Sunflower Fields....... Forever

It was a long and grueling day! The sunflowers made it beautiful and pleasant as we initially descended 2400 feet...then after 32 miles we had to climb back up the 2400 feet we came down.....only this time in the full heat of the day. URGH! It was a difficult day for me. Lots of people had flats today and that was difficult for them.

After a break, I was talking to Sandy and supporting her and I was so focused on what i was saying to her that I forgot to pedal and boom...down I went. There I was horizontal in the middle of the highway ....and Ed is screaming "There's no cars coming get the camera!" Lesson...which is a lifelong one. Work at your own self -care ...and help others second!

I found out that Courtney curses.......so then I did not feel too bad...LOL...I think my group does not curse...except for me! LOL...I only curse, just so you know, when I climb uphill.

At one point, Ed shouted out there's Road Mom up ahead! I said where? I looked and all I could see was Llama! I had to ask Ed again what he said...and he said "There's Llama up ahead!" Debbie doesn't even look like a llama! It was pretty funny!

My friend Lisa sent us up to Burger Boy on the way home and it was a fun place and the food was good. We got the Lisa discount...and sent her regards.... I spilled Yun's water and she told me she was going to drink it symbolically! I think by this time, we were just plain silly! Or at least I was! 5 hours on the bike is plenty!

I remember why I am doing this...to fund blood cancer research...and on these hard days...I need to remember that...and more so.

See Photos below.

65 Miles in the East Mountains OR The Roadside Mechanics Stand

Kudos to Debbie our Cycling Coach!

I have watched this woman week after week and each week she continue to amaze me! WHY? Because she is a great coach! She watches everything and everyone one. She knows each rider and how they are doing...if they are riding well...or if they are struggling that day....and she supports them in an individual way...seeming to know what will work the best for them!
Debbie! YOU ROCK!

The Road Side Orange Stand

***Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle***This morning I was interviewed by Kyle Battis the site manager for Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle Inner Circle ...a body building group I belong to. Although I hardly have the body of a bodybuilder , the precepts of this sensible program have helped me continue weight loss and build muscle and tone the body. Check out their site which is listed at the right.The focus of the interview , which will come out in audio and in transcript form, was looking at your belief system when it comes to weight loss, how to stay motivated and how to develop a purpose...a higher purpose that will motivate you. Tom Venuto , the owner, is a huge supporter of Team in Training and has already donated quite a lot of money to the effort to fight blood cancer through my site. His hope ,through this interview , is to gain more support for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society from his thousands of clients world wide and to inspire others who are overweight to make a beginning on a healthier path toward fitness. If you watch his site , you will be able to see when the interview comes out. Thank you Tom! Thanks Kyle!

60 miles!

Speed is not the Issue..Repeat after Me!

Having Fun is the issue! I met a friend at the gym last week who is an endurance athlete. He asked for an update on my training. We discussed riding 109 miles and how to get from point A to point B. Six times, and believe me..he counted...he told me " Speed is not the issue ." and told me to repeat this back to him...like a mantra. He told me that he rides a century at 15 mph but he is a seasoned endurance athlete. Needless to say, he told me, your avgs. will be slower than that! He told me , "Having fun is the issue. You are not a racer and this is a fundraiser. Go out and have fun! That is what is important!" Otherwise, he told me..."You are going to work yourself into having and issue!" We do not want that! LOL.