Wholistic Fitness

Taking Refuge along one of my many Refuge Routes over the years…this one was when i lived in Rio Rancho, New Mexico…it was a hybrid road/dirt route that climbed from 5,512′ to just over 10,000′ in 15 miles…the descent?  Just remembering it still shakes the mercury filling out of my molars.

We all have them. For road cyclists, mountain bikers, runners, nordic skiers; it’s our favorite trail or go-to route when we need to test our baseline cardio fitness or decompress our jacked up stresses.  It’s that special web of road or trail or both that just get us back to our center.  It may be an asphalt serpent of  road, an out-and-back singletrack, or a pine-canopied snowshoe trail which contains a terrain profile that can really, deeply push us to our limits…and beyond.  I call these sacred sweat courses; Refuge Routes.

In Buddhism,  there is a term, “taking Refuge” which is a personal vow (monastically or lay) to three specific spiritual commitments known as the Three Jewels; the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.  A discussion of such Buddhist philosophy, however, is beyond my intent for this piece (was that a sigh of relief I just heard?).  Pertinent here is the fact that we create personal refuges as we apply our sweat and determined, focused mind along particular workout circuits.  Some of which, really stand out and become our spiritual workshop where we apply the Highest Aspects of ourselves during innumerable workouts along the same route.  Wherever we steadfastly apply our mind, body, and spirit becomes a type of astral temple, a sacred site.  Even to non-endurance athletes such Temples arise in quite common manifestations…think here of Wrigley Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the fabled links of Scotland,  Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, the soccer pitches of England,  or the clay of Roland Garros.  Here in Durango, cyclists come from all over the world to ride the famed Iron Horse Bicycle Classic route over the high passes to Silverton.  Even recreational cyclists I’ve guided over the route admit to feeling the ‘chi‘ or spiritual energy from the 35+ years of elite and non-elite cyclists whom take Iron Horse pilgrimage each May.  It is a great Blessing to visit such places, perhaps at night beneath a starlit sky…feel the collective energy, the chi of all the focused minds and well-conditioned bodies which have gathered at these vortexes of human capacity.  As our sensitivity matures, we can feel something special in the ether whenever we enter a football stadium, a gymnastic gym, yoga studio,  dance theatre or concert hall.

Refuge Routes come in all dimensions. For my Partner, after she gave birth to our little One,  her Refuge Route became a 1.8 mile loop outside our riverfront home.  Not much for some, yet, big for her during that time in her life.  She used that route to condition herself – often with our Jogger Baby Stroller – as she eventually finished 3rd place in her Age Group in a local sprint triathlon when our daughter was 3 (thanks in big part to our entire family’s reliance upon MAP Amino Acids,  COMPLETE vitamin/mineral supplement,  SUNRIDER Herbs, and ASEA Sacred Water).  She used that Refuge Route to test her run times, as she knew by experience what was a fast effort and what was schlep.

Refuge Routes have certain qualities. When I was deep into high mountain trail racing,  I found trails that I could really hammer without having to risk a sprained ankle.   Refuge Routes also possess certain qualities;  they are usually Loops (Sacred Circles, baby!).   And, it’s a loop whereupon you know by heart each twist and turn.  You know where the sparrow nest is, the raccoon or fox den, the sound of water upcoming.  You know when to duck under the low-lying branch or you know the precise line as you soar the descending switchback.  You know it all; where to accelerate,  where to back off the throttle to save energy for that final, seemingly endless, uphill gradient home.   My current mountain bike Refuge Route is an example.  It’s a, 2,750′,  23-mile out-and-back  climb to a particular high point along the Colorado Trail.  It’s not too techy, yet most of it is single track that mandates keen mental focus and is consistent in traction, terrain, and subjective obstacles.

Funny thing about Refuge Routes; after enough noble efforts on them,  we begin to develop a weird sense of ownership.   It’s like, we kinda think we are Lord Master of this route and all her delights and tortures because we’ve tested our body, mind, and spirit over this same canvas of terra firma  countless times through countless seasons of rain, snow, heat, and hail.  We know how she feels as the early morning wall of light glints like a string of pearls through the pine boughs or marsh grasses.  We’ve felt the fear of upcoming darkness on this route when Grandfather Sun slipped too quickly behind the buttes and cloaked our sweaty body with a shock of cold getting colder.  Hypothermia has thus humbled us.  Yet, we know all of the sweat we’ve dripped along this route can authorize no ownership to this sacred ground.  In our heartspace, we realize the only landlord here is the Great Spirit…that which animates you, me, and all Beings in all Realms.   Divinity owns this Refuge…this Sacred Place which has grown to be our best friend.

I’ll close this somewhat vaporous offering with some downright athletic practicality…something with which most of you are more comfortable.  What spurred this piece was my PR effort on my road bike Refuge Route…a 67-mile (okay, 66.99 mile) route that has charmed the sweat off me since my twenties (i’m fifty).  I call it my “Chimney Rock Loop” because the turn-around point utilizes the soon-to-be National Monument, Chimney Rock Archeological Park. Use it as a route-guide when you come and visit, don’t miss it if you enjoy road cycling…it’s fantastic.   Oh, and be sure to drop me a line on what YOUR Refuge Route is when you get a moment.  I’d like to hear about it.

Until then,
keep the rubber side down and the spirit side in tune with It All…

Head Bowed,

Coach Steve Ilg
founder/www.Wholisticfitness.com

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Chimney Rock Loop

Start/Finish:  Bayfield, Colorado
Distance: about 67 miles (you can start/finish in Durango for a fantastic 100-mile effort)
Profile: approximately 700′ of climbing, extended rollers, false flat finish of 7-miles
Road Quality: State Highway for first 20 miles; wide shoulder, excellent condition.  Remainder of route is on recently repaved rural, two-lane highway with okay shoulder and very low traffic flow.
Description and Hints: Park at Bayfield Conoco on State Highway 160 at the intersection of Co. Rd. 501.  If you’re gonna try to Time Trial this baby,  make your first hour count.  You’ll set your highest average speed during the first hour thanks to a bomber 7-mile descent before your only water stop at the Chimney Rock Restaurant.  You can’t miss it; it’s pretty much the only hint of civilization.  There are no stoplights or even stop signs….no wait, there is a stop sign near the end…along this route.  Get your Fabian on as you roll east on Hwy 160 until Chimney Rock Restaurant.  stop.  pee.  refill your first water bottle.  take two large and drink down the first one before you reach the Restaurant.   BE POLITE TO LYDIA!  Thank her.  Remount. Climb Devils Creek hill (.5 mile) and turn right onto Hwy 151.  The ancient hang out of the High Priests of the Anasazi will now vibrate your chakra’s as you pedal around your turn-around point of Chimney Rock.  Keep time trialing for as long as you can pedal like a man (or woman) beside glimpses of the Piedra River on your right.  Just around 2 hours into your effort (based on my 19.7 mph average solo effort) you’ll suddenly encounter the 14% bitch slap I call, The Arboles Wall.  It’s the only spot on the route where I have to shift onto my lower front chainring.  Good Luck!  After going “A-wall” you’re in for some world-class spinning through tiny farm towns with names like Allison, and Tiffany.  After a few memorable knee-cracking rollers with magnificent views of the La Plata mountains behind Durango smiling at you,  you’ll eventually arrive at your final right-hand turn home onto Co. Rd. 521 just before the town of Ignacio, the capital of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.  Locally known as, “Buck Highway,”  I call this, “Bonk Highway,” in testimony to how many times I’ve hit the wall so close to finish along this stretch.  Right here, this final ribbon through ranchland is what kills the average speed…just stay positive and you’ll soon see the township of Bayfield – and your car.  Once at your car,  chow down some MAP Amino Acids to begin restorative measures to the amazing effort your muscles just powered you through and then, after your legs stop quivering,  email me and tell me if this wasn’t one of the best road rides you’ve ever cranked!