As some of you may know, we (Tough Chik) has a cute tee with the saying “Run Like You Are Being Chased”. It was one of the initial designs when we launched the site in September 2009. It was an orange shirt with blue writing, some women loved the color, others hated it. I learned early on, that you can’t please everyone and to trust my gut. Unfortunately / fortunately (depending on what side of the fence you were on) the t-shirt manufacturer discontinued the color. I currently re-released the shirt in a new color, Turquoise.
When I promoted the new shirt on facebook, I received a sobering message from a loyal and dear Tough Chik. Here is her response:
“For some reason the logo doesn't resonate great still -- at least I wouldn't think many would want to buy it out of San Diego where we had a young girl runner killed in the trails by a sexual predator (see Chelsea's Run a very famous story ...now commemorated by a yearly run (to finish what she started) in South California). Just my thoughts anyhow, makes me a bit uncomfortable as a message... -- even though I am a big fan of Tough Chik.”
Some of you may not be aware of the incident referenced above and I briefly explain this tragedy. Chelsea was an avid runner and lost her life in a horrific crime during a run in San Diego. She was only 17 years old. In March there is a run in honor of Chelsea, please go to www.inmotionevents.com/events/Finish_Chelsea_s_Run_5K_Run_Walk.htm, to learn more about the run. I was house sitting in San Diego when Chelsea disappeared and watched the tragedy unravel on the news. It was big news in Southern California and set a lot of runners on high alert, rightfully so. Never once did I associate my shirt with something so terrible. Those of you who know me, know that I am sarcastic and pride myself on a great sense of humor (even if I am the only one who thinks I'm funny). I was shaken when I read the above response and MORTIFIED that my t-shirt was associated with such a terrible, awful event. The shirt was meant to refer to competition and chasing a leader or that chik (or dude) just down the road that you are wanting to pass. It also reminded me of a Friends episode where Phoebe was running like a kid, her arms flailing. Rachael was embarrassed to run with her, but that was the way Phoebe made running fun. Anyone remember that episode?
I wanted to take this opportunity/forum to discuss how we need to be safe out there and to recognize Chelsea.
Here are some tips I found on RRCA website. We could all use a little refresher course on running safety.
• Don’t wear headphones. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Your ears may help you avoid dangers your eyes may miss during evening or early morning runs.
• Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles. By facing on-coming traffic, you may be able to react quicker than if it is behind you.
• Look both ways before crossing. Be sure the driver of a car acknowledges your right-of-way before crossing in front of a vehicle. Obey traffic signals.
• Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Include any medical information.
• Always stay alert and aware of what’s going on around you. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.
• Carry a cell phone or change for a phone call. Know the locations of public phones along your regular route.
• Trust your intuition about a person or an area. React on your intuition and avoid a person or situation if you’re unsure. If something tells you a situation is not “right”, it isn’t.
• Alter or vary your running route pattern; run in familiar areas if possible. In unfamiliar areas, such as while traveling, contact a local RRCA club or running store. Know where open businesses or stores are located in case of emergency.
• Run with a partner. Run with a dog.
• Write down or leave word of the direction of your run. Tell friends and family of your favorite running routes.
• Avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets, and overgrown trails. Avoid unlit areas, especially at night. Run clear of parked cars or bushes.
• Ignore verbal harassment and do not verbally harass others. Use discretion in acknowledging strangers. Look directly at others and be observant, but keep your distance and keep moving.
• Wear reflective material if you must run before dawn or after dark. Avoid running on the street when it is dark.
• Practice memorizing license tags or identifying characteristics of strangers.
• Carry a noisemaker. Get training in self-defense.
• When using multi-use trails, follow the rules of the road. If you alter your direction, look over your should before crossing the trail to avoid a potential collision with an oncoming cyclist or passing runner.
• Call police immediately if something happens to you or someone else, or you notice anyone out of the ordinary. It is important to report incidents immediately
I want to conclude by apologizing to any one who felt uncomfortable by the shirt and please know that was not in the spirit in which the shirt was designed. I am sad and sorry that we live in world where tragedies like this happen and that something as innocent as running in a park can end so horribly wrong. Please be safe out there.
Much love,
Shannon (Tough Chik)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
186 miles!! a new PR!
Last week I logged 186 miles (183 on the bike) and I am very proud of myself. It was great fun and legs felt strong. I think the combo of more food on the bike, foam rolling and skipping boot camp has help tremendously.
I think a lot of you can relate when I say that cycling has given me some terrible tan lines. I have the typical "farmer" tan and the nice short line across my thighs. But something new happened over the weekend. I could explain it, but photos do a better job.
AND BEST OF ALL...
As TMB would say, AWESOMESAUCE! Now I look like a complete idiot! This happened on my ride Saturday, I thought it would fade...but no. This picture was taken last night and I still look like Rocky Raccoon! Yeah me! I will be wearing a ball cap for the rest of the week!
Don't forget about my Timbuk2 Minnie Rae give away!
I think a lot of you can relate when I say that cycling has given me some terrible tan lines. I have the typical "farmer" tan and the nice short line across my thighs. But something new happened over the weekend. I could explain it, but photos do a better job.
AND BEST OF ALL...
As TMB would say, AWESOMESAUCE! Now I look like a complete idiot! This happened on my ride Saturday, I thought it would fade...but no. This picture was taken last night and I still look like Rocky Raccoon! Yeah me! I will be wearing a ball cap for the rest of the week!
Don't forget about my Timbuk2 Minnie Rae give away!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Timbuk2 Giveaway
At the Sea Otter Classic, I had the pleasure of meeting Ann from Timbuk2. Their tent was next to ours, so we were neighbors for 4 days. Ann is a Tough Chik and she feel in love with the Zip Up Hoodie.
Ann and Myself
Ann asked for my business card and said she was going to put a bag in the mail for me. I was floored. I have received free bars and bath salts over the year, but never a bag! A few days later, a box came with not 1 bag, but 2! Imagine my surprise. Ann sent me the Harriet Shoulder Bag and the Minnie Rae Shoulder Bag!
A little back story, I am designer bag girl. I live for a nice Michael Kors bag. I am in love with my Furla bag I bought in Italy, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about a nylon bag. I decided that my trip to UT, NV and AZ would be a good test and let me tell you, I LOVE THE HARRIET BAG! It was perfect! I carry a little too much stuff for the Minnie Rae (I would love to be that girl, but I am not) but Harriet and I became BFFs!
Opened
Front pocket with key hook
Back Pocket
Expands!
Since I have taken over the Harriet, I thought I would share the Minnie Rae with one you you lucky Chiks!
Win the Minnie Rae!
The Minnie Rae features
* Compact profile, just right for all the bare essentials.
* Refined weave ballistic nylon exterior with a stylish printed graphic liner.
* Internal organizer pockets for your smart phone and daily essentials
* Key tether to keep you locked in.
* Velcro closure keeps your essentials secure.
Here are a few photos I took, but there are better ones at the Timbuk2 website.
Perfect for vacation, farmers market, post run expos shopping and the Tough Chik tent
Open
Back pocket
To enter the give away
• MANDATORY – follow the Tough Chik blog
• MANDATORY – “like” tough chik of facebook
• Visit ToughChik.com and sign up for the mailing list
• Tweet this: win a @timbuk2 minnie rae @tough_chik http://toughchik.blogspot.com/2011/05/timbuk2-giveaway.html
• Like Timbuk2 on Facebook and tell them Tough Chik sent you
• If you make a donation to AIDS Lifecycle, you will receive 1 point for every $2 you donate!
PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY :)
A winner will be selected on May 16th!
Ann asked for my business card and said she was going to put a bag in the mail for me. I was floored. I have received free bars and bath salts over the year, but never a bag! A few days later, a box came with not 1 bag, but 2! Imagine my surprise. Ann sent me the Harriet Shoulder Bag and the Minnie Rae Shoulder Bag!
A little back story, I am designer bag girl. I live for a nice Michael Kors bag. I am in love with my Furla bag I bought in Italy, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about a nylon bag. I decided that my trip to UT, NV and AZ would be a good test and let me tell you, I LOVE THE HARRIET BAG! It was perfect! I carry a little too much stuff for the Minnie Rae (I would love to be that girl, but I am not) but Harriet and I became BFFs!
Since I have taken over the Harriet, I thought I would share the Minnie Rae with one you you lucky Chiks!
Win the Minnie Rae!
The Minnie Rae features
* Compact profile, just right for all the bare essentials.
* Refined weave ballistic nylon exterior with a stylish printed graphic liner.
* Internal organizer pockets for your smart phone and daily essentials
* Key tether to keep you locked in.
* Velcro closure keeps your essentials secure.
Here are a few photos I took, but there are better ones at the Timbuk2 website.
To enter the give away
• MANDATORY – follow the Tough Chik blog
• MANDATORY – “like” tough chik of facebook
• Visit ToughChik.com and sign up for the mailing list
• Tweet this: win a @timbuk2 minnie rae @tough_chik http://toughchik.blogspot.com/2011/05/timbuk2-giveaway.html
• Like Timbuk2 on Facebook and tell them Tough Chik sent you
• If you make a donation to AIDS Lifecycle, you will receive 1 point for every $2 you donate!
PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY :)
A winner will be selected on May 16th!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Vegas and Whiskey
Vegas and Whiskey, Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas and Whiskey Off Road to be exact!
On Thursday and Friday I had the honor of meeting some amazing women at the Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas Triathlon. This is a great tri for beginners! It is very accommodating with transition talks and bike storage at the hotel. The Lowes property, where the race is held, is very scenic and the swim is in a lake! I found that a lot of the women use this race as a girls weekend, so I met women from all over. A lot of women showed up from Canada and other cold regions to get in their first race of the season. I went for a run on Friday morning and it was VERY windy, I hope it calmed down for the participants. I briefly lost my camera, so I don't have any photos from the expo or of the grounds. I didn't stick around for the race because we packed up Friday evening and headed to Prescott, AZ.
I arrived in Prescott well after midnight and was up at 5 AM setting up for the Whiskey Off Road Expo in Prescott, AZ! Lets just say the free coffee coupons and great friends made this expo a BLAST. My bestie, Molly, is from Prescott and I have become friends with a lot of her family and friends over the years. So when the folks at Epic Rides asked I participate in the expo, it was a no-brainer and worth 4 hours of sleep!
Molly, Me and Janelle
You may recognize Molly and Janelle as they were on the TC home page for about a year!
The Whiskey Off Road is a mountain bike race for a 25 and 50 mile option for amateurs and a pro race. If you follow my blog, you know I am not the best mt. biker but I love to ride and seeing some of these women ride 50 miles on a mt. bike was VERY inspiring. We met a woman who started riding at 40 and was competing in the race at 65! I still have time! HA HA! This race is pretty technical and at elevation, so if you ride at sea level like us So Calers, it can be even more difficult. My girl, Tonya Bray with Mtbchick.com raced it for the first time and did an amazing ride. Pua Mata, one of our local gals, won the women's pro race and we are super proud of her! She crushed the previous record! We also got a chance to hang out with Sarai from Girl Bike Love, she is awesome and has a great site, CHECK.IT.OUT!!
I was sold out of a lot of sizes, so I apologize, but we are stocking up as we speak!
Here are some photos from the race.
Pua's win
On Thursday and Friday I had the honor of meeting some amazing women at the Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas Triathlon. This is a great tri for beginners! It is very accommodating with transition talks and bike storage at the hotel. The Lowes property, where the race is held, is very scenic and the swim is in a lake! I found that a lot of the women use this race as a girls weekend, so I met women from all over. A lot of women showed up from Canada and other cold regions to get in their first race of the season. I went for a run on Friday morning and it was VERY windy, I hope it calmed down for the participants. I briefly lost my camera, so I don't have any photos from the expo or of the grounds. I didn't stick around for the race because we packed up Friday evening and headed to Prescott, AZ.
I arrived in Prescott well after midnight and was up at 5 AM setting up for the Whiskey Off Road Expo in Prescott, AZ! Lets just say the free coffee coupons and great friends made this expo a BLAST. My bestie, Molly, is from Prescott and I have become friends with a lot of her family and friends over the years. So when the folks at Epic Rides asked I participate in the expo, it was a no-brainer and worth 4 hours of sleep!
Molly, Me and Janelle
You may recognize Molly and Janelle as they were on the TC home page for about a year!
The Whiskey Off Road is a mountain bike race for a 25 and 50 mile option for amateurs and a pro race. If you follow my blog, you know I am not the best mt. biker but I love to ride and seeing some of these women ride 50 miles on a mt. bike was VERY inspiring. We met a woman who started riding at 40 and was competing in the race at 65! I still have time! HA HA! This race is pretty technical and at elevation, so if you ride at sea level like us So Calers, it can be even more difficult. My girl, Tonya Bray with Mtbchick.com raced it for the first time and did an amazing ride. Pua Mata, one of our local gals, won the women's pro race and we are super proud of her! She crushed the previous record! We also got a chance to hang out with Sarai from Girl Bike Love, she is awesome and has a great site, CHECK.IT.OUT!!
I was sold out of a lot of sizes, so I apologize, but we are stocking up as we speak!
Here are some photos from the race.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Moab - Hikes, Bikes and Bruises
Tomorrow we check out of Moab and move on to the second leg of our western adventure. I must admit that this trip did not go according to plan!
Day 1
We arrived late on Saturday, so Sunday was our first day in Moab, UT. We woke up to dark clouds and drizzle. Our plan was to meet Haley of Climb Run Lift Mom and her family and go for a morning hike, then grab some lunch and Marc and I were going to grab our Mt. bikes and hit the trails. Well, the rain canceled the hike and we met Haley and her family for breakfast. It took us so long to get our food (well over an hour) that it ended up being lunch. It gave us plenty of time to chat and get to know each other. Haley and I started a great friendship only to be rivaled by new BFF, her daughter! You can read about Haley's weekend in Moab on her blog, HERE. After Marc and I went to Arches National Park, the rain subsided enough for us to get in 2 great hikes. First, we hiked Double O, a "primitive" hike, which is now my new favorite type of hike. I have always found hiking kind of boring, it was just like walking. But on the primitive trails, you need to climb over big rocks and scramble. So much fun! After that we hiked Windows which is beautiful and breathtaking.
Arches Visitors Center
I have pictures from the hike, but my SLR camera is giving me trouble, so those will be for another time.
Day 2
We started the day off with a Mt Bike ride on a trail called Klondike Bluffs. It is rated a blue square (just like skiing) so Marc thought it would be a good way to get my feet wet. I asked if there were any green trails we could ride. Marc's answer, "yeah, in town" meaning the sidewalk. Let me put it this way, I spent about 20% of the 9 mile trail on the ground. My first fall was a the trail head (it should have been a sign), where I was caught in about 4 inches of sand. I don't have a lot of practice riding in sand and was in WAY too big of a gear. So at least it was in sand and I was still in good spirits. Falls 2 & 3 are a blur, but I have 2 nice bruises on either knee and huge one on my left calf. Fall 4 was the worst! Riding out on to a rock I missed the "step" and bashed my front tire into the rock. I guess I was hoping that if I smashed the tire into the rock hard enough I would go over it. Instead, it tossed me off the bike and I landed in the only puddle in Moab. NO KIDDING, we are in the middle of the freaking desert and my tush lands smack dab in the middle of a puddle. Fall 5 was on my left and I have a nice bruise on my palm, thank goodness it wasn't my right hand (I broke mt right arm last year). Fall 6 was on nothing, I think at this point I was so frustrated I was just doing stupid stuff. BUT there were glimmers of hope. I made some great technical descents, I just need a lot of practice. To my credit, I have not spent any considerable amount of time on the mt bike in about 2 years. It was decided right then and there that I was done with mt biking for this trip. Marc's exact quote "You should stop riding (mt bike) before you REALLY hurt yourself." After the ride we had lunch and then switched our shoes and helmets and grabbed the road bikes. Moab has a cool bike trail out of town that goes over the Colorado River and in and out of the mountains. It was a 22 mile out and back with just under 1000 ft of climbing. Nice, fun ride.
Day 3
Marc has commandeered the Yeti, to be honest I gave it to him. The bike is too big for me. The top tube it too long and I wasn't able to get over the handlebars. I would like to blame all of my tumbles on the size of the bike, but it was only half of the problem. So Marc took the Yeti (now known as Bumble - the Yeti on The Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer cartoon) out to the infamous Slick Rock trail and I grabbed Pinky for a road ride. My plan was to do the same out and back I did the day prior, but this time do it twice giving me over 40 miles. This was the hardest ride of my life. The way out I was in a head wind that had gusts over 50 mph. I have never experienced such a strong and consistent head wind. It sucked. The tail wind on the way back was awesome, but not fun enough to make up for the brutal out, so I stopped at one round. I met Marc back at the hotel and we got cleaned up and went to lunch. Over lunch I heard the tales of Slick Rock and it was not for me! Very glad I stuck to the road. We were going to hike after lunch, but the winds were still so strong we decided to play tourist. We visited one of the most highly regarded attractions in Moab, Hole N" the Rock. Yes, a 5,000 sq.ft. home built into a rock. It was so strange and cheesy!
If you look close you can see the front door and a sculpture of FDR. No photography was aloud inside (because they sell it) so you are going to have to use your imagination. Let's just say it included 2 stuffed horses and a stuffed donkey.
This is a Jeep outside the general store across the parking lot. It is made of license plates and has a giant bone on top. I dunno.
After that we shopped in town and picked up a few souvenirs. Overall it was a great trip and I can't wait to come back. But next time I am going to have a lot more time in the mt bike saddle before I attempt a trail in Moab. Tomorrow is the Escalante Plateau, Capital Reef and Dixie National Forest!
Day 1
We arrived late on Saturday, so Sunday was our first day in Moab, UT. We woke up to dark clouds and drizzle. Our plan was to meet Haley of Climb Run Lift Mom and her family and go for a morning hike, then grab some lunch and Marc and I were going to grab our Mt. bikes and hit the trails. Well, the rain canceled the hike and we met Haley and her family for breakfast. It took us so long to get our food (well over an hour) that it ended up being lunch. It gave us plenty of time to chat and get to know each other. Haley and I started a great friendship only to be rivaled by new BFF, her daughter! You can read about Haley's weekend in Moab on her blog, HERE. After Marc and I went to Arches National Park, the rain subsided enough for us to get in 2 great hikes. First, we hiked Double O, a "primitive" hike, which is now my new favorite type of hike. I have always found hiking kind of boring, it was just like walking. But on the primitive trails, you need to climb over big rocks and scramble. So much fun! After that we hiked Windows which is beautiful and breathtaking.
I have pictures from the hike, but my SLR camera is giving me trouble, so those will be for another time.
Day 2
We started the day off with a Mt Bike ride on a trail called Klondike Bluffs. It is rated a blue square (just like skiing) so Marc thought it would be a good way to get my feet wet. I asked if there were any green trails we could ride. Marc's answer, "yeah, in town" meaning the sidewalk. Let me put it this way, I spent about 20% of the 9 mile trail on the ground. My first fall was a the trail head (it should have been a sign), where I was caught in about 4 inches of sand. I don't have a lot of practice riding in sand and was in WAY too big of a gear. So at least it was in sand and I was still in good spirits. Falls 2 & 3 are a blur, but I have 2 nice bruises on either knee and huge one on my left calf. Fall 4 was the worst! Riding out on to a rock I missed the "step" and bashed my front tire into the rock. I guess I was hoping that if I smashed the tire into the rock hard enough I would go over it. Instead, it tossed me off the bike and I landed in the only puddle in Moab. NO KIDDING, we are in the middle of the freaking desert and my tush lands smack dab in the middle of a puddle. Fall 5 was on my left and I have a nice bruise on my palm, thank goodness it wasn't my right hand (I broke mt right arm last year). Fall 6 was on nothing, I think at this point I was so frustrated I was just doing stupid stuff. BUT there were glimmers of hope. I made some great technical descents, I just need a lot of practice. To my credit, I have not spent any considerable amount of time on the mt bike in about 2 years. It was decided right then and there that I was done with mt biking for this trip. Marc's exact quote "You should stop riding (mt bike) before you REALLY hurt yourself." After the ride we had lunch and then switched our shoes and helmets and grabbed the road bikes. Moab has a cool bike trail out of town that goes over the Colorado River and in and out of the mountains. It was a 22 mile out and back with just under 1000 ft of climbing. Nice, fun ride.
Day 3
Marc has commandeered the Yeti, to be honest I gave it to him. The bike is too big for me. The top tube it too long and I wasn't able to get over the handlebars. I would like to blame all of my tumbles on the size of the bike, but it was only half of the problem. So Marc took the Yeti (now known as Bumble - the Yeti on The Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer cartoon) out to the infamous Slick Rock trail and I grabbed Pinky for a road ride. My plan was to do the same out and back I did the day prior, but this time do it twice giving me over 40 miles. This was the hardest ride of my life. The way out I was in a head wind that had gusts over 50 mph. I have never experienced such a strong and consistent head wind. It sucked. The tail wind on the way back was awesome, but not fun enough to make up for the brutal out, so I stopped at one round. I met Marc back at the hotel and we got cleaned up and went to lunch. Over lunch I heard the tales of Slick Rock and it was not for me! Very glad I stuck to the road. We were going to hike after lunch, but the winds were still so strong we decided to play tourist. We visited one of the most highly regarded attractions in Moab, Hole N" the Rock. Yes, a 5,000 sq.ft. home built into a rock. It was so strange and cheesy!
After that we shopped in town and picked up a few souvenirs. Overall it was a great trip and I can't wait to come back. But next time I am going to have a lot more time in the mt bike saddle before I attempt a trail in Moab. Tomorrow is the Escalante Plateau, Capital Reef and Dixie National Forest!
Friday, April 22, 2011
AHHHH!
I am so overwhelmed! This always happens to me when I prepare for a trip. I am leaving tomorrow morning for a few awesome days of Mt biking with the hubs in Moab, UT. I am hoping my trip and Haley's @ Climb Run Lift Mom will cross, we are planning a hike on Sunday AM and I am really looking forward to meeting her!
After a few days in Moab we venture over to Vegas for the Iron Girl Tri Expo in Lake Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday and then to Prescott, AZ for The Whiskey Off-Road Expo. So not only am I packing for a trip, but I am packing for mt. biking and road riding, hiking and all my Tough Chik stuff. I have lists with sub lists and I am still forgetting something.
I am fortunate to have a good friend watch Cosmo (my mutt) but he needs to be bathed and packed. Then Trainer Ali's daughter is watching the kitties, but I need to clean the house so no one knows how I really live. AHHH. I need a maid, assistant and stunt double!
So I will be MIA for the next week, but I am hoping to have some great stories and photos when I get back. Happy Easter and have a super duper weekend!
Don't forget to send your Tough Chik pictures to info@toughchik.com to win $20 of Tough Bucks!
After a few days in Moab we venture over to Vegas for the Iron Girl Tri Expo in Lake Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday and then to Prescott, AZ for The Whiskey Off-Road Expo. So not only am I packing for a trip, but I am packing for mt. biking and road riding, hiking and all my Tough Chik stuff. I have lists with sub lists and I am still forgetting something.
I am fortunate to have a good friend watch Cosmo (my mutt) but he needs to be bathed and packed. Then Trainer Ali's daughter is watching the kitties, but I need to clean the house so no one knows how I really live. AHHH. I need a maid, assistant and stunt double!
So I will be MIA for the next week, but I am hoping to have some great stories and photos when I get back. Happy Easter and have a super duper weekend!
Don't forget to send your Tough Chik pictures to info@toughchik.com to win $20 of Tough Bucks!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
MIA (where have I been?)
I have been MIA from blogging, tweeting, face booking and working out. I feel a little out of sorts, so let me tell you what I have been up to.
The past week I was in beautiful Monterey, CA for The Sea Otter Classic. With over 8,500 participants and 50,000 spectators, it is one, if not the, largest cycling event in the country. I was there with my company, Tough Chik, along with 350 other exhibitors. The event was 4 days and consisted of every possible race for a bike. Gravity Mountain Bike Races, Elite Road stage races, grand fondos for the road and the dirt, plus kid bike races and nearly 200 classes of road and mountain bike races for amateurs.
Me and Skipper the Sea Otter
I met so many Tough Chiks and Tough Guys over the past week and their stories truly inspired me.
I met a man who placed 2nd in Cross Country Mt. Bike in the age group 65-69! He along with a few fellow racers wrecked and he showed up with a black eye and 2 bandaged knees. He was buying a jersey and t-shirt for his wife, I bet she is pretty tough too!
We met a lovely gal who was a hard core cyclist, growing up along the central coast, it was a way of life. Her husband and her were avid racers and toured the country racing on the road and in the dirt. On a typical group ride along the Oregon coast, she was descending along a 10% grade at a pretty high speed, 46 mph. As a well seasoned cyclist, this was not unusual but she felt her back tire lifting from the road. As a mountain biker she had great bike handling skills, so she got back behind her seat to get more of her weight on that back wheel. But it was not enough and she wrecked. She separated her shoulder very badly, broke her collar bone and every bone in her right hand. She had surgery on her hand and something went wrong resulting in a paralyzed right hand. So what did she do? Moved all of the gearing and breaking to her left handle bar and she is still riding! She doesn't have the ability to mountain bike, but she can still ride the road and is now working to qualify for the Paralympics! BIG TIME TOUGH CHIK!
I met so many women who are in their 50s, 60s and 70s who could kick my butt on the bike! That is one of the great aspect of the sport, you can do it forever! I also met little girls who were already passionate about cycling, I really wished I had started at that age! They even had a little bellas event for the little girl cyclists.
It was a great time and I was motivated and inspired by so many women. Below are some of the photos from the event.
The past week I was in beautiful Monterey, CA for The Sea Otter Classic. With over 8,500 participants and 50,000 spectators, it is one, if not the, largest cycling event in the country. I was there with my company, Tough Chik, along with 350 other exhibitors. The event was 4 days and consisted of every possible race for a bike. Gravity Mountain Bike Races, Elite Road stage races, grand fondos for the road and the dirt, plus kid bike races and nearly 200 classes of road and mountain bike races for amateurs.
I met so many Tough Chiks and Tough Guys over the past week and their stories truly inspired me.
I met a man who placed 2nd in Cross Country Mt. Bike in the age group 65-69! He along with a few fellow racers wrecked and he showed up with a black eye and 2 bandaged knees. He was buying a jersey and t-shirt for his wife, I bet she is pretty tough too!
We met a lovely gal who was a hard core cyclist, growing up along the central coast, it was a way of life. Her husband and her were avid racers and toured the country racing on the road and in the dirt. On a typical group ride along the Oregon coast, she was descending along a 10% grade at a pretty high speed, 46 mph. As a well seasoned cyclist, this was not unusual but she felt her back tire lifting from the road. As a mountain biker she had great bike handling skills, so she got back behind her seat to get more of her weight on that back wheel. But it was not enough and she wrecked. She separated her shoulder very badly, broke her collar bone and every bone in her right hand. She had surgery on her hand and something went wrong resulting in a paralyzed right hand. So what did she do? Moved all of the gearing and breaking to her left handle bar and she is still riding! She doesn't have the ability to mountain bike, but she can still ride the road and is now working to qualify for the Paralympics! BIG TIME TOUGH CHIK!
I met so many women who are in their 50s, 60s and 70s who could kick my butt on the bike! That is one of the great aspect of the sport, you can do it forever! I also met little girls who were already passionate about cycling, I really wished I had started at that age! They even had a little bellas event for the little girl cyclists.
It was a great time and I was motivated and inspired by so many women. Below are some of the photos from the event.
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