Finally. Today, trail riding felt different. Today it wasn’t grueling.
Lost mojo
Lately, I’ve been wondering where my bicycling mojo had gone. I delayed my start this spring because, due to the coronavirus shutdown, the trails near me were packed with walkers and bicyclists. It was just too peopley for me.
I started riding in earnest in June. I was really dragging butt, too. I’d start out excited, glad to have the wind in my face and the wheels under my body, but a mile or two into the ride, my body started complaining. My legs went rubbery. I had to shift gears. I wanted to go home. I wasn’t willing to push myself. Why bother?
I know I’m not alone
Staying physically active this year has been a challenge, and I know I’m not the only one. Our routines have been disrupted. My favorite weekly workout class is in hiatus. The YMCA is closed. It’s hard to stay motivated without it. Sure, I walk the dog, lift weights now and then, and I keep up with my stretches for my back, but it isn’t the same as being in a group.
As summer progressed, I couldn’t seem to get out of that slow gear on my bike, either. Riding felt like such a grind. Was it my age? Mild depression? (certainly understandable, with the virus and current political upheaval). An unknown health issue? I actually felt angry with myself for feeling sluggish, not to mention discouraged.
Small Progress
But today was different. Today felt good. I actually felt stronger and motivated to push myself. I also decided, at the start of my ride, to say hello to everyone I passed on the trail. I didn’t care if they wore earbuds or headphones– I figured they could read my lips. I loved the smiles and hearing “Hello” and “Hi there” back. A small thing, but it made a difference. And another little perk: I treated myself to a new brand of protein bar at the midpoint.
I rode 12.6 miles. I smiled at people. I thought about poetry. I wrote poems in my head. I thought about the book I’m reading, LOVE SICK, by Sue Silverman. Yeah, those 12.6 miles took me longer than last year, but it felt good. And that’s what it’s all about.
I hope you’re taking the time to take care of yourself in whatever way you can. Be gentle. Reward yourself. You’ll get there. Even though I may not be with you, we’re in this together.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the author of the award-winning novel In the Context of Love, a story about one woman’s need to tell her truth without shame. Discovering who you want to be isn’t easy when you can’t leave the past behind.
2017 New Apple Book Awards Official Selection
2016 Sarton Women’s Fiction Finalist
2016 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
2016 Readers’ Favorite Finalist
2016 USA Book News Best Book Finalist
“…at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey.” ~ Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of National Book Award Finalist, American Salvage, and critically acclaimed Once Upon a River,and Mothers, Tell Your Daughters
“With tenderness, but without blinking, Linda K. Sienkiewicz turns her eye on the predator-prey savannah of the young and still somehow hopeful.” ~ Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of the #1 NY Times Bestseller, Deep End of the Ocean
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