Great thread and it couldn't have come at a better time. I was frustrated because I've been tired and struggling to keep up with the pack on my past few rides (I think it was a case of over-training). Thinking back on how far I've come in just six months of "serious" riding has made me realize that I have accomplished a lot and shouldn't let any minor set-backs get me down.

So here goes... I remember:
- when 20 miles was an all day outing that required a couple of rest stops
- not being able to drink from my water bottle while riding
- getting dropped on my first group ride even though it was a rest/recovery ride and I was riding as fast as I could
- getting dropped on many more rides until I developed speed/stamina to keep up... heck, I still can't keep up with the fast pack on most of the rides
- driving my car through the mountains thinking that the people riding their bikes up there were insane
- becoming one of those insane people riding their bikes up in the mountains
- getting off my bike partway up a tough, 3 mile climb, certain that I couldn't ride any further
- getting back on the bike and making it to the top
- finishing that climb for the first time without stopping
- doing the 35-mile option of a century ride because anything else was way too long
- finishing my first century the day after my 40th birthday and not being able to think of a better way to celebrate

So many great memories and many more adventures to come!