Century Training Week 3

I can't believe it is week three already... Only 12 more (Hopefully) before the big ride. :)

This week we rode a great part of the Greenbelt on Tuesday after I got off of work. We rode past and through the side of the golf course toward Lucky Peak. We went through a new part of the trail that is great. We saw an elk grazing with cows then turned towards Barber Park....rode on and back to the MK Nature center where we had parked. We raced the sun...the park closed at sunset. We got back to the car at 9pm. Good thing the sun sets late still.

What I am learning about myself on these rides is that I can ride faster than I think I can, I can ride further than I think I can, and it just doesn't really hurt that bad (just kidding about that last part).

We'll see how the rest of the week goes with riding. Today I am up at a retreat so I hiked up some hills to work on stregthening my legs without getting on a bike. It's an "off" day today.

A weekend in Ketchum (end of Week 2)

Yeah! I have pictures of riding! Woo hoo! But I am at camp in Cascade right now so the pictures will have to wait! (I'll add them here!)

Dave and I went camping right outside of Ketchum because we found some incredible bike riding (that I can do! :) ) there when we took our Jr. High Road Trip. It was such a great weekend of camping and riding.

We started a little later than we had expected so we got the last available slot and paid double because it was a double spot. Oh well, cheaper than a hotel! We set up the itsy bitsy tent that we had borrowed from Mike and Kelly because the other tents that we own are HUGE which will translate into being really cold at night. We found the perfect place to set up the tent. It was nice and flat except our stakes would not go into it. So we settled for our next perfect spot. Once we got the first stakes set up it was a snap to set up. We then cooked our dinner on the grill of the fire pit. We were way too hungry so I put on the shish-kabobs when the flame was too high...oh well, Dave said he really liked it (the meat was dry on the outside and a little raw....so he redid it for me....I just love this man!)

The next morning we decided to check out the Harriman Trail. The trail is named after Mr. Harriman (no kidding huh?) What we found out at one of the markers was that the Harrimans were the parents of Winston Churchill. I thought that was cool.

The Harriman trail is basically a gravel trail. It goes up to Galena. The Park Ranger suggested that we ride the 13 miles there and get lunch then come back to pack up our stuff and ride the other trail in Ketchum. I didn't even have to think about it....no way! I think it would have been fun except my bottom was still sore (see other post) so there is no way I could make it.

We rode about 2 miles up the trail. On the way up I felt like the biggest looser. I could barely peddle 4mph at a lot of the parts of the trail. At one point as I struggled up the trail this obviously great mountain biker flew by me. Wow, did I feel stupid on the bike at that point. Dave kept encouraging me so we went further than I thought I could go.

Then we turned around! What a difference going downhill makes! I was flying! I hit at least 15 mph for a long time.

When I passed the place that the mountain biker had passed me I thought about my misconceptions of myself and of him. I didn't know when he had started. I didn't know that going downhill made such a difference. I had judged myself against him and found myself wanting. I need to stop doing this.

I do this in my Christian life as well. I see how well someone is doing and think I am just not living my life right. Or I do the other way when I see someone doing poorly and I forget the struggles that God has walked with me through to bring me to where I am now.

We had some lunch, packed up camp and took off to a trail head for the Wood River Trail right at the Southern edge of town. Dave has such great ideas as always trying to start our rides uphill so the ride home is really great (even with a sore bottom).

I rode another 18 miles that day. (On a paved trail) I don't know how I did it, but it was a fantastic ride. I can't wait to go again when my body is more used to bike riding again.

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pature." Psalm 100: 1-3

Ow, that hurts! Week 2

Last night while I was finishing up my bike ride with my husband I realized that I am not truly a bike rider. Oh, now I want to be. I read a bike magazine (I started reading it so I would know what Dave was talking about when he talked about this shock, or brake, or whatever bike term when we went out riding when I first got my bike). I love following the Tour d' France. (Confession: this year I didn't because I had started becoming too much of a fan...and I just didn't have time). I love watching the mountain bike races in the Olympics. I really like riding my bike...at my pace.

I think that is what got me last night...my pace vs. Dave's pace.

It was the end of a quick ride (we got going late due to painting my classroom...oh, and it looks great! -thanks, Dave!) and the sun had already set. It was going down for a long time and we didn't have our lights. ugh! I don't see well as it gets darker (a light would have come in handy). It wasn't completely dark yet, so no problems, Dave would take the lead and I would follow.

At this point of the game I am really saddle sore. What that really means is that my butt hurts! Dave says I should not sit so much. Not sit on the seat? Why do you think it's there...so I kept sitting...and my butt kept hurting. I couldn't wait to get off my bike. I know though that however sore my butt is it is faster to bike than get off and walk it to the car so I keep riding.

My hands have places that have gone numb so I keep readjusting my hands on the handle bars (hint I found in one of the bike magazines). My right baby toe was gone to sleep (it does that) so I readjust on the pedal too.

Overall, I am more than ready to be done with this bike ride!

Dave is now leading since he sees way better in the dark and as it is getting dark. I know that if I follow close to Dave's rear wheel I will receive a few benefits. Benefit #1: I will not loose him. Benefit #2: I can hear him if he tells me something....like about the cat that was in the path. Benefit #3: I can draft him and it will make my ride easier and it could even be a faster ride for the both of us.

This worked for a little bit. Every time I would get in a good drafting position he would go faster. A little faster was OK with me. I wanted to get off that saddle. But he was beginning to go too fast. I gave up. I just couldn't keep the pace and this is where I realized the truth.

I am not a bike rider. I just really want to be.

Dave is a bike rider. He reads a little, but what he does most is get on the bike! He has bike shoes that clip in the pedals. He commits to the ride. He has the gear...and uses it. He can change a flat tire in no time. He fixes little things that go wrong. The big stuff he takes to a local bike store. He can not ride for a while and then get on the bike and ride all over the place. He rides our stationary bike to get ready to bike outside. He is a bike rider.

Now if you asked him, he would say he isn't really. But I know why. It's because he doesn't ride as much as he would really like to ride. He gave it up when our kids were little. He would ride to work and ride around the hills by our house with our dalmatian (named Pongo). But he didn't even ride as much as he used to. He rides with me know. I hold him back. It's not a real ride when I show up. But he did say yesterday that I was his favorite riding buddy! :)

The thing I am reminded of this morning is that when we walk in our life we can have people in our lives that we will mentor/disciple and that we need a mentor/discipler too.

I need Dave because it makes me a stronger rider. He makes me go when I don't want to go and teaches me more and more what it means to be a real rider. He needs to go with a stronger rider for the same reasons.

I need the older women in my life to make me stronger. They remind me to love my husband and love my kids. They remind me about the seasons of life and how to walk in grace during the easy and hard times. I need to be the older woman to the younger ones that God has placed in my life for the same reasons.

23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.Hebrews 10:23-25 (New International Version)

My Dog, the BIG baby of our family

I sat down to update my blog and I was reminded by my dog(that's not him), who was outside, that he wanted to be inside. I had just come in from berry picking (I picked 1/2 cup from my little vine), feeding the birds and checking on my tomatoes (Today I harvested 4 little ones! :) ). He was barking at me and jumping (as Jack Russel Terriers tend to do). He really wanted to be with me. Imagine that. I went inside and put the tomatoes and berries away. I got out my Bible and was just to start writing when his constant whining outside reminded me that he still wanted to be inside with me. I told him he would have more fun outside...but to a dog he had on thing on his mind...be with Beth!

I know from past experience that it is not just me who he likes. He likes all of my family and my neighbors who come by. He longs for company! He is a community kind of dog. On the DISC profile he would be a very, very high I!

Do you know what he is doing now? Lounging on the rug by the backdoor, just waiting. I know that if I got up from the table and got the leash he would be ready for an adventure, but now he is waiting. He stopped whining though. Every so often he will get up and walk around the house, guarding it I suppose.

I need to be like my dog when it comes to the time and desire to spend with God in prayer and reading/studying/meditating on His Word in the Bible. Here's what I read today. It is in the Psalms.

Psalm 19:7-14 "the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than god, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the tomb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his error? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep you servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. They will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."