Friends....

February 18, 2009

My life has taken me down many paths over the years...some smooth, some not so smooth...but the the one thing that has gotten me over all of those paths have been my friends. I have developed a lot of friends over the years. None of my friends are any less special than the others...they each have their place in my journey through this tangled web we call a life. My cycle friends are always there for a ride, support, an ear to bitch at and a pat on the back and pick-me-up when I am down (literally and figuratively!). My non-cycle friends, albeit there are very few, are also there for the same reasons...just in a different way. I do have one best friend that inspires me, supports me, encourages me, listens to my bitching, pats me on the back, picks me up when I am down and most importantly, is willing to point out my shortcomings without regret of the fallout that often can come from that! And...they know that I will provide the same for them. It is unconditional, sometimes painful, but nonetheless a TRUE best friend.

As I write this, I wonder...do others have these same type of friends? If so, how do you define them? If you read my blogs and I thank you if you do, respond and let me know. I would be interested to hear your perspective....

Next time...maybe a little about the EMS side of me?

Ramblings...

February 7, 2009

It is interesting the perspective that others have of what we do for recreation. I have been told time and again that they can't believe that I ride a bike in all of this traffic! From my view, I can't believe that they drive a car in all this traffic! Oh well, those that don't endure the saddle will never know...

My Cycling Accomplishments...

January 30, 2009

Well, I am not a racer as you can obviously tell from my previous blog, but I do love cycling. My accomplishments in MY cycling career are accomplishments to me...

As I said, I have been a cyclist all my life and it has mostly been recreational. When I say recreational, we're talking "Forrest Gump-style"...ride until I get tired and then turn around and go back home. Ranging from 25 miles one day to 50 miles the next. The pain that followed was sometime STUPID hurting. Those of you that have got on your bike and done this understand STUPID hurting (for those of you that don't know...you ride 50 miles without having been on a bike for about 4 weeks and then hurt like HELL the next day and say that you were STUPID for doing that because you knew better...). It was only until I got involved will the LLS that I actually began riding with (and for) a purpose. Meaning that I trained consistently and worked toward completing 100 mile (Century) rides.

I am proud to say that I have completed 15 Centuries in the last 9 years and that is pretty cool. Here they are in chronological order of when I first rode 'em....

1) Santa Fe Century - NM(2000)
2) Katy Flatlander - Katy, TX (2000; 2001; 2002)

Ha! I bet you all thought that I was going to say the Hotter'n Hell 100! Next...Nope! Never done it, don't ever plan on it. If that is a requirement to have a "man-card" then I guess I will never have one...

3) Waco Wild West 100 - Waco, TX (2000, 2001, 2003)
4) Lake Tahoe - South Lake Tahoe, CA (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
5)El Tour de Tucson - Tucson, AZ (2004 & 2006).

Well, that is my chronology of cycling up to this point. I am training and will be riding Lake Tahoe for #7 this year. I am also fundraising for this ride so for you that actually read this stuff, I could use your financial help. All you have to do is click on this link and it will take you to my donation page...http://pages.teamintraining.org/ctx/ambbr09/jhayes3lok

Thanks for indulging me in the LONG post! This ends the cycling saga...I'll come up with something else soon!