Photos, and thoughts, from the 5 Boro Bike Tour

At my 20 year high school reunion, I was talking to one of my few friends from my high school days (Eila) who had also done the 5 Boro Bike Tour this year (and previous times). I could tell she was really proud of me and empathized with me. I enjoyed talking to her about it because I knew she 'got it' in a way that most other people did not - She knew me 20 years ago as a junk food eating teenager, she knew me heavier, she knew me lazy, and she knew how challenging it was to complete that tour - especially with the weather we had this year.

And as I was talking about it, much to my embarrassment, I started to cry. I told her that I have never been more proud of myself than I was at the end of that tour. I felt like it was the first thing I ever 'finished' in my life. It was the first time I set my mind to something, mentally prepared for it and saw it through to the end. That day, I realized that I can do anything I set my mind to, and that I will reach my goals - whatever they are. I apologized for being so overcome with emotion but it still chokes me up to think about, and quite honestly I'm crying right now just reliving that feeling.

The more I thought about it, I realized that as a result of completing that tour, I had created my own anchor - one of the Weight Watchers Tools for Living that I always had trouble with. Anchors are anything we use that can put us in a place mentally that help us to get re-focused. They can be physical things that we see, hear or touch that trigger a memory that remind us of our goals. For me, it's the memory of the bike tour itself that has become the anchor. I don't need anything physical to get in touch with that emotion because I think about it a lot. But seeing my bike in my apartment constantly is a good reminder too. :)

I always had trouble with anchors because I couldn't relate to anything in that way - I never finished college, I gave up on my marriage without even trying, I gave up on weight loss attempts over a dozen times in my life - I never stuck through anything to see it to completion. My MO was always to quit when things got tough. But for the first time in my life, I did not do that! I had actually finished something that I set out to do!

With that in mind, it may not come as a surprise to realize the timing of my new 'natural eating' coincided with completing that bike tour. That's when I started to really think about *what* and *why* I'm eating. It was like I had a new found respect for my body. I wanted to stop poisoning it with non-food ingredients.

And as much as I realize I did all the work, I have to give enormous thanks to my friend, Josue, who, despite losing Rasha in a bike accident, was the one to suggest the tour to me last year. Knowing he believed in me made me believe in myself. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Josue. (He's just one of the great friends I made as a result of joining the Y three years ago and I can't imagine not knowing this kind, thoughtful and handsome man)

I am also excited to tell you that I just registered for another bike tour - the Century Bike Tour. The Century includes Manhattan, Brooklyn and/or Queens and there are a few different mileage and routes to choose from: 15, 35, 55, 75 and 100. I chose the 55 which starts in Central Park (Manhattan) and includes a lot of Brooklyn coast riding - including Coney Island (what better time to show off a sweet pink beach crusier?). The tour is Sunday, September 13th, so that means I have time to schedule more lengthy rides around NYC that I can share with you!

And speaking of sharing photos, here are the photos I ordered from Bright Room Photography. They were stationed along various parts of the 5 Boro, snapping pictures of 30,000 happy cyclists. Of all the ones they captured of me, I thought these came out the best so I bought them for my Dad for Father's Day. He'll love em!

Here I am at the start of the tour:

I am not sure where I was here, but if I saw a camera, I made sure to wave whenever possible-

This is in Queens, right after Michelle and I left Astoria Park under the Triboro Bridge (in fact, you can see Michelle in the turquoise jacket to my right)-

And this one I love - not only because I am on the beautiful 59th Street Bridge, but I think it sums up the day pretty nicely: It was wet and I was really annoyed by getting hit in the face with the rain-

So that's how I looked on the 5 Boro Bike Tour. And ordinarily, I would never post photos where I look so awful, but that day I knew it didn't matter how I looked. All that mattered was that I kept pedaling, that I did not stop. And I achieved what I set out to do - I completed that tour! When I signed up for that tour, I had no idea how profoundly it would effect me - but that experience changed my life in amazing ways.

I can hardly wait for the next one!