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.