acrophobia

This is where I can be found when I'm not training in Central Park or swimming at the rec center:

bouldering

top-roping

...trying to get over my fear of heights. When I'm climbing my legs are trembling, I'm sweating all over and am giving myself pep talks because I want to give up as soon as I'm more than 3 feet off the ground.  It's a constant emotional/mental/physical battle, but it's invigorating.  And I live for how I feel when reach the top: 1) utter relief (get me down, RIGHT NOW!!!); and 2) proud.  Not unlike the feeling of accomplishment one gets from finishing a race.  I've been climbing at the gym for about 5 months and the goal is to climb High Exposure at The Gunks this Spring.  I still feel faint when I see pictures/videos of people climbing High Exposure.

cape fly away loop

Sunday, March 20 was the perfect day for a hike at Palisades Interstate Park in NJ.  It was a brisk 50 degree day, there was not a cloud in the sky.  I chose the 'Cape Fly Away Loop', which starts at the Alpine Boat Basin, because of the interesting history, waterfalls (I saw 3!) and easy+ rating.  When I get a new toy I can't wait to to use it, so I was really excited to get test out the MotionX GPS app (iPhone4) for the first time.  It was an outrageous $0.99! ;)  Seriously, I don't know why they don't charge more.  I thought it was a great app and would've paid more.  Definitely a quality app.



This is a screenshot of my hike.  Yellow dots are pictures that I took with my iPhone along the way which have been geotagged.

 


GoogleEarth screenshot of my hike.  Check out the detailed info! click to enlarge.

  
And you can upload your hike (track) to GoogleEarth and also share with friends via email, Facebook and Twitter!  I totally recommend this app to anyone who wants to track their run/walk/hike, and some even use it to track their sailboating adventures.  Going to work on learning to use and appreciate all the cool features of this app.  


More pics:
 

Beautiful clear, blue sky

  

Trail head marker.

 

  

Bunker once used to store dynamite.

    

Enjoying the view.

 

Shore Trail runs right along the shore of the Hudson River.

 

 

Mmm.. PB&J sammie for lunch

  

Changed into my VFF Sprints 3/4 into the hike.  It was my first hike in these.  More on this next time.

 As you can see, technically still winter, the trail is barren.  I learned that in the Spring/Summer/Fall the vegetation and foliage is so dense that you can hardly see the river from the Upper Trail portion of the hike.  Must return to experience the full length of the Shore Trail when the park is in bloom and to also visit the Kearney House which is only open to visitors from May to October.  Palisades Interstate Park is a mere 20 minutes from Manhattan and has 30 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to challeging.  Well worth a visit!

introduction

I am in my late 20’s and am fairly new to exercise and adventure sports. 

What took me so long to embrace fitness?  I was a girly girl, scared of everything.  I ducked when a ball was thrown toward me (sometimes accompanied by a squeal); I have a considerable fear of heights and water; I tried snowboarding and then quit because it ‘hurt too much’; I never ran because I couldn't even walk without tripping over my own two feet; pool/beach activity was limited to standing there and splashing around; I avoided participating in team sports because I knew I – for lack of better words – totally sucked, and I didn’t want to let my teammates down. 

I was insecure in mind and body.

It wasn’t until just over a year ago that my zeal for fitness took seed.  I signed up for the 2010 NYC Half Marathon just to see if I could get in through the lottery, and I did.  That was January of 2010 when I Googled "how to run" "how to train for a half marathon" :)  And thus, began my journey toward living a more active lifestyle and making time for work, dating, and other indulgences.  Today, one year post 2010 NYC Half, I have added a handful of short races (10K and under), 3 half marathons and the 2010 Chicago Bank of America Marathon.  I was never a fitness fanatic at heart nor do my flat feet suggest I am genetically predisposed to athleticism.  Today that squeamish girl is determined and realizes that with proper training and willpower, she could/hopefully will attain any fitness goal she sets her mind to.  In that one year, I learned about possibilities and found confidence.

This blog is a platform for me to share my training diary, give honest gear reviews and unleash random fitness style ramblings (because we have to look cute even if we're sweaty and suffering!).  I'm a regular gal with big fitness goals - not a fitness guru by any means.  I hope that new fitness enthusiasts can draw inspiration and learn through my successes, struggles and even failures.  The biggest reward to me would be to learn and gain insight from readers.