I recently bought a mountain bike. I was looking for an exercise I could do on my own and enjoy. I've never been a runner, tennis is GREAT but you always need a partner, I never seem to stay in a routine with a gym, so why not try biking??
It turns out I have a newfound respect for bikers of all kinds. It's not as easy as it looks! You don't realize your neighborhood has hills until you're pushing uphill while your quads are screaming "you haven't done this to me in 20 years and you think you can conquer this now!?!?". I started on the roads with a little over 3 miles. A couple days later I pushed it to 4. Then 5, then 6.
Then I decided to venture off-road into the Greenbelt behind our house. I have to admit, I grinned as I swerved off the road, down a fairly steep, grassy hill towards the beginning of the trail.
I have nothing to compare my Greenbelt to, but for this rookie, it was pretty tough in parts, very rocky, a couple good climbs, and the wooded trail proved to be a really nice change of pace! (oh, and THANK GOODNESS for padded shorts!)
I'm not very good, but getting better. I'm not very fit, but it's good exercise. I'm not very fast, but getting faster and stronger every time I go out.
I read this recently and loved it:
"Good thing don't come to those who wait. Good things come to those who work their asses off and never give up!"
