Uncategorized Archives - Semi-Rad.com

The Bread Race Against Time

by brendan on September 30, 2022

What We Think About When We Think About Running

by brendan on December 2, 2021

Mark Twain was not a runner, at least to my knowledge. But I think of…

Friday Inspiration 292

by brendan on June 25, 2021

If you’ve ever described running as a “monastic” activity, then this film about Yukai Shimizu,…

Friday Inspiration, Vol. 204

by brendan on October 18, 2019

No big deal, but the Hopi High School cross country team has won 27 state…

What Is It We Love About Someone Quitting Their Job?

by brendan on August 6, 2015

My friend Chris had a perfectly good, secure, well-paying job as a chemist up until…

Motivational Posters For Mountain Climbers

by brendan on June 18, 2015

Because we all need a little motivation sometimes. All posters created with Despair.com’s DIY Build…

Happy Holidays

by brendan on December 25, 2014

Hopefully you’re enjoying some time off right now due to one of our many end-of-year…

Make Any Scenic Photo A #Selfie With This Swell Trick

by brendan on March 20, 2014

Sometimes, when you’re in a beautiful place, it’s easy to forget to take a #selfie.…

Happy Thanksgiving From Semi-Rad

by brendan on November 28, 2013

-Brendan

What’s The Best Rain Jacket?

by brendan on October 17, 2013

When you’re buying a rain jacket, you probably have lots of questions, none of which…

The Sometimes Awkward Process Of Finding Your Flow

by brendan on February 28, 2013

The Sunday night before my first day of fourth grade, I rolled my black-and-gold Huffy…

Believe In The Magic Of The Burrito

by brendan on February 21, 2013

Do you have a hard time eating at fancy restaurants where food is presented as…

Are You Making The World Awesomer, Or Angrier?

by brendan on February 14, 2013

In November, a video posted online showed an American climber visiting Sweden blowtorching holds on…

Announcing A New Line Of Invisible Climbing Outerwear

by brendan on February 7, 2013

Fact: Shirts are for suckers. They’re heavy, hot, and if you wear one when you’re…

What’s The Cost-Per-Use Of Your Skis/Bike/Rack?

by brendan on January 24, 2013

“I’ve been thinking about things on a cost-per-use basis lately,” my friend Nick said to…

Everything Is Epic

by brendan on January 10, 2013

At a grocery store last week, the cover of Cosmopolitan‘s January issue caught my eye…

A Handful Of Moments

by brendan on December 27, 2012

My dad and I walked into Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 4, the…

The Best Gifts Are Not Things You Ask For

by brendan on December 20, 2012

“Send me a list of gift ideas for you.” Why do we do this around…

The Importance Of Being A Lifelong Beginner

by brendan on December 13, 2012

When you dismount a mountain bike going uphill, you end up doing a sort of…

My Pal Mick, 1958-2012

by brendan on November 29, 2012

My friend Mick’s heart stopped working last Sunday. He died at the age of 54,…

Happy Thanksgiving

by brendan on November 22, 2012

I haven’t had a “proper” Thanksgiving dinner since 2002, somehow managing to be anywhere but…

The New (Not-Quite-So-Masculine) Mountain Man

by brendan on November 15, 2012

I was trying to start a campfire a couple weekends back and grabbed a fat…

The Customer Is Always Right

by brendan on November 1, 2012

Maybe you’ve heard this one: Ski resort patron approaches lift ticket kiosk on Powder Day…

Sick, Brah: The Ineloquence Of Talking About The Outdoors

by brendan on October 25, 2012

You, outdoor recreator, are quite probably quite educated: Bachelor’s degree, possibly a master’s degree or…

My Friend Lee: A Story About Mentors

by brendan on October 18, 2012

Five summers ago, I met this guy named Lee Smith while climbing with a big…

The Three Bumper Stickers

by brendan on October 4, 2012

“You know, I was just thinking that three bumper stickers changed my life,” Dan said…

Don’t Sandbag Me, Bro

by brendan on September 27, 2012

I always get sandbagged by guys in gear shops. I will stop in somewhere to…