Back at work you spend the whole week longing to get out climbing. You've been doing some training to try and get a little bit better, but it's wearing you out and your fingers are really tired. If you've got a project you're mentally worn out too, because it occupies your thoughts most of the time you're awake and you keep going through the moves whenever you've got a spare moment. Then you finally get to the crag (an adventure in itself when you're going to La Ramirole with a dog). The conditions let you down, it's too humide and you trash your skin on your first attempt. The weekend's already finished for you, that's it. Back to work and go through all that aching and longing again, until the next weekend.
That more or less sums up how I've been existing for over 40 years. I have absolutely no regrets and have had a fantastic time trying my best to claw my way up cliffs pretty much all over the world. However, I've got to a stage where it's getting really, really hard to keep motivated. Quite simply, I'm getting too old and am struggling on stuff I used to run up. Plus I'm always the punter at the crag these days and my projects are the warm ups! I'm OK if we're at a quiet crag but I really hate being the weakling at La Ramirole.
I don't feel like doing any more training, I've had enough, and I don't feel motivated to go back to La Ramirole, despite feeling close to doing my project (if only the conditions and my skin were good enough). Then again, you never know..... Maybe I should go downstairs and pull my finger out after all. Come on.
Yeah Mike we all have to manage our decline, in my case from comparative mediocrity to easy sport routes via redpoint, for you, of course, one of the climbing greats it's harder. Top climbers have big egos but the body does begin to let you down even if you can maintain motivation so it's harder for you........ tears of frustration are understandable and normal..... eventually you'll count your blessing.........a solid marriage......life in a beautiful country........fantastic memories.... not to mention Ruff! Best wishes.......
RépondreSupprimerAllez, Mike, you wad. It's not a battle against other people if you don't want it to be. Let it be between you and the rock. Nobody's expecting you to climb as hard as the young guns until the day you die, you just need to keep pushing yourself.
RépondreSupprimerHave a rest and come back fighting.
Allez, Mike, you wad. It's not a battle against other people if you don't want it to be. Let it be between you and the rock. Nobody's expecting you to climb as hard as the young guns until the day you die, you just need to keep pushing yourself.
RépondreSupprimerHave a rest and come back fighting.
Thanks Jim and Will for your encouraging comments. You're both right, though it's not easy... It is time for a break and a change of scene (especially as the weather has deteriorated and the route will probably be wet now). Time to do some more training.
RépondreSupprimerHow's things in Kalymnos, Jim? I bet you're having plenty of banter with the team and having a great time.
Ruff's got tendinitis (the equivalent of a strained bicep tendon where it inserts into the shoulder after too much exercise!!) Short walks on the lead for her and anti inflams for 10 days.
All the best. Mike