Every year, on a Saturday in early June, bike racers take over a few blocks of Ballard for the Ballard Criterium. Despite having never actually done this race, it holds a lot of (not-so-good) memories for me. For my first year at Ballard, I was deep in the throes of injury. This was an injury that took me from an up-and-coming, aspiring pro bike racer to ... nothing. An injury that would keep me on the sidelines at Ballard for a few more years and ultimately lead me away from road bike racing and into trail running.
For the first few years, going to Ballard was rough. It was a sharp, painful reminder of all that was lost in my short-lived bike racing career. Some years I avoided it. Some years I just showed up and endured. But as time went on, it got easier, and on days like yesterday, I can volunteer at the race with a sense of gratitude about what Ballard has taught me.
I'm currently in the midst of training for the Cascade Crest 100 mile endurance run. The event is still about 3 months away, and I have my biggest, hardest weeks of training ahead of me. Seriously, I can't even look at my plan because it freaks me out. However, maybe the hardest weeks actually aren't ahead of me. They may have been those few years of watching the Ballard crit on the sidelines, and just enduring.
Ballard taught me how to endure. There were many years when I couldn't run at all, or even bike. There were times when my physical therapists told me not to ever be a runner. But I endured. And now that my life is more in order, with an exciting career, a great group of friends, a kind-but-no-bullshit husband, two love-bug dogs, and the trails as my outlet, I think these next three months will be a celebration of all that I've endured.
For the first few years, going to Ballard was rough. It was a sharp, painful reminder of all that was lost in my short-lived bike racing career. Some years I avoided it. Some years I just showed up and endured. But as time went on, it got easier, and on days like yesterday, I can volunteer at the race with a sense of gratitude about what Ballard has taught me.
I'm currently in the midst of training for the Cascade Crest 100 mile endurance run. The event is still about 3 months away, and I have my biggest, hardest weeks of training ahead of me. Seriously, I can't even look at my plan because it freaks me out. However, maybe the hardest weeks actually aren't ahead of me. They may have been those few years of watching the Ballard crit on the sidelines, and just enduring.
Ballard taught me how to endure. There were many years when I couldn't run at all, or even bike. There were times when my physical therapists told me not to ever be a runner. But I endured. And now that my life is more in order, with an exciting career, a great group of friends, a kind-but-no-bullshit husband, two love-bug dogs, and the trails as my outlet, I think these next three months will be a celebration of all that I've endured.
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