One Inspires Many

At a recent WomenOnCall.org Meet and Match event, Madeleine Albright stated "If I could be described with one word it is grateful. And if one is grateful you want to give back." This quote resonated with me. I am grateful and I do what I can to give back.

Over a year ago, Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club came across my profile on the WomenOnCall.org web site. On paper it was a perfect fit. They needed some assistance with their marcom and my degrees are in marketing, plus I was a triathlete. It's been a great match! I've been working virtually on a project basis, a committee member for their first Evening2Inspire Gala and volunteering at different clinics and events.

This past Saturday I spent an afternoon volunteering at their annual Multisport Clinic. Athletes come for a day of functional strength training and yoga, swim, cycling and run/push clinics. This is a great opportunity to kick off the triathlon season and is open to athletes with disabilities of all ages, ability levels and experience with triathlon.

Each athlete comes with their own unique story and one is more inspiring than the next. But Saturday I was touched by one athlete in particular. He was hiking with 5 friends in Colorado and the group was up at 11,000 ft in a snow storm when he fell landing on his head. As a result he suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed. He couldn't be airlifted off the mountain due the poor weather conditions. So two of his buddies hiked down the mountain to get help. Rescue teams in that area are all volunteers and quickly 9 men and 1 woman were hiking up the mountain. He described how they got him off the mountain and saved his life. He's grateful every day and knows to make the most of his life.

 
This guy is a real fighter. He's walking and making amazing progress. Saturday was his first time he was able to ride an upright bike since it was secured on a trainer and his stability wasn't an issue. The hour session brought a wide smile to his face. Just as cycling brings us such enjoy, he was able to experience that joy again.

As he continued to tell me his story, I got chills when as he described that his ultimate goal is to return to Colorado, climb that mountain with the same 5 buddies, and stand at the point where he fell. Remember that's 11,000 ft., a challenge for even an able body person. I have no doubt he will accomplish his goal. After the climb he will return to the hospital to thank the wonderful folks that helped him as well as the rescue team. This tragic event will come full circle with a happy ending.

Dare2tri's tag line is One Inspires Many. The statement is just three short words but are so powerful. Whenever I meet the Dare2tri athletes I'm inspired by them. I honestly think I get more out of volunteering than the athletes.

If you are interested in volunteering with Dare2tri or know someone who could benefit from their services, check out their web site. Also, WomenOnCall.org is an amazing organization that matches non-profits with volunteers. They have opportunities for virtual and on-site openings.

I am truly grateful to be able to give back.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

Can you truly have it all?

It's the age old question most women face. Can you have it all? The question is even tougher when you throw in working out or training for competition. Between family, work, relationships, and other commitments, something has to give. Unfortunately, I see that all too often women tend to give up their workout time first before sacrificing family time. That's why when I came across this event, I thought I'd share it with you.

Can you truly have it all?

On March 3rd, FlexJobs.com is hosting a FREE online documentary "HAVING IT ALL" followed by a special online panel with leading experts. They want to facilitate a discussion about the challenges for career-focused women who also want a family, the common misunderstandings, and changes that need to happen to improve the landscape for parents in the workplace.

HAVING IT ALL is a documentary about three professional women who set out to live their dreams of balancing career, marriage, and children. Director Vlada Knowlton follows each of their lives for two trying years, through unanticipated trade-offs, painful sacrifices, and routinely overlooked yet ubiquitously endured experiences of today's working parents. The documentary examines how each woman finds herself with a changed life and a changed idea of what HAVING IT ALL really means.

For more information and to register for the movie and/or the online panel discussion go to this link. The film will be available for online viewing on March 3rd from 5am-4pm ET and the panel discussion is from 4-5pm ET. Both events are FREE, but you must register and there's limited attendance for the panel discussion.

If you are looking for cycling related resources for women, TheChainlink has added a Women's Cycling Resource Center. Check it out for a variety of topics and links from advocacy to blogs, to event/rides to gear and bikes. Also Wisconsin Women Cycling and Women Bike Chicago.  Feel free to share some other great women's cycling resources.

By nature women try to juggle a lot every day. I'm divorced and no kids, but still find it hard to balance training, relationships, family, work, volunteering and maintaining a home. But I try very hard to not give up my training time, because it is my therapy, too. It's okay to be a little selfish and take some time for yourself and workout. In the long run it will make you a happier person.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

When push comes to shove, pick the right race for you.

I've always kept it real with you in my blogs when talking about my own issues with body image, fears, successes and failures. Well today's blog is no different.

Yesterday I competed in my first fat tire race. I thought it would be more of a "fun" race since it was called the Fat Cupid and there were couples and junior divisions in addition to the women's and men's categories. I opted for the couples category thinking what a great way to spend Valentines Day. We only had to start and finish together, allowing each of us to ride our own pace. Perfect...so I thought.

From the very start, the event reminded me why I stay away from group races and gravitate towards triathlons and time trials. No one can touch me while I'm on the bike!!! It's not in my DNA to be aggressive and push my way to the front of the pack. Just don't want anyone pushing me when I'm on my bike. Period!!

For the start of the race, they let the long course (8 laps) competitors off first with about a 5 minute delay for the short course (4 laps) riders. The course was a combination of single and double track with great snow conditions.

We headed out of the start shoot on double track and immediately headed down a hill. The guys were so aggressive to get to the front, that I got pushed into deep snow. Immediately I went down. (I guess they call that "making snow angels") I checked to make sure nothing was broken, brushed myself off and continued the race. Soon the double track turned to single track. Since I fell I was now at the back of the pack with some slower riders. This gave the fast guys finishing their first lap time to catch up. It was crazy having to pull over and let faster riders go by while trying not to get too far behind. The majority of folks would yell rider back so you could get out of the way. But there was one guy who actually swore at me. Instead of yelling some profanity back at him, I just yelled "Thank you and have a nice day." Silly me, I had no idea the 1st place was a million dollars and that you need to run over everyone. What an ass.

On the second lap a guy went to pass me on the double track. Now I was all the way to the right so riders could pass. There's room on this section for 3-4 bikes abreast to get by. But he came so close to me he hooked my handle bars and took me down hard. Okay I'm not even two laps into this "fun" race and I've been taken down twice!! Or should I say I made two snow angels? Well at least I'll be sore evenly since I've now fallen on my left and my right. (Cup half full)

By the third lap I was pretty tired. Racing in snow is a lot tougher than road riding. And maneuvering on the trails is tiring both physically and mentally. It requires upper and lower body strength and 100% concentration. I was pretty frustrated and thought briefly about a DNF. But I owed it to my partner to finish. As I started my 4th lap Mitch was already done waiting to cross the finish line with me. So instead of just hanging out, he came along for my last lap and encouraged me along the way. It felt good to cross the finish line and not get a DNF. But it definitely reminded me why I don't do group races!!

How I felt when it was all over!

I am glad we went. It allowed me to have a new experience as well as spend Valentines with my honey. But my bike racing will be limited to time trials and tris. As I was racing I thought about the 2 person 50K time trial we did last year and how that was way better. No one pushed me over.


When you are picking the type of race(s) you want to do this year, think about you're comfort zone. It's okay to challenge yourself and try something outside your "box". Like a longer distance or a hilly course. But at the end of the day, make sure you are still having fun.

If you are doing your very first triathlon this year, consider one of the many women's only races. There's a drastic difference between a coed and an all women's race. The lack of testosterone in the mix makes for a much more civilized swim, as well as more encouragement from fellow athletes. I'm not saying women aren't competitive, but they are competitive in a different way.

I'm done making snow angels and looking forward to races where they don't say "Are you ready to rumble?"

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

For the love of your bike - Happy Velo-tines Day!

As cyclists we have a love for our bike(s). I found this poem in one of my eNewsletters and written by Anne-Marije :: Editor, Ella CyclingTips. Thought I'd share it with you on this Valentines Day.

There is nothing in the world that brings me more joy
You’re my transportation, my recreation and my favourite toy
Whether we’re among friends or enjoying some solitude
You always know how to put me in a better mood
Together we can travel to any place we should choose
You’re my ticket to freedom and my way of letting loose
You offer me release and peace of mind
A way to escape from the daily grind
You’re my biggest challenge
But also the thing that keeps my life in balance
You’re my therapy and my favourite endorphin high
My church, my comfort, the apple of my eye
A life without you simply won’t do
Dear bike, I am so madly in love with you!

I'm up in Appleton WI today "competing" in the Fat Cupid Fat Tire race. I'll fill you in when I'm back. Should be good for a few laughs.

Hubs and Kisses

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

Women empowering women

The majority of my posts are strictly about cycling or fitness, but bare with me today there are synergies with today's post. I wanted to share with you a company that was recently featured on Shark Tank. R. Riveter handbags is a company started by two military wives. They chose Rosie the Riveter, the WWII icon, because she embodies everything they stand for. Rosie's spirit and her 'we can do it' attitude definitely applies here.

Athletes need the same mantra as Rosie

Many people aren't aware of the sacrifices military personnel and their families make. Frequent moves are the norm, with the average enlisted soldier relocating every 2-3 years. This in turn makes it difficult for military spouses to pursue or maintain a single career path. So founders Lisa Bradley and Caneron Cruse (both military spouses) created R. Riveter.

Leveraging a mobile workforce across the country, military spouses fabricate various parts of the handbags in their own homes and then ship them to Georgia for assembly. Each handbag features durable materials including uniforms, tents and blankets. Materials are sourced from government surplus or when possible, directly from service members.

I recently ordered my bag (Signature Patton) not only because it looks great, but for what it symbolizes. It arrives in April as the company saw a huge spike in business after their segment aired. But I feel it is worth the investment and wait.

Just as R. Riveter strives to inspire, engage, and empower, I hope you find a bit of Rosie in yourself. It's the 'we can do it' attitude that each of us as athletes must believe in order to be successful. No self doubting or negativity allowed here.


Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

P.S. A shout out to all the current and former military personnel and their families. Thank you for your service.

The female voice

I'm excited about a new opportunity that presented itself recently. John Marsh, editor and publisher of RoadBikeRider.com has asked me to be a contributing writer and also be part of their product review team. There's a need for a female voice in a male dominated industry. I hope to provide that voice in an educational, fun and informative manner.

My first article was recently published so take a look. I also encourage the women who read my blog to voice their ideas for product reviews and even article topics. What do you want to know?

If you don't already receive RBR newsletter on a weekly basis, I encourage you to subscribe. I've been reading it for several years. Knowledge is power.

I look forward to hearing from you with ideas.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

Extending the cycling season during the Midwest winter

Extending the cycling season in the Midwest has always been a challenge. The last thing I want to do is hop on a trainer for 90 minutes. I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a sharp stick. So I look for alternatives to get outside during the cold winter months. There's snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, and a plethora of gym workouts like functional training, yoga and group exercise classes.

But I've been enjoying getting out on my fat tire bike when the conditions allow. We've had a few good snowfalls to provide opportunities to trail ride. But lately we've been plagued with not enough snow and a lot of ice or mud. So what's a cyclist to do? Head to the beach of course!

To avoid damaging the area trails or risk going down on a patch of ice, we headed to the shores of Lake Michigan to ride on the beach. Fat tire bikes work on the sand just as they do on snow. And you don't have to worry about damaging the trails.

#EndureAndEnjoy

After a ride on the beach you'll want to be sure to clean the chain and gears as the sand can cause added wear. I discovered a great tip a few years ago. Buy a 5 gallon garden sprayer at your local hardware store. Fill it with water at home and pack it in your car to spray down your bike after a sandy or muddy ride. It works great. You won't track the mess into your car, the mud wont harden on the bike, plus it keeps your bike clean. But be sure to scrub your chain when you get home and lube it up for the next ride.

Garden pump sprayers are great for hosing down your bike. Anywhere. Anytime.

So set out on your own adventure this winter. According to the Groundhog, spring is just around the corner.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

It's nice to share the passion

Today is February 1st and that means Valentines Day is just around the corner. I'm a firm believer that your shouldn't wait until that one day of the year to tell your honey what they mean to you or do something special for them. It should be year round.

It is always nice when your partner shares your passion, especially when that passion is cycling. I meet too many people who's spouses are cycling widows or widowers. Cyclists spend so many hours out on the road or trail each week that it's a shame when you can't enjoy it together.

This Valentines Day we found a unique way to celebrate this Hallmark holiday. Last night we signed up for Fat Cupid Classic Fat Bike Race. They have the typical categories of any bike race event but added a couples division. Rules are you must both cross the finish line together.

It will be four laps on both single track and cross country ski trails. Mitch keeps teasing me that he's going to bring reading materials so he has something to do as he waits for me to navigate the course. But I'm counting on us to work as a team as we did last summer for our two person time trial. The test of a good relationship...communication, teamwork and encouraging each other.

But honestly, since this type of racing is all new to me, I'm hoping there's nothing too treacherous. Guess you can always get off and walk if required. The key is to have fun. Right?

I'm continuing to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. I'll certainly report back how it all went.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri