As it turns out I’m competitive. Well, I’m not competitive in the sense that I might win. I don’t win. Ever. But I’m competitive in the sense that I always want to win even when I’m most certainly not winning.
I rode my 22 miles at the fastest pace I could which turned out to be rather slow on account of the hills and the rain. I had my camera strapped on my back in my new little camera backpack thingy (just in case I was to see Lance at the start, which I didn’t) and at the end of the ride I thought to myself wouldn’t it have been cool if it wasn’t raining and I could have stopped here and there and taken shots of the course and the other riders and documented my 20 miles? I entertained that thought for about a minute and then burst out laughing (by myself in the car). Because I would never stop in the middle of a race or a ride, no matter how much I am not winning, no matter how much it is raining or not raining, no matter how beautiful the scenery. I rode as hard as I could and it felt good (because my legs are stronger than I had realized) and bad (because I am still slow and got passed a lot and I wished I could have ridden the 45 miles but I couldn’t). Still competitive, even when I’m not.
I had a good ride. I enjoyed it except for the part where I fell over before we ever got started. That part was embarrassing. But I picked myself right back up and then we all rode slowly in a huge pack and then the pack thinned out and then the rain started and then it rained hard and then it stopped and then I was riding alone and then it rained again and then I had half a banana and half a PB&J and some bad gatorade at the rest stop and then there was a big long hill that hurt and then it was the end and I crossed the finish line.
I’m very impressed with LiveStrong and the level of enthusiasm there was infectious and the survivors riding made me teary. It was all good. I’m psyched for next year and I’m grateful to everyone who supported my ride this year, planned as it was in 7 short days. So the ride was a win in the most important ways. Even if Lance did ride 100 miles in just about the time it took me to ride 20. We’re all winners! Even the slow ones!
Which reminds me. If you read my blog and you sent me a donation and I might not know your real name but only know you by your online moniker would you be a dear and send me an email to amy @ grrlTravels . com and let me know you contributed and what your real and online names are? Because I’d really like to thank you and it’s embarrassing that I don’t know your real name but I’ve got lots of online friends whom I always think of by their handles and it takes some real thought to get their names in my head. I’d appreciate it. A lot! Thanks! And Thanks!! It was really good to ride and think about all of the people I was “representing” through my relatives and friends and to feel connected to so many different people.
Congratulations on your ride and reaching your fundraising goal. I donated in memory of Jayne. She was 36 when she died leaving behind a fiancee, an 18 year old daughter & a 17 year old son. She fought for over a decade after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and being in remission twice. We were at work together when her back started hurting. She knew immediately that it was back and she was going to die this time. A week before she died she was teasing me about my socks. She was so unbelievable strong.
I am a friend of your sister. She gave me a link to your blog because, like you, I am trying to live a healthier life and get fit through exercise. Two years ago I started running and about a year ago I started biking. I have run two 1/2 marathons and several 5k races, but my dream would be to be good enough to run a marathon and complete a triathlon. My bike is fine, but it is not a “road bike” and not a “off road bike”…it has medium tires. So, being in the Hill City, I struggle, moan, and groan up the hills on this bike and think all the while that I should be on a bike with skinny tires to make it just a little easier. My question to you is what kind do you have and also do you have bike shoes? I am considering saving for some and need some direction. Thanks for any help.
Kim