Doing (good) time

July 16th, 2023

When I watch sporting events, events of any kind that require athleticism and coordination and countless hours of practice, I get three distinct emotions — first of all, an admiration for the athletic fitness and grace and drive and work ethic of the athletes on display. Then the jealousy about athletic fitness and the grace and drive and work ethic of the athletes on display, and finally, a disgust for athletic fitness and the grace and drive and work ethic of the athletes on display — which I no longer have.

And I was an athlete myself until a knee injury put an end to my dreams of playing sports on a noticeable level, and that still hurts…

That happened yesterday when I watched the stage of the Tour de France. Like clockwork — admiration, jealousy, and disgust were present. And this morning, no matter the heat that already took hold of the weather and was making every pore on my body work in overdrive, I went on a bike ride myself. And I was doing a great time on my bike at a seriously good pace, surprising myself. I kept a very good and even tempo, and my 5-kilometer splits were better than ever, and I felt like having unbound energy for climbing hills and passing other bicyclists along the way.

Then I noticed something or rather several things. I passed an old house, nestled between old trees and picturesquely overgrown with summer vegetation — but I didn't stop because I was doing a great time riding my bike. Then there was a stream between the trees and a small bridge, just inviting me for a break in the shade — but I didn’t stop because I was doing a great time riding my bike. Then there was a stork’s nest on an electric pole, with young storks peeking out — but I didn’t stop because I was doing a great time riding my bike.

It seems that by doing a good time riding my bike, I forced myself into doing time, bound by arbitrarily assigning a value to high numbers on my watch. And that was wrong — but I realized that only after the fact. I enjoyed the ride and the numbers I cranked out, but there is more to it. I am not an athlete. I can keep in good shape but still, I should be able to enjoy the surroundings along the way. Record numbers for a bike ride are not what should be the highlight of my day — but what I can experience along the way.