WAITING....

73 days…that is what remains before I head out on my epic Ride to Conquer Cancer cycling event.

73 days…until I fulfill a promise I made to myself and to the memory of my friend Jennifer

73 days…until I figure out if I have what it takes to get through 2 days of cycling and many kilometers traveled

73 days…of waiting

Do you ever stop to think how much time we spend waiting?  Think about it…we wait for the phone to ring… we wait in the doctor’s office…we wait for test results…we  wait…well you get the point.

I waited all winter to get back out on the road.  Oh I trained indoors – getting on my bike every other night for 60-90 minutes but I have come to discover that there truly is nothing better than being on the open road and breathing that fresh air. However I did catch up on a lot of TV shows!

A couple of weeks ago, I got my bike ready because the weather was looking good for the first official spring ride.  Unfortunately Mother Nature decided to have the last laugh and dump a pound of snow on me.  So I went back to waiting…chomping at the bit to get going.

Then last weekend I was in Vermont visiting friends and I brought my bike along.  If the weather was warm enough, I was going to end my waiting (once again) and get on that road.  Well the weather was warm enough so I decided the waiting was done.    I got on my bike and headed off. 

Maybe I should have waited.

 

If anyone tells you Vermont isn’t hilly, they are lying…in spades…through their teeth.  It is and I found some hills.  And to top it off, I found them at the end of my ride…when I was tired and spent.  My legs and thighs screaming for mercy and my brain calling me every name in the book.   I was returning to the house and one of the roads to get to the house (okay the ONLY road to get to the house) has a hill.  Let me rephrase that…it doesn’t have a hill…the whole freaking road is the hill.  I started up and did something I swore I would never do…I got off the bike and walked up the hill.

  

It is truly amazing the feeling of defeat that can overcome a person in the span of 5 seconds.   I hadn’t been happy with the ride and this was the icing on the stale cake.   I got to the top of the road, looked back down and shook my head.  I was so disappointed.

 

Getting back to the house, my friends inquired about the ride.  Shaking my head, I uttered “Crap” and headed for the shower.  While in the shower and feeling sorry for myself, I thought about Jennifer and her attitude.  And then I thought about Rob, my team captain, and his attitude.   How dare I feel sorry for myself when I know what they went through.   Without that fighting spirit, we would have never gotten that extra year with Jennifer. 

Yesterday I got back on my bike for my first “OFFICIAL” spring ride.   I had debated about waiting until the weekend to ride.

I'm glad I didn’t wait.

Rode west with the wind and rode back home against the wind.  I kept pushing myself to go a little bit further before I had to turn and come back.  Fought the wind and didn’t give up.  Made my way up little inclines feeling good.   And attacked that damn hill right near my house.  This time I got to the top and didn’t look back. 

 

73 days..and the waiting will be over

Oh and one more thing about waiting:  I don’t envy those envy waiting for test results or chemotherapy treatments or even a diagnosis. Their determination to fight and not give up gives me the spirit to continue. I am hoping that the money we raise will kick Cancer's ass to the curb.

And that I cannot wait for!

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