| Cross-Country Ramble 21:
Refiner's Fire Sent: 96-05-22 21:27:49 EDT
Pedaling down a flat quiet road with the sun shining and the
temperature 75 degrees was the image I had conjured up of our coast
to coast bike trip. I knew, of course, it wouldn't all be like that
but that was my main image. When friends asked me how I was going to
deal with the rain, heat, steep hills, insects, etc., I said glibly,
"We will deal with that when it comes."
As a former runner, I knew I couldn't wait until the last minute
to get my body in condition. Ken and I began a fairly serious
training program in January. When we left Ventura at the end of
March, I was in the best physical condition I had been in for quite
a while. Each day we pedaled we became stronger. At first, 30 miles
was a long distance. Later, we began to think first 40 and then 50
miles a day was no big deal.
Yesterday when we left Van Horn at sunrise, the air temperature
was already warm. Out on the access road to I-10 I was irritated at
every uphill. I was irritated a lot. In the middle of the afternoon
we got off I-10 and cycled on a farm road, generally flat and
slightly down hill. The thermometer kept going up. I began to wonder
about this trip. What was the possibility that the rest of the trip
would be HOT? Pretty good, I thought. What story was I going to tell
myself to keep this trip alive? I pondered the possibilities past
the cattle ranches. No story in those 100 degrees felt strong enough
to make me want to go to Florida. We arrived in Balmorhea.
Strangely, my body felt fine--no joint or muscle aches--but my mind
still said, "No bicycling tomorrow."
This morning in the shower it struck me: I need mental
discipline. I need to train my mind to face the daily adversity. I
am totally surprised that my body was in condition to go 75 miles in
the heat and yet my mind was not. I hate that "no pain, no gain"
saying. It seems masochistic to me. But now I'm beginning to think
it may not be talking about body abuse but about training the mind.
As I bike the next couple of days, I will ponder how to
discipline my mind and not kill the spirit.
Carol
PS: We really appreciate your encouragement. In the evening we
hunch over the computer reading the e-mail. We often break out in
raucous laughter and begin animated discussions. Thanks for your
support.
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