Oh how I love my beautiful bike,
I'd rather ride than walk or hike.
It's a road bike, it's a Seven.
When I ride it, I think I'm in heaven.
I've only had one big wreck.
But, oh well, what the heck.

It's baby blue and very shiny.
When I ride too far, it hurts my hiny.
Pink streamers give it feminine flair,
People laugh at me, but I don't care.
The wind in my hair and the sun on my face,
My friends beside me, setting the pace.
A sweeter ride I'll never know,
than my dear Seven, with friends in tow.

OKAY, we done had our team kick off on November 8th. We are up to 50 somein' team members. And what a group! So much enthusiasm and team spirit. I can already see what a great season this is going to be. It is such a privilege to be part of the team staff this season and I take my mentoring position very seriously. My man Steve Zimmerman held my hand when I first started out with TNT in November '06 as I prepared to train and fundraise. I hope to do the same for others and make their training and fundraising as successful as mine. Herrrrrrre we go......GO TEAM!!

Stats from Death Ride 2008:
My bike computer failed to operate properly on the day of the Death Ride. So I am depending on others for estimates.

Ride distance: 108.86 miles
Ride time: 12 hour. 36 min 59 second
Burned calories 9,589
Elevation: 13,395 ft of climbing

Total Stats for Season:

Ride distance: 3,215.87
Ride time: 355:36
Burned calories: 123,566
Elevation: 194,272 ft of climbing

The way I planned and thought my Death Ride was going to go didn't turn out exactly that way. But many things in life don't. Because of extenuating circumstances and more important events just a couple weeks prior to, I didn't even know if I was going to make it up to Markleeville on July 12th. At about 10:30pm Friday night, the night before the event my husband and I decided to go.
We arrived at the hotel in Minden at 2:00am. Just in time to get up to prepare for the ride and be ready to drive out to the start with the team by 3:15am. After getting everything into the hotel room Ken wanted to go over to the hotel casino to get a scotch. He told me to lay down and he would be back in a half an hour to wake me. I'm sure all I did was give him a blank stare....after he left I stood there thinking to myself, "Is this possible? Can I do this?" I didn't know. So I organized my things, then at 2:15 I actually got under the covers and layed there with my eyes closed. It lasted about 30 seconds. I thought this just is not going to happen. So instead, I prayed.
I asked God to bless the team, that no one would get hurt, no injuries and everyone have a great ride. Then I asked him to help me find what I needed to get out of the bed and face the challenge. I started psyching myself up by saying out loud that Jesus has been there for me through the past five months of training; he's not going to let me down know. So I yelled out loud, "Well I'm not gonna do it lying here!!!" and I bounced, yes bounced out of the bed and started running around like a maniac! I got in the shower, scarved down my breakfast, and was out front meeting Amy to load bikes like I'd been there all night.
The team caravaned out to the start and got our bikes out and lights on. We were on the road by 4:10am. It was really something to see, a long line of red lights ahead of me, all these bikes in the pitch dark. By the time we got to the first climb, Monitor Pass, I think there was a hint of morning light. It was amazing to climb that mountain and see the sun rise. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. I reached the summit and got sticker # one!! Yippee!!! Then the first decent. What a blast. I flew down and was overcome with emotion and was sobbing most of the way down. I figured no one could hear me. It was a great release!!
At the bottom of Monitor Pass we receive our sticker #2. So now we had to earn it by climbing out, a little over nine miles. I got to the summit a second time and began my decent, and again, the sobbing. But it all felt good. I rolled to the bottom and look to my left and I spot my son Adam and friend Mary Cook. Adam is video taping me and laughing at me. I was so happy to see them. They had to hike in over a mile to meet me at that point. Mary had a leg in a splint from a cycling accident earlier that week. So extra kudos kiddo. I told them I did not sleep, was up all night and Adam laughed and asked me, "Mom, aren't you tired?" Well, yes dear. However, raising four boys, and pulling so many graveyard shifts with doubles on top of each other really helped train me to know how to go without sleep! It was about 9:00am by this time and I had been on the bike about five hours.
Now I began my climb up Ebbett's face. This is a thirteen mile climb. All this time I am hydrating and was eating according to plan. I figured in my head if I can make it to the top of Ebbett's there was no way I wouldn't drop down the back side. It was only a five mile decent so I knew I would be able to get up that five mile climb back out and I would have my four passes.
All the while, my Fabulous Five teammates are so encouraging. At one point coming up Ebbett's I told teammate Kimberly that I appreciated her telling me our mileage; our feet of climbing; what was still coming; how much farther, and that she was staying with me. I said to her, "I know what you are doing, and I really appreciate it." She was carrying me and helping me keep my mind steady and focused. We were all watching out for each other. I normally felt like a strong contributor to my team to motivate others; but this time I really was just trying to cope with thinking straight! Keeping those pedals moving the right direction!
We summited Ebbett's, sticker#3. We visited with a few other people we knew that were doing the ride. I was getting pretty tired by now. Everyone was. We descended Ebbett's and there was a TNT supporter angel named Betty at the bottom. I tried to eat a banana but could only get half of it down me. I was not feeling to good. I tried to drink some water. I new I was rummy and now looking back I didn't do the things I was suppose to. I realize I abandoned my electrolytes, sea salts and food. I do remember during the climb back out of Ebbett's I nibbled on some Shot Blocks that teammate Steve Asche gave me at some point. I did continue to sip my water from my Camelback. We reached the top of Ebbett's the second time. So we're at the top and what starts happening? Hail!! I thought, "Oh crap....I have to stay upright." We got rained on too but as we were descending it stopped and the road was dry. That descent is a little more technical than the others. Plus I was more fatigued so I didn't enjoy it as much as Monitor. I took it slow at first then cut lose. I remember thinking, payback is so sweet.
I reached the bottom, sticker #4. I was there before anyone else and waited. The plan was to paceline back to the cars at Turtle Rock Park where we planned to eat our lunch and freshen up before the final climb up Carson for the fifth pass. They were taking a long time so I thought, maybe I had time to use the bathroom and propped my bike up against a tree and got in the line. I was only there a few minutes and see three of the team come flying by. So I run to my bike and jump on trying to catch them. My heart rate was elevated, but for some reason I thought it was imperative to catch them so we could paceline. I don't know why, I easily could have rode along myself. I kept yelling to Michelle and she finally heard me. Then I was able to reach them and we pacelined till we came to a hill. I was really beginning to struggle. They were dropping me. I knew we had to really move to get to the cars to get food and then be on our way. Through out the course there are cut off times. We needed to get out to the next point for the Woodford's cut off by 4:00pm. I am guessing it was about 3:15 by this time.
The ride to the cars was were my ride started to fall apart. I had burned a lot of fuel trying to catch up and had not been eating. I wasn't sure how far the cars were, but I knew there was a Team In Training tent somewhere before them. I thought if I could get there, I could get a Gu or something and possibly save myself. I saw the tent and rolled up saying to Merla (team manager) that I was beginning to bonk and did they have any Gu's . So they start rushing around to get something for me. Laura, one of our SAG Angle's had a delicious wrap and gave it to me. It had a lot of fuel in it but I would have had to eat it about an hour before that!! Ha ha. But it did help. Enough to get me rolling to where the cars were. I arrived at the cars and my husband Ken was there. He was rushing around helping all the girls get the food out and refilling bottles, etc. I told him I was bonking and needed a Gu. STAT!! Shelly was right on it and handed me a Hammer Gel. I took that and drank water. In the mean time the girls are giving me food and we are all trying to do what we needed to do. Eat, get water, we planned to change into fresh cycling shorts and ice our feet. Ken had a large bag of ice and the girls and I were taking turns sticking our feet in. It was refreshing and helped bring any swelling down. I remember Ken helping me get my shoes off to put my feet in the ice. I was telling him, I thought I was going to be okay and be able to recover from the bonking. I was feeling slightly better. I also thought I had enough stamina in me to make the fifth pass.
I started rolling with Shelly, Michelle, and Kimberly. These girls were on fire. Shelly reminded me of the energizer bunny. And Michelle was like a mad women on a mission. I am sure they were not feeling very well either, but I was feeling so sick by this time. Once we made the Woodford's turnoff and 4:00 cut off, we know had to get to Pickett's Junction for the 5:15 and final cut off. However, that's when it all went to hell in a hand basket for me. It started to hail again with a major down pour. There was flash flooding and within seconds I was soaked. I stopped and put on my jacket. I looked down at my arms and the jacket was soaked. I started laughing and pedaling up "freakin'" hill. It couldn't at least be a flat section. I began thinking those not so positive thoughts. Ken drives by and he's yelling out to me that I "look good", your pedal stroke is good and strong. You know, annoying stuff like that. He drives ahead. I kept going, wondering how the other girls were doing. I asked God to keep everyone safe in this weather. Then I see Ken standing next to the car in the pouring rain clapping and cheering me on. I just stare at him as I very slowly pedal by. I told him I thought I was going to hurl and didn't want to keep going. I heard another man's voice behind me . He was saying to Ken, "I've been behind her the whole way and she's doing good." So Ken gave him encouragement too.
So now this guy is behind me. He has a real heavy Texan accent and I knew it wasn't someone I knew. But he started telling me to drink. That he hasn't seen me drink for a while and I needed to even though it was so cold. Oh yes, we were freezing our asses off. I pretty much ignored him. I felt like I didn't have enough strength to reach for the water bottle. A little while later he repeated to me to drink. This time I did. We went on for a while and I was almost to Pickett's. I started calculating in my head the time. I looked at the time and it was after 4:00. I had been on the bike for over twelve hours. I knew I had at least another ten or twelve mile climb to the top of Carson Pass. That would be another two to three hours. I also was feeling like I was dozing off, if that is possible. I finally told the nice man behind me that I was pulling over and stopping. I got off to the side. And stood there knowing it was over for me. Ken pulled up and I told him, so he parked and got out. He took my bike and as he put it in the car I had this overwhelming grief. That I didn't do it. I could not believe it. But I didn't want to cry in front of Ken, in fear of making him feel bad. So I just got into the car and talking about how cold I was and sick to my stomach. I changed into warm clothes. We were sitting there and low and behold here comes Grace!!!! This is were my gloomy state of mind did a complete 180. Grace is our team honoree. For those of you who have not read about her in my previous Blogs, she is 58 years old and less than a year out of chemotherapy. She actually smiled as she went by, very slowly. This was priceless though. It's probably one of those things where you had to be there. She smiles because I'm yelling like a crazy fool, go Grace! You are amazing! That stuff. Then she glances at the car and inside the car and looks back up at me, (still pedaling) and says, "I'm done", "I think I'm done.". So naturally I tell her NO! Grace you have to keep going. (Keep up this insanity, stay out there in this pouring rain! ) So Grace keeps on going. We are just before at Pickett's now and Ken was getting very concerned about Grace having hypothermia. So we go by her and she says again that she thinks she needs to call it. WE stop and get her in the car with blankets on her. I'm not sure how Grace was actually feeling then about the ride, but I was so excited and happy for her that she had done so well. Okay things get even better, now I spot Suzie coming up behind us. Grace and I start screaming out the window at Suzie. She's kind of smiling. A lot of this is a blur to me now. I can't remember how everything played out. Suzie turned around at Pickett's. It's still pouring. I'm seeing and watching for other teammates as riders descend.
Ken and I eventually get back to the hotel room. I was happy and excited because I knew Kimberly and Michelle and Shelly most likely made it. I had waves and still do of regret that I was not with them. I remember speaking to my mother in law on the phone and one of my nephews, maybe even my kids, but don't remember what I said. I asked my nephew if I made any sense when he talked to me and he said I sounded fine and wide awake.
So, all season I would say to people, "I have to make the five passes, because if I don't it can only mean I have to do it again." Well..........

“Life is getting more complicated every day.”
After that day, your life is never the same. "That day" is the day the doctor tells you, "You have cancer." Every one of us knows someone who's had to face that news. It's scary, it's sad. But it's still life, and I hope, through my little bit of effort these past five months, that it's a life worth living.
The team will be going up to Markleeville tomorrow to prepare for the ride on Saturday. I have a list of all those that I will be riding in honor of. So when I'm out there thinking the pain is too great and I can't go on, I can glance down at my list and will be inspired by all those people. I'm taking all of them with me in spirit. Let's GO TEAM!!!!


HONOREES:
Ken Whitlatch, Dorothy Warford, Laura Campbell, Gary Campbell, Joseph Cushing, Harry Drittenbas, Gerald Cook, Barbara Sweaney, Barbara Chiuro, Doug Grunow, Dominic Lombardo, Joseph Marchase, Bill Peddle, Kelly Stadler, Elaine Wagner, George Wagner, Frank Tombellio, Charles Hinkle, Ken Mattfolk, Ritsu Seidman,Linda Pascoe, Don Robinson,Lynn Shepherd, Trina Reilley, Ann LeBlanc, Ronald Leger, Jim, Jen and Porter Pixton, Fred Reno, Randy Cooper, April Lee Fowler, Cindy Marin, Peg Buckler, Edwin Eichler, Grace Cassel, Chris States.

My gosh! I can not believe the season is almost over. We have two more team rides, then taper week before we head up to Markleeville for the event. These are some shots from our great week end at Altitude Camp in Grover Hot Springs. The truck bed with all the wonderful food is one of our SAG's. What does SAG stand for you ask? Support All Girls. No, it doesn't. I don't really know what it means. But I love when they are there with food an water. It's a "next goal", motivation to just get to that point, then I conjure up the energy to get back on the bike and continue. But that's FUN. That's what fun is. Look at these pictures. What could be better. I cannot complain about the season for me. I have been so blessed, staying out of harms way, not even a bee in my helmet....my bra somehow, but not the helmet. No injuries. Great coaches, that's all I can say. You guys rock, Jacqui, Mike, Kim, Sasha, and Greg. Awesome people and very skillful cyclists. Tomorrow's ride is called the Vertical Challenge. The climb up the backside of Mt Hamilton is epic. In the Amgen Tour of California it was the only climb rated HC. For those that don't follow professional road cycling, HC stands for HOLY CRAP. When you cross the bridge at the bottom and look up, that's exactly what you think. This is going to be awesome.

These are two of the most important women in my life. Peg, on the left is my ex-sister-in-law and the on the right is Jacqui, my sister. In this picture they are celebrating Christmas together last December on the east coast where they both live.
I unfortunately got VERY connected to the cause about two weeks ago when my sister called and told me that Peg had breast cancer. It was about 7:00 my time, so by the time I got off the phone with Jacqui it was to late to call Peg. I did call her the following morning and she had more news for me that Jacqui didn't have. It had been determined that Peg would have to have a mastectomy. She had the surgery on Thursday, the 12th, and is home now. She sees her doctor tomorrow and will have to get over the next hurdle of seeing the results of the surgery when her doctor removes the bandages to look at how the wound is doing. There will be further lab reports that she and Ed, her husband are anxiously waiting to hear about.
Peg's attitude has been so wonderful. I called her yesterday and she was cheerful and making jokes with me. It's a difficult thing to go through to say the least. Peg, by the way, is my "Top Donor". She made a $250. donation to the cause! Cancer has NO boundary's. The Team Ride on June 28th is going to be in honor of Peggy. Peggy's faith in the Lord is what has gotten her and Ed through this trial in life, and God's will be done. She'll take it. God Bless ya Peglets....love you.

Well, I be up here in Tahoe. Only one step from heaven, I swear. The team is congregating up here this week end for "Altitude Camp". We are going to climb Ebitt's Pass and Monitor Pass; which are part of the Death Ride. I am exhausted from having so much FUN!!!! I have been up here since last Friday and been riding my bike, hiking, spending time with my sons. Ken is here with me and coming to Altitude Camp also. He doesn't know it yet, but they are going to put him to work all week end, either cooking for us, or sagging the rides. He's a trooper though. I'll make it up to him.

I am very happy to report that we are only $24,000 away from our team goal of $115,000. This incredible team has already raised over $90,000! That is amazing. I am so grateful to my wonderful friends and family that have supported me and the cause.

Okay! Something UPBEAT... I want to introduce you to my friend and Teammate Grace Cassel. One year ago she was undergoing chemotherapy. Grace amazes me. I have learned that persons with cancer have to find that place, that we all have within us, to live with the cancer whichever way it will take them.
Grace is just that, full of grace. She is the "eldest" member of the team and is an inspiration to me. We just celebrated her 58th birthday. Grace has a wonderful sense of humor. More than once I have been grinding up a hill and started laughing at something she may have said earlier. I feel so blessed having met her.

Please review my post of May 9th..........

I just received this email from my friend and teammate Suzie....

In between training, have a toast of champagne for my friend.
Sue B Mumford passed away in her sleep today approximately at 1130.
Services will be Tues. Marc/Fred can you let Jamie know as i cant find his email.
Dont forget why we ride.

Hugs

Bumpster

This week our ride is dedicated to our team honoree Chris States. AND Chris will be on the ride this Saturday. Here is a note from Chris:

"Thanks for dedicating this ride to me. It is such a great honor to be recognized by this team through your commitment to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Society has touched my life through the funding of treatment research and support while facing my personal challenges with Lymphoma. So first I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for dedicating your time and money to this very personal cause.

I passed my 5 year mark this past March of being cancer free from my last joust with testicular cancer and it has been 23 years cancer free from my Lymphoma. Believe it or not these two diagnoses were completely unrelated. My fitness has been getting better and better with each subsequent year from my last treatment. Last year I rode as an honoree with the DR team in an effort to push my physical and mental limits. The tools and skills I learned from training under this amazing coaching staff enabled me to meet and far exceed my personal goals. I am currently training for the DR and the Furnace Creek 508 event coming up in October.

I also wanted to share with all of you what this specific ride (Big Basin) means to me. At the beginning of the season when I was asked which ride I would like to have dedicated in my honor, I struggled with this question for a moment. I reflected over the entire training schedule of last year and I thought of three rides that were very important to me: the Mt. Diablo repeats; the Mt. Hamilton and Sierra Rd Challenge; and the Big Basin ride. I knew I wanted it to be one of these rides because of the significance of the different challenges these rides presented. I quickly realized that the Big Basin ride was the most significant for me, as it was my personal turning point where I knew I was going to be able to accomplish the Death Ride. For those of you who rode with me last year, you know the significance of each of these rides, but Big Basin was the turning point in my confidence.

Each of us will reach this point at some stage of our training so I just wanted to wish you all a great ride on Saturday.

I would like to close by saying how honored I am by each and every one of you for dedicating this ride to me. Thank you! Chris T. States -Live to Ride & Ride To Live!"

Wow.....thank you Chris. I am in awe of cancer victims and survivors.......I don't know what else to say. LET'S RIDE!!! Yippie! I can't wait! Another sufferfest tomorrow! 110 MILES/11,000 ft of climbing! We'll see if I feel the same way Chris did after completing Saturday's Big Basin ADVENTURE. Is tomorrow going to be my turning point?

Tour of The Unknown Coast, was beautiful, challenging, a big confidence builder. Another one for the resume....Avenue of the Giants spoke to me...it was Him, He was all around me. Thank you Father for my blessings. When I was at mile 80, give or take, and standing at the bottom of "The Wall", I thought I might have met my match. But I started up and before I knew it I was at the top looking way down at the little tent at the SAG stop I started at. It was a mile or so climb at 18% grade, the most challenging hill I have done to date. The picture does not do it justice. One of those things, you'd have to be there. I wish you were!!!!

This week the team ride will be in honor of a Team in Training alumni. Her name is Sue Mumford, pictured here in November, 2007. She first participated with the TNT 2001 cycling team. Over the years she has been a mentor, and assistant coach. Sue was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and has been battling it ever since. I say "battling" because that's what it is, a battle to beat it, stay alive, and get healthy again. However, that's not going to be the case for Sue, unfortunately.
Sue married Bob Mumford in 2005, and while they were planning a family, the diagnosis came instead. She opted for full radiation and chemo with success. But the cancer reared it's ugly head again in 2006. The cancer was spreading, she not only was fighting the disease but the complications from radiation and chemo,; such as scar tissue, blood clots, weight loss, and muscle atrophy to name a few. And through it all she has kept her sense of humor.
This past week, Sue and Bob made a decision to have no further treatments and her goal is to be pain free. She is saying her goodbyes. Our team manager saw her on Tuesday. After a few laughs and many tears, Sue said to Merla, "Cancer sucks Merla. Please keep working to find a cure."

Please donate.
www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfNWhitla

Coach Mike is a great guy. He's as mild mannered as he appears in this video. The team will be heading up to Ferndale tomorrow, (Friday May 9th) to ride the "Tour of The Unknown Coast" on Saturday. It's up in Humboldt County, one of my favorite areas of the state. The tour description says..."you will have ridden one of the world's toughest 100 mile courses when you complete this great ride."
I say...BRING IT ON!! I can't wait!

Team Ride #8 Taste of the Terrible Two's

We drove up to Cloverdale on Friday and rode Saturday with a start time of 6:15 a.m. We rode 107 miles and climbed 10,600 feet. With 90% of the climbing in the first 60 miles. I was happy about that; get the work over with first. Let's see, how else can I describe the ride.....Icy Cold, Super Windy, Long Climbs, Steep Hills, Remote Roads, Great SAG, True Friends, food and water, my bike and me.
Saturday wasn't enough though. We were back on the bikes by nine the next morning for another 45 miles and 4200 feet of climbing, Geyser Peak. I remember asking myself where does the desire to do this come from? Inner drive is all I could come up with. On one memorable climb on Fort Ross Road I was talking a fellow team mate up the steep 14 to 21%, 1.5 mile hill; "we can do this....I'll take it over laying on a table for 8 hours having chemo therapy. I am blessed because I don't have to explain to my young teenage kids that I am dying from cancer. I am blessed to be riding my bike up this hill." I did feel truly blessed, I arrived to the top with a smile on my face.

Team Ride #8 Taste of Terrible Two is dedicated to Jan Alexander.

Jan was first diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) on April 26, 2005 - a month before her first grandchild was due. A lymph node biopsy in September 2007 changed her diagnosis to indolent follicular lymphoma. She began participating in a clinical trial at Stanford in October 2007 but was released from the study in March 2008. She will not receive any treatments again until after a CT scan in August 2008.

Jan sent a message to the team, "A great big thank you to everybody for the commitment that you're making to help everyone who has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Some of my treatment has been made possible through the Society's support. Having cancer is so expensive, and it means so much to me that the Society can help make clinical trials available. All of the funds that you are raising will be used in the future for new clinical trials and new treatments to improve quality of life and hopefully to find a cure. This is only possible because of people like who you are willing to commit to ride and raise money to help us. Thank you so much."

Thank you for that Jan. But it's ALL about you.

What's in store for the team this week end. A Taste of the Terrible Two's. The goal...103 miles, 9500 feet of climbing. YIKES!!! Can she do it. YES! You bet.
Here's the philosophy I will stand by on this ride:

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year but eventually it will subside and something else will take it's place.
If I quit, however, it lasts forever.

-Lance Armstrong

Thank you Coach Kim for the inspirational words.....We are going to riding through some of the most beautiful scenery in California. Beginning in Cloverdale, riding out to the coast, down the coast a bit, and back in and up to the start. That's it in a nutshell! Hang on to your hats!...or helmets. ( :

Hi. I'm Porter. I just turned four on November 25. I have a big brother, Parker, who's 10, and two big sisters, Emma and Eliza, who are 8 and 7. My mom Jennifer won't tell anyone how old she is. I think she's real old, like at least 22 or 23. My dad Jim is probably old enough to be a grandpa.

I was born at Thanksgiving time in 2003. The doctors figured something was wrong when I had little purple dots all over my body. I spent a lot of my first few months in the hospital. I had my arms and feet pricked so many time for blood tests that I finally just stopped crying when the nurses stuck the needles in me. That's when my mom started crying.

In March 2004, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), a very rare and lethal form of leukemia. My type of leukemia always comes back after chemo; the only possible cure is a stem cell transplant. Fortunately, my sister Eliza is a perfect match.

I have been in good health for nearly four years now and have not needed treatment. The doctors say my leukemia is just "simmering." This may have something to do with the fact that I also have Noonan Syndrome. While NS has created other problems for me, it has also helped me fight the leukemia.

I love being an honoree for Team in Training. I especially like coming to TNT events and getting hugs and kisses from the babes--I mean the ladies. GO TEAM!

TEAM FUNDRAISING UPDATE
We’re doing GREAT! Our team total so far is $55,219! Almost halfway to our goal of $115,000. We’re on track and we just need to keep on truckin’, which I know we're all going to do. Here are our top 5 Fundraisers: Drum roll please………

Nick Cofod
Grace Cassel (Team Honoree..CANCER SURVIVOR!!!)
ShellyWillard (Still recovering from a cycling accident)
Robert Dekas
Michelle Shutzer

Great job you guys!!! GO TEAM!

Donate Here PLEASE

Life IS short. That feeling can be especially prevalent to those who are battling cancer. Life is short. I have been busy all my life trying to cram as much into it as I can to get the most out of it. The result has been a better quality of life, enjoying life, and having met some people who are kindred spirits. I don't know what is on the flip side of this or whats gonna come at me that I can't control. So for now I'm livin'. Like Kieth Urban's song says: You better start living right NOW!!!

That is me and my good friend Suzie. On Saturday we trained out in the Point Reyes area. The weather man said 60% chance of rain....I'm glad we didn't listen to him. It was extremely windy though. We started out from Nicasio and peddled out to the Lighthouse in Point Reyes and back; 65 miles, 4500 ft of climbing. But the hardest part of the weekend was Sunday morning when I had to get out on the bike again for my "recovery" ride. I only did a fast 10 miles, mostly flat, spinning all the way. It's always so hard to get out there after a long ride the day before, but once I'm rollin' I love it and feel good about making myself do it. But the recovery rides are going to have to be longer as the Saturday training rides get longer. I'm only riding about 150 miles a week so far, but that is going to soon change. But like my friend Suzie told me and I told my friend Rich, take it one week at a time.

Okay, Saturday 3/8 Team Ride #4......After another great nutrition clinic, we headed out for a climb up the north side of Mt. Diablo, descending the south side and then out to Livermore. We returned to the starting point at Monta Vista H.S. What a great day for a ride, good weather, awesome SAG support, and of course great company. We rode 55 miles and climbed about 4000 ft. It's Sunday evening as I write this. I did a quick "recovery" ride today before going to church. I figured if I didn't do it then I would not have done a ride today. I am a little fatigued but feel like I'm well on track with my training. Tomorrow morning is Abs Class and Yoga at the Y. Then the rest of the week I will do hill repeats to try and begin building my climbing strength. I find it's a fine balance between eating correctly, training properly and rest. But I love it.

I received a beautiful thank you card from Norma Peddle yesterday. Last year Norma's husband Bill Peddle died of cancer. Bill was one of my honorees for the Solvang Century. Once again I am honoring Bill Peddles memory as well as two of Norma's other relatives that she lost to cancer. Her brother Ronald Leger and her cousin Ann LeBlanc. Norma lost her brother when she was quite young. Ronald Leger was only 8 months old when he past away from leukemia in 1947. Then her family continued the ordeal with her little cousin Ann.

In Norma's words:

My baby brother Ronald died as a young infant of leukemia and my little cousin Ann died of the same at 4 years old. She was a guinea pig with treatment back then because they really had no cure or hope. It was very very sad. I helped my mom, help my aunt take care of her, she was exhausted. The poor little girl went through hell.

Thank you for doing what you do!!!

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Children today are benefiting from the research that is done with the funds we raise. The five-year survival rate for acute lymphocytic leukemia (the most common form of childhood leukemia) has improved from just 4% in 1960 to over 80% today.

Please donate: www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfNWhitla

It was an eventful day. One of our coaches, Steve Asche, took a fall and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. In the book "23 days in July" they euphemistically refer to crashing as "Touching the Floor". Well Steve did.....so hard in fact, he broke my glasses, crunched his helmet, broke his handle bars, tore his jersey, and worst of all tore a hole in his TnT knee warmers. But he is home now and okay.

In the meantime, the rest of the team finished the ride and then actually went to Steve's house for a potluck. His wife and him were still at the hospital, but insisted that we carry on and party without them. The potluck was awesome. We have some great cooks on this team. It sure beat the heck out of Solvang’s potlucks.

Then on top of all this I did the 55 miles with 3500 ft of climbing with a raging hemorrhoid! I know, too much information. But we had a breakthrough for Michelle. She rode without underwear for the first time. OH! and I almost forgot. I was given the “spirit award”...... I’m still not sure why. GO TEAM!!!

As a “rough estimate”, assuming I make it to all the Team and Buddy rides, and complete all 5 passes, I will ride over 1800 miles and climb 156,500 feet with my TEAM! This does not include my own personal mid-week, weekend and Yo-Yo riding. Wow!!

So here's the deal. When I am grinding up a never ending hill, I don't want to hear, "You're almost there!" or "You can do it!"

Say things like, "Wow. you're really looking skinny!" or "Those shorts look GREAT on you!" instead, okay?

Last year when I trained with team in training one of my honorees was the daughter of a personal friend; her name is Laura Campbell. I met Laura about ten years ago. At that time their family was dealing with the fact that Laura had been diagnosed with cancer. Laura was only eighteen. She has been cancer free for nine years now.
I received an email the other day from her Dad, Gary, with an update of whats going on with them since we talked last. Gary's news was very upsetting. He told me that he received confirmation from the doctor that a tumor removed from his leg in August was Chondrosarcoma; short and sweet, Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary bone cancer. The same type of cancer Laura had.
So, we went over to the hospital on Wednesday to see Gary. He had been admitted to receive his second round of chemotherapy. If you've never seen these types of tumors, I think you'd be taken back by the sight of what they do to your body. Gary also had mentioned in his email that Yule Brenner, Telly Sevalis, Bruce Willis, and he all shared the same haircut. I thought it looked pretty good. It's actually quite fashionable for men to shave their head.
Anyway, Gary will have one more round of chemotherapy then have the tumors removed surgically. Gary may face having his leg removed if this phase of treatment doesn't work.
I met Gary and his beautiful wife Carol through my husband Ken. Gary and Ken worked together for many years at the Sheriff's Office. They worked investigations together. Gary is quite an extraordinary person. He was a Marine, Navy Seal and an outstanding detective. His inner strength that he presents gives confidence that everything is going to go alright.
His wife Carol is beautiful. She's a wonderful wife and mom to their three children. Their only son Andrew is now a Marine himself and is presently in Camp Lejune for advanced training. He has recently been deployed to Iraq. I don't want to go without mentioning their other daughter Allison, who is very supportive of her Dad as well.
There's so many different challenges working with TNT. Being connected to the cause is the most difficult. Ken and I look forward to visiting Gary and Carol in the next couple of weeks.

Dearest Mighty Altruists, a.k.a, Generous Donors,
So, the funds have begun coming in. You inquire of yourself, So whence begins the stories of pain? Well, The Pain hasn't started yet. TNT Death Ride team kicked off the season just a couple of weeks ago. I've been resting those parts of me I'll need to complain about, to the best of you all-too-fortunate victims when I take on this training I aim to accomplish; (and "this" by the way, reflects none of the mid-week conditioning I will be doing):

2/2 Sort It Out: 25 miles 1,200 ft of climbing

2/9 House of Pain: 50 miles 1,400 ft

2/16 Palomares-Norris 54 miles 3,500 ft

2/23 Buddy Ride 55 miles 3,500-4,000 ft

3/8 Devil's Junction 55 miles 4,000 ft

3/15 Buddy Ride 60 miles 5,000 ft

3/22 Pinehurst 65 miles 5,000 ft

3/29 18 Hill Climb 75 miles 6,000 ft

4/5 YOYO 70 miles 6,000 ft

4/12 Upenef 80 miles 7,000 ft

4/19 Taste of Terrible Two 105 miles 10,000 ft

4/26 Buddy Ride 90-100 miles 8,000 ft

5/3 Taste of the Devil 108 miles 9,000 ft

5/10 Unknown Coast 100 miles 9,000 ft

5/17 Big Basin 110 miles 10,000ft

5/24 YOYO 75 miles 7,500 ft

5/31 Buddy Ride 100 miles 10,000 ft

6/11 Mt. Diablo Repeats don't ask

6/14 YOYO 75 miles 5,000 ft

6/21 Vertical Challenge 101 miles 11,000 ft

6/28 Del Puerto Canyon 105 miles 6,000 ft

7/5 Taper 65 miles 5,000 ft

7/12 DEATH RIDE, Y'all! 129 miles 16,000 ft


Q. Isn't that at least 150,000 of climbing during the season just on Saturday rides (i.e., not counting mid-week work)?
A. Why yes, yes it is.

Q. And isn't that like climbing 28 miles straight up into the sky?
A. yuh-huh.


So, if, at this point, you're probably thinking, ah, she can't make it. You’re probably right: place your tax-deductible bets against me HERE: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfNWhitla.

If you're not thinking that, then you're probably thinking, Nancy can totally do this! You're probably right: place your tax-deductible vote of confidence HERE: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfNWhitla.

And if you're not thinking those things, then you must be thinking, while I’ll be sleeping in on Saturdays for the next five months, this girl will be working. You're right. Doesn’t that deserve a toast? Spend you're tax deductable drinking money for just this week HERE: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfNWhitla.

Seriously, that would be, like, hella cool.

Team Ride #1
I like riding in the rain...The season has only just begun....did I mention I like riding in the rain?...Team Raining, I mean Team Training Ride #1 was fun getting to know everyone. We had clinics prior to riding...did I say I LIKE riding in the ran?....We only did a short 28 miles out in the Danville area. However, I am coming back after being off the bike for two months trying to take care of a knee injury and I felt like it...oh and it did rain.

Kick Off was a blast last Saturday in S.F. I met my coaches and team mates. The coach gave us the run down of what the training is going to be like. It's going to be fuuuun.....
I met Grace. Grace is a cancer survivor and one of our team honorees. This amazing woman is actually taking on the Death Ride challenge. I am going to stick near Grace for MY motivation when I start complaining that it's too cold, or too hot or I'm tired; or I have to write more letters to raise funds, what ever. I look forward to getting to know her better.
Our first training ride is this coming Saturday and we will have a class on nutrition. I wil keep you posted. Thanks for looking at my blog!