20 Bike Miles for my dad

Today?  Today has been one of those days.  Firedrill after firedrill, phone ringing off the hook.  Barely even had time to eat.  I wanted to write this post though, so I actually blocked out time to do it. 

Sunday was my first Father's Day without my dad.  I haven't talked much about the loss of my dad last fall on here - hell, I've barely talked about it anywhere or with anyone.  That's how I like it though, a private thing that I'm dealing with.

I knew I would be super fidgety and ancy and, well, bitchy on Sunday if I just sat around.  I knew I had to visit my mom & stepdad around dinner, and would be spending the afternoon with Mike's family, so I decided to take off on a long bike ride Sunday morning.  Me, the bike, my tunes, and hopefully my dad.

Around 8:30 I finally got out the door of my inlaw's house and hit up the Foothills Trail - you know, the one Mel & Zoe always burn up with their fast feet.  The trail was relatively empty, and traffic was light.  Perfect.  This was what I needed.

I won't go into the ways I know my dad was with me on Sunday, but he was there.  I felt it.  I felt myself flying down the downhills and cranking up the uphills, knowing he was there.  I saw a baby deer, who 'gazelled' out of the path the way JJ does when he's excited.  I saw little bunnies and a racoon and some GORGEOUS views of the river & mountain. (I tried to take pics, but my cell phone camera was all fogged up from my bodyheat.  YAY exercise!)

I made it back to the house in 90 mins, having covered 20 miles.  The rest of the family was just getting up, but I was done with my exercise for the day, had cleared my head, and was ready for a tough day.

It's been a long 8 months.  But knowing that I have an outlet ... well, that helps.  I'll be running in the morning on his birthday.  That I am sure of.