Reflections 2012

As the year draws to a close, I reflect back on the moments that brought me here.  Losing my friend Jennifer was the catalyst.  Knowing I wanted to do something to honour her memory helped me make the decision to sign up for the Ride to Conquer Cancer bike ride.  Getting the bike from a friend of mine sealed the deal and I was on my way.

Along this bike path, I’ve made new friends, found a team I can be proud of as well as finding a belief in myself that burst forth every time I get on that bike and pedal.  I’ve biked in the morning, the heat of the day and the early evening.  Every ride has given me a new perspective, a new view and a new outlook on life.  Cancer may have taken people I care about but it will not take away my drive to succeed.

I have endured bike spills, sore muscles, idiot car drivers and more but all they have done is to teach me to get back on the bike and keep striving for my goal.   And that goal will be crossing the finish line on July 7, 2013 in Quebec City.   And the funds I raise along the way will, I hope, kick cancer in its ass and send it on its way.  However no matter what highs and lows I have encountered, I have definitely learned  that the road I travel will not defeat me. 

 

With Hope & Gratitude, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and may the joy of the season continue to surround you through 2013.


If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2013?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1451

Keeping the Faith

So I've been biking for over a month now and I've had some great highs and not so great lows - both on and off the bike.  Returning home after Thanksgiving Day weekend spent with family and friends in Georgian Bay brought some of these lows.  One of which I found out that someone I used to golf with had succumbed to cancer.  Margaret was 53 (she died the day after her birthday) and had only been diagnosed in May.  Something else then happened which resulted in a friend of mine telling me to keep the faith and that it will get better.  That statement got me thinking:  How do you keep the faith?  Is it always the case of believing in yourself or picking yourself up when you're down?

And that's when I realized that I had been keeping the faith.  Every time I get on my bike and ride, I keep the faith.  Every time I fall off and people joke about how I need training wheels or orange cones, I keep the faith.  Every time life slaps me upside the head or knocks me down, I keep the faith.  Why? Because bumps, scratches, bruises and bruised egos heal.

Yesterday, Friday, October 26, I went for my first century ride - in layman's terms, that's 100km journey.  As I watched the bike computer hit 100.00, tears filled my eyes.  Why? Because I believed in myself and kept the faith.  And I know that I am keeping my promise to Jennifer.

So I will continue to keep the faith, believing in myself and my goal.  I also keep the faith that we will find a cure for this dreaded cancer disease and there won't be families like Jennifer's or Margaret's having to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Oh and by the way, in yesterday's ride, I finally conquered that damn little incline I spoke about in my last blog. 

If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2013?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1451

Obstacles

During my training, I've come across some obstacles - some verbal, some physical and some mental.  Each one can take you down if you let it.  And just like in life, when on a bike, you have to deal with each one as they come along. I've learned to ignore the verbal and know that the physical will get better but it's the mental obstacles which are the challenge.

There is a little hill (some experienced cyclists I know have referred to it as an incline) near my house.  When I start out on any bike ride, I love that hill.  Why? Because I'm going downhill and fast.  At the end of the ride though, it's uphill and my thighs are screaming for me to stop.  I have heaped verbal abuse on that hill, on my thighs, my bike and my brain.  But I still won't stop.  Why?  Because to stop is to give up.  And I'm not going to let some little incline (because that's what it will be when I conquer it) stop me.  So bring on the verbal, physical and mental obstacles. I will work on defeating each one as they come along.  Because,in the end, the obstacles I face are nothing in comparison to the obstacles the cancer patients I am doing this for face.  And that is what counts.



If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2013?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1451

Goals

I mentioned to a friend of mine at dinner a couple of weeks ago that my goal for the following day was to take the day off and cycle down to the Old Port of Montreal - a distance of about 60 kms return.  It would be the longest ride of my short bike career but I was determined.  She looked at me and asked, "Why do you set such small goals?"  My answer, quick in coming, was decisive.  "Because", I said, "I'm only back to biking since the beginning of September.  If I set huge goals and don't accomplish them, the result is disappointment and discouragement.  If I set smaller goals, the overall feeling is accomplishment and encouragement."

When I set out on that Friday morning, her words and mine resounded in my head.  I was determined to make it and make it I did.  When I arrived at the Old Port and cycled onto the boardwalk, I laughed out loud.  But the biggest grin was when I cycled back into my driveway 2.5 hours later.  Why? Because I believed in myself and that belief paid off.

And really that's what it boils down to when setting goals isn't it?  Encouraging yourself and having the faith to achieve them along with a feeling of accomplishment.  And as each small goal is achieved, larger goals can be set.

After all, my large goal is the finish line, come July 7, 2013 in Quebec City.  And all these little goals will help me get there.

If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2013?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1451

Winds of Change

They say that the wind can change in any given moment.  That happened to me today.  Did just an hour on the bike as I had a bundle of hyper energy and adrenaline I needed to get ride of .  Headed out on my usual route and was even contemplating going a little further as the ride seemed to be going good and the winds didn't seem to be as bad as I thought they would be.  Bonus was that cycling along the water always brings me peace.  How wrong I was.  Stopped after 25 minutes at my usual spot (which was giving me a better time heading out) and then decided to head back.  That was when the winds changed on me.  No wonder I had done well heading out.  The winds had been at my back...now they were pushing me back and to the side.  Every pedal stroke seemed like an effort.  The more I pushed, the harder the wind became.  Gearing down or up?  My brain froze.  It seemed every gear I chose was the wrong one.  I even wondered at one point if I would have to find another route home or even *gasp* get off the bike.  And then the words of my friend V came to me:  "Jill, just think about the next 2 minutes.  That's all that's in your head space.  Just the next 2 minutes.  And then when those 2 minutes are up, think about the next 2 minutes!"   Well, it worked!  I threw everything out of my head except concentrating on my pedal strokes for those next 2 minutes.  And the two minutes after that.

Oh and the only other thing in my head?  PINK singing "Raise Your Glass".

So thanks to V and Pink, the changing winds did not divert me from my path nor my goal.   And I was able to "raise my glass" (of chocolate milk) after my ride. 

Raise Your Glass - Pink

If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2013?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1451

Why I'm Doing What I'm Doing

This blog is a journey.  A journey of self discovery and setting goals.  In less than a year, the 2013 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer will be held.  Money raised will go to support cancer patients and their families.  I'm going to do this to honour my friend Jennifer who passed away in August 2012 at the young age of 49 from this dreaded disease.   Before she died, we spoke on the phone and her last words to me were: "Jill, don't forget to live!" This is my way of paying her back.

I have been on my road bike now for about a week.  The bike is an older one, given to me by a friend of mine.  I've had the bike fitting done, and have upgraded a few parts.  I've fallen, scraped and bruised my knees and elbows (and other parts I won't mention) but have gotten back up and on that bike.  I feel a sense of freedom when I am riding which I don't seem to find anywhere else.

After a week of riding, here is what I have learned:

1 - bruises heal
2 - some car drivers are great..some are a**hats
3 - it doesn't matter how far you ride but the feeling you get during and after
4 - I should do my bike ride in the morning or evening but not during the heat of the day
5 - early morning rides are absolutely breathtaking
6 - bugs are not tasty no matter what time of day
7 - Chafing cream is going on my 'to buy' list
8 - When you set a goal, it can be achieved if you put your mind to it
9 - The best feeling in the world is having someone believe in you without them actually saying the words
and the final thing I learned:
10 - The road I travel will not defeat me

If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help.
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2013?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1451