A Perfect Analogy

Last weekend I went riding on the Old Croton Aqueduct trail after a year long break. My initial plan was to ride on the level part only, but as I made my way towards a hill that voice in my head started talking.

“Do or do not. You won’t know if you can make it up the hill till you try.”

Then the other voice argued “You haven’t ridden since last summer, you won’t be able to make it up the hill. You’ll end up pushing the bike up. You can’t do it.”

Both these voices sound like me.

I got to the first hill and started riding up. Switching gears made it easier, but halfway up, I stood on my pedals to keep the bike moving. The tires slipped on the loose rocks, my breath got deeper, my legs started to burn.

I made it up the hill.

At first I was going to rest, but I kept going. Pedaling at a relaxing pace, I went over the bridge to the next hill. This one is long, with a gentle incline. The best part is after it, there’s a long decline I get to coast down and enjoy the cool air.

The trail after this point is level so I could leisurely pedal and enjoy the view. Until the next hill came into view, steep but small. I pedalled faster and shot up the hill, only slowing at the top before it leveled off.

I kept riding till the parking lot across from the Sleepy Hollow Golf Course and took a five minute break. I was proud of myself that I managed to ride the same course.

Going back there was one problem, on the way up a hill my foot slipped off the pedal and I lost my momentum. I got back on and kept riding.

The next hill (long decline) has always challenged me. Last summer, even with weeks of riding under my belt this hill reminded me that I needed to ride more. I was listening to my iPod the entire ride and it started playing Deadmau5’s ‘Cthulhu Steps’ which was the perfect motivation/theme for the ascent. The music slowed down as I did, but it only inspired me to keep going. Even with my legs aching, and heart pounding I pushed on. When I got to the top, I smiled. Because I didn’t listen to my negative self, I had a great time. I tried something and completed it. I need to apply this to all aspects of my life so I could feel the same happiness.

For the rest of the ride, I took it easy as I was getting saddle sore as well. When I got back to the beginning, I took another break and removed my helmet. My plan was to ride to the first hill, but as made my way to it, I got tired. Checking my Garmin, I had ridden 8.74 miles, and burned 1,222 calories. I felt good about my progress for the day and was content to call it a ride.