Be Assured of Your Goals

It wasn't me.  Really!  The unicycle decided all on its own that it wanted to tackle the long hill again, and it wouldn't be dissuaded.  Fine.

It was hot.  Not as hot as it could have been, or will become further into summer, but it was still hot.  82*, and 42% humidity.  A nice day for a ride, with a good soaking sweat bonus.  I made it to the bottom of the hill without incident.  A few honks and waves, but no upds, no landing on my back in front of people, none of that kind of thing.

The hill was the hill.  It hadn't changed since my last blog.  There was still traffic.  There is always traffic.  I had started in the Home Depot access road.  I have to stop there because its a busy access point, and there's a curb that I can't hop off yet.  Past Home Depot, I traversed the intersection, rode between Red Robin and Big Y, and across the slanted front parking lot of Interskate 91.  No stopping now.  I rode around the asphalt curb, and glanced up the hill.

The only change from yesterday was a construction sign right in my path.  Across the street was a utility truck working on a pole, with a policeman standing duty.  I flailed my arms a bit, indicating a left turn, because I had to ride into the traffic lane to go around the sign.  Cars were going quite slow at this point anyways, so no worries.  Back out of traffic's path, I looked up at the rest of the hill.

I saw the top.  It beckoned me, as it did the last time.  "I'm still here.  Still waiting."  The long hill was daunting.  I can always feel it in my legs when the mental doubts creep in.  Gonna fall again.  Too tired.  Too far to go.  Too hot.  Then discipline takes over.  I begin my mantra:  "Sit in seat.  Chin up.  Wiggle fingers.  Breathe."  My focus narrowed.  The road before me and my mantra were all that existed.  The top of the hill came quickly.  Up.  Over.  Done.

To achieve a goal, I can't just be at the top.  Somewhere on the top isn't good enough.  I never want to call my achievements into question.  I will typically crest the hill and not stop until there is a decided downward slant, or unarguable leveling.  Only then is there accomplishment.  I apply this to other goals in life as well.  Achievement must be unassailable.  Anything less, and tomorrow has the same goal.

I made my goal of the hill.  I didn't make my goal of finishing every ride by riding onto my driveway.  The heat got to me, and I started to really feel it about a half-mile from home.  The dehydrated lightheadedness was the worst symptom.  I upd'd about 500 feet from my house, and walked it home.  Safety first.  There's being able to ride home, and there's being able to ride tomorrow.  Today, I chose tomorrow.

3.04 miles (minus about 500 feet).

"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."