i've been training for something, a goal, thats gonna happening the beginning of next year. you can say its nothing much, or maybe an obsession, or sometimes procrastination. i dont know what to make of it. but im learning new things which i havent encountered in my past 4 years of climbing. so heres a little list to remind myself of the lessons ive learnt. i dont know how to begin, which point to start on. but i'll get there.
when i first started on this journey, all i had were some experience in training programmes and mostly feelings that came and go, dictating when i should, like, want to climb. but ive been given various perspective, seen, watched, done different things outside of nus now.
1) i learned to combine certain things. like i would do locks and pullups. on bad holds or increase quantity. strayed from the usual phases. (which until now im not so sure if its a good or bad thing.. but we'll see)
2) i learned to put in 100% effort, not go through the motion, not take it easily. if its easy, make it harder, push myself. 8 pullups to 12 pullups. 5 sets plus one. lock for 10 seconds after the set.
3) i learned that the starting phase was the hardest. i was tired, i had no discipline. my focus strayed. i felt like shit after training.
4) i learned to take away something from each training. finish a climbing session without having learned anything about yourself is recreational. i made sure i worked on my weaknesses, i tested my mental, pushed my physical. i made sure i could replicate moves and not just a one time thing.
5) i learned to watch others climb. i learn how liting used to climb, and i see how she climbs now. i learn to control the whole body while making a move, not the overly static kind, but the one where the body finds balance, and the moves become smooth like silk and the route just flows naturally. i dont slacked my elbow and just weigh down on my fingers. i lock up the biceps, make sure my feet gets weight and i get the hold with 100%, and breathe.
6) i learn to not let injuries get to me. i need to do something about it. i went for yoga. i stretched, i took time to stretch. i worked through the mental block. and i try not to complain. if it affects me, just stop. move on.
7) i learn that climbing at different gyms help. they have different routes, the moves, the tiles, the people. the environment. no use climbing well at one gym and rubbish at the other.
8) i learn that as solo as a climber can get, we always need someone to listen to us when we have a bad day, we need to have that extra shoulder, the advice, the accompanyment during fingerboards. i learn to be grateful. to appreciate.
9) i learn to have fun days in between. to not be so hard on urself when things get bad and all you want to do is climb. so just climb.
10) i learn not to expect so much from yourself or do it for others. being competitive has its stressors. but there are times we need to let go, let loose. this is the hardest for me. because i always want to be the best, i know what i can do and when i fall short my world just snaps back.
i dont know what may come my way next year. a whole new season of competition and experiences. this whole training phase has been choppy, i took long breaks, i get tired. i dont manage my time well, i panic. there are times where i wish it wasnt plastic and that i was somewhere out there climbing rock. i miss that. i miss that so much. i miss it being the rock and me. not plastic and people and expectation.
when i first started on this journey, all i had were some experience in training programmes and mostly feelings that came and go, dictating when i should, like, want to climb. but ive been given various perspective, seen, watched, done different things outside of nus now.
1) i learned to combine certain things. like i would do locks and pullups. on bad holds or increase quantity. strayed from the usual phases. (which until now im not so sure if its a good or bad thing.. but we'll see)
2) i learned to put in 100% effort, not go through the motion, not take it easily. if its easy, make it harder, push myself. 8 pullups to 12 pullups. 5 sets plus one. lock for 10 seconds after the set.
3) i learned that the starting phase was the hardest. i was tired, i had no discipline. my focus strayed. i felt like shit after training.
4) i learned to take away something from each training. finish a climbing session without having learned anything about yourself is recreational. i made sure i worked on my weaknesses, i tested my mental, pushed my physical. i made sure i could replicate moves and not just a one time thing.
5) i learned to watch others climb. i learn how liting used to climb, and i see how she climbs now. i learn to control the whole body while making a move, not the overly static kind, but the one where the body finds balance, and the moves become smooth like silk and the route just flows naturally. i dont slacked my elbow and just weigh down on my fingers. i lock up the biceps, make sure my feet gets weight and i get the hold with 100%, and breathe.
6) i learn to not let injuries get to me. i need to do something about it. i went for yoga. i stretched, i took time to stretch. i worked through the mental block. and i try not to complain. if it affects me, just stop. move on.
7) i learn that climbing at different gyms help. they have different routes, the moves, the tiles, the people. the environment. no use climbing well at one gym and rubbish at the other.
8) i learn that as solo as a climber can get, we always need someone to listen to us when we have a bad day, we need to have that extra shoulder, the advice, the accompanyment during fingerboards. i learn to be grateful. to appreciate.
9) i learn to have fun days in between. to not be so hard on urself when things get bad and all you want to do is climb. so just climb.
10) i learn not to expect so much from yourself or do it for others. being competitive has its stressors. but there are times we need to let go, let loose. this is the hardest for me. because i always want to be the best, i know what i can do and when i fall short my world just snaps back.
i dont know what may come my way next year. a whole new season of competition and experiences. this whole training phase has been choppy, i took long breaks, i get tired. i dont manage my time well, i panic. there are times where i wish it wasnt plastic and that i was somewhere out there climbing rock. i miss that. i miss that so much. i miss it being the rock and me. not plastic and people and expectation.
