You are capable of more than you know

You are capable of more than you know. 3 years ago today I crossed the finish line of the Dakota Five-0 Race/Ride/Tour, dropped to the ground and wept. The joy I felt in completing the hardest thing I had ever done was so overwhelming I couldn't hold it in. I had ridden 50 miles in the Black Hills, climbed over 7,000 ft of steep, long, unrelenting assents, pushed past the fatigue, the pain, hunger, thirst, and cramps in muscles I didn't know existed. It was as mentally challenging as it was physically. I came in 13th overall at 5hr and 13 mins. I was ecstatic at this result. The girl who took first beat me by a whopping 45 minutes that day. These girls at this race were the "real deal." 

Never did I imagine that 3 years later I'd come in at 4hrs and 34 mins, dropping my previous time by 40 minutes, and securing a 3rd place overall, out of 113 women. The race was still as tough as ever. I came in unknowing as I'd been training for 20 mi races all summer. Used to going 1 1/2 hrs above the red line and done. Most of my races on flat courses. Were my legs strong enough for this kind of elevation? would I have the stamina to triple my normal race time? Well, we'd find out soon enough, I was gunning for top 5 but wasn't going to stress about it. Felt strong morning of the race and paced well with one of the lead packs for the first 10 mi climb. Road the first 30 w one of my fav riding partners, Mr Marty Tank. Jammed the flowy pine sections, sprinted the fire roads and held steady climb after climb. After 30mi I had to let him go as I could feel the fatigue setting in. I had been rolling in a strong 2nd position until mi 34. Girl came up on me and I stuck with her for a bit until we came up on the worst hills of the day. I had to let her go as I was starting to bonk and knew if I tried to stick, I'd run the risk of blowing up completely. She informed me she passed the next closest girl at mi 18 so I knew I had plenty of space. So I slowed the pace and played it safe in the last fully exposed technical section. The type where you make a mistake, you're headed straight to the bottom. I couldn't get to the final 10 mi decent fast enough. Once there, the fun began as I blazed down and around. With only 6mi to go my shifter fell off. I just started laughing. If that had happened anywhere else in the race, I'd be toast. Only 6 to go, all down hill, who needs gears! 

Made it to the finish and there is Ryan, the love of my life, cheering me to the end with a big old grin on his face. My world was complete. Amazing weekend, Ryan ended up 10th overall, Wisconsin boys brought the heat w 5 top 10 finishes and we got to hang with some pretty cool cats. Thanks to 212 crew for letting us tag along, Broken Spoke Bikes for my Niner Rocket and Funkier Bike USA for keeping me looking cute!

You are capable of so much more then you know. Yes, YES YOU ARE!