Overcoming Adversity
We all have adversity that comes to us in our lives.
How do we overcome it?
I’m sure it’s different for everyone.
It can happen in a race, on a training ride, or on your morning commute.
How we deal with adversity will generally define our success.
Do I give in? Do I quit? Do I become a victim to it? Do I meet it head on? Do I relax into the idea of it, work with it and over come it? Or do I dig deep and use it as a fuel to be stronger than I ever have been in my life?
The 1st thing we should always do is define the obstacle that we are given.
Chances are if you answered yes to the 1st 3 questions, and this is your only coping mechanism for adversity; you could use some tools to help you learn how to let go and learn how to accept what the Universe has brought you.
If quitting or giving in is your only tool, this is definitely something to practice in your training, racing, and then, learning how to carry it over into your personal life. All in all it will bring you more happiness.
There are some obstacles we are faced with that are telling us to take it easier, or that we need to take time off, or that today just isn’t our day.
There are many others that are tools to help us become more successful.
The past week we have been in New Mexico for spring break.
We had overcome much, Ken had to give in, and just relax into the hurdle that was given, being sick on your vacation is never fun.
Working around that and our change of plans was just something we had to deal with. Flip flop here, flip flop there, no big deal. Thursday came and it needed to be my long ride.
I was trying to meet friends up in the foothills at 11:30.
The puppy had an accident on the way out the door, that I had to clean up.
Then, riding up I realized my rear wheel had been rubbing; who knows for how long!!
I re-adjusted my wheel so it wasn’t rubbing on the brake, and then, it was rubbing on my frame.
Life and bike trying to get the best of me.
I was late.
I was tired and couldn’t keep up.
I kept having trouble and having to stop.
I finally told my friends, if they wanted, just to go ahead.
They were so kind, and just waited and checked on me.
I dropped my chain 3 times, my Quarq magnet came off, and I was starting to get frustrated for being the bump on the log.
I kept on.
Thanks to my lady friends, we rode the technical section that goes North to the Tram.
That, I would have not done, not today, not long, not on a less than favorable day; thank you girls for a great ride!
After a painful and embarrassing lap of the North Foothills, I stopped and had lunch with a couple of them before continuing on.
Once the pressure of trying to keep up, fighting the mechanicals were gone, things seem to be much more smooth.
Headed over to the South Foothills and rode nearly to the Agave.
I got a little sketched out on the final descent, so I opted out, I heard something, I was alone, and just couldn’t shake the feeling of a mountain lion or a cougar coming to greet me.
Overcame it all for a great ride.
5.5 hours total, probably 4.5 hours riding time.
The week was great!
I got in about: 11 hours on the bike
And 4 hours of “running”.
And about 10 hours of walking the dogs. HAHA!
I can’t wait to sit in the car for 2 days.
And swim!
So now, all I have to do is make sure I don’t lose my bike fitness.
Should be easy to keep it now that its’ April.
And I put gears on the old Stumpy, as to not ruin sweet, sweet Batman.
That’s all for now!
Stay strong, don’t get de-railed, stay on track, and be focused.