April and May have been bad months (ha, who am I fooling, February and March too!), too many injuries, failed workouts, medical issues for the very best dad in the world. I’m not training right now. No running. No Swimming. But I can ride again.
Saturday was a cold, gray blustery March day, in May. And since I’m not training, I didn’t have to face the misery of the weather, I took a day off! Sunday brought sun, breeze, and 60 degrees. Time to rediscover my love of sports.
Where do I go for this? To the trails. On my mountain bike. With my friends. And you know what. It worked! I cannot run right now. I cannot swim right now. But I can ride. So, ride I wlll. And ride I did!
It was so great to be back on the dirt. I love my mountain bike. Hopping on the bike, I felt happy. The first mile is a long easy climb. You get warmed up, bounce over a few roots, fly down a short swoopy twisty section, sans brakes, and it feels good. And I'm smiling. We chat. Laugh. Bounce along. On occasion, I feel the flow of the trail, and on occasion, I nail a corner, and on occasion, I really flub one up. The skills are hiding somewhere in my brain, so I keep trying to talk them out of my brain and into my body and bike. Sometimes they are there, sometimes totally NOT. We climb up the long Aynes climb, I'm breathing loudly as it steepens past a mile. That was expected as I have done very little for the past month that would give me power up the long climb. I’m relieved when it mellows out a bit, and you get a little swoop downhill through the green fern covered hillside. I try not to be too cautious on the off camber rocky downhill, and have a little success, hit the brakes maybe a little too often, but I’m feeling happy, and enjoying myself like I have not done in months. I clear the three rock gardens at the top of HP and I haven’t done that in a longggggggggg time. More smiles. Even on the newer intermediate trail with lots of rocks, even though I flub up, A LOT, I still smile.
After almost three hours, we are back at the car. I’m tired. But happy. I’m coming back. I’ll be back!
7 comments:
You can totally tell how in your 'element' you are when you are on your mountain bike, Cheryl. It really comes through in your writing. I'm that you are at least still able to ride... hoping this week brings you a string of gorgeous days to show your bike some more love. :o)
You WILL be back. ( no not trying to go all Schwarznager on you, how do you spell Arnold's name anyhoot?)
Hang in there and sending good vibes to dad.
YAY! BOOBIEDO!
I'm pretty sure I got that feeling this wekend on a trail run. It was awesome. Just you and the woods and friends..Glad you had a great ride!
Oh Cheryl..I'm behind reading blogs. I didn't realize you were so injured. I'm sorry..the shoulder is from AZ?
I'm So happy you got off for soem fun on your mtn bike! that's great. You have a great attitude and that will heal everything. hope your dad is ok.
Hooray for an awesome bike ride! It sounds like you had an amazing ride...yay! :)
Sounds like an awesome ride--wish I had been there! I miss you girls. Y'all all have to come visit me down here in the Virginia mountains. I just got my new MTB and am getting back into the groove.
Hope you can continue to heal up and, more importantly, have fun!!!
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