The Mark of The Beast

 I've re-named my bike "The Beast". How great is it that I can obtain gear makrs within 30 seconds of unloading the bike from the car. I haven't even climbed onto the saddle and she bites me.

Sunday was a great ride... read below.

Day 2... more riding

 Saturday I finished 42+miles so I thought it would be a great idea to join the Sunday Buddy Ride in the east county for another 30+ with climbing.

I thought it was a good idea until we hit the 1000' elevation sign on
Mt Diablo when coach Mike says "yay we are half way there". "Which half?" I ask. "The easy half" he answers. Great. Keep legs moving, it's hot, it's dry. I stop in the shade for a drink and astange man arrives dripping in sweat to report to me that his thermometers report it's anywhere between 95-102.

I climb a little more, I'm exhausted, it's hot and I dismount to walk a bit. While resting again in a tiny patch of shade Coach K Sue comes down the hill looking for me. She gives a little pep talk, I think she "lies" a little bit to get me going. Sure it's flattening out! Sure it's more shady! Sure! Thanks to her I make it to the top, on the bike, pedaling.

This picture is of me during the rest after going 30 miles, the last 6 of which were a climb of 2,200ft in 102 degree heat. I'm smiling because it's all downhill from here.

The things I'll do to help find a cure for cancer!

Forty pt 1

  At least the marks are getting smaller. Today we rode from Sausalito up through San Anselmo and Fairfax. We missed the turn to Nicasio and ended up in Samuel P Taylor State Park. It was a beautiful day for 40+miles. Tomorrow we ride 40 in the east bay - up Mt Diablo!

Today - By The Numbers

Miles - the longest one day ride so far. I'm doing back to back 40s this weekend.




Days to go. The event is almost here!







More than half way to my fundraising goal

Ch Ch Ch Change (is accepted)

Coinstar! – did you know that if you put your change in a Coinstar machine, you have the option of donating that money directly to LLS? There are over 13,000 Coinstar machines (most in supermarkets – go to www.coinstar.com to find a machine near you).

Collect your change (and anyone else’s - but you should probably ask them first). When you use the Coinstar machine, simply select the "donate" option at the beginning of the transaction and follow the on-screen prompts to select LLS as your non-profit organization of choice. Then pour in your change; the machine counts the coins, and then provides a tax-deductible receipt for the full value of the donation. Send a copy of the receipt to me and I’ll get credit toward my fundraising goal.

Easy! Plus Coinstar doesn’t charge their regular fee for nonprofit donations. http://www.coinstar.com/us/PressReleases/941379

Exhausted Just Reading This?

Here's a quick breakdown of my weekend. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

Friday Night: Carbo-load dinner, drink lots of water, fall asleep by 9pm

Saturday:
5:30 - wake up before alarm and wonder if it's worth it to fall back asleep for another 30 mins, toss & turn until alarm.
6:00 - Get out of bed. Make breakfast, 2 scrambled eggs & bowl of oatmeal. Drink water. Pack equipment.
6:30 - Load bikes into car, pick up coffee to go, drive to meet the team.
8:00 - Arrive at Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Stretch legs. Chat with friends.
8:30 - Team talk, I win a fund-raising prize (thanks to all who have given so generously), Coach Michael teaches us how to change a tire.
9:00 - We gather in our new ride packs and practice changing our own tires. I'm the first in my group to finish - It's a dirty job and not too hard. Phew & knock on wood that I don't actually have to do this on the road.
10:30 - We hit the road leaving Pt Reyes and pedaling 42+miles through Inverness, Nicassio and Olema. We learned how ride in a pace line. I learned that you can pedal slow and move uphill at the speed a sleeping sloth and make it to the top still upright & breathing.
3:30 - The finish line is in sight! Finally get off the bike, find my legs, stretch, change out of sweaty chamois, regroup with all the other ride packs.
4:00 - Wandered my way over to the Honoree Picnic to hear the stories of the honorees we are riding for this season. Two teammates riding along side me are blood cancer survivors - they are alive today because of research done by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We listened to their stories, ate some of the best burritos in the world and headed home.
6:30 - Arrive at home sweet home for a hot shower.
7:00 - realize we are too late to attend my friend Carey's fund-raising event.
8:00 - Pass out on the couch.
9:00 - Head to bed for a well deserved night of sleep.

Sunday
7:00 - Wake up... still tired (physically) but no longer able to keep eyes closed. Tummy is grumbling. Wonder where I should go for breakfast & 30 mile recovery ride.
8:00 - Coffee & Noah's bagel enjoyed while reading the paper. Still wondering what to do for the 30 mile recovery ride.
12Noon - Head to the gym to ride the stationary bike - 1 hour, 18 miles are all I can handle.
1:30 - Time for another fund-raiser. My former running team-mate, Belinda is training for an Iron Man. I spend the afternoon in the park playing kick-ball, drinking beers, eating hot-dogs, chatting with friends.
8:00 - Pass out on the couch, from exhaustion not from the beers.

What did you do with your weekend?

 

Here's the latest bike mark

Woops.

 Apparently it's a "rookie move" to end up with gear grease & chain marks on your legs. FYI - That stuff is hard to get off. I've take 3 showers since that shot & there is still a faint mark.

Riding in Honor of...

Malana
This picture is clipped to the front of my bike so she can enjoy the scenery as I ride for her and the many living with and fighting blood cancer.

Here's her short story as we were introduced to her by her great-aunt who is one of my TEAM-mates.

She was diagnosed with leukemia just a couple of months before her second birthday. What started as bruises and bumps became a series of tests, including bone marrow, then the leukemia (ALL) diagnosis. I was very relieved to hear that ALL is the most treatable kind of leukemia. (Thanks LLS!!). Malana has been in treatment now for about 18 months. For some aspects, her reaction to the treatment has been better than expected, but she continues to have significantly elevated ANC and ALT-phosphorus levels, and her doctors have not been able to explain.

She seems to be taking all of her treatments in stride. She's even willing to show her third nipple (her port) to anyone who asks about it. She has the greatest smile and loves to hug and be hugged (but don't we all?)

Would you like to help find a cure for Malana? Click here to:Make a tax-deductible donation to LLS

A Busy & Quiet Week

During the climb of Papa Bear on Saturday Coach Mark told me this ride was the "come to Jesus" moment in training. It's during this ride that participants realize that the mid-week workouts are the important part of training. Yes, I found Jesus that day. This week has been filled with workouts.

On Monday I went to the gym for some cardio (eliptical) and strength (circuit weights). It was good to get the blood flowing through the muscles after the hard weekend ride.

Tuesday night I rode 15 miles around Alameda. I practiced clipping in & out of the pedals, changing hand positions on the handle bars, pedaling one legged, fighting the winds off the bay.

Thursday night I put in 20 miles along the East Shore of the San Francisco Bay Trail. We rode from Emeryville (Davenport Mini Park) to Point Richmond (Lucrita Edwards Park)

As we finished up the ride last night I realized how lucky I am. Riding along the shore past tidal flats and marsh lands, watching herons fly, dogs playing, listening to the wind, watching the sun set over San Francisco. It was a great reminder to not take my blessings for granted. Here was the view at the end of our ride:

Fundraising news: It's been a very quiet week. Please make some noise & drop some cash in my account. Help me fund a researcher, help me fund the aid to patient families, help me find a cure. Donations of any amount help. Contribute now

Up next: Sunday will include a 35-40 mile ride called Paradise Loop

Triple Crowner & 1/2 Iron Man

My friend, Phil, earned his TNT triple crown and became a 1/2 Iron Man this past weekend. Too many honorees on his shirt, including my dad (see pic below).

Help us find a cure for blood cancer, make a donation today.



Thanks Phil! You are an inspiration. Go take a rest.

Grrrr-rrrr-rrrr-rah

Tell the whole damn world I finished bear territory.

To those who know local bike rides I finished the Three Bears! Don't I look happy? (that's me on the left)
This was my 3rd ride with the team. It was my first time being clipped into pedals. It was my first time climbing hills. I'm pretty darn proud of myself.

We rode 23+ miles (climbed 1060ft, decended 1096ft) in 95+ heat. I finished in just under 3 hours. My top speed (coasting downhill) was approx. 25mph. My slow speed (climbing Papa Bear) was about 2mph. I learned that I don't like going faster than 20mph on the downs.

It was hard. It was awesome. I'm exhausted but not too sore.

Fundraising update: To date I have 62 donations for a total of $3,995.55 (an average of $64 per donor) - I'm 53% of the way to my personal fundraising goal. Would you like to add to the total? Please make a donation.

Here's the map of our route:

Who Knew?

Upper body strength is important in cycling. I had no idea how weak I was until this past weekend's ride. We did another 20 miler but this time hills were part of the fun.

Let me confirm what I've always expected - I've got legs. My strength has always been my lower body. I can squat a lot of weight. My legs felt fine up & down all 20 miles.

My arms wanted to detach and run for the hills. At about mile 16 I wanted to pull over & rest - I could barely hold myself up to steer. It was a struggle to lift my recovery drink (ice cold beer) to my lips. I had to ask for help to take the cap off my Chap-stick, seriously.

So I need to talk to the coaches about what to do to build up my arms. I'm also switching from a mountain bike frame to a road bike in hopes that the "fit" will ease the pressure on my spindly little limbs.

Fundraising Update: I am now at 49% of my personal fundraising goal. Please help me reach the $7,500 finish line with a donation today.