I've become more of a climber now - who still keeps that time trial as strong as ever. It gives me such self-belief. I feel a different athlete.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I feel like I'm climbing as well, if not better, than ever.
I have always let my motivation guide me, and that has served me well. Climbing has taught me how to thrive and created a life that I feel incredibly lucky to have.
One of the reasons I wrote 'The Fall' is that climbing's more than a sport, it's a way of life. When you're in it, it's all you think about.
When you are on a climb, you always pick out people's words of encouragement, and it can push us on, without doubt.
I don't regard myself as a cracking good climber. I'm just strong in the back. I have a lot of enthusiasm, and I'm good on ice.
I enjoy every climb - maybe it's because it's a literal dance between life and death.
Anytime you finish a climb, there's always the next thing you can try.
Big climbs energize me. It's all the other aspects of being a pro-climber that wear me down. The travel and expeditions and training can become pretty tiring. But the actual big climbs - that's what I live for.
I think climbing is less a sport and more a hobby, and as such, I think everybody's a beginning climber.
I happily claim expertise in no single aspect of climbing, which is what has kept the passion burning hot all these years.