It is what it is!: No Guts, No Glory

How many times have we heard the phrase, "dig deep"? It makes it into many of those inspirational based-on-a-true-story movies about underdog high school basketball teams winning the state title or inner city after-school program kids learning to swim as champions. I understand it's supposed to be motivational, an encouragement to find something within yourself that will push you to rise to said occasion and perform as you never imagined possible. Today it was directed at me. "Why?" you may ask. Grab your bag of popcorn and settle in for a bit of drama with an inspirational twist.
This was the day of the Long Ride. My cycling team was due for our longest ride before the El Tour de Tucson on Nov. 22nd and the plan was 85 miles (or so I thought). The day started out strangely for Katherine (coach) with a flat tire, then at mile 26 Jerry (teammate) blew 2 spokes on his back wheel. Since he couldn't finish the ride Katherine rode back to the car and drove to pick him up and take him back to his car. In the meantime Roger (coach), Graham (mentor), and I continued the ride. It was along about mile 52 that I hit it...the wall...that great big impedance that you hear about people hitting during endurance events. It's often due to poor hydration or nutrition during the event, or can be due to over-training, lack of proper rest/prep, or something beyond your control. For me it was likely that Roger and I had ridden 78 miles just 5 days ago, and that I felt run-down all 5 of those days.
There I was on the Natchez Trace, Katherine was with Jerry, Roger and Graham had ridden on ahead of me. I couldn't muster up enough energy to pedal faster than 10mph (pretty slow), I hurt everywhere (my seat, knees, quads, hamstrings, elbows, neck, back, shoulders, hands...everywhere), and I was exhausted. Mad as a hornet that I couldn't push myself harder, and distraught that I was alone, I began to cry. And cry. I called my husband (yes, I was on the bike...but only going 10 mph!). He did a great job after I told him he had to talk to me. He helped me see that I had to stop crying and wasting that energy, and that I had to be able to focus on making a decision...crying wasn't going to allow me to do that very well. "Are you going to quit? Are you going to rest for a little bit? Are you going to ride 10 more miles and reevaluate? Only you can decide what you're going to do, but you've got to stop crying so you can focus on making a decision." I stopped crying, decided to keep going (for now) and hung up the phone.
Roger and Graham were waiting on me at our turn-around point and rode with me until we met back up with Katherine (she had ridden back out to catch up with us....CraZY!!) She was updated on my current mental and physical condition and for the next 16 miles all three of them rode quite slowly (for them) so we could ride as a team. That meant so much to me. We stopped to rest and stretch with only 14 miles to go. Katherine looked at me and said this is where I had to Dig Deep. I could've strangled her...I was in no mood for peppy words of encouragement. I just wanted to go home. Keeping that in mind, we headed out. Graham "pulled" me for miles, allowing me to draft off him. THANKS GRAHAM!! Roger hung behind me, so I was never left behind. THANKS ROGER!! At 4 miles out Katherine sang another verse of "4 miles left to go on the road, 4 miles left to go...." It was at that point I realized not only that I was going to make it, but that I actually had some reserve of energy. I DUG DEEP and kicked it into high gear. "There she goes," Graham said. A man sitting on his front lawn even shouted something about me kicking it up right at the end. Katherine said, "It's what she does." I knew I could make it, I just knew it, and I pushed myself as hard as I possibly could, reaching over 22 mph and a heart rate of 190 bpm. (I'm lucky I didn't have a heart attack!!!) While I'm certain my team let me finish first, given the horrible day I'd had, right before I pulled into the parking lot everything in me gave out. Katherine was right behind me and encouraged me to finish strong, that I was almost there. THANKS KATHERINE!!

TODAY I RODE 90 MILES!!! (Total time: 7:57, ride time: 6:57, avg: 12.9 mph) I couldn't be any more proud of myself; I'm especially proud that I'm known for riding hard at the end and pushing myself to finish strong. Words cannot express how much I appreciate my husband and my teammates for bringing me to this incredible milestone. There is no possible way I would've made it without them. WAY TO GO TEAM!!! and thank God I'm home. I've sat in a tub of ice and Epsom salts; I've showered; it may be time for food soon. But I'm most certain it's nearly time for bed. Love to you all!!