what I love about being short

At 5'0", there's no denying it: I'm short. I've been short all my life (believe it or not 😝) - front of the class picture, shortest kid when we lined up by height.

When it comes to climbing, I won't lie to you... there are times when I am frustrated by my height. Wishing I could "just reach through" or wishing I had a couple extra inches like my taller peers. But that's just what they are: wishes. And to be frank, wishing is a waste of energy.

With body morphology, there's not a whole lot we can do. We often list our "deficits" and what we wish was different about our bodies. Rarely do we take the time to acknowledge what our bodies have taught us or the ways they have made us a better climber.

So here’s what I love about being short:

-I can keep excellent tension. Because I have a shorter body to connect, I’m able to drive hard through my feet, keep my core tight, and move well through steep climbing.

-High feet are my secret (or not so secret) weapon. I climb well in a small box. I’m able to generate and stand up through very scrunchy feet or pull through high heel hooks.

-I get to do some crazy, fun beta. Being short forces me to get really creative with my beta. I enjoy figuring out the puzzle of what works well for my body. Then, when I come across a climb that fits me well and is straightforward, I'm able to execute really quickly.

Wishing distracts us from the task at hand. It may even self-fulfill failure. We end up fighting ourselves instead of working with what we have.

So take some time today to think about what your body has taught you and how it's made you a better climber.