A day of physical rest so I can mentally focus. The mental training for climbing Aconcagua is similar to training for a triathlon. Negative thoughts are just a waste of time and progress. All the mental chatter clutters the focus. It's best to keep a 'present' mind which is still and sharp. Self doubt can be felt and recognized as easily as lactic acid in the muscle.
My massage therapist, Holly works on me in preparation for the climb. After a crazy swim in a sprint triathlon this season, when I 'lost-it' in the crush of swimming bodies and struggled to a life boat, Holly worked on my ribs and diaphragm, helping me to open those areas during inhalation. I had no more problems with the swim the rest of the season. For the climb, Holly will do more of that work, because at 23,000 ft. in altitude, the body works on the equivalent of one lung. There is so little oxygen, that the tiniest finger wound doesn't heal.
I discovered today that Aconcagua is the 2nd highest of the Seven Summits--the highest being (of course) Mount Everest.
No comments:
Post a Comment