As I’ve mentioned before, one of my fitness goals is to do a triathlon. Sprint tri, in the lingo. About two years ago I bought my road bike. It’s not super fancy, but it’s purple and I love it. I’ve been vacillating about getting clip in shoes, bc I’m not very coordinated, and I only ride about once a week. Would it be worth it? I asked myself. Today I went for it. Technically my husband got them for my birthday, but I went to the bike store and actually bought them. I bought the easier ones, the ones that clip in on both sides of the pedals, the ones meant for all types of cycling. The woman at the shop was very helpful. She recommended leaning up against the wall art home and practice clipping in and out over and over. So I did. Then I tried to take off, couldn’t get the other foot in, couldn’t get the first foot out, and landed squarely on my elbow and hip. Skinned my elbow properly. Blood running down my arm, rocks stuck in my skin. And the pain. It took me a good minute of breathing through the pain to be able to move. My first thought was f’ this. I’m 39 years old, I don’t need a new skill. I can’t do this. My husband was right there though, and my six year old was watching. If I insist that he keep trying, I can’t give up now. We took my bike into the grass, and my partner held me up like I was a toddler and we did it over and over again, clip in, get going, clip the other shoe in, then out again. Restart. Over and over. Took a break, washed and dressed my arm, had supper, and went to a flat running path loop. There I managed to do six miles, latching and unlatching my foot over and over. Persistence. That’s what I bring. I’m never going to be the fastest or the leanest, but I’m going to finish, because I keep going.