So, I was born on this day, 26 years ago. Doesn't seem like it's been that long. Yet it does because I can't seem to remember anything before that event...
I love to ride my bikes. I don't have my new moutain bike yet. It's in the shop, I just need to pick it up and haven't had time yet. So... I rode my rode bike today at lunch. It's also easier to rode ride at lunch than trail ride. I thought it would be a great birthday activity to go out at lunch and suffer up one of our threatening climbs here in Boulder.It was a beautiful day out today and we had a great ride. (I went with some coworkers and others that work near Ball)
3 of us were planning to ride up sunshine canyon, maybe even to the top, but we ran into Bill, a guy I used to ride with a bunch but haven't lately, and he was heading up super flagstaff with some friends so we decided to join him. There were 7 of us that rode up flagstaff all the way to the top. We rode to the base of the climb at an easy pace, but as soon as we hit the climb the pace was raised quite a bit. I was hurting at the bottom, giving almost everything I had to try to stay on and got dropped about 1/3 of the way to the top. I kept pushing though and praising God (helps me get through the pain). and I was asking God to give me the strength to beat Bill because he is a good climber and I've ridden with him a lot and never outright beat him, but come close several times. anyways, he had already dropped me, but i spotted him and another guy struggling up the 'wall' and i was feeling pretty good at that point. I decided to keep pushing at a steady pace but not too hard. I was closing the gap and he spotted me at the last switch backs and put in an extra effort to try to keep me off. I almost gave up, but kept my cool and kept pushing at my steady pace. After I cleared the last switch back I stood up and pushed HARD up the last climb and passed bill and the other guy about 5m before the finish line! It was awesome! and painful! I ended up third at just under 34min behind a Rocky Mounts guy who did it in 29 something and kraig who finished in just over 31min. God is so good! what a great birhday present to finally out climb Bill. I haven't been climbing that great lately either. So far, it's been a great birthday!
