the few times that i actually stop thinking is when i'm riding. everything is totally quiet. sometimes i hear my own thoughts but they are not screaming out at me or coming 2-3 at a time. they are like soft whispers of happy thoughts.
but what happens when the body is tired and you can't ride (run, swim)? take a rest day..rest week.
over the last six months i've been sick twice...and each time i was sick were chest/lung related where the thought of doing a ride was out of the question. (and i'm still sick as i'm writing this with a gurgle cough, swollen lymph nodes, and general malaise). i think back at what lead to each of those illnesses and noticed that i was putting in serious time and energy without adequate rest. not just a day rest, but a mental and physical rest week. a week to pull back and let my body properly recover. just have fun and do whatever i wanted and play. what a concept. i know this basic principal as a trainer, but as an athlete i'm a stubborn bull unable to give up my training, my riding. my riding gives my brain a chance to breath and let the stress go. unfortunately, by letting one stress go, i take on another that is wearing my body down.
the body is an amazing work of art. it works constantly to find equilibrium - you train hard and the body adapts to the stress, you stop exercising and the body adapts. my body isn't just dealing with my stress of my 9-5 job and mountain biking but the stress of raising 3 girls, taking care of finances and a home, and not to mention the challenges of a teenager. oh yes, and having a relationship. my body is under so much stress that i don't know how to relax if i'm not riding. a friend mentioned to me today (impeccable timing), he said 'resting isn't just sitting and relaxing, it's relaxing in here' and he points to his head.
i took a day off today. i was suppose to be on my weekly wednesday night ride with class A riders but instead i listened to my body and rested. i'm still working on resting...in my mind.
peace out..
chi
