Let me explain. The weather has been getting nicer and
nicer. I’ve been riding a lot, for me at least, in the last few weeks and
getting into some good shape and really putting in a solid set of base miles.
It’s really been working, because I’ve been feeling motivated, excited, and
most importantly like I’m making solid steady progressions in my fitness.
Especially in the last couple of weeks, I feel like I’m getting on top of the pedals
more and feeling good about the coming year.
To top off that already great news, last weekend was my
birthday. I was hoping to say thank you to everyone individually, but it never
happened so I guess I can do it here. Thank you to everyone for the birthday
wishes. With the weather as nice as it was, I think I would have had to try
pretty hard to have a bad birthday. But as it was I couldn’t think of anything
that would make it better, save seeing my parents. On Saturday morning we set
out for a long ride in a sturdy wind. We started with a big group, but it was split
after one of the climbs when there was some confusion as to whether we needed
to wait. But I wasn’t paying much attention, my head was down and I was driving
on trying to catch the guys that beat me up the climb. I caught them and
continued in the wonderfully warm spring air.
I remember feeling such profound happiness when we were
cruising along on a plateau. The grass was beginning to change back to green
from brown and the air smelled like spring time in Wisconsin (ie cow shit). The
late winter clouds began to burn off and unlike just a week ago the views were
so much clearer. You could gaze across from one hilltop to the next and see
that the weather was just as nice over there. The group ended up splitting
again and it was just Skip and myself who brought it home for what turned out
to be a long ride. 110 miles, about 6 hours and 26 minutes, and of course over
6,000 calories burned.
I was beat, but not finished. I was happy to feel like
although I was tired and worn, I was still awake and felt like I could keep
things moving. I made some food and showered, then got read for the evening.
The Cycling club was holding a party at our place for my birthday. I’ll be
honest, I struggled with how hard I should go in the paint, because there was
at least 4 more hours on tap for the next day. At the end of the day, maybe I
should have taken it a little bit easier, but that would have been way less
fun. Plus I think I might have replenished a solid portion of the calories
burned earlier, if thats even possible. But certainly one of the best birthdays
I have had in recent memory. Again, thanks to everyone for it!
And that brings me to today. On this fine Tuesday afternoon
I sit here at my desk at work. Everyone else has left and it’s after 5. I’m
staying late because I need to make up the work I missed while I did my 2 hours
to Belleville. I started the day tired, certainly from a lack of sleep over the
weekend. Motivation was not too high, but I pushed myself to get out and ride
like I told myself I would. Worried I might be over training, I took it easy
for the first 10 minutes. But to my surprise, I didn’t want to take it easy. I
twisted the throttle and ended up riding tempo the whole time. Something I wasn’t
expecting.
And this brings me finally to my point. I am sleepy. I want
to sleep and rest and close my eyes. But not my legs, oh not my legs at all. I
was yawning on the ride, while pushing 38kph into a head wind. The legs felt
rested, but I didn’t. This is really cool, to see my form coming along like
this. But beyond this it is really interesting to feel and be aware of these
happening with my body. Now I’m not saying
I’m some super human guys, but it reminds me of the short film, “World Record”
from the Animatrix series. It really expresses another part of athletics beyond
that primitive thrust for competition. It expresses how sport can help you
understand the world around you in a different way. Feel free to watch it, and
if you have any comments about it, I always love to talk philosophy.
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