Matthew Provencio..Bone Marrow Transplant

Matthew Provencio, a little boy I am cycling in honor of, is awaiting a bone marrow transplant on Wednesday, November 12th. Please pray for him and his family. He is a child with a disability and the hospital is learning how to handle a person with a trach.

Please click on the Caring Bridge link on the right to see a pic of Matthew and to see his fighting spirit which is evident in the photos. There is also a bio sketch of him there.

Thank you in advance for your prayer. I will update this blog when I hear something on Wednesday.

The Good Dog and the Bad Dog

I went to the Jingle Bell Triathlon clinic on Saturday to learn about triathlons since I have never done one! I am going to do it as a team with a runner and a swimmer. The clinic was very informative and was given by a US Olympic Triathlon coach and I learned that the transitional area can make or break your triathlon!

Due to the fact that I have directional problems, I drove the bike route several times so that I could get the route in my mind before I cycled it. A friend helped me to discover how to map the route to determine the elevation change and it is 1807 feet. I was a bit scared of these hills and was unsure if , given my rehab, I would be able to make the climbs.

Then I started to worry about a lot of things. This is not my typical nature. I worried about the traffic and being alone and having to cross 4 lanes, I worried about the remoteness of the ride in the high desert...what if I fell and got hurt... was there even cell phone coverage...and on and on my mind went...for a worried ride of its own. My negative thinking kept going until it was time to leave my house....I was sick to my stomach and trying to decide it it might be best to do this another day......but all of a sudden I told myself///"STOP THIS> JUST DO IT>" Out of the door I went and off to the Rio Rancho Aquatic center I went.

I made it up every hill, I did not fall, yes it was remote and yes I had to cross a 4 lane highway to make a left turn onto Northern, but it all went very well and with complete safety! I suffered up one major hill but I am sooo stubborn. Over the entire ride my average mph was 14.2....good for me!

Here is a joke: There is a good dog and a bad dog. Which one is stronger? Whichever one you feed. Lesson learned!

Riding Trandem...."Do you Trust Me?"

Riding a tandem bike for the first time.....her name was Buttercup and she was a beautiful yellow Cannondalae.....more like the Yellow Submarine ....she was soooooo big! I went off with a muffled..or maybe it was not so muffled a scream... as I relinquished total control and...and was given the command....this is just like when we ride the motorcycle....you have to lean with me....I am in control....do not put your feet down when we stop! So off we went!

It was a bit of a challenge not to look and not to plan and not to steer...although I tried and continued to try all the above! LOL......

At one point, I was asked,,,"Do you trust me?" I kinda giggled....this from the man who I cycled 9 miles in the pitch dark with...blind bec. I had no glasses.......yes! I replied. I was told to relax and loosen up my body and grip. Later I heard that I did well going downhill at 33 + mph...and that if I had freaked out or panicked, we would have crashed because it would have been difficult to control 2 bodies and a heavy bike at that speed! URGH! Better to know this after the fact. Thank You!

So, my rehab continues and I am feeling better. I am up to 15 fast miles (fast for me) averaging 15.8 mph......I think this is a perfect opportunity to work on my techinque and my skills......circular pedalling..... other things.....and in the meantime, I have decided to participate in the Jingle Bell Triathlon on Dec. 7th with a team. I have a runner who is just getting back to running (she was going to run a marathon for the LLS) and a swimmer who is rehabbing foot surgery...so we are all getting back into business with our sports...and it will be like an act of willingness race for the 3 of us. We just want to start and finish..although I will try to be fast since it is a sprint and it is only 15 miles......Debbie...are you sitting down? LOL>....

I am learning a little bit about bike mechanics and it is overwhelming. I took off a cassette and put it back on and learned about wheels and spokes and how the weight of them can make you ride faster or slower...how to use a tool...I forgot it's name.....with a chain attached and a heavy wrench. I need lots more practice! Again and again with changing a tire.....One day I am sure I will feel like I know what I am doing...I have a lot to learn!

November in The Bosque

Getting My Mojo back

The Burning Bush

It is so amazing to me how the earth changes over the seasons and I love to watch and glory in those changes! I was on a mission this afternoon to ride 10 miles at a quick pace (for me) and it was sooo windy and then I saw such beauty that I had to stop and photograph it. I am happy that I allow myself to "stop and smell the roses" and just do not have my mission in my mind totally...because so much of cycling is sensual....the seeing, smelling, tasting (yes those pesky bugs!) feeling the heat from the sun or the cold or in my recent case...every bump in the road through my shoulders LOL....and hearing the wind rustle the leaves or hearing the geese honk...or the water running rapidly........I have missed this the last month...I have missed the sun on my body nourishing me....and I have missed pushing my body on my bike...I have missed that exhilaration....the breathlessness of it all...the challenges.......but I am getting my mojo back and enjoying every minute of it! This is day 2 back on the bike. If everything remains equal with my rehab, I hope to ride again on Thursday!

Who Knew I Would be Elated Getting Back into Spandex?

.....but, let me tell you I was elated... My first day back on the bike after the accident! It was a glorious day and I decided to at least get in some cardio and speed in the short 5.73 miles that I put in at the command of my therapists...well really......, the command was for 5...but I wanted to do 8-10....so 5.73 is still compliance! LOL.

Anyway, it is too soon to tell how the body has coped with this ride...I rode in the Open Space and I am certain the nicest people ride the open space...it never fails that I meet the kindest people. I handed out my new flyer for my new ride in Lake Tahoe for the Leukemia Society and had lots of great conversations with cyclists and runners of all persuasions!

My bike is rolling around in the back of my new Kia Sportage...so I will have to do something about that. I have great trunk room in this car...and that is why I bought it. If you could have seen me doing 30 minute "drive bys" with my salesperson at Car Max...I could not stand up very well....but I could carry my tape measure...and the poor guy had to measure the trunk this way and that and fold the seats up and down for me...and I bought the car to fit the bike...and that probably became to joke at Car Max...."Here she comes again...she needs a car for her bike!

Anyway, it was a great ride and I am thankful that I am finally back in the out of doors riding on the beauty of the earth!