Reaping the Reward

I  almost died last week.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a great story about how I cheated death while daring a high-speed 2-wheel descent down a mountain pass or a base-jumping accident. Or even better, saving an elderly woman, children, or a litter of puppies from a burning building. Nope, mine happened while doing yard work. Exposure to something caused an anaphylactic reaction while mowing the lawn. This earned me an ambulance trip to the ER. But in every cloud… there is silver, yet I say, platinum lining! I now am free of all yard duties until I can assess the culprit. Yes, in a manner of speaking you might say I am allergic to yard work! Which in itself made this the best week of my life!

RACE DAY

Today we race!  Been looking forward to this all year!

I want to send a special shout out to the EMC2 members and great people who have put so much effort and time into making this great event happen!  Good luck to all the racers out there, hope the speeds are up and the rubber’s down. Also, thanks to all who are volunteering and supporting these races. And of course a special thanks to the residents and town of Elmhurst for letting us share their streets and making this possible. Amateur races are all day long. The women’s pro race is at 6:10 and men’s pro twilight event starts at 8:00. It’s a perfect day for racing, hope to see some of you out there!

For more info http://www.elmhurstcyclingclassic.com/

The Kit Don’t Lie

 

This weekend I raced my first non-practice criterium since my spine surgery almost a year ago. It was a bit of a milestone for me and I really embraced the accomplishment. I had been feeling pretty good in the saddle lately and even managed to drop another 8 lbs. So when I finished a somewhat hilly little crit course and managed to finish with the lead group I actually felt pretty good. I was even convinced that my lycra encased sausage bod was looking a bit better than it had in the past. I felt a bit stronger and maybe even a bit slimmer. Until, one of my teammates posted a pic of me in my pre-race starting line stance. Other than the fact that my stature resembled that of a mountain gorilla that had gorged itself on mangos and doughnuts, all was OK.

BADASSEDNESS

It’s only 4 days into this year’s Tour and we’ve already experienced some memorable lessons in courage, drive and determination. From the comfort of my couch, morning cup of coffee in hand, I sit and watch. I am enthralled by the character that defines those who are tested for 21 days while being pushed to their physical and mental limits. It’s why I watch the Tour. It’s why I love the Tour.