I’m not, objectively, a very fast runner, but I’m also not someone who is adept at slowing down. If I know that it is going to take me X minutes to go for the run that I put on my calendar between meetings, I won’t get out the door until I have X-1 minutes for the run. This is not a strategy to run faster, but a flaw where I prioritize finishing one last thing in a never-ending quest to be productive.

Finding Balance at Petra Cliffs

But that’s not the case when I go climbing at Petra Cliffs. Thanks to RunVermont being a Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce (LCCC) member, Petra Cliffs offering a discount to employees of LCCC members,* and needing an indoor winter activity for my kids when it isn’t skiing weather, my husband and I are now on our second three-month membership. We try to go twice a month with our kids (on the weekend when it is sheer chaos and I’m lucky if I even take my climbing shoes out of my tote bag) and once a week just the two of us. 

blog_pxl_20260207_193643082_original.jpgNon-Zen Day at Petra

Slowing Down Between Vermont Running Events

Those mid-week climbs are frequently one of the highlights of my week. I get to spend real time with someone who I frequently have conversations with on scintillating topics such as “who is going to try not to forget the kids at school on each day of the week.” I get to be one of five people at Petra. I get to calmly look at the wall and try to figure out what’s a foot hold and what’s a hand hold. I get to flop on my back after falling and not immediately get up. I get to slow down the day. Whether I’m training for upcoming an upcoming race in Vermont or just trying to maintain my sanity, these moments are essential.

Building Strength Beyond the Run

I’m also getting to see real improvements and strengthen arm and hand muscles that are mostly relegated to typing, driving, and picking up small humans. Those V-Funs that I started on are now just for my kids (one of whom we have nicknamed V-Fun) and the high-fives that I get from my husband after finally nailing a V-2 or finishing the slab of the week feel extra special. But even if I only make it two holds further, the benefits to my wellbeing are immeasurable. I’m dating my spouse, taking a break, thinking about something other than work and my kids, finding some Zen. 

Finding Your Own Pace

Ultimately, finding my "Zen" at the climbing gym has made me a more resilient athlete when I return to the roads. It’s a reminder that running in Vermont isn't just about the miles on the GPS or the X-1 minutes we squeeze between meetings; it’s about the community we build and the grace we give ourselves to slow down.

Whether you are scaling a wall at Petra Cliffs or lining up for one of the many upcoming running/walking events in Vermont, remember that the strongest versions of ourselves are built during those moments when we step away from the "never-ending quest to be productive" and simply enjoy the climb. I’ll see you out there—hopefully a little more rested and a lot more centered.

* I cannot say enough good things about Petra Cliffs participating in the LCCC Member-to-Member Savings. It provides a nice little discount, but it also provides suggestions on things to do or businesses to support. RunVermont is also on there (discounted relay entries) along with our Waste Management Partner, Bin There Dump That. And if you, as an employer, want to take that benefit a step further for your employees, consider also participating in the RunVermont Company Health & Wellness Initiative.