Struggle
This morning I got up as usual around 10am, shaved, showered, ate breakfast, then proceeded to work straight through from 11am to quarter to 5pm. I talked my dad into going for a 10km ride and when we finished I went out again and did the Tour de Frankenmuth route. I was doing quite well on Tuscola and even out down Maple, unfortunately for me the wind was gusting out of the southeast so immediately when I hit King, the longest unprotected leg of the trip, I hit the wall. At this point I remembered that lackluster bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios I had 7 hour ago. I tried to imagine how much energy could possibly be packed into a single ‘O’, but sadly, at this point, it wasn’t nearly enough. I settled in for a long battle with the wind, averaging a measly 15-20kmh on this stretch. I finally managed to make it to Block, only after an adrenline-induced burst of speed to escape a dog depleted any reserves I had left. I tried to coast but the wind wouldn’t allow. I stopped, drank some water. Considered how this ditch would make a nice place to nap, perhaps even to hibernate in for a few days. I glanced at my seatpack and thought about the cellular inside. I could easily make the call and be home eating dinner in minutes…. No. I clipped back in, I imagined the hamburgers that would inevitably be waiting in hordes for me at home, I embraced the drive granted to me by the imaginary iPod blasting ‘Danger Zone’ in my ears (an imaginary iPod strikingly similar to the one I had mistakenly left at home) and I cranked my way back into town. Strangely this ride was more meaningful than any other ride I’ve been on. If anything it taught me my body’s limits.
Now I’m off to discover an energy bar (or gel) that doesn’t gag me!
