I think I'm going to write "STOP WHINING!" along my top tube in a Sharpie.

DH and I went out for a 27 mile loop through Howard County, north of us, today. It was cool (36F/~3C) and, per usual, I was having difficulty breathing for the first 10 miles or so. My lower back was aching, too. I wanted to just head out to Route 108 and turn around, turn it into a 18 mile ride. But I said nothing when DH took the right that was the loop route, and I followed. I hung off the back so I could better see all the winter's new pot holes. Wah, wah, wah. Hills. Cold. Headwind. Not happy at all.

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home!

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour () pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?