Back to Life, Back to Reality

Just got back from kicking it in the 57702-- Rapid City, SD. As soon as LP and I walked outside the airport I muttered "it's fuggin' cold, let's get out of here." Another reason I figure to live in the South-ish most of my life-- too thin-blooded.

This was actually a great test for me. When cycling everything revolved around getting my training in. Traveling to SD usually drove me crazy because I could not do my long workouts. This makes me pretty unbearable to be around (no nasty jabs here, please). With no pressing training issues facing me I ended up actually able to relax a lot more-- which is quite a feat for me. Not to say that Anna didn't run buck wild and test my patience but I think my a$$hole rating probably dropped a point or two this year.

Side note: That reminds of a lady who was a cycling official and team director. She once said that when a man puts on a bike helmet he becomes an idiot and when he swings a leg over a bike he turns into an a$$hole. Pretty accurate I think.

Rapid City has an awesome network of cycling and walking paths. I went for a walk on one but I immediately saw a "hill" that I had to run up. It was complete with a fireroad and tons of MTB paths. Not sure how anyone actually rides on those trails since the hill is so steep in some points that you can almost stretch your arm straight out and touch the ground in front of yourself.

So I make my way up the hill (what we'd call a mountain in the South) and I'm at least 1,000 feet above the city. I got to experience a sound that I NEVER get to experience in daily life-- silence. Pure, unadulterated silence. Clearing all the white noise from your brain almost makes you paranoid. It's a very unfamiliar sound. We always long for feedback and noise to keep our brains clicking along. It's easy to understand how my friend ZackPe has trouble sitting still and letting God talk to him in those silent moments. However, silence is powerful and useful.

I'm already looking forward to heading to SD in the summer for a little MTB'ing. Gotta go hit ebay now.