and another thing

since i switched my weekday rides from length to hills, my weight loss has accelerated from 1lbs/wk to 2lbs/wk.

now, since back off man, i'm a scientist, i know that this is not only correlation, but even weak correlation. i've made many other changes, like running longer and harder, and probably even eating less, and certainly drinking less beer.

but it is an interesting bit of data.

also, my climbing has leveled up. that is, rock climbing. there was a 5.10c in the gym which i didn't make last week. i had gone on it thinking it was a 5.10a, and when i came off i was mad at the rating because it was so clearly harder than a 10a. then i looked closer and found it was a c. heh. anyhow, i climbed it with (imho) grace (in my scoring system for climbing, there's no hang dogging, and climbs that are not climbed gracefully aren't really climbed), and i also did a really nice 5.10d on tuesday -- also with a fair amount of grace. the grace thing is a funny measure, i know. and since i have no idea how i look when i'm climbing, and i don't ask but rarely, i measure it on whether i feel graceful on the climb, like a well-trained dancer or a monkey, or whether i feel like an elephant trying to climb up a tree.

the climbing, i'm sure, is a combination of accumulated technique and body positioning combined with a falling weight:strength ratio (that is, assuming my strength is holding relatively steady). in fact, my grip strength is mightier than ever -- i've retained the deadlifting grip without tiring myself out all the time by actually deadlifting.

man i need to get back to deadlifting.