Mind over matter!!!

[SadieKate]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[LunaB]

Thanks everybody! :-) Yes, I am still quite euforic, and very very happy that I didn+t quit, even though it was close. I was sitting at one of the pit stops (where they served coffee, blueberry soup, bananas, buns and gherkins!) shaking with cold. I was totally soaked through and the temperature was only plus 7 Celsius (about 45 F) and I still had 125 miles to go. By chance I found a pile of newspapers in a corner inside a building where people were huddling for warmth, so I took a bunch of them and managed to dry my clothes a little. Then I took newspapers and put under my shirt, both front and back, and around my arms underneith the sleeves. This warmed me up enough to get back on my bike and move on. I still didn´t think I would make it around the lake, but I wanted to try a little bit longer. An hour or so later the sun came out - and I knew I had to go on.
It was a looong ride. At times I sat in the temporary toilets and cried with my face in my hands, then I continued. Towards the end my back was really hurting and I was so out of energy. I had some energy gels to pick me up for the final hills. But as I rode in under the finish-arch I was soooo happy there are no words to describe it!
I would love to do it again (you can read about it on www.vatternrundan.se) but then I will be better prepared - and take along rain gear!
But, all of you girls out there - if there is a will there is a way! Maybe slow, but a way!
Love this forum, must read all the threads and learn and get even more inspired!
Love, Lena!

[smittykitty]

Now I'm even more impressed!

[Tri Girl]

Wow, Lena! Super impressive doesn't even come close to how amazing your story is. Congrats on finishing (what sounds like) a true test of the human spirit!!
I've been riding for years and I don't even know if I could do that. The furthest I've gone is 114 miles, and that was on a sunny day.

You're amazing. You should feel such pride at your accomplishment!
Congrats, and welcome to TE.
Keep coming back!

Oh, and I just went to the website, and although I couldn't understand the words, I could definitley read the pictures. WOW! What beautiful scenery. WOW!! What an adventure!!

[LunaB]

Wow, Lena! Super impressive doesn't even come close to how amazing your story is. Congrats on finishing (what sounds like) a true test of the human spirit!!
I've been riding for years and I don't even know if I could do that. The furthest I've gone is 114 miles, and that was on a sunny day.

You're amazing. You should feel such pride at your accomplishment!
Congrats, and welcome to TE.
Keep coming back!

Oh, and I just went to the website, and although I couldn't understand the words, I could definitley read the pictures. WOW! What beautiful scenery. WOW!! What an adventure!!

Thank You so much!!! If you click on the british flag at the top right of the first page - it magically turns to english and you can read it!

[Tri Girl]

ooooo...magical! Thanks- didn't even see the little British flag up there.
After reading about it- now *I* want to do it (but it's a wee bit far for travel).
Just wow!

Just what is blueberry soup? Sounds lovely!

And holy moly- that is one gigantic lake! But if you look just to the W at Lake Vänern- that lake makes Lake Vättern look like a little pond.

[LunaB]

ooooo...magical! Thanks- didn't even see the little British flag up there.
After reading about it- now *I* want to do it (but it's a wee bit far for travel).
Just wow!

Just what is blueberry soup? Sounds lovely!

And holy moly- that is one gigantic lake! But if you look just to the W at Lake Vänern- that lake makes Lake Vättern look like a little pond.

Blueberry soup is just that - a cold soup made with blueberries, quite thick and sweet. A bit of a tradition among long distance skiers here in Sweden.

The other lake, Vänern, also has a Sportive, but they go for 3 days and not so far each day.

Yes do come over!!! It´s a great adventure and a wonderful experience!