Yes, I actually DID ride in the Niagara Falls Gran Fondo

This is not me, just the view from the back of the pack. That is American Falls we see. It is just about 6:45am.

The front of the pack...not my category

My view of the riders in front of me.

And the riders behind me. I think the people in florescent orange are non-timed riders...official type people that did ride beside me encouraging me and just chatting before finding some other slow-poke to encourage & chat with.

My bike behind another in the St. John Ambulance mobile first aid unit. I rode about 89km out of the 124km route. At the fifth rest stop a group of us (about 15) were told we were being pulled off the course because the tunnel under the Welland Canal was opened to traffic again...it was 11:50am and we had until 3pm to cross the finish line. Sooooo not happy campers (er riders) and anarchy works its magic. We are allowed to continue but with an escort and are suppose to stay together. Yeah, that 'staying together' didn't last at all. Like maybe for 10 feet. The 'new' route had us go north of the tunnel and around. I was tired at the rest stop but someone said it was only 35km to go & I thought, "I can do 35km more"...but this new route used up that 35km and I was falling farther behind the dude in front of me who was alone. The motorcyclist escort was staying a respectful distance behind me. 

I had told another rider earlier that I was going to ride until I fell over. And I did. Almost. I stopped and told the escort that there is a time when it is time to stop. I had lost the mental game. I was discouraged, the cara fina had passed me twice while I was going 20km/hr., the tunnel being inaccessible (we should've used it anyway), my wrist was hurting (the drugs had worn off), my inner thighs had tossed in the towel near the start of the ride and I was tired. I also had absolutely no idea where I was. Well, outside of the Niagara region. On the positive, I was able to get off my bike without falling over! 

The St. John unit was pulling up behind the motorcycle and so they loaded up my bike along with the one that was put there at rest stop #5 (that lady knew when to stop before it got hairy). An icepack and a ride to the finish line. 

I got out and wanted a photo with my 'first aider' (whose name escapes me). She rocked.

PLACE	NAME	RESIDENCE	BIB #	TIME	CATEGORY	CAT. PLACE	GENDER PLACE	76.9 KM SPLIT	79.0 KM SPLIT	KOM/QOM TIME
905	Elizabeth Olson	Calgary, CAN	2669	6:36:40.3	F50-59	72/80	211/225	3:03:18.8	3:19:51.8	00:16:33

PLACE	NAME	RESIDENCE	BIB #	TIME	CATEGORY	CAT. PLACE	GENDER PLACE	76.9 KM  SPLIT	79.0 KM  SPLIT	KOM/QOM  TIME

Then I hopped on my bike and rode over the finish line with my timing chip. My split time holds, as does the KOM (king of the mountain) but the final time isn't.

The after ride music rocked with Barney Bental,  

Jim Cuddy 

&

Luke Ducette

Who all rode then sang and played for a few hours. These dudes are definitely fitter than me! (and they can sing too!) A wonderful time in the sun.

With the exception of the politics around the need for the detour, I really enjoyed it. And I did really well for someone who was riding with a broken wrist, numerous bruises and a semi-stable knee. The landscape was amazing, so varied, unlike southern Alberta- ("oh there's a farmer's field. And another one. And I can see Saskatchewan"). 

I'll post the photos I took the next day of part of the route. Effingham Hill where the KOM took place does not photograph well, it's a deceptive hill.

And the Countdown Begins--Gran Fondo Niagara Falls, Ontario

Five days and I ride my first Gran Fondo, in fact, my first big ride since doing the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2012. I was on track to be much fitter and prepared for this ride than that one but with a broken wrist that is gone. At least this is only one day. And I have about 8hrs. in which to ride 124km so I believe I can do it.

My wrist is healing according to the latest X-ray, it feels better too. Still is painful but that could be the sprain that most likely occurred at the same time. We never discussed if it was in fact sprained, but it is the same pain & area as my left hand. The ankle is still tender but no pain unless my medical team pokes it. The bruising is gone from my chin, thigh and knee.

I've only riden outside once since being told I can ride (and only once between riding immediately after the crash and being told it is broken). The other times I've used my trainer set up. The first day I set it up outside and watched "The Philadelphia Story" (with Katherine Hepburn). I then set it up in the living room facing outside. I find it boring so I don't seem to last more than a movie, which have been just under 2 hrs. That worries me. Endurance is a major need for this ride. There is also one nasty hill- Effingham. There is a jersey for the fastest time up the hill. Since it'll go to an elite cyclist, I was thinking that it should go to the person in the 6+ seed group who actually rode it up without stopping or walking!

I'm to stop in at the Medical trailer and say hi to the co-ordinator. He was hired to do all three Gran Fondos by GFCanada. Hopefully it will be a friendly visit and not a "need to" visit.  After viewing nasty ripped apart fingers, I'm going to wear my gloves with fingers. I can put the brace on over the glove. That is the joy of a brace and not a cast, I can remove it. Which is nice because it'll get sweaty under it during the ride.

Here's to the ride! I'm still pumped even with my health concerns.

Here I come Ontario! I love the Niagara region, so beautiful. So hope there are peaches left for me to eat.

Dreaming, Believing, Challenging, Doing

Yesterday evening I attended a Women's night at my church and one of the classes was with a young woman, wife & mother who dared to believe that she could finish an Ironman Triathlon. In short between having her two children she & her husband trained and participated (swim, ride run?) in small triathlons. Then her husband did the St. George Triathlon and she thought she'd like to do an Ironman. So they trained for 6 months and did one in Mexico (it was the only one with  space left). The swim went well, even with the jellyfish stinging, the ride was smooth (no hills) and then the run. It started off ok but soon her body started to rebel. Oh, she started her first lap of the run when her husband was starting his second so they weren't together for the race, each did their own pace. Anyways, at one point she realized she needed more salt pills (I'll spare the intestinal issues she was having except she was very grateful for all the Port-A-Potties lining the route) and stopped at where her parents were cheering her on. Her father went to find some salt pills and while she was lamenting about her poor performance in this leg, her mother reminded her that she had 5 hours to finish (the race was stopped at midnight, no matter where you are, you are pulled) and that she could walk and still finish in time. She had only thought about running (Lesson 6a). She ended up walking the rest of the race. But she finished an Ironman Triathlon (Lesson 8). It was about 3 hours longer than she thought she could do it, but she did finish. In her presentation she listed the lessons she learned and since I'm just starting to train for a 200km bike ride (the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer) in June I've gained inspiration and have created a poster for myself.

That's me as the background...I had just completed half of the longest ride I'd ever done. EVER. We (hubby & I) only did a portion of the Trans-Canada Trail, the Banff Legacy Trail between Banff National Park's East Gate and Valleyview Picnic Area...where this photo was taken (after a rest).  It was about 27km one way, so I rode about 54km in a morning. It took us about 1.5 hours to get there and 1/2hr. to return. Obviously it was downhill on the way back! 

Now that was back in early August and I'd been riding for a couple of months rather regularly, so I decide my first big ride of this upcoming season that a 200km ride is doable! (It is because it is over two days).  Because I have not gotten gung-ho with my training I have found inspiration from Kim and will post this so I can see it. 

She only had 8 lessons-the 6a I added. "Trust the process" is the big one for me. To cross-train and keep remembering that every little bit of movement gets me fitter and increases my endurance. I'm not worried about the sitting (I'm getting a new seat) or the strength (I've always been relatively strong) but the breathing. I've developed a lung issue and need to use an inhaler now. But I believe I can do it so onward and upward with the training!

The really neat thing about the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer is that we get cycling jerseys! Shallow but I do love free (it's not really, I have to raise $2,500 so I can ride) clothing. And a real cycling one...maybe I should add that to the poster "you get a real cycling jersey!" as another incentive!