Things that delight me

Yesterday was a long day at work. It began well before sunrise and ended as dusk was falling, and a lot happened in between. And I still wanted to get in a bike ride. At one time I would have made excuses for why a post-work ride is exactly the thing not to do: It's too late, too dark, too cold. I'm too stressed, too tired, too hungry. False barriers, really. Now I remind myself that I'll actually feel worse if I skip the ride. And it never fails: I always always always feel better after a ride. My bike makes me happy. Yesterday was no exception. The air was crisp--the kind that tickles my lungs on a deep inhale. I did lap after lap at our local park and after an hour, everything was once again right with the world.

During my ride, I got to thinking about the other things about my training routine that delight me, that bring me peace, that provide immeasurable enjoyment. I think it's appropriate for me to reflect on them given that it's October and all. Here they are, in no particular order:

Rest. I just mentioned how movement, physical activity, especially the vigorous kind on the bike, is my medicine. And it is therapeutic precisely because I know when to stop moving. I have learned to appreciate the value of rest. Rest comes in many forms: whole days off, shorter swims, easier bike rides, restorative yoga. Rest feels luxurious right now; come spring, deliberate rest will be a crucial part of Ironman training.

How many people use our paths and parks. I get up early, both during the week and on the weekends. I often finish my weekday morning run before sunup. Despite the early hour, I'm not even the first one up--dozens have beat me to the trails. And they only get more populated as the day wears on. Families, couples, friends, owners and their pets are everywhere on the paths and in the parks at all hours of the day and well into the night. The parks and trails teem with energy and this aliveness is contagious.

Kind drivers. I am a very safe cyclist. I always wear my helmet, I obey traffic laws, and I am vigilant about my surroundings. Still, regardless of how safely I ride, I am keenly aware that at any moment, a car could take me out. And yet I refuse to let this keep me off the roads. This is thanks to the drivers out there who look out for cyclists and also obey traffic laws. Colorado has some of the most bicycle-friendly laws in the country. And I always make a point to clearly thank drivers for following them.

A long climb. I've been fortunate to have ridden some of the most beautiful mountain passes in the US. They're also some of the most relentless and challenging. This past summer, on Ride the Rockies, I did my longest, toughest climb: 24 miles with grades topping out at probably 15%. What I love about a long climb: the rhythmic pedaling, the slowing of time, inching past breathtaking vistas, the sharp focus preventing me from riding off the edge, reaching the top.

A screaming descent. After a long climb comes a long descent. That 24-mile climb? It rewarded us with a nearly equally-long drop into the next town. We were blessed with smooth roads, long straightaways, and little traffic. What took over three hours to go up took little more than 30 minutes to come down. What a rush.

Breathtaking views at 11000 feet. 'Nuff said.

My yoga mat. My mat is peace, nonjudgment, compassion, nurturing. Too many days apart and my muscles start to protest. I find release on the mat that I achieve nowhere else. An hour on the mat is enough to reset the world.

Please share what delights you, whether or not you're training for something!