What? The Big Lebowski at the Grand Illusion Cinema. The places is ours for the afternoon to enjoy this old favorite on the big screen. Also! Special bonus! We'll be screening "Third Days Child" - the popular short from the Scifi shorts film festival by local filmmaker SJ Chiro. If you missed out then, this is your chance to see it!
When? Sunday, March 21st. 1-4pm.
Where? The Grand Illusion Cinema is in the U District at 1403 Northeast 50th Street
Why? As you know if you've been reading this blog, I've signed up for the crazy challenge of climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro in September and raising money for a British charity called Volunteer Services Overseas (http://www.vso.org.uk/) on the way. The money I'm raising is going to fund projects such as HIV education efforts and giving people the knowledge and tools to build secure livelihoods.
Cost? Well, like I just said this is a fundraiser! Tickets are just $5 if you come wearing a bathrobe, or $7 if you don't. Donations beyond that are very welcome and very appreciated as the proceeds are going to charity.
Snacks? Free popcorn comes with your ticket! You're welcome to bring any other snacks you want.
Drink? You're also welcome to bring drinks. I would love to find a few people willing to donate vodka and/or coffee liqueur to the cause of having white russians on hand for the event. Please let me know - if we can procure the ingredients without eating into the proceeds, I'll make sure there are white russians there.
Anything else? As this is a fundraiser I'm trying to fill every seat, because every ticket sold means more money going to the charity. So PLEASE RSVP. Tell your friends! Tell their friends! Just let me know how many people are coming since their are only 70 seats in the cinema. If you learn you can't make it, please let me know so I can try to get someone else into your seat.
TL;DR? Big Lebowski at the Grand Illusion, in support of a great cause. Tickets are $5 or $7 depending on your attire and come with popcorn. If you can donate booze, let me know. RSVP and tell your friends!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Triumph of the will. More or less. Kind of. Ish.
While I've had my scheduling issues, today was the first day where I planned to go to the gym and when the time came I just sat there saying "I don't feel like it." That continued for quite some time but I did eventually find the gumption, made easier by knowing I'm only hurting myself and would only be more upset with myself if I bailed. So I went. And while I didn't have the time or energy for a full workout, at least I did something and didn't let myself down. Especially important now that I have my first donor signed on to the "Sponsor my gym visits!" donation system of $1 per gym visit to help keep me motivated to push myself as much as possible.
Metrics:
Miles biked: 1.2 uphill
Miles jogged: .8 continuously, 1.55 total
Feb gym visits: 4
Also I got the ok from the director to show one of the better-received shorts from the Scifi shorts film festival at my Grand Illusion fundraiser. Just need to work out the logistics. Exciting! For that I'm currently leaning toward the Big Lebowski purely because the Egyptian is doing it as their midnight movie on the 26th, so if I do it on the 21st I can still snag people but if I wait until the month after interest will surely be more limited. Now if only I could figure out how to serve white russians for extra fundraising without breaking state liquor laws.
Metrics:
Miles biked: 1.2 uphill
Miles jogged: .8 continuously, 1.55 total
Feb gym visits: 4
Also I got the ok from the director to show one of the better-received shorts from the Scifi shorts film festival at my Grand Illusion fundraiser. Just need to work out the logistics. Exciting! For that I'm currently leaning toward the Big Lebowski purely because the Egyptian is doing it as their midnight movie on the 26th, so if I do it on the 21st I can still snag people but if I wait until the month after interest will surely be more limited. Now if only I could figure out how to serve white russians for extra fundraising without breaking state liquor laws.
Monday, February 22, 2010
I've never climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. That's kind of the point of this whole challenge. But I should recognize that pretty much no one reading this, with a very few possible exceptions, has climbed Kilimanjaro either. And so, when I say things like "the tallest free-standing mountain in the world" I'm not sure that sinks in. Especially coupled with descriptions like "non-technical" and "you don't need mountaineering experience" because, while both of those are true, I think they leave one with the impression of just a kind of long hike. And my own blog name is an allusion to that - it's just a long walk up a big hill, right? Well, figures vary wildly on the overall sucess rate but it seems pretty safe to say that about 40% of people who go up don't make the summit. Why? In addition to simply underestimating the mountain, altitude, altitude, altitude. To paraphrase Brian, it's a mile more than Mt Ranier, the most dominating thing in the Seattle skyline. Straight up. I noticed that everyone takes care to say you only spend enough time to take pictures at the top, and the below entry explains why. Between the temperature and incredibely thin air, It's actually dangerous to stay there for long. Congratulations! You made it! Now get the hell out of here.But, again, I've never done it. I can't speak to it. I can just read and talk to people. Below is a pretty descriptive account of the day on the trek when you summit. The longest day of the expedition. We'll be doing the Rongai route, which joins the Marangu route for summiting.
Source
Kilimanjaro Climb on the Marangu Route - Day 4(= Day 5 of the Rongai route)
I hope you arrived at Kibo Huts early enough to get plenty of rest. (Rongai route climbers will have, Marangu route climbers may not...).
Your day pack should be ready with everything you will need tonight: rain gear if you aren't wearing it anyway, enough water, hand warmers, balaclava... You should have fresh batteries in your head torch and camera and you should already be wearing the right clothes. Make sure everything you are wearing is bone dry!
This day will likely go down in your memory as the most physically challenging day in your whole life. Likely it will also be one of the earliest starts you ever made...
Your guides will wake you up some time between 11.00 and 11.30 pm. There will be some hot drinks and maybe some food, but mostly it's a matter of crawling out of your sleeping bag, putting on a few more layers of clothes, your boots and your head torch. Grab your day pack and off you go... Around midnight or not long after.
As you emerge from between the Kibo Huts you will see strings of little lights. They are the head torches of the climbers ahead of you, and as you continue through the night they will also appear behind you.
All those groups of little lights are moving in slow motion, following the path snaking back and forth, back and forth, up the steep scree slope that is the side of Kibo Peak. It's actually rather pretty. Whether you'll be able to appreciate it is a different question...
As steep as the slope is, due to the many switchbacks the path itself isn't all that bad. However, nothing's easy without oxygen and the air is incredibly thin, getting thinner all the time.
You may feel horrible and the fact that this is supposedly the easier path to the Kilimanjaro crater rim will offer little consolation...
Take all the time you need and for goodness sake don't let anyone pressure you into moving faster than you feel comfortable to. Steady, steady, one tiny little step after the other.
Other groups overtaking you? Let them go!
It doesn't matter if you reach Uhuru Peak or even the rim in time for sunrise. It only matters that you reach it and that you will be able to get back down safely! You can not move too slowly on Kilimanjaro.
The people who do not feel the effects of the altitude are few and far between. Hopefully the worst you have to deal with is a headache and the occasional wave of nausea. Throwing up is not as uncommon as you might hope and is no reason for concern. (It's just awful...)
There are several landmarks that you will likely use as resting points and that break up the slog:
Williams Point (you'll notice a big rock, or maybe you won't notice...) marks the 5000 m line (16400 ft). The Hans Meyer Cave lies at 5150 m (16900 ft), about two and a half hours from Kibo Huts.
It's impossible to have long breaks in these temperatures. The cold starts creeping into your hands and feet first, then into your whole body. The next section of switchbacks is the most exposed, and if it happens to be a windy night you'll feel it badly.
Another one and a half hours after leaving the cave you start noticing rocks on the path, breaking your steady rhythm and requiring bigger steps. Some are also a bit slippery and you have to watch your step. The area is called the Jamaican Rocks. (There are several stories as to why...)
This is the most difficult part of the climb, but take heart, Gilman's Point is not far now! It will take about another hour.
If you are among the slower climbers, don't worry. The break of dawn invariably provides a much needed boost of energy for those last metres, and before you know a sign will be welcoming you to Gilman's Point, at 5681 m/18640 ft. At least that's what the sign says. It is actually a bit higher than that. Anyway...
Climbing the Marangu route you reach the Kilimanjaro crater rim at Gilman's Point
Congratulations to you, for you have done well!!
The park authorities will reward you with a certificate, even if you decide not to continue along the crater rim past the glaciers to Uhuru Peak.
If you want to continue, it's another hour and a half or so along the crater rim to reach Uhuru Peak. And even though most consider the climb up to Gilman's the hardest part, the walk around the rim can prove challenging, too.
The more time you spend at this extreme altitude, the more you will feel it. Uhuru Peak is another 200 m higher, and believe me, 200 m make a difference at this height.
The first part of the rim walk is the easier part, but once you pass Stella Point the path leads uphill again. (Stella Point is at 5752 m/18171 ft and is the point where the other climb routes reach the rim.) The path may not look steep, but by now every step uphill can be a battle...
To get to Uhuru Peak and back allow another three hours that may turn out tougher than you expected.
(Mind you, for other people it's a breeze, but it's certainly better to be prepared for the worst and find it easier than expected, than the other way around.)
Congratulations again. What you just accomplished is truly impressive and no matter what you expected, the reality of it will be totally different. Some people get very emotional, some are on a big high, some are so dazed, they barely take any notice at all... There is no way to describe or imagine the experience of climbing to nearly 6000 m altitude.
It's time for hugs and photos. There won't be time for much else, because it will be too cold and also too dangerous to remain at this altitude for more than a few minutes.
You probably don't have the tiniest little bit of energy left now. Well, guess what? The day has only begun and it's another long day...
You now have to drag yourself back to Gilman's Point. From there it's nearly 1000 m down, down, down... Until you get back to Kibo Huts. The descent is cruel on the knees and you will appreciate the walking poles!
If you scree run then this isn't too bad. It's actually quite fun. And fast! But pity those who have to stagger back down the same way they came up, switchback for painful switchback...
Lunch should be waiting for you at Kibo Huts. You just want to collapse and sleep; you can not imagine getting up from that chair again. But after what you have done to your body today it is not safe to remain at this altitude. You have no choice but to pack up your gear and keep going, the sooner the better. Three more hours to Horombo Huts...
What will happen now is something of a miracle. Because as you descend further there will be air again. Oxygen! Lots of it!
Oxygen is life and that is exactly what will be injected back into you. You may not believe this now, but there is a good chance that after another three hour descent you may feel better and have more energy than you did at lunch time.
Dinner is often a much livelier affair, with everybody's eyes shining as they recount the experiences of the day. And I have no doubt that you will sleep well tonight!
Source
Kilimanjaro Climb on the Marangu Route - Day 4(= Day 5 of the Rongai route)
I hope you arrived at Kibo Huts early enough to get plenty of rest. (Rongai route climbers will have, Marangu route climbers may not...).
Your day pack should be ready with everything you will need tonight: rain gear if you aren't wearing it anyway, enough water, hand warmers, balaclava... You should have fresh batteries in your head torch and camera and you should already be wearing the right clothes. Make sure everything you are wearing is bone dry!
This day will likely go down in your memory as the most physically challenging day in your whole life. Likely it will also be one of the earliest starts you ever made...
Your guides will wake you up some time between 11.00 and 11.30 pm. There will be some hot drinks and maybe some food, but mostly it's a matter of crawling out of your sleeping bag, putting on a few more layers of clothes, your boots and your head torch. Grab your day pack and off you go... Around midnight or not long after.
As you emerge from between the Kibo Huts you will see strings of little lights. They are the head torches of the climbers ahead of you, and as you continue through the night they will also appear behind you.
All those groups of little lights are moving in slow motion, following the path snaking back and forth, back and forth, up the steep scree slope that is the side of Kibo Peak. It's actually rather pretty. Whether you'll be able to appreciate it is a different question...
As steep as the slope is, due to the many switchbacks the path itself isn't all that bad. However, nothing's easy without oxygen and the air is incredibly thin, getting thinner all the time.
You may feel horrible and the fact that this is supposedly the easier path to the Kilimanjaro crater rim will offer little consolation...
Take all the time you need and for goodness sake don't let anyone pressure you into moving faster than you feel comfortable to. Steady, steady, one tiny little step after the other.
Other groups overtaking you? Let them go!
It doesn't matter if you reach Uhuru Peak or even the rim in time for sunrise. It only matters that you reach it and that you will be able to get back down safely! You can not move too slowly on Kilimanjaro.
The people who do not feel the effects of the altitude are few and far between. Hopefully the worst you have to deal with is a headache and the occasional wave of nausea. Throwing up is not as uncommon as you might hope and is no reason for concern. (It's just awful...)
There are several landmarks that you will likely use as resting points and that break up the slog:
Williams Point (you'll notice a big rock, or maybe you won't notice...) marks the 5000 m line (16400 ft). The Hans Meyer Cave lies at 5150 m (16900 ft), about two and a half hours from Kibo Huts.
It's impossible to have long breaks in these temperatures. The cold starts creeping into your hands and feet first, then into your whole body. The next section of switchbacks is the most exposed, and if it happens to be a windy night you'll feel it badly.
Another one and a half hours after leaving the cave you start noticing rocks on the path, breaking your steady rhythm and requiring bigger steps. Some are also a bit slippery and you have to watch your step. The area is called the Jamaican Rocks. (There are several stories as to why...)
This is the most difficult part of the climb, but take heart, Gilman's Point is not far now! It will take about another hour.
If you are among the slower climbers, don't worry. The break of dawn invariably provides a much needed boost of energy for those last metres, and before you know a sign will be welcoming you to Gilman's Point, at 5681 m/18640 ft. At least that's what the sign says. It is actually a bit higher than that. Anyway...
Climbing the Marangu route you reach the Kilimanjaro crater rim at Gilman's Point
Congratulations to you, for you have done well!!
The park authorities will reward you with a certificate, even if you decide not to continue along the crater rim past the glaciers to Uhuru Peak.
If you want to continue, it's another hour and a half or so along the crater rim to reach Uhuru Peak. And even though most consider the climb up to Gilman's the hardest part, the walk around the rim can prove challenging, too.
The more time you spend at this extreme altitude, the more you will feel it. Uhuru Peak is another 200 m higher, and believe me, 200 m make a difference at this height.
The first part of the rim walk is the easier part, but once you pass Stella Point the path leads uphill again. (Stella Point is at 5752 m/18171 ft and is the point where the other climb routes reach the rim.) The path may not look steep, but by now every step uphill can be a battle...
To get to Uhuru Peak and back allow another three hours that may turn out tougher than you expected.
(Mind you, for other people it's a breeze, but it's certainly better to be prepared for the worst and find it easier than expected, than the other way around.)
Congratulations again. What you just accomplished is truly impressive and no matter what you expected, the reality of it will be totally different. Some people get very emotional, some are on a big high, some are so dazed, they barely take any notice at all... There is no way to describe or imagine the experience of climbing to nearly 6000 m altitude.
It's time for hugs and photos. There won't be time for much else, because it will be too cold and also too dangerous to remain at this altitude for more than a few minutes.
You probably don't have the tiniest little bit of energy left now. Well, guess what? The day has only begun and it's another long day...
You now have to drag yourself back to Gilman's Point. From there it's nearly 1000 m down, down, down... Until you get back to Kibo Huts. The descent is cruel on the knees and you will appreciate the walking poles!
If you scree run then this isn't too bad. It's actually quite fun. And fast! But pity those who have to stagger back down the same way they came up, switchback for painful switchback...
Lunch should be waiting for you at Kibo Huts. You just want to collapse and sleep; you can not imagine getting up from that chair again. But after what you have done to your body today it is not safe to remain at this altitude. You have no choice but to pack up your gear and keep going, the sooner the better. Three more hours to Horombo Huts...
What will happen now is something of a miracle. Because as you descend further there will be air again. Oxygen! Lots of it!
Oxygen is life and that is exactly what will be injected back into you. You may not believe this now, but there is a good chance that after another three hour descent you may feel better and have more energy than you did at lunch time.
Dinner is often a much livelier affair, with everybody's eyes shining as they recount the experiences of the day. And I have no doubt that you will sleep well tonight!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Some things come first
Ok, so one drawback of signing up for a non-24 hour gym: they close at 7pm on weekends, which I decided was ok because I would make it enough of a priority to plan my day around.
But today filial piety took precedence, and what I thought was going to be a quick lunch with my mom turned into an epic condo-viewing day that lasted just long enough to stop me from heading to the gym. Ah well. Just need to try to make sure that's the exception rather than the rule I guess.
On the plus side I walked about 6.5 miles yesterday, so it hasn't been an entirely slothful weekend.
Also! I've got vague plans of throwing a garage sale when the weather gets nicer, and am accepting donations now of things to sell. If you find yourself facing a closet of stuff to donate, consider donating it to me first, and I'll make sure anything that doesn't get sold still gets donated to charity.
But today filial piety took precedence, and what I thought was going to be a quick lunch with my mom turned into an epic condo-viewing day that lasted just long enough to stop me from heading to the gym. Ah well. Just need to try to make sure that's the exception rather than the rule I guess.
On the plus side I walked about 6.5 miles yesterday, so it hasn't been an entirely slothful weekend.
Also! I've got vague plans of throwing a garage sale when the weather gets nicer, and am accepting donations now of things to sell. If you find yourself facing a closet of stuff to donate, consider donating it to me first, and I'll make sure anything that doesn't get sold still gets donated to charity.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Goals at the gym
I jogged a mile straight!
That's right, I have already met my first goal. What I had always seen as a huge challenge actually proved to be totally attainable, faster than I thought once I was actually motivated enough to do it. Of course that means now that I have reached the arbitrary goal I had set for myself as a marker of being at least vaguely in shape enough to actually get in shape, I probably need to figure out a more rigorous and goal-oriented training plan.
On a side note, I found the scale at the gym, and while this is not my primary goal I do want to lose at least 15 pounds. That's not entirely un-Kilimanjaro related. The porters won't be carrying my extra flab up the hill, so it's definitely in my best interest on that one.
Metrics:
Miles jogged: 1 continuously, 1.6 total
Miles biked: 1.25 uphill
Inclined crunches: 50
That's right, I have already met my first goal. What I had always seen as a huge challenge actually proved to be totally attainable, faster than I thought once I was actually motivated enough to do it. Of course that means now that I have reached the arbitrary goal I had set for myself as a marker of being at least vaguely in shape enough to actually get in shape, I probably need to figure out a more rigorous and goal-oriented training plan.
On a side note, I found the scale at the gym, and while this is not my primary goal I do want to lose at least 15 pounds. That's not entirely un-Kilimanjaro related. The porters won't be carrying my extra flab up the hill, so it's definitely in my best interest on that one.
Metrics:
Miles jogged: 1 continuously, 1.6 total
Miles biked: 1.25 uphill
Inclined crunches: 50
Upcoming Events!
Many more details to come as we get closer but in exciting news I've confirmed venues and dates for two upcoming fundraisers, so set your calendars for what promise to be fun times for a good cause!
Sunday March 21st: 1-4pm for a movie at the Grand Illusion. I'm currently soliciting suggestions for movies that would sell out the 70 or so seats. I'm leaning toward something highly visual that goes better on a big screen.
Some brainstorming:
Die Hard (or Live Free or Die Hard)
Amelie
Moulin Rouge
Bladerunner
The Matrix
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Room
Star Wars
Clue
Wall-E
K2
Reign of Fire
Totoro
Monday April 12: Pub Quiz at the Blarney Stone! It's three of my favorite things all at once - beer, trivia, and raising money for charity. There will be prizes! Also soliciting donations of prizes or suggestions or what would be suitable, otherwise we'll be using some of the proceeds as a prize which will be easy but will reduce the amount that goes to VSO.
Sunday March 21st: 1-4pm for a movie at the Grand Illusion. I'm currently soliciting suggestions for movies that would sell out the 70 or so seats. I'm leaning toward something highly visual that goes better on a big screen.
Some brainstorming:
Die Hard (or Live Free or Die Hard)
Amelie
Moulin Rouge
Bladerunner
The Matrix
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Room
Star Wars
Clue
Wall-E
K2
Reign of Fire
Totoro
Monday April 12: Pub Quiz at the Blarney Stone! It's three of my favorite things all at once - beer, trivia, and raising money for charity. There will be prizes! Also soliciting donations of prizes or suggestions or what would be suitable, otherwise we'll be using some of the proceeds as a prize which will be easy but will reduce the amount that goes to VSO.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Conspicuous lack of gym post here
I started this week thinking the working out was going great but very apprehensive about the fundraising. However, as the week has progressed, people have repeatedly proven their generosity, and I'm farther along on that front than I ever hoped to be by now. I'm also finalizing details for an upcoming Pub Quiz and an upcoming movie night (Big Lebowski, in a theater, white russians and bathrobes welcome, anyone?). So that front is going swimmingly!
But it's already Wednesday evening and I haven't had a single workout this week- I wanted to establish Tuesday and Thursday + 1 weekend day as my default workout days, knowing the importance of routine in making things happen. Those are also the days that Judy is in class until late. But Tuesday had too many things going on so I told myself Wednesday would do. Now it's Wednesday evening and once more I'm telling myself "tomorrow." I know that things will come up, but I need to find a way of not letting that totally derail my workout routine or this will simply not work. It is both good and bad that time is on my side, in this sense.
I found out an old coworker has trekked up Kilimanjaro. I look forward to talking to him on Friday for a more personal account of how to prepare and what to expect.
But it's already Wednesday evening and I haven't had a single workout this week- I wanted to establish Tuesday and Thursday + 1 weekend day as my default workout days, knowing the importance of routine in making things happen. Those are also the days that Judy is in class until late. But Tuesday had too many things going on so I told myself Wednesday would do. Now it's Wednesday evening and once more I'm telling myself "tomorrow." I know that things will come up, but I need to find a way of not letting that totally derail my workout routine or this will simply not work. It is both good and bad that time is on my side, in this sense.
I found out an old coworker has trekked up Kilimanjaro. I look forward to talking to him on Friday for a more personal account of how to prepare and what to expect.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The climb
I've spent most of my energy thus far focusing on raising money and getting into shape, but ultimately the reality I have to prepare myself for is the actual mountain - Kilimanjaro.
Got this link from Phil. While there are many accounts of the mountain, and I hope (but have no reason to think I will) have fewer issues with, eg, altitude sickness than the person highlighted, the NY Times provides an interesting interactive visual of the trek itself that I think some might shed some light on the task at hand. It is a sobering account and reminder of just how serious and challenging the task ahead is.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/26/magazine/20071028_KILIMANJARO_GRAPHIC.html
Got this link from Phil. While there are many accounts of the mountain, and I hope (but have no reason to think I will) have fewer issues with, eg, altitude sickness than the person highlighted, the NY Times provides an interesting interactive visual of the trek itself that I think some might shed some light on the task at hand. It is a sobering account and reminder of just how serious and challenging the task ahead is.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/26/magazine/20071028_KILIMANJARO_GRAPHIC.html
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Enormous thank you
A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far, but I also wanted to specifically thank the anonymous person who just donated £500. Your generosity is amazing and incredibly appreciated. I am touched.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Gym 2: Electric Bugaloo - also Bon Jovi!
Surprisingly good workout today. It was supposed to be workout #3 but other things came up on Thursday and I let it slide. Just goes to show even early in the training schedule, when enthusiasm is high, I can't be lax about making myself go.
But today went very well. I created a new Pandora station to make sure I have the right motivating tunes, and I got all the machines to do what I wanted them to. More importantly, I ran 3/4 of a mile, then walked .1, then ran another 3/4 of a mile. This was shocking to me. I think in the last ten years or so I have maybe been able to jog a mile straight just 2 or 3 times, and if I recall correctly I threw up afterwards. So while for some such a small distance isn't even worth mentioning, to me, getting anywhere near that is huge.
That means I have my first goal in my training schedule: run a mile, straight.
Metrics for today:
Distance run without stopping: 3/4 mile. Total, 1.6 miles
Miles biked: 1.5, but "uphill"
As I get into more weights into my regimen I might start to add metrics around weights/reps, but for now I don't have enough consistency in the program to make that meaningful.
Also! I'm giving away Bon Jovi tickets for next Saturday's show. Contact me if you're interested!
But today went very well. I created a new Pandora station to make sure I have the right motivating tunes, and I got all the machines to do what I wanted them to. More importantly, I ran 3/4 of a mile, then walked .1, then ran another 3/4 of a mile. This was shocking to me. I think in the last ten years or so I have maybe been able to jog a mile straight just 2 or 3 times, and if I recall correctly I threw up afterwards. So while for some such a small distance isn't even worth mentioning, to me, getting anywhere near that is huge.
That means I have my first goal in my training schedule: run a mile, straight.
Metrics for today:
Distance run without stopping: 3/4 mile. Total, 1.6 miles
Miles biked: 1.5, but "uphill"
As I get into more weights into my regimen I might start to add metrics around weights/reps, but for now I don't have enough consistency in the program to make that meaningful.
Also! I'm giving away Bon Jovi tickets for next Saturday's show. Contact me if you're interested!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Kicking off the fundraising with a night at the symphony!
I cannot raise $6500 without your generous support. I know that this is a hard economy to be asking for money in, and I also know that non-profits are some of the first to feel the strain of that, so it is times like this when donations are more important than ever. If you think you could even begin to consider any size of donation, please read this post for some background on who I'm raising money for and why.
As an extra incentive and an extra thank you as I kick off my fundraising in earnest, I have two tickets to the Friday, February 19th 8pm Seattle Symphony concert (Seattle Pops: A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim) for the top donor in the next week, if they want them, if I can raise at least $100 by EOD Thursday the 18th.
You can donate and see the status of my fundraising at my justgiving page: http://original.justgiving.com/jessicablat
Donations of any size are very welcome and very appreciated. Thank you.
As an extra incentive and an extra thank you as I kick off my fundraising in earnest, I have two tickets to the Friday, February 19th 8pm Seattle Symphony concert (Seattle Pops: A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim) for the top donor in the next week, if they want them, if I can raise at least $100 by EOD Thursday the 18th.
You can donate and see the status of my fundraising at my justgiving page: http://original.justgiving.com/jessicablat
Donations of any size are very welcome and very appreciated. Thank you.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Cause
Or, why you should support my trek
Or, where the money goes
I have signed up for the daunting task of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in early September, but the much more important and possibly much more ambitious part of the challenge is the pledge to raise £2,500 (about $4,000 USD) in support of VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas).
This trek is a tremendous challenge and amazing adventure, but more importantly it's in support of a charity that is making a difference in the lives of those people living in the shadow of the mountain, where over half the population lives below the poverty line. VSO is a volunteer-based development charity, where people can volunteer in overseas skill-based opportunities, bringing their knowledge or skills to local organizations working to improve the lives of the people they serve. For example, VSO Tanzania aims to reduce poverty by focused and dedicated projects to improve access to, quality and relevance of education and HIV and AIDS services and to strengthen the ability of disadvantaged people to make a viable living. Your donation is not going into food or clothes, rather you support projects that help make a lasting difference to the people in Tanzania.
The money you donate can help volunteers fight global poverty and disadvantage.
£50: provides HIV and AIDS training for a VSO volunteer to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in local communities throughout Zambia.
£250: helps a VSO volunteer to train 20 local teachers in special teaching methods and in the management of Special Needs Units in Kenya in order to support children with disabilities.
£1000: helps to fund a community-initiated project in The Gambia that, with the support of a VSO volunteer, could help to set up small enterprises run by local communities.
I will be donating £2,500 regardless of whether it comes from donations or out of my own pocket, which should be some indication of my dedication and also of how much I appreciate any support you can give. In fact, while that is the minimum amount I will be either raising or donating, my actual goal is £4,000 (about $6,500 USD). The money I raise is all going to VSO, not toward the travel expenses of the trip to Africa and up the mountain.
I'm grateful for donations of any and all sizes so please know that any amount is welcome. If you are willing to donate, the easiest way to do so is at my justgiving page: http://original.justgiving.com/jessicablat
Or, where the money goes
I have signed up for the daunting task of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in early September, but the much more important and possibly much more ambitious part of the challenge is the pledge to raise £2,500 (about $4,000 USD) in support of VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas).
This trek is a tremendous challenge and amazing adventure, but more importantly it's in support of a charity that is making a difference in the lives of those people living in the shadow of the mountain, where over half the population lives below the poverty line. VSO is a volunteer-based development charity, where people can volunteer in overseas skill-based opportunities, bringing their knowledge or skills to local organizations working to improve the lives of the people they serve. For example, VSO Tanzania aims to reduce poverty by focused and dedicated projects to improve access to, quality and relevance of education and HIV and AIDS services and to strengthen the ability of disadvantaged people to make a viable living. Your donation is not going into food or clothes, rather you support projects that help make a lasting difference to the people in Tanzania.
The money you donate can help volunteers fight global poverty and disadvantage.
£50: provides HIV and AIDS training for a VSO volunteer to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in local communities throughout Zambia.
£250: helps a VSO volunteer to train 20 local teachers in special teaching methods and in the management of Special Needs Units in Kenya in order to support children with disabilities.
£1000: helps to fund a community-initiated project in The Gambia that, with the support of a VSO volunteer, could help to set up small enterprises run by local communities.
I will be donating £2,500 regardless of whether it comes from donations or out of my own pocket, which should be some indication of my dedication and also of how much I appreciate any support you can give. In fact, while that is the minimum amount I will be either raising or donating, my actual goal is £4,000 (about $6,500 USD). The money I raise is all going to VSO, not toward the travel expenses of the trip to Africa and up the mountain.
I'm grateful for donations of any and all sizes so please know that any amount is welcome. If you are willing to donate, the easiest way to do so is at my justgiving page: http://original.justgiving.com/jessicablat
Let the gyming begin!
As a pasty computer nerd I was as surprised as anyone to find that what challenged me about my time at the gym tonight was not my ability perform physical activities without collapsing in a heap, but rather using the new-fangled high tech gym gear.
I should have known something was up when the Pandora station I was listening to decided that what I really needed was the mellow side of country/blue-grass for my work out, playing it consistently until any moment I might be doing a cool down or stretch at which point it instantly transitioned into the upbeat techno pop I more normally associate with a work-out mix.
I started with a "Spin" bike. I surely cannot explain to you what made this bike different from the other exercise bikes other than that it had a shiny screen and did not respond to any of my attempts to set a program, or make it tell me any useful metrics about what I was doing. I know this was my failure to understand the technology and not a lack of ability in the tool, since the woman next to me had an incredibly complex display up. Of course, none of this really mattered. Turns out when you pedal a bike, it goes, and you get exercise, regardless of whether or not it's hooked up to a fancy paper weight.
Things went pretty well after that until I hopped on a treadmill. I jabbed at all the buttons until I realized I probably couldn't handle whatever the treadmill would throw at me if I let it decide, and went for a manual setting. Or so I thought. I was jogging away, actually quite pleased with my ability to make it more than 30 feet without feeling exhausted, when the treadmill told me I had two minutes left and put me on mandatory cool-down. I upped the speed in what was ultimately a vain attempt at self-determination as it just turned off and gave me a workout summary at the end of my "cool-down" anyway.
All of this left me somewhat bemused but generally pleased with my first deliberate work out in I don't even know how long. So far so good though we'll see how I feel in the morning. Right now I'm riding the high of everything seeming totally doable. Now I can just add the challenge of figuring out all this fancy equipment to the rest of the things I've signed up for.
And since I'm a consultant, and consultants love metrics, here are a few numbers to help track progress:
February workout count: 1
Miles jogged continuously: .5
Miles biked: 4
I should have known something was up when the Pandora station I was listening to decided that what I really needed was the mellow side of country/blue-grass for my work out, playing it consistently until any moment I might be doing a cool down or stretch at which point it instantly transitioned into the upbeat techno pop I more normally associate with a work-out mix.
I started with a "Spin" bike. I surely cannot explain to you what made this bike different from the other exercise bikes other than that it had a shiny screen and did not respond to any of my attempts to set a program, or make it tell me any useful metrics about what I was doing. I know this was my failure to understand the technology and not a lack of ability in the tool, since the woman next to me had an incredibly complex display up. Of course, none of this really mattered. Turns out when you pedal a bike, it goes, and you get exercise, regardless of whether or not it's hooked up to a fancy paper weight.
Turns out it's secretly a bike
Things went pretty well after that until I hopped on a treadmill. I jabbed at all the buttons until I realized I probably couldn't handle whatever the treadmill would throw at me if I let it decide, and went for a manual setting. Or so I thought. I was jogging away, actually quite pleased with my ability to make it more than 30 feet without feeling exhausted, when the treadmill told me I had two minutes left and put me on mandatory cool-down. I upped the speed in what was ultimately a vain attempt at self-determination as it just turned off and gave me a workout summary at the end of my "cool-down" anyway.
All of this left me somewhat bemused but generally pleased with my first deliberate work out in I don't even know how long. So far so good though we'll see how I feel in the morning. Right now I'm riding the high of everything seeming totally doable. Now I can just add the challenge of figuring out all this fancy equipment to the rest of the things I've signed up for.
And since I'm a consultant, and consultants love metrics, here are a few numbers to help track progress:
February workout count: 1
Miles jogged continuously: .5
Miles biked: 4
Monday, February 8, 2010
Getting into shape
I am not in Kilimanjaro shape. In fact it would be more precise to say, I am not in shape period, and even I know that needs to change if I'm to make any part of the ascent at all.
So today I signed up for a gym membership. It took a surprising amount of shopping around. The gym near my house wants $75 a month in dues, plus a $100 sign up fee, and while I generally believe in paying for convenience, I don't believe in being robbed for convenience.
University Fitness never answered their phone. Eventually I discovered that University Fitness went out of business, despite signing up people for memberships until the bitter end. Sketchy.
I ended up signing up at a place that combined a generally walkable location (the mile+ walk will be good for me!) and affordable prices.
If anyone reading this is interested in supporting my efforts to get in shape for the trek, I have a proposal. Sponsor my gym visits! It's 7 months until the trek. If you'd like to help keep me motivated into getting in shape while helping me raise the funds I need to, consider pledging $1 for every time I go to the gym for at least one hour between now and September. If I go just once a week that's only $28, but with the dual incentive of not dying on the mountain and meeting my fund-raising goals (if anyone takes me up on this pledge), I will strive for 2-3 times a week. I have two big challenges ahead of me, and it's the sort of pledge that is challenge-efficient. :)
So today I signed up for a gym membership. It took a surprising amount of shopping around. The gym near my house wants $75 a month in dues, plus a $100 sign up fee, and while I generally believe in paying for convenience, I don't believe in being robbed for convenience.
University Fitness never answered their phone. Eventually I discovered that University Fitness went out of business, despite signing up people for memberships until the bitter end. Sketchy.
I ended up signing up at a place that combined a generally walkable location (the mile+ walk will be good for me!) and affordable prices.
If anyone reading this is interested in supporting my efforts to get in shape for the trek, I have a proposal. Sponsor my gym visits! It's 7 months until the trek. If you'd like to help keep me motivated into getting in shape while helping me raise the funds I need to, consider pledging $1 for every time I go to the gym for at least one hour between now and September. If I go just once a week that's only $28, but with the dual incentive of not dying on the mountain and meeting my fund-raising goals (if anyone takes me up on this pledge), I will strive for 2-3 times a week. I have two big challenges ahead of me, and it's the sort of pledge that is challenge-efficient. :)
Because easy isn't interesting
At 19,341 ft (that's 5,895 meters for those of you who live in...well, everywhere else in the world) Mount Kilimanjaro is what they call the "highest free-standing mountain in the world." I suspect that has more to do with the fact that it dramatically rises out of the plains than whether or not it has external supports.
I'm no mountaineer. And I'm not even a thrill-seeker. When I first heard of George Mallory's famous reply to the question of why he wanted to climb Mt Everest - 'Because it's there' I thought he must be crazy. I didn't really understand wanting to undertake something so enormous just because it might be possible.
And yet here I am. I received an email from the Accenture LGBT network saying the group was seeking volunteers interested in a charity trek up Kili - and not just to climb the mountain, but to raise thousands of dollars for charity at the same time and I found myself in a more Mallory-like mood than I'd ever anticipated. The lure of not just one life-changing challenge, but also a challenge that would change many more lives than my own was irresistible. So here I am. In seven months exactly I'll be flying to Kenya.
There is quite a lot to do between now and then.
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