teach climbing classes. Tuesday I had school, in one of my engineering we are creating a clock out of plastic. This is going to be a working clock that we create all of the parts for it. I am recreating the Mustang Logo for my brother for Christmas. These should be done by this coming Friday or the Tuesday after. After school we went out to Nicks Fish Market for dinner by O' Hare airport. Wednesday, the day of my birthday, I continued to work on my clock in my one class and then after school I had team training which was a lot of fun. Thursday in all my classes I got to watch movies about engineering disasters. After school I had club. In club we are building almost like a go-kart that is part of Supermilage. We are putting the body panels back one and reassembling the rear axle. Friday I worked open climb at the YMCA and then during Teen Night I got to complete a Sponsorship application for Power Bar. Saturday I worked Open Climb which was fun because I got to help a friend out on how to complete a certain section of a wall. After open climb we had a birthday party to work which was for one of the kids in our league. He had a lot of fun because he got to show all of his friends what he does when he goes to the Y. After his party we headed up to Adventure Rock for the next 5 hours. While we were at Adventure Rock I had a new program for what we do while we are up there. I ended up doing four warm up routes then did 12+ routes that were 5.10+ or harder. More than half of these routes I onsighted (or completed without ever trying it).I am really happy with that considering this is only my second week back to my normal schedule.  Sunday we headed to Verizon to check out a new phone for me then head to the Y to do an upper body work out. After my workout I got to sit down and relax for a little while till I had to do a hard training day on the wall. All my photos and videos have been added to facebook, YouTube and my flickr account. Check them out and see all of the cool routes that I have been doing lately.