The Organic Climber – Vegetarian running, cycling, swimming, rock climbing and raw foods.

As I grow older, continue working on the business, improve at being a husband, and constantly get closer to becoming a father, I am learning to enjoy even the smallest pursuit of my personal hobbies.

When I journeyed down the road of starting my own business I pictured myself getting outside nearly every weekend for awesome send fests at the crag, and spending time every day running and climbing, but that has been far from reality.

I also started the business around the same time I got married, so adjusting to married life also presented challenges. Gone are the days of only having to visit my parents once or twice a month. Spending time with my wife has also become a high priority, and soon investing in the life of my daughter will be at the top of the list too.

Juggling work, family life and hobbies continues to be a challenge. But I am learning to enjoy even the smallest outdoor adventure. The ones I would have normally taken for granted, such as rock climbing on The Greenbelt here in Austin. The Greenbelt is a place most Austin climbers visit on a regular basis, and it’s not high on the impressive scale compared to most climbing areas, but I don’t take for granted the fact that I get to climb outside on a weekly basis, and for FREE (no gym fees, here).

I also recently attended Outdoor Retailer in Utah, where I was hoping to spend a full day climbing beautiful multi-pitch trad routes. That didn’t happen, but I ended up settling for just a few hours of sport climbing on some easy, but fun routes. It wasn’t my picture perfect adventure, yet I enjoyed every second of it.

I was also able to get out for a couple of runs on some awesome trails in the Wasatch National Forest. The run I did just two days before I left was perhaps the best run I have ever been on. The temperature was perfect, the sky was blue, and the trail fairly secluded once I got above 8,000 feet. Just to be able to say “once I got above 8,000 feet,” amazes me. The run actually peaked at around 10,000 feet and provided some amazing views of the Wasatch Mountain range.

The run was a simple 12 miles, two miles more than I intended to run, and worth every step. The mini-adventure left my soul satisfied and longing for the next simple adventure. Though, I may never live the dirtbag dream of climbing days on end and running alpine trails on a regular basis, I will enjoy even the smallest journey.

RunKeeper data, from said run.

Priorities are also shifting, as I get older too. Family time is becoming more important to me than climbing time, and as we grow our family I’m sure we will have plenty of family adventures. The things that bring me passion and joy will gain even more meaning as I begin sharing them with those closest and most important to me.

Even though I miss the days of spending multiple weekends a month developing crags in Arkansas, and climbing multi pitch routes in Oklahoma and Colorado, I look forward to growing my family and experiencing new things. Not only will I get to share my love for the outdoors with my little ones, but I will get to instill values into them as well. A scary thought to some, but I pray my daughter and other future children come to know and experience the Creator of the Universe as I have.

Life and Motivation, Running by OrganicClimber
Climbing, enjoyment, mountains, passion, rock, Running, trail, utah, wasatch
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