Boulder Cycling Group

Only Mark Schwab met me for this classic Boulder lunch-time workout. We chatted up the climb for the first 11+ minutes – to the switchback after the Monkey Traverse parking. Mark then hit the gas and I only hung on for another 3 minutes before popping off the back. I still finished to the junction in a respectable 16:14. Last year that would have been a monstrous time.

Mark didn’t have his shoes and had to head back to work, but I went over to the Monkey Traverse. I haven’t climbed at all this year and decided that I wouldn’t try to send the complete Monkey (V4, 5.12a) without a spot. I switched into my slippers and enjoyed the solitude by the climb. It is rare to see no other boulderers here. I got on the start and the moves seemed a bit unfamiliar despite my countless laps on this thing. I got to the first rest a bit tired and wondered if I’d be able to pull off the second section. To my surprise I felt I had lots of reserves of strength. I easily got to the kneelock rest. I was wearing a heart rate monitor for the bike ride and I relaxed here until my heart rate dipped to 98 bpm. Then I sent the final section, feeling really solid until the last few inches.

I switched shoes, hopped on the bike, and rode by up the Amphitheater to get in a bit of a cool down. Halfway down I nearly pulled a Polderman. I came within a couple of feet of hitting a doe and two fawns. It wasn’t that close, though, since I had come to a stop by that point and was just watching the cute little devil. The fawns were small with white spots and dutifully following their mother.

What a great way to lunch your lunch hour (and a half).

Bill