I am doing a mid season training block of zone 2 heart rate distance riding, no racing, just long steady distance. Todays 70 plus miler was the last day of three, 200 mile weeks. You see, when you are racing it is very intense and volume has to come down or you can't recover.
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So today I had a few hours on the bike to think about my progress. I am very happy about how this training block has turned out and I had steadily increased my stamina and strength aerobically. About 40 miles in, I come upon a crowd of about 6 people kneeling and surrounding someone on the ground. I think someone may have crashed. As I get closer I see an elderly man on his back. One person is doing chest compressions and another is doing the rescue breathing. I realize, this guy has had some form of cardiac arrest and died. I ask if paramedics have been called and one person indicates they have. At that time, police arrive and I see an ambulance coming up the frontage road. A lady tells me the man was riding his bike. I remount my bike and let what just happened come over me. Although sad at someone dying, it is an absolutely gorgeous sunny day in the 70's and the bay looks beautiful. This is what he saw. Was he living today, yes. I think to myself we only have today.
The remaining 30 miles of my ride was full of gratitude for what I have today. I came home, wrestled with my son, joked around with my daughter and told my wife I love her more and more with each day I have the privilege to be with her. Yes, life is very long if you're lonely, but very short if you are taking what's right in front of you and cherishing it.
View attachment 31968
So today I had a few hours on the bike to think about my progress. I am very happy about how this training block has turned out and I had steadily increased my stamina and strength aerobically. About 40 miles in, I come upon a crowd of about 6 people kneeling and surrounding someone on the ground. I think someone may have crashed. As I get closer I see an elderly man on his back. One person is doing chest compressions and another is doing the rescue breathing. I realize, this guy has had some form of cardiac arrest and died. I ask if paramedics have been called and one person indicates they have. At that time, police arrive and I see an ambulance coming up the frontage road. A lady tells me the man was riding his bike. I remount my bike and let what just happened come over me. Although sad at someone dying, it is an absolutely gorgeous sunny day in the 70's and the bay looks beautiful. This is what he saw. Was he living today, yes. I think to myself we only have today.
The remaining 30 miles of my ride was full of gratitude for what I have today. I came home, wrestled with my son, joked around with my daughter and told my wife I love her more and more with each day I have the privilege to be with her. Yes, life is very long if you're lonely, but very short if you are taking what's right in front of you and cherishing it.