It's all about The Dirt:

“When you find yourself being ruled by the scores and outcomes of your physical tasks, build a stronger, more sublime base; focus on the process and appreciate each moment of play. You can do this by asking the question: ‘Why am I doing this… really?’ Get in touch with your inner, deeper motives for entering this particular arena of sports and fitness−why you play the game. You’ll discover that much of it has little to do with the outcome or the product. It is the process, joy, satisfaction and fun in the execution of a particular skill or move that turns you on. There is a strong divine connection between you and your sport. This is the dance that we refer to in which you totally give in to the natural movement of your physical routine. No need to think; silence the conscious mind. Put all aside; just play and dance the dance.” Working Out, Working Within, Jerry Lynch and Chungliang Al Huang

No more training for me… just dancing!

Fear
“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.
The more experiments you make the better.
What if they are a little coarse, and you may get your coat soiled or torn?
What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice?
Up again; you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today was probably the longest ride I did on my mountain bike without falling once. The only thing I changed was my fear. I wasn’t afraid at all today. I guess I’ve taken enough falls that I’m not “so afraid of a tumble.”

(bike art photo)

Survive. v. To remain alive or in existence. To remain functional or usable.
Thrive. v. To grow strongly and vigorously. To do well; prosper

I get this, but do I live it? Do I live life to coast, or to make the most?

I face the reality that this is hard for me. I want to make the most of every day, to feel satisfied that I can lay my head on the pillow and knew I gave the daylight hours my best. The day needs:

  ♥  To be productive
  ♥  To nurture and love
  ♥  To stretch, exercise or exert energy
  ♥  To share or write
  ♥  To feel there’s some sort of harmony… even for a minute

If I really think about what this means to me, it does not mean the same to everyone: Rock climbing to taking the dog for a walk, loving/caring for a parent to sending a note to a friend. A hug… a ride… a smile… a connection… a bite of something tasty… a brilliant, spring flower rising to the sun… breathing. Somehow, some way.

Some days just suck. I’ll say it. But do they really? Or am I focusing on the bad and the ugly? Do I need to dig deeper to find the moments that matter? For me, they can be a pearl in the ocean of bitterness. A gem buried in the coal. A diamond in the rough.

As I come off a huge high from a mountain bike race, everything feels good. Vibrations are high, endorphins raging, success of accomplishment, the joy of exerting myself and thriving. I didn’t race to survive it, I raced to thrive. I wanted to get the most out of it. I went anaerobic, took a wrong turn, and ran over a rock cairn. I could have been scared, leery or less confident… but I chose to be strong, lean and on my game. I whipped through the winding singletrack with flow and ease. I caught up to riders ahead, tailed them and passed. I gave it my best and pushed as hard as I could to understand the meaning and feeling of success. That doesn’t mean beating all my competitors, it just means to surpass what I thought I was capable of.

Winning has a whole new look for me these days… and so does thriving.

I love my beginner’s spirit. As Lance put on his time trial bike for the ‘09 Tour, this is “the bomb” of racing. The new excitement and experience must take over the jitters and cage-rattling. Each race is a bike notch in my belt to build on.

Quoted from Working out, Working Within, “According to the ancient Chinese notion of the ‘ripple effect,’ when you drop a pebble in the water, everything that comes within the water’s wake is directly affected by it.” When you’re on… you’re on. When you’re not, you still have a choice to survive through it, or thrive.

I will try to walk away thriving from any experience, no matter what the outcome is… I’m bound and determined. It’s my stubborn Irish blood, or it’s just me knowing that I don’t want to settle for second best.

Do you choose to coast, or make the most? Where are you in your game?

(Hand photo)

I wish I could just eat cake and ride. As a pro rider brags about eating 10 oatmeal creme pies in a race, that’s not me! I wish I had a “gut of steel”, but I think in the long run (hopefully) I’ll have less wrinkles, inflammation and dodge diseases like diabetes or cancer. Now I just have to get rid of all of my stress…

Here’s some more wholesome ideas to keep you going on the bike, run or hike:

Dried Plums (or prunes)
Obviously, you don’t want to eat five of these and expect to be happy exercising. They are loaded with fiber, so a couple are sufficient. The “prune stigma” is overrated; they sound gross and gut-cleansing, but they have nutrient-dense energy. They contain phenolic compounds that have been shown to lower cholesterol, along with plenty of antioxidants, vitamin A, and potassium. They contain a unique natural sugar called sorbitol, which has a moderate glycemic index and makes them sweet. Two recent studies revealed that dried plums and dried plum bars elevated blood sugar slowly and provided sustained energy for athletes. In these studies, prunes compare favorably to Power Bars and other energy bars in providing steady fuel for athletic endeavors.*

Almonds
Considered in Ayurveda to be the most beneficial of all nuts, almonds help build ojas, or vital essence. In the Indian science, foods like almonds not only nourish the body, but increase our spiritual and intellectual abilities. Almonds have a high concentration of protein and nutrients and a good source of vitamin E, calcium, zinc, potassium, magnesium and iron. Almonds are also the only nuts that alkalize the body.* I eat tamari almonds on the bike because I crave the salty flavor on a hot ride.

Dates
Dates are an excellent unprocessed alternative to sugar. With plenty of fiber, B vitamins and minerals, dates even help reduce poisons and toxins from the body. Dates’ cleansing tannins help with daily housecleaning of the body, mopping up the effects of accumulated wastes and exposure to unhealthy substances. Unlike many other sugars or sweet foods that leave the body more acidic after consumption, dates are alkalizing to the body. Rich in antioxidants and anticancer compounds, date extract also protects against free radical damage, according to one study, and successfully combats the ravaging effects of a dangerous cancerous chemical, benzo-(a)pyrene.* I don’t overdue on dates because they are so sweet. I usually buy the date pieces rolled in oat flour for a small bite, then balance it out with some almonds or cashews.

Shaved coconut
In the Philippines the coconut palm is called the tree of life. Coconut contains fiber, MCT’s (multiple chain triglycerides) that provide long-lasting energy, and it’s naturally sweet. Although some people believe that saturated fat MCT’s are not healthy, there have been many studies to prove otherwise. Last year I spoke with a well-respected, local cardiologist, and he was finding great results with MCT’s (coconut oil) and his heart patients. Fat on the bike is supposedly taboo, but MCT’s are much easier to digest than a more complex fat, like butter. Coconut oil is also naturally antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.* And it makes great chamois butter on those long rides bound up in spandex.

I gave you healthy fuel, now go ride!!

*Info taken from “An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper’s Companion” by Elise Marie Collins

(Cake photo)
(Plum photo)
(Almond photo)
(Date photo)
(Coconut photo)