CROSS-fit #95 Reach for it

Just a couple of days ago, I put my functional fitness to the test yet again.
Bouldering, here in Tucson.
Firstly, Rock climbing and bouldering indoors and outdoors is a huge thing here in Tucson.
Simply because the scenery and environment to climb in is really amazing.
Sheer beauty when the weather is just about right.

So I was kinda psyched to go. Me and 2 other friends of mine, one of whom is a pro.
So how did I do?
Well, my forearms were completely wasted and had a real hard time getting through even the easiest ones.
But there's just one thing I realized.
That our functional fitness was really translated into everything applicable in life.

I think I managed to catch on relatively fast.
Grip strength was there and swinging my body around wasn't too difficult
Getting up and flexing my body up and down wasn't hard either.
My hands, being already rough, didn't suffer THAT much.
For the first time in a totally different sport, I could feel that my athleticism kicked in and was real useful.
Of course, I could improve a whole lot more with more work at it, there's so much technique to this.

However, what struck me more wasn't so much of the functional fitness in the physical sense.
Probably a bit more of the functional fitness in the mind.
As a crossfit athlete, failure is not uncommon, really.
You fail at lifting weights, you fail to complete a workout in the given time, you can't keep up with others.
There're so many differences when it comes to strengths and weaknesses in Crossfit.
You win some and you lose some
Failure in life, for that matter, isn't uncommon to the successful either.

Going up to them blocks, there was one particular sequence of blocks to hit which were particularly tough to get at.
I tried at least 10 times at it, even my newbie friend had a go at it, but nope, we didn't get anywhere near there.
It took me at least an hour at the same sequence, thinking, analysing and trying again and again.
And finally, I reached the top and with just a block away, I had to make a literal jump for it.
3,2,1.... No, I didn't make it.
Man, I didn't even make that jump. I was scared. I just let go and tumbled to the mats in defeat.

Then I remembered this feeling. This all too familiar feeling.
Of failure, but another stronger feeling, the "Bounce back", the idea of "Hell, I'm getting this!"
The gut feeling of "Give this another shot, give this another lift, another climb, another go at your life!"
And so, after a bit of rest, I hopped back on.
This time, I reached that top block.

What made the difference?
The tries, the attempts, the sweat and pain.
However, most importantly, it was the time on the mat.
Nope, it wasn't the time on the mat cursing and swearing at why I didn't succeed.
It was the time on the mat, thinking to myself that I'll get it next time.
Everyone needs some time on the mat.

Before you go up to the bar, before you step up on stage.
You need that moment to say "Hell, I'm getting this!"
GO, REACH FOR IT!