It’s been a bit over a week since I left the California training camp with my cycling team. I’ve had time to settle back into life in NYC. I’ve also had time to come to terms with what I learned and what I want to take away from the experience.
First off though – there’s a ton of folks to thank. Alex Ostroy, to start with. Alex not only coordinates the camp. But he was kind enough to invite me into the team and for that, I’m beyond grateful. He also managed to get me out a day before camp and a day after camp for a couple extra rides. The last ride holding such significance it’s taken me this long to put it into words. Then there’s Bruce Weyman – an all around great guy that puts the camps together and shepherds/drives us around on and off the bike. Craig Abrams – a fantastic chiropractor that Alex introduced me to that made it possible for me to ride stay in the saddle the whole week. Finally, all my teammates. Their support and encouragement are fantastic.
For a bit of context; the week before I left for the camp I quit my job. Time to do something a bit different. I have something lined up and I’m truly excited about it. But the journey has been one that made me re-examine what it is that I want to do and how I want to do it. I thought about getting out of the ad biz. I thought about doing a bunch of different things. But this training camp was intended to be cleansing of sorts. And hopefully, I would indeed leave stronger physically but mentally I’d be clearer about my journey. Along the way, I encountered the Crow for the first time.
I mentioned the Crow in a couple other posts. Several people wrote to me about the Native American story and mythology around the Crow (BTW – somewhere back in my linage there’s some Cherokee in my family). Crows or Ravens hold significance in that their symbolic meaning in Native American lore describes them as creatures of metamorphosis and symbolize change/transformation. So with all the change in my life, it made sense that from time to time I’d see Crow and above all other animals I’d feel it’s presence.
On that last ride, I left Alex to go back to the hotel and pack. Once again riding alone, reliving the week, anticipating my return and feeling really good about the path I was on; there was the Crow. This time not off in the distance – but flying directly at me, four feet over my head. Going the exact opposite direction I was. It wasn’t a sign that I was going the wrong direction; but that we were now going our separate ways. A sign that I was on the right path. I can’t describe the emotion that came over me. All the looking inward that I had done while struggling up and down climbs for the last week, was instantly clear. My path is right. Saying goodbye to this journey was indeed saying hello to a new one.
I’m grateful and excited. Stay tuned.
Here’s a link to my Strava data. Please be kind: http://www.strava.com/activities/117959060
A Soupçon of Trust 