A little over twenty miles were behind me and admittedly, they were not as enjoyable as I would have liked. My pace was easy-going. It was the last of my long rides. It was an 80-mile loop through a beautiful countryside, with rolling hills. I had sunshine and only a few stray clouds overhead. So, why was I keeping the joy from coming?
I've been training all year with Ironman Louisville in mind. My most challenging training, with the exception of this long ride was done, and I should have been thrilled. Instead however, I allowed my training to be perceived as work in the last few days, and this ride was no exception. This ride became something I had to do, instead of something I really wanted to do. This told me a few things. One, this had to be my last long ride because I was ready for a break. Two, I am about as ready as I'm going to be to toe the line in Louisville, and finally, that I was losing sight of why I do this.
When I recognized the feelings I was having I was disappointed in myself. I thought, "Man you are selfish! It is a Friday, in the middle of the day. The sun is shining. There isn't much wind, the roads are smooth, you have a wonderful bike, and the ability to ride it. Look around. The grass is green, the trees are full of healthy leaves, and you out here doing what you love. How many others can say this?"
The next thing I did was clear my mind. I listened to the birds singing. I looked across a rolling cornfield that led to a quiet woods where a deer was standing. I saw a dragonfly zip by.
Next...I smiled. I smiled and kept smiling. I almost laughed from the sheer joy I was experiencing from being on my bike and moving across the earth. I shook my head thinking about the fact that I wasn't enjoying myself only moments earlier and I said a little prayer in my head.
God, thank you! Thank you for this beautiful day! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity! Thank
you for the ability to ride, and to enjoy this experience! Please forgive me for taking all of this for
granted. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Amen!
Now even though I was lovin' life, feelin' good, and praisin' God, I had to put my game face on when a car came cruising over the hill I was climbing. I couldn't be grinning like an idiot after all.
Even after I made lemonade out of what appeared to be lemons, I still had some stirring to do. When I reached roughly 40 miles, it was about time to make a turn that would put the wind at my back, and I loves me a tailwind. My energy was starting to get a bit low, but a little GU energy gel and the tailwind brought me back to life. I was almost effortlessly rolling down the road that was leading me home. The grinnin' idiot was on the inside, but I maintained my bada**, guy riding his bicycle 80 miles look for any passersby.
"Clunk! Pssssssst!"
Of course I knew, as readily as you did when you read this, that I had a flat tire. I wasn't upset, I wasn't mad, I don't even think I swore. I could have been upset. I could have been mad. Heck, this was my fourth flat tire this season. I'd had my share of flats and I didn't need another. No, instead of contributing to my negative circumstance with a negative response, I calmly got off my bike, and changed the tube. Although the tire was battered and pushed to the brink of a long season, both the tire and tub held up, and I was able to finish my ride.
This was another adventure in my journey down the Road to Ironman Louisville, and although it took me 20 miles into this particular adventure to appreciate the day, it was a great one!
Peace.
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