This is why I love living in Alaska. After spending much of Sunday morning tied to my laptop, I hopped on my bicycle to get my body moving. Yes, I love our Boot Camp classes, but every once in a while, a girl needs some variety in her life.
I haven’t had my road bike out for a spin yet this summer, so it was really about time to get out there.
As always with this bike ride, it’s a bit of a head game for me. Will it be windy on the arm? Will my legs take me all the way to Indian? Will I get bored on the trail and just decide to turn around? Worse, will my cell phone ring and put an end to the entire outing? Will there be bears on the trail, turning me around before I get anywhere?
Each time I set out, I do what I tell my clients to do. Take it one step at a time…or in this case, one rotation of the pedals at a time. My first goal is getting up the first hill. Got through that, on to the next goal, Bird Point. Once I get there, I either relish a fast and furious pace through the flats (I pretend I’m the female version of Lance Armstrong flying at blinding pace through the finish line). Or, I put my head down and fight the wind with every pedal stroke til I get to the tunnel that takes me under the highway at the other end of the flats.
Yesterday, it was a Lance Armstrong kind of day…at least on the way to Indian. Once I’m through the flats it just seems silly not to make it all the way to the other end. On a warm, sunny day like Sunday, I took it a step further and went to visit my friends Kathy and Dee at Forget-me-Not-Nursery.
I make this trip an annual rite of spring. We don’t get to see each other much all winter and it always makes the ride to Indian seem not so far when I get to catch up with friends at the other end.
That’s the other part of the game I play to complete the ride. Once I’m in Indian, I have no choice but to pedal til I get back home to Girdwood. Doesn’t matter what the wind is doing, or the rain, or the bears. Gotta get home.
So after a brief catch-up, it’s back on the bike to go the 13 miles home.
What’s always interesting to me is how the wind knows I’m coming back and almost always greets me by blowing hard and fast against me all the way home. The flats go from super-fun speedway to full-on pedal even on the slight downhills.
Once through them though, I get the peace and quiet of the more protected portion of the trail and the even more fun, downhill glides on the return to Girdwood.
Made it back, the sun was still shining and I was feeling surprisingly good. Proud of taking it one pedal at a time and laughing at myself for having to play a game to get out to do what I wanted to do.
Take all of your health and fitness goals one small step at a time. You don’t get to the end of the marathon without taking the first step. Take your first step today. After all, it’s Alaska…get out and play.
Are you ready to take the first step towards improving your health and fitness? Join us for Boot Camp…your first class is free! Click here for more info.
