It's been a while since my last post, and I hate that. I think most of us start off with the best of intentions, then start to slide back into old habits. Once we do that, it's difficult to get back on track. Now, I've had a lot of things going in my life between work, training and personal stuff, but that's really no excuse. So, while I have written this post in my head numerous times, it's time to get back on track and do it for real.
My first season as a Team in Training Cycling Coach has come to a close, and what an amazing season it was! Being able to coach some dedicated, amazing athletes, to a finish at America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride has been one of the most satisfying and rewarding things I have ever done! At the inspiration dinner we learned that there were 1,200 Team in Training Cyclists participating in the ride that had raised $4.4 million for blood cancer research and patient services. That is AMAZING!
A brief rundown of the weekend, we fly from Milwaukee to Reno and take a bus into South Lake Tahoe. We pick up our bikes and try to relax. Saturday morning the Wisconsin team takes a short 17 mile shakedown ride to make sure the bikes are all working properly and to get acclimated. When you're at 6,500 ft above sea level, you get out of breath much quicker due to the fact that there is less oxygen in the air. Good thing to know and get used to! So while on the ride, about 20 yards in front of me, a bear darts across the road and stops. Yep. A BEAR! I pass by the beast on the side of the road and realize she is about to cross back because her cub is in a tree. I stop because part of my team is behind me. They stopped, and the bear crossed back to her cub and we all proceeded on. Totally cool experience, but kind scary too!
Saturday night we had the inspiration dinner and then a team get together to sign and decorate jerseys. I then had the chance to meet an incredible young man, Connor Cosgrove. Connor is the nephew of one of our team members, Patti.
In 2010, Connor was a Division I athlete playing football at the University of Minnesota, when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Through Patti, I had the opportunity this season to learn more about him when she would share pictures and links to speeches he made. I was always impressed by his humor, strength, and positive attitude through these videos and pictures. I was hoping to get the opportunity to meet him when Patti said he and his family would be coming to Tahoe, and I'm so glad I did. In person, Connor has ten times the charm and charisma he has digitally. I got the chance to spend some time with him and we talked about a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. What a great, fun guy. Besides being inspirational, he's just so cool and funny. I shared with him that if I ever had a life changing event like that happen to me, I would only hope I could handle it with the strength and grace that he shows. Connor, if you happen to read this, I'm proud to call you a friend. Follow the link below for more on Connor.
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/04/26/mn-wr-wins-award-for-never-saying-no-to-leukemia/
On to Sunday morning and America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride! The Wisconsin Team had a 6:20 start time and we headed out for 100 miles of fun, beauty, and hills! As a way to have a little fun, the Team in Training Chapters all have items on their bike helmets to represent their location and be more identifiable. For instance, the Los Angeles chapter had small Oscar Statues, Washington DC had a Capitol, Seattle had Starbucks cups, and Kansas had Flying Monkeys (Wizard of Oz...and the monkeys were sitting on beer cans. Try and figure out why...) And from Wisconsin, we had...what else? Cheese wedges! And since a coach has to have all the answers, I knew I needed help, so I brought a Jedi Master along for the entire 100 miles.
Take a look at the ride profile:
Starting at mile 11 is the climb to Emerald Bay. Steep, technical, and with switchbacks, but once to the top, the view makes it worth it!
After the climb, we get the descent. Fast and fun! Until, I get a flat. And I don't mean, just a flat, a loud, explosive blowout! Luckily, I made emergency repairs to get to the next rest stop, where I was able to buy a new tire, get it on the wheel and carry on! Nothing stops us!
As the day wears on and the miles click by, we pass beautiful views, lots of bikes, and Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, all before getting to the lunch stop at King's Beach at mile 70. At King's Beach, you get to look out at the most amazing views of the lake and snow capped mountains. The pictures just don't capture the beauty.
After lunch at mile 70, there's a short climb, then riding along the lake until getting to mile 80. Mile 80 is significant because that's where the real climb of the day starts. 1,000 feet and 8 miles long. Wow. 8 miles can be a long way on a bike. It can be an especially long way when it's all uphill! No problem here, I had the force with me, and my Jedi Master gave me the strength I needed!
The last 12 miles are downhill, with the exception of a few little rolling hills that seem much tougher than they actually are. Finally rolling back into South Lake Tahoe, the team all met a short way from the finish line, and we all rode in together. On Wisconsin! Coach Art provided us with a breakdown of stats and numbers from his GPS. It's well worth a look!
All in all, AMBBR was an amazing, incredible experience. Now, it's on to the next challenge...
While in Tahoe, Coach Art approached me with an "opportunity". The team he's on for the Madison to Chicago Ragnar relay needed a fill in runner. Team "Rank Strangers". If you're not familiar with Ragnar, here's a description from the Ragnar webite:
Ragnar is the overnight running relay race that makes testing your limits a team sport.
You and 11 of your craziest friends (or 5 of your crazier friends for an ultra team) pile into two vans and tag team running 200(ish) miles, day and night, relay-style. Only one runner hits the road at a time. Each participant runs three times, with each leg ranging between 3-8 miles and varying in difficulty. So, from the elite runner down to the novice jogger, it's the perfect race for anyone.
http://www.ragnarrelay.com
For those of you that know me, there was only one answer. So, 5 days after riding 100 miles on my bike, I will start running in a 200 mile relay race to Chicago. I couldn't say no. I think I might be crazy. Not crazy fun, or Steve Martin "Wild and Crazy guy" crazy, but completely, totally, clinically crazy, as in suffering from a mental defect. What makes me do these things? Century bike rides, triathlons, Ironman, Tough Mudder, Escape from Alcatraz, etc., etc., etc. Oh well, that's another question for another day. Until then I need to channel my "Inner Ninja". Enjoy!
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