If you’re from Texas, or if you’ve been following my blog, you know that this summer has been absolutely brutal – hot dry and more hot. It’s been very difficult to keep on track with exercise. Lots of self-lecturing and threats (No granola for you until you finish your workout, Self!) were needed on many days just to haul my franny off my chair.

Now we’re being blessed with a cold front. We broke our 68 day 100+ temperature streak with an overnight low of 57 and a daytime high of 80 on Monday.  EIGHTY DEGREES my friends! Feels like winter!  Of course, it’s supposed to pop back into the 100’s by next week, but for now? Now, I’m loving life outside.

To celebrate, I tried something new.  Mountain Biking.  My kids have been biking off-road for a while now, and they’ve been asking me to come along.  I struggle with walking straight and not tripping over my own feet most of the time, so I’ve always put them off.  Besides, someone has to stay behind and hold the water and snacks. Monday, though, I let myself be convinced.  Convinced to the point that I borrowed a mountain bike (Lady Penelope is too grand for dirt trails) and headed out to Cedar Hills State park for a go at the DORBA trails.

Oh. My. Gosh.  It was so HARD!  It HURT!  I LOVED IT!!!!  I have plenty of muscle power for the ups and downs, but I seriously need some practice on turns and some velcro on my butt so I can stay on the bike instead of sliding down embankments on my side. And my knees.  And my shoulders. I was horribly sore the next day (or two) and have lots of scrapes and bruises to brag about…but I can’t wait to go again.

Try something new.  Keep the Faith.