Catching Up?

I just recently read Miles's blog. I took a good look at his new ride. I have to ask, I guess because I am not in the know how. But why a single speed? Is it about the challenge? It is a fun looking bike, but I would like to know why people buy them.

I have been so excited to ride my new mountain bike. So you would think that as a stay at home mom that I would have plenty of time to ride, but I have not had any time to ride. I have been so busy with soccer and other things. I guess I did make a couple of big batches of salsa, and froze a ton of corn.

Now that the goal of finishing LOTOJA is done I need to decide what is next. I have alot of thoughts. Marathon? LOTOJA? LOTOJA relay? Wasatch Back? STP? Washington, Oregon Coast Ride? Triatholon? Trail Running Series? All of them??????
After my tennis class on Weds. I have been taking a swimming lesson. I tell you, swimming is a struggle for me! I panic with my face in the water. But I do have to say that I have improved from the 1st time to the 2nd time. I hope that I keep improving and becoming more comfortable in the water.

I am still contemplating a trail run in Ogden on Sat. I really am not up to par for running 7 miles. But I figure that I can endure it and give it my best.

I drove to Pleasant View on Mon. morning. The drive up Sardine canyon was really beautiful! I hope that the drive next week will be as beautiful. Arie is worrying that is almost Halloween because that means time for the flu shot. It is interesting to me that she remembers that the shot always happens around Halloween.

I had the opportunity to attend my cousins funeral on Tues. It gave me a chance to think about how thankful I am for my family, friends, other blessings in my life and the gospel.

LOTOJA Report

First of all it should not be Logan to Jackson because you actually finish in Teton Village.

I have had people ask me if this was worse than having a baby, and I think that this was worse than having a baby. This was 13 hrs and 24 mins. of labor. It was a great experience! We learned so much just being a part of it.

Our start time was 7:01 am with all of the Cat women (real racers). We really should have been in the fun ride group. It was a great ride to Preston. We took a little long at the stop and lost the group of women that we were with. We then headed up Strawberry which was pretty ok. I started having some breathing problems. We met a girl named Elise from Phoenix,AZ who happened to be a brain surgeon. I took it a little slower at the top of Strawberry so that my breathing would be ok. The descent was awesome (of course).

We made it to Feed Zone #3 in Montpelier and took a really long time there (40 mins.). We didn't know we took so long. Heidie had a inhaler. I took a couple of puffs off of it and wow! Did that make all the difference! So up the next canyon we went. The climb was not bad. Another great descent. We were all by ourselves and started to climb Salt Pass where we hooked with a small group who we did a double pace line with. We stopped at the neutral feed zone and proceeded up the steep part of Salt Pass. There was alot of riders struggling with this climb. We had another great descent. We almost hit 50 mph.

The head wind had started picking up. A group of men hooked on the back of me and Heidie. I said "this is stupid let's drop behind them and let them break wind for us even if they are a little slower. " So we dropped and got on with them and as it turns out they were just waiting for the rest of their group to catch up. The rest of their group caught up and they had us do another double pace line with them. There was about 14-16 of us. It was a lifesaver in the wind. We stopped in Afton and this group of guys said that they would wait for us. So we started off with them again. But then some guys in the group needed to pee so they stopped and said that they would catch up to us. They never caught up. So Heidie and I were by ourselves against the wind. Heidie really started to hurt on this stretch. I offered to cut off her leg and let her finish with one leg. But she opted for keeping the leg.

We got to the Alpine stop and we knew that it would be tight, but we KNEW that there would be a tailwind because there ALWAYS is a tailwind. No tail, more like a head. I was out of steam. I told Heidie she could go on faster if she wanted, but she stuck with me. We stopped quick at the last feed zone to top off my water and eat some fruit snacks. The fruit snacks must have worked because I picked up a little.

I tell you they need to fix the descriptions for the race. I realize that I was getting tired but the hills just kept coming. The sun was starting to set and it was getting dark and cold. Neither of us had our lights with us. There was a guy in head of me with a light so we caught up to him and hooked on to him for a minute. He was totally pooped. He told me that he was sorry but he had to drop and not go as fast as us. So we rode on. A few minutes later was back, he said "all right I'll give it another try." So he hopped in front of me and we followed him in. He told me that had done this race 4 times by himself. I was really impressed that he dug a little deeper so that he could help us out. We crossed the finish line. I kept thanking the guy for helping. We turned in our timing chips and numbers. I saw Shane and Shad and gave them a yell. I got to the bike path and laid down by Heidie, she was crying & I started to cry a bit. It was a long walk back to the truck. We stopped and ate at Pizza Hut and drove home. We made it home at 2 am.

I was so happy that we made it!! I was really glad that Miles made it. I kept asking about him all day. I felt like we rode really good. Our slow time was due to our rest stops. But still it was an amazing feat to accomplish. On the hills nobody passed us. The ride home was quite painful, but I am feeling OK now. I was also glad to hear how well Tracen did.

Shane and Shad were a great "pit crew" and we met some really neat people along the way.

The question is will we do it again? Heidie says "no". I say we'll see. A relay might be alot of fun. But the most important part of all is that I can now place the sticker on my car!

It's the final COUNTDOWN!

Here it is the night before the eve of the race. I am starting to pack food and making lists. I put on new tires, tubes and brake pads today. As I read other blogs I wonder if I am prepared enough. I have come down with a hurt leg. I have had a stomach bug this week. So I think that by Sat. I should have everything worked out. Oh, and lest I forget the bag I ordered for my bike for the race will not arrive until Mon. I mean come on. I ordered the stinking thing on Aug.25th. So I placed another overnight order to get the bag by tomorrow.

Today JT asked me why I wanted to pay $300.00 (not really what it cost) to do this race. I and I asked him "why not?" He said you could just go do this ride alone without paying all of this money. I told him that I was just doing it for the sticker! (He offered to make me a sticker just like the LOTOJA sticker.) Thanks JT.

The next time that I will post will be after the race. I am hoping for good things to report.
Ride on!

Is this the race to Jackson?

Sat. morning Heidie and I started the Cache Valley Century Ride. We had just left the Rest stop in Preston and we were heading south out of Preston when a (heavy) lady in her bath robe on her front porch yells to us "Hey, is the the race to Jackson?" I was chuckling to myself, "sure it is I am just taking the long way." But I was nice and told her what the event was and that the race to Jackson was in 2 weeks. Anyway it was a good ride. Both Heidie and I have been plagued with knee pain. But the knees help up for the ride. We were definitely the minority on the 100 mile ride. It was interesting to be the only 2 women at the rest stops. Occasionally a lady would come in when we were leaving the rest step.

Last night was the Preston Demolition derby. What a treat. All of Preston's finest come out of the woodwork. The derby is the same, just different scary people that come. JT said he learned last night that you should stay in school and off of drugs!

It has been a crazy week. The kids started school on Thurs. I am now catching up on all that I got behind on in the past month. Shane is really busy with work, which we are very thankful for.

Ride, Hills, and Pain

We started out this morning about 6:45 am, and headed up Strawberry Canyon. It was cold and windy. Tracen was a good sport. He was really fast on the hills. We took off our jackets about 10-12 miles into to ride/climb. It was a really pretty morning. As it turns out the top of the canyon was about 3 miles further than where Heidie and I turned around last time. I was thinking to myself this morning "why am I doing this?"

So we dropped down the other side of Strawberry and went through Ovid and on to Montpieler. Tracen led the way and we made pretty good time. We stopped at Maverick for a pit stop and then headed for the Canyon (Geneva) as we started to head up we noticed the road closed signs. So we pulled up to talk to the flag girl. She told us that the canyon would be closed until tomorrow night. We had 2 options, 1- Ride back over Strawberry and home, or, 2- Head up to Soda Springs and then down to Grace. It was decided to ride back how we came. Tracen led the way again. Of course there was wind. The rollers heading back up to Strawberry were tough. My knee gave me total trouble, to the point I couldn't pedal. This passed after a minute. We stopped at Camp Bartlett and had a sandwich.

We then continued up the Canyon. It definitely had warmed up. It was HOT! We reached the top which was a good thing because I think that I might have got off my bike and pushed if we had to keep climbing. We started the descent. My bike decided to start making noises and the wind was strong enough that we had to pedal the whole way down. My knee still was giving me trouble. Heidie had foot pain. I need to figure out what the trouble is with my bike and fix the knee pain. I think that we can make the LOTOJA if our bodies will hold up to the aches and pains. Tracen was a rockin' rider. It was good to ride with him and push ourselves a little bit harder. Thanks to Teresa who was our support/bug lady.

I have had people say to me that they think that riding the LOTOJA will be fun. I tell you this- IT WILL NOT BE FUN! It will be hard and long, but a great goal to accomplish!

Bear Lake Week/Weekend

Heidie and I attempted our 100 mile ride on Weds morning. We ended up with only 90 miles. We had several mishaps. My bike had seat issues, so I ended riding with the seat all the way down for 20 miles. Heidie got a flat on the railroad tracks which also ruined her tire. So we rode to Al's and spent a hour there making repairs. On Weds. morning we are planning to ride 80 miles on the LOTOJA course.

Jace and Arie spent the week at our cabin with Grandma Ellen and Chalisa (& kids). I was back and forth for the week. I picked them up on Fri. afternoon and we went and met my family at the Ideal Beach Resort. Shane and JT came over late Fri. night. On Sat. morning we went out on Miles's new sweet boat! JT tried wake boarding and got up. Jace gave it a try and got up (kind of). I gave it a try and got up. It took alot of squealing and screaming for me to get up though. Zach and Shane thought that it was pretty funny to take pictures of me while I was trying. There was a airplane crash at the lake Sat. morning. Kris, Melanie and I ran the Raspberry Days 5K race. It was alot of fun to run and be with them. We had milk can dinner and played noodle soccer. We went swimming in the swimming pool. It was nice to spend time with the family.

On Monday morning on my way home from Bear Lake I stopped at 7-11 for a drink and to go to the bathroom. I was just about to walk into the restroom when a man stopped me and said " I wouldn't go in there for a couple of minutes." I stopped. He said "I just pooped in there." I said "oh", and turned and walked off (trying not to laugh). So I was thinking, would you stop somebody or would you just let them go in? I am pretty sure that I wouldn't stop anyone. I would just get out of Dodge.

Happy Birthday To ME!

Shane just bought me a early B-day present. I am now the proud owner of a Santa Cruz Blur LT with an anodized frame! It has been alot of fun to ride! I look forward to being able to get and hit some trails.

Car update- The Hondarooski is still at the car doctor undergoing more tests. Cross your fingers that it is a simple fix!

Heidie and I are planning to ride a 100 miles tomorrow morning. On Sat. morning I rode 52 miles. The bicyclists Sat. morning were very friendly. All of them waved or acknowledged me. Some of the time some cyclists don't acknowledge you. What's up with that? I don't need like a huge wave, just a little hey would be ok!

So Sat. I went to Logan to pick up a few things. There was a guy walking down the sidewalk with a Big Gulp in hand. It looked like he puked while he was walking. He didn't stop walking or bend over or anything. He just kept walking while he spewed stuff everywhere. I guess if it was me I wouldn't stop either (since he was on main street in Logan). Just act like nothin' ever happened!

We are gearing up for a Bear Lake week and also JT's B-Day. He will be turning 14. (WOW)

I was glad that Miles finally posted about his Sat. ride, because I was wondering how the ride went for him. Way to go Miles!

Over and out!

PS A question to ponder for the day: Have you ever received a food gift or item from someone, and wondered if they poisoned it or might have put ex-lax in it? Did you pitch it? Or did you try it?