I didn't see Day's reply until this morning, but last night I remembered a route I have been wanting to take. For years I have wanted to take a road called Hill Road that runs along the foothills of Boise. It's a street I have not spent much time on and an area of town I have never seen. And I won't lie, this route was sounding a bit shorter than 60 miles and I liked that idea. I really kinda wanted to take that "Easy Road" today. Some days are just like that.
This morning, before my ride, I started to map out my route. It was looking like a little over 30 mile route which would include a massive hill that has been mocking me! It's one of those hills that I have seen cyclists ride and think.."Man they are crazy!" I actually did half of the hill last Friday for my friends 40th birthday run celebration, but the whole hill was still mocking me and since it would be towards the end of my ride I knew my legs would be a bit tired. I decided that hill would make up for the "short" ride. So maybe it was only half of the "easy road". Ya, I can justify just about anything.
It was a beautiful day for a ride! Just gorgeous! And it seemed like lots of other cyclists thought the same thing. I must have seen like 50 of them out for rides today..and on a "school day"! The ride along Hill Road was beautiful. I saw lots of houses I have never seen before and some just amazed me! This one property was older and the house was built into the ground. It was very interesting. It had one little level (looked like one room) that was above ground. I wonder how dark it is in that house. I saw another that was adding some kind of addition to their older home and it looked like it would look like a hobbit hole when it was done. It was pretty cool. My least favorite part of the ride was the part where I had to ride through downtown Boise. Just not my favorite. But it did get me to Subway for my lunch time refueling! I have seen all those advertisements for Subway using Olympians and athletes and they kinda make me laugh cause honestly I don't think Olympians are eating at Subway. But today, I had to take a picture cause it kinda hit home today.
Back on the ride, I hit the greenbelt (my favorite place to ride). At about mile 25 or so, it dawned on me, that I could do another 25 miles. There would be no "Easy Road" for me today. I was going to ride 50 miles AND take those blasted hills that are mocking me. This will be my longest ride yet! I calculated what changes needed to be made to my route to make this happen. It would be a simple extension (out and back) trip before hitting where I was originally just going to hit those hills. It also meant that instead of taking the one road straight home, I would hit old familiar roads with more hills up in the desert near my home. Yup, I was gonna make this happen!
I know I have probably said this many times. But I truly live in one of the most beautiful cities in America! Boise is blessed to have an amazing Greenbelt system that makes bike riding so much fun! Here is a picture to show off just some of that beauty. It's a shot of the Boise River and an old Dam/Power House.
It's beauty like that that refuels my soul for what is to come. Those dreaded hills! I took pictures of them, but I don't think the pictures do them justice!
Later on in my ride, I hit several more hills and I was so tired, but I remembered what I was training for and just how blessed I am. While most people spend their day sitting at a desk, standing behind a register, cleaning up after people, teaching our children or any other number of jobs out there, I get to spend my day riding my bike 50 miles! I get to spend it in the glorious sunshine and autumn leaves. I get to spend it training for a 400 mile bike ride that will help other people have safer homes to live in! Yes, I may be tired. My legs may hurt. My bum may be a bit sore from the saddle. But this is NOTHING compared to people who are living in substandard housing. This is NOTHING compared to people who struggle every day just to keep a roof over their head. Its NOTHING compared to the struggles of the people who live in poverty. And THAT is why I am riding my bike 50 miles today! I am riding for THEM. I am training for THEM! And that thought gives me the strength to keep on peddling up those hills.
Yes, in life we have a choice. We can take the Easy Road or we can take a road that is much more challenging. You can choose to ignore the needs of people who struggle and live your life in a happy daze of cluelessness OR you can wake up and look around and see that people are suffering. By making yourself uncomfortable, by making even small sacrifices in your life, you can make a HUGE difference in some one else's life. Which road are you going to take today? I guarantee you, the road with more challenges..the road that helps others is so much more rewarding than that "Easy Road"!
There are so many ways you can help others, but if you feel lead to, please consider helping me raise money for the Fuller Center for Housing. The money you donate will go towards their Greater Blessing Program in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to help repair homes for those who can not do it for themselves. To find more information on the Fuller Center for Housing, the Bike Adventure, or to make a donation to my $2000 goal, please click here.
Thanks for reading my blog and supporting me! It means a great deal to me! Have a great day!
No comments:
Post a Comment