This past year has been an extremely difficult time for me.
Besides the obvious physical hurdles I've faced, it's the mental side
that I'm really talking about here. November 2011 I was in PB shape, about to
embark on a 3 month climbing-centric trip. I had succeeded in being selected
for the senior GB climbing team and I felt ready and excited to participate in
some World Cup comps in Europe. And within the blink of an eye (and a
sickening crack of the knee) it all came to a grinding halt.
As the months have passed and my routes on 8a have been
dropping off, it has been a massive challenge to keep myself from feeling
totally disheartened and despondent. My
strength and fitness have fallen away, along with my presence in the climbing
scene, and it feels as though all my hard work and dedication has gone to
waste.
But one can’t wallow in a pit of despair forever, and
although I wasn’t able to climb, I was able to do some fingerboarding and
campusing. I’ve built a little frame in
my garage with my two fingerboards mounted on, but it didn’t take long before
the grips became too comfortable, even after adding weights, and I was seeking
ways to make it more challenging. Courtesy
of Metolious, I added pairs of screw-ons which really gave my fingers a good
work out. After 6 weeks my fingers were
stronger than ever and I was hanging off grips, with added weights, that
initially I couldn’t even get established on.
I would like to say a massive thanks to my sponsors, Evolv and Metolious, for sticking with me despite my injury and the discouraging prognosis for getting back climbing again. I may not have ticked any significant routes this year, but next year I’ll try to do you proud.
