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Running, Hiking and Biking, Oh My!

View from Lane Pinnacle

 For years, I have contemplated getting up on top of Lane Pinnacle.  It is a prominent peak that can be seen from south east area of Asheville.  The Mountains to Sea trails goes over it, and the BRP passes below it. It was a rainy wet day.  I decided to get to the  top.  From the valley I headed up some trails then bushwhacked up the shoulder.  I followed a game trail, half hoping I would spot the game that made the trail, but realizing, that the game might not like me using it's trail...

I made it to the top and enjoyed my sandwich while watching the fog roll through the gap. 

More Snow Pics

BRP

Big Black Bear Tracks

Great View from the Top

Catching Air

Getting Out There.

The Fam

4ft long icycle

Snowstorm 2017

Bacon on the grill in 6 degrees.

If a family is going to play in the snow all day,  they better eat something that sticks to their ribs! The Breakfast of a Lumberviking.

 It snowed,  quite a bit.  It is butt cold though.  The temps have been below freezing since Friday night.  That keeps the snow from melting.  Makes snow play less frantic for sure.  

 Lots of sledding, snow ball fights etc .   The normal.

I just can't make myself ride inside anymore.  Too masochistic or something.   But what to do with snow and ice?  I finally broke down and bought some YakTrax-  chains that wrap around shoes to give traction.  Holy Moly,  that was amazing,  Then I went out and ran 1.5 hrs, getting back after sun set.  

 Another amazing day!

Second Guessing

 My brain won't stop.  I'm not sure if it is just a bad habit or the way I am wired.   I second guess everything in my head.  I could be having the time of my life and I question whether I am having the time of my life.  I need to turn it off, and relax.  And that was the focus of today's ride.  Breathe the cold mountain air,  smell the forest,  enjoy the view. 

 I took the kid to Best Buy last night.  He finally saved enough money to purchase a new iPod Touch.  He has been saving and researching for close to a year.  Totally proud of the kid.  But,  then I stressed him out.  What, on the surface, felt to me like helping him make a solid decision, led to him second guessing his purchase.  Good grief.  That is not a trait I want to pass on.  He felt good about his decision and had planned ahead to make it happen.  I need to let that go. 

What it boils down to is lack of trust, worry and anxiety.  I'm supposed to let go of anxiety: "be anxious for nothing".  That also means letting go of control.  Crap,  if I'm not in control...... actually,  I'll be better off.   But I need to practice living like this.  Easier said than done,  but I'm gonna try.   It will free up a ton of mind space.

Go enjoy the view!

So Long

 If you want to move forward in life, become a better person, and be a positive influence on those around you, you can only beat yourself up for so long.  You have to stop second guessing every move and commit.  You have to move forward and live the life you have created, or will create for yourself.

I have spent way too much time wondering about choices.  It is an ingrained habit that  I am determined to break.  In fact, I waffled about writing this post and almost didn't, but knew that I had to fight that and just do it.  Writing the post is something that will help me, and hopefully others, so just do it. 

The same goes for riding my bike long distances.  I have to do it, it is part of who I am and what I enjoy.  I can't spend the entire time on each ride, wondering if I should be spending that time with family.  I do need to spend time with family and I do, plenty.  I can't feel bad for spending time on myself.

I'm determined to break this detrimental habit, cause I know I'll regret it down the road if I don't!

Happy New Year!

 Something feels different, and I have not been able to put my finger on it.  I have spent a lot of time over the past several months working through some things and I think I have finally come to peace with some demons.

A tough situation that could have been worse, I was able to deal with some issues and let them go.  I don't remember that happening before.  I'm pretty sure the situation was meant to stir up emotion and create conflict.  I'm tired of conflict, I'm all about resolving issues,  and I mean what I say.  As I started to get angry about the situation,  a calm came over me and I realized that I should let it go.  And I did.  It took mere seconds to work through rather than months or year that previous conflicts took.  That was cool! 

 More mental space means more energy and better time spent with the family.  We took off in hunt for Elk in Cataloochee.... and got skunked.  We'll be back.  

 And with the New Year, I'm once again trying to figure out my race/ride schedule.  So many option, so little cash flow.  I'm thinking this might be the year of some big solo rides.  The wife's schedule is so weird that it is difficult to plan father out than 6-8 weeks.  I have several friends who want to plan trips, but I frustratingly can't.  Hopefully something will work out. 

I missed riding consistently in 2016.  I'm determined to get out more this year, and attempt to be the year round rider I used to be.  I got pretty slack over the year, and while I spent a lot of time with the fam, I can't neglect myself and the challenges that are out there.  Riding a bike is a gift, a privilege, and I am determined to take advantage of it! 

Cheers to big rides in 2017!