El Tour de Tucson - November 19, 2011

Packing our bikes to head down to Tucson.

Picking up our packets at the Expo.

Getting ready the night before in our room.

Rhonda and Jodi

Showing our team name on the back of our jerseys.

Rhonda, Rachel, Sheryl

The starting line for the 111 mile had 4,000 cyclist.  They were as far ahead of you and behind you as you could see.

The first of two washes that we had to carry our bikes across.  This was about 1/4 mile and the 2nd one was around 1/2 mile.  This part of the race completely trashed my cletes.

Jodi, Rhonda and Sheryl at one of the snack/bathroom stations.

Me

Jodi and Andrea

Rhonda and Rachel (who is pretty funny and goofy)

Another aid station where we had our bikes checked.  The roads were incredibly rough and our bikes were taking a beating.

Sheryl, Rhonda, Andrea, Jodi, Rachel



We finished the race with huge smiles on our faces.  We had to do a lot of zig zagging around people to keep our pack of five together for the whole race but we managed to cross the finish line all together.  What an amazing time with incredible women that I'm so blessed to call my friends.  You girls are the best!
Andrea, Jodi, Rachel, Sheryl, Rhonda

When we weren't racing we were shopping, eating out and we also went to see Breaking Dawn on the opening weekend. 

Rachel, Andrea, Jodi, Rhonda

A beautiful little house that Rachel would like to call her own. 

Another fabulous race weekend with amazing friends. 

Training Completed

  In training for El Tour De Tucson,  we have have ridden until our legs can ride no more, been chased by a few dogs that luckily didn't take the chase too serious,  taken a few early early morning moonlight rides, fought the wind, basked in the sun and continued riding through the light rain as well as the freezing cold and hot weather. We have laughed until we nearly crashed and climbed hills bigger than we thought possible.   We have biked for hours and ended with lunch out in full bike gear and helmet heads.  We have all learned to change our tires and use our co2 cartridges to fill the new tube up.  I have personally crashed more than once due to not being able to unclip quickly enough but angels were watching over me each time as well as Rachel being there to take my foot out of my shoe when I couldn't unclip.  I have to say, this has been the best couple of months training with these women and now we have done all we can to train for our bike race next week.  This week is the hardest in training for me and that is because now it's time to try to taper.  I don't love to taper but I'm really feeling the exhaustion from how hard I have pushed myself over the last year and I think I would do well to take the advice of many smart people and relax (at least a little) this last week. 

 Rachel, Rhonda, Jodi, Sheryl (Andrea taking the picture) on a midweek 50 mile ride.

 Rhonda, Jodi, Andrea, Rachel, Sheryl on a Saturday morning 80 ride to Fountain Hills with 4 others.  A freezing morning to start off but a beautiful day by the time we finished.

 Rachel, Sheryl, Rhonda, Jodi and Andrea trying to squeeze into a self-portrait.

Unfortunately Andrea got sick this last week or more of heavy final training and she and Jodi were not able to complete the 100 mile training ride with us.  We missed them greatly but the three of us were able to get out and get that last long ride in.  We were pretty stoked to do our first century ride and we can't wait until El Tour De Tucson next week.  So grateful for husbands that support us and take care of kids while we get to be out experiencing so much.