Time to pick yourself up again

I really enjoy reading and one thing I have found is that if I want to become better at something I often read a book about it. I think learning through others expertise is very beneficial to me.

I wanted to overcome adversity and triump through a devastating time in my life so I read Aron Ralston's book Between a Rock and a Hard Place.


I wanted to become a better runner and train for a half marathon so I got a book and studied it and studied the training schedule. The Non-Runner's Guide to Marathon Training.

I want to ride my mountain bike better and so I got a book written by biking extraordinaire Lance Armstrong's coach Chris Carmichael who developed Carmichael Training Systems. I also took the time to email Gene Hamilton and get his mini coaching guide online. Gene does mountain bike training camps and has some excellent tips that I have utilized and seen great improvement in a very short period of time.


Today I ventured out on the stagecoach road ride that I have been trying to become better at climbing. I can do the ride from bottom to top with an elevation gain of almost 800 feet in about 32 minutes. I really wanted to hit the top at the 30 minute mark today but was unsuccessful.  I've learned the key to my success is hydrating. I don't think its any coincidence my two favorite beverages fit in my bike holders. Of course I transferred the drinks to my water bottles so I wouldn't have to unscrew the caps while riding. I had begun the ride by inflating my rear tire a little more and I  put my pump back on my bike. Apparently I put my pump back on upside down and when I began my descent  the pump kept rattling so I stopped to adjust it. I guess I had to learn a lesson in completely dismounting the bike before adjusting the pump. I left my left foot clipped in and just as I had finished placing the pump back on the frame correctly I fell to my left. At least I caught myself and it didnt hurt too bad. I picked myself up looked at my hand, looked at my knee and laughed. I got right back up and rode to the bottom.


I correlate dusting my hand and knee off to life's lessons. We all have to have that one occassional bad day or sometimes even week or month, however, it is truly which decision we make that will determine the outcome of our reaction to that challenge. Those three decisions are as follows: allow the challenge to define you, debilitate you or strengthen you! Personally I like the strengthening option.