Riding

It's been nearly five weeks since I've had a decent ride on my bicycle, with one short day in there as an exception. I was on a medication that kept me off for two weeks (no sun). When I finally finished that, I went for one ride and wrecked my bike and broke my elbow. That was almost three weeks ago. Today, I threw caution to the wind and I got on my bike. I needed it.

To be honest, it was really freaking tough. It's amazing how much strength and endurance one can lose in five weeks. I struggled through a two mile ride. By struggled I mean, I really, really struggled! If I'm being fair here, it was also over a hundred degrees outside, so... let's all smile and nod and say that must have been what was causing the challenge! HA!

I needed to go, as I wrote before. I need the movement of my body pushing against the earth. I need the quieting of all of my thoughts and I need to push myself to the point of exhaustion. I need to feel the wind on my skin and see my body push itself up one.more.hill. I need to conquer myself and my desire to quit. I need to be where I was.

Riding has given me freedom, clarity, comfort. It vents my disappointments, and shows me that I'm stronger than I believed myself capable of being. Even on the days where I struggle through two miles.