First of all, part 2 of the 303cycling interview is live (and a little shorter than part 1 for those of you with ADD!)
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I got outside on my bike yesterday. It was the first time I had done a sustained climb since the Claro Brasil Ride, and let’s just say I’m a little out of shape on the hills right now. That’s not a bad thing – you definitely don’t want to be flying uphill in January or you’ll burn your season matches before it even begins!
It was extra challenging on my super fat Continental Mountain King 2.4s. There wasn’t nearly as much snow as I was expecting on the road. They became snowpacked around 7500′ or so.
I’m trying to make a commitment to do the Colorado Trail Race(CTR) this year. I guess “trying to make a commitment” doesn’t sound quite right… oxymoron almost? How about, I am starting to take the proper steps towards racing CTR. If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry, I’ll talk about more of the details later – but basically it’s ~500 miles of a self-supported, self-navigated race in the back country of Colorado on the Colorado Trail in August. And to me – that is utterly terrifying and thrilling and I wonder if I can even finish the damn thing. Making excuses is not the way to get started, so I’m starting to equip myself. There are lots of things I need to get to make this race happen that I don’t use for “normal” racing.
Today’s purchase?
Garmin eTrex Vista HCx
My checking account screeched in pain as I clicked purchase and my heart fluttered a little bit at the start of preparation for this great adventure.
I’ve never used a GPS before. I chose this because CTR junkie, Jeff Kerkove suggested it. The guy does his research and despite my “techy” education, I do not find joy in researching what to get. So it’s done. Purchased.
Another crucial item?
Spot Locator. So I can be tracked or found if something bad happen.
A Spot locator for xmas. THANK YOU!
So much more planning and special training to do for this event. It is overwhelming. People probably were wondering what the heck my problem was on the stairmaster at 9:30PM at the gym last night, beet red and making it rain with sweat, and with my arms straight out in zombie position, eyes closed and pretending to be pushing a 50 lb bike uphill.
It’s time to start setting some goals, and to start planning my events for the year. Each year I try to do something I haven’t done before. Something that I once thought I couldn’t do. If not, you stagnate. I’m excited for what 2011 will hold for me… and for the unexpected surprises.
Step 1 is saying I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. We CAN do anything.
I can do things that I love, and this is what I love.
Step 2 is getting over the doubt. Believing in myself. Overcome the fear. Persevere. Having the confidence and courage to do things I am afraid to do (like being alone in the mountains at night by myself-ahhhh, sleeping on the hard ground, freezing, and being completely exhausted) Step 2 is saying I WILL and believing it. I’m not quite to step 2 yet. I’m still stuck on Step 1…. but step 2 will come. Step 1 is easy.
Now to start babystepping to Step 2.
