Life is a succession of lessons...

Training for surfing continues through my weekly cycling activities. Today, the morning begins just as most Saturday mornings, with me loading my bike and making my way to Bike Barn for the weekly ride. The air is warm for February, with temps in the 50s. It would get to the mid-70s and, although not technically an Indian Summer, the day did remind me of that "phrase." Because of strong (20+ mph) south winds, the group would definitely bike south to Liverpool/Wee Mart. I have started with the 21 mph group despite lacking a lot of mileage for the year. I find that I pull too long the first time I'm near the front and too often after that. By the time I make it to Alvin, I am beat. I'm still hanging on though, until I pull back to check on someone. My fellow cyclist is feeling weak and has decided to go only the 40 mile distance. By that time, my 60 mile group has pulled away, leaving me to cycle a good portion of the ride alone. Although this seems quite daunting with the strong winds, the warm sun and country scenery make it enjoyable. I know the shortcut and, because of the wind, I decide that I would try to catch them at Wee Mart where they would be stopping for a bathroom break. Just as I get close to one of the turns the group would be taking (me having to take a left where they would be taking a right because of my shortcut), I notice a large group already turning. The chase is on. I follow them for awhile, lose them in some turns, but, eventually, because of the slightly different route they take, I catch them. Wait, these don't look like my guys. It isn't; it's a group from another bike store. They tell me that my group is still at Wee Mart. Aargh! I ride with them awhile and when we make it to Hwy 6, I decide to wait. The other group I join with is going left, where my group will be going right. Eventually, I rejoin my group about 40 miles into a 60 mile ride (56 miles for me with my shortcut). I have already ridden about 18 miles by myself, but at least I can ride the last 16 with a group. I have learned a couple of lessons about today's ride: 1.) enjoy the weather and scenery instead of getting frustrated about being alone; and 2.) don't assume you know what is ahead because it may not be what you think.

"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Winter in Texas -- yippee

Sometimes beautiful February weather can make a person grateful for where they live! Although it was quite cool this morning (high 30s, low 40s), the weather forecaster predicted the mid-60s during the afternoon. I decided to take my bike to work. If it truly did warm to the 60s I thought I would ride during lunch. And, it did! I was able to get in a good 13.5-mile ride. I started thinking about my core strength while riding. It truly can be the force behind the exercise. In addition to using it in yoga, I'm starting to use it while swimming and spinning. In fact, tonight's spin instructor even talked about it. She reminded us to remember our strength came from our core muscles and that it was the only way to follow her exercises and not hurt our backs. The only way to really use it though, is to remember to focus on it. It's amazing that when I do remember to focus, I ride stronger, whether on the road or in a gym. I'm certain that this same core strength will help me in my surfing. In fact, this core strength can help in just about anything.

Forecast for Friday and Saturday: partly cloudy/mostly sunny, lows in the mid-50s, highs in the mid-70s.
IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT! I'll be surfing the roads to Liverpool, TX on Saturday.

Downward facing dog

Fortunately, yoga has started again. After almost two months off, my illustrious instructor Amy is back to offer lunchtime yoga classes. While the classes should continue until mid-April, I know that after that time, we will all probably have to find a new yoga instructor. Amy is getting married to a Brit and moving across the ocean. So, us regular lunchtime yogis will be without an instructor. Today's class reminded me about how much I need yoga to stay flexible. I also need it to keep my core muscles strong -- the muscles that are used in every form of exercise, but never really understood until one takes a yoga class. We had two new people in today's class to add to the six "regulars." They didn't seem to have any problem keeping up. I didn't feel the usual aches and pains that I sometimes feel at the beginning of a new semester of yoga classes, except for downward facing dog. Amy had us do three in a row and each time we had to hold the position, which, for some reason today, was causing my wrists to hurt. I can't explain it. My wrists should be in great shape, and should certainly be able to hold half of my body weight. I also definitely need to remember to focus on my core in all of the poses. In fact, by concentrating on my core, I'll probably never have to worry about my wrists again. If only I can remember...

ohmmmmmm...ohmmmmmm...