Thursday, July 2, 2015
New Blog
I decided since I am a fulltime software engineer it was time to upgrade my blog a bit. Go check out my new page www.naomi-plasterer.squarespace.com to see what I'm up too! I was able to migrate all my posts over to the new site so get stoked!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Training in Truckee
The Sierras are some of the greatest mountains around! With my big mountain objective in sight I've been spending the majority of my time running in them. Training to go up hill and up hill and up hill. Every run I feel like I learn something new! So this is my current gear list and tips I've learned. (My objective involves many miles of mostly unsupported running deep in the mountains.)
Black Diamond blaze pack- at first you may think that's huge how can anyone run in that!? It's true it is big and awkward but it gets the job done and fits everything I need. My tips for running with a large pack like this is to wear it loosely. At first you may want to strap it down as tight as possible fight this urge. It will cause lots of chaffing and bruising of the back. Which brings me to my next point to always wear a tight technical shirt. This allows for the pack to slide back and forth on the shirt and not on your skin were it will chaff (I've chaffed alot) why do you need such a big bag well for this objective you'll want all the food and water and layers you can get. Another tip is to always run with the pack on your training runs! You'll never get good at moving fast with a large pack unless you practice practice practice. Every run from 6 to 40 always wear it. Trust me it gets easier.
1.5 liter osprey bladder - this fits nicely in the blaze pack bladder pouch and fits right in the hose clip. My tip for this is to make sure the clip to the hose is low on the backpack straps during fast down hills. Otherwise you will continually get pistol whipped in the face by the hose which hurts and is a bit demoralizing. It is nice to have a bladder so you don't have to continually take off your pack to get to the water and slow you down. And hopefully you will hydrate enough and not become dehydrated. This also frees up your hands for my next item.
Ultra distance black diamond running poles - for this objective they are a necessity. A objective with lots of elevation gain over lots and lots of miles it will be nice to have your arms helping out the legs. I have found that it's alot easier to store the poles in your pack on the down hills then have them out. I find I move slower with my poles out on the down hills trying to place and having them get stuck in rocks. For short down hills and rolling parts of the trail I'll just carry them horizontal in my hands. Similar to the pack make sure you take them on all your runs from any distance. The only way to get better at moving fast with poles is to use them and practice.
1 liter platypus - I pack along another water container for an electrolyte drink. This is stored in pack and I tend to only get it out on summits. I like to use nuun tablets. Something a little extra to give a burst and replenish salt.
Gels and baby food! - anything and everything you can never have too much food! I like to stick a couple gels in the side pockets of the backpack so I don't forget to fuel and so I don't have to take the pack off.
Extra clothing - I always pack a jacket (patagonia nano puff), a rain jacket, a pair of rain pants, a buff, gloves, and extra socks. Things that could become essentially if the weather turns in the mountains or once it gets dark.
Lighting - I bring a headlamp and a hand held flash light. You can't have too much light if it is going to be an all night run.
Shoes - I'm currently running in a pair of water proof salomon shoes. This means that baby powder is your bestfriend. Dry feet mean less blisters and in water proof shoes dry feet is not always the case with all the sweating.
I'm sure I have more to say but I can't think about it right now. I'll report back after/during my trip to CO.
Time to train in the real mountains!
-Naomi and Lopi
Black Diamond blaze pack- at first you may think that's huge how can anyone run in that!? It's true it is big and awkward but it gets the job done and fits everything I need. My tips for running with a large pack like this is to wear it loosely. At first you may want to strap it down as tight as possible fight this urge. It will cause lots of chaffing and bruising of the back. Which brings me to my next point to always wear a tight technical shirt. This allows for the pack to slide back and forth on the shirt and not on your skin were it will chaff (I've chaffed alot) why do you need such a big bag well for this objective you'll want all the food and water and layers you can get. Another tip is to always run with the pack on your training runs! You'll never get good at moving fast with a large pack unless you practice practice practice. Every run from 6 to 40 always wear it. Trust me it gets easier.
1.5 liter osprey bladder - this fits nicely in the blaze pack bladder pouch and fits right in the hose clip. My tip for this is to make sure the clip to the hose is low on the backpack straps during fast down hills. Otherwise you will continually get pistol whipped in the face by the hose which hurts and is a bit demoralizing. It is nice to have a bladder so you don't have to continually take off your pack to get to the water and slow you down. And hopefully you will hydrate enough and not become dehydrated. This also frees up your hands for my next item.
Ultra distance black diamond running poles - for this objective they are a necessity. A objective with lots of elevation gain over lots and lots of miles it will be nice to have your arms helping out the legs. I have found that it's alot easier to store the poles in your pack on the down hills then have them out. I find I move slower with my poles out on the down hills trying to place and having them get stuck in rocks. For short down hills and rolling parts of the trail I'll just carry them horizontal in my hands. Similar to the pack make sure you take them on all your runs from any distance. The only way to get better at moving fast with poles is to use them and practice.
1 liter platypus - I pack along another water container for an electrolyte drink. This is stored in pack and I tend to only get it out on summits. I like to use nuun tablets. Something a little extra to give a burst and replenish salt.
Gels and baby food! - anything and everything you can never have too much food! I like to stick a couple gels in the side pockets of the backpack so I don't forget to fuel and so I don't have to take the pack off.
Extra clothing - I always pack a jacket (patagonia nano puff), a rain jacket, a pair of rain pants, a buff, gloves, and extra socks. Things that could become essentially if the weather turns in the mountains or once it gets dark.
Lighting - I bring a headlamp and a hand held flash light. You can't have too much light if it is going to be an all night run.
Shoes - I'm currently running in a pair of water proof salomon shoes. This means that baby powder is your bestfriend. Dry feet mean less blisters and in water proof shoes dry feet is not always the case with all the sweating.
I'm sure I have more to say but I can't think about it right now. I'll report back after/during my trip to CO.
Time to train in the real mountains!
-Naomi and Lopi
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
More Tahoe Please
Truckee. This weekend couldn't have been any better. I drove in Friday night and took a quick night run on the PCT. I used my handheld flashlight and my handlamp. It was good practice since I tend to be a very bad night runner. I then crawled in the back of my Subaru with lopi spooned up real close and fell asleep.
I woke with the sun Saturday morning at the ripe hour of 5am. I hung out ate some food got changed and prepared for the long run ahead. I was training so I carried my running backpack with a liter and a half of water for me and a liter of water for lopi. Along with a light jacket a few gels and a headlamp just in case. This weekend was also my time to test out and break in the trekking poles! At first I felt like a baby giraffe learning to walk but the more I ran the more in rhythm I became. It was amazing having the work of my legs being relieved slightly by my arms... Running with poles almost feels like cheating!
I ran a fun loop up the PCT over castle peak across to basin peak back down to the PCT and then over andesite peak. The total elevation gain was only about 3000 feet and 10 miles but each of the peaks reached close to 9000 feet tall. I felt good and wanted to keep running but with my recent injuries I tend to back off once I finish my objective in fear of over doing things. You know what they say... If you feel really good, rest. That's how you get yourself in trouble.
We finished so early in the day that Lopi and I just lizarded around for awhile by donner lake. Later that evening we met up with a friend and climbed at donner summit and the star wall. I was pretty worked and haven't been free climbing very hard lately so I just belayed mostly. It was nice to get out and watch all these guys crush. Got me stoked on free climbing again.
I spent the night in Truckee with little sleep and got a late start around 10am. I headed back out to the PCT and decided to check out a trail that was not on my map. It was called the donner lake rim trail. It turned out to be a mountain bike trail which happen to be some of my favorite running trails. The climbs tend to be short and mellow and the trail just rolls through the mountains for miles! With just a hand held water bottle I knew I couldn't go to far in the heat so I made a short loop out to summit lake and back only about 7 miles which was the perfect amount for me on a tired and lazy Sunday.
After my run I took a really long nap followed by some time out on the dock and ending in more climbing at the star wall or in my case belaying. The guy I was with then drove me up the pass a little farther to show me some sick trails to check out. I'm ridiculously stoked on the Tahoe area right now! So many trails and mountains to run. So little time!!
I woke with the sun Saturday morning at the ripe hour of 5am. I hung out ate some food got changed and prepared for the long run ahead. I was training so I carried my running backpack with a liter and a half of water for me and a liter of water for lopi. Along with a light jacket a few gels and a headlamp just in case. This weekend was also my time to test out and break in the trekking poles! At first I felt like a baby giraffe learning to walk but the more I ran the more in rhythm I became. It was amazing having the work of my legs being relieved slightly by my arms... Running with poles almost feels like cheating!
We finished so early in the day that Lopi and I just lizarded around for awhile by donner lake. Later that evening we met up with a friend and climbed at donner summit and the star wall. I was pretty worked and haven't been free climbing very hard lately so I just belayed mostly. It was nice to get out and watch all these guys crush. Got me stoked on free climbing again.
After my run I took a really long nap followed by some time out on the dock and ending in more climbing at the star wall or in my case belaying. The guy I was with then drove me up the pass a little farther to show me some sick trails to check out. I'm ridiculously stoked on the Tahoe area right now! So many trails and mountains to run. So little time!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Toulumne What Dreams Are Made Of
The weather in the Yosemite called for rain and more rain. Friday night Molly and I drove into a damp valley and contemplated if climbing Cathedral peak would be the best idea with the impending weather. The last thing you want to do is be on the top of a peak with a ton of gear on when lightning strikes. However we were stoked so we decided a 3am start was the only way to guarantee we wouldn't get wet (or electrocuted). Everything about the day was perfect and we were safe and sound back in the car when the rain and lightning started to come down. It has been a long time since I've laughed so hard that I cried but this weekend I did it over and over again. Good company. A weekend I won't soon forget.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Test Running City Van Life
So I've decided to ease into van life very gradually, which is hard for me. If you know anything about me I am a very impulsive person. It would be more likely for me to sell all of my belongings and move into a van over the course of 24hrs instead of 3 or 4 months. None the less I've been sleeping in my van for the past 4 nights. And have learned several things just about sleeping which means I have worlds to learn about full time living. Here are my current discoveries.
- Sweatshirt hoodie. The hood acts as a cover for light and keeps your head warm. I was skeptical at first. I never ever wear hoodies but for sleeping in a van it is a necessity.
- Sleeping bags. Lots of sleeping bags. Don't unzip them you want the warmth of the sleeping bag the entire way around your body. Being a little bit cold all night is probably the worst thing ever. Don't skimp on the warmth.
- Parking. Don't park the van against a tree where the branches will sway in the wind and scrape the side of the van all night. It will get annoying.
- Parking 2. Try to park the van on the flattest place ever. Sleeping in a slightly tilted bed made me feel like I needed to be seat belted into something.
- Dog. If he weighs a lot and decides to be restless it will feel like you are on a boat out at sea. The weight of the dog shifting around seems to shift everything in the van and when you're trying to sleep it feels very dramatic. Almost like you're getting towed...
- Dog 2. Get that dog a bark collar... Last thing you want is some people stumbling by your van in the middle of the night and then have your dog bark at them. Hello super obvious someone is sleeping in that van or they are cruel and locked there dog in there alone. Whatever those people may think its not good. In the city in either case they'll probably call the cops. If your dog barks at people in the middle of the night pull yourself from your warm bed get into the driver seat and drive away. The only solution... other than getting that dog a bark collar.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Quarter Life Crisis == Life Crisis == Word Vomit
I'm writing this because I like writing. I write just to write hoping you like reading just to read.
Last time I was in the meadow I chatted with Cedar about my quarter life crisis. Which he told me would never stop and that it was actually a life crisis. I'd have to agree with him. So let me tell you about my life crisis....
It all started back in March when I injured my achilles and was no longer able to run. Running is how I handle all of my problems and not having that outlet for my thoughts made me start thinking. My life was filled with negativity and no outlets to let go. So I ran away. I spent some time in Seattle, in the Valley, even in Canada and Alaska all of which temporarily relieved my inner suffering. I was deep in a crisis and traveling was clearly not going to fix it. Traveling however did fix my foot problem allowing me to "active" rest and heal quickly. Two and a half months and now all I'm left with is a giant lump of scar tissue. So I started running again hoping this would offer the solace that I was searching for. Instead I spent hours on my feet, alone with my thoughts breathing heavy (because I'm a bit out of shape) and thinking deeply about me about what it is that causes me to constantly feel in crisis mode unhappy and unstable. Here are the thoughts that lie at the center of my crisis.
I go through these waves of thinking I want stability and normality and routine. I want to settle down buy a house be with a consistent partner maybe have a kid. And then I flip and all I want is freedom and low commitment and excitement. I want to move into a van. Live in my office's parking lot bring my dog to work be in the mountains every weekend.
People tell me they're jealous think I'm living the life. But ever since I moved to the bay I've never felt so alone and empty. I hate this place I literally loathe everything the bay is about. But it's home and there's no better place for me to be right now so I'm here. And I love my job and I love the sierras. But I'm missing that overarching drive and passion towards an end goal. I have them in running and climbing but they come and go so quickly I feel lost.
What is it in life that gives life meaning. I've been searching and I haven't found it. The closest I've gotten is that it's the people it's about the people it's about having relationships with people it's about sharing experiences with people it's about having physical connections. Life means nothing if you're doing everything alone if you don't have people to celebrate in victories and mourn in losses. This revelation is why I hate the bay. I have no one here. I'll never have anyone here. I've lived here for over a year now. Nothings going to change without me changing. But I don't want to change maybe because I don't want to love the bay. I want to have one foot out the door be able to run to the mountains and never come back. It's that freedom the fear of becoming salty and stuck paying off debt. I'm so afraid of getting old and having done nothing meaningful with my life. I'm young. I'm very young. But the fear of becoming one year older and having made no difference in the world terrifies me. So much so that I lay awake at night.
I feel lonely I'm not sure why. I have friends and family but I'm empty. I'm a hollow shell of a person. Living from thrill to thrill one exciting adventure to another. My coping mechanism: running. I wake up at 3am lonely I go for run. Can't fall asleep at 11pm I run. I run till I'm numb. I'll run till the sun rises and I have to go to work. Alone again but not lonely. I never feel lonely on runs. I'm too trained to block out feelings when I run. Feelings and emotions are weakness. I'm not weak.
I want to help people. I want to help I want to feel needed to feel valuable. But not for something pointless like software engineer. I want to help the extremely impoverished. And giving just my money isn't enough. I want to physically help. I want to live simply and give everything that I am. My job allows me to take as much time as I want off of work. Just after three weeks I won't get paid anymore. If I live in a van and don't have to pay rent I can afford this. I can afford to take three or four or six months off of work a year and travel to the poor and help them. Am I crazy for wanting this? I've put myself in a position where I can do this. Should I not do it? I'd be selfish not to right? Or am I already selfish for wanting to help? Do I have ulterior motives selfish motives for wanting to help them? Selfishly wanting purpose and meaning in my life?
I guess I won't know until I try. So that's what I'm doing. Everything's in place with my job they're super supportive of my desires to help the poor and live in my van. Now I just need to find my purpose. Spending all my free time running and rock climbing only fills the void in my life for a short amount of time. Don't get me wrong I'm stoked on climbing and running but what happens when I climb El Cap then what? I feel excited and satisfied for a few hours maybe a week and then what? Then I have to climb something bigger or faster or harder. And who benefited from me climbing El Cap? No one but myself. How many impoverished people suffered while I climbed El Cap?... too many. I can't help but feel like most everything I do in my life is empty. I want meaning and purpose. I want companionship. I want to see and feel the pain of these people and the pure joy that erupts from their beings. I want to help them and by helping them they will in return help me. Because I'm selfish? Because I'm deeply disturbed? Because I live in the richest county in California. Because I ride a ferry every day with people who have more money than I ever will. Who own a house worth more than I can imagine. Who own a yacht and a big screen TV. Why? Because they were born in America. Where these luxuries are more important than the lives of the poor.
I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this but I am. Probably because I'm trying to reevaluate what I am beneath the crazy overly stoked Cuban most people see. When really I'm an emotionally distraught young woman running and climbing to temporarily fill the gaping hole in my life... I am a fool.
O and here's a photo of my van. His name is Gunther.
Last time I was in the meadow I chatted with Cedar about my quarter life crisis. Which he told me would never stop and that it was actually a life crisis. I'd have to agree with him. So let me tell you about my life crisis....
It all started back in March when I injured my achilles and was no longer able to run. Running is how I handle all of my problems and not having that outlet for my thoughts made me start thinking. My life was filled with negativity and no outlets to let go. So I ran away. I spent some time in Seattle, in the Valley, even in Canada and Alaska all of which temporarily relieved my inner suffering. I was deep in a crisis and traveling was clearly not going to fix it. Traveling however did fix my foot problem allowing me to "active" rest and heal quickly. Two and a half months and now all I'm left with is a giant lump of scar tissue. So I started running again hoping this would offer the solace that I was searching for. Instead I spent hours on my feet, alone with my thoughts breathing heavy (because I'm a bit out of shape) and thinking deeply about me about what it is that causes me to constantly feel in crisis mode unhappy and unstable. Here are the thoughts that lie at the center of my crisis.
I go through these waves of thinking I want stability and normality and routine. I want to settle down buy a house be with a consistent partner maybe have a kid. And then I flip and all I want is freedom and low commitment and excitement. I want to move into a van. Live in my office's parking lot bring my dog to work be in the mountains every weekend.
People tell me they're jealous think I'm living the life. But ever since I moved to the bay I've never felt so alone and empty. I hate this place I literally loathe everything the bay is about. But it's home and there's no better place for me to be right now so I'm here. And I love my job and I love the sierras. But I'm missing that overarching drive and passion towards an end goal. I have them in running and climbing but they come and go so quickly I feel lost.
What is it in life that gives life meaning. I've been searching and I haven't found it. The closest I've gotten is that it's the people it's about the people it's about having relationships with people it's about sharing experiences with people it's about having physical connections. Life means nothing if you're doing everything alone if you don't have people to celebrate in victories and mourn in losses. This revelation is why I hate the bay. I have no one here. I'll never have anyone here. I've lived here for over a year now. Nothings going to change without me changing. But I don't want to change maybe because I don't want to love the bay. I want to have one foot out the door be able to run to the mountains and never come back. It's that freedom the fear of becoming salty and stuck paying off debt. I'm so afraid of getting old and having done nothing meaningful with my life. I'm young. I'm very young. But the fear of becoming one year older and having made no difference in the world terrifies me. So much so that I lay awake at night.
I feel lonely I'm not sure why. I have friends and family but I'm empty. I'm a hollow shell of a person. Living from thrill to thrill one exciting adventure to another. My coping mechanism: running. I wake up at 3am lonely I go for run. Can't fall asleep at 11pm I run. I run till I'm numb. I'll run till the sun rises and I have to go to work. Alone again but not lonely. I never feel lonely on runs. I'm too trained to block out feelings when I run. Feelings and emotions are weakness. I'm not weak.
I want to help people. I want to help I want to feel needed to feel valuable. But not for something pointless like software engineer. I want to help the extremely impoverished. And giving just my money isn't enough. I want to physically help. I want to live simply and give everything that I am. My job allows me to take as much time as I want off of work. Just after three weeks I won't get paid anymore. If I live in a van and don't have to pay rent I can afford this. I can afford to take three or four or six months off of work a year and travel to the poor and help them. Am I crazy for wanting this? I've put myself in a position where I can do this. Should I not do it? I'd be selfish not to right? Or am I already selfish for wanting to help? Do I have ulterior motives selfish motives for wanting to help them? Selfishly wanting purpose and meaning in my life?
I guess I won't know until I try. So that's what I'm doing. Everything's in place with my job they're super supportive of my desires to help the poor and live in my van. Now I just need to find my purpose. Spending all my free time running and rock climbing only fills the void in my life for a short amount of time. Don't get me wrong I'm stoked on climbing and running but what happens when I climb El Cap then what? I feel excited and satisfied for a few hours maybe a week and then what? Then I have to climb something bigger or faster or harder. And who benefited from me climbing El Cap? No one but myself. How many impoverished people suffered while I climbed El Cap?... too many. I can't help but feel like most everything I do in my life is empty. I want meaning and purpose. I want companionship. I want to see and feel the pain of these people and the pure joy that erupts from their beings. I want to help them and by helping them they will in return help me. Because I'm selfish? Because I'm deeply disturbed? Because I live in the richest county in California. Because I ride a ferry every day with people who have more money than I ever will. Who own a house worth more than I can imagine. Who own a yacht and a big screen TV. Why? Because they were born in America. Where these luxuries are more important than the lives of the poor.
I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this but I am. Probably because I'm trying to reevaluate what I am beneath the crazy overly stoked Cuban most people see. When really I'm an emotionally distraught young woman running and climbing to temporarily fill the gaping hole in my life... I am a fool.
O and here's a photo of my van. His name is Gunther.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Canada to Alaska
I flew to Calgary on Wednesday night where I met up with my best friend from college Nikki. We ended up sleeping in a Walmart parking lot that night and blasting off for adventures the next morning. We hit Banff climbed a fun multipitch, had a few beers (I really struggled... I don't drink) with some cool Canadians, and checked out the most bizarre castle! The next morning we got the beta from the locals and hit up the back of Lake Louise. When we crawled out of the back of Nikki's car (where we spooned every night) there was a light dusting of snow covering Banff but we decided to climb anyways. We loaded up by noon and were headed to Jasper stopping along the way to eat and run are legs out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)