Friday favorites: facing fear
This week’s Friday Favorites is a little different. Instead of listing a bunch of the things for which I am grateful, I’m going to focus on one particular feat – facing fear and coming out victorious. Today I rode a bike for the first time in literally decades.
Earlier in the week, my boss announced that the executive committee was going on a team building activity. That activity: riding Pedego electric bikes along the Park City Rail Trail. I was not at all happy about this. I was, in fact, terrified, but not willing to let my fear keep me from being a team player.
I gave myself plenty of opportunities to quit. First I convinced myself that all I had to do was show up and get on the bike. If I fell over in the parking lot, I would withdraw from the activity. Surprisingly, I was able to stay upright, but did not feel at all in control during my practice run around the busy parking lot.
So I told myself walk the bike to the trailhead and try riding again on a long straight (hopefully not too busy) stretch of pavement. If it still feels horrible, you can turn back. But guess what? I started to feel a little more comfortable–not at ease, mind you, but better. So I told everyone else to go ahead and I’d come along at my own pace. I told myself if your pace gets you to the end of the paved portion of the trail, and you’re not feeling it, you can call it victory and turn back.
My coworkers were very kind, riding ahead a ways and then waiting for me. One person in particular stayed by my side offering a constant stream of encouragement.
Between the external encouragement and my mantra, “You’re doing it. Just keep going to the next stop and see what happens,” I rode 30 miles! (In the spirit of full disclosure, the bikes had electric pedal assist, which I used on the uphill portions.) Still I rode a bike 30 miles!
Even when I wiped out (which only happened once), I got right up and kept on going. Hopefully this sore knee won’t keep me from my scheduled five-mile run on Saturday.
Your turn
- When was the last time you did something that really scared you? Were you glad you did it?
- What is one thing you are glad you tried, but will never do again?
- Do you like riding a bike? When did you last do it?
- What are you smiling about this week?
10K training update
- Saturday: 4.5-mile run/hike (53:48 mins.)
- Sunday: 1-mile hike (16:21 mins.)
- Monday: 57-min Orangetheory interval training (15 splat points)
- Tuesday: rest day
- Wednesday: 2.5-mile run on an indoor track (31:03 mins.)
- Thursday: 30-mile bike ride (3+ hours)
- Friday: rest day
For this week’s long run, I ran downhill for 3 miles and hiked up 1.5 miles. My average pace was 11’56” and my fastest mile was 9’33”.
I am entertaining riding a bike again so it was good to hear your story!
Give it a try Fran–maybe not 30 miles for the first ride–but try it! 🙂
I think that it is so important to face your fears (unless, of course, your fears have a good basis in reality… like fear of alligators ?). I grew up riding bicycles so it’s hard to imagine fearing them. I do fear traffic though, so I seldom ride where cars are anywhere around. I’m glad you enjoyed your ride but sorry you got a boo-boo on your knee. I hope it doesn’t impact your run!
You don’t want to go swimming with alligators, Janis? 🙂 I did feel proud of myself for doing something that frightened me, but in retrospect 30 miles may have been a bit much. I did have to modify my scheduled 5-mile run to be a long walk. My knee is sore, and I didn’t think it could take the pounding. The walk felt good, though, and I’ll try a shorter run this weekend and see how that goes.
Good for you! I look back at a number of team events through the years that I didn’t participate in and wish I had. OK, some felt too scary at the time and with the testosterone young men each on-upping the other, It was probably the right decision. But, snow shoeing in Switzerland (OK, it was cold and rainy and instead a few of us sat inside at the fire with wine…maybe I don’t regret that) and sand skiing in Dubai (I was worried about not being able to say upright…I’m not a skier!). Yes, I had quite the global team for a few years.
One thing I did (and made hubby do with me) is a zip-line. Terrified the entire time – there is not a good picture of me because I was afraid to look back at the camera! But glad I did it (and no, never again). I enjoy bike riding, but not sure about 30 miles!
Sometimes it’s a hard call, and you’re right about some of the competitive men in the group. That’s why I insisted they go ahead. I didn’t need the audience, and I knew they were eager to get on with one-upping each other. My husband and I also went ziplining. I was very scared at first, but that was one activity I ended up really enjoying.
Way to go, sis!
Thank you Heidi!
Hi Christie,
Congrats on your bike ride. I’ll bet a little-skinned knee was worth it. I recently took my bike out of the rafters and have been riding fairly regularly. It’s fun. And yes, I wrecked too.
Have fun
Laura
Yes, Laura, I am glad I faced my fear and rode the bike. I do wish I had maybe made the first ride a little shorter. I’m still recuperating. 🙂 I hope you are enjoying your bike and minimizing the wrecks.