Today I did a brick workout…of sorts.

I swam first thing in the morning, and then 10 hours later, Dave and I went for a bike ride.

On the roads.

And the hills.

With cars.

AND I HATED IT.

I am honestly one bad experience away from declaring my hatred for cycling. Maybe there’s a part of my brain that’s missing, or maybe I’m just a newbie, but I have the hardest time with it.

Pittsburgh is so hilly and I’m not used to all the gears and I’m scared because I’m sharing the road with cars. So naturally I had about seven breakdowns and quit our ride early. Dave is trying his best to teach me about the chains and how that noise means it’s crossed and yadda yadda yadda, but the truth is that I just have to get the feel of it. I just have to do it…but being on the roads scares the crap out of me.

I guess it’s like learning to drive a stick, but I hate trying to learn when there are cars whizzing pass me and I’m swerving all over the place because I can’t get my gears to switch!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Any help?

The only thing I can think of is finding a housing development with lots of hills and learning there. Low traffic and lots of opportunity to switch gears. Once I’m comfortable then I can hit the roads.

Dave, seeing (and receiving) my wrath and frustration suggested that I just call it quits. Every time I take to the road I freak out. Maybe I’m not meant to be a cyclist.

But I can’t do that. It’s not that I am dreaming of being a great cyclist, it’s just that I hate to be defeated.

I broke my foot running. That didn’t stop me from running again. I screwed up a marathon last year…but did I quit? Nope. I was out there this year and I conquered it. Now I want to conquer it further. When I was little I just HAD to be a part of the gymnastics team, even though I didn’t have any particular talent. But I practiced and pushed myself until I made it (only THEN did I quit because I hated it). My dad always said that I was his most persistent child.

Despite being a laid back person, I hate to feel defeated or think that I can’t do something. I know that I can it’s just determination and practice that I need. Is it fun? No, not really. Especially when I’m standing on the side of the road, fearing for my life and exasperated with my husband because I don’t understand him while he’s speaking bike gibberish to me.

But I’m resourceful and rather persistent so I think I’ll conquer this too. Just like the gymnastics team. Just like the marathon.

Will it be pretty? Probably not. Do I plan on winning medals for it? Heck NO.

But overcoming an obstacle that has repeatedly beaten me is award enough.

I am strong. I am determined. I am an athlete.

I will do it.

What are you currently working to overcome? How do you focus on the obstacles you face?

Do you have any suggestions for me? Someone suggested a closed or empty parking garage…I just don’t know where I can find one!