Keep Breathing

-Post 3-

You're just below the crux on that 5.whatever climb you've been working.  You have perfect gear placed.  It's a beautiful, crisp, blue-bird fall day with low humidity.  You see the moves and know you can pull them, though this is at your difficulty limit.  You move up, committed to getting through.  You start into the sequence and the strain comes on.  You're trying to move your feet up, trying to keep your hands on that thin rail.  You shift your weight and move your hands up a bit to another hold.  You can see the next hold and know you can get there but you need your feet higher up.  You can't find a place for them.  You start to panic as you can feel the exhaustion hitting you.  You scramble to find your feet, but you're not even looking down.  You're still focused on the next handhold.  You're holding on....holding on...holding on..."falling!"

What happened?  Why did you fall on a sequence you've accomplished on top-rope a half-dozen times?  Why couldn't you pull it off on lead?  The gear was great.  Conditions were perfect.  Your mindset was really positive.  But what happened?  You tensed up and panicked.  Why?  What did you forget to do?  Breathe.