Chasing Sunrise
Everything looks better in the morning
I used to love surfing at dawn, paddling out, and sitting in the water watching the sunrise waiting for the perfect wave. Surfing in California was such a luxury, but as we lived there, the lineup got far more crowded. Surfing no longer gave me the calm I craved before I handled the many tasks ahead of me.
When we relocated during the pandemic to Nashville, watching the sunrise waiting for a wave was no longer an option. I picked up cycling again instead of joining a gym… and I went deep. What I love about cycling is the rhythm; it’s meditative in the same way that surfing can be. The flow of my breath and legs syncing gives me space to clear my mind before jumping into the whirlwind of my day. There are days where I can now bike alongside our kids, too.
On the weekend, I try to log a significant amount of miles as I train up for my spring gravel rides. I love the quietude of going in the early morning, when the city is sleeping and feels vastly different. The dichotomy of riding down Broadway, a street I usually avoid, is especially striking. Just hours earlier it’s packed with partygoers, but at dawn, it feels almost ghostlike in its stillness.
Finding my rhythm on the bike helps me quiet my mind and focus on what’s right in front of me, instead of the hundred tasks waiting at work and home. I hope that the feeling of clarity carries me through the rest of my day.