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Cruising along Last week I actually went home from work. Which I announced on Facebook. I was coughing (I'm asthmatic), headachey and muscle sore. Numerous friends called, worried about me. I am not known for giving in to illness or leaving work in the middle of the day. I was back the next day after several hours of extra sleep and lots of vitamin C and some Cold Tea (that's the name of it). I recover quickly. I even managed to get two rides in during the week, although they were shorter than the normal 5-6 miles I usually take. My breathing was a little off. And then this morning, I decided I would ride at least 20 miles. When I'm just not up to par - say my breathing is slightly compromised - riding is less fun, more like work. I still enjoy myself but I have to use all kinds of strategies to keep me going. This morning I was riding alone and decided to pay attention to the strategies I use to keep me going when I really don't want to. I noticed I rest more on the downhill runs, not trying to increase my speed on the decline. I'm thinking I do that in other parts of my life, too. I also noticed I keep my head down on the hills, trying not to constantly peek at the top of the hill. When I'm in the middle of a long hill and tired already, looking up at my goal does NOT energize me. But keeping my head down, keeping up my pace and visualizing myself not at the top but already on the other side, does. I'm guessing I do that in other parts of my life, too. I know I do that when I backpack the Grand Canyon. So all this thinking got me to wondering which came first - did I learn these strategies from taking up bike riding in my 50s or did I use these strategies all along and then just carry them over into my bike riding? I believe the latter. It's just that the peculiarities of bike riding make the strategies more evident. It's amazing to me how much bike riding is like backpacking. If I can see myself at the end of the hike and I concentrate on the journey rather than the goal, I always get back to the car unassisted and happy that I've taken time to hit the trail. I probably learned the head down, keep plodding trick climbing up the Devil's Corkscrew on the Bright Angel Trail in the GC. I haven't ever even counted the switchbacks. I don't want to know because ultimately I will get there when I get there. I'm thinking I treat life pretty much the same. No matter what the obstacle - if I can just envision myself beyond the obstacle, I'll get there. Perhaps not unscathed but that's okay, too. I learn best by making mistakes and then reclaculating. Kind of like riding a bike. |
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