A 2018 Closer

Having spent post of this year at the tremendous age of 29, I suppose the term "end of an era" comes to mind. Not that I can fully comprehend what my physical "peak" was or was not, I do know that, physiologically speaking, I am forever on the down-slope of my physical prowess. Be that as it may, I know my best days on the bike are still in front of me and I can hardly wait. No rush, though. I still have another year and a half of school. But I know I will have hard battles ahead of me for years to come once I hit the masters categories. Those are still years away, but I'll plant the seed now as I mentally begin my patient return to this sport I love. 

many cinnamon rolls were had this holiday season.

Today's ride was short, not so fast, and altogether painful. I still enjoy the pain even when there is no need for it. I do not believe I will have another month off for the rest of my professional-oriented life. I have ridden my bike 13/14 days so far - not to mention one of those days I did a 2-a-day workout while another I was without my Garmin!!! Again, there's no ascertainable reason for my riding except for just that - I want to ride. It's just one more blessing I want to appreciate as much as I can.

brr

These past few rides have afforded me the ability to do some exploration of trails right in my backyard. I haven't discovered them all on my own thanks to the fiance, but they are exciting to ride and explore further after so many years of managing road riding in this area. It must be said that these trails so far are incredibly flat, but at least there's usually a creek nearby.

taken with a very tight grip on the phone

I found this 200lb TV curb-side with a clear sign on it with big capital letters spelling "FREE." I did a number on my biceps transferring this hunk into my car's trunk, but it'll be well used before I'm done with it!

Sweet, sweet FREE! How lucky is that!!?!

This little guy was almost lost, but a vigorous hard-reset brought it back to life... do you see the indents from button mashing on my index finger!?!

Yeah, that was a weird moment. I almost lost my Garmin a few days ago. I turned it on as one does a few moments before heading out the door to ride, and the sucker decided to punch out. Determined to not let a little computer get in the way of me having a good ride, I set out without it and came to terms with its demise somewhere in those 1.5 hour jaunt. At some point the next day I looked up the hard-reset and it worked - though I had to hold it for longer than what the various instructions said to - nothing to lose I guess. Before resuscitating it, I did look up and weigh up replacements. I almost pulled the trigger too. Holding true to my non-impulsive nature during my 24 hours without a Garmin, I was of course reminded that I did not need a computer that tracks my every effort in order to ride. It's a nice thing to have, but there is no way I need it. Part of me finds it completely unnecessary to even train with. It's a coach's tool, but for me - I do not believe I actually need it to train. Anway, I don't actually have to be without it so I'll table this debate for another day... or never.

I had to replace my rear tire last week. This bump was unbecoming of the trainer rides I so diligently put myself through.

I usually have longer runs on my cheap tires

I think this is where I will leave this aimless post. I'm hungry and need to drink more water.

Thanks for reading.

It's Been Too Long

Let's not drag our feet here... I've not been on this for a long time.

Since my last postings, a lot has naturally happened. It's the end of 2018 and I have caught my mind drifting to the time and effort I used to put into this. By whatever role it serves me, I always look fondly at this space.

the atrophy is real

Reflecting now on what brings me back... I would have to say it began at my legs. I was out for a ride the other day... other week - recent memory nonetheless, and I had a feeling from my legs I haven't experienced since my first year of riding. It was internal. Something purely in the language of my mind, body, and the billions of connections between. Tied to memories of my developing legs where there's fatigue, but it wasn't quite that.... The jungle gym my brain is trying to negotiate to explain what I felt is irrelevant. What I felt during that ride effectively brought me back to when I began riding and when I fell in love with it.

I've kept up riding since I last posted here. I've had my biggest cycling success (keep reading for a touch more on that) as well as my absolute toughest personal trials (and a triumph or two) since I last posted here. I'll keep this primarily to cycling, but I will say that over two years on from my last posting here, I have so much to appreciate in life. I am headed into the future with a direction, purpose, and partner that has backed me through it all.

"yes" in her words, not mine (also we got that stone down-sized since)

That ride that put that apparently indescribable feeling back into my legs also planted a seed that has me excited to revisit this as well as the future I still have in cycling. I'm in a doctor of physical therapy program in Northern VA until August, 2020. I will not likely be racing until the spring/summer of 2021. How old will I be then?... (literally taking a minute to think on this one) 32! I'll be 32 years old. I imagine I will be riding as much as I can during that summer of 2020, but racing will probably not be in the cards since I will have spent these last 3 years full-time in this program. My body will have changed from now and then. I have already noticed changes, but I also know that I will be able to control them when I focus up again to train to race. I wish it could start in earnest now, but I won't act like I haven't enjoyed putting so much effort to gaining the knowledge and skills that I will be using for years as a physical therapist... and cyclist.

note the light mount here... I really need to get a proper commuting bike.

I last posted here a few months before this, my third ever win. It was huge for me. I cried on my long drive home from it. It meant so much... more than I realized. It felt good. Really good. Addictive good. Even now I can still tap into it. It put a lot of self-belief back inside me. I will look back on it when I begin to train again and it will fuel me. You all deserved me posting in a big way about it, but I've just boiled it down for you. It won't be my last time I find the podium (and the top step thereof).

1st is so rare for me... the unnecessary bike throw is just how badly I needed to make sure I had it. also, I pinned my front wheel to the black between the yellow lines for that sprint to be sure I kept myself straight through to the line after I flew past a rider I had fooled into leading me out to the last corner. this race had everything I wanted to win with.

spot the garmin, then spot how much wind it's hitting...

Anyway, glad to see you're still here.

Maybe I'll post some stuff about my PT school journey to occupy some time and space. I do ride my bike the 13.5 miles in when I can (mentally or otherwise). Sorry-not-sorry for the poor writing this post. I'll work on it as I post more.

Thanks for reading.