Shasta Report & Rec.

[Starfish]

Jo: Uh, Jo? You are one of my heroes from Climbing Club!

Mimitabby: Pics are still in the little camera I bought at Safeway! I'll post some pics in a few days!

SmilingCat: Did I notice the particularly vivid blue sky? Uh, where I live, it rains another inch for every mile you drive west (until you actually hit the North American Rain Forest). I noticed immediately that there was blue sky (and hot weather, and air that lets you hang something up overnight to dry without turning on the heater in the bathroom). Yep...I LOVE this kind of country. Makes me homesick for my years in Eastern WA.

Thank you all so much for helping me celebrate!

[maillotpois]

Wow.

I really can't say much more. I am speechless. (Those who've actually met me know that's saying something.)

Wow.

[Veronica]

I am so happy for you! Your write up is awesome and I hope I can join you next year. Revel in those goals accomplished.

V.

[Starfish]

I am so happy for you! Your write up is awesome and I hope I can join you next year. Revel in those goals accomplished.
V.

You know you were instrumental in helping me get there. Truly, if it had not been for you, I don't believe I would have made it to the start line. Thank you. And, I think it is a ride you would enjoy. Shasta is a volcano, you know!

I hope I face my challenges with as much courage and determination as you have shown in your quest.

I hope you face your challenges with as much support as I did! That's the key!

[Veronica]

You know you were instrumental in helping me get there. Truly, if it had not been for you, I don't believe I would have made it to the start line. Thank you. And, I think it is a ride you would enjoy. Shasta is a volcano, you know!

I was glad to help. Although, all I did was give you a swift kick in the butt every now and then - virtually of course.

V.

[short cut sally]

What an impressive job you did, oh my gosh.. The narritive was great, great set up for your adventure. I finished your story and thought to myself, and I was dreading my century coming up in Sept. that has a little over 6000 feet of hills..thats nothing compared to what you did..GREAT JOB Starfish..woo hoo...

[Starfish]

I was glad to help. Although, all I did was give you a swift kick in the butt every now and then - virtually of course.
V.

I know! I'm afraid to meet you in person! Just kidding, of course!

Thanks to all of you for your warm responses...it is so wonderful to be celebrated. If you aren't already asking for lots of encouragement and cheerleading, I highly recommend it!

[Wahine]

Starfish!!! You rocked it. Awesome!!

You know, I think you broke my record for the most climbing in one ride.

You did a great job reporting your ride as well. I love the chapters approach.

You are a climbing queen.

[ShubieGA]

What a great accomplishment! Brag on about the stats! They are amazing! You have EARNED it! Your story is joining some others on my fridge to keep me motivated! Way to go!

[slmdunc]

What a wonderful account of your ride!! It was a delight to read. Your journey (inside and out) serves as an inspiration for all of us. Thank you.

[Bklynmom]

Just Fabulous! What an amazing and great ride and vivid write up. It feels like we were all there with you. Totally amazing.

And the tapering and training really worked too.

Congrats on not being totally fried afterwards, which is another tribute to your training.

I though of you as I was romping over the little hills of MA - glad to know you were having an amazing experience.

I hadn't realized what a tough year you had before the ride, also an inspiring healing process - hats off to you .

Lisa

[jobob]

Jo: Uh, Jo? You are one of my heroes from Climbing Club!

Well, here are a couple of things to chew on:

The most climbing I've ever done on a single ride was about 6300 feet (this past weekend, as a matter of fact)

Oh, and you say it was a series of out & back climbs? Well if I were on your ride, I would have likely bailed when the going got tough. In fact, on my ride this weekend the opportunity presented itself so I cut out the last few miles to the top of Mt. Tam. Your tenacity is really something.

So there. You're my hero now. Deal with it.

[Starfish]

The most climbing I've ever done on a single ride was about 6300 feet (this past weekend, as a matter of fact)

So...you got in a PB for climbing this weekend! Yay!! And, that also tells me that with the climbing you have been getting in every month, you're doing a heckuva lot of rides!

On my ride this weekend the opportunity presented itself so I cut out the last few miles to the top of Mt. Tam.

Sometimes we live to fight another day. Yesterday, I was within 4 miles of the summit when I saw a very fit looking, experienced looking man stopped, and I asked if he was OK. He appeared fine, but had decided to head back down the hill. We talked for a minute, and I remember admiring him for the wisdom to know when enough is enough.

On the flip side, if you really think you want a little extra oomph to finish it up the next time you do that ride, you might try one of the books I read this week for inspiration. They seriously helped me, and I thought of them as I rode. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=17777

Of course, being flat out stubborn helps. My mom used to say "You're just like your father," and my dad used to say, "You're just like your mother." So I guess I come by it naturally!

(Also, I really have to add that this ride was an amazing ride in that everything just went really well. We'll see how it goes the next time, when my guts act up, when it rains and blows, when I get my 4th flat, or whatever. That's when I'll really find out what's there. Honestly, I feel like this ride was just a plain old gift from God...just one of those great days that you can only really respond to by saying "Thank you.")

So there. You're my hero now. Deal with it.

LOL...OK, I'll deal, I'll deal!

[aka_kim]

What an awesome report! A new superhero is born (really). Congratulations!!!

[Starfish]

What an awesome report! A new superhero is born (really). Congratulations!!!

You Californians are all posting these congrats with such deceptive sweetness...when really...

Holy Cow! I just read the Marin Century thread, and read a little something about YOUR performance over the weekend! Not to mention Jo's, oh, and MP simply riding through a little nausea-inducing pain (it's just a flesh wound! ).

You guys are something else (that ride profile with its "rollers" NOT!)