Mile 2.3

You might be asking yourself why I did not just post this on Facebook. While Facebook is a good place to post a quick sentence of "what's up", I wanted to do something a little more substantial... It goes as follows:



Typically I don't post much about cycling simply because there is someone who already does an outstanding job at http://www.nebraskaoutdooraddict.blogspot.com/ but today I must. I think that is important from time to time to share our triumph and our defeat... At the end of this posting you will have to decide what this turned out to be...

Just before mile 2.3 I was admiring the physique of a jogger headed in my direction, we exchanged smiles and hellos. I peddled on not exactly paying complete attention to my riding as it was absolutely necessary for me to engage in a backwards glance. After all my newly purchased riding gloves would certainly counterbalance my lack of observation. Or so I thought...

Mile 2.3 before my focus completely returned I felt a sharp pain in a protruding portion of my anatomy(O.k. get your mind out of the gutter. It was my lip...). It took me a brief moment or so to realize that I was getting stung... For whatever reason I attempted to remove the offender as delicately as I would some broken glass. This was a mistake as now I gave the angry insect a new target. Quickly this rageaholic took his anger out on my finger not once but twice.

This seemingly unprovoked maliciousness caused my brain to stop functioning for a brief moment and I locked the front brakes. I was flying over the handlebars into the abyss before I realized the mistake that I made..

It is at this point that if you are not at least smiling, one of three things are true.
A. You are not conscious.
B. You are my mother
C. You are my sister

I can't help A but for you B or C's I am perfectly O.K.

Proceeding onward... I landed with the true athleticism of a half paralyzed rhino. Somehow, because of my inability to release completely from my bike it landed on top of me... Fortunately the person that had removed a portion of my brain was not able to witness this spectacular feat. I would have made any rodeo clown stuck in a barrel and flung into outer space proud..

Slowly I righted myself, it was easy to see that my body had cushioned the fall of the bike so it was not harmed in anyway. I also, noticed that all this cycling had truly paid off because now in part I truly resembled Sly Stallone. Well at least in one aspect.. My lip was swelling as the poison entered my body... This gave me an ability that I never had before... I could do a great impression. Adrian, Yo Adrian, yo it ain't so bad.. Yep I convinced myself I sounded just like him...

Now I had a decision... My lip and my finger were both throbbing... Do I turn around and head for home or continue my quest to set another mileage record for the year...

I owe Edward Jr. for my decision... You see he has been battling with more decisions lately than anyone of his age should have to... A friend of mine gave me a quote... It goes something like this; "if you think you are a leader and no one is following you are simply out for a walk... " No one was around I could have quit... But, you see I have been trying to encourage Edward to look beyond the boundaries of what he thinks is possible. What kind of an example do I set when I quit at the signs of adversity...

O.K... You might say that it was just a bike ride... You are right.. However, I made a commitment to set a mileage record today... You see I want to ride in one of the multi-day rides next year and if I don't push myself I will never do it..

Another, friend asked me why I went to all the conventions and meetings. Same answer if I don't push myself I will never achieve my goal...

In closing... I hope this will put a smile on your face and be somewhat inspirational... If not... I tried...

P.S. Note to Edward... While you will constantly be bombarded with opinions on what people think you should do with your life... It is still your life and they are still opinions. Just listen and implement the ones you think suit you the best... We all go through it... Just prepare yourself for an I told you so or two...