Getting back into something

Isn’t it funny how we are always getting back into things? A few years ago when that virus took me out for three months I had to get back to being a triathlete. Last year, after my foot surgery, I was getting back into shape. This year, after my cold I was getting back into running again. Oh, I haven’t been to yoga for 2 weeks now, guess I’ll need to get back into that. Bike? What’s a bike? Guess I’ll need to really start riding again sometime. Weights? Haven’t lifted one in 2 months. I know it’s good for me and will help me be a better athlete, but I just don’t have the time.

It doesn’t end with our active lives. We are diverted in our everyday lives as well. Kids, significant others (or lack thereof), projects, jobs, this list goes on and on. You all know what I’m talking about.

At what point do all these things make us who we are? Are we still defined as triathletes if we have been focusing on landscaping our yards and have only been working out 5 hours per week? When do we lose the vaulted title of lifestyle athlete? After a month, two months, a year, of not competing? How many diversions will it finally take to give up being a triathlete? Are we afraid that our most recent diversion will be the one that breaks the camels back and we will be transformed into some couch potato with dusty carbon bikes hanging in the garage? Maybe we will turn into one of those people who can remember when they used to race and be in good shape but just can’t remember why we stopped being an athlete.

Maybe discipline is the 5th discipline of triathlon? Without it, the first thing that came along would derail us and we would forever be held captive by that soft sofa and big screen TV.

Okay then, enough rambling, it must have been a really boring afternoon run if it made me think of stuff like this!

Can’t wait to get my new Garmin 305. Then I can get back to timing my runs….

Cool program run by the City of ABQ

This is an interesting free program sponsored by the City of Abq. I’ve never used it but I did come close during last year’s monsoon season. It’s nice to know there’s a free way to get home just incase of an emergency. You need to register and give someone else’s name to verify that you use alternative transportation at least three days per week. After that, if you get stuck, just call the number and a cab will pick you up and drop you off at your abode. Sounds like a great deal to me, and it’s free, did I mention that?

http://www.cabq.gov/transit/grh1.html

How cool is this?

Thursday it was just beautiful out and a few folks started commuting into work on their bikes, which made me extremely jealous!

It’s taken me a few months to figure out how to get to work without being killed by the insane downtown drivers but I think I’ve finally figured it out (hope I didn’t just seal my fate, knock on wood)!

So, being jealous, having figured out my route, and with a projected weather of beautiful I decided to commute in on my bike.


Thursday night I decided to configure my new commuter with lights and make sure every thing was working correctly. Well…. The front headlight won’t fit because the new commuter sports an oversized front bar – Darn it, and the light didn’t come with different sized mounting brackets. Looks like the kiddo will have a new light on his shinny new mini mesa. Okay, I can live without the front light for now. it will still be light when I come home. Now to mount the tail light, humm….Where are those darn mounting brackets? After an hour of searching I decided to just Velcro the light on, okay that will work. Wonder if the fenders will fit? I know I’m going to get rained on, maybe not tomorrow but it will rain. Darn it, the fenders won’t fit the new bike, dang.

Okay, tires are all aired up, water in the water bottle, saddle pack has a spare and air canisters,. backpack is packed with a few extra things, toe warmers are on the shoes, helmet is dusted off, and clothes are ready to go.

The morning commute went really well, very little traffic and life is good.

I put my bike in the designated parking area, located inside the rear door and get changed, in the locker room.

Did I mention that one of the reasons I took the new job is because it’s a very bike friendly work environment? Around 9 out of a possible 30 people commute on their bikes during the summer! Wow, can you imagine if every company could boast that almost 30% of their employees commute by bike?

After talking to folks about the bike and commute I settle in to my normal work day. Pretty soon the big boss shows up in my office bearing a nice spa towel and a company logo water bottle.

He tells me he’s heard it was my first day commuting and I get a new towel to use in the shower (yes we have a shower at work!) and a water bottle. He goes on to ask me what he and the company can do to help encourage people to commute on their bikes and he’s always open for suggestions. This isn’t just lip service either. He commutes regularly, including most of the winter, on his bike.

How cool is that?