Woohoo - felt like my old self today!

[emily_in_nc]

Just had to tell you girls that I had a great ride today, considering that I'm not even quite five months since my accident (fractured my pelvis in three places in mid-April in a cycling accident and had to have surgery to pin me back together, for the newbies!)

I did a 30-mile club ride, tacked on five extra miles, and at one point early on was actually averaging 18 mph! Admittedly, we had a tailwind at the start, and I latched on to a "tandem train" for a few miles, but it still felt SO good to go fast again!

I rode with two guys for most of the ride; we battled some pretty ferocious headwinds, but I was able to hang on and draft some off a strong guy (who would normally have left us in the dust, save for the wind). I even had guys drafting off me from time to time!

I ended up averaging 15.7 mph. I was very, very pleased with that! My rides since my accident have ranged from 12.5-14.9 mph, with most in the mid-upper 13s, so to finally break that 15 mph barrier felt incredibly good!

I got lots of comments from others who knew me on the ride about how well I was doing and how amazed they were. The nicest comment was from a guy who knew what had happened to me but had never ridden with me until today; he said "I could tell you were a strong rider just by watching the way you ride". Woo-hoo...that made my day! I didn't have any pain either!

I'm planning to do the 50-mile option at an event in two weeks that my husband is doing (he'll be doing the full century; there's no metric option), and after today I know I can do it. I don't plan on pushing for speed as I'll be waiting for him at the end for quite some time, so I can go nice and slow, enjoy all the rest stops, and just poke up the climbs. But it's nice to know that I can turn on the jets when I need to. No, I'm not back to my normal speed yet, but I've come so far and feel very, very lucky to be where I am. I can even stand and climb out of the saddle again!

Thanks again for all the support I've received here over the past months. You gals always lift me up so high.

Love you all,

Emily

[Pedal Wench]

Oh Emily!!!!!!!

That's terrific!!!! I am SO happy! You're really quite inspiring to us. I think about you every time I even hear the tinkle of a dog's collar when I'm riding. I doubt I would have the courage and perseverence that you've had!

You rock!!!!!!!!!!

Leslie! (formerly AudioA!)

[doc]

Way To Go

[shewhobikes]

You just amaze me. We are all so proud of you and so happy you had a great ride today!!!

[latelatebloomer]

Hey, I could tell you were a strong rider just from the way you wrote! What great news, Emily. Your recovery time seems amazingly short. Once, after patching up our dog, our vet told us that animals heal faster than humans because they have no ambivalence about getting well. I reckon you didn't either. Ride safe & strong forevermore!

[Dogmama]

YAHOO!!! Way to go!!! Great job!!! <claps hands, bounces up & down, wakes up dog>

[RoadRaven]

Emily, I have told so many of my friends, family and work-mates about the inspiration that you are...

So guess what I'll be doing tomorrow at work...?

"Hey, you remember that woman I was telling you about that shattered her pelvis? Yeah, Emily... well guess what..."

Way to go, Em. You rock!

[Jo-n-NY]

thanks for a great update emily!!! i am sure you will ride that 50 without a problem, especially that your self confidence went up a few notches

joann

[DirtDiva]

What fabulous news - you must be over the moon!

[Blueberry]

I'm so glad to hear you had a good ride! You are a strong rider and your recovery is absolutely amazing

I wimped - life and the possibility of headwinds were too much for me to show up (long story), though I did get a shorter "errand ride" in (grocery, bank and pet supplies). Maybe I'll make the next Cookie Ride!

[Trekhawk]

Emily - congratulations on your ride. Im not sure I could have been as brave as you and even gotten back on my bike. Well done you really are an inspiring lady. Im with pedal wench when I hear that dog collar tinkle I think of you straight away.

Keep those ride reports coming.

[newrider]

So glad to hear you're doing so well! You have an amazing and inspiring story!

[LBTC]

Yahoo, Emily! You rock, girl!!

You're an inspiration! Thank you for keeping us updated and inspired!

Namaste,
~T~

[mom2twins]

That's awesome!!! congratulations on the good ride. Those compliments must have really felt wonderful after all you have been through. Good luck on your 50

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks all! I just couldn't wait to share with my TeamE buddies, and I thank you all for your kind and supportive thumbs up! Will report back after the 50-miler!

Emily

P.S. CA, I looked for you Sat. and was sorry to see that you didn't make it - you would have had no trouble finding folks to ride with as the turnout was quite good with a variety of paces. I ate a cookie for you! Sounds like you had a good ride despite the fierce wind. The WOW ride is at 5:45 this week if you can make it, and if you'll be going back to Wilmington, be careful with Ophelia churning out there! My brother lives in W-ton as I probably told you, and I worry about him any time a storm gets close.