Elephant Rock Ride

I did the Elephant Rock Ride this weekend in Castle Rock. It’s a bike ride of 50, 65 or 100 miles. You choose your poison. I chose the 100 mile ride, and today I’m paying for it. I’m not as sore as the Marathon three weeks ago, but I think this challenge was harder than the two marathons I’ve done. The first mile had one of those hills that reminded me of the Jane Fonda exercise video she put out years ago “feel the burn” I believe she used to say. Michelle always corrects me when I say lets go up to the Springs because you’re actually heading south, but I’m talking elevation not direction! The scenery is really beautiful and thanks to all the officers who kept me and the thousands of other cyclists safe. At the 61 mile marker they had an aid station and while glancing at the map I noticed one at 68. I found that strange, being that the other aid stations had been about 20 miles apart. I found out why and the name Roller Coaster Rd. Holly crap that road sucks! From mile 77 to about 86 was fun, it was all down hill and I think I got up to 38 miles an hour through that stretch. For the next month it’s swim, swim, swim. I plan to do an open water swim or two, then next month Lake Placid!

The Giving Tree

My mother is one of the most unselfish people on this planet. I remember doing a play based on the book “The Giving Tree” when I was maybe 5 or 6. If you don’t know the story it’s about a boy whose best friend as a child is a tree. As he grows up he needs more and more from the tree. At the end of the story, all that’s left of the tree is a stump. He has nothing left to give the boy, who now is an old man, except something to sit on. You get the feeling in the book the boy (old man) doesn’t fully appreciate the sacrifices the tree has made for him, yet it makes the tree happy giving unconditionally to the boy. In a lot of ways my mother has had a hard life, but through it all she continues to come out on top. I admire your strength, determination, and unconditional love. These are values you have taught me, and ones I hope to pass on to my kids. I hope I am half the parent and human being you are mother. Thank you for everything you have done for me, and Happy Mothers Day.