RIM Club - Feb 7: Hannah Donnelly - The Road Back To Living

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splitclimber

climber

Sonoma County

Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 25, 2017 - 10:40am PT

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2017 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Directions: From Highway 101 at Santa Rosa go west on Highway 12 to Stony Point Road Exit. Go straight from the middle lane at the light onto Occidental Road. The Round Table Pizza is on the right just down the road.

Hannah Donnelly is a young, enthusiastic wanderer always in search for the next adventure. She has been climbing and competing for 10 years and has dedicated every ounce of her being to the sport and community. Hannah understands the dedication and mentality it takes to be at the top level and with her planned career in high level sports massage and bodywork on the horizon, she is excited and dedicated to use her own struggles to help other athletic enthusiasts reach their goals.

Growing up in the USAC Youth climbing program, Hannah never felt quite complete. The endless training, traveling and competitions on a nationally ranked team for 8+ years started to take their toll. It’s easy to get stuck in that same routine and thus, climbing had lost a bit of its “magic” that was so prevalent in the beginning. It became a job, an obligation, a chore and not the lifestyle she was drawn to and dreamed about having. As Hannah’s last years in youth climbing competition approached, she was hit with the BIGGEST challenge. What if climbing wasn’t an option any longer? She had never thought about that before, however, facing a needed spinal fusion surgery, now made that a frightening reality.

Having not one, but two spine surgeries in a three-month period, climbing again seemed hardly a possibility, however with determination everything is possible. Climbing wasn’t a chore anymore, the thought of it became Hannah’s lifeline, the only thing that kept her from the deep hole of depression and doubt was the thought of being on the rock.

In her presentation, Hannah will talk openly about her struggles through recovery from back surgery, finding climbing again in a new light, adjusting to her high bred expectations to live within a “new normal”, and her big climbing goals and trips for 2017 and beyond.

photo: Jim Thornburg

http://www.rockicemountain.org/

c wilmot

climber

Jan 25, 2017 - 12:25pm PT

Good for her. Back injuries can be so debilitating to not only your body but your mental well being. Its a hard pill to swallow being told you cant do what you have previously done and loved. Good on her for rising up and getting back to where she wants her life to be

caughtinside

Social climber

Oakland, CA

Jan 25, 2017 - 12:29pm PT

That top shot is a Jim Thornburg photo of A local Napa route on Table Mountain, the Ultramega. Check it out!

chainsaw

Trad climber

Jan 25, 2017 - 12:38pm PT

Wishing you all the best, Hannah D. If you are looking for a holistic health mentor who got me into climbing, yoga and body therapy, contact Andrea Shanti (Bumb-Fujimoto) of holistic body therapy. Tell her I sent you. She is up in Shasta city.

Summit Party