An Epiphany

[maillotpois]

I was really interested in your post ivoryg - but it came out at a time when I was slammed with work and I didn't really have a chance to put a response together. There's only so much I can do on my iphone. So I guess I'll respond to your thread here.

My motivation definitely ebbs and flows, and I let myself take a month or two off (or light) here and there. I also have a teenager and run my own demanding law practice, so I have a lot of "stuff" to balance. My husband also rides and is stronger than I am, and pushes me. Usually in a good way, but sometimes I get annoyed with him and I usually speak out when I do. He's actually decided to do DMD with me and TT as well, and has been doing the brevets with me, which is nice. I just have to constantly check in with myself as to the pace when I am riding with him. He's often right that I could be pushing myself harder, but I need to know when he's wrong and when I need to respect my limits and pull the pace back a bit.

I don't think you ever get it perfect, but it's what you said - the balance.

I'm absolutely convinced that making the "training" rides fun is key for me. I could never do my long rides at X miles at Y heart race or pace like V described. It reminds me of a cookbook I had when DD was young, called something like "Stealth Health" - about how to fit healthy foods and vegetables into a kid's diet. I feel like the brevets are "stealth training" because they're fun and full of camaraderie, but good training as well.

[shootingstar]

Against all you folks, I am slacker. I've never competed. But I have just blasted around on the bike because I got high on cycling. And what the cyclometer was telling me.

Then eventually I took the thing off my bike and didn't obssess all the time about mileage. I still have packed in alot of decent mileage without a need to write down precisely, how much I cycled each day.

[maillotpois]

Against all you folks, I am slacker. I've never competed. But I have just blasted around on the bike because I got high on cycling. And what the cyclometer was telling me.

Then eventually I took the thing off my bike and didn't obssess all the time about mileage. I still have packed in alot of decent mileage without a need to write down precisely, how much I cycled each day.

And?

We aren't "competing" unless its against ourselves or goals we set for ourselves. So?

We like riding too. We don't measure everything by a computer. We have fun. And when its not fun, we stop and re-evaluate. Did you actually read the posts above?

Not sure what your point is. Again.

[Crankin]

I am more of the smell the roses type, but I have a good degree of competitiveness in me . I just try to channel it between me and myself. I go through periods of ebb and flow, too, but I've been able to moderate this by varying the type of activity I do. Cycling is definitely still my #1, though.
I've had a little trouble adjusting to my new schedule, with my new job. Although I actually have time to ride during the day a couple of days a week now, I find that unless I go out early in the AM, I more than likely will not ride.
I learned my lesson when I was teaching classes at the gym. Not only did I get injured, but my "schedule" of training and teaching, along with a full time job and 2 young kids just about sent me over the edge. Once I quit that and became just a "consumer," I lost all motivation and put in less and less effort, gained a lot of weight, and got disgusted with myself. If I had been able to moderate myself before this, I don't think I would have lost my mojo.
I set reasonable, but fun goals. This year, I am going to do a century again... after 6 years, it's time.