Week's Rides (not to be confused with Weak Rides)

4/21 Thursday
Rode 17 miles in 1 hr. 14 min.
Added in lots of hills.

4/23 Saturday
I was sunburned from Luke's football game, and then sitting out at his friend's football game. Well, that and not putting on enough sun screen! The heat made me feel sooo tired. But, I stuck to my new routine and got on my bike.
Rode 10 miles in 38 min.
Speed ride.

And... today:) 90s, humid, and windy. Fun ride though. Even while I'm working really, really hard riding I am happy. I love it -seeing the wind blow through the fields, the scissor tail birds on the wires, the farmers waving, Indian blanket and Indian paintbrushes and many wild flowers I don't know, and the NICE dogs who come out and greet me and then follow me (I had to lay on the speed and drop this super sweet dog before s/he got far from home). I know this riding is to try to train for a marathon again, but right now I am enjoying the journey very much! I'm also feeling very grateful that my husband works really hard and is so smart, allowing me to have a flexible work schedule. Over the weekend when we were having friends over I worked super hard around the house. I cooked a delicious dinner (toot my own horn): rosemary chicken, ham, home made bread and strawberry shortcake. That day I felt I earned this "day off".. yet while I was riding I just kept thinking how very lucky I am.

33 miles + 2 miles on mountain bike making two trips to pool to cool off (first time I forgot my key... I just wanted to jump in the pool!!)

4/19: The Moment

One of my favorite quotes goes "take care of the moments, and the days take care of themselves". I'm not even sure when or where I first heard it. It was years ago as I struggled to lose weight after my two babies. I found that taking care of this moment, this choice, would also take care of the extra pounds!

Today it was hot and windy. While I enjoyed the wind at my back, I also found myself worrying/stressing about when I would need to turn into the wind about half way through the long ride. Could I do it? How many times do we worry about facing the wind head on, instead of being totally present and fully feeling the joy of the wind at our back, the joy and ease in life? I told myself I could rise (or crouch) to meet the challenge when the time came, but for now enjoy the ride! And I did, as I sailed down a hill at 30 miles per hour!!

I hope the wind is at your back today, as the Irish saying goes. If it is, enjoy it! If you are meeting a challenge head on, remember you will turn a corner and things will feel easier.

27.8 miles
2 hours 5 minutes

Green Church

4-12-11

My goal was to ride the loop that brings me to the green church out in the country. It is a long loop, 27 miles. When I went with Page to San Antonio and sat in the church where some of the Alamo heroes are buried, I found peace and silence. In a book I read recently "In Pursuit of Silence" he talks about churches being designed with high, sloped roofs because it facilitates silence. It was so quiet in there, every little noise was magnified. I think no matter your religion, or lack of one, sitting in silence or in nature with peaceful, soothing sounds, can bring you peace- and then you carry that peace into every aspect of your life.

So I rode, and rode. Finally I arrived at the church. I stopped nearby. I wondered if I could go in, bike clothes and all! I decided against that, but just gazed at the beautiful church with its stain glass windows and listened to someone singing inside.

I got a great work out in for my physical self, but so much more than that.

27 miles
1 hr 45 minutes

The Experience You Want and the One You Need

I tell my birth clients that they may not get the experience they want, but they will get the experience they *need*. Even if things go haywire, there are valuable lessons to learn. Sometimes it is the need to educate yourself in pregnancy, choose your birth team carefully, learn to speak up for yourself, etc.

Well, after a busy weekend and not getting a ride in, I wanted a slow, long bike ride. As it turned out, I had to focus ALL my thoughts and energy on keeping my bike on the ground! It was a blustery day, I mean the wind was literally whistling (or roaring?). I got about 8 miles in and decided to head home! Going against the wind was so difficult. I felt like I was spinning in place. When I turned and the wind was at my side, it was so scary! A couple times, gusts almost blew me off the road and I had to sharply turn to stay on the road. And, the whole time it was at my side I felt like I was wrestling my handle bars, turning them into the wind. When the wind was at my back it was SO FUN!! I was going 25 mph without working hard.

As I rode I thought this is what I needed. First of all, it was good to FOCUS just on my bike ride (and staying upright) and drown out all my other thoughts and worries. Second, the little things and worries faded away as I worried whether I was going to crash. Any brush with danger and fear makes life crystal clear, and so much of what we stress about is really unimportant and temporary, leaves to be blown away in the wind.

Estimated time (my clock kept tracking while I was driving...weird):
12 miles
1 hour