The Finish Line to 2013

Another year draws to a close, and I'm reflecting on 2013 while looking ahead to the new year. This was an inspiring year in so many ways, with sad undercurrents mixed in. The bombing at the Boston Marathon, and the tragedy of the Seacoast Century, took the breath out of me. Sometimes it's hard to keep the momentum going, and I'm grateful to the many people who helped me move forward and reach my goals this year.

My health has improved, and although there are some days I'm dragging, it's not even close to how I felt a few years ago. My red cell count is still stupidly low, but I've been able to push through the fatigue without resorting to EPO. (Ha ha... I wouldn't want to be banned from cycling, i.e. Lance Armstrong.)  I credit my increase in energy to the changes I made in my diet this year -- sticking to whole, unprocessed foods and adhering to a Paleo lifestyle. I know there are skeptics to Paleo, but it's working for me. You should always find what works best for you.

This year I took on five different charity rides, including rides for the Vermont Food Bank, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the EOD Warrior Foundation -- and raised nearly $10,000 along the way. It wouldn't have been possible without the amazing support I get from all of you. Thank you for that.

Many of you know, after my crash in 2012, I was challenged to ride and raise money for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. I didn't know what EOD was at the time, and I didn't know the ride was on the other side of the country, but I agreed to look into it. When I talked to Mike about the ride in January, he supported my endeavor 100 percent. (More like a thousand percent, but he's a math geek and 1,000 percent wouldn't work for him.) Mike's support set everything else in motion in 2013... the training, the rides, the coaching... all of it. (Thanks, honey!)

The Undefeated EOD Ride wasn't the longest ride I've ever done, but it was the most inspiring -- and a remarkable challenge. I've said it many times, but it bears repeating that I'm grateful to the many people who made it work -- Especially my family and friends; my coach Shayne Gaffney; all of my riding partners; and of course my many sponsors.

I'm also indebted to the amazing warriors and friends I met on the ride; Tim, Jim, Schreck and Julia, Christine and Matt, Jimmy, Brad, Morgan, Shane, Jason and Chelsea, Kathy, Kevin... it's a long list. Thank you.

I don't know what adventures lie ahead, but I'm excited for the New Year! I'm inspired by my fellow Vanderkitten athletes and can't wait to join in on some of the fun. Since my cycling days are somewhat in limbo, (due to snow), I'll have to get my VK action on the slopes. I'm hoping Joe, my favorite snowboard instructor, is back at Nashoba Valley this winter. (I'm determined to graduate from the Nashoba Slope, Joe! Get ready!)

Like last year at this time, I'm hanging on for winter frostbite rides, but the weather hasn't cooperated. I am also working to complete the Tri Inside the Y Ironman Challenge... with a lot of rowing and running to do. (OMG. I can't believe how much running I still have to do...)

But, I can see the finish line to 2013 -- I intend to finish strong.

The Paleo Approach

My post for the Paleo Nut Bars has been popular, receiving quite a number of hits in the last few days. A friend asked me if they were low cal. No, sorry, they're not. I've calculated the calories though. If you want that info, send me an email. (I don't want to scare you.)

I didn't adopt a paleo diet to lose weight, although I wouldn't mind dropping a few pounds. Who wouldn't? I cleaned up my diet because of my health. I struggle with fatigue and a condition called hemolytic anemia. (In a nutshell, red blood cells are destroyed too early in my spleen -- while my bone marrow tries to keep up.) As we've all learned from Lance Armstrong, athletes covet those oxygen-rich, pumped up red cells for performance and endurance. (And since blood doping is out of the realm for me... Wow, that is insane, isn't it?)

I picked up a book called Practical Paleo after several people in my farm co-op suggested a few recipes in it. As I read the book, I became more interested in cleaning up my (our) diets. Mike is on board with a paleo lifestyle, Chip is half and half, and Will... is Will. ("Don't take away my processed fooooood! My chocolate pudding snack packs, Chips Ahoy and Kraft Mac & Cheese!!! I'll DIE!" (So typical Will.)

Adopting a whole foods approach -- eliminating refined sugars, grains (cereal grains, wheat, corn), dairy, and all processed foods -- has helped restore my energy. (A year ago, my bike sat idle all winter long. This year, it's a different story.) I no longer have the overwhelming fatigue that used to hit me in the afternoons. I feel a hundred percent better. I know I'll always have a low hematocrit and B12 -- I can't control that -- but I can definitely control the food choices I make and how they effect me. Paleo is working for us!

Oh, Lance... you make it so hard to like you.

Count me in as one of the people who believed that Lance Armstrong was clean. (I know... Pollyanna...) I was angry at our hometown boy Tyler Hamilton for his own admissions to doping... because I defended and believed in Tyler, too. But Lance, well, his betrayal cuts even deeper. I've supported the LiveStrong Foundation. I've worn the yellow bracelets. I was thrilled when Lance rode the Pan Mass Challenge 2 years ago and was grateful for his support in the PMC. I thought he was an amazing athlete and a true inspiration -- but I especially admired him for what he did off the bike for cancer survivorship. Part of me had a feeling he was cheating, (knowing how prevalent doping is in cycling), but I chose not to believe it. I wanted to believe in Lance. What a shame.

Inspiration

Will is in a bit of a funk today. His football team lost their 5th straight game last night while Chip's team likely made the playoffs. It's not always easy when one boy has more success than the other. I tend to become a walking Nike ad, trying to spin their negative thoughts into positive inspiration. Of course they think I'm crazy.

I'm feeling sore today after working intervals with Christine on Monday. She hit all the muscles the bike doesn't touch. I hurt all over. Guess I need to start quoting those Nike ads to myself.

And speaking of Nike... I just learned that they dropped Lance Armstrong from their stable of endorsements, claiming Armstrong "misled" Nike for more than a decade. Really? In a sport rife with doping, Nike was in the dark?. Ummm... o.k... whatever. I'm not defending Armstrong by any means, but we all know there wasn't any juice left to squeeze out of that endorsement deal... the guy retired 2 years ago. But claiming the moral high ground here, while standing behind other embattled athletes including Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, Marion Jones and Alex Rodriguez (who admitted to taking PEDs), seems rather bogus, don't you think?

I wrote this post when Armstrong announced that he wasn't planning to fight the USADA charges against him. Absent of actual proof that he cheated, I felt he deserved the benefit of the doubt. (Especially since Nike supported other athletes with questionable morals.) Armstrong has since admitted to doping. Another hero bites the dust.

Just Do It

Remember this Lance Armstrong ad for Nike a few year's ago?? It still makes me want to get out and RIDE! (Click to play. 1 min 33 sec.)

Pan Mass Challenge 2011

Congratulations to all riders and volunteers participating in this year's Pan Mass Challenge! It was a memorable PMC for many reasons -- the celebrations, the celebrity (Lance Armstrong & David Ortiz!), the camaraderie among the riders and volunteers, and of course THE RAIN. (Wow!) Our PMC weekend will also be remembered for the emotions we all shared. We all missed Sam's commanding presence at this year's PMC -- and seeing his photo hanging at Babson College was very touching. (Thank you, Donna!) Photos from the ride can be posted to our online album at Shutterfly. Send me an email if you have trouble. Congrats to all!