GET OVER IT !

I'm going out for a lengthy ride with a friend tomorrow. Gonna tackle some hills, because I was told the only way to improve your climbing is to get out and climb. So I've just gotta get over it!

Another thing I'm gonna have to get over ... "bike lust" as someone called it.


I went to Ray's Cycle to have them make some slight adjustments to my bike before my ride tomorrow. Of course I had to do the once around the shop. I've been in the market for a new saddle, but I just wanted to skirt the other side of the store briefly just to check out what kind of bikes they carry in their inventory. I saw some kids' bikes, some uni-cycles, some Treks, some $1500 - $2000 bikes ... and then there it was ... right in front of me ... black and white ... shiney and new ... as if there was a bright light or halo glowing around it ... and I thought I honestly heard a voice calling out to me ... "BUY ME ~ I'M ON SALE ~ BUY ME!" A Specialized Dolce with a carbon fork, carbon fiber legs and seat post. I found myself caressing the frame ever so gently till the sales man startled me by asking if I liked the extra brake levers on the flat part of the handlebars.

I felt a tinge of guilt since I was still holding my Fuji Finest in my left hand. How could I ever think to replace her ... Time to go home for a cold shower.

100 Miles

Thank you so much for your show of support so early in my training. Because fundraising is going so well, I've decided to change my Extreme Cycling Challenge to biking 100 miles at the Honolulu Century at the end of September! My biking more miles means more funds towards research for a cure.

Blessings to all of you for blessing others!

32 Miles in Sonoma Sans Jean

Up at 5:30 am for a 7:30 am roll time. Why so early? So I can eat a good breakfast, so I can check and double check to make sure I have all my gear, in case there's traffic, so we can gear up once we get there without rushing, and so we don't hold anybody else up. The key is to relax and enjoy the experience ... not stress out over things, right!?! And for me, that means allowing myself ample time to get ready to roll. Also, because I feel like a little kid getting ready to go to Disneyland on ride days.

I was a little nervous, however, Saturday morning, as this would be my first team ride without Jean, my personal cycling mentor, coach, and friend. Though I've done several solo rides, this was my first team ride without her. Our commutes to the meeting spot is always a confidence-building time for me - she tells me what I should expect from her past experience on that particular ride - things like terrain, weather, and traffic conditions on certain parts of the route. Riding behind her, I remember to drink when she drinks and to stretch when she stretches, stuff like that. It's just reassuring to me knowing she's there.

Well, I was reassured a bit earlier in the week when I received an email from her before she went out of town. Here's what she said, "Hot day; towards the end of the ride there is a lot of riding out in the open sun & concrete, so make sure that you're drinking often; on the climb - slow and steady, remember it's not a race up the hill; descent - very fast - I was cruising at about 32 mph! The best part of the ride! Make sure that you drink often."

I was met and encouraged by the wonderful coaches and mentors. Jean called me for a pep-talk just before we rolled. And either the terrain of this route was easier than Napa, or I had a really strong ride. Going up Sonoma Mountain Road was tough. I had to stop about 4 times to catch my breath, but as one of the coaches put it, "If everyone could climb to the top without stopping, there would be no need for a 3-4 month training program!"


Sonoma is beautiful. I was reminded to soak up the sights when i had to stop on the hill, which was a good distraction from my belabored breathing. I finished strong, which felt good.

What felt even better was hearing from several Honorees at the All Team Potluck after the ride. The Marathoners, Tri-athletes, and Cyclists (all the Summer TNT Teams) were there to support each other and to be reminded of why we are participating in our endurance events. Some Honorees are doing well, some are facing tough days of treatment, many are still waiting for a cure. A reminder that the money we're raising is not just so we can ride, but because we're saving lives one mile at a time.

What was especially meaningful was that Andrew and my girls came out to meet me for the All Team Potluck. While I know I have their support in this challenge of mine, it's important to me that my girls understand and see how one person can make difference ... to so many and in many different ways.

Road Rash & Rehash

ROAD RASH ~ So in my last post, I downplayed the fact that I fell right in front of my garage, because I felt like an idiot! A friend of mine said, "37.5 miles of accomplishment diminished by 3.5 inches from your clip!" You may be thinking, "SOME FRIEND!" But truth be told, this person knew I was probably beating myself up about it.

But now I have my first road rash, as my brother informed me. He made it sound like it was some rite of passage or something. It's not a big wound. In fact - it's barely the size of a quarter. But it stings and feels like it's burning. My daughter said, "OH, YOU BIG BABY!"

And my right shoulder - I couldn't figure out why it was sore. Did I grip my handlebar too tightly? Did I lock my elbows when they should have been slightly bent? And then I remembered the fall. Applying the brakes to try and stop quickly, I didn't have time to let go of the handlebar to break my fall. So I landed first on my right knee, then on the upper part of my right arm. I fear my daughter will call me a baby again, so I keep my whining to a minimum :-)

REHASH ~ We're almost at the half-way mark for the Marin Metric training, and I am really loving this experience for so many reasons ... so much so that I'm seriously considering continuing my training w/ TNT after the Marin Metric to do the Honolulu Century (100 miles) at the end of Septemeber.

Anyway, back to my reasons ... first, I love the fact that I'm getting out there doing something I used to say I'd never be able to do. I love the "OMG" look on my daughters' faces when they see me all geared up getting ready to ride (that kind of "are you crazy" kind of look!?) (I'm still hestitant to take a picture in my spandex, but I'll post a picture of me and my bike soon.) I love the solitude when I'm out there riding. And I love the sense of accomplishment I feel when I'm descending a hill at 25 mph, even if I had to stop 4 times on the ascent.

As much as this is a personal endurance event, I love how it's a constant reminder to me of those personally enduring their battle with cancer ... or ANY battle for that matter. We live in such a hurried, self-centered world that we tend to get caught up in our own madness alot of times. I appreciate how this experience has engaged my mind to think beyond myself more often. It seems like a contradiction, but in talking to people about my cycling challenge, it's opened up conversations where they're comfortable sharing their own challenges with me, whatever they may be, and it's given me the opportunity and the honor of praying for them.

I was posed with this question not too long ago, "In light of eternity, what do you want to accomplish in this lifetime?" And while biking a century is one of my "life to-do's," I want to be mindful of how my life can impact someone else's life for eternity at the same time.

Now I'm off for a ride ... well, after my honey-do's :-)

For My Exodus

Our cycling team trains every other Saturday. On the off Saturdays, there is an informal "Buddy Ride," they call it. No training; just a group ride to get some mileage in. This past Saturday I missed a 30 mile buddy ride - a renowned ride that "no Bay Area cyclist would want to miss," as Coach Kelly described it. They started near Mike's Bikes in Sausalito along the bike path and ventured toward Mill Valley, over to Larkspur, Corte Madera and around Paradise Loop to the most majestic views in Tiburon. And I couldn't make it.

Bummer. But I was at a very important event for my grandson, Exodus - YES I HAVE A GRANDSON - so missing the ride was worth it. I'll make it over there and do that route sometime.

However, today - I did my own "make up ride" to make up for the 30 miles I missed on Saturday, for My Exodus :-)

My Cordelia - Lake Herman Route is only 8.5 miles, so I figured I'd just keep riding out onto E. 2nd Street till I hit 15 miles, then head back. Well I made it all the way to Benicia State Park. I didn't want to tackle Rose Drive yet (very tough hills), so I called my old co-workers to see if they wanted to have lunch. That way, I could rest and refuel before heading back home :-) I rode another 4 more relatively flat miles from the State Park to the office on Tennessee Street.

That was 19.5 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes.

After about an hour lunch break and catching up with old friends, I headed back. I was tempted to have someone just drive me home, but I felt like I was cheating or something. So I headed towards the dreaded Rose Drive. I had to stop 4 times to catch my breath. And it had heated up quite a bit. The last 8 miles were rough. My feet were burning up, and I started to get achy.

I made it home in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Total mileage ... 37.5 miles!

Funny thing is, I fell in front of my garage. Ack!

I didn't slow down before riding into my driveway. Fearing I'd crash into my garage door, I stopped really quick ... and didn't clip out in time, because my legs felt all wobbly. So I fell over and scraped my right knee.

Of all places to fall - - - at the finish!
How goofy is that!

Time Trial ... For Real

Same ride as last week - totally different results! OMG, was it tough for me today. Whereas last week, I immediately came home to host a party with 15 incoming 7th graders and about 50 friends and family, right now I just want to sleep!

The important thing is I FINISHED. I may have been the last person in :-( but I finished.

I felt it as soon as I got into my 2nd of 27 miles; I just wasn't feeling as strong as last week. "What's the deal?" I thought to myself. "It's too early to be tired!" What's different, I asked myself ~ not to whine~ but so I can make sure I don't do it again.

Well for one, I didn't ride at all during the week. I've got to at least get on the trainer if I can't get out there to meet the wind. Also, I felt the pressure to keep up - not with the speed racers - but at least with our group! I gotta remember to go at my own pace. And most importantly, not enough fluids. I've felt parched all week because of my ... never mind ... I just haven't been drinking enough all week, so my tank was already low.

But I finished ... with lots of encouragement along the way ... thanks Susan for pulling up the rear with me :-) Oh, and Andrew was at the finish to greet me!

Time Trial Prep

Took advantage of the off weekend to preview next week's time trial ride:
Dry Creek Road starting at Alston Park in Napa ~ 27.5 miles.
(Only the first 8 miles is the time trial.)

I did the first 16 miles of the ride about a month ago with Jean and had to stop twice going up and once coming back. This past Saturday, I did the entire 27.5 miles stopping only at the appointed places! I could definitely feel an improvement - in my body and in my mind.

I'm loving it ... cycling ...
Up and ready to roll while most people are still snoring,
The crisp, cool, morning air in my lungs and wind in my face,
Sites of vineyards, wild flowers, deer, and streams,
Oh and the solitude ... I savor the solitude,
Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment at the top of a hill :-)

I think I'm hooked.