2011 LOTOJA

Our Group: Kevin, Jamie, Shauna and Nate

206 miles, 1 day, 3 states

Nate's finish!

Our Finish!

Since I am writing this blog, I want to Thank Kevin for encouraging me, believing in me and riding with me.

Jamie for being my trainer all summer long, your magic push fingers and your

"you can do it"'s.

And Nate for wanting to ride with us even though I am slower than you guys!

Our support crew: Morgan, Chase, Adam, Grandpa Bullfrog and Grandma Froggie

Without the support crew, we couldn't do this every year!

This was Kevin's 10th (actually 11th) year to ride Lotoja.  The first year he rode was with his Dad in 1990.  Kevin got the stomach flu the day before the ride and only made it half way before he had to get in the vehicle.  But this year.  We were riding in a group and we were going to finish strong.

During sign in, Froggie won $125.00 from the All About Socks kiosk.  This is a good sign!  Not to mention the ride was on 9.10.11

Our original plan was to ride with Tony and his family on their tandem and John and his family on their tandem.  But they weren't quite ready at the start so we headed out with the first wave off the line at 6:30 a.m.

Sieverts caught us about half way to Preston and we rode with them into Preston.

On to Strawberry Pass and the first climb of the day.  I was suffering with stomach aches from Preston to Montpelier.  Not bad enough to throw up or go the bathroom, but it did slow me down.

Just before Salt River Pass,  I felt better and wasn't bothered the rest of the day.

Not so for Kevin.  He got sick to his stomach at the top of Salt River  and started throwing up.  Salt River is half way.  Kevin than had trouble keeping any thing in his stomach the rest of the day.

Weather was perfect!  Warm and beautiful!

We didn't have any flats!

Our Support crew did a fabulous job keeping us fed, watered, positive feedback and if it wasn't for Chase, I would only have 2 photos of this entire day!

But we did it! After the Snake River neutral feed zone.  Nate rode on ahead.  We found a coke for Kevin at a support spot about 8 miles from the finish and Kevin was able to keep that down.  Nate ended up finishing only 10 minutes ahead of us.  Sieverts finished about an hour ahead of us.  We finished and we were stoked!

And the rings were delivered at the awards ceremony.

It was a great ride from my perspective.  How can you go wrong when your support crew and riding buddies keep you going.  It helps if you want to succeed!

Love you guys! 

 Every year I ride Lotoja I get a life lesson, this year my thoughts are:

Life is like a Lotoja ride.  Some parts are easy, some are hard.  There are hills to climb and then there are hills to zoom down.  We practice all summer for a one day ride.  In life we practice all our life for that one moment or event that let's you know your alive!  Some things can be done alone, but when you have others with you, your success has a better chance of happening.

Keep the Lord with you everyday!  We could all use a support crew! 

2011 Midnight Ulcer

 This was the crew for our annual ride around Utah Lake, at night.  We have turned this ride into a tradition and we love it.  100 miles on a weekend of a full moon.

 Starting at 6:30 p.m. at the IHOP in Lehi.  We ride west to Redwood Road, then South to Elberta, East to Payson, then North through Springville, Provo and back to Lehi, IHOP.

We had some new riders this year, Arial and Shelly came along and did awesome!

We had beautiful weather and a tail wind, also some strong riders who pushed our speed along so that we averaged 21 miles an hour.

This was the first year we have arrived at Eureka before dark.

We arrived at IHOP in Lehi about 1:00 a.m. for breakfast.

Thanks everyone.  It was a great ride!

New friend, aka:  Adam's cousin;   Anjii Hansen.

Anjii came through Utah the first time on the 4th of July after racing in CO.  She was on her way back to CA and stayed with us a couple of days.  She then came back to race in the Tour of Utah hand cycle competition on Aug 13 and we had the pleasure of having her stay at our house for a week. 
We took advantage of our time together to share a few rides.

We spent some time at Utah Lake

We watched Anjii race.  Which she did fabulous!

Drove to the top of the Alpine Loop and watched the tour of Utah.

Then we spent a few hours of paddling on Tibble Fork Resevoir.  

Anjii- It was a pleasure getting to know you better.  Thank you for joining our crazy family activities and bringing a few more to our schedule.  and Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for life, your positive energy and a few late night chats.  We wish you the best in life!

In the beginning.....

There was a swimming pool, running shoes and a bike.

Then there was a friend named Jodee who called and said

 "There is a "Women of Steel triathlon" race, you should join with me."

So I did!  And so did Kim!

--Bike and Running shoes are ready!--

Jamie, Kevin and I had already decided in January that we were going to swim this winter to:

Change things up, give us something else to exercise.

Our first swimming days were comical.  We floundered, we splashed, we plowed

through the water and worried the lifeguards, that someone might need saving.

--I'm ready!  Let's do this!--

 So, I contacted a swimming instructor who gave us some pointers.

Much needed and much appreciated.  No drowning for us!

This is the pool.  You swim down one side of the lane and then swim back on the other side of the lane.  Move over to the next land and do it again.  Completing 3 lanes for 300 meters.  I felt like I did good.  The training helped.  The hard part was slower swimmers in front or s-walkers.  (Swim-Walkers).  It was hard to pass.

 Jump out of the water, run to the staging area and get on the bike.

My favorite of course!

Two laps for 12.75 miles on the bike and then...

Run, Shauna, Run! 

3 miles to the finish line.

This was a lot of fun.

Jodee did great,  so did Jodee's daughter-in-law Shauna.

And here Kim and I are celebrating.

And scheming, when should we do another Tri. 

Thanks Jodee for the idea!

Thanks Kim for the hours in the pool, encouraging my swimming

And our early morning rides!

Finished in 1:40:56 only 19:46 behind first place in my age group.

Swim 9:14, Bike 48:22, Run 35:25.

Kim finished in 1:42:36.  She swam and rode the bike faster.

Oh-I did this the day after my birthday!  Makes me feel young!

Coming Soon