Phoenix has city hikes which are large out crops of rock in the city and its surrounding suburbs. They are now public land and an entwined part of the culture to hike them. Camelback and Squaw Peak are the most vertical of the city hikes. They are tough.

It has been nine months since I was separated though I am still not divorced yet. I started to refocus on the my fitness and body in August of last year; partly to take my mind off what was happening, but also the fear that I may not be competitive if I had to go on the singles market again. Since then I have dropped my body fat to below 12% and now look like I did in my early twenties.

I did Squaw Peak this morning and after nine months of gym/fitness training I have pretty much conquered it. I went up it fast without a loss in stride or over-laborious breathing.

I am pretty proud of what I have achieved. It is not so easy doing it with a thirty seven year old body that is still carrying dents and weaknesses courtesy of playing Australian Rules when a youngster.

However I went up Squaw Peak a little too easily so I suspect I have progressed beyond that as a challenge. I think I am going to have to look to something physically more difficult; maybe a half triathlon, or something of that nature that I will have to train myself for in order to not embarrass myself.
Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.