It's all about The Dirt:

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)

Gu and gels make me hungry and jittery. Fancy sports drinks make me feel sick. Bars (unless homemade) taste like candy and have too much crap in them.

Here are 3 creative ideas to refuel and replenish burned nutrients as we roll away:

Sport Tea

This award winning tea is nutritious, tasty and energizing. It’s a daily replenishment of vitamin C, electrolytes and an energy boost with Siberian Eleuthero root, which is a potent superfood used by Olympic athletes. It has a blend of black and green teas, along with ginger, maté, vitamin C and natural flavorings. It is a decaf equivalent, so if you’re sensitive to caffeine like me, your heart rate isn’t 10 beats higher from it. It has a great citrus flavor with no sugar or artificial sweeteners, and replenishes potassium and trace minerals that are depleted during physical and mental stress. It sustains me through a short or long ride, and prevents dehydration after an intensely, hot ride. The best part about the brewing is that I just put the individual tea bag with water in my bottle and if I refill it, the tea bag makes more!

Black Mission Figs

Long known in the Mediterranean for their healing properties, figs are delicious fresh or as dried storehouses of nutrition. A fruit particularly rich in minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper and manganese, figs are a great source of energy. High levels of potassium in figs can help control blood pressure, and figs are also a particularly alkaline food, steering the body away from an acidic pH level. Foods like meat, dairy and processed foods are acidic and must be offset by alkaline foods such as figs.*

Curry Cashews

Lower in fat and higher in protein than most nuts, cashews have a slightly sweet flavor. Plentiful in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that has protective effects against heart disease and cancer, cashews contain many minerals including copper, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc. They also are a good source of biotin and the amino acid tryptophan, the primary building block of serotonin—the feel-good neurotransmitter.* This is a bonus on top of the endorphins! Then you add the antioxidants in curry to them, and it reduces joint inflammation and protects against cancer and tumor formation. Some people think nuts give you “gut rot” on the bike because of the fat and protein, but they do contain carbs as well. Experiment and try them on a ride to see how they feel. You can buy curry cashews in the bulk section of some natural foods stores.

Ride and replenish…

Part II coming soon.

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

(Bike plate photo)
(Fig photo)
(Curry cashews photo)

A wise chunk taken from “Working Within, Working Without” by Jerry Lynch and Chungliang Al Huang:

“In sports, exercise and life, negative thought patterns create mental and physical resistance that greatly hinder performance. Try the following test: Hold your arm out straight, while a friend tries to push it down. Resist the pressure as you say out loud, “I love my sport” over and over. Now change the phrase to “I hate my sport” and compare the strength you experience. Notice how much stronger you are, and how much better your performance is, when you vocalize “I love” – a positive thought pattern. How many of us, consciously or not, have a love-hate relationship with sports or exercise. You love the outcome of working out but hate the process. Hate running hills and you’ll create greater struggle, making it more difficult to get to the top. Better to say “I love running up hills; they get me in better shape on my way to becoming a better competitor.” In this way, you will experience rising up the hill rather than forcing your way there.

Affirmations are very important in the cultivation of inner talent; they are crucial in helping you to awaken to the Tao and living with its influence. Unlike visualization, which controls what you “see,” affirmations are the control over what you say. They are strong, positive statements about something that is already true or has the realistic potential for being so. To affirm means “to make firm” by using conscious, planned, positive words and expressions that help to keep you on track with your potential. Without them, the possibility of desirable outcomes diminishes. Affirmations are direct attempts to change patterns of negativity that, like a broken record, continue to repeat themselves. They are words that truly transform the quality of your life, opening you up to the natural way of sports and exercise, the way it was meant to be.”

A few of my affirmations:
- On climbing, my bond with the outdoors is crucial. I savor the view, soak in the sun’s rays, and breathe. If I fight it, then my breathing gets erratic. External scenery affirming.
- “I am worthwhile and competent, I have much to offer.”
- “I am feeling the flow of energy, and it builds inside of me with each breath.”
- “I can, and I get stronger.”
- “I’m in a position to strike and win on the bike.”

Go get it…

(dice photo credit)
(rock photo credit)