It’s almost time to ride — On getting ready and feeling ready, with 6 days to go

Wrapping my head around the CTR

This past week has been filled with final prep work for the Colorado Trail race — from making sure I am caught up at work and with clinic, to my last ICU call shift (and post-call recovery) until after the race, to final errands and supplies. With help from Pedal of Littleton, I got my bike shifting tuned (and learned how to tune it) and I put together my bike first aid kit (sealant, lube, CO2 cartridges and valve cores, tire plugs, multi tool, hand pump, chain links), as well as my own first aid kit(ibuprofen, sunscreen, magnesium, water tablets-in case filter fails, Lantiseptic, mosquito repellent). I learned how to fix a tubeless fat tire in case of a puncture or tear (tire plugs, crazy glue and patch, sealant). I wrote out my nutrition plan to see the caloric and macro values of various foods, and came up with the plan for my first 5 days (hopefully) to Buena Vista, where I’ll mail myself a resupply package.* I tested my bike light at Green Mountain at 4:10AM yesterday (it works) and then went back to sleep for more recovery.

Although I plan to do most riding during the day, I have to be ready to start pre-dawn. I’ll be using the Meteor Vortex Pro light.

I still have a couple of tweaks to make this week, packing my bike with the first 5 days of food on Wednesday, get a backup headlight, borrow a backup cache battery from my friend for the resupply package, but it’s getting there. And what is more is I’m feeling ready. My dreams have gone from missing the start due to oversleeping (that was Friday night), to dreaming I was waking up in my tent actually doing the thing and happy. This week will be about active recovery (walks and jogs, light Zone I-2 stuff), and final prep work. I’ve put the work in since last winter. And as my friend Tatiana told me, my whole life has prepared me for this moment. I’m going to be ready.

So my goals for the CTR are in this order:

① Enjoy the ride — the beauty and sheer challenge of the trail, the “bliss” of each day being focused on the goal of forward progress, and the “ultra bubble” that lets me tune out the world’s problems for a bit. I’ll be racing for my own health and wellness, and in so doing I’ll be #Racing4Heroes.

② Finish the CT; and

③ Finish the CT in time to see the Cubs play the Rockies in Denver with my Mom and Dad on August 4th or 5th.

With prep, my mindset has shifted from feeling like I was in over my head, wondering if I could finish, to actually believing I am capable, ready and resourceful, and focusing more on “What if I can?” As Peloton coach Christine said in her class yesterday, “Of course you can. The only thing that’s stopping you is yourself.” Well no longer. I feel ready. I got this. So, to use the rally cry of the US National Women’s Soccer Team, LFG.

If you want to support this effort, I’m going to ask you to do three things:

1. In the next 3 weeks, do something for your own wellness — whether it be exercise, or however you express yourself and creativity.

2. Take a picture of yourself doing it.

3. Share it on social media with the #Racing4Heroes, in honor/memory of our healthcare heroes.

AND, if you want to make a donation to the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, please check out my fundraising page here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/878412126105385/

If you want to follow my dot on the map starting next Sunday at 4AM, you can go to Trackleaders.com/ctr21.

You can follow the dots of the racers (Grand Depart is July 25 at 4AM) at trackleaders.com/ctr21

Some of the nutrition and supplies to be packaged and packed

• *”Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” — Mike Tyson
• Just a quick note, that while I’ve established a plan, I also fully recognize that — especially in a backcountry mountain race during monsoon season with thunderstorms, the plan will be subject to change. This race will definitely make me harness a mindset of adaptability.