I've been kinda quiet in the blog-land area of life, well, cuz I just ain't had too much worthy of (or appropriate for...?) sharing with the general public beyond my near-daily blips on Facebook. Nothing that's been too inspirational, uniquely entertaining or incredibly useful - just life going on life's terms and me coming through it pretty damn well no matter how much I sometimes revolt.
In the last month or so, though, I've found myself stumbling back to a place I first accidentally discovered near the beginning of this 2012th year - a semi-euphoric state I like to call..."leg bliss". I'll go ahead and claim this as my own original term, and maybe it is, but I doubt it's so original. I mean, I didn't even attach this title to what I'm feeling until I lost it and got it back, but it does pretty exactly identify the wonderful space I find myself again savoring.
So...what the phug is"leg bliss"? Quite simply it's when your legs just do whatever it is you want 'em to. I, of course, mean this primarily with regards to bicycling, but that's just where I get it. You know, when you're on a ride and it doesn't seem to matter how fast, slow, long or difficult the ride gets you just keep going and enjoying cuz your legs don't care and keep moving you in whatever direction you desire? That is leg bliss. It's not just a matter of fitness, strength & speed, but a combination of miles/hours on the bike, you're overall serenity level, and where you set your expectations.
The leg bliss I enjoyed most of this spring (and eventually took for granted) lasted precisely until I expected it to continue and/or to deliver specific results - losing track of the exact core of the deal: that it's based in enjoyment, not results. It took an entire month off the bikes to even have a chance at it again. It took getting my serenity back in the right place. Most of all, though, it took some serious expectation house cleaning. I'd lost track of the "what" and got my panties all wadded up about the "why". Painful lesson - read back a few posts if you really need a re-visit...
Anyway, September has been a wonderful example of the renewed bliss-ness of my lower extremities. From mellow rides with close friends to a high-tempo roadie 106 miler. From accidental Strava "KOM" mountain bike rides that were more fun than anything to BMX practices & races with my 6 year old son. From impromptu trials demo's to my first-ever cyclocross race just today - my legs are simply diggin' the jobs I continue to put in front of 'em. More important, I'm attaching my enjoyment, happiness and satisfaction purely on the intangibles of the ride - not the results.
With today's endeavor into the mildly sick and twisted world of cyclocross, I now voluntarily practice 5 different varieties of 2-wheeled-ness that I can use to maintain this latest addiction: road, mountain, trials, BMX and 'cross. Wow...all different but all with the ability to get me "bliss'ed out" - effing cool, eh? Hell, I even tried running this week (on purpose, without being chased or in danger! I know, right??!!) and I have to admit the legs seemed to adapt well to it...a sixth variety??? We'll see...
Right now my legs hurt, they are tired, but the body & soul as a whole are content. That is "leg bliss", and since this is my 2nd go around there's a good chance I'll actually remember that this feeling IS the prize, the goal, and the best possible result.
Ride on.
