What should I title this blog?

Keep Pushing Chris

You’re ITS Kryptonite

Wind – it’s just God talking 

Getting Strong Now


There are so many options of the title of the blog this time.  I have been doing a lot of biking the past few weeks – all of it on hills and in less than ideal weather conditions (wind, rain, thunder, cool temperatures). 

On Thursday I had 4 hill repeats up Hyalite.  The first 2 repeats were easy effort, the last 2 were hard efforts.  My friend Amy did the first lap with me – I loved having the company!  This is Amy’s “year of hills” – she is working hard to become a stronger cyclist and she is doing awesome on Hyalite!

Amy and me at Hyalite

Keep Pushing Chris 

Today (Saturday) was a long bike day.  It started with 3 hill repeats up Kelly Canyon with the Women Who Tri group just to get warmed up – HA!  My coach, Matt, joined me for the next part of the ride which was up and over Jackson Creek.  As we got close to the top of Jackson Creek I was falling behind and I heard Matt say “Keep pushing Chris”.  That little bit of encouragement was all I needed to pick up my cadence a bit and I got to the top with a good effort at the end.  Matt is a great coach – he always knows just what to say, and when to say it!  Matt and I separated here – he turned around and went home, I continued on to the bottom/other side of Jackson Creek.  When I got to the end,  I was supposed to do the Bozeman Pass but, it was full of little rocks (maybe recently chip sealed) and little rocks and tri bike don’t play well together so I turned around and went back over Jackson Creek, climbed Bridger to Bohart where Pat met me with some extra drink and food supplies.

Pat's view while waiting at Bohart for me

More Bohart views

 


You’re ITS kryptonite/Battle Ridge lost the battle today 

After Bohart came my least favorite climb in the Gallatin Valley – Battle Ridge.  Every time I do Battle Ridge (years past and one time earlier this spring) it always gets the best of me.  I get to the top but, it’s always a struggle both mentally and physically.  As I was leaving Pat, I said – “Next up is my kryptonite”.  Pat said in his very loud, drill sergeant voice “NOT TODAY, TODAY YOU’RE ITS KRYPTONITE”.   As I was heading up this pass I kept hearing ‘NOT TODAY, TODAY YOU’RE ITS KRYPTONITE” and was also humming the Rocky tune in my head.  I conquered Battle Ridge today – both mentally and physically!  Battle Ridge lost the battle today. :)

Wind – it’s just God talking 

It was so windy today during the ride.  I don’t know which direction the wind was actually blowing, it seemed to change every couple minutes.  I have a new attitude about wind lately (usually I do not like it).  My Aunt Lorna lives in a house in the mountains and she told me she loves the wind because of the sound it makes as it blows through the trees.  She said “It’s just God talking”.  I hear her saying that every time now when I am riding in the wind and it actually calms me to think about that.

Getting Strong Now 

It ended up being a 90 mile bike ride with 5600 feet of elevation gain.  And another plus – at the end of the ride I felt awesome!  I love getting off the bike after a hard, long day and feeling like I can do more.  I was not exhausted.  “Getting Strong Now” - Rocky

Showered and waiting for dinner, fell asleep... not comfortable