Biking Across Kansas is life

There’s always a lot on my mind on the first day of Biking Across Kansas. 

I have the annual anxiety about being healthy enough. The structure of the legislative session doesn’t lend itself to a good training routine. And life has a way of filling itself up with tasks, some fun and some not so much. 

Lately, I’ve found myself a little frustrated with how easy it is for life to just slip away. One project, one deadline, one event, rolls into another. There are moments of joy and productivity in that, but sometimes there is barely a moment to pause, to reflect, on whether the things you’re doing are the things you really want to be doing. 

That’s one reason Biking Across Kansas is such an important part of my life. The nature of riding one’s bike across the state forces a change in the measure of time. It forces me to experience life at a slower pace, with more effort and deliberation. For the week of BAK, my wheels are rolling across Kansas but it’s the one time of year when it feels like life isn’t just rolling along.

Because I’ll be out on BAK this week, I’ll miss the funeral of one of my colleagues, Rep. Les Mason, of McPherson. Les and I served together on the Commerce committee in the Kansas Legislature. He was one of the people I consulted last year when Sandhills encountered trouble with the 30 percent food rule. He was eager to help out, and in  the process helped address the same issue in his community. He was always ready with a laugh and a joke, or some fun quip.

I’ve been thinking about Les on my way to Tribune. He was living his life one day, tragedy struck, and within a few days he was gone. How quickly life can change, can be taken from us. It’s made me reflect on how every day is its own gift. 

Every day on this ride is filed with life, and it’s a gift I cherish every year. Not just the ride, and the experience - which isn’t always pleasant due to the wind, rain, heat, or traffic - but also the relationships and friendships I get to enjoy. These are uniquely my experiences. And these are people I love, and  my heart grows when I get to spend this special time with them. 

The goal after BAK, I think, is to remember to enjoy the people we love, the people in our lives, with the same viigor and appreciation, even when life is just rolling along. 

If you’re a fan of sappy posts, some childish shenanigans, and photos from across the state, come along for the ride.