This Page

has been moved to new address

Keep Pedalling: Bigger Picture Moment

Sorry for inconvenience...

Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service
body { background:#aba; margin:0; padding:20px 10px; text-align:center; font:x-small/1.5em "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; color:#333; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; } /* Page Structure ----------------------------------------------- */ /* The images which help create rounded corners depend on the following widths and measurements. If you want to change these measurements, the images will also need to change. */ @media all { #content { width:740px; margin:0 auto; text-align:left; } #main { width:485px; float:left; background:#fff url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_main_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; margin:15px 0 0; padding:0 0 10px; color:#000; font-size:97%; line-height:1.5em; } #main2 { float:left; width:100%; background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_main_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:10px 0 0; } #main3 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/rails_main.gif") repeat-y; padding:0; } #sidebar { width:240px; float:right; margin:15px 0 0; font-size:97%; line-height:1.5em; } } @media handheld { #content { width:90%; } #main { width:100%; float:none; background:#fff; } #main2 { float:none; background:none; } #main3 { background:none; padding:0; } #sidebar { width:100%; float:none; } } /* Links ----------------------------------------------- */ a:link { color:#258; } a:visited { color:#666; } a:hover { color:#c63; } a img { border-width:0; } /* Blog Header ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #header { background:#456 url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_top.gif") no-repeat left top; margin:0 0 0; padding:8px 0 0; color:#fff; } #header div { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 15px 8px; } } @media handheld { #header { background:#456; } #header div { background:none; } } #blog-title { margin:0; padding:10px 30px 5px; font-size:200%; line-height:1.2em; } #blog-title a { text-decoration:none; color:#fff; } #description { margin:0; padding:5px 30px 10px; font-size:94%; line-height:1.5em; } /* Posts ----------------------------------------------- */ .date-header { margin:0 28px 0 43px; font-size:85%; line-height:2em; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#357; } .post { margin:.3em 0 25px; padding:0 13px; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:1px 0; } .post-title { margin:0; font-size:135%; line-height:1.5em; background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_arrow.gif") no-repeat 10px .5em; display:block; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:0 1px 1px; padding:2px 14px 2px 29px; color:#333; } a.title-link, .post-title strong { text-decoration:none; display:block; } a.title-link:hover { background-color:#ded; color:#000; } .post-body { border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:0 1px 1px; border-bottom-color:#fff; padding:10px 14px 1px 29px; } html>body .post-body { border-bottom-width:0; } .post p { margin:0 0 .75em; } p.post-footer { background:#ded; margin:0; padding:2px 14px 2px 29px; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:1px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; font-size:100%; line-height:1.5em; color:#666; text-align:right; } html>body p.post-footer { border-bottom-color:transparent; } p.post-footer em { display:block; float:left; text-align:left; font-style:normal; } a.comment-link { /* IE5.0/Win doesn't apply padding to inline elements, so we hide these two declarations from it */ background/* */:/**/url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 0 45%; padding-left:14px; } html>body a.comment-link { /* Respecified, for IE5/Mac's benefit */ background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 0 45%; padding-left:14px; } .post img { margin:0 0 5px 0; padding:4px; border:1px solid #ccc; } blockquote { margin:.75em 0; border:1px dotted #ccc; border-width:1px 0; padding:5px 15px; color:#666; } .post blockquote p { margin:.5em 0; } /* Comments ----------------------------------------------- */ #comments { margin:-25px 13px 0; border:1px dotted #ccc; border-width:0 1px 1px; padding:20px 0 15px 0; } #comments h4 { margin:0 0 10px; padding:0 14px 2px 29px; border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; font-size:120%; line-height:1.4em; color:#333; } #comments-block { margin:0 15px 0 9px; } .comment-data { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 2px .3em; margin:.5em 0; padding:0 0 0 20px; color:#666; } .comment-poster { font-weight:bold; } .comment-body { margin:0 0 1.25em; padding:0 0 0 20px; } .comment-body p { margin:0 0 .5em; } .comment-timestamp { margin:0 0 .5em; padding:0 0 .75em 20px; color:#666; } .comment-timestamp a:link { color:#666; } .deleted-comment { font-style:italic; color:gray; } .paging-control-container { float: right; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; font-size: 80%; } .unneeded-paging-control { visibility: hidden; } /* Profile ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #profile-container { background:#cdc url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_prof_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; margin:0 0 15px; padding:0 0 10px; color:#345; } #profile-container h2 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_prof_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:10px 15px .2em; margin:0; border-width:0; font-size:115%; line-height:1.5em; color:#234; } } @media handheld { #profile-container { background:#cdc; } #profile-container h2 { background:none; } } .profile-datablock { margin:0 15px .5em; border-top:1px dotted #aba; padding-top:8px; } .profile-img {display:inline;} .profile-img img { float:left; margin:0 10px 5px 0; border:4px solid #fff; } .profile-data strong { display:block; } #profile-container p { margin:0 15px .5em; } #profile-container .profile-textblock { clear:left; } #profile-container a { color:#258; } .profile-link a { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_profile.gif") no-repeat 0 .1em; padding-left:15px; font-weight:bold; } ul.profile-datablock { list-style-type:none; } /* Sidebar Boxes ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { .box { background:#fff url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_side_top.gif") no-repeat left top; margin:0 0 15px; padding:10px 0 0; color:#666; } .box2 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_side_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 13px 8px; } } @media handheld { .box { background:#fff; } .box2 { background:none; } } .sidebar-title { margin:0; padding:0 0 .2em; border-bottom:1px dotted #9b9; font-size:115%; line-height:1.5em; color:#333; } .box ul { margin:.5em 0 1.25em; padding:0 0px; list-style:none; } .box ul li { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_arrow_sm.gif") no-repeat 2px .25em; margin:0; padding:0 0 3px 16px; margin-bottom:3px; border-bottom:1px dotted #eee; line-height:1.4em; } .box p { margin:0 0 .6em; } /* Footer ----------------------------------------------- */ #footer { clear:both; margin:0; padding:15px 0 0; } @media all { #footer div { background:#456 url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:8px 0 0; color:#fff; } #footer div div { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 15px 8px; } } @media handheld { #footer div { background:#456; } #footer div div { background:none; } } #footer hr {display:none;} #footer p {margin:0;} #footer a {color:#fff;} /* Feeds ----------------------------------------------- */ #blogfeeds { } #postfeeds { padding:0 15px 0; }

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Keep Pedalling: Bigger Picture Moment

"When I walk in the spot, yeah this is what I see, ok
Everybody stops and staring at me
I got passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it, show it, show it, show it
I'm sexy and I know it ... "

Waking up at 5:30 a.m. to LMFAO is slightly annoying especially on a SATURDAY, but I get up and get moving anyway. It's training season and I have to stay on track.

I head to the bathroom, to squeeze my body into bike shorts and a tank top. Lace up my shoes, grab a banana and water, and head for the car.

Driving in the dark to the gym makes me feel like I'm out late at night, but the pinks and purples of the sunrise can be seen in the distance. I know for certain it is morning.

The radio is cranked, playing some crazy upbeat music to get me in a gym sort of mood.

At the gym I sign in and get my bike ready, adjusting the proper placement of the seat and handlebars. Grabbing some sweat towels {which I always need} I hop on and start pedalling. Class doesn't start for a half hour, but the bikes are already spinning. Die hard bikers and triathletes training just like me. I giggle to myself as I've never seen so many men wearing spandex since the 80's.

It's 7:30 and she's here. Our instructor or as I like to call her "devil woman". She's 5' 4" and weighs maybe 100 pounds and has CRAZY curly dark hair that she pulls back with a Rambo-type bandanna.

"Let's get started," she yells. And then cranks the music.

LMFAO AGAIN!!! Seriously, will that song never die.

I pedal. I sweat. I pedal. I sweat. I drink some water. I pedal.

It's only 20 minutes into the hour class and it's hot. So hot the mirrors are steamed over. My breath is labored and my chest stretches with each inhale. My legs are like jello.

But I keep pedalling. Stopping is not an option.

"You're at the halfway point now keep it up," she yells. {She always yells}

I stand up and pedal harder and faster. Imagining myself biking during my triathlon. Sweat drips of my face and pools on the floor. I think of stopping of just saying "eh, I did 45 minutes I'm good." Then she says it. The words that draw me back from the abyss EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

"This is NOT the hardest part of your day."

My heart skips a beat and my mind goes into overdrive.

She's right. As much as my legs hurt and my chest hurts and I just want to stop spinning. This is not hard. This is one hour of my life. One hour of sweat and tears. THIS is the EASY part of my day, because in only fifteen more minutes it will end.

But my day will continue and there will be harder parts than spinning and sweating.

There will be kids who are crying or upset.

There will be husbands who need to work.

There will be laundry and dishes.

There will tears and anger.

And it will be hard, but we will pedal through. With sweat on our brow and determination our hearts.


Every Thursday we share the harvest of intentional living by capturing a glimpse of the bigger picture through a simple moment.
 
This week, we're sharing life over at my sweet friend's blog Undercover Mother!

Labels:

8 Comments:

At March 08, 2012 , Blogger This Heavenly Life said...

I love that -- This is NOT the hardest part of your day. Kind of makes it seem...almost easy, right? At the very least, you know it has a start and a stop.

I think I'll start telling myself this in moments of frustration...couldn't hurt!

 
At March 08, 2012 , Blogger Alita said...

I need that framed! This is not the hardest part of your day.

Genius!

Also, your post makes me want to buy the bike I've been eying for a month.

 
At March 08, 2012 , Blogger IASoupMama said...

Oh, man... this make me miss the gym. I keep hoping that once the twins are sleeping more consistently, the thought of getting up before dawn won't seem so intimidating. I hope...

 
At March 08, 2012 , Blogger Iowa Sunshine said...

love that quote from your instructor!!! i'm proud of you for sticking with your a.m. routine, even in the dark without much sleep. you rock!!!!

 
At March 08, 2012 , Blogger Hyacynth said...

How true is that?! It's not the hardest part of the day! I love the way you wrote this, Brook. It's energetic and vibrant and it really drew me in. And I love the way you end it, too. Just keep peddling. Yes, we just keep peddling.

 
At March 08, 2012 , Blogger May said...

I took a spin class for four years and was stronger than I have been in my entire life. Keep pedaling for sure! Because once you stop it is hard to get it back.
Good for you!

 
At March 09, 2012 , Blogger Jade @ Tasting Grace said...

Dude. You are hardcore. Seriously. And that line "This is not the hardest part of your day"...I think I need it tattooed on my arm, where I can see it when I go on my daily runs. So true. It's not the hardest part of the day (even if it does feel like a b**** at the time).

You rock. And you are totally going to rock that Tri!

(Also? As Hy said, this was a wonderfully written piece!)

 
At March 10, 2012 , Blogger Emily said...

I love that in-the-moment motivation! (Even though I still think spin class is HARD!!)

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home