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Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Tagged! Thanks to Patrick for an awesome pre-50th - you are the best!!
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Tagged! Next time you see Tom ask him about running with food - new strategy ....
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Saturday, May 17, 2014
Thank you everyone for wonderful comments and encouragement. Had a really awesome day. Swim, run and nutrition were unbelievable. 10:23 Ironman time was a huge PR for me. I'm going to post my gps from the swim. We will have a good laugh at how crooked I swam! Could have swam a 1:00 :) Missed Kona by 5 minutes. I think there are 3 slots. One of my friends beat me but he has already qualified, so top four would go. I ended up 7th AG (as did Dora Jih). Could have got it in transition times. Bike power way down too. Probably 15 minutes on the table there. Shoulda coulda woulda. Had a great day! Things to work on :)
May 17, 2014 at 09:11PM via Facebook
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Tagged! Texas BBQ here we come!!! (Yes David - we r all running tomorrow )
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Monday, May 12, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Sunday, May 4, 2014
My Century Adventure - a Thesis
By now if the title has not scared you off likely you have the resolve to read the rest of this so....
On May 20, 2014 the world may stop spinning when I turn 50 but I decided to find another way to keep spinning - literally and figuratively - road cycling -
As many of you know I invested in an incredible Trek Madone machine over 2 years ago - what I neglected to invest in at the time was a body to drive that incredible machine - in 2013 I decided to change all that - net result was an incredible loss, 55 pounds, and an incredible gain, the passion for new adventures on a bike -
When I accomplished my "big ass" goal and rode that incredible machine up incredible Mount Diablo in November I concluded that I needed another epic goal, closely timed to my epic birthday so.... I decided to ride a century - 100 miles on a road bike - no bungy cord attached to Tom, no electric back up power, just my new incredible machine riding for 100 miles -
On May 3rd I completed that epic goal - and along the way I learned a lot about biking, personal commitment, and a small town called Yuba City - here are the highlights
(1) Sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough - Yuba City's main street is lined with tattoo parlors, smoke shops, porn shops discretely marketed as video stores, convenience stores that look anything but convenient, and one incredible restaurant - an oasis in an otherwise severely "in transition" town.....happy to have found that little oasis known as City Cafe...and happy to have made it back the 1 mile walk to the B&B without being mugged before the ride....(BTW Yuba City is also Home of the Honkers - odd)
(2) Don't ask locals for directions - not only did the woman who ran the B&B not know that Colusa was 30 miles away (I mean there really is nothing else there but 3 towns...) but when we needed directions 60 miles into the ride the local sheriff concluded that we really wanted to go up and over the Butte Pass not around it, even though the ride purported to have only 350 feet of total climb.....fortunately other faster riders figured out it was the wrong way and we managed to get back on track
(3) A small quaint town hosting a bike ride does not mean that the small town has any bikers (apart from motorcyclists), or for that matter any focus on health and wellness - granted it was hard to pass up Porkys as a recovery meal but really, have you ever seen a Tobacco Sale???
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(4) It is wise to pay attention to signs - this one in particular caught my attention:
No Trespassing
I have guns and a Back Hoe.....
Wonder if someone should be digging up that property.....
(5) You never know what you may see when you are biking - but coming across a mid size dog that had a fox in its mouth and was carrying it home for lunch - now that's a first!
(6) When selecting a ride it is wise to look at historic wind patterns and speeds - now I was prepared for the sun, prepared for the temperature, but certainly not prepared for the wind - a relentless wind that persisted for at least 65 of the 100 miles - and really, did it need to be at its highest as a headwind from mile 85-95???? I guess that was part of my mental training that still needs work - apparently yelling profanities into the wind does not alter its course....
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(7) 100 miles is a long way on two wheels and when you are battling a headwind it is even longer, so it is always best to draft behind a great butt - you are going to be looking at that for a very, very long time - so sisters - pick a great one!! [lucky for me I found one :) - Tom, keep up the squats! ]
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(8) It is amazing to be able to podium in your first ride - now you are liking asking what??? there is no way - well there is when you are the only female in the ride - benefits of being the only female - each porta potty seat was perfectly clean and the toilet paper in tact!
(9) Recovery drinks are a must - but you should refrain from FB posting one with comments about yourself after previously consuming a bottle of champagne - oh well, got the most "likes" of anything I have ever posted HA!
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(10) My favorite quote of the weekend came from our B&B hostess - when I exclaimed that it was too bad I neglected to bring a swim suit for their beautiful pool she quickly responded with - Use the hot tub - suits are optional! [I wonder if there is a live camera feed....]
I couldn't close without thanking an amazing group of people that have rallied behind this crazy woman for over 6 months -
Cheers to Kim Bruce for being my champion and for the very best advice I received - take 2 Tylenol half way thru the ride - you will appreciate it later - and Kim - not only did I take it then but also at the start and the end - not sure how I would be walking today without it! Kim, I will continue and some day I will be able to really ride with you - look out :)
Hats off to Kimberley McKnight - Kentucky hats that is! - Kimberley has been my inspiration and my cheerleader - riding Cinderella with you was more fun than any ride I will ever do - and having California Chrome win the Derby the same day as my ride was not coincidence - after all, Califorina Chrome was from Yuba City....you rock sista!
A big smile and air hug goes out to David Speechly - you sir are my Angel of Joy - your coaching and patient persistence has helped me focus on the big picture and reframe that focus when I have lost track, you have helped me work through the tough stuff, all the while keeping my eye on the prize - joy and happiness - you rode with me for all 100 miles bringing your Mr. Incredible mantras to my head - big thanks and much love
Thanks to Conner and Parker for being resilient in foraging for food and entertainment on the many days that your mom and dad were no where to be found as they were out riding ....
And last, but not least, to Tom - now that I have done the distance I am even in more awe of your amazing abilities - but mostly I am in awe of your love, caring, and support - you have been there through all of this and even more incredible, you willingly rode 100 miles with me and still wanted to go out for dinner after - you are my rock, my passion, and my hero - I LOVE YOU!!!
What an incredible experience - one for the record books for sure - the amazing thing about this is now I am hooked - gotta find the next big thing .... and you know I will :)
Tagged! First Century ride in the books! Cheers to my biggest fan - luv u
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