Waypoints & Guidance

North Fork in May?

 Drawing Forward

Three are times that writing just doesn't come at all. Despite having a lot to say and more to reflect...it just won't formulate a sentence, much less an entire post. If there is one thing that endurance events develop, it is a character trait that compels one to keep driving ahead. Over time, you will learn to keep driving toward the great unseen thing well over the horizon. Always respecting the here and now, you have to keep that vision of what is known to be, but yet cannot see - always driving forward. Moreso, the pain and affliction along the way have to be taken as only temporary. The object, hard to see but only in your mind, has to remain as clear in your soul as though it defines you and by default - you define it in the end.

A brief little Sunday afternoon get-away to Utaba.

A light has gone out

Sunday morning I caught the news I new would come someday - although not appreciating the inevitable and absolute emptiness that always accompanies such life events. Perhaps that light flickered for those close to the situation, adding to the anguish of what was happening - only to eventually be completely removed. Regardless, a light that shined ever so bright for too many people, has been removed. A beacon of truth and direction that gave a certain guidance, that only could be appreciated after an enveloping darkness has replaced it - or has it? As that light has gone it's course, it served to guide us forward into the open, that we could see without it's brilliant illuminance. What we thought would have been a remaining darkness is actually an enhanced ability to see the brilliance of what does in fact remain for us - those left behind.

I took a few minutes this evening to swing by and pay my respects - but to also see a dear old friend. He just celebrated his 90th birthday, but is left to make it without his better half of nearly eight decades. One of the last to be left standing, its hard to explain how difficult it is to think that someday that light will also be gone. As with his other half, that light guided so many, so far back, it is only with sentiment that we long for those days of our past - when that light was always our guide. I have been fortunate - blessed to have had those lights in my life. 

A storm lowing in over the Black Mountain

Seeing "it" come....

Watching that storm blow in over the Black Mountain Sunday evening was a cold reminder of what we know is coming, but dismiss as just another storm. We know what's coming, but yet shrug it off as just another squall. Perhaps we can learn to appreciate all opportunities and not walk past those that may never come our way again. Perhaps we never will - until we can no longer reach out and touch that of which we now take for granted. Lets not let that next opportunity blow by again.........

A helluva week trying to beat the weather. More hill intervals for now, with regular indoor stuff to bridge the gap. A few minor adjustments to the hardtail, with the new saddle. I think a good long ride is in order. Suck it up, dress for the weather and just get passed the minor inconveniences we think set us back.

Click here for "Play Me" Neil Diamond

Pulling for Reed - Ride HARD!

Pushing Through Setacks

 

As if it weren't hard enough...

Between schedules and intermittent weather, one must learn to improvise while remaining diligent. Such has been the case thus far this season. Trying a new type of saddle on the hardtail, doing some hill interval training, I'm still not getting my heartrate up where I want it. Add to that some delayed onset heart-rhythm things and it just seems to keep getting harder every year. I'm still clear to ride, but am having to take blood-thinners for a couple weeks to setup for some more tests. This means I have to be cautious when riding - especially in the dirt. This has been more annoying than anything, but I still have to pay attention to what I'm doing. Truth is, there is a serious chance I may get pulled for part, if not all of the season. I'm having none of that garbage. We'll see what the next couple of weeks brings along.

Going with what has worked before

Intervals have always been a good "go-to" for me. This goes back many decades when I would run stairs by myself, to the point I would nearly puke. The 1/2-mile hill climb has always been a reliable leg builder. It also helps with form and some great anaerobic training - when I feel like pushing it harder. It takes immense concentration to really drive to the point of extreme physical exertion, but it can be done. I'll give it another shot later this week - when my schedule permits. What I would give to have a training partner sometimes.....

A lot of people have the idea that you just simply ride a bike and that constitutes some sort of training. Maybe it does, but I'll call it passive, if not coincidental training at best. All rides have to fill a specific purpose and objective. Recreational riding doesn't do it. There are times I'll be doing a fairly long ride and somebody else rolls up and wants to get "frisky". There is a fine line between "chasing the rabbit" and staying on task. Blowing-up can result in a setback and should always be a measured response. At the end of the day, there has to be tremendous sacrifice to train rather than just stacking rec-miles. That's how it is with every sport; you train a lot more than your event will ever require. At that, you can't expect to perform any better than during training. If you truly want to ride hard, you have to train harder yet.

Talking gets you nowhere

I was at a soccer game a week ago, watching a little kids team get pasted. After the game, I overheard the coach say "we have a lot to talk about next practice". It then became clear; this guy was a lecturer and not really a coach. Talking is only good for basic and immediate instruction. Our bodies need constant repetition of correct functions to learn how to do something. Call it muscle memory, or simple learned behavior - you can't talk your body into something it's not used to doing. Perhaps this is where culture and behavior come together? Sure you have to say it at some point, but if that is all you do is talk, be prepared to fail - at least not exactly succeed. 

Moving Along.......

This week appears to have some interesting aspects. Lets see if I can make it through without totally screwing-up again.

I'm not sure why, but this one seemed to be the pick for the week.......

Click here for "Galveston" - Glen at his finest....

Pulling for Reed - Ride HARD!