The kids literally know the ropes now. A milestone of sorts, as the kids are displaying knowledge and skills of climbing independence! (Of course there is still adult supervision.) They know their figure 8 knots, the double fisherman knot, standard climbing commands and communication, safety checks, etc. Emilia even provides beta!
Kids have been learning and developing their climbing skills. Here Emilia climbs an easy 5.5 and her techniques are starting to show. She's been learning dynamic movement, backstepping, flagging, smearing, heel hook.
Check out Emilia's dynamic movements at the start of this climb. Here's a re-play, slow-mo of her two double hand releases and grabs!
Regular climbing sessions and Neil Greshman's Masterclass Videos are paying off.
Showing posts with label athletics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label athletics. Show all posts
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
2015 Spartan Sprint : Hellmecula 2.0 Continued...
The day after the Beast, I went back to run the Sprint (~5 miles) with a co-worker that is new to the Spartan races. Took my camera this time to help document her first Spartan experience!
We spent months discussing back and forth on gear and techniques for the obstacles, so it was really fun re-experiencing the first-time Spartan jitters through her. I think sheer fun is the best way to describe it.
Stopped to capture the scenic view of the race course/venue.
Sled drag.
Sandbag carry. Have to carry a weighted sandbag up and down the hill.
See the line of people on the hill? You carry the sandbag up the hill (right of the photo), around the peak of the hill, and then back down (left of the photo).
Very crowded and slippery mud pits and hills. The Sprint races tend to be more overcrowded.. lines for the obstacles, hard to run fast or pass people, esp on the steep, narrow trails. Not the best for racing for time, but definitely more so about team work and having fun on the obstacles.
A-Frame wall climb in the background.
One of my favorite obstacles cause it's easy for rock climbers, the Z-Wall traverse.
Bucket brigade. Same idea as the sandbag carry --> up and down a hill.
Spear throw. Even though Ryan has this obstacle in our yard for me to practice on, it doesn't matter. I fail this obstacle, every single time. I am 0-5.
Another failed obstacle.. the rig. I was so close, but the 2nd day of racing and my arms had no mo' strength.
At least I got the rope climb.
Nailed the fire jump pose like a boss!
We spent months discussing back and forth on gear and techniques for the obstacles, so it was really fun re-experiencing the first-time Spartan jitters through her. I think sheer fun is the best way to describe it.
Stopped to capture the scenic view of the race course/venue.
Sled drag.
Sandbag carry. Have to carry a weighted sandbag up and down the hill.
See the line of people on the hill? You carry the sandbag up the hill (right of the photo), around the peak of the hill, and then back down (left of the photo).
Very crowded and slippery mud pits and hills. The Sprint races tend to be more overcrowded.. lines for the obstacles, hard to run fast or pass people, esp on the steep, narrow trails. Not the best for racing for time, but definitely more so about team work and having fun on the obstacles.
A-Frame wall climb in the background.
One of my favorite obstacles cause it's easy for rock climbers, the Z-Wall traverse.
Bucket brigade. Same idea as the sandbag carry --> up and down a hill.
Spear throw. Even though Ryan has this obstacle in our yard for me to practice on, it doesn't matter. I fail this obstacle, every single time. I am 0-5.
Another failed obstacle.. the rig. I was so close, but the 2nd day of racing and my arms had no mo' strength.
At least I got the rope climb.
Nailed the fire jump pose like a boss!
Monday, October 5, 2015
2015 Spartan Beast : Hellmecula 2.0
Ryan and I ran the Spartan Beast (13 miles, 30 obstacles) again recently. Harsh conditions again this year, and the race was informally dubbed as Hellmecula 2.0. This was our make-up run from last year's cancellation race. Both of us had started to get back into training mode mid-June, but work, kids, schedules, and unexpectedness of life hindered consistent training. So even with sporadic training, we were able to manage completing another Spartan Beast, in 90+ degree temps.
I am super proud of Ryan on his finish! He placed top 3% overall out of 3,402 racers, top 5% out of all 2,243 male racers, and 6th place for his age group. I can just imagine how he would do if he REALLY trained for this race.
I did not prepare well for this race, with ~two weeks of consistent training after taking most of August rehabbing a rotator cuff injury. I went into this race with low endurance and strength and fully expected to place poorly in all categories. So, all in all, I'm happy with my results, placing in the 25% for women and 28% for my age group, but 50% for overall.
I was planning to retire from doing Spartan races, but I feel I can do better, so maybe one more Beast before I retire. I did back-to-back races again this time, running the Sprint (5 miles) on Sunday for fun with a co-worker. This weekend completed my first Spartan Trifecta for 2015.
The kids unfortunately did not get to run the kids race again because they got sick! So.. looks like our family is not quite yet done with Spartan. We'll have one more hoorah!!
Pre-race photo at entrance to the start line.
Post-race photo at the finish line.
Sandbag carry up and down a hill.
Barb wire crawl.
Fire jump finish!
I am super proud of Ryan on his finish! He placed top 3% overall out of 3,402 racers, top 5% out of all 2,243 male racers, and 6th place for his age group. I can just imagine how he would do if he REALLY trained for this race.
I did not prepare well for this race, with ~two weeks of consistent training after taking most of August rehabbing a rotator cuff injury. I went into this race with low endurance and strength and fully expected to place poorly in all categories. So, all in all, I'm happy with my results, placing in the 25% for women and 28% for my age group, but 50% for overall.
I was planning to retire from doing Spartan races, but I feel I can do better, so maybe one more Beast before I retire. I did back-to-back races again this time, running the Sprint (5 miles) on Sunday for fun with a co-worker. This weekend completed my first Spartan Trifecta for 2015.
The kids unfortunately did not get to run the kids race again because they got sick! So.. looks like our family is not quite yet done with Spartan. We'll have one more hoorah!!
Pre-race photo at entrance to the start line.
Post-race photo at the finish line.
Sandbag carry up and down a hill.
Barb wire crawl.
Fire jump finish!
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
What is Liam thinking?
"My head is so heavy, maybe my shoulder can hold it up..."
"What am I learning? Nevermind! The MMA class is sparring over there!"
"Front row seats to the sparring fight."
"I'm showing respect to the dojo by bowing. Really I am."
"Zzzzzzzz"
"If I sit really still maybe sensei won't call on me and instead tend to the other kid that's not paying attention"
"Okay, getting called all isn't so bad if I get to flip the sensei."
"What am I learning? Nevermind! The MMA class is sparring over there!"
"Front row seats to the sparring fight."
"I'm showing respect to the dojo by bowing. Really I am."
"Zzzzzzzz"
"If I sit really still maybe sensei won't call on me and instead tend to the other kid that's not paying attention"
"Okay, getting called all isn't so bad if I get to flip the sensei."
Monday, September 7, 2015
Young Grasshoppers Have Much To Learn
It's been a week of judo classes! This weekend I observed Liam trying to instigate fights with Emilia by grabbing her arm/shirt and tugging or pushing her. I have also seen Emilia call Liam over for some judo/bjj play, then do a take down with a shirt/arm grab and a leg sweep. Emilia seems to like doing the take downs. Liam seems to like the grappling aspect more.. aka sit on Emilia.
Emilia's attention span in class is decent. She has above average grip strength for a newbie 5-yr-old and can follow instruction well. Liam.. oh my Liam, is just the opposite. He has been called out by the sensei numerous times, has been picked up by the belt and put back into line, put in front of the class for something only to start making faces, sticking out his tongue, rolling his eyes, and having the whole class laugh.
Can you spot the kiddos? (The little kid running back to the L-line just finished doing a demo with the instructor.) Most of the kids are paying attention.. most.
While sensei is teaching/demonstrating, Liam can be found laying down and rolling on the mat, or poking the kid next to him in the head, or turned 180 degrees in the opposite direction of sensei, watching the MMA boxers. Another kid even tried to get Liam to pay attention only to cause a disruption in the class. Luckily the senseis at this dojo are VERY good with kids, but also somewhat strict. The senseis will usually call out the kid, but they will also discipline the kids, put them on time out, have their belts or stripes taken away from them if necessary.
These young grasshoppers have much to learn!
Emilia's attention span in class is decent. She has above average grip strength for a newbie 5-yr-old and can follow instruction well. Liam.. oh my Liam, is just the opposite. He has been called out by the sensei numerous times, has been picked up by the belt and put back into line, put in front of the class for something only to start making faces, sticking out his tongue, rolling his eyes, and having the whole class laugh.
Can you spot the kiddos? (The little kid running back to the L-line just finished doing a demo with the instructor.) Most of the kids are paying attention.. most.
While sensei is teaching/demonstrating, Liam can be found laying down and rolling on the mat, or poking the kid next to him in the head, or turned 180 degrees in the opposite direction of sensei, watching the MMA boxers. Another kid even tried to get Liam to pay attention only to cause a disruption in the class. Luckily the senseis at this dojo are VERY good with kids, but also somewhat strict. The senseis will usually call out the kid, but they will also discipline the kids, put them on time out, have their belts or stripes taken away from them if necessary.
These young grasshoppers have much to learn!
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Little Judokas - Day 1
"Though she be little, she be fierce!" - William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
This was first day of Judo/BJJ class and the kiddos practiced how to throw and how to sweep (not shown). Emilia took to the class pretty well and seems pretty natural at knowing how to shift her body weight in the throw. Liam took a while to warm up. He sat on the side with Ryan to watch the class the first 20 minutes, but after that, he willing joined the class on his own.
Kiddos, esp Liam, do have short attention span. By the time class was almost over, he started getting out of line and wandering around. hehe. I'm looking forward to tracking their progression and see how they do in a few months time.
This was first day of Judo/BJJ class and the kiddos practiced how to throw and how to sweep (not shown). Emilia took to the class pretty well and seems pretty natural at knowing how to shift her body weight in the throw. Liam took a while to warm up. He sat on the side with Ryan to watch the class the first 20 minutes, but after that, he willing joined the class on his own.
Kiddos, esp Liam, do have short attention span. By the time class was almost over, he started getting out of line and wandering around. hehe. I'm looking forward to tracking their progression and see how they do in a few months time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
