Take that Spring Out O Shapeness
When I speak about being in shape, it's a relative term. My body was apparently created with beer in mind, (Fat Tire Ale to be more specific), but I was able to get my ass through the first off road ride of the year without stopping for oxygen, muscle relief or red blood cell boosting. Granted my time was slower than normal (partially due to some treacherous mud at the top of the descent which made my tires look about 3" wider) but considering it's not even April I feel like my semi-regular jogging regimen has paid off. This ride was small in terms of what I'll be doing in a few weeks when I'm going to try the "Barking Spider" (a race near Boise) with some friends, but we're not exactly racing for first place. I'm guessing we will race at the "sport" level, but I'd probably be happy with just chilling in the beginner race, we'll see.
The other good thing about today's ride was that it was done after a surprisingly good bender last night. Press Box (sports bar) dinner, Fat Tire and performing artists were once again the culprit. It was supposed to be just my roomate Jeff and I watching basketball, drinking some beers and eating food that "tears you up", but that changed about halfway through pitcher two when we mutually decided that 5 weeks away from the local adult performing arts center was long enough. Poison, my performer of choice was unfortunately still on the DL rehabbing a pulled rib muscle (come on Poison, let's get back into game shape for my birthday in two weeks) but she gave us a smile at the door and of course, like most people, pointed out Jeff's dangling gorilla earring.
My plan was to have one more pint of Fat Tire and switch to water since I knew I wanted to ride the next day. So much for that idea, I'm sure I drank at least another three pints at Hot Rocks. Now, I haven't had, what I call, a HANGOVER, since Russia, but the next morning I had a mild hangovers, or what I call a "Hangover Experience". A Hangover Experience is basically like waking up next to some girl who you wished would have left before you got up. She good enough and all that, but you know she's going to ruin your morning. And since I still wanted to ride, having another drink was out of the question. So my solution to these episodes is to get up as early as I can, (in this case 730am), watching MST3K and drinking giant Packer cup after giant Packer cup of water until your body says to the beer, "Yes Fat Tire, I had a great time too, but I need to get going here. Don't worry, I'll call you soon."
After recounting stories like this in my life, it's hard to believe I'm almost 27. But for all you 27-year olds who are happy with the "kid on the way", the mortgage and "planning for the future", I ask you, how often are you hauling your ass up a 2 mile incline and doing something you really enjoy that has no responsibility attached to it other than your own happiness and goals? It's not just mountain biking, it's my kid, mortgage and future right here and right now.
