The Hill, the Old People, and Me
I've mentioned before that I'm a wee bit competitive when it comes to athletic endeavors. It motivates me to work harder if I think I can go faster or longer than someone I'm next to at the gym or, say, riding alongside on my bicycle. It also makes me feel good (superior?) when I do.
Well, the other day I was out riding and I came across two old people riding their bikes. By old I mean they had to be in their 60s. When I first came upon them, I thought, Oh how sweet, look at the two of them out for a ride. I waved hello and made some comment about the big hill that was coming up, but inside I was feeling like a hotshot and figured I would leave them in the dust as I sped by.
Damn if they didn't cruise by me a couple of minutes later while I was huffing and puffing up said hill! I couldn't believe it when they pedaled up and then passed me. A very humbling experience, indeed. Although I think it's a good thing to be put in your place every once in a while, don't you? As long as it makes you want to do better the next time, that is . . . old people on bikes beware!
Bombay Bicycle Club--"The Hill" mp3 off The Boy I Used to Be (buy)
yeah, baby, they'd better watch out for me next time! :)
Reminds me of the time Mrs. RotaryEngine and I hiked to the top of Half
Dome in Yosemite. We started early and just had a bookbag with some
snacks, water, and an engagement ring. We started half-way to the top
because we had hiked the first half the day before and camped at the Nevada
Falls campground. We had not been hiking more than an hour when a
grandmother wearing a fanny pack sprinted past us, beating us to the top by
a mile. We huffed and puffed, and at one point had to stop on the backside
to calm down a bit b/c the last bit up the side of Half Dome was a bit
unnerving. As we sat there, dozens of people just strolled right by. It
was humbling.
well, i think she made the right choice, regardless of how affected she was
by the altitude! :) i guess the important thing is just get your butt out
there and do it, whatever speed it's at and regardless of who's passing you
by! i'm going to do my best to remember that as i'm huffing it up mt.
washington!
ooh - Mt. Washington - sounds like a lot of fun - you'll have to post a
full report!
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