OFF TO THE RACES

So last week's adventure was a doozie. While I am completely comfortable on my bike, I never really realized how utterly afraid I am of the high speeds you can get up to. On my road bike, I white knuckle it down the hill with my breaks on but on a mountain bike, you can't really do that otherwise you just won't make it up the other side of the hill...or shall I say, you can make it up the hill but pushing your bike...forget that!

So we were lucky ladies this week and got some great tips from the RaceDayRush.com guys - Shane and Neil. Thanks guys! We also were fortunate enough to get a new heart rate monitor...so cool! But there was a trick to that. Shane says "the first three people to cross the pond and back win the monitor". Well, I booked it (had my brand new puma shoes on which were slippery, I might add) and what do you know...I was the third. It felt great because up to that point, I was feeling like a bit of a failure. Then, Shane said he was joking and everyone was getting one but pushed the rest of the group into doing it, too. Let's face it, it will be reality for the chosen-ones...teehee.

I am looking forward to Sunday as it will be paddling. I love canoeing but have to say I am directionally challenged (as if you haven't figured that out by my blogs thus far).

So long for now...if anyone is actually reading this!

Find the strength. Keep the will.

SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY

Ok, so not blood shed but tears were (see Kerri, I told you that you weren't the only one who cried because they didn't make it). My day started wrong. I went to meet the lovely Race Day Rush/Phat chicks' crew and just could not find them.

The sun was shining and until getting lost, I was very happy. So, once I figured out what I had done wrong and found my way, I was told by the parking attendant that I had missed my group by 10 mins. What to do??? Run like hell! That's what I did. So going along the trail, I saw a lady (that I did not know) wearing a Phat Chicks shirt - I just so happened to be wearing my too so she knew right away I was out looking for the crew. She said you are right behind them, they are only 3 mins up the path. WOW...could I really run fast enought to catch up to them? I kept on running and then there it was...a Y in the path. What to do..go right????..go left????. It was a 50/50 chance and as luck would have it, I must have gone the wrong way and never found them. The good news was I was out running which I love to do...so that it what I focused on.

After my run, the rest of the group followed behind after about 5-10 mins so I know I wasn't too far from them (which was another down point...I almost found them). We all chatted it up for about an hour. Susie-Q from Phat Chicks gave us some kick-ass homework and that was pretty much the end of the day.

BUT - not totally the end of the day. I decided to bring my road bike and go for a tour around the area (here's where the blood comes in..figuretively of course). I wasn't out 20 mins and I fell off of my bike..just couldn't get unclipped fast enough even though my right foot was nearing the ground, my body just didn't want to go that way and I feel to the left..lol. So I proceeded to get back on the horse as they say and not 5 mins later, I blew a tire!

The day got the best of me and was trying to tell me something!

So this Thursday it's a mountain bike challenge with the crew and I can't wait....even though Shaner thinks I can make it up the steep hill!

Find the strength Keep the will.
T

I'M NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.....

So I'm going to learn my way like the wicked witch from the west....lol. Really, orienteering at Rattlesnake park was far more than I could have ever expected. Sadly, only less than half of our team could make it, but we made the best of it and trekked on. We needed it! Some of the ladies commented on learning this skill in school...school, did I learn this in school and blocked it out because it was and is such a learning curve, a mental blockage, a OMG....WTF...am I truly supposed to know how to navigate through life and/or the forest and go bushwacking???? Mantracker, watch out! What fun was it to go through the brush and be TOUGH! I'm really not a princess so going out there for the thrill of getting somewhere via a map and compass was totally cool (ok, so not a princess but surely an 80's girl using "totally cool" in my lingo...teehee).

Good times.

Special thanks and shout out to Brian for leading the pack! We couldn't have done it without ya.

So tomorrow is a mountain biking challenge with the RaceDayRush.com guys, Shane and Neil. I'm told we have a big hill to climb. Bring it!

Find the strength. Keep the will.

T

INSPIRATION AND STRENGHT

As we go about our daily lives, we tend to get caught up in the little things...you know the small insignificant details of "who left their socks lying around" and "does this make me look fat?" things of that nature. Stupid things! I truly want to change that about myself. I don't want to waste my life on the stupid stuff but keep those times for the good stuff. Being with my family, riding my bike, teaching my classes at the Y and walking my baby dog! That's what is really important here.

I was and am still inspired by Meredith along with Susie from Phat Chicks. They truly are the most amazing, strong women I have ever met. I could only hope to be a tenth of what they are.

Sadly though, we have had to say good bye all to soon to our friend, Meredith. Time was robbed from her and her family. But what her family does have is the knowledge that Meredith changed people - for the better! What a wonderful legacy to have.

I wish her sunshine and daises...or tulips, as I have found out were her favourite flowers, and hope that she can still enjoy everything she did here. I wish her family strength and healing and to know that they, too, were blessed to be a part of Meredith's life.

Keep the strength. Find the will!
T

OUCH!!

Even typing the title of this blog hurts...LOL. Ok, it's not that bad but I am sore today. My lovely, kick-ass girls from PHATCHICKS.CA really pushed me to my limit and back yesterday.

It seems we have a theme and that is crappy weather. I'll tell ya though, we didn't really notice how cold it was because we were working so hard. Susie had this crazy apparatus that was hung from a beam above us and we had to slip our feet in it while in the prone position. Sounds easy, right? Wrongo, it was nothing short of torture....teehee. Na, it was a pretty cool thing and I'm sure if we used it a lot, it would whoop our butts and guts into shape in no time.

We have homework this week as we did last week and will each week moving forward. What's nice about it, is you do not need any equipment to do it.

I have to keep this one short and sweet today but I'm sure I'll have things to say during the week.

Find the strength - keep the will!
T

Biking all the way

Yup, got myself a new racing bike the day before I got the message that I was in on this challenge. I was thinking about shifting my focus from running road races to biking road races because I was missing the competition since I have reduced the amount of running I was doing - due to age...or...just over use of the key components of my body...my knees.

Anyway, I have to push myself and have to feel the excitement of racing again. So, now that I am sharing my time with road biking and mountain biking, I figured that even if I take long rides on my road bike, I would still be adding to my cardio and to my strength for my awesome challenge with RaceDayRush! Seriously, I want to win it!

So, I undertook the ride from my house to work and back twice last week. Was about a 15K ride there and clearly a 15K ride back. As my friends know, I live in Mt. Hope and ride to the Hammer for work - downtown. Yup, DOWNTOWN - that means, there is only one way back up! THE HILL, a hill, any hill! The first time I tried, I failed miserably. Not knowing that I was gearing up in the 18th gear - can you say dumbass????

Anyway, after a review with my hubby on how to gear up and gear down, I got it. I got it and I made it. That hill...that elusive hill did not get the best of me again, boy. I fought through the burn. My legs wanted to quit. I kept telling myself what I tell my classes at the Y everyday I teach "You can always do more than you think you can". It worked.

Find the strength. Keep the will!

T

WORKOUT OR.....WORK-IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My girls....yes, we all had a serious workout....or work-in...shall I say! Why work-in? Well, as I was lying in bed last night - or shall I say 3 am and I couldn't sleep, I was thinking all about Saturday's PhatFit workout/work-in....I was pumped. I haven't pushed myself that hard in a long time. So I worked it in! In myself. I didn't just workout but really went deep inside to find myself....that chick that really loved being challenged. I love it! Meredith and Suzie are #1 (go to phatchicks.ca to see what I see).

The super, awesome ladies around me only helped feed my need for the work-in! Thank you all for your support and motivation. Can't wait until next week. Anyone want to meet up at LaSalle this week, let me know!

RACEDAYRUSH - Shaner - i can't thank you enough for helping me out with the cool flix for the YMCA fundraiser. My class loved it! I was even able to get my whole family out to feel the burn! I can't wait to challenge more of my classes with the rest of the videos!

Follow me until next week's work-in!

Find the strength, keep the will!
T

Tuesday thoughts...continued

...and I have been using my classes at the YMCA for a time to promote RaceDayRush and Phatchicks....lots of questions and interest in their websites. I hope my cycle friends will take the time to find out who these people are and see the value in what they can do for them...not to mention follow my blog...LOL.

Tuesday thoughts...

So my Tuesday night TV has been "The Biggest Loser" since season one. I hate to miss it but funny thing, as time has gone on, I am way more pumped to be using what God gave me...my body and pushing it hard rather than watching TV.

Since Sunday, I have been completely wrapped up in my new bike and my challenge ahead! Yup, got myself a new road bike and my first! Oddly enough, the day after I bought my bike, I got the email from Shane that I was IN for the challenge. I am now sharing my time with mountain biking and my road bike. It's so cool because the RACEDAYRUSH.COM website features races that someone such as me can use to pump up their indoor cycle classes. I volunteer at the YMCA and love every minute of it so these videos will totally pump up my classes!

Thank you again and again to the organizers!

Yippeeeee! Here it is, the day before I meet the crew. The people that share an interest or two; who knows, maybe more? One more sleep! I'm happy, excited, a little freaked out but really pumped for what's next! Can't wait to meet my friendly rivals....T

newbie

Ok, so here it goes...my first blog. No, I'm not old but maybe a bit out of touch. I am so pumped to have a spot in this challenge and still can't believe I have been chosen. It's all about working hard and playing harder! Watch out guys, I'm in it to win it!

Can't wait to meet the new gang on Sunday!