Moronacity Cycling Journal » Entries tagged with "Motivation"
Trying to Work It In
I wasn’t very happy to receive a phone call at 1:30 a.m. asking me to come into work. I groggily went in, did my thing, and came home. This whole process kept me out of bed for about two hours. To add to the disappointment, I had a difficult time falling back asleep. I knew that my plan of skiing, this morning, was not going to happen. I woke up, quite tired, and slowly got ready for my day. I had to go out and snow blow for about 30 minutes – enough to open some tire tracks down my driveway. I had planned to do a long ski, tomorrow, but I don’t think that will be happening, either. Instead, I plan to spend … Read entire article »
Filed under: Finding Time
Judgment
Preparation 10:00 Eye doctor – get new contacts (you have no idea how good they feel!) 10:20 Go to Keweenaw Coop, get sandwich and cheese crackers 11:00 Go to Tech, do Orgo pre-lab 12:30 Eat sandwich and some cheese crackers, drink water 1:00 Go to orgo lab and smell ether for 3 ½ hours Action 4:50 Get in vehicle to drive to Tech Trails 4:51 Eat more cheese crackers and drink water 4:52 Decide to go home and do work around house 4:54 Change mind 4:55 Take alternate route to Tech Trails 5:00 Arrive at Tech Trails 5:02 Acquire dressing room, change, dawdle 5:20 Clip into skis 5:21 Skate for 47 minutes, just like I planned to do since yesterday …and to think I practiced bad judgment for a couple of minutes. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Motivation
How I Work
I know how I work. I’ve got myself figured out. Even though I’ve achieved this, I find it kind of odd how often I forget. Yesterday is a great example. It was a beautiful, quiet day in Houghton. I decided to head over to the Michigan Tech Trails to start my skate ski at the Nara Park trailhead. I knew I was capable of skiing these loops because I did it last week. It has been a week. Uh, oh. I followed last week’s route heading up and down the you’ve got to be kidding me hills. That thought was still with me. The difference is that the snow was crusty, a little rutted from previous skiers, and really fast. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Skate Skiing
Operation Motivation
Those of you who regularly read this blog know that I’ve been quite unsuccessfully searching for that motivation I lost so many months ago (ahem, September). I was lectured in the brewpub about how I was missing out on some great snow by not skiing. That kind of stuck with me a bit. It got the gears working. Then, the unexpected happened: my motivation came back! I am generally a cheerful person, but I no longer had that zest for life that made the last three years of my Keweenaw life so spectacular. I was no longer excited about…anything. At first, I was a bit concerned that depression would take hold of my life. That is something I have absolutely no … Read entire article »
Filed under: Motivation
Let’s Ride Bikes!
It seems as though mountain biking season is in full swing, even though there are still about three more months of guaranteed snow left. I suddenly find myself wanting to ride bikes. Very simply put, I know, but I want to ride bikes. I know. I can’t ride more than one bike at a time. I’m sure it can be done, but that isn’t exactly my style. However, more than one person can ride “bikes.” That is what I am shooting for. I miss riding with my friends. Last year was a bit of an interesting experience as it gradually spiraled downward into the ultimate bike burnout. I just didn’t want to race, anymore. I wasn’t having fun. This … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cycling
I Need Help!
I suddenly find myself thrown into the middle of mountain biking business. Not even being February, yet, that is a bit unusual in my area where skiing is the norm. What makes this odd is that I’ve only been on my skis maybe four times this season, and I find myself already conducting mountain biking business. This is a good thing. Life is full of distractions, and I haven’t been too good at keeping those distractions under control. The one activity that helps me do this is the one activity that really isn’t possible to do during the winter. I really need to ride my bike. While winter riding is definitely on my list, and I can feel that it is only days away, it … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cycling
Motivation Slipped Away
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. That pesky motivation keeps escaping me. This freezier-than-freezing weather accompanied by darkness isn’t doing much to keep me from wanting to saw logs. I’ve just been really lazy and tired. I do realize that finding people to do things with is a great way to get my exercise in. Many people have been doing quite a bit of snowshoeing, here. Skate skiing is something I’d really like to get back into, but I really don’t know who to call…well, now I do. I’ve recently begun collecting phone numbers of people who want to skate ski. I figure this is a great way to get us all out and motivated to hit the smoothly groomed hills of the Michigan Tech Trails or Swedetown. We have … Read entire article »
Filed under: Motivation
Reboot
December. The year has yet to end and the winter has barely started. Yes, I know many of us have had snow since mid-November, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are still in the early stages of winter. Why, then, am I not surprised to find people asking about 2009 race training on internet forums? Well, because it is time to start training. I took the time, last winter, to develop a broad training schedule for the year. I wasn’t aware that my laziness was causing me to follow this schedule. I just looked at the training program, today, but I am on track, nevertheless. Under November, it says, “No training. Just do what you want when you want.” Well, I did … Read entire article »
Filed under: Motivation
Once Upon a Sunday Afternoon
I had a brilliant idea a couple days ago! I decided to act on it an send the following email out to our community cycling list: It’s going to snow, Sunday. That means one thing: it’s time to ride. I have some great dirt roads around my house that I’d like to explore. I plan to ride my mountain bike because, well, you never know where you’ll end up. Group ride – Sunday afternoon – 3:00 – my house. [Directions to my house inserted here.] This is just a fun, social thing, so don’t be afraid to join in. I’m not looking to set any speed records. Simple appetizer/dessert potluck to follow with coffee and hot cocoa. Nothing big – just … Read entire article »
Filed under: Mountain Biking
