"Every Passion Has Its Destiny"- Billy Mills

Chills, Anyone?

If you have never heard Billy Mills talk, put it on your list of things to do. Go find a podcast or youtube video. It's really an incredible sensation to listen to him describe winning gold in the 10,000 meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. I remember listening to him describe the race and finished thinking I could accomplish anything! He was an underdog going in and a full minute slower than the favorite in the preliminaries. With two laps to go in the race there were only two other runners with him in the lead group. Down the final stretch, Mills describes the race where he is contesting the others and getting pushed around and at that moment he realizes that this is the closest he will ever be getting the gold medal. With that he surges ahead and wins the race. He goes on to talk about how he took on moment and turned it into a lifetime of giving. He co-founded a nonprofit group Running Strong for American Indian Youth. The group aims to fulfill basic needs of American Indian people and help communities gain self-sufficiency and self-esteem.

Might have to start focusing more than I have been...

I think of that speech a lot going into Leadville this year. I still get chills thinking about it. With the thought of going to law school this fall (acceptance, pending), I figure this is the closest I'll be to having the resources available to me, the time to train, and the overall well being to really go for it and try to get sub-9. Which means taking 1:20 off my time...no biggie, right? I have 100 miles to do it, actually 104. I actually got a coach for this year, who seems to fully back my crazy idea of crushing my PR (probably helps I'm paying him to believe in me). It's actually nice, I just get on my bike and ride, no guess work or thinking am I riding hard enough, far enough, fast enough. I just supply him with my numbers and he takes it from there.

The biggest thing I'm excited for about Leadville is that I was given a spot on the World Bicycle Relief team (only four spots). WBR provides specially designed, locally assembled bicycles to students, healthcare workers and entrepreneurs in rural Africa. What a great way for me to use my passion to help others be connected with education, healthcare and economic opportunities. Part of being on the team means I have to raise $5,000 for the group. I feel like it's the perfect opportunity for me to give back. I have gotten so much out of cycling in my life, that providing a bicycle to someone who really needs it not only  gives them a new bike, but a new outlook. If you want to donate you can at 
http://teamwbr.worldbicyclerelief.org/kate-ginsbach

Training officially started this past week, with a field test and lots of intervals (okay, not that many but definitely more than I was doing this winter!). I'm pretty excited for this season and to experience all that comes my way! 

Yay for riding 65 miles with friends!

Winter Training

Winter training hasn't involved much biking, well it has, but not the focused kind. After White Rim I took some time off and went up to South Dakota to work on my mother's judicial campaign. Which was a lot of fun and a lot of work. It began to light the underlying thought about law school.

One of the many supporters showing maximum support!

So warm!

I spent a few days in San Diego with Sully's family for Thanksgiving, it was strange, eating Thanksgiving dinner outside in 95 degrees. I didn't hate it. We spent time at the beach and went on a few runs.

The beginning of December I spent mostly in the library finishing a paper on Tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, for a graduate class. Which also sent the spark about law school burning brighter as many injustices stem from poor policies in place or even lack of a policy to hold people accountable. It also made me realize how much I miss being in a college library, with only the occasional drunken student running through and banging on trash cans during St. Patrick's Day. The public library attracts a bit of a different crowd-- one man brought his own mustard in and kept squirting it directly into his mouth. Not exactly my study food of choice.

Wayne loves taking photos

Sully came up to South Dakota with me for Christmas. Frank expressed his excitement by informing me, "I got him a present so he better get me something" nothing like the spirit of Christmas. We took our cross bikes and rode around and discovered some very under utilized trails.

Sully headed down to Austin when we got back for Cyclocross Nationals. With him gone I spent most of the time studying for the LSAT and watching "The Good Wife", which I attributed to studying because it's all about lawyers. 

I got a new bike in January, a Superfly FS 9.9- a full suspension cross country bike. I wasn't a fan of the color on the 9.8 and the 9.9 is fully customizable. The shop let me get it under their demo program and pick the colors. I think I did a pretty good job, although Wayne's first impression was, "it sounds like a hippy threw up".

February was weird enough weather that we spent the first half riding out side in a little more than jersey and shorts.

Usually requires a little "oomph"

I went to Hall with Wayne and Sully and make it up the big rock a few times which always makes me feel like a badass.

Wayne loves it when I take pictures

The weather finally realized it was Winter and so Sully and I headed down to Sedona to visit his parents and ride in 75 degree weather.

No snakes were seen this trip!!

Unfortunately when we came back it was still winter and thus back to riding the trainer and dreaming of Spring. I officially start tomorrow training for the Leadville 100 so thought I would catch you all up before jumping right back into it.