Can I Get a Witness?

I think I know what it feels like to be thrown out a window. I clipped a pedal on a stump going full speed at Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge Sunday and was thrown so hard to the ground I was helpless. I have 2 bruises on each leg, one on my back, a smushed finger and 2 tweaked arms from a single fall.

I bring all this up because I did what any respectable mountain biker would do. I got up and kept going. But it really wasn't that simple. I couldn't move at first, probably because of internal organ shift. I even allowed 2 competitors, Jean and Paula, to stop briefly for me. That's such bad form. You always say, "Go on" when people ask "Are you ok" because they are racing, yet I had no choice. However, Steve, the race organizer, suddenly appeared on the scene as he monitored the 5-mile course. (Come to think of it, I wonder if he was trying to keep up with us girls.) Anyway, he helped me and I told Jean and Paula to "go on."

I was immobile long enough to call it a day, but I knew some teammates would be in the crowd eventually, cheering on me and several others who were racing this fall classic. Make no mistake, I kept going for me, but there is something great in knowing there would be witnesses to my struggle. I flashed back to childhood when my parents would come to my softball and basketball games and my friend would say hers would never come and I barely understood why that mattered. Now, I wonder if I wouldn't be racing a bike today if they hadn't come.

I caught sight (and sounds) of the gang on my 3rd of 5 laps. They saw me out there recovering the best I could from setbacks. To them that would be the important thing. I am grateful that Bob, BJ, Laura, Art, Sally, Carol and Shirley took the time to cheer for us that day. And thanks for the beer.

Find more about this awesome race on John's Blog.