HILLS, Yes!

 

The ride on June 7 will include hills. Now, now! Don't moan, don't groan and don't whine! Let's face it, we live in Northern California. Hills are us. With the exception of the ride in Napa, which is mostly (not all) flat, we will be riding hills. I hope that no one is discouraged from coming to the training rides because of this.

 

I guess this is a good time to talk a little about the mental aspect of training, and hills are a good subject to start with. Please bear with me if I sound like I'm sermonizing. I AM, but for good reason, I think. I volunteered to do training for the Pilgrimage because I love cycling and I love sharing what I enjoy with others.

 

To deal with hills in the material world, you would have to come to the training rides, as I cannot help you with this by way of e-mails. "Out in the field," I can help you methodically achieve hill-climbing joy.

 

For now, let me preach about the mental aspect of training. It's no stroke of originality or genius to say that hills are a metaphor for life, as is training and cycling, etc. But to many beginning cyclists, hills are the major sources of fear and anxiety. They are the main obstacles, both physically and mentally, to the enjoyment of cycling.

 

To me, hills are a major source of challenge and entertainment. I wasn't born with hill-climbing genes (well, maybe some), and considering how I was a 90 lb weakling all through high school, smoked and drank through college, and didn't start serious cycling (i.e., didn't start wearing lycra) till I was in my 40s, it just goes to show that if I can do it, anyone can.

 

The two most important things you need are: Commitment and Willingness to Struggle. As in life, nothing can be achieved without these two components. But one thing must be clear: struggle does not equate suffering. It's suffering only when you refuse to accept struggle, which is not only unavoidable in life but the main force that moves life forward.  Only when you feel sorry for yourself about the pain of struggle, only when you feel embarrassed because you compare yourself to others instead of listening to the voice within, do you suffer.

 

Struggle is good. Hill climbing is fun, precisely because it's a struggle. If you embrace struggle you can win!

 

"So, Mr. Hotshot/Mr. Positive Thinking," you ask, "what do YOU do on a hard climb?"

 

I make sure that I am applying the correct form and technique to maximize my efforts.

 

I focus on the moment.

 

I accept the pain for what it is, ditching as much emotional baggage as I am capable of at the time.

 

I prod myself with the mantra, "no pain, no gain."

 

I feel gratitude for my beating heart, the sweat pouring down my face, my beautiful surroundings.

 

If the pain is bearable, I continue to put one foot over the other. If it becomes unbearable, I stop, get off the bike and rest or walk.

 

I tell myself to feel no shame or sense of failure, no envy of stronger riders, sympathy but no pity for weaker riders and no need to prove my manhood. (These are some of the baggage I was referring to, and I am certainly not free of them all yet!)

 

I rest in the knowledge that I can become stronger if I wanted to

OR

I can accept and be content with my current condition. It's my choice, and either option is okay.

 

I look forward to ride another day. I feel happy with the knowledge that, because of my struggle today, I will be stronger tomorrow.

 

I haven't dumped all baggage, but I'm already lighter for what I HAVE dumped.

 

I get back on the bike and ride to the finish.

 

I take refuge in the Buddha.

 

PEACE