"I've been a runner in some shape or form since elementary school. That amounts to a lot of miles. When I think about it, it's pretty crazy how much time I have dedicated to doing the same simple task over and over and over again. As the miles passed on the routes that I knew so well, I found myself thinking about what kept me coming back to the sport time and time again."
"Climbing is an interesting sport because you can go from feeling comfortable to scared in a very short period of time. I know because I've experienced it. One minute you are low to the ground and the holds feel good, and the next, you feel like you are on the verge of falling. That's a very vulnerable place to be."
"Watching my niece and nephews that day, I felt like I could see them finding their personal limits. They would often make the first few moves confidently, but as they got higher, or the moves got more difficult, their uncertainty would show. You could sense their fear. They would freeze and retreat. But sometimes, while they were in that moment of uncertainty, we would offer a suggestion."
A long history of running prompted reflection while training on familiar roads and trails during a holiday visit. A New Year's Day trip to a rock gym with young relatives shifted focus to watching early learning and exploration. Climbing quickly moves from comfort to fear, producing vulnerability and palpable uncertainty. The children often began moves confidently, then hesitated as height or difficulty increased. Observers offered specific suggestions during those moments of doubt. Sometimes the children retreated, and other times they accepted guidance and ventured farther up the wall, pushing their personal limits.
Read at iRunFar
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