Competition climbing
When I started climbing, all I new were crags and mountains. Competition in this … it’s not even a sport didn’t enter my mind for a long time. It’s not a sport because you don’t entrust your teammates with your life in football. I saw it as an activity where my performance was very much depending on somebody else. And I couldn’t envisage climbing with a number on my shirt. And last, but not least… I was old, too old for competing.
Not much has changed… I didn’t get any younger, I rely on people to help me with my training or with my projects, I don’t climb with a number on my shirt but with a squirrel but… I’m competing.
One of the main reasons. I believe, was a hidden appetite for it – I am a very competitive (almost obsessively) person. I tried to ignore it for a while thinking how I would make a fool of myself being left far behind by girls half my age.
Another reason was…evidence. People competing were climbing well, were training hard, were disciplined. In this respect, Miu, who acted as a coach from time to time, was a kind of model. It was a wonder to me how hard he could push himself, how he could plan all his moves and, in a way, carve reality with his willpower.
I thought it would help me to control my temper and give me some motivation during winter. I thought I’d take it as a bitter pill.
But now, after my second competition I can admit i enjoy it! Something made me push myself harder – after all the result was better now that in the first contest, watching people do though moves and routes compelled me to at least try to earn my place there.
It’s a strange mix of things that makes this new goal of mine an enjoyable one.
