How sweet it is!

Do you remember the last time you really, really wanted something and couldn't get it right away?
Like the donkey reaching for the carrot, did you have times when it was so close and it still didn't happen?
Do you remember the moment you finally had it in your hands? Can you still feel it?

Was it all you wanted it to be and more?
Was it worth the wait?

I hope so.

I am waiting on so many things right now. And there is not one thing I can do to make the process of any of them come faster. I just have to be patient. And it's not that easy.

One is a rare opportunity, a huge, amazing thing that I hope, comes about. If it does, you will be hearing me talk about it endlessly. If I get it, I will be out of my mind happy. An opportunity is an infinite gift. A door opens and allows one step. You then choose how much further to go... how much you are willing to risk and how much you are willing to work to push the outer limits of yourself.

Another thing is a mountain bike. I am waiting for the right bike to come along at the right price. I know what I want and I've narrowed the choices. I am just as confident in my choices in selecting a mountain bike as I was when I ordered the road bike. Then, as now, I know what I need and I'm willing to wait rather than settle. I am so glad that I waited it out on the road bike, but waiting for the mountain bike is surely getting to me.

I've also been waiting for a ride. Each time it looks like I'm going to get the opportunity to get out on a trail with someone who knows what they are doing, it gets cancelled!! Talk about carrots. The weather, obligations and unexpected disasters have all had their toll. But when you're really need of something, you get it where you can get it.

I was very fortunate yesterday. After numerous cancellations for MTB rides due to rain and snow and ice, I jumped in on a group road ride on a 40 mile trek. It rained a little, it snowed a little, it was cold a lot, but it was a great ride! I had the typical trouble of getting started for the first 10 or so miles, but then I got my legs and rode tight in the pace line on the way back. Quite a feat for me, and just where I wanted to be, it was my best performance yet. I knew I was riding really well and I heard about it from the guys riding behind me when we stopped at a light. Way cool.

It was great to be able to challenge myself against a bunch of guys(and 1 girl) in great shape. And... I kept up... for the most part. The hills still beat at me, but I held on in the front of the pack until the last long hill spit me out the back. I was dead last back to the parking lot.

In the car on the way home, I thought about how far I've come this year. How much I can be thankful for. And I was thankful that my upper legs hurt... a lot! They even hurt just sitting still! How awesome! That means, I really worked hard and held little to nothing back. And my reward... being sore! I still have more work to do on the trainer and in the pool but I am so much closer to being competitive. It's just great.

And I need to do it as much as possible to keep an edge... preferably, to improve over the winter.

So, back to the wait. I am still waiting for the epic ride. Finding out how I measure up against someone who knows the trails and knows what MTB really means still eludes me. Getting on the right bike for the job still eludes me. But if they are worth the wait, they will be sweet indeed!!

'Till soon,
Sandie