I didn't ride today. My legs needed a break. But yesterday, DH and I took the afternoon off and went mountain biking. It was my first time out since returning from Utah and my first time on our local trail since last fall. The ride went well. I did a trail new to me and handled it well. I still find myself more breathless mtbing than I ever do on the road, even on road climbs. I think part of it is that I'm a masher on my road bike, but tend to spin a bit more on my mtb. I think some cadence drills are in my future.
It's funny how much my perspective has changed in my first year of mountain biking. We did some downhills in Utah that were seriously steep (at least to me) so the descents that scared my last year on my local trails don't bother me a bit now. Still, I always experience quite a bit of anticipatory anxiety before I hit the trail. I need to build up some confidence. I wish, too, that we could get out to the trails more often. It's hard to balance it, road biking and all the other stuff we like/have to do.
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
--Mary Anne Radmacher