So back to my story, I went to the training, checked in, got my bike ready for the road and then settled in for the presentation about core strength. Once that wrapped up we were ready to hit the road, coach then gives up the route. Go out this way, turn here, then there, etc. ....eventually coming to “Hospital Hill!” Well, needless to say I almost loaded my bike up and went home!
Hospital Hill has been my nemesis since January 31, 2009. This is a section of road on the backside of our regional park that runs along side Freeway 41 and can been seen from Valley Children’s Hospital. (Hence the name “Hospital Hill”) I have run this road many a times. It has a long gradual hill and a short steep hill that are great for training on. Cyclist use this hill for training too and that is how I got hurt. I was my first training ride with Team in Training for the Summer Season (Tahoe Century) 2009 and I had a slow-motion crash. I had completed the climb up the long hill and decent and was starting the climb up the really steep short hill going back into the park when I started having trouble shifting (very new cyclist at this time) and I decided to come to a stop to get it figured out. Well, as I was stopping my right foot either missed the curb or hit the curb and I fell, breaking my ankle in three places. I laid on the side of the road for 11 minutes waiting for an ambulance to come get me, got 20 cc of morphine in route to the hospital and ended up with a titanium plate and 5 screws holding my ankle together. Freaking Awesome!!
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| The Hardware! |
Well since the accident I had avoided Hospital Hill like the plague. I purposefully planned runs and especially training rides far away from here. So when I was told that we were riding there I started panicking. I decided that I would ride with the team and that I would just change my route at the end, do a different hill, and come back. But as I was riding over there I realized that I am a lot stronger now, I am a good cyclist and now was as good a time as any to face the hill again.
I rode in, descended the steep hill and climbed the really long gradual hill, turned around, came back down (getting to a top speed of 26.8 mph) and got myself psyched up to climb the steep hill. As I was approaching it, someone fell right where I did and I started to panic a little (the person was fine), but I got my breathing under control and I tackled it. I climbed up the hill, back through the little gate and stopped. I had to catch my breath and wipe away the tears of joy for finally facing my fear!
Needless to say the ride was awesome!!
Sunset following the ride!
Dare to be remarkable!!
Chandra
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