Just keep pedaling.

PIN

Mister and I after a Team in Training ride a few weeks ago (and one of our teammates in photo bombing us! Ha!)

This morning I’m sitting on the couch waiting for my sister and her boyfriend to come visit.  I haven’t turned on the lights on the Christmas tree for the first time since we put it up, and my coffee is already cold.  And the annual “Oh, I guess the holidays are over…” moment has hit me.  As I mentioned yesterday, I LOVE the feeling of a fresh start — setting goals, and looking forward.  But I think it’s totally normal to have that day or two of blah before the motivation kicks in.
Yesterday Mister dragged me with him on a 17 mile bike ride (including one ridiculously huge hill).  I wasn’t feeling it.  I didn’t particularly want to go. It was seriously cold outside!! But I didn’t have any other plans for the day and the training schedule for our upcoming triathlon said “bike 60mins”, so I sucked it up and went.  And guess what? I was happy I did. Taking the step out the door into the chill of the first day of January was the hardest part. Once we were going the fresh air felt good. My legs working to propel my body forward felt good. Having my husband riding next to me felt good. (And the toe warmers I put in my shoes felt especially good :))  When we got the the ridiculously huge hill, I had to just keep going…looking a few yards in front of me (and never ever all the way up to the top), trying to keep my cadence up, just turning my legs over and over and over even when they were screaming at me to stop. I didn’t make it all the way to the top without having to take a little break, but I did make it all the way to the top.  And next time, I’ll make it a little further before I have to give my legs a rest.  Just keep pedaling.

It occurred to me this morning that our bike ride was a metaphor for what I’ve got coming this year.  It’s not supposed to be easy.  Taking the first step is the hardest part.  Working hard feels good.  And when it gets tough, just keep looking a little bit forward and keep moving.  Keep pedaling and eventually, you’ll get there.

And on that note, back to goal setting.