Is it your strength? Your power? Your mindset? The answer is more complex than any single factor. While physical strength is important, sending a climb is influenced by a blend of elements—technique, projecting strategies, consistent training, mental focus, and even the things that happen outside of the gym or crag. Your sleep, your nutrition, your stress levels, and your recovery practices all play a role to send or not. Each of these contributes to one larger idea: preparedness.
Preparedness is the foundation of performance. It isn’t the only determining factor, but it is a major one—and more importantly, it’s something we can control. Being prepared means setting yourself up for success in every way that you can. It’s a daily practice, a form of self-respect, and an act of self-love that often yields meaningful results over time.
How to Prepare
When it comes to climbing, preparation shows up in many forms. From having a clear, structured training plan, to practicing intentional movement and improving your technique, to prioritizing sleep and eating to fuel performance—it all matters. The version of you who neglects sleep, skips training sessions, and climbs without intention will never outperform the version of you who consistently commits to improvement.
Climbing hard takes commitment. Life, of course, isn’t always accommodating. Work, family, and responsibilities can pull your attention and reduce the time and energy you have to train. That’s why it’s essential to build systems and habits that support your climbing over the long haul. Small, intentional changes—trading a late night for more sleep, replacing processed food with more whole nutrition, swapping mindless scrolling for visualization work—add up. Whether you’re planning for tomorrow’s gym session or your goal route next season, those habits compound. And the best part? They’re all within your reach.
Sleep well. Eat to fuel. Train smart. Study movement. Reflect. Then repeat. The impact these habits have on your performance can be felt surprisingly quickly in your energy levels, endurance, and mental resilience.
Send or Not
At Summit, we’re all about training. We understand the effort it takes to build and stick to a consistent plan—and that’s a stress we aim to reduce. So, that’s why we provide free, structured training programs around the gym for our Key Members. These plans are designed to meet you where you’re at, whether you’re chasing your first V5 or projecting your long-term dream line. You’ll also find our coaches ready to chat and help you tailor your approach.
If you are not a key club member, do not fret. We also have training plans and virtual coaching available to you. These include stock climbing and mountain fitness plans or custom-made plans with a 90-minute strength assessment.
Following a well-thought-out plan increases your physical preparedness, improves your climbing IQ, and builds the mental edge you need—from sending your next gym route to topping out a years-long project.
The send starts long before you tie in. It starts with how you prepare. Send or not, its up to you and your preparation.