Friday, August 10, 2007

How long can an interval last before one crashes and burns?


Me crying like a little girl at the end of Peskydero


I find that often cycling is a good metaphor for life.

There are seasons. There are times to rest and rebuild and times to push harder and take it to the next level.

Lately, my life feels like the season that never ends. I feel like I've been pushing zone 4 for about 3 years and wondering how much longer I can sustain the effort before I crack.

Previously, my life had a season of rest and rebuilding. I had come through some really rugged times in 2001-2002 with big changes and a lot of adversity - much like coming off a big crash with a long recovery. Things finally settled into a rhythm. It was comfortable and restful. I was rebuilding for this next season. There was quiet, and long bike rides and a 40 hour work week. There was lots of time for joy, peace, love, meditation, prayer, contemplation and lots of other things that keep me recovered and strong.

Then, in 2005 I went into a hard training and racing block in my life. I got married, went through a home remodel and started a masters program all at the same time. Then, before finishing the masters program, I decided to add on actual racing (sanity of that decision is questionable). I can finally see a potential end to this season with the culmination of my masters degree in December. Or can I?

I'm contemplating some changes coming up. The question is, am I going to extend the hard effort - maybe ramp it up to an even higher intensity and head to the next category, or am I going to be purposeful about moving myself into a more restful season? Decisions, decisions.

8 comments:

Itinerant Rick said...

ahhh my sweet, it is a time for mulling over all that life throws at us. I watched you through the tumult, have been with you through the seasons of many changes, and will support you in whatever decisions you make. Take a deep breath, exhale. It will continue to be an up and down ride through time, just know you have some of it under your control and for all of it let me and the rest of your support net provide the backup notes.

Anonymous said...

you are absolutely right!

cycling is fun and life is fun...

Lorri Lee Lown -- velogirl said...

I think you should retire and move to fiji!

chatterbox said...

Flandria - so right!

Velogirl - hmmmmm. Enticing! Do you think your sister would let me stay at her house?

Chris said...

We can always make commitments to move forward in whatever we pursue. Sometimes I don't think we take enough time to consider if we really should.

Emily said...

those are some profound words coming from Chris, which I think I should take under advisement.

Velo Bella said...

schmoop!

lovely.

chatterbox said...

chris - exactly!

emily - welcome.

vb - :)

rick - thanks again for being such a wonderful and supportive husband. I think you are a big part of what keeps me sane when everything else is swirling around us.