Nothing was keeping me off the bike trail. Well, almost
nothing. I’ll get to that in a minute.
I dug my bike out from hibernation and pumped up the tires
and attached the bag and the odometer/speedometer computer thingy (that’s the
technical term, I’m pretty sure). I attached the bike rack to my spare tire
(remind me to ask for a trailer hitch and new bike rack for my birthday this
year) and hoisted my bike onto it. Then I spent a minute staring at the strap I
use to secure the bike to the rack like I’d never seen it before. It’s only
been four months and change since I’d done it before, but I couldn’t for the
life of me remember how I threaded that thing around my bike. After four tries,
those brain cells came back to life and my bike was securely attached to the
rack.
I chose to get on the trail in the small town of Marwood
because I wanted to see the cows and turkeys I hadn’t seen since October. It’s also
where a relatively open part of the trail begins and thought it was my best bet
for a dry(er) ride. I shifted my bike into four-wheel drive – relatively
speaking – and started pedaling. I never got above 8 miles per hour, the mud
was so thick. My lungs and thighs were working overtime. ‘Killer workout!’ I
thought. I was psyched.
Then…wham!
Did I mention we had 10 inches of snow last Tuesday? Yeah…I
kind of forgot about that.
I turned around and four-wheeled back to the Jeep. I strapped
the bike back on the rack, and then took off in the other direction on foot. I
had The Black Keys on my iPod and the sun in my face…I was ready to power walk.
 |
| On vacation in southern CA, 2008 |
I knew right away this wasn’t going to be an ordinary walk. Suddenly,
it was 2008, and the bike trail had turned into Topanga Beach in southern
California. Talk about wet sand! ‘Killer workout’ I thought, and I was psyched
for the second time in an hour.
I walked for two miles as briskly as I could, and my thighs
and knees felt every step. They will hate me tomorrow, but too bad, so sad. That's why god created Advil. I
need my biking legs back in working order, and the sooner the better. Biking helps me
think and work out the mental kinks, and I’ve definitely accumulated some of
those over the winter. Have you? What are you looking forward to most as the weather improves
and the days get longer?
11 comments:
"Too bad, so sad" - my kids used to say that all the time! Anyway, so happy that you were able to get out and enjoy the sun, even with the killer terrain!
I've been craving spring, too. Being in Texas, we're usually well into it now, but not this year. It's still cool and breezy, enough to make a walk unenjoyable. (Then again, I'm a wimpy Texan and couldn't take your winters, Lynn). I'm really ready to be able to walk the dog more. I've recently gone back to work full time and he's SO lonely when we're all gone during the day. He loves his walks, and I'll be so grateful when it's a little warmer and sunnier to do it. I'm so impressed by your ability to bike...I tried one spin class and could never get over the butt pain!
Hee-hee! I thought I was the only one who still said things like, "Too bad, so sad, don't be mad." :)
So happy you enjoyed your unintentional duathalon! I also often imagine myself walking somewhere I once visited. This time of year, the light is right for thinking of the southwestern US. Good memories!
I'm looking forward to just getting outside in the sunshine and temps above 60 degrees. I'm so done with winter.
I loved that you got outside in the sunshine on your bike. I could almost feel the breeze on your face as you pedaled along. Here's to imminent, warm, spring days and the special joy they bring with them!
You know what I'm looking forward to? Working in the garden! Its been a few years, and now I've got someone to help me with the heavy stuff.I should get some good functional exercise out of that!
Hi Lynn,
Thank you so much for reading my last post and commenting. You're one of the superstars in weight loss blogdom, and I'm surprised you even saw my post. Feels like the equivalent of getting an autograph from a very famous person. I've read you often but never commented.
Anyway - thank you again for your positive words and support. And I'm looking SO forward to walking without having to bundle up.
Im SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO HAPPPY we spring forward---even tho I be wiped this morning :0)
You are braver than me with the trail riding. I don't do mud LOL! I am a wuss - also my bike tires are too thin to keep me upright in squishy stuff.
I would have hit the sun too with being sun deprived & all.. Beautiful pics too!
I am just getting used to the time change being an early get up person but it is southern CA so we get sun alot even though we complain when 60 is cold to us! ;)
I can't wait to cycle, cycle, cycle. It will be super hot in North Carolina before I know it but I am already throwing the challenge out to myself to just enjoy it, the sunshine and the strong, healthy (for the most part) body that I have. Sunshine kind of fixes a LOT for me.
I agree with you Lynn! Biking can take away all the heavy baggage and make us think so much better. Besides, it's really enjoyable to go on biking!:-D
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