I've always loved running and being outdoors, and started competing at 13 in cross country and track. I made it to nationals in those early years, so I was enthusiastic about continuing in college, and landed at UCLA at an opportune time....earning an athletic scholarship in cross country and track. Our team was awarded the first ever women's scholarships, and it was a greet feeling to race for a respected university ! I ran my first marathon at 19, and a year later ran a 3:15 at nationals, good enough for second place, but this was still 12 years prior to the inclusion of the women's marathon in the Olympics. We ran "for free" back then, no prize money in the amateur days!! My crowning achievement was a gold medal in the Pan American Cup cross country in 1972.
Fast forward to the 1985, following a sciatic injury, and life found me out on a bike, tearing it up with the local club. I was in my 30s and rode my first century (100 miler) because the flier promised "plenty of free cookies and comradarie"! It wasn't long before I was entering bike races, and I again made it to nationals in a short time. I loved cycling even more than running - this was before helmets, and you could feel the wind in your hair! It was exhilarating, and I raced with a fury, winning 7 state championship jerseys in time trailing and road racing, some as an elite, some as a masters(age graded) athlete. I longed for a national championship, but made it only as far as a second place in the time trial in 1992. Twice I raced the masters world championships, finishing 5th both times. Racing in Europe was so exciting!! Suddenly, a year later in August, 1993, my life was forever changed. My husband had been in a serious cycling crash with several other riders, and he'd suffered a broken neck. He hung on and survived that first week, but his prognosis was grim...not expected to walk again and very limited use of his arms. We adjusted quickly to the hospital routine, worked incredibly hard, and never gave up. Three months later, Will haltingly walked out on Canadian crutches, and we returned to our rural home in Valley Springs. We were blessed to have friends who set up several fundraisers so that we would not lose our house, and the new daily routine began. Over the next several years, Will became more self-sufficient, and I began a new career as a PE teacher. Well, this was a good fit! I'd resumed running on our local trails for sanity and fitness, but competition had become a thing of the past. Our lives revolved around hospitals and medical care. Suddenly (well 17 years after his crash), my 60 birthday was coming. I realized how much I'd missed competition, a friend talked me into trying a triathlon, and (again suddenly), I was back..loving every minute of it! I had instant success in the Olympic distance tris, and placed my focus on a 1/2 ironman. I love training, I love testing myself, I love going further. Again, I had a great race, finishing in 6:15, not bad for 60. But I'd had huge I have learned a lot about life thru sports, and I think it is a way to express myself and feel alive. Altho my husband cannot physically take part ( he was a cat.2 cyclist in his day), he is supportive of my endeavors, and of course, I am a lot easier to live with when I get outdoors and exercise! I use my experiences to help my students set goals in their own lives, and hope that they, too, see the value in Never, Ever, Ever giving up! Our lives are anything but normal, what with continued medical assistance, but hospitals have become less traumatic and more of an expected inconvenience and discomfort. Everyone has challenges, and it is about facing them head on and never ever ever giving up. |
cramping problems in a few races, and that is why I got serious about using HAMMER ! I'd used it back in the late 80s, but now I needed to get serious about proper pre, during, and post race nutrition! Meanwhile, another friend encouraged me to return to cycling nationals, since it was only a 13 hour drive away! It was also only 10 days after my 1/2 ironman...but off we went!! I was kind of a spectacle, showing up on my 30 year old Merckx, with clip- on bars!! There were some serious bike
there!! Well, I would have to say, I got thrashed, BUT I loved it! The racing, the friendships, the atmosphere, all of it!! I'd planned to return to tris the following year, but nationals were returning to Oregon in 2013, so, with the encouragement and support of my husband, I trained like crazy , bought new bikes (beautiful Cervelo R3 and P2 road and TT), and returned some 8,000 training miles later for another try at a podium finish. I blasted thru both races, narrowly missing the podium, but again, loving every minute of it. Again, I expected to return to tris, where i think I can make it to worlds in the 1/2 IM event (60+)...but cycling nationals were not moved to the east coast, as expected. 2014 & 2015 will take place in Utah! Well, that is a "mere"15 hour drive, so...here I come! have learned a lot about life thru sports, and I think it is a way to express myself and feel alive. Altho my husband cannot physically take part ( he was a cat.2 cyclist in his day), he is supportive of my endeavors, and of course, I am a lot easier to live with when I get outdoors and exercise! I use my experiences to help my students set goals in their own lives, and hope that they, too, see the value in Never, Ever, Ever giving up! Our lives are anything but normal, what with continued medical assistance, but hospitals have become less traumatic and more of an expected inconvenience and discomfort. Will is an engineer and has designed a unique bike rack system for Porsches. Check it out: www.willwoodsystem.com Everyone has challenges, and it is about facing them head on and never ever ever giving up. |