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April 27, 2006
How do you get back that lovin' feeling? 
I've been very productive of late, and reaping the benefits of that. Which means I haven't been writing here much.
I admit, I'm having a bit of an identity crisis about the blog. When I started it, I was training for a marathon, I was all on fire about competitive walking—let's face it, I was a bit of a tiger.
Then after the Gorge Marathon last June, I started losing interest. Actually, it was the Sauvie Island half-marathon. I was doing great, I was doing great, and then I saw a runner down. I never learned really what happened to him. And after that, I just couldn't get enthusiastic about competitive walking any more.
I've done events since, but I've had none of the butterflies in your stomach, must think obsessively about strategy. Instead, I've transfered this obsession on to the guide.
It's like religion. I wish I had it again, but I don't. I loved feeling like there was an order to life, I was happier believing that something bigger and better than myself cared about me. But when it's gone, how do you get that back?
Let me be clear here: I don't want to be a believer again. But boy, I wish I were a competitive athlete again.Competitive walking was great, but I don't know how to get back that loving feeling.
I hesitate to call this a slump, as it's been going on for nine months.
How do you regain your passion for your sport?
...
So I guess this blog is now a personal blog (though it always was) about movement, about commuting, about exercise.
Because even though I've regain all the weight I had lost and lost the muscle tone, I still love bicycling and walking, I'm still obsessed with movement, with the act of going from here to there.
...
I've ridden the bicycle to work so far three days this week. Tuesday, I scooted because I didn't have enough time between work and pilates. As it was, I was so late leaving work that pilates got lost in the shuffle.
I like the way the schedule works when you leave enough time to walk or cycle or bus from here to there. It's very humane. You have this built-in bumper time. It doesn't allow you to overschedule, which I think is a plus.
Anyways, today I came in on the three-speed. I love having the basket up front, and I love the silly bell. I enjoy recognizing the kids, and the pedestrians, the cats and the newly blooming flowers.
I changed out my route today, so I had some hillyness coming in. It was a nice change. And as I was pedaling across Holladay St, I could tell there was a cyclist behind me, so I motioned for him or her to pass me. He wouldn't, but he asked about my bike, and I got to gush about how much I love it.
In fact, he has several from that same bike company, and we talked about how solid, and how much fun they are. At this point we were both flying down the ramp to the Esplanade, and we bid adieu. Nice.
So I got into work feeling like I had accomplished something, feeling happy and competent and ready for anything.
...
Riding back home hasn't seemed so bad. It's definitely easier with the 24-speed, though that's a ridiculous amount of gearing for what I'm dealing with. I've managed to ride the whole way home, and not collapse into a heap when I get there. Progress!
Posted at April 27, 2006
Comments
Will you tell me again what kind of bike you have? When our house sells I'm thinking of begging Greg for an Extracycle.
I'm just starting to feel the fever for this run coming up. Tomorrow is my third workout this week, and I'm loving it so far, even though it's HARD. Man, am I out of shape.
Posted by: cheesepuppet at April 27, 2006 9:02 PM
I just linked to your blog from a scooter site (can't remember which one) -- I'm investigating scooters and also beginning to get active in walking and biking following a form of weight-loss surgery (I know, I know) for my health.
As a 45-year old large woman, I really like your site. Inspirational!
Posted by: Alison at April 30, 2006 11:21 AM
My passion for running ebbs and flows. Sometimes all I do is walk - at first it bothered me because my fitness was slipping. Then I realized that I would come back to it, so it didn't freak me out as much.
My blog has morphed over the years. I think its natural that they follow our interests, or we'd be catering to readers instead of writing about whats important to us.
Posted by: neca at May 3, 2006 7:48 AM