This vs. That
13 Jan
I compare a lot of things in life and in training. I compare myself to myself, I compare my mileage, my calories, my hours. I compare myself to others. I contrast.
When that happened, what was I doing differently than I am doing now? What can I change to get this result?
What, with “fun” challenges like Strava’s Base Mile Blast or Rapha Festive 500, or just Strava segments, it’s hard not to compare yourself to not only yourself, but also to friends and strangers. PS – how is that guy riding 180 miles a day?
How did my time today stack up vs. my time last month, or last year? Now it’s all at our fingertips.
What are you doing vs. what am I doing?
I’m enjoying amazing January weather, pedaling my bike, and trying to take my recovery week to heart.
This year I’m wearing winter cycling shoes, and winter boots.
Last year I was trying to rush my foot to heal so I could get back to training. Last year my numbers were probably a little better at this point, but that’s that.
I often use my website to look back and see what I was doing last month, last year, two years ago…
FUNNY how things change.
I’d just gotten my first S-Works bike. I’d never had a bike fit more than about 30 minutes from the local bike shop. I ate a lot of wheat and soy and dairy. And, I was trying to fight back an early winter cold.
Some things never change – loved Ergon, SRAM, and was patiently waiting for some Rx Oakley sunglasses. I was putting in training time on the stationary. Justin and I still supported each other as best we could.
Apparently, in 2010 I was too busy riding my bike to blog much. All I have is a late 2009 Year in Review Photo blog, a race result page, and then a report on my trip to Ray’s Indoor MTB Park in Cleveland, OH where I spent a weekend riding around in an indoor park for the first time ever, had a blast, and won a big sexy leg.
I guess the main thing that set off the topic of this blog post, though, was re-reading my posts from 2011. Last January I yearned for my foot to be healthy. I thought I was resting enough. I thought that cross training by swimming was keeping me moderately fit while taking time and pressure off my injured foot. But, the damage had been done, and my season ended long before it even began.
Overuse. Is it? Who knows. I constantly compare my foot: throughout the day, day vs. day, ride vs. ride. Does it feel okay in shoes? Is it warm to the touch? Is there a bruise coming back?
This.
Versus.
That.
This year I didn’t go shopping or drink beer the first week after returning from holiday vacation. This year I rode. I’m still riding. My foot still seems okay. I’m doing what I can. I’m vigilant. I want coffee throughout the day and I don’t drink it (vasoconstrictor). I want to wear regular cycling shoes and no electric battery powered socks with cords and “heavy” batteries, but I wear winter shoes and electric socks. I get bruises in my back ribs when I crash on said battery pack (it still hurts on occasion). I’m willing to change my diet. I’ll give up dark chocolate.
Almost one year ago today was the inaugural 2011 Epic race bike ride. It was a nice day out at Vail.
It was nice this week out at Vail, on the 2011 Epic race bike. This year, my foot didn’t hurt. I didn’t even have to pretend. It just didn’t. It was warm.
We played on the jump line.
I’ve already ridden more this January than all of January 2011. So, there’s that.
While I’m comparing, am I the only one in awe that it’s 2012 already? How did that even happen? No matter. I’m glad it’s here.
Cheers to the here and now.
To January 2012. No comparisons. Just riding.
2012 is the year of the Dragon in Chinese astrology. For Allison, 2012 is the year of the Phoenix. After a successful 2010 that led Allison to her 1st international competition, at the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, she succumed to an injury that kept her off the bike and out of training for 2011. Missing out valuable training time, race experience, and needed results in 2011, Allison has ensured 2012 will be a year of rebirth and expanded growth and learning. She is looking forward to a solid year of training, racing, and new experiences across the country and internationally where she plans to race and promote Bikes for Boobs benefitting Mammograms in Action. She continues to ride and race with mutual support from Rock N' Road Cyclery in Orange County, as well as with her husband, Justin.
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