Race the lake 2014,

I planned and rode to match last years’ time.  I did achieve this, to the exact time as last year.  Lucky?, yes.  Happy?, yes.  Wish I beat last year by one minute?, yes.  A very skilled project manager?, without a doubt.

But this ride, this year (2014), I experienced a needle in a hay stack!  I experienced the one thing we all look for in every aspect of our life, besides cycling.

I started and finished the 90 miles with the same person, right in front of me.  Yes, a stranger.  Not supposed to be possible, especially, if we are both trying to make our own ride-plan goal, right?

I knew in the rolling hills on the last third of the 90 mile race, she would pull away.  We had a conversation about this hilly area, at the half way point, at High cliff rest stop.  It was her “home” workout area and I am heavy (you remember science class).  While riding in this hilly area, I could see she was turning around.  She was far ahead of me, but I noticed.  She was becoming a partner, with the same goal and desire to finish this.  I can believe that she must have the characteristics of a positive motivator, in her non-cycling life.  Her actions and behavior motivated me to push harder in those hills.  This stranger lead me, to stay focused on the finish line and my goal speed.  She seemed to stay just far enough ahead in this area to keep my motivation up (sheep herding).  The final stretch of the race is pretty much all downhill.  Here my weight benefits, with the courage to pump and hold on.

In Life some of us seek only one partner to do it all for us.  But that is a dream, achievable but still not likely.  All of us need leaders, mentors, and partners to push us to achieve everything we can dream.  To take on every complex inner need, that is inside of each of us, and to beat yesterday.  This is done with multiple partners, one or more for each interest.  Different friends that are so close, that they scare most people.  My first half of my life that I was gifted great people I called friends and many many interests and activities.   I interacted with many different types friends, from all walks of life (ask me about my recent middle daughter story about my friends).  I attribute everything I done right in my past, to each of those friends.  I believe if we could get all those, who I associated with in some part of my life, together, in one room.  Each of them would wonder who I really am?  The differences would shock most.  I try to add the best of each of them, to my long and complicated character and abilities description of myself.  I wouldn’t change one association in my life.

This Stranger reminded me to SEEK OUT mentors and more friends of same interest, and partner with them.  Maybe reconnect with some old associates or friends.  The great ones, like her, will motivate positively, to go where I dare to dream and reach above my present day’s comfort zone.  Now you do this, build a life so big, one book can’t explain it.

Website contains pages of tidbit stories of unique experiences , Bicycling and Personal.

The race plan

Race starts:

wave #1 5:50am