Hill Killer and Ganesha

“There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.” ― Ralph Marston

This cycling season has been a bit tame for me. Other than Le Tour de Couch Potato, I haven’t ridden as regularly, as far, or climbed as many hills as I have in previous seasons. So the used-to-be-easy-ish 20-mile Brown Store route that Ging, Mick, and I recently rode was harder than I expected. There were more hills than I remembered and I found myself dreading the next hill through much of the ride instead of enjoying the easier stretches that by far comprised most of the route.

That my mind had been on the hills to come instead of the easier stretches I was currently on got me thinking about how we approach obstacles both on and off the mat. (See No Mud, No Lotus.) It also got me thinking about Ganesha, the Hindu elephant god and remover of obstacles.

I love cycling. The dread factor was my own doing. Why was I allowing the thought of future hills ruin a fun Sunday morning ride with good friends? Would I rather avoid the hills entirely? As I became mindful of how I was getting in my own way of simply enjoying the ride and instead becoming—as Marston says in the headline quote—an additional obstacle, I decided to practice noticing how I approached future hills, whether actual or metaphorical.

Turns out that despite my hill dreading, at the end of the ride I was happy and proud that I had completed a tough route, and at an average pace I had worked hard for (16.4 mph for you cyclists).

As far as Ganesha goes, I wouldn’t want him to have removed the hills. At this point in my life, I would remove very few obstacles I’ve had to face. They’ve made me stronger, more empathetic and more appreciative of the easier stretches that by far comprise most of my days.

How I approach future hills is up to me.

Update: I rode the same exact route a week later with a different attitude, a more enjoyable ride and an average speed of 16.9.

See you on the road/mat!