Don't

The recent death of Broadway star Elaine Stritch at the age of 89 made me think of her perfect rendition of Steven Sondheim's song: Everybody Says Don't.  If you don't know the song the gist of it is that we are told constantly what we shouldn't do: walk across the grass, walk across the ice, rock the boat, etc.  There are good reasons for restrictions: if we all walked across the grass the lawn would turn to dirt, walking across ice can kill you and rocking the boat, literally or metaphorically, can alter your life.  I have been guilty of doing all of the above because I chafe under the saddle of rules.

This is not unique behavior especially in this country where people see it as their right to break rules that should not apply to them but should apply to others.  It's also human nature to demonstrate  a modicum of disobedience.  If one engages in too much disregard for rules or the law one is labeled a deviant, is punished by the legal system, is ostracized by society or wakes up dead.  But if you play your cards right you can be rewarded for being a bad boy or a naughty girl (think Wall Street).

Perhaps this hint of naughtiness is a beneficial trait that has allowed the human race to prosper up to this point.  Having rock climbed for many years I know that there is a personality trait that all climbers share.  They have a desire to break the rules that are least likely to get them killed.  Whenever you move vertically half of the human race thinks you are crazy, 25% become sick to their stomachs and the rest find it appealing.  Successful climbers redefine boundaries and have the ability to recognize when they are about to become a statistic.  The recurring theme of balance presents itself again in these blogs.

You need to push your limits in order to make progress but you have to make an educated decision about your ability to do so and the consequences of a failed attempt.  As a lead climber I will take a 25 foot fall (not that I like to) if I trust my belayer, the protection I have placed and am reasonably confident that I am not going to hit something or someone (there could be a French guy climbing through) along the way.

The same is true for weight lifting.  If your form is spot-on in the lift and it turns out that the weight is too heavy you can drop it.  If your technique is questionable and you attempt a PR in your dead lift you may well herniate a disk.  Good form in lifting weights is the equivalent of knowing what not to lead in climbing.

How do you know when to push the limits?  That is subjectve.  Experience, surrounding yourself with a knowledgeable cohort who cares about you and listening carefully to the dialogue between your body and mind are key factors.  Once you have achieved a high level of proficiency the danger comes from complacency not from ignorance.  If you feel too comfortable when you are leading a pitch or stepping up to a barbell check yourself.  When climbing: check your knot, check your partner's knot, make sure you have the gear you need and see if your head is screwed on correctly.  When lifting: set-up properly with your spine and shoulders supported and be present.

If you feel like you must move with reckless abandon - throw yourself into a mosh-pit.