Gravel (U)pdate
Posted: August 25, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, compassion, cycling, freshly pressed, friends, Gravel Riding, Gravel Worlds, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, Lincoln, love, lululemon, musings, natural, nature, nebraska, Omaha, passion, recovery, trail running, walking, WOD, writting 21 CommentsI felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy”-
Mountains?!? Who said anything about mountains? Especially here in good ole’ flat Nebraska.
Is having to explain what you love to others tearing away the fabric of your happiness – your being, like enjoying a leisurely 150+ gravel bike ride around Lincoln, Nebraska? Or a quaint 100k Trail Run through Breckenridge, Colorado? Or even meditating and walking?
Often we are asked to explain the reasoning for our choices, let’s be fully open with one another this morning shall we: It’s easier to blog and talk about our decisions at a logical and snarky level, “Why do you like cycling on Gravel Roads?” I enjoy being outdoors in a non competitive environment, enjoying the company of other folks that are there for very similar reasons…
There’s a catch to throwing out the “easy – polished” answer. Doing so, over and over every time we meet like-minded folks erodes our ability to formulate a decision based on “emotion” or a “gut feeling.” These emotions are rather hard to put into words and to explain to someone looking at you in the eye, wondering why you look like a damn mess, covered head to toe with dirt, sweat, snot dripping out your nose and a ridiculously shaped tan line (cyclists know what these look like).
“I like ultra distance gravel rides because they connect and ground me to the earth, they make me feel whole. They allow me to tune into myself, listening attentively, no distractions, just myself – on my single speed bike, chugging along.”
Enjoy the pics folks as this ride was one of only a few where I carry a phone, let alone a camera thing!
Notes:
One of the main undercurrents that keeps this CultFit machine moving along is that we often ruin our enjoyment of the simple pleasures in our lives due to the fact we try to rationalize, at every turn, why we like doing what we do or we want to prove to ourselves why our decisions are correct and superior to others.
The only “thing” that matter folks? Is that we like “whatever” because we like it, period.
Back (to) the Start
Posted: August 21, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, cycling, exercise, failure, family, fitness, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, natural, nature, nebraska, Omaha, passion, running, success, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 7 CommentsDon’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth-
Modern society has taught us that we have either “winners” or “losers.” How often have you witnessed a teacher, yoga instructor, life coach, personal trainer and dare I mention parents … teaching us how to approach failure, how to accept loosing as part of life? We often spend more time focusing on the less important lesson – Winning, succeeding at all costs, no matter what the consequences and outcome(s) may be.
People who fail repeatedly develop persistence in the face of difficulties and only those folks with an extensive history of failure could survive the difficulties that they endure during their lives. Such dogged persistence is not a universal trait we share. If it were, everyone would be in shape (whatever this means), trim, happy, healthy, super flexible during yoga class, 14 minute 5k time etc.
Success, only teaches us to keep on doing the same thing … Failure teaches us to adapt and change, to overcome. Speaking of overcoming obstacles … Gravel Worlds Premier 2013
Notes:
The practical power of failure is not restricted to work, school and getting the sweetest parking spot at Whole Foods. Failure applies to all aspects of simply being a human being, including the crass activity of bragging about your weight room stats and run times.
Failure has taught me more in life than I can possibly begin to imagine and accepting failure helps me to get the old creative juices flowing once again … Success breads and harbors contentment – How utterly boring!?!
e(Tude)
Posted: August 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, running, walking, WOD, yoga 9 CommentsWrite it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, Sauté it, whatever. MAKE-
Best of luck to those of you participating in these awesome events this weekend!
Omaha Corporate Cycling Challenge
Are there times during the day when you wish you could tap into your creative side? What does creativity mean anyway(s)? Is creativity “something” through which you express yourself during yoga class or while enjoying an evening ride, or is creativity “something” that keeps you feeling connected to the earth and those around you?
During a few periods downtime today and throughout the weekend, brushing and flossing your pearly whites or taking a walk in the local market, explore the opportunity to tap into many of the great ideas we have that often get overlooked during the rush of the day. Consider brushing your teeth with your opposite hand … There is “something” happening in these special moments too, which are equally significant in our lives, if we pause and listen.
Notes:
The creativity many of us search endlessly for, is already there … Maybe we need to learn how to sit back, feet up, relaxed – chill and allow “things” to happen?
Have a brilliant weekend and please be well!
The Circle
Posted: August 14, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, perspective, running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 9 CommentsI like this place and could willingly waste my time in it-
How often has a monarch butterfly alighted on your arm while riding your favorite path? Not this morning … Yet I do notice that when a certain quiet descends within, the blue jays and wild grouse venture close, still somewhat hesitant in their flight and chatter, although closer with less apprehension.
As I write this morning, my mind is populated by what is happening out on the surrounding roads. My daily routine has taken on its normal seasonal rhythm, the ebb and flow of gliding past bending branches, alongside randomly arranged rows of this seasons harvest.
Suddenly, there is a change.
My pulse quickens and I become alert when sparrows begin their anxious chorus then fall deadly silent. Without looking, I know they perch themselves, arched and frozen. Seeking to blend in with their surroundings, to avoid the searching gaze of a brown snake who lurks below. I know it is the silent one who mutes the sparrow, chatter does not break when I drift along the road like early morning fog.
Sadly, (for many of us) nature is clipped neatly into slices that fit into a weekend’s back country hiking trip and a fenced in playground, riddled with signs warning us of one hazard or another.
Notes:
What does my little rant have to do with practical matters in your neck of the woods? Nothing really, although I do have a feeling that cycling, being immersed in nature is precisely the solution to so many of the issues that have taken a hold of us.
Grinding (Gravel)
Posted: August 13, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, crossfit, cycling, fitness, freshly pressed, Gravel Worlds, happiness, health, hope, inspiration, Intentions, kindness, life, love, lululemon, meditation, memory, musings, natural, nature, nebraska, Omaha, passion, Reflection, Travel, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 16 CommentsIt is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them-
For more than just a “few” years humanity has co-existed with nature and bicycles. We have passionately learned from both of these. We have watched corn fields grow and soy beans sprout gently rolling by a farmer’s field early one crisp summer morning. If our intentions are set, we can tap into the ever-expanding wisdom and presence unfolding in front of our eyes: Witnessing storms brewing on the horizon with an ever-present eye, listening to the road grinding away beneath you.
In these awe-inspiring moments we are true to ourselves and our intentions are pure.
Riding on a crunchy gravel road recently I learned of the precious, limited time I have to experience nature and more importantly, the respect I have for her. Scanning the road ahead of me I spot some familiar animal friends, my humble teachers this afternoon. These creatures – robins, red tail hawks, field mice and the occasional frog and skunk have taught me to live in the moment, to switch off my “ego” and to be at peace with myself and my surroundings. Don’t believe what I am saying?!? Freak out near a skunk … I look on, as small intimate farms and families begin to form up ahead to my right, a family picnic with elders playing with the little ones. I find myself thinking how the cycle of life is never permanent, our modern society clings to life and lives in constant fear of death. There is nothing to fear out here, when we begin to understand our kindred relationship with nature the eternal, we will chuckle at the unnecessary, wasted energy we put into fearing the inevitable.
As my mind returns to the present moment, We have lost so much of ourselves running/cycling toward fruitless dreams. The intuitive gifts we once cherished in our youth have all but disappeared under the illusion of material gain, a race medal, t-shirt, finish line Vine video. Our once blessed and sacred connection with nature and with all life has been weakened almost beyond repair. As people litter the side of the road with empty liquor bottles, garbage, their unwanted McDonald’s sack, they remain completely unaware of the damaging and lasting effect their actions hold.
Notes:
Let’s face it, it’s not cool in today’s world to admit we are but children of this amazing planet. Born out of nature, each day the sun rises we are graciously given the opportunity to experience the beauty within her. Every moment is a gift, especially while riding a bike, grinding gravel in Nebraska.
Wind Can’t Stop … <— Must Click Link folks!!!
CultFit 