Day 7...Celebrate Recovery

Peeking around my shoulder for a pic

Confucius said "It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop".  This is a great mantra and one I was reminded of today.

While we were all in good spirits this morning, seemingly full of energy and fuel, Kevin pulled me aside and said he felt a bit jittery. His heart rate (per HR monitor) was abnormally high even before we started. His pulse rate (per me), however, was within normal limits, although I think he was having some arrhythmias. I could not tell if these were normal (sinus) arrhythmias or abnormal. He said he was OK to go although fatigued. He struggled considerably over the first (very hilly) 20 miles. I asked if he wanted to bag it but, as I would have predicted, he shook his head "no" and pressed on. By mile 30, after stopping to eat our PB+J sandwiches, he started to come around. His HR monitor starting putting out normal numbers.  I knew his spirits were up when he went from being virtually silent to making jokes.

Jim bringing us home at the end of today's ride

At mile 40 we passed a sign in front of a church that said "CELEBRATE RECOVERY". Wow. I couldn't believe how special these words were to me when I saw them side-by-side. Recovery, regardless what from what or for how far along in the process you are, is a wonderful thing. Whether you are recovering from an eating disorder, from cancer, from alcoholism, from war, from surgery, from the loss of a loved one...it should be recognized and CELEBRATED. So, please take a moment today to acknowledge and celebrate your recovery!

Today's ride took us from Pylesville, MD to Olney, MD. A total of 74 miles of tough hills and wind but lovely landscape. Lots of horse farms and gracious people along the way. Tomorrow we will reach the outskirts of Washington, D.C and another state will be behind us!