Each Day Is A Round Trip Sport

Posted on by Wynne Leon

My friend, Phil, who was a mountain guide for more than 40 years and a climber longer than that, has a motto, “Climbing is a round trip sport.”

One of the cardinal sins in climbing is not being in-tune with how much gas you have left in the tank. If you use up all your energy to get to the summit, you have made a judgment error that could cost you and your teammates dearly.

This means that you have to drink and eat when the team takes breaks, even when you don’t want to. And you usually don’t feel like it given the effects of altitude and the timing when you start a summit day at midnight.

The other trick is not to spend energy standing when you could be sitting; or sitting when you could be lying down. Or trickling out effort looking for stuff in a poorly organized pack. All these little things that add up to energy expenditures that are hard to refill when you are trudging up a mountain.

I bring all these tips and tricks up because in my house, we’ve experienced a couple weeks recently where my nine-year-old daughter, Miss O, has had trouble getting to bed time. She’s been in different camps during the week. It’s hard work – being out in the sunshine all day, doing group activities, adjusting to having a different routine and teammates each week.

Then she comes home and wants to play, turn cartwheels, and roughhouse with her little brother. All great activities — until she runs out of energy trying to get ready for bed. A couple of times she’s ended up in a pile on the floor crying.

And I feel her. I’m a little less dramatic about it. But some of these long summer days have left me wanting to melt into a puddle right alongside her. If I choose to make one more dish when we have company over, or squeeze in one more chore after watering the plants or taking the garbage out, I can end up in a serious energy deficit.

Climbing has taught me that resting isn’t a luxury – it’s a responsibility of being a functioning team member. I need a sign in my kitchen reminding me and my kids that each day is a round trip sport.

(featured photo from Pexels)

38 thoughts on “Each Day Is A Round Trip Sport”

  1. I love the point of your post…taking breaks sooner rather than later. For your own benefit and for those around you! No one wants to be a puddle on the floor, but gee whiz, it happens if we’re not good stewards of our energy. Thanks for the reminder, Wynne…and for the chuckle that you might be ‘less dramatic’ than Miss O. I hear you. My meltdowns can be more internal, less discernible, but it’s only because I learned how to disguise the madness. Better to let it all out or not put myself in a hot pot in the first place. xo! 🥰😁🥰

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  3. Your thoughtful essay is also applicable to aging, Wynne. Unless you are “super ager,” the gas in the tank diminishes with time. Since there is less gas and less time, wisdom becomes a matter of treasuring both and using them in the arena of what matters most, what is necessary, what can be set aside, and what part of you is past your “use by” date.

    The thought of this can be troublesome, but is better addressed than put aside for future consideration that is forced upon you by nature.

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    1. You put it so well, less gas and less time. And there seems to be a necessary reckoning of what we can do. It’s a hard and continual self-assessment from what I’ve observed. Thanks for the great comment!

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  4. During my stint raising children and working, I failed miserably at taking breaks to reenergize. Like many mothers, I depended on adrenalin to climb up and down those mountains. Your recommendation to refuel by taking breaks and/or having a healthy snack, is wiser and reduces stress. Good luck during your journey, Wynne! 🙂

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    1. Oh, what an insightful comment about the adrenaline we use to fill the gap. Yes, that works too for the short-term at least. But your comment about the other approach reducing stress -that what I’ve noticed too! Thank you for the great comment, Nancy!

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  5. Omg, I love this! It is like, the ultimate reminder to chill out and pace ourselves. Your friend Phil is a genius. I can so relate to your daughter’s bedtime struggles after a long day of camp.
    That sign in the kitchen is a fab idea, btw. We all need a reminder to take it easy sometimes.

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  7. such a brilliant metaphor for life. I’ve learned to recognize when I’ve ‘hit the wall’ and respect that by not pushing further, instead by embracing it. I’m still in a learning curve phase, but much better at going with it and not resisting

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  8. Such valuable advice, Wynne. Taking breaks to pace ourselves. I can understand where Miss O is coming from — to continue the day’s fun! Kind of like driving on the highway for a while, then taking an exit on to a slower road. What do you mean the speed limit is 35???? And who put these stoplights here?!?

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  9. This is so true Wynne, I’ve often lived by the old adage, It’s better to rest than quit. Sometimes we just need a bit of a rest when our batteries are almost drained. It helps us plug in again and reenergize. I’m sure Miss O will be learning where her energy boundaries are, she’s got a great mentor to learn that from.
    Great post! As always. 💕

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  12. Oh poor Miss O, I can see this in my T too, especially during these long hot summer days.

    I love the climbing analogy and it’s so important to budget our energy, especially knowing when to take the necessary breaks when it is a team sport.

    It’s a good analogy for life itself. Taking the time for self care rather than burning out when it’s too late.

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    1. I’m glad I’m not alone — and you put it well. It’s the long, hot summer days that are hard. Maybe all the light makes us reach for too much! Here’s to being smart about it all and helping our kids do the same!! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. It reminds me of JFK’ call to action “before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” Many forget the second part of “returning him safely to the Earth”, but it’s a critical part! Round trips ftw!

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  14. At my age, I have to listen to my body. It tells me to slow down all the time. There’s always tomorrow.

    I don’t know if you saw my note, but after I agreed to talk to you and Vicki on Thursday, my wife let me know she had rescheduled the housekeeper to come at that same time. Can we try another time next week? If that’s not convenient, no worries. I don’t want to mess up your vacation.

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  16. So much wisdom here, Wynne. I know just how Miss O feels–I had a limited energy envelop for years, and always paid the price if I pushed past my limits. I love the idea that “resting is a responsibility”! Similar to putting on our own oxygen mask first, we need to listen to our bodies and and tend to our own needs before we can show up fully in the world.

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