We Were Not Meant to do it Alone

For anyone that has read this blog, or knows me, you know I love to ride bikes. I often joke riding a bike is my Prozac. It brings peace to my soul, it energizes me, and I often get great thoughts when riding my bike.

When I lived in Utah I would ride by myself, and with some very close friends. It was nice, because there always seemed someone available to go for a ride. Since leaving Utah the majority of my rides have been by myself. These rides are great, and help me with a lot of introspection.

Recently I went to Utah for a few days, and got to ride with two of my best friends. One day was a classic ride up South Fork with one best friend. The next day was a new ride in Mapleton with another best friend. However, there was a lot on my mind I needed to sort out, and I felt I needed to go for a ride by myself. I felt like I needed alone time. This is what I do at home. I pound on the bike, work out the excess energy, and process everything that is currently going on in my life. It works.

The plan  was for me to ride alone early in the morning, and then later go for a short mountain bike ride on the fat bikes with my best friend. I woke up relatively early for vacation, and proceeded to ride. As I was riding I kept feeling like I needed to turn around, and go back and ride with my best friend. But I kept going. The feeling came to me again, but I kept riding. Then the thought came to me "you did not come to Utah to ride alone; you can ride alone at home." I continued to ride. The feeling continued, and got stronger, along with the thoughts. I knew I needed to turn around, so I did. (All of this occurred within 5 miles).

As soon as I turned around and rode back the thought came to me "God does not want you to do it alone."

Heavenly Father wants you not only to turn to him, but he wants you to turn to others, to let others be there for you, to help you along the path. As I rode back to be with my friend, one of my best friends, there was joy in my heart.

Later that day I went on the same trail with my best friend. We laughed, took goofy pictures, and rode much further than I would have by myself. I did not think about what was going on, but instead just had fun, and got way more out of the ride than I would have by myself.

There are times we need to be alone, but don't let it cause you to shut out others. Remember that God does not want you to do it alone. He wants you to have others in your life, to share in your experiences--good and not so good.

"We were not placed on this earth to walk alone." --Thomas S. Monson

Pride

I haven't written forever, and was going to write about my trip this last weekend, and I will, but I wanted to write about today.

Today I rode by bike to work (for those who didn't know I got a new job and it is close to home--yeah!  Also, yeah for the new job, I really like it.).  According to Coach Dan I am supposed to keep my heart rate down on these rides.  In the morning this is not hard, I am tired and really don't need to arrive at work sweating and hot.  Going home is a whole different story.

Riding home I just want to pound the pedals.  I have been in an office all day long and need to just ride hard.  There is something that feels so good when you ride hard.  Going home I ride up 2 small hills, and one long, steep hill.  It takes all the self control I have to gear down and spin up these hills.  I know this may seem crazy, but it takes everything I have to not go up as fast as I can and as hard as I can.  I would say I am somewhat prideful.  I know I can make it up these hills in my large and middle cog, and I want to do it in these hard gears.  Part of it is because I like making it hard and I can, the other is what if someone were to pass me!  I hate being passed!

In the past I have allowed this thinking to mess up my recovery rides.  Someone rides by and begins to pass, and I just can't take it.  I let them go, and then eventually I have to hit into high gear, catch them and pass them back, and then not let them pass me back.  Sometimes I am too horribly competive, or perhaps insecure--who knows.

However, this year I am not going to let that happen.  I am going to be secure in my riding, recovery days are recovery and anyone can pass....now if I can just get my mental state to be as secure.