Elizabeth Hernandez-Jones's 2008 Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives
Welcome to My 2008 Team In Training Donations Page!
>THANK YOU!!!
With your help the 60+ LLS chapters around the US raised over 8.5 million dollars for leukemia, blood-related cancer research, and patient support services.
Rob and I are commited to ride for the cause in the years to come, so I hope i can depend on you ll to KEEP DONATING!
All the best,
Bess
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Where Your Donations Go:
I hope you'll visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!
(You can also read my blog www.cyclebella.com for additional musings on my training.)
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June 1 - Yeah!!! We did it! I finished in just over 7 hours or riding - more than an hour faster than last year. It may have had more to do with how much more confident I was with the route, or maybe it was because of my fabulous team...but I think its because of YOU! Everyone that donated made me not only want to finish but finish strong.
You can read the whole story on my blog www.cyclebella.com (or down below on this page) but instead of writing too much more here I want to say
Research
Support for patients and their families
Medicine
Medical services
Educational Programs
...loads more
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Feb. 9th -
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Feb. 18th -I went out today for a morning ride. Today was freaking cold. I think its was like 37 degrees (shiver). I did not wanna go, but glad I did so I can keep up with the training. I'm sure Tahoe will be much colder. Presidents day my @#$. BTW folks, snot DOES freeze (yeck).
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Feb. 23rd - Rain, rain go away…please. We met early in the AM on Saturday for the Foothill College time trial loop. Not only was it raining but it was cold and windy. Thankfully the rain slowed for a few hours in the afternoon so it was not that bad. I was able to complete my time trial in 46+ minutes. Not too bad but I hope to improve over time. Every little bit counts.
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Mar. 1st - Today we broke into ride groups based on our speed and riding ability.
Ed, Phil, and Bennett are all survivors of blood cancers and they are also coaches for the 2008 season! Very inspiring!
I'm on a team of 6 folks (3 women/3 men) plus our coach and ride support. 28-miler today. The weather was a cool 48 degrees but quickly warmed up as the day progressed. We started at 8:30a from the Alpine Inn in Portola Valley and rode to Woodside/Canada/92 and back. The team was a little gun shy on the way out but found our "flair" in the last 15 miles. Whew - tired, sore, stinky.
Tammy, our SAG captain from 2007 came out and told us her story about discovering her Leukemia at 16 and subsequent breast cancer at 40 (as a result of the radiation she received for the Leukemia in the 1970s). She thanked us for our contributions and effort. Tammy, Ed, Phil, and Bennett are examples of why tired, sore, stinky does not matter. The funds matter and make a difference. A BIG THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO FAR!
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Mar. 9th - So I went out with the girls last night and (after many glasses of great reds and some mean sake) was NOT up for riding (except perhaps in the backseat of a limo) today but knew I needed to stay on schedule. Train, train, train...So I "womaned" up and went out for 30 miles. Brutal. Yeah....I cursed, I spat, I may have winced (a little) but I gotta stay on track. 109 miles in June...7000 feet of climbs...yeah!
All total I was able to get out 3 times this week (just under 50 miles). Now that daylight savings has started I'm sure I'll have more time in the evenings because the morning are still too cold!
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Mar.15 - Another rainy day. Argh. Rob and I woke up at 5:30a to the sound dripping rain. By the time we were dressed and ready it was pouring buckets. We headed out to the ride in Los Altos/Foothill College anyway, hoping it would clear up. Eyes on the prize. Eyes on the prize... It cleared. And we rode. In the freezing cold. Hrmph. I had on 4 layers of clothing, but it was still cold. It was a beautiful ride, though and actually got warmer by the time we rolled back in, 38.x miles later.
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Mar.22 - This week was good for riding. I was able to get out 3 times this week for short 15-20 mile stints. I also did hill repeats at Bailey/IBM (700+ ft of climbing) on Tuesday night.
Saturday we did the Buddy ride - heading out from Morgan Hill to San Jose (down Santa Teresa) and around the 3 reservoirs (Uvas, Chesbro, and Calero), ending a great 48 mile day. Phew. Shower now, please.
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March 30th-
I reached my fundraising goal! YEAH! KEEP IT COMING! THE MORE YOU DONATE, THE MORE WE CAN HELP! Thanks everyone!
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April 5th- This week instead of the buddy ride, I went our for the 65 mile Cinderella Classic in Pleasanton, CA. Rob and I signed up for several metric and full century rides to help build up our endurance for Tahoe (needless to say, he did not join me on the women-only Cinderella ride). The ride was chock full of women on bikes, flowers, and teeny little hills to climb. And there was wind...lots of it. It was a great training ride though. Next week I'm back with the team.
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May 3rd- Phew. Calaveras…DONE! I’m not sure why I’m sooo intimidated by this ride but I’m glad its over. Maybe it’s the four, gradual, long climbs (totally somewhere around 2500)…or the dry heat (somewhere around 80 degrees out there today) or the fact that training rides are now riding earlier in the morning (ugh). In any case GLAD ITS OVER!
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May 10th-Wow – My first crash! I have NEVER, EVER crashed until today. Somewhere around mile 35 (on Oak Glen which happens to be in my own backyard) we were descending a very small, short grade. I was juggling my water bottle, shifter, and brakes before I realized that I only have two hands. Factor in gravity, (female) gravitas, and gravel and you have the perfect storm (crash). Grateful for low traffic and my team’s quick wits to get me safely out of harms way.
After a wonderful ride in the ambulance (my team mate and ride support goddess, Joni was kind enough to come with me) and some x-rays, I ended up with just a few contusions/knots on my left leg from my own pink pedals and saddle to show for it – no broken bones thank goodness! I’m off the bike for a few days but anxious to get back in the saddle. I don’t want to lose momentum because June 1st is just around the corner!
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May 24th- Its time to start tapering back the training so the next few weeks will be mild but consistent rides. May 18th was a 70 miler in Portola Valley, where we started training. A friendly reminder of how far we have come, too. Arastadero, Elena, Sand Hill…up and down, up and down. Good times. It was sunny and hot but fun to get back to the older routes and see how much easier it is…
May 24th was another mild ride in Morgan Hill. I took the usual routes to Gilroy and around the reservoirs. Nice and easy but we are definitely ready for Tahoe!
Visit often to see my progress and KEEP DONATING!!
