When I was in my 20's I had a go at technical rock climbing. I never did anything at any serious altitude. Mostly some friends and I would head out to an old quarried wall maybe 50-60 feet tall and do some top roping and repelling. While the pitch was short the climbing was quite difficult as there was little purchase for hands or feet. I remember thinking I will never summit this wall. And I never did. There were two reasons I failed in those attempts at climbing that wall.
First, I psyched myself out. I let every little fear and concern stop me. Would I fall? Would I get hurt? Would I embarrass myself? This is the mind game every athlete, especially extreme or endurance athletes, face. The battle of the mind. You might enjoy some short term successes without control over your mind but if you can't manage those demons, find a still steady place, and believe you will succeed you will never get to the top of whatever wall you are trying to climb.
The second reason I failed was that I didn't train to win. Sure, I did some yoga and read books about climbing, but did I strength train? Did I do cardio? Did I manage my diet and rest appropriately? No. No. And No. Small wonder then that all those Saturdays ended in disappointment and several conciliatory beers at the bar up the trail. We had a lot of fun, but in the end, my competitive spirit became frustrated with my la ti da approach and I walked away from the sport altogether. Worse, it took me 10 years before I re engaged in my own health and started running marathons.
So now, after not doing any serious training for the last 2 years I am trying to get back in the game. I have managed to run each of the last 3 weeks and I am restructuring my schedule where I can to get more road time in. I feel like I am back on that rock wall with my harness on, a few feet off the ground, and groping with my feet for a toe hold. Just to get that leg up and to the next level. I know I won't make it without attitude and training. One day at a time.
