Blogging

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (or pedal)

March 19, 2018 By Slow Richard

It’s mid-March, and I’m finally breaking out the old bike to get some of the first miles of the year on my old legs. Like the Chinese philosopher observed, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Laozi.

And so the journey begins, anew. December put to bed a good year. January brought new goals and hope for a great new year, along with several extra pounds for taking time off of the bike. February brought glimpses of hope for a great new year with unseasonably warm weather, although in the afternoon, when work trumped exercise in the priority ladder.

And in March, winter finally arrived and delayed the journey. But finally, a chance to get out, and to get out with my very own peloton.

This year undoubtedly holds big things for me. Mountains to be climbed, roads to be conquered.

Bear Grylls’ manifesto for children

February 11, 2015 By Slow Richard

Ban computer games, get outside, and climb a mountain! Bear Grylls, outdoor survivalist and TV superstar has a new “manifesto for children.” Basically, turn it off and get outside. Technology stifles creativity, and the best things in life aren’t things. Good stuff!

I think kids get a hard time. We go to some tough estates with the Scouts, and I find that kids don’t lack ambition, they lack opportunities. If they don’t have opportunities, they get frustrated, go defensive and the hoodies come up.

But when you give them opportunities and take the shackles off, they love it. I take seven-year-olds up the mountains, and I see these massive smiles come across their faces.”

Bear Grylls’ Manifesto for Children

Get fit
Outdoor classes for all
Ban computer games
Climb mountains
Take risks
Community service

I think that’s a pretty good list. It sounds like Bear Grylls would make a pretty good scout master.

New year, new beginnings

January 1, 2015 By Slow Richard

Happy New Year! This afternoon, I clicked on my Strava app and instinctively went to my stats page. I was shocked by what I saw. Everything had reset to ZERO. All of my hard work, my blood, sweat, tears: gone. But not to worry, too much. It’s January 1. It’s a new year for Strava, and Strava has to reset stats sometime. So the year begins on January 1. And not just mine, but everybody’s stats go to ZERO.

When I looked at my Strava stats page, I was a little shocked. “What?!” I thought to myself! “What happened to all my hard earned work???” Last year I put in 2,000 miles, and lots of elevation, and lots of hours. I worked hard last year. I was proud of my accomplishments last year.

But there’s also something to be said about having a brand new, clean start. It’s a brand new beginning. All of my Strava buddies are tied with me. It’s a new game!

New beginnings = optimism.
New beginnings = clean.
New beginnings = freedom.

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