Day 36: Head games and Headwinds

Today we rode 89 miles from Fremont, Nebraska to Sioux City, IA. There were a number of back roads which made for easy, scenic riding(if you have an eye for rolling corn and soybean fields), and the highways we traveled were not overly busy. Nebraska bid farewell by crying a few raindrops on us and lowering its temperature and humidity. I appreciated the gesture.

Though traffic was relatively light, one of our riders was involved in an accident with a car. The car turned in front of her, apparently not seeing her, and she smacked into the side. She was shaken up and will probably have some new colors on her body tomorrow, but insisted on finishing the ride after replacing her bent front tire.

This was one of my toughest rides-not because of roads, or equipment, or weather-but simply because I was lethargic. Not sure why, probably a combination of things, but it made riding a chore. The strength was there, but the desire was not. I tried a number of tools to put myself in a positive frame of mind-chanting some favorite psalms-talking with other cyclists-praying-I even ate some "freezies" that were graciously provided at one of the stops. I remained flat and weary.

All right, "flat" it shall be. At least my mood fit the geography; I was pedaling through the Missouri Valley.

When I crossed the Missouri into Iowa and turned north I was met with high winds. The weather report I had seen on Saturday warned of high winds, but said they would come from the south. They most certainly did not.

I am happy to report, yes "happy," that I did not get angry, did not curse the wind or the weatherman, didn't even grit my teeth, just downshifted and kept pedaling. I also encouraged myself with little positives, "You're a good wind rider." "You're really pedaling strong." "Isn't it great that you're not fighting the wind."

If anything, the headwinds blew my lethargy away. I guess that makes them an answer to prayer. Who would have thought? "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8) I'll "amen" that verse, and keep praying for tailwinds, especially for Wednesday (113 miles), Thursday (113 miles), and Friday (100 miles).