Addressing some core issues...

We all have 'core issues'...some more psychological and some more physical. I am forever working on both. Sometimes the work feels futile, but I work hard to keep the faith and soldier onward.

Yesterday I visited my physical therapist. Here's what I showed her...

I've got to learn how to end a video gracefully...

I've been suspecting that there are fundamental weaknesses preventing me from really moving forward physically. And this stagnation has psychological ramifications as well. After I showed her these things (which she agreed are of critical importance), we discussed a course of action.

She's suggested that I work one-on-one with a skilled trainer. My right side has long-term damage and weakness that needs more than crunches and planks and lunges. In fact, crunches may very well lead to further injury given my core issues. Form and specificity of exercises will be crucial to my healing and progress. My body has become very adept at compensating and masking weaknesses. It's time to blow its cover and make the right things strong so that the compensators stop getting hurt and staying hurt.

I mentioned to her that I joined a climbing gym. She thought this was an amazing idea...strength and flexibility and core working in concert with one another.

About the rock climbing...

A couple of my other core issues have been at work keeping me from exploring the offerings of my new gym. The day I joined I envisioned heading there every day, climbing everything and utilizing all the offerings therein. But struggling to find a climbing partner (the belay deal is a two-person activity) and experiencing irrational fears about pissing people off and getting barred from the premises because I don't know jack about climbing and was sure I'd be violating some right-of-way rule or something like that left me quietly sitting at home wishing I were there and super bummed that I 'couldn't' do it.

I finally realized that the only reason I 'couldn't' do it was that I didn't get my butt into the car and drive there and open the door and walk inside and, well, do it. Acknowledging to myself that I was afraid and insecure was a huge first step. Telling the woman behind the desk at the gym that this was holding me back was an important second step. After she laughed (kindly) at my silliness, she signed me up for a private session which happened yesterday and was awesome.

I learned so much about climbing in one hour. I learned that there are classic newbie mistakes that make the experienced climbers chuckle. I did them. My instructor chuckled and then showed me what they were (sticking your butt way out) and why they are 'mistakes' (makes you have to work a lot harder) and how to correct them (bring your hips in close to the wall). Gotta love good instruction. She explained all the different little bumps on the walls and what their names are and how to use them effectively. I learned that the different colors of tape next to each bump let you know they are part of a specific path up the wall...you don't just start grabbing bumps willy-nilly to get to the top.

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Watching her demonstrate was beautiful. She made it look smooth and effortless. I aspire to this.

By the end of the hour, my arms and hands were toast. I was hardly able to hold the pen to write the check at the end of the session. As I sat in my car plotting when I would be able to climb again, I realized that climbing could very easily become an obsession. That overtraining and injury would be just as possible with climbing as they are with any other sport...especially if one allows the obsession to take hold. I could see myself getting a wicked case of tendinitis as a result of over-climbing.


Back away from the ledge, girl. 

I need to listen to my climbing body the same way I listen to my running body. I need to listen to it and hear it and heed its voice.


Do you have a hard time heeding what your body is telling you? Any awesome plans on tap for the weekend?
– I'm hoping to get a run in and go climb some walls ;-)