Saturday, August 1, is my day of cycling reckoning, my first long distance ride in Greenwood. My posterior has been in the saddle most everyday this summer, trying to convince the rest of me, "I can do this."
This event will be a defining milestone of the can-do psyche. I won't lie. So many days I have made the body ride, telling myself just stay on for 20 minutes, which turned into 30 minutes, which turned into an hour and 10 miles later. Training hasn't been easy.
As the question marks fly in my head and the doubting demons roost on the shoulders, somewhere I know I must do this. My new buds at the Oxford Cycling Club have been so supportive and understanding with the, 'We've all been there' comments. And my bike has become my latest BFF stress reliever and appetite suppressant.
To keep the fluctuating backside on the bike throughout the Fall season and through a draining teaching itinerary, a long distance ride is scheduled for every month on my planner through November. Great, long distance rides are available in Mississippi, many with proceeds for worthwhile organizations and charitable causes. It's a win-win situation.
Cycling has opened up a whole new set of options. I don't regret a second of it, including the downtown Oxford mishap that found me spread eagle on the pavement in full view of lunch traffic. Everyone falls sometime. It's the getting back up, the consistency, that has taught my old pride most.
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