Today, the hills stopped hurting.Not because I was suddenly athletic, but because I found an approach that helped me enjoy the journey more, which can help us all over life's hills, too.

_______________

I started the day with the following intentions:

I. What fire will I carry into this day?

I am stronger than I think. I was only 45 minutes behind the others yesterday instead of 3 hours

II. What truth will kindle within me, no matter the wind or weather?

I have limitless untapped power as a divine daughter of the most high God

III. What shadows may rise to test me?

You’re so slow. You’re holding Monica back.

IV. What vow do I make to this road?

I will enjoy you again today. I receive energy from you.

V. What sign shall remind me I am the flame?

Unusual or uncommon wildlife

_____________

Day 4 - Risøyhamn to Stokmarknes

I started the day feeling pretty great. After all, I had arrived at our last destination only 45 minutes behind the group, instead of the 3 hours I thought it would be. That fact alone gave me strength to face a hefty climb and giant bridge that appeared before us almost immediately after leaving our hotel:

But oh, what a view:

Learning from the Pros

After a while, Monica mentioned that pro-cyclists keep a steady cadence and use their gears strategically to maintain it on and off the hills. I assume that's true, and obviously I know about gears. But the idea of keeping a steady pace struck me, so I pondered it. I realized that to this point on the trek, I had actually been shifting up and down willy-nilly, searching for whatever felt best in any given moment just to survive the varied terrain.

But by changing my approach - to pick a cadence and just keep it steady - I was able to get up a pretty good sized hill for the very first time without any trouble! In fact, I was amazed to feel almost like I wasn’t climbing at all.

Picking a Tempo

Monica’s songs from the day before were still running through my head, and two of them in particular helped me keep my cadence. “Sing your way home” and “Que Sera Sera” became my go-tos to keep me moving and enjoying the ride.

A Choice

The rest of the group didn't waste any time. Rain was on the forecast ;so with the chance they could get to the destination before the downpour, they all really pushed themselves. But it was more important to me that I focused on keeping my pace steady, and Monica held back often to keep me company.

I reminded myself on each incline, “I’m not climbing hills, I’m just keeping a cadence!”

Could this principle of pacing myself help me enjoy life a little better, too? Could I remind myself, "I'm not battling challenges, I'm just moving through life with steady diligence"? We don't have to push ourselves to burnout. Gratefully, my study of the Rare Faith principles have helped me to understand how everything truly CAN be okay without a constant chaotic scramble for survival.

If this is a true promise, that...

"... it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. ... [but] it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize..." - Mosiah 4:27

... then I believe God has also provided a way for our needs to be met with calm diligence. So I've been thinking about ways to create a better cadence, not just for cycling, but for my life.

Related: Heaven's astonishing help with your money matters

Anyway, back to cycling.

In order for me to keep a steady pace, I had to shift down and use my granny gear a LOT. Other riders continued to power past me on the hills. I was just proud of myself that I had learned to climb them more comfortably. Never mind that I'm still slow, going from being erratic to steady was a win in my book.

We encountered wild reindeer and a few other interesting creatures, as hoped:

Grocery Bag Hands

Because I had been really uncomfortable on Day 2 when the rain had soaked my gloves and chilled my fingers to the bone, I brought plastic grocery bags with me today to keep my hands dry in case we got stuck in another downpour, which we did. But I didn't mind! They kept me dry, and the cold wasn't too bothersome. My rain pants were noisy but effective at keeping the rain out...

... while Monica, on the other hand, began experiencing a wardrobe malfunction.

A tear in her rain pants kept getting bigger each time they snagged on her seat. But they were all she had to stay dry with, so we took shelter for a while under a covered bus stop and then pressed on.

(Picture taken with permission! :) )

Our destination was just on the other side of that bridge in the distance - a welcome sight, with sunshine breaking through the clouds!

Almost There

The final stretch of the day made me think of this passage:

"O ye, my people, lift up your heads and be comforted; for behold, the time is at hand, or is not far distant, when we shall no longer be in subjection to [these miles on the road today], notwithstanding our many strugglings ... yet I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made." Mosiah 7:18

Basically, I didn't lose my mind the last couple miles like I had the days before. I had come to accept the fact that there will likely always be more hills than I can see, so it was time to stop mentally "checking out" before the finish line.

We hauled our bikes to the hotel 2nd floor and were greeted by traditional Norwegian dolls at the restaurant.

After dinner, we organized our gear, prepared for tomorrow, and Trevan tried to prepare a social media post about his day:

After his nap, Trevan stayed up late to wash our laundry while I took a nap. I woke after midnight and decided to make my first Facebook post of our trip: Days 1-4. It was only a brief summary to let my friends know I was alive, where I promised to share more when I had the time and energy.

Anyway, to sum up Day 4...

I did feel strong, and it was a cool bonus to learn something about keeping a cadence.

________________

Want to experience a trek and discover what you're capable of?

Click here to learn more about Layne and his treks. Tell him I sent you!