Bike Bod

[LBTC]

I feel like I've reinvented myself.

Ditto

With serious cycling in the last few years came a new appreciation of what this body can do. I had strength, endurance, power, some skill, and I looked great! Cycling led to more exercise, too. Kickboxing started as a way to cross train in winter and soon became an activity I loved; yoga became more intense, focussed on serious balance and power and mind involvement....

All three activities have a zen element for me. I know I can not do any of them safely without being completely present. That's one sure way to stop thinking about work, the house, whatever.

This year my bike bod (racer body as DH liked to call it), deinvented itself as I struggled with what turns out to be Crohn's disease. I was diagnosed about a month ago and am so far no closer to understanding what I can and can't eat. I am getting over the emotional feeling that I'm suddenly "breakable", but I do go through waves of feeling sad and like I've lost something, to feeling like I will regain my fitness and my athletic self.

This year will be an interesting journey. I plan to train, I plan to ride, I plan to kickbox, I plan to do a peacock pose again, I plan to race.....and I somehow need to adjust my expectations so that I get enough rest when I need it, learn how to recover properly, and am able to manage stress effectively, in order to keep this disease in check. I hope that the effects of the exercise will make a visible difference to my body again. I hate to think that I may have already peaked!

There are many reasons to love riding and what it does for us. For each of us, the mileage may vary.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~