It's my birthday. My 40th birthday. And tonight is a celebration years in the planning.
This day is one of those that I was never really sure I would make. There were tons of odds against it(and I'm a numbers girl). Many times I was told it wasn't possible. And just recently events that could have taken this away. At a time when a lot of women start fudging the numbers, for me it feels so good to say "I'm 40. I made it!"
Tonight we're having an Un-Wedding Party to celebrate. It's not just a celebration of me, it's a celebration of all who have blessed me, cared for me, annoyed me, prayed for me and loved me. This will be a first meeting for a lot of people in my life who don't always cross paths. I'm sure that lots of stories will be passed back and forth but I'm hoping that instead of just talking about how they know me, they instead will discover each other, just how truly wonderful they are taking me out of the equation.
People have asked exactly what an "Un-Wedding" Party is. As I see all the plans coming together, I'm beginning to see that it's really not that different than a Wedding. I'm wearing a pretty dress. There will be ugly bridesmaid's dresses on some otherwise beautiful women. Food, drink, games and dancing. Most important I will be surround by people who I love and love me, celebrating our lives together. That kind of sounds familiar.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
It's happening THIS year!
I've had to change my speech. I usually tell people that I'm doing Sea To Sea NEXT summer but with the New Year cam a new realization. I'm doing Sea To Sea THIS year.
I can see the pressure building as I read the cyclist's forum postings. A lot of concerns with training- how much? how long? what type? and questions about equipment- what seat? what bike? clips or no clips? So some of the experienced cyclists(re:serious athletes) tried to help by posting their training plans. I'm sure that helped a lot of people but it also seemed to freak out a lot of cyclists( Are we doing the same trip?)
The truth is- NO none of us are doing the same trip. If we were the Sea To Sea registration form would have required a certain height and weight, age, experience, body type and dimensions. They would have order one bike for all riders with matching uniforms, seats, clip shoes and helmets. Like our lives, our journeys to God and our walks of faith, each of us will experience a different Sea To Sea. I think that is part of the whole wondrous thing. Yes, we need to prepare. But each of us need to do that suited to our bodies, our lives and our abilities.
When I first signed on to Sea To Sea, I could have never imagined the journey that has happened already. That I would have surgery, that I would have to recover from being hit by a car, that my body would be easier to prepare than my head. I had thought that this would be a time to focus on fund-raising...Instead I need to do both fund-raising AND build up my cycling. When I bought the Black Pearl, I never imagined that instead of being stored away, it would be set up on a trainer in my living room.
It's been harder than I thought to train on my own bike. Although I like the feel of it compared to the ancient contraption at the physio gym, it is also a reminded of how much has been lost and must be regained. At the physio gym, It's just cycling, good to be back. On my bike...well last time I rode it, I could easily do 60kms at 20km/hr and still put in a full day's work and social activities. Now an hour is an effort...an exhausting one. And I have a monitor reminding me that I was only at 50-75% of my former pace.
It's easy to be discouraged, depressed and overwhelmed. But I am still convinced that I am to do Sea To Sea and so I must find the will and strength to trudge on each day. I am sure that this will happen on the tour. After the first few days of excitement, the reality of the tour will kick in and the overwhelming task will hit home. We will have to want to get up each day and do another 100-140kms even when we don't feel like it.
Maybe this is the best training I could be doing. 169 days to go.
I can see the pressure building as I read the cyclist's forum postings. A lot of concerns with training- how much? how long? what type? and questions about equipment- what seat? what bike? clips or no clips? So some of the experienced cyclists(re:serious athletes) tried to help by posting their training plans. I'm sure that helped a lot of people but it also seemed to freak out a lot of cyclists( Are we doing the same trip?)
The truth is- NO none of us are doing the same trip. If we were the Sea To Sea registration form would have required a certain height and weight, age, experience, body type and dimensions. They would have order one bike for all riders with matching uniforms, seats, clip shoes and helmets. Like our lives, our journeys to God and our walks of faith, each of us will experience a different Sea To Sea. I think that is part of the whole wondrous thing. Yes, we need to prepare. But each of us need to do that suited to our bodies, our lives and our abilities.
When I first signed on to Sea To Sea, I could have never imagined the journey that has happened already. That I would have surgery, that I would have to recover from being hit by a car, that my body would be easier to prepare than my head. I had thought that this would be a time to focus on fund-raising...Instead I need to do both fund-raising AND build up my cycling. When I bought the Black Pearl, I never imagined that instead of being stored away, it would be set up on a trainer in my living room.
It's been harder than I thought to train on my own bike. Although I like the feel of it compared to the ancient contraption at the physio gym, it is also a reminded of how much has been lost and must be regained. At the physio gym, It's just cycling, good to be back. On my bike...well last time I rode it, I could easily do 60kms at 20km/hr and still put in a full day's work and social activities. Now an hour is an effort...an exhausting one. And I have a monitor reminding me that I was only at 50-75% of my former pace.
It's easy to be discouraged, depressed and overwhelmed. But I am still convinced that I am to do Sea To Sea and so I must find the will and strength to trudge on each day. I am sure that this will happen on the tour. After the first few days of excitement, the reality of the tour will kick in and the overwhelming task will hit home. We will have to want to get up each day and do another 100-140kms even when we don't feel like it.
Maybe this is the best training I could be doing. 169 days to go.
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