i took this pic from about mile 7.5 up our 10 mile dirt road climb on our road bike during the Tuesday Night World’s Ride this evening here in Durango…a definite A-list of the local pro’s…i didn’t finish last…second to last, but not last! that little green blob in the center of this pic is the Animas River Valley…that is how high up we climb on this 3,000′ climb before shaking our molars out on the washboard descent and then roaring back to town at 23mph!
Despite the fact that the entire place is run like some sort of aging Texan mafia, and that nearly every staff member is a walking heart attack just waiting to happen, they are also all deeply adoring of kids, family, and really, really good southern-style food. And, of course, all things Texan.
have you ever been sooo exhausted from such a fun and fitness-filled family vacation that you need ANOTHER vacation just to recover?!? just back from an AMAZINGLY BLESSED 5 days of scintillating Southwest Wholistic Fitness Family fun…full story plus Dharma c(om)ing only to Members at: www.WholisticFitness.com
I suppose it’s the sanest part of me that naturally gravitates toward these serrated skylines of granite, sandstone and sun-splintered early morning rapids and ripples. Perhaps the most redeeming quality that can be associated with this incarnation known as ‘ilg’ is that which has been undeniably attuned with Sacred Appreciation to the whirring symphony of hummingbirds, aspens quaking, and splashes of trout surfacing through snowmelt waters…
Today – amazingly enough – marks the one-week out from perhaps my most special of all my three Sacred Sweat Pilgrimages of WF; the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic…at age 50 (which i turn during the 3-Day Race) ilg can BARELY BELIEVE how long, how treasured, how spiritually scintillating my humble, sweat-contingent life has been and thus remains…enjoy, be inspired…cuz, truly, your feeble coach really, really digs deep into every physiologic and psychologic realm to bring forth for you what remains the most unique, effective Path of Self Transformation through personal fitness that has c(om)e to grace Kali Yuga…Blessed Be All…
So, up those seemingly endless, sky-high, snow-surrounded mountain passes, i cultivated the Witness Within. i practiced watching my effort -detached – without form watching the formfull. Basically? ilg just ‘watched ilg pedal up the mountain.’ This ‘witnessing’ technique is an ancient spiritual warrior tool for transforming suffering into mere effort. Suffering has emotional baggage, however pure Effort is Suffering without the emotional baggage.
yup…only in Durango…you show up for the ‘slow’ B ride and find yourself doing battle up 2 x 700′ climbs over 35 miles at 20+mph with no less than Shonny Vanlandingham …riding her MOUNTAIN BIKE! gotta love this town! insane intensity is us!
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Photo of Coach and daughter Dewachen, living the Path (upside down!) by www.jamesqmartin.com
