Motivation? but it's raining

After a blistering summer, in which the grass has turned brown and the midday-avoid- the-heat-siesta has become a set part of my schedule, today was a very strange day. Clouds hung low, showers moved through the area and as compared to other days it was downright gloomy. And so to my desire to go out for a ride, which I must admit flagged somewhat when the rain started to fall.

I realised that motivation is a fickle support for an athlete and one not to be trusted - as was evident today as I struggled to leave the coffee shop. Not even the ribbing I was receiving about the weather was getting me out the door. What was up? San Francisco is coming up at the end of the month and that is a race I really want to do well at, so that means that I need to train.

Well this week has been a rest week, and I even took a couple of days completely off the bike - lost the rhythm of training. And with the rain spending another day lazing about was pretty attractive. Then I realised I was being a total wimp. It could have been a little liquid courage thanks to a stiff macchiato from Johnny that got me going, but finally I was out the door. In the end I had a fantastic day and did 7hours. Not bad for a guy that didn't want to get wet, eh?

The funny thing is that when I was in Vancouver rain wasn't an issue. I would just go out every day with a rain jacket on and if it wasn't raining be thankful to be dry. In TO we must be spoiled or something.

One last point that went through my head. I remembered a comment by some pro, from my days of addiction to Cyclesport, that you could take the first day of rain off but not the second. Since I hadn't ridden in two days I figured that I was technically probably on my third rain day and so had outstripped the rule and had better get my ass in gear. And what a great ride it turned out to be.