Ron
I have now read this email - probably dozen times. You are very thoughtful, and helpful. This is obvious, but wise advice Ron. Many of life's lessons don't have to be learned through experience, the hard way. We only have to look around and listen to others who have lived more. I'm not a religious person but I almost feel as if calling you, the work you did for us and your timely advice are meant for me.
You are a good person Ron. Thank you.
I have now read this email - probably dozen times. You are very thoughtful, and helpful. This is obvious, but wise advice Ron. Many of life's lessons don't have to be learned through experience, the hard way. We only have to look around and listen to others who have lived more. I'm not a religious person but I almost feel as if calling you, the work you did for us and your timely advice are meant for me.
You are a good person Ron. Thank you.
Pat
Thanks for the note and good to hear that you found a "starter" bike for Miles. It won't last long before he will want an upgrade.
In reference to the 100 milers.....you have competitiveness that I haven't felt since sitting behind a steering wheel at over 150 mph as a young man.
At some point one has to weigh the competitiveness against the most important part of a person's life: the family. We both know that your wife is already a saint (so you're covered there) but the years with the kids are much too short. Wake-up one morning and they will be grown.
When I look back on my early life with my late father, I cherish the "one-on-one" time doing things that we enjoyed in common....fishing and working in the garage. No doubt he could have been doing bigger and better things. But he gave that time to me because he loved me more than those other things. IE Priceless.
Miles needs to learn to ride off-road and for that he needs to follow your rear wheel. He needs to hoop, howler, fall down, get dirty, laugh etc. He needs to see you do the same. A special trip (not that much different from the ride with the daughter) to a distant single track isn't beyond consideration. Northern Wisconsin has some sane single track. Even Kansas. I'll find something and forward it.
As for running....why not think quality as opposed to quantity? Other than the ego thing, what does a Leadville 100 provide that a quality marathon in southern Missouri can't? Other than massive amounts of risk and pain. Reward is all internal anyway. Find it elsewhere. I threw over 10 years of trophies in the dumpster.
Lance once said: "it's all about the bike." I disagree....it's all about balance. And besides Lance destroyed one family, marched through starlets like water and now has started to mess-up a second family. Where is your balance?
You're pedaling in the right direction. Don't stop!
Tailwinds. Ron
Ron
On my run Wednesday night, I came to the conclusion that it's just too much time to keep training for 100s with the kids activities and work. Also just don't feel like I'm getting good one on one time with Miles, my 10-year old. With Kaylan, we are starting training for MS bike so she's covered, but again, how to get in the hours of running to stay in 100 mile shape? So I give up on 100 mile races for a few years (months - who knows)
Miles showed an interest in mountain biking at Berryman. I'm running along Wednesday night thinking "me, Miles, in the woods together, both learning an endurance sport together?" Yesterday we cruised some garage sales and picked up a $30 mountain bike that was obviously never ridden but left outside. I suspect the reason it was hardly used was because the fork was installed backward and the rider's feet hit the tires when turning. After a couple hours working on it together, re installing the fork, replacing the seat, adjusting, cleaning etc. Miles and I went out to my favorite mountain biking (running) trail where he could ride and I could run.
Nirvana. Life is good.
When I look back on my early life with my late father, I cherish the "one-on-one" time doing things that we enjoyed in common....fishing and working in the garage. No doubt he could have been doing bigger and better things. But he gave that time to me because he loved me more than those other things. IE Priceless.
Miles needs to learn to ride off-road and for that he needs to follow your rear wheel. He needs to hoop, howler, fall down, get dirty, laugh etc. He needs to see you do the same. A special trip (not that much different from the ride with the daughter) to a distant single track isn't beyond consideration. Northern Wisconsin has some sane single track. Even Kansas. I'll find something and forward it.
As for running....why not think quality as opposed to quantity? Other than the ego thing, what does a Leadville 100 provide that a quality marathon in southern Missouri can't? Other than massive amounts of risk and pain. Reward is all internal anyway. Find it elsewhere. I threw over 10 years of trophies in the dumpster.
Lance once said: "it's all about the bike." I disagree....it's all about balance. And besides Lance destroyed one family, marched through starlets like water and now has started to mess-up a second family. Where is your balance?
You're pedaling in the right direction. Don't stop!
Tailwinds. Ron
Ron
On my run Wednesday night, I came to the conclusion that it's just too much time to keep training for 100s with the kids activities and work. Also just don't feel like I'm getting good one on one time with Miles, my 10-year old. With Kaylan, we are starting training for MS bike so she's covered, but again, how to get in the hours of running to stay in 100 mile shape? So I give up on 100 mile races for a few years (months - who knows)
Miles showed an interest in mountain biking at Berryman. I'm running along Wednesday night thinking "me, Miles, in the woods together, both learning an endurance sport together?" Yesterday we cruised some garage sales and picked up a $30 mountain bike that was obviously never ridden but left outside. I suspect the reason it was hardly used was because the fork was installed backward and the rider's feet hit the tires when turning. After a couple hours working on it together, re installing the fork, replacing the seat, adjusting, cleaning etc. Miles and I went out to my favorite mountain biking (running) trail where he could ride and I could run.
Nirvana. Life is good.
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