Responsibility interfering with my riding!

I am a grad student and work full time. I am trying to graduate in December and am having a hard time getting all the classes I need. So my only option is to take three classes over the summer- one evening class, and two five-week Friday night/Saturday classes. (Then one class and an internship in the fall) That means I'll miss three rides I really wanted to do this year- one century that I love and was really looking forward to after I didn't get to do it last year because of illness.

So, I know it will be worth it when I graduate in December and have this behind me and I'm trying to keep it in perspective. But, how can I keep motivated when I'm riding and not dwell on the fact that I'm missing these big rides? Training for the rides has always been a big motivator :confused:

I'm in the opposite boat right now. I just got my rejection letter from grad school and I'm consoling myself by biking.

Can you plan a long ride to celebrate graduating so that you'll have that to look forward to?

You could change your goals. You could join RUSA and go for an R-12, that's doing a 200K once a month. There are a whole bunch of permanent rides that count and with those, you get to choose the date and time of the ride.

If R-12 is too much, you could just decide to do three in the months when you would be doing a century.

V.

When I was in grad school working on two masters at the same time (crazy, I know), I had to write two theses (thesi?), at the same time. It was a joint program between two universities in related fields, but they wouldn't let me write a joint thesis.

Anyways, I ended up just taking more time to finish up. I figured, why stress out so much. A few more months didn't make a blip of difference, now almost 10 years later.

Can you just graduate in the spring? Enjoy life?

Good points- I can get a new goal or extend my time in school. (Funny how we get so wrapped up in the negative that we can't think of our options unless someone points it out to us)

I really want to graduate in December for a number of reasons so I think it will be worth it to keep at it and get done.

I suppose I could look at it differently. Next summer I won't be working and trying to go to school so I'll really be able to focus on the centuries I want to do without those distractions.

So for this year maybe I can try to focus on goals like personal best on a particular route, refining certain skills, beating my husband up a specific climb. That way I'll still have goals to work towards to keep me motivated.

I'm still bummed but thinking that maybe I can turn this around into a big positive.

Thanks!