One
of my cycling buddies and ALC donor kindly pointed out that I hadn’t posted any
updates on my training and experience with ALC this year. I looked at my blog
and he was right, in fact I hadn’t posted much of anything since the start of
this year. I wish I could say I’ve been busy writing on my wellness blog but
unfortunately that would be a lie since I haven’t posted much on there as well.
I have a long list of great blog titles followed by white space. I haven’t been
able to pinpoint it to lack of motivation, busyness, or writer’s fatigue.
Digging a little
deeper I realized that’s kind of how training has been for me this season. As
you may remember I did my first ALC ride, 3 years ago. I was a complete nube,
hence the novice cyclist series, and with the help of some amazing ride
leaders, supportive family and friends, and an internal drive I not only did
ALC but I did every effin inch of ALC and LOVED IT! The ALC high brought me
back for year 2, which wasn’t as amazing as year 1 but I chalk that up to
“first timers effect”. The ride was intense last year and I had almost decided
it was my last year until I finished and that “high” flushed over me… again!
So, of course, I signed up.
And here I am a week
away from “take off” and feeling like that nube from 2 years ago who wore
panties underneath her bike shorts. Albeit I believe the old sang, “Once you
learn how to ride a bike you never forget” and although my brain and body
haven’t forgotten my sit bones certainly have! Needless to say I went from
training 3 days a week in year 1 to 3 days a month in year 3. It’s going to
make for an interesting and adventurous ride.
Last week “taper
down” training ride was a mere 67 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing, my brain
translated that to 167 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing and immediately began
blasting the “I can’t ” story… ON REPEAT! I have heard this story before in
Crossfit or on a long run but it had been a while since I heard it on the bike.
I spent the first 20 miles trying to shut down the obnoxious voice in my head
that kept saying “it’s too hard, let’s go home, I’m tired, I shouldn’t be doing
this right now, I don’t feel well” somewhere on the climb the story lost steam
or maybe my muscles needed more fuel and decided to shut down the auto repeat
cd player in my head. FINALLY. I could see the colors around me; smell the
fresh air and smile.
Meditation and Yoga
teaches me that moment is a new moment. Who I was when I started writing this
post is not “exactly” who I am right now and who I will be at the end of this
post. Subtle shifts are constantly occurring and our intelligent beings adapt
and keep moving forward. I realized that each time I get on my bicycle and ride
a part of me IS still a nube but another part of me is experienced and knows
how to keep moving forward. One stroke at a time. Therefore each ride will be
unique and filled with its own challenges and triumphs. Am I ready to take on
the challenge this year? I don’t know. But I know I will embrace it and keep
moving forward.
The
journey continues…Stay tuned…
mettaLv
Ritu Riyat
p.s. donations are
still being accepted, please visit www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ibike
