Eva Runs Through It

  Pine Creek Challenge: Race Recap It truly started with tacos. We were out, and the race came up. I honestly wasn’t trying to get him to run it with me, and I don’t think I said more than a couple of sentences. Something along the lines of “I have no expectations. I just want to see what possible. I really miss the community. Now, pass the salsa. The mild stuff not the hot stuff. I’m a wuss” He couldn’t have gotten past his driveway when I got a text. “You got me. I’m in” I was overjoyed. Next came the talks about weather…and gear…and terrains. It felt so familiar. So comfortable. So in my wheelhouse. Like a fire that had grown dim, coming ablaze again! He picked me up in the POURING rain. Mother Nature has and never will disappoint on race day! We chatted along the ride. Each giving the other escape routes and each knowing we wouldn’t take them. He finally said, “You set the pace. I’ll follow your lead”. And, that’s exactly what happened. Our “why’s” for doing thi...

  Happy (almost) Hip-aversary to me! Five days after my right hip replacement, I bounded into a spin class. Well, not bounded. I winced, hobbled, and struggled into that class. I couldn’t figure out how to bend over to get my spin shoes on or how to lift my leg over the body of the bike. Standing wasn’t an option, and I set the gear resistance very, very low. The 50 minute class started and by the time it ended, I had covered three miles. THREE miles! I am a seasoned ultra-marathoner, long distance hiker, century+ cyclist, Ironman and lifetime performance athlete, and I had covered only three miles. I also sang loudly. I bike-danced. I did what I do, I embraced the suck. I celebrated being on that bike! As I left, I grabbed my cane and the instructor smiled at me and said, “I see your energy”. I smiled back and said, “I just learned my jumping off point.” Fast forward seven months. I was again on the operating table. This time for the left hip. Five days after that, I ha...