Kristin Rides

Well, my CX training was going along quite nicely, I was ready for the 5×5 hell to begin when…

*cough*cough*cough*

Oh damn. Yep, that’s a cough. A nasty one. But I still rode 3 hours on Saturday. Annnnnd 3 hours on Sunday. I took a break on Monday, the hack was worse. I rode into work on Tuesday, and my lungs were burning all the way up the 205 Bridge. Big. Mistake.

So I haven’t been on my bike since Tuesday, and it’s now Thursday (GASP!) and I have done zero weight training this week (DOUBLE GASP). And while I feel guilty and like I’ve magically gained 20 lbs, I also feel…better. Still some phlem-age, but I think this little forced break is just what the doctor ordered (as much as I hate to admit it).

The last few weeks I’ve been catching up on work, and really revving up on this whole entrepreneurship thing. I’m really starting to get excited, thinking about all the things I can do, and want to do, and am actually doing (TRIPLE GASP). I’m moving all my hosting and web site-age around, and soon will have a whole new look and name and all that good stuff. This blog will awkwardly be sewn onto the side of the rest of that business stuff. I suppose I could keep “business life” and “personal life” completely separate, but let’s be honest here. If you own a business(es), you’re work IS your personal life. Your life is your life. There is no separation. You have to learn to handle your stress and manage your schedule (something I obviously suck balls at), but you can’t just close the door at 5pm and say “done! time to live that other part of my life!”

That being said, as I try to lay out my vision for my business, I begin to see a bit of a conflict between a rigorous training and racing schedule, and becoming a Fortune 500 company. I already have scheduled a conference in LA that conflicts with the first Cross Crusade race of the year.

The stress of owning a business makes it hard to train hard. I need more rest.

I can’t disappear to go camping every weekend when I need to respond to emails right away.

Finally, it’s hard to be obsessed with so many things at once. Obsessed with riding and racing bikes. Obsessed with creative endeavors like novel-writing, Obsessed with Flash and design and technology. Obsessed with owning and running a business. Obsessed with health and healthy eating. That’s a lot. That’s…not…really….possible. Isn’t the point of an obsession that’s it consumes your every waking thought? Or at least a good amount of thought?

I admit, I am no longer obsessed with my bikes. I mean, I do think about them A LOT. And I spend a lot of time riding them. And they’re easily my favorite part of the day. But I’m not obsessed. I need to be obsessed with business right now, and I am getting there. I now sit around reading industry rags and books during my meals and breaks, and listen to podcasts about business instead of watching TV in the evening. In the long run, I would like this business to, in fact, revolve around bikes. And I am planning on InterBike to be a catalyst for this idea.

But for now, I am sad to say, that cycling has to take the back seat of the tandem. I will still be racing and riding my ass off, but I won’t be writing as much about it (remember when I used to write 3 posts a day? THAT’S obsession…and having a lot of free time….). And I won’t be able to kick quite as much ass as I’d like. And I need to be OK with that (and I need to downgrade to a B).

So, look for some changes around here real soon-like. I’m getting my act together, should be ready for your viewing pleasure before InterBike. Better be. I mean, will be.