mental recall

climbing often seems like a purely physical sport. it's an easy association really. a strong climber usually has a strong body.

but what about the mind? climbers know that a keen focused head is key to making it up challenging problems. in fact, the more advanced you are the more likely you are to appreciate and rely on this mental dimension. too bad we can't visually mark or see the strength of our brains.

i realized the importance of the human mind as i hit the climbing gym yesterday. after a few months of not regularly climbing i feel that my body tires easily and that my arms, back and fingers aren't what they were six months ago. what has remained incredibly strong is my ability to recognize different types of problems and related techniques or approaches to those problems. incredibly, my mind remembers what to do!

i guess it's kind of like learning to ride a bike. once you do, you'll always remember the basics. as i restart this sport it's a relief to know that not everything will be back to square one.