Once upon a time I raced. Translated that means that if I was not at work I was riding – or better said – training. If you race/raced you know. All focus is on training: on the bike, off the bike, nutrition, sleep, gear etc. All in. It just is what it is. It takes time to be ‘that’ fit – in any sport.
It was fun. Then, as time passed, I changed. I realized I was missing other things because I was always ‘training’. I made a decision. I will go ‘all in’ next year and race. That will be my last year racing. I decided to do as many of the NORBA national series races as possible that year. Yep, I continue to date myself. I was racing my mountain bike. I did that. It was fun. Then, I stopped racing.
I was speaking to a friend about it. I rode with him often. He raced. He asked why I wanted to stop racing. I told him I wanted to enjoy other things I did not really have time to do – like rock climbing, kayaking etc.
He listened to me. Then his words were biting, “I understand. You are choosing to be mediocre at many things rather than really good at one thing.” Ouch. That stung a little bit. Was he correct?
He was spot on. I was making a conscious decision to not be my very best at one thing so that I could enjoy other things, each at a lower skill/performance level. Although his words were harsh, they were accurate. It was just the reality I was choosing. After all, I was not going to make a living off of my bike. I really enjoyed it, but I also enjoyed rock climbing, kayaking and other things.
Aside: Recreation is not professional. You do not have to be great at something to enjoy it. Actually, that is not really the goal. Or, not the required goal. Some enjoy that pursuit, but some just enjoy the process. So, in reality I would not call that mediocrity as much as balance. But – to each his own. In fact, there is a great article just about that – how recreation is about re-creation (our spirit, mind and soul) and we often make our chosen recreational pursuit a ‘second job’ and thus suck all the re-creation out of it. Something to consider. More on that in the future … for now let’s get back on track.
Of course, I still ride – some would say I ride lots. Of course I would say, “never enough.” Kayaking – it’s been a few years, but I am planning to go with a friend soon. Rock climbing – it has been an even longer time, but I still have my gear. The bike is still my fix, but now I share my time – as an artist, as a firefighter, as a teacher, as a friend, in community events, etc. You know the drill — life.
Choices. That was mine. Recently I have made yet another choice. My intensity riding and my time on the bike with the ‘fast group’ has fallen away. I love being in that kind of physical condition, but the time focus is beyond what I want to spend to be that fast. Again, not like I am racing or making a living off of my bike. I think that is the situation with many people. Choices. We can either be upset/sad/disappointed that we are not as fast/fit/thin as we were in the past or we can choose to embrace the other components of our life for the joy they are.
If you have been reading a long time you know I am also an artist. I love being in my studio. Guess what? There is life outside; there are beautiful and wonderful things outside the studio. The bike is one of them. But – I think the same can be said about the bike. As great as it is, there are also other things that are important in our lives, and it is OK to provide the time for those things. Even if that takes you off the bike for a bit.
“Heresy – there is nothing but the bike!” said the youngster… probably the younger me.
Your thoughts….
