Normally one of the activities I participate in most over the course of the year is running and I do a fair amount of running races. And then I like to write about it and I do a big recap at the end of the year about all my running adventures. Well this year I did much less running than normal due to an IT band issue. I only participated in two Running events and I only did any running in one of them. So, what in the world would I do with myself if I couldn’t run?

Enter cycling. I had been gradually getting more into cycling thanks to a running friend who also rides and does triathlons. My friend connected me with a someone who had this idea to ride around each of the 11 Finger Lakes over the spring and summer. This idea became the focus of my year. Initially I was planning to fit it into the background of my running plans during the spring because of events I had planned, but post injury it became my main focus.

Having one thing make up a major part of one’s identity can be a tricky high-wire to walk. And this has been happening for me progressively for running. Running is the main way I move my body and it is the main way I connect with other people.

Over the years I have been open to more different things in running. And as I have endured injury I have become more open to other activities in general. This had me primed for a boom in cycling this year.

My friends know that I am up for an adventure and that is how the year of biking entered my life. Having friends that know you and connect you with opportunities is huge. I owe a lot of the fun adventures I have been on over the years to the friends who have connected me, encouraged me, and joined me along the way.

Being someone who is pretty introverted and anxious in social situations getting outside and moving my body in community with others is my life blood. At times when I lose this connection I feel it not just in my physical body but in my soul. I am glad to have cycling fitting into my life more and more and I am trying to figure out how to make it part of my regular routine even when I am at full running capability.

Because, not only does it give me another avenue to move my body it gives me another forum to form connection with other people. I have another way to engage with people. Another topic I can discuss. Another reason to reach out to someone and ask questions. A reason to pursue more learning and growth.

Learning and growing has been something I have valued throughout my life. First through formal education. Then in learning photography. And then for someone reason I decided to become a runner and that was a lot of “fun” to learn about. And now cycling has entered the picture in a big way. There is always so much to learn and explore and that is a good thing.

I spent so much time outside on my bike this year. I went to places that I would have never visited and had never visited just because that was part of the plan for our riding journey this year. I had new experiences just because I committed to getting on my bike.

The mileage of my longest rides built up: 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100 miles in a single days ride. A few years ago when I bought my first good bike I would not have seen that coming. And thanks to the confidence I gained from this commitment to riding regularly I gained the confidence to enter y first ever bike race. Maybe jumping in at a level that was well over my head. But I did it.

And I am trying to continue to build on this momentum that The Year of Biking has brought me. I have been wanting to register for a duathlon where I would ride my bike and run in the same event for at least a year, but I could never commit to it and pull the trigger. Well I guess we managed to rip that band aid off this year. So now I am registered for that event in 2026.

Oh and just thinking about rears and commitment, as I have been riding and talking to people I have always had the idea of trying out a triathlon niggling in the back of my head, but been too scared to commit. Because, you know that whole having to swim thing. I always saw that as a barrier as someone who doesn’t really even get in the water much. But we threw that excuse away. I am registered for mid distance triathlon in September of 2026. I guess I better start getting in the water. Plans to start swimming commence in January 2026, now that my running is back on track and I am building up my training.

So, how did all this happen? It happened due to an openness to new things. An openness to new adventures. And A desire to learn and do new things. What is life for if not having experiences to remember. Maybe these adventure will go well and maybe they won’t but they will surely be things I will never forget.

I will never forget scenic views of the Finger Lakes region seen from my bike. Climbing big hills (sometimes while walking my bike) and screaming down steep descents on my gravel bike. And working my way back to running and dreaming of bigger bolder adventures the whole time. This has been a different kind of year than I ever imagined it would be. But it is leading me to more fun opportunities in 2026.

Here is to a hopeful end to 2025 and fun in the future. Embrace change and growth along the way. 2026 might not be what we were hoping for either but we can find new things and new experiences even among the chaos that life sometimes puts in front of us.

If you enjoyed this article you can click the link below to support the work I do here or subscribe to my email so you don’t miss out in anything I share.