What I learned riding 252 miles of the CA Coastline

Wow...Like a few people I know, goals and dreams can often seem like something to do later. That is how I felt about the California Coastline Bike Ride. Growing up in Marin County, going to school in Santa Barbara and Santa Monica, and living in Ojai, I have completed the commute dozens (scores?) of times. Whether by bus (Greyhound), train (Amtrak), air (United and American Airlines), car, or carpool (once) lying in the hatchback of a Volkswagen, the idea of riding my bike along the route was always something I would do someday/later.

So, when the opportunity to make this ride presented itself early in 2007, I knew it was time to "gear up." Was I ready? This was the question I heard time and time again from friends and family over the three weeks of planning. Even the people I trained with were surprised, “Jason, have you spent 8 hours at once on your bike in the past few months?”

The answer, simply, to both questions was, “no.” And, this is exactly why I had to start the ride. Last summer, I rode 530 miles through the Rocky Mountains. We averaged about 80 miles a day. When I looked at the routing we would take, I knew I had set a BHAG (big, hair, audacious goal). Day 1: 132 miles; Day 2: 125 miles; Day 3: 125 miles.

I learned a lot during the two days I completed the ride. (I did not finish the third leg; I now have something to train for!) Most of all, I rediscovered the level of respect I have for knowing how to push limits AS WELL AS listening to what the mind and body collaborate to share.

Here are, in no particular order, just a couple of things that stand out to me:

Nature is big. Riding along, looking ahead and seeing the size of the mountains we climbed was awesome – and awe-inspiring. In a car, 50 miles of the Big Sur coastline might take 70-90 minutes. Sure, we might stop along the way for a photo op or two, but for the most part the trip is usually made up of one person saying to the other at random, “Wow, isn’t it beautiful?”

Riding alone, with members of the group both ahead and behind, along that roadway was majestic. The time, 70-90 minutes, might only net 10-12 miles. That gives a LOT of time to observe the surrounding areas.

The mind IS a terrible thing to waste. I remember as a kid, I saw those TV commercials. But now, I have a whole new respect for the concept. As I was riding along the first day, at mile 29, I realized that I STILL had over a hundred miles to go!

That was huge. My mind started playing tricks with my body. “Can I make it? Should I call Jodi to give me a ride? Should I just put my bike in the truck and give up now?” Over time (and I had plenty of it that day – over 8 hours riding) I recognized the debilitating effect this may have. So, instead I began focusing on what I COULD do. I could make it up the next hill. I could stretch my legs on the next downhill. I could eat my trail mix on the next flat stretch of road.

Fear is rampant in the way of this world: False Expectations Appearing Real. I can only begin to wonder at how many times I thought, “Can I make it? What if my tire goes flat again (I flatted once in 252 miles)? Can my legs keep going? Will the other people think I’m weak if I don’t keep up?”

The emotional pull on my physical resources was palpable. Again, I re-and re-realized how important it was to stay present, and focused on what I was doing…on what I could do.

Finally, I had some time to consider my life-direction these days.

I’m still grappling for an answer when someone asks me, “What do you do?” I know that this week had a profound impact on my life, as I understand what a need I have for demonstrating and coaching people to identify their dreams and go for them with gusto.

“Oh, you’re a motivational speaker!” someone on the trip said the second afternoon. I’m not sure how motivational I am, but I do know how motivating it is to be around people who make time for themselves. Along the trip, I was motivated, inspired, pushed, cajoled, encouraged, driven, coaxed and persuaded – all by the voices in my mind – to keep on going…to keep on going.

One more learning I had was/is the absolute imperativeness (is that a word?) of listening to the voices in my head, even when they seem to be confusing or at  with each other. By the end of the second day, after I had ridden more than 252 miles in just 49 hours, I realized my body required a break – a retrenching of sorts. It wasn’t easy, I can admit that.

“What are people going to think? Why can’t I do what I said I was going to do? It’s just pain, it will go away! I can do it. If I really wanted to, I wouldn’t be thinking this way.”

I reflected that night over dinner on what I had done, how far I had come, and what I enjoyed about the trip. And, when I recognized (or perhaps more to the point – when I let myself acknowledge) what I had done up to that point, I allowed myself “off the hook.”

I had done something big, something bigger than me, and something I would train for and do again.

If there is something you’re thinking about, and it’s big - bigger than you - get out there and give it a go.

It might be physical, like the bike ride along the CA Coast…or, it might be something else. Performing at your 100% simply (but not easily!) signifies your ATTENTION and your INTENTION are receiving enough focus and energy so that you perceive progress.

Get out there, and make things happen!