Anything But Corona

Like it is - according to Diane

Like many posts I write, the inspiration comes from one place, my bike. There is something euphoric about riding fast, riding familiar streets and riding both up and down hills. Today I am going to share a few takeaways from a particular stretch of today’s ride. It’s a segment of hill that is .85km long with a 2.7% grade (it’s not so steep). It’s called Olimpo and I have ridden it 41 times; 12 this week. 

When I know I am riding the next day, I fall asleep thinking of the ride. All the parts. And I love it .Today I rode Olimpo four times chasing a Personal Best and really trying to crack the top 10 all time scores on Strava. While chasing a PB and a top-ten spot exists, there are much more important reasons I ride. 

Personal Best (PB): 1:57

First Climb:
I approach this climb after taking an easy loop and a fast downhill. From experience, I know that my first climb is usually my fastest so I make a few rules for myself. 

1. Start fast
2. Settle in during the middle
3. Finish Fast
4. Climb standing
5. Finish gasping for air

Today I finished the first loop and then thought about how much of an Obliger I am. There was no one else on the hill, so no one to chase, so no one to prove myself to. 

Takeaway: Character is built when no one else is watching. 
Time: 2:02

Second Climb:
I always allow myself to relax a little bit on the second lap so that I can learn from the first climb and implement it on the 3rd. As I approached it today, I had one rule:

1. Climb standing

Takeaway: Give yourself permission to slow down. Enjoy the ride. 
Time: 2:36

Third climb:
By the third loop, I usually try to do a fast loop leading up to the hill. Today I had a lot of self-talk going on, making myself promises and begging other riders to catch up or slow down so that I could have a friend (aka - competition) to ride up the hill with. I asked myself if I could PR it with my energy level. And I answered, yes. My third loop rules were these:

1. Don’t break on the downhill leading up to the climb
2. Take the inside edge of the climb and ride smart
3. Climb standing
4. PR it

Takeaway: Your best isn’t relative to the past - it’s only reliant on the present. 
Time: 2:08 

Fourth Climb:
By the last lap I spend the entire loop leading up to the climb planning. Since I was really alone the whole ride, I thought I would imaging Ricky, just in front of me, and I could chase this little avatar up the hill. It wasn’t until I started to descend that I thought more and more about it and decided that I would practice an out of body moment and chase myself. I would imaging a transparent me, just in front of myself and I would chase it up the hill. My rules were;

1. Climb standing
2. Push and pull the pedals
3. Chase yourself
4. Finish on empty

Takeaway: If you can find rhythm in discomfort, it’s not all that bad. 
Time: 2:02 

I was chasing a PR today. And I didn’t get one. While that is moderately deflating (cause I thought my last climb was smooth) - it will never take away from a ride. I get out on my bike because it gives me the space and time to put what’s in my head, into my legs and lungs. My thoughts are purposeful and present and time and time again, I am left breathless - in the - just rode up a hill as fast as I could - kind of way. 

When life is busy as all hell - it’s hard to find lessons and nuggets. Find your thing - settle in - watch it work. 

• Character is built when no one else is watching. 
• Give yourself permission to slow down. Enjoy the ride. 
• Your best isn’t relative to the past - it’s only reliant on the present. 
• If you can find rhythm in discomfort, it’s not all that bad. 

Peace.

​

Like it is - according to Vail

​“Raindrops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”
 
The Sound of Music
 
I actually don’t envision myself singing these lyrics as I spin freely through the Austrian countryside.  These lyrics remind me of my mom.  She used to quietly sing or hum this tune as I sat in her lap, arms holding me tightly. My mom also lived with us for a month after my son, Oliver, was born.  I would sometimes catch her rocking him back and forth and humming about favorite things. 
 
It is important to have favorite things; those memories of my mom are some of them.
 
As a list girl, I also wanted to share a few of my favorite things these days.
 

1. Running: I know.  There might be a collective eye roll here, reading that running is one of my favorites.  I definitely got to a point in my life where it wasn’t one of my favorite things.  It was an obligation.  I was running 5 to 6 days a week and shaming myself when I didn’t get the job done.  Here is the “things happen for a reason” moment.  I had to give it up, and not just for a week.  I had to give up running for four years.  In those years, the appreciation came back.  Now when I tie my laces and head out the door, I can’t wait for the kilometers of alone time where my body feels strong and alive.

 

1. Belly laughs.  This one comes straight from Diane Clement. J  On a weekend where we were sharing a house in Cuernavaca Mexico, Oliver let out one of those giggles that is contagious.  It makes you belly laugh.  Diane told me that day that she tried to make sure she makes her girls laugh at least once a day, just like that.  It sounds simple, and it is.  The greatest thing about having that goal is that you need to be present with the laughter, and when you listen to the giggle, you get so much back.

 

1. Wine.  I am just being honest here.  I am a sucker for memes about vino that remind us to say, “wine not”.  When I travel, I always try and find a vineyard to visit.  I have a running list of wines that I like and their ratings.  However, I am not a sommelier, nor do I order the most expensive wine on the menu.  Why do I like it so much then?  It is the connection.  My dream scenario is me with a bottle (or a vineyard full) of wine and a group of my favorite people.  For me, wine is to be shared.  When I am sipping on wine, it is the conversation and the connection that make it taste so delicious.

 

1. Books:  I am a self-professed nerd.  I really love to read, and I am a pretty equal opportunity reader.  Novels, non-fiction, self-help, you name it, I will read it.  From the days where I laid for hours on a bunk bed in the sweltering heat of the summer reading The Babysitters Club to the moments when I am now hidden in our cave-office in the basement pouring through text about education and technology, it has been a constant.  It helps me escape, keeps me company and sets my brain on fire. 

 
The list could certainly go on and it might be different 10 minutes or two months from now, but for now I will be strolling around my house singing.
 
Raindrops on roses
And running through parks
Belly laughs and bottles of wine
And books with worn pages.
These are a few of my favorite things.