Training Log Archive: Kat

Some practice with spin pole today, as well as some improv to four different songs. I made a few videos, one of which is actually decent, but I'm not going to share that with anyone just yet. Maybe in a few months when I actually know how to do something really cool...

Less spinning and more strength stuff because I wanted to give my shoulders a break.

Abs really sore from yesterday, and shoulders feel stretched - need to do some strengthening there to prevent shoulder problems later on since climbing and pole dancing both require hanging by my arms a lot.

Practice on the pole. I did ten minutes of core strength and then practiced various spins, lifts, and climbing. I'm getting better! I can actually do some of the spins now, as well as the leg fan.

orange 5.7 and pink 5.9
pink 5.7 and black 5.8
white 5.7 and blue 5.8
white 5.9 (new, got it!)
red 5.9+ (a couple of breaks, but could do it)
red 5.10a - stuck at same place in the middle
green 5.9 (back room, one fall at the top)
green 5.9 (back room, one break)
pink 5.8 (three breaks, tired)
yellow easy slab route, using legs for the most part
TOTAL: 13 routes

Some practice on the new pole that Boris helped me install in our living room yesterday!

white and black (easy, unrated)
orange 5.7 and pink 5.9
yellow 5.8 (the hard one)
black 5.9- (incline corner)
white 5.9 (one break)
blue 5.8+ (incline room, 1 fall)
purple 5.10B (aborted after beginning)
yellow 5.9 (got almost to top, but kept falling trying to reach a weird hold)
yellow 5.9+ (front room, got about half-way but all crimpy holds difficult)
red V2 + some a couple of other bouldering routes
TOTAL: ~12

Another pole-dancing lesson. This time, four of my friends came, so it was a girls party + dinner afterward. I've gotten a lot better already!

green 5.6 and yellow 5.8+
blue 5.8+ (incline wall)
black 5.10 (incline wall, got about 1/2 way but reachy move impossible)
white 5.8 (back room)
purple 5.7 (hard!)
red 5.10 slab (impossible! needed to cheat a couple of times)
yellow 5.8 (incline)
red 5.10a (front room, got about half-way with a few attempts)
Did a couple of bouldering routes (v2, v1)
Left elbow hurt, almost right from the start. Might have to skip Thursday.

Took my brothers (Aleksey and Daniel) and my mom to Brooklyn Boulders. We did a lot of bouldering, and I belayed each of them a few times. They had lots of fun, and are all pretty talented, mom especially. :)

As for me, I got in a few good climbs! Did three top-rope course plus some nice bouldering routes. V0s feel like a piece of cake, V1s take a little more effort, and I did a V2 and even a V3! This guy kept doing this V3 over and over always failing half-way through, so I asked him if I could give it a try. It seemed like my type of route - lots of little holds and balance/agility required - and it was! Got it on the first attempt. I think the guy was pissed, but another really good climbing chick complimented me on my "pretty" and "spider-like" form of climbing. Yay!

Another pole-dancing class with Amanda. I *loved* our instructor - another former ballerina converted to the art of the pole. :)

Did the Orchard Loop with Rachel this morning, and then went up to the top of East Rock on the way back instead of just heading straight to town. Gorgeous view, and actually the ride up isn't that bad except for one steep part. I felt like my cadence was a lot quicker on average this time, and there was no bonking or feeling tired. My legs feel slightly sore now (several hours later), but that's about the only after-effect. Knees also felt somewhat sore during the second part of the ride; I need to move the cleats a little, and that might make it better.

Went climbing with two different types of Chris tonight - one is a fireman and the other is a painter, and both are awesome. Very fun night.

orange 5.7 and pink 5.9-
pink 5.7 and black 5.8
pink 5.8+ and yellow 5.9
blue 5.10- (got it!!!!!!!!!)
yellow 5.8 (back room)
green 5.9 (back room, 2 breaks)
blue 5.8 (back room, 2 breaks)
blue 5.8 slab (1 break)

A pole-dancing class in Trumbull, CT. Very small group (just four of us) and nice instructor, but not the more organized or energetic session, so I don't think I'll make the 40-minute drive over there again.

orange 5.7 & pink 5.8?
pink 5.8+
blue 5.8 & white 5.7
green 5.10 (break in the middle)
purple 5.8+, incline (impossible! So hard.)
blue 5.9, harder than it should have been
green 5.6+

Some aerobics + strength.

My best friend Amanda and I took an intro pole dancing class. It was awesome! Lots of good moves, really fun, and also really difficult! You have to be able to hold your body weight with your arms while you do all sort of stuff with your legs and lower body. It's really just gymnastics with a pole. Except you get to wear really skimpy clothes. Our instructor was great too - beautiful guy.

C • pole dancing 2

Did the Orchard loop again, this time at a slower pace with Brian. This route is so beautiful, and we pass several orchards at the furthest part of the loop, with apples on the trees! I badly wanted to pick one and eat it, but managed to restrain myself.


We took a couple of short rest stops, and I ate a Gu half-way through, but I felt fine. I even managed to bike up Canner hill on my way home, although it's still *super* steep and hard. I think eating lunch an hour before biking was good, even though I could never do that before a run. Also, my one bottle of Gatorade was not enough. I need to bring two...

Also, progress! I managed to clip in to my pedals without looking! Not all the time, and not always on the fourth try, but it's better.

Weight this morning was around 101, weight after biking was 99.8.