As we quickly accelerate towards summer, the year is somehow halfway over. Looking back at my climbing and running logs, I’m always curious where the time has gone.
Leading the Pancake Flake Photo by Tom Evans
It seems that 2012 has been a big year for me so far. The weather has been great, my fitness is here and for once I don’t seem to be pushing too hard. It may seem strange that all the miles and climbs speak to moderation, but I’ve been relaxed. Up until March, I was busy but couldn’t really explain what I was doing. Fun was being had, rocks climbed and trails trodden upon. My life was simply moving forward with enough momentum that climbing and running were part of a daily routine.
The Yosemite season never seemed to end for many of my friends, but I’ve only just started climbing in the Valley again. April meant going big and putting El Capitan back in my life. It is so easy for me to obsess about the Big Stone and I have to be careful. After the climb, I can still see the pitches in my mind. I remember divots in the rock, angles and curving cracks. My mind threatens to explode when I contemplate all 3000 feet of the Nose. If I give it too much attention, El Capitan will quickly consume every waking moment.
At the base of Texas Flake on a NIAD practice run. Photo by Tom Evans
Each week and weekend is a balance. How much do I workout, how much do I eat? What activity do I need to prepare my body for? Am I tapering or performing? Rest has become vital to my sanity. A few extra minutes in the morning are bliss.
Flesh wounds are easily healed, but I wonder about the lingering tiredness. The lengthening string of weekends spent away from home tax my energy levels. I’m all too familiar with the 3pm haze that hits me at work.
I must listen to my body so that I can push hard again in the future. Right now it is time to chill.
- Luke
Wow its pretty sweet you are keeping up with running and climbing! Good luck keeping the balance! (Ironically, I just read this after waking up from a nap at my desk…) I think rest is going to be crucial for making it through the rest of the summer…
Most of the time climbing is about performance while running can just be about getting out and moving your body. In this way running is very low stress and is a good outlet for my energy. I sleep better when I run and it is helping me build long term endurance. Balance comes into play when I get so tired from running that it decreases my climbing performance. Way tricky to do enough but not too much!
I’ve also found that that mental rest is as necessary as the physical rest. Sometimes I can get so caught up in my routine that I forget how good it is to take a break from climbing, and go for a run/hike/whatever. I’m always careful about doing my shoulder stretches, resting, etc so it makes sense that since a big aspect of climbing is mental, I should give myself a break in that area too!
right on with the next to last paragraph…not enough sleep during the week, and not wanting to fully rest on the weekends, leads to unsatisfying performance both at work and outside.