Been away far too long......

 

Not enough of these days anymore

Priorities, Distractions and Everything In Between

A lot has happened since the previous post. Too many times I would be at my computer late into the evening, thinking I need to update the BLOG - only to be distracted by what would otherwise be described as "priorities". The consulting workload has been considerable, leaving no time to ride. One may think that living as close as I do to all the available trails locally, I'd be on my mountain bike regularly. The image above is the one and only time I took the full-sus out this past season. Long gone are the days of coming home from work and jetting out on my bike, onto the dirt until the daylight was gone. For that matter, gone are a lot of other things as well. I believe it was John Lennon that said " Life is what happens when you are busy making plans". I suppose that is the stuff n between.

Something I learned along time ago is how we as a species have a tendency to make our own priorities. In fact, more often than not it is what we choose to do, rather than what has to be done. I'm sure there are those things that press us into a corner, but it is what we do before that situation comes about. 20-years ago I was working terrible hours, traveling around the globe while meeting other peoples expectations - but somehow I would still roll out of bed at 04:00 to get a hard spin-class in before starting the day. Even when I was on the road, sicker than a dog, I would still put in a solid 45-minutes on an elliptical at whatever crappy hotel I found myself in. Maybe there is more to that motivation thing after all. Or...maybe the years are starting to catch up with me? NAH! I'm just inherently lazy......

Feed Zone Marshal Experience

Riders coming into the Feed Zone Neutral - Afton, Wyoming

My crew has been doing this whole LOTOJA thing for nearly 20-years as a family. We took the three youngest kids up to Afton, providing support at that feed zone this year. Normally they see the "old man" getting out of the truck in the dark at Logan, then chasing the race across the course over the entire day - watching for the old fat guy, dragging his tongue in the dirt throughout the day. This years experience was very different- in a positive way. We started around 07:30 setting up the entire feed zone from scratch. We were in the company of perhaps seven other people, with only a couple of them having ever ridden/raced this, if any event. Most people just take pride in being part of something bigger than themselves. It was interesting to see how the race unfolds from the Pro, 1,2's coming through, to the last of the riders trying to beat the cut-off. Of course, seeing the 800 frame numbers roll through, cut like a jagged piece of glass, as that was my group. You could spot the first timers just by their saucer sized eyes and the abject look of pain like they had never felt before - loving every minute of it. When it was over, we rolled up the operation and tied a few "knots", knowing that the earliest finishers would have only just been rolling in eighty-something miles away. Heading home that evening, we made traditional stop in Randolph, but being race day, there was no long string of vehicles carrying bikes passing by. Some day, hopefully not too soon, this event will be only a memory and those familiar things will fade with other things that we lose in our lives.

Whether you ride, or not - I highly recommend volunteering at a remote feed zone and experience this from that particular perspective. It is truly bigger than anyone's self.

Where to go from here?

There are a lot of things in the mix - none have yet to be settled. We're gonna try making a few changes to the "Porpoise" going forward - as it has become a bit stagnant. Not giving away too much, lets leave it at; everything needs a little restructuring and modification from time to time. Who knows, maybe there will be more dirt in the forecast. There will be a change in the emphasis as it needs a little more direction going forward - for sure.

An Update

The past two seasons have been centered around a class mate and his own battle with the "Big-C". Initially only given maybe 6-months to live, Reed proved those "experts" wrong and pressed a solid and remarkable 20-months out of it all. Like so many things, the final score doesn't tell the tale. No way! He took this thing into extra innings with countless miracles along the way. It was truly a rough ride. Perhaps the most obvious miracle was his angel of a wife - another class mate. I don't believe in mere coincidence and am certain she made the difference between the experts being correct and his willingness to endure. She literally gave him the will to fight and live. In the quiet that follows, we all have that moment of reflection and reconning.  In this case it will be what drives the direction of "Porpoise" for this next season.

This year is about done. Stick around, or occasionally drop by.

"Happy Ways" Pre-Eagle Joe

Ride HARD!