Kandango K2r

What an adventure! I biked, laughed, made new friends, and learned some life lessons along the highways of central Kansas. I learned it’s a small world, there are some wonderful people in that world, and sometimes you have to let the world go on while you sit this one out. 

I ALMOST had the flashiest jersey that day.

Kandango K2r is a three and a half day ride starting in Hays and ending in the little town of Brookville. It passes by  typical Kansas farm ground,  lots of beautiful churches, and along some of the lesser traveled highways in the area. Small towns dot the route and buses and trucks carry gear to the next overnight stop on the tour.  It sounded like a great time so Kate, Amber, and I signed up and started making plans. Maybe actually training on my bike should have been one of them. 

I’ve not been comfortable in the saddle for some time so I bought a new seat thinking that would help. It did, but not much. Long rides of over 20 miles were not fun and my, shall we say, lady parts were really not happy. I thought more miles would toughen me up so I just kept riding, but the longest ride I managed was only 38 miles. Oh well, that would have to do. I would rely on adrenaline and good company to get me through.

The ride started with meeting at the end town of Brookville and leaving my car there so it would be there for me on the last day. From that point we were to load our gear on a bus and ride to Hays. Kate and some of her friends she rides with were to meet there and Amber was meeting us in Hays. While I waited for Kate I met some wonderful ladies and we started the get-to-know-you process. I truly believe it’s a small world and there is a connection between everyone. It’s the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon phenomenon.  Mary, Cindy, Margaret, and another Patty were so friendly. Soon Kate and her friends Ann and Barbara showed up. Two new friends to add to the mix. Soon the Sandstone Saloon (home base for the ride) was packed with people and chaos was the rule as we loaded bikes and bags and grabbed a quick lunch before heading to Hays. Truly one of the best parts of going to any event like this is meeting so many nice people. 

At Hays we got stowed in the hotel and passed up the first half day ride because Kate and I had done

The churches were beautiful.

this particular route before and we wanted to save our energy for the next day’s 58 mile ride. PLUS the wind was blowing at 20 mph and it was 90 degrees and I’m a pretty big wimp. Those who did the ride said it was brutal but the tailwind back into town was great.

Amber, Kate, Ann and I met at 7:00am for the Friday ride. The forecast of hot and windy wasn’t welcome but it is what it is and you make the best of things. There was a lot of confusion about what color string to tie on your bags to get them to the right destination. After getting three different answers I opted for a brown string. It’s a simple system but somehow it got very complicated. We took a lot of pictures and then climbed on our bikes and headed out. Amber and I had already decided to take all the shortcuts we could because neither of us was properly prepared for this ride. Amber is a runner and bikes just enough to get by in a triathlon. 

The miles flew by and we stopped and looked at the churches in the area. Breakfast was in Victoria and somehow riding makes food taste amazing! The next leg of the route was 11 miles out and back, straight into the wind. We hadn’t planned on doing this but seeing everyone else head that direction made me think we could do it too. I was wrong. After peddling what seemed like hours I told Amber I was ready to stop and head back to Victoria. When we turned around I couldn’t believe how close we still were to town! We had only gone 3 miles! Pathetic. But we turned around and enjoyed a too brief tailwind ride back to Victoria.

Most of the ride was crosswind so the rest was relatively easy and we arrived in Russell in time for a late lunch. Amber and I camped out at a Subway shop and cooled off and relaxed. Kate and Ann were doing the route that I wimped out on so they would be doing 16 more miles then us. We found them as they pulled into the hotel and we went to Sonic to get slushy cold drinks and relax. Then the fun began. 

Before and after with Amber!

When we got to the hotel Kate and I had no luggage. Figures. The confusion about the color of string to use sent our bags elsewhere. I called the emergency number and Shannon “Marshal Taco” came to help us and a few others look for our bags. We piled into the car and soon found out that Shannon and I have a few mutual friends. It’s that small world thing again. We found some of the bags at the other hotel and mine at the campground. My bike pump was AWOL but I somehow knew it would show up eventually. Then it was back to the hotel to clean up for the BBQ that evening. By “evening” I mean 5:00. Most cyclists go to bed early so they can ride at the crack of dawn and miss some of the heat and wind later in the day. Everyone was still in good spirits and looking forward to the next day. It was scheduled for 79 miles but if you didn’t take the extra loop it would be more like 62. There was a century option but because of the high heat and wind they were discouraging anyone from going that distance. We made our plans and picked up Kirsten, a solo rider we had met earlier in the day. It was off to bed and an early alarm so we could head out at 6:00am. 

By the time we hit the road it was 6:20. Kate, Amber, Ann, Barbara, Kirsten and I started out with

On the road before sunrise.

Cindy, Margaret, Mary, and the other Patty riding just behind us. We had fun along the way riding beside different people, visiting and passing the time. The miles started piling up and my discomfort in the saddle started ratcheting up as well. I had to stand up quite a bit and took every chance to get off my bike. I was not having a good time and cringed every time I had to put my bottom back on the saddle.

Then the road got bad. I mean really bad. As in it looked like they spread out the new asphalt but didn’t bother to smooth it down.  A rocky gravel road might have been smoother. Ten miles of this pounding had me in tears. I couldn’t stand up to peddle the entire way and sitting was agony. Add some hills, high winds, and rising heat and I was failing fast. We made it to Ellsworth. Looking at the map I knew we had 26 miles to go, and 20 of them would be over very tough big rolling hills. My heart sank. This day was going to suck. 

Barbra, Kirsten, Kate, Ann, Amber, and I at Kanopolis.

The next stop was Kanopolis and a really good Mexican food restaurant. We sat and cooled off and prepared ourselves for the final 20 miles of big hills complete with one lane road construction just to make it interesting. I warned the girls that I was going to be slow, stopping at the top of every hill. And then, like a sign from God, one of the buses pulled up outside the restaurant. It reminded me of the story about the devout man drowning in a lake. A rowboat came along and the men asked him if he needed help. The drowning man replied that God would save him and waved them away. As he stood at the gates of heaven he asked God “Why didn’t you save me?”  God replied “I sent men in a rowboat, what more did you need?”  I looked at Kirsten, who was struggling like me and said maybe we could take the bus back. The other Patty heard me and the three of us knew we were to get on that bus.

It was at once the easiest and hardest decision to make. I’ve never given up on a race or ride because of my physical abilities. Mechanical difficulty, yes, but never because I just couldn’t do what was in front of me. It wasn’t even my RA that was holding me back. My body joints felt as good as I could hope for. But I could not put my seat back in that saddle for another mile. I felt bad leaving the group. I wanted to finish this challenge. Quitting doesn’t sit well with me at all. But I know the difference between aches and pain and this was pain. I had to stop.

Patty, Kirsten and I got on the bus with several other people and headed down the road to Brookville.

Celebrating with a (root) beer.

We looked ahead at the road we would not be riding and knew we had made the right decision. It hurt deep inside and it was all I could do to not let the tears fall. For the first time in my life I wasn’t going to finish.

We three waited at the Sandstone Saloon for the rest to finish and prayed they would make it safely. As they rolled in and celebrated their accomplishment I was happy for them but dying inside. Failure is new to me and it doesn’t sit well in my stomach. 

There is no hotel at Brookville so buses again shuttled riders to the next overnight stop, Salina. The last ride was 44 miles from Salina back to Brookville in a roundabout route.  Since my car was in Brookville I drove to Salina and would leave for home from there the next morning. Amber and I had already decided we were not riding Sunday so missing that ride didn’t bother me. I totaled 86 miles for the two days but will always remember that I’m 20 miles short of where I should have been. But the blood on my chamois let me know I made the right decision. 

Cindy, Margaret, Amber, Ann, Kate, Kirsten, Mary, Patty, Patty, and Barbara

This ride will be remembered for a long time. I met so many wonderful people, many of whom I now call friends. I learned that sometimes the road gets rough and you just have to make the best of it. I’ve learned that my body isn’t entirely mine to control and when it says stop, I must stop.  I learned that God does work in mysterious ways. That bus was like the rowboat to the drowning man. Divine intervention at its best! Until next time, happy riding.

My friend, Wonder Woman!

Bolder Boulder 2016 - A Wild Whirlwind Weekend with Wonder Woman

Amber M. texted me on Friday - “I was just running along out in the country and TORNADO!!” That was the wild start to a fun filled, action packed, unforgettable weekend adventure at the Bolder Boulder 10K Memorial Day run in Boulder, Colorado.  

We left for Boulder at noon on Sunday riding in my Mustang and talking a mile a minute. We were to meet Amber’s cousins in Denver then head on to Boulder. They were all very welcoming and we learned that several of the cousins were planning to participate in the run the next morning. We made plans to meet up and hit the road.

Thanks to my trusty navigation system we arrived exactly where we needed to and checked into the hotel. Imagine our surprise when we entered our hotel room to find the previous occupants had not left yet. Back down to the desk to get a different room, this one unoccupied, and off to bed for the night. Our wave didn’t start until 8:00 and we were just a block from the starting line so there was no need for an early wakeup call.

Trampoline champion.

Bolder Boulder 10K is one of the premier 10K races in the nation with over 50,000 participants and divisions for runners from elite down to walking, military, and a special wheelchair division. Lots of runners wear costumes and Amber transformed into Wonder Woman. She is considerably faster than me but since she had just run a half marathon the week before (Wonder Woman is perfect for her!) she opted to start with me and let me set the pace. I warned her in advance that I was going to take my time and enjoy the day. The bugle called us to the starting line and we were off.  My first chance for fun was less than a half mile into the run. How could I resist the opportunity to jump on a trampoline? I didn’t even try. I just got in line and bounced my way to the other side, feeling like a kid again and loving it!

Anything for a donut.

Next up, slip-n-slide! Amber got good and wet and we were off and running again. But what was that up ahead? Donuts! I have been known to walk 10 miles for donuts (my long walks on weekends to the donut shop) so I had to have one. Let’s just say it wasn’t a fresh Daylight Donut but I appreciated the thought.

The neighborhoods really go all out and there is music and snacks and activities all along the route. I took my turn at a slip-n-slide, Amber jammed with Elvis, and we both got a chance to wiggle and jiggle with the belly dancers. We passed up jumping into the swimming pool and some of the more unusual treats (marshmallows and grapes tossed at you and cotton candy seemed a little too risky) but I did snag some bacon and Amber did a Jello Shot with a group of fellow superheroes.

Belly Dancing!

I was having a ball and even running some but the altitude was getting to me and I couldn’t catch my breath. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. With just over a mile to go Amber pulled a little ahead and when she turned to look for me I waved her on. She took off like a shot and blasted through the last mile like that tornado from a few days ago was right on her tail. I tried to conserve my energy so I could run the final lap around Folsom Field. When all was said and done I had run the 10K in 1:37:48, but that doesn’t take away from all the fun and memories I’ll have of this fun unique experience.

After pizza and a pop (beer was available but not my thing) we wandered around until Amber’s cousins finished and met them in the stands. Probably the most frustrating part of the run was trying to get to the buses, then trying to figure out where to get off. Turns out we missed the stop we needed and had a 1.5 mile walk to the hotel ahead of us. That should have been an omen for the rest of the day.

We missed checkout time at the hotel so decided to skip the real shower and just hose ourselves off

Slip sliding away.

a little. We were out of the room in 10 minutes flat. I didn’t look too spiffy but I don’t think spending an hour trying to get pretty would have made much difference. We headed back to Denver to meet my sister Sandra and her friend Kara, both members of my Running Friends group. My navigation system took us right to the front door and we had a lovely lunch. I love it when members of our group meet in person.

It was time to head home but this time Navigation and I had a disagreement about which way to go. I wanted to stay south of Denver and my car wanted me to go north up to the interstate again. I have no idea what happened but we spent the next half an hour looping around shopping plazas and making u-turns in parking lots. At one point I could swear we were headed south when we were actually headed back north again. It took forever to get on the road and I was getting frustrated. We were going to get home much later than planned and it was all my fault. Stupid navigation system.

When we were finally on the road out of the city we both felt our

Always having fun and always smiling.

muscles tightening up. That’s the hazard of driving long distances after a race. Amber banged her knee on the slip-n-slide and I just hurt in general after a race. We talked and talked and didn’t really check the weather until we we were ready to head south. That’s when we noticed the dark menacing clouds coming up on us fast. We popped up the weather apps on our phones and the radar looked pretty scary. Should we wait it out? Take a different highway? Make a run for it? A few quick calls to our hubbies and they left the decision up to us. I had the Mustang and I really didn’t want to get any hail damage but to go the long way around would add almost an hour to our trip and we really wanted to get home. I thought I could get to the next town ahead of the storm but we would have to book it. 

My hands clinched the steering wheel, my foot mashed the gas and we headed down the highway. It makes you feel a little uneasy when there is absolutely no one else on the highway except you and the storm chasers. The wind was blowing tumbleweeds across the road and the Mustang was flying. Now my arms and hands were as tense as the rest of my body. We made it to the next town and made the turn and hauled tail to get ahead of the storm. We were getting regular updates on our phones but I still didn’t breath easier until we were out from under the storm clouds. It was good to get home and pry my fingers off the wheel.

We were home again in less than 36 hours from start to finish. A whirlwind trip complete with running, fun, friends, and storms. A wild run to get away from a tornado started the weekend and we finish with a mad dash to outrun a storm. Bolder Boulder will stand out as an amazing race but the entire weekend was a whirlwind of activity. Sandra, thanks for having us for lunch and thanks Amber, for hanging back with me for the fun and sharing a wild weekend I’ll never forget.

OCO ½ Marathon - Lucky Number III

In 2014 the temperature at race time was 38 degrees with a 25 mph north wind. That meant that we were running straight into the wind for 6.55 miles on this out and back course. In 2015 the temperature at race time was 36 degrees with a 25 mph south wind. Still cold, but a lovely tailwind on the run back into town. This year, 2016, the temperature was 39 degrees at race time and the wind was only 10 mph from the west! It couldn’t be more perfect and by the time I was finished it was a beautiful 60 degree day. Third time’s the charm for this 13.1 mile run!

Race Director Meghan has been kind enough to let me start early for this race and this year opened

Love spending time with Dixie W. 

up that option to others. I was not alone out on the course as I started this run! There were three other people who took advantage of this option and even though two wandered far in front of me and one lagged far behind I didn’t feel isolated. I have never felt afraid or uncomfortable on this run out in the sandhills alone, but it can feel like you are the only person on earth with very little traffic and no clear view of the horizon because of the hills.

My training had included several long 8 - 10 mile run/walks so I felt prepared and was actually hoping to push for a PR. For the first 9 miles I held to the pace I wanted, banking several minutes in the early miles to spend later in the race. But somewhere around mile 9.5 I really started to lag. I knew at that point I was not going to place (Gina G and another lady I was sure was in my age group had already caught and passed me, rats), so I had to decide if it was worth pushing my body hard and paying the price for a record that only I would care about. While others may have said it would be a personal victory and that I should have pushed on, I know I have to live with the aftermath of that effort. I decided to not push and enjoy the ride, if it can be called joy when my hips and knees are making every step feel like ice picks are being driven through my joints. So I walked the next three miles.

In true finisher form I managed to run parts of the last mile and finished with a respectable time, for a

Finishing my 7th 13.1. 

turtle. I was hurting but managed to snag a couple of cold water bottles and hold them against my hips and knees. I really need to invest in some ice packs.

And then we waited for the last finisher. She started with me 45 minutes ahead of the official start and was way behind me when I saw her on my way back. So we waited. And waited. Most others drifted on home to take a shower or soak in a tub. Only the volunteers, Race Director Meghan, and I remained, but we waited. When she managed to jog the last 30 yards to the finish line we cheered our loudest to help her home and I got the privilege of putting the finisher medal around her neck. 4:15. That’s 4 hours and 15 minutes of constant effort. If you think walking 13.1 is easy, think again. The joints take a beating like no other. I was proud of her for starting and even prouder that she finished and didn’t stop. Those fast people who finish early are amazing, but the effort put forth by the turtles is just as impressive. It’s hard to be left out there all alone with miles and miles to go. I have nothing but respect for the Back Of The Packers. Turtle Power!

After a bath and a nap I felt almost human. A swollen knee is reminding me a few days latter that I am not young and I do have RA. I’m glad I made the call to opt out of the OKC 13.1 so my body will have a little reprieve. Overall it was a pretty good day with thankfully NO WIND!

Groundhog Run 2016

If you are looking for a unique place to run you have got to do the TLC Groundhog Run in Kansas

Thank you for donating!

City, Mo. It is the only totally underground 10K in the USA and is a wonderful place to run out of the wind and cold. It’s for a worthy cause, Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center, and you might see me there in my Racing for a Cure singlet as I use this race to raise money for the Arthritis National Research Foundation.

This year, my daughter Lyndi decided to to the 10K with me. She just started the Couch 2 5K program a few weeks ago so this was going to be a stretch. I’ve been running better but am still a long way from where i was once upon a time. We decided to make a girls weekend of it and stay at a nearby hotel to get the feel of a destination race even though her home is only about an hour away.

My friend Amber M., her husband Mark, and their daughter Allison also accepted my invitation to run and we making a long weekend out of the trip. We all met for dinner Saturday evening and loaded up on carbs (that’s our excuse to eat lots of yummy spaghetti!) and shared lots of laughs and sang Happy Birthday to Mark.

We are so ready to run!

Our race didn’t start until 10:00 so we didn’t have to get up too early and rush around to get ready. We were at the race site in plenty of time to get board. I know, I’m too worried about being late and I need to work on that. It’s a little chilly in the tunnel and we were standing around too long before the race. OK, Amber, you were right. We could have slept another 30 minutes.

At race time we moved deeper into the tunnels to the start line and listened to the National Anthem echo around the caves. We were off! We were in the slow wave and I felt right at home with this group: those who are just starting out, who are recovering from injury or illness, who are old and still moving, who are young and just want to participate. These are my people! As a back-of-the-packer I get a chance to be encouraging, stop and smell the roses, say thank you to the volunteers, and just enjoy the ride.

Lyndi and I started out with good intervals and were making good time. The first 2 miles went pretty well. But that’s as far as her training has gotten so for the next mile the run intervals were much shorter but we still finished the first 5K much faster than the Running With The Cows we did in May. And as we planned, we walked the second 5K and had a great time visiting and taking in the atmosphere of the day. That’s is a win in my books!

We were nearly the last out of the tunnels but we didn’t care. We gladly accepted our medals and

Lyndi's first 10K!

headed back to the hotel to grab our gear and head home. My granddaughters thought the medal was neat  and Mom and Grandma are pretty cool. What better way to be a positive role model then to be active and strive to accomplish a goal even when it’s difficult and takes you out of your comfort zone. To complete a 10K when you have only worked up to 2 miles is pretty gutsy.

I’m proud to say my family and friends helped raise over $500 for the Arthritis National Research Foundation. You can still make a donation at any time. Amber and her family have taken me in as sort of a tag along aunt and that’s yet another unexpected blessing of doing what I do. The weekend was full of good food, great friends, and amazing family. Who could ask for more!

Happy Birthday, Mark!