Bicycling Is Proof That God Loves Us And Wants Us To Have Fun

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Triple D Jan 19th. Bike, Ski, and Run.

http://tripled.athlete360.com/ <--click link="" on="" p="" sign="" to="" up....="">

Jan. 19th 2014 the Best Western hotel will be buzzing again. Triple DDD. Some come to race, some come to ride and the camaraderie. Some finish, some don’t. Runners, cyclists, skiers something for everybody. It is more than anything else, a whole lot of fun, the night before, the journey, and the evening afterwards. Come join.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

"On Our Bikes"

Melissa 1986 on her bike

"On our bikes."

It was over 20 years ago that I last rode a bicycle with her. Her life got so busy. She went on to become an accomplished pianist, a piccolo player and an all-state level flute player. Along with math and State speech competitions, college courses in high school, valedictorian, and a 4.0 National Merit Scholar. By this time the sanctity of the home had crumbled. Alcoholism and drug abuse running rampant and out of control in a parent will do that to any home. I thought I could fix it, make it all better, I couldn’t. It only got worse sending the household into hell. Melissa needed to get out, and left home at age 17. Iowa State University knew she was an exceptional student and offered her a 4 year full scholarship. Attending classes at a more then full time schedule while maintaining employment with whatever time was left over. Summers found her interning out of state for Proctor and Gamble, and Flint Oil refinery.

Graduating with a Chemical Engineering degree in 2003 with multiple employers throwing out their welcoming mat she has maintained gainful employment ever since. Giving birth to my grandson Cole she became a wonderful and loving mother and continues to be so.

Seeking and needing mores challenges she began a grueling training regimen of long distance running and setting her sights on and competing in many half and full marathons. Placing in meets and returning to her home town to take 2^nd place in a 26.2 mile marathon in January through snow covered Iowa trails. Now setting her sights on a 31 mile race and several other marathons. But it wasn’t to be. She “blew” her foot up and after two years of surgeries and recovery and the foot not letting her run the bike became her friend again.
We went riding today, my daughter and I. We had a blast. She rides quite well as we rode snow packed trails with her on a “skinnie” CX bike. We will race Cirrem together this February across snow and ice covered Iowa gravel roads for 65 miles. "On our bikes."

Melissa and me "on our bikes" today.