After a 5 week break from mountain biking, I met my friend in the Vienna forest for a bike ride. The yellow leaves on the trees were shimmering in the sunlight while many of them already covered the ground.
We decided to go to one of our favorite places on top of the mountain. Going uphill was challenging, due to the break I had had and so I was not able to enjoy the beauty of the season.
A few days later I came back, this time all by myself. There were no people at all and I started at a slow pace in order to make it to the top.
After a while I stopped to drink from my water bottle. At this moment I saw a female runner approaching from behind me.
Passing me, the middle aged woman seemed not to notice me at all. Running at a steady pace, she passed me.
Ready to leave, I got onto my bicycle and went off in the same direction as female runner dressed in black. Having caught up with her, I realized she must have be very good cross country runner. Her movements were effortless and she was running at a steady pace, which was absolutely fascinating.
The beauty of her movements and the beauty of fall around us were a perfect match.
Watching her, I did not want to pass her, and all of a sudden the awareness of going uphill had vanished completely.
Our steady movements in the midst of all this beauty were almost like meditation.
After a while she turned off and again, I continued along by myself.
The magical moment had passed.
I went on and after having reached the top of the mountain, I took a break, focused, and then went downhill, which was great fun.