My 7 Ways to Conquering the Beast
It’s 4 hours in to the ascent. You’re almost there at the top, but only one thing stands in your way…100 vertical feet in about 75 feet of horizontal travel! So what does one do at a time like this?
Below are the 7 ways that has helped me to get to the top of some of the hardest challenges I’ve faced so far, and before this month is out, I’m sure to be calling on them again:
1. Take the pain – Yes it hurts. Yes life is miserable. But suck it up. You’re almost there.
2. Know that this will be another victory – The price you paid in sweat and pain up to this point is for nothing if the objective is not met. Once at the top, you can check this peak off your list. So keep a positive attitude. There is no “can’t”. Unless you’re really hurting then stop and nurse your wounds. But if it’s mental, then you shouldn’t have made it this far.
3. Picture your happy place – Sounds cheesy? Yes. But a mental image to help you up goes a long way. Be it that cold beer that you’re going to have, or the hot shower afterwards. These mental images gives you something to take your mind off of the burning in your legs. This also doesn’t have to be a happy place, just something that inspires.
4. Lunch is at the top – You’ve packed something good. It sits in your bag awaiting your grabbing hands and devouring mouth. But before you can tear into it, you have to get to the top. Anything less is just shameful. Your lunch becomes your reward. Enjoy it, you’ve earned it.
5. You’re better than the mountain – This isn’t meant to get cocky or anything. I mean, if you slip and fall 20 feet, the mountain’s going to win each and every time. But show it who’s boss. Slap it around a little and make it your plaything.
6. Curse like a sailor – The last 200 yards to the summit of Iron Mountain had me cussing up a storm. Turn your pain into rage and shout obscenities into each rock that inhibits your path. For this hike, I was the last one up. Therefore, I had no qualms about being overheard since no one was around to hear my mouth run amok.
7. If shouting like a sailor isn’t your thing, then try the MICKEY MOUSE song – This has helped on more than one occasion. It got my breathing in order, and actually made each step up feel like an earned step since each step was another letter or lyric added to the song.
(Note: the clip below is NSFW and contains foul language.)
Related posts:
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 at 4:35 am and is filed under Entertainment, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
