115k Ride for United Way

Forgive me as I interrupt this chronological journey from fat to fit - something monumental happened last weekend which certainly deserves its very own blog.

On August 30th 2009, my husband, several friends, and myself biked 115k for United Way. This is one of my biggest accomplishments to date. Am I proud???? You better believe it.

The biking phase of my life just started this Summer and in my usual “all or nothing” approach to life, I went and purchased not only a hybrid - but a road bike too. That trip to Mexico is no longer on the cards - unless we bike there.

The bike ride was developed to raise awareness and funds for United Way - a great cause and a great group of people. They day went splendidly, well, my butt may tell you another story but on the whole (ouch, not a great choice of words).....I mean, in general, it was awesome....

I would like to, however, elaborate on a couple of key points:

The ride was deemed a “fun ride” meaning this wasn’t a race, THIS WASN’T A RACE PEOPLE! The guys dressed head to toe in orange and pink spandex may disagree. I think everything in life is a race for them...who can ride fastest, who can pedal harder and who can pee while riding their bike quicker (no, that's not a joke). With heads down and backs flat, they silently speed up behind you. The only tell tale sign of their approach is the hairs raising down the back of your neck. Suddenly you are engulfed in brief flash of colour and then they are gone. No friendly hello’s or words of support, just an air of silent arrogance as they try to zip by some slow-ass newbie.

I guess my interpretation of fun is somewhat different to others....fun for me is friends, laughter and family. Fun to the bike ride organizers must mean, cramming as many hills into one course as nature will allow. At about 90k in, a certain gentleman in a vivid orange jersey cycled up behind me. He weighs, i’d say, 115 lbs and is breezing up the hill that is slowly killing me. His encouragement and sincerity was great and then he said...... “Don’t worry, when you get to Conlin - its all down hill”.
This was music to my ears, I braced myself and put my head down - just a few more kilometers of this hilly hell and then we are smooth sailing. So, with every last bit of strength I powered my way to Conlin Road. In my minds eye, Conlin Road was a cyclists heaven. It would be freshly paved, no wind, shining sun and maybe even Brad Pitt would be there waving to me from the side lines. The reality was somewhat different. Conlin Road was nothing short of a torturous, 10k trek. A crosswind blew you sideways, a headwind blew you backwards and the rain dampened your clothes and your spirit. Throw in those beastly hills and this made for a grueling, heart thumping, legs burning final stretch. If I ever see Mr Orange Jersey again I might just snap him in two.

So, 115k later I spy the finish sign - which is bitter sweet as I still have to cycle 2 more K back to the UOIT campus where this whole adventure began. 115k took me about 5 hours to complete- during those 5 hours I did not once veer off the road, get hit by a car or fall off my bike. Noooo...I saved that last trick for the students, volunteers, bus-driver and fellow riders in the heart of the campus. As I approached the final stop sign I began to get flustered by an on coming bus. Is it stopping or going....stopping or going....STOPPING OR....awww crap...with my feet still clipped in to my bike I made the painful newbie mistake of not un-clipping my shoes in time - and so down I went. Slowly, yet steadily into the cement - crunch. Hey - at least I got a round of applause ;)

Anyway, while I elaborate and exaggerate on just a few of the funnier parts of this event I must say it was a well organized ride for a wonderful cause. More details can be found at: www.ride4unitedway.com. Pictures will also be available at www.dankitching.com/r4uw during the next week.

Big thanks go to Impala Bikes for making me and my hubby spend ridiculous amounts of money on our gear.

Till next time

Misty