Success!

We did it! On October 5th, the Sacramento Jill B Nimble team took to the trail, and pedaled our way to our first 74-mile ride. Well, okay, it turns out it was a 63-mile ride, but we did ride to the ride and back from the ride, so most of totaled about 70, but we COULD have ridden 74 if the ride planners have had their sh*t together.

It was a little chilly and dreary in the morning, but we had our wings and our tiara (and people told us how (and I quote) "adorable" we were, so we knew it was going to be a fabulous day.

They were right: we were definitely adorable. But we were also strong, confident and totally prepared. Being adorable is a bonus (But thanks, Strange Man with a Camera!).






























Who but Vanessa would have taken up this guy's offer who said, "hey, you want to hoola-hoop while I take photos?" Yeah. We love Vanessa.


Jen posing at one of the rest stops. She's pretty proud of that Washington Jersey. Who am I to talk? Stay tuned for photos of my Colorado Jersey that my mom sent (thanks, Mom!).
You should have seen the Jills climbing the Beal's Point hill like they owned the thing. Here: you can see Ann climbing right here. She totally owns it. Ann decided after the first time we rode up this hill that she was going to do it once a week until the ride because her head was sending her messages like, "You can't climb this hill, Lady." Well, her head was wrong.
Very, very wrong. And her dedication not just to riding, but to defeating that little voice in her head inspiring and exciting. This is the top of the hill, just as she's about to crest it. If I had zoomed in a little farther, you could see the successful-hill-climbing grin that's about to form. Yay Ann!

In addition to Ann, Jana, Vanessa, and Jen (seen here doing their victory lap), keep up a great pace for the whole ride, and hung out at the last rest stop so we could all ride in together. Jana in particular enforced this joint-finish-line rule and we were all glad she did. After 10+ weeks of riding together, we were glad to finish it off Jill-style. I think everyone was a little bummed to be finishing the ride, because it meant no more Thursday evening and Sunday mornings with the Jills. And let me tell you, in addition to eing adorable, we're also a great group of girls who like hanging out together.
The most successful part of the training (in my opinion), was not just finishing this ride (and kicking butt while we did it), but that everyone intends to continue riding. Jen even signed up for NCAC! Hurray!

This week I've been griping to people that I need to get married because I need a second income (teaching a spinning class a couple times a week does not, unfortunately, equal a second income) AND I need someone around who is handier than I am. Well, being handy at all would be handier than me, so it's a low bar.
But Greg showed up at the end of the Princess Promenade with roses for Vanessa (his wife) and Ann (his mom). So maybe I should add to the list of reasons to get married.
1. Second income so I can convince someone to pay half my grocery bill (also provides someone to cook for when I get the groceries home).
2. Fix things like fences, build cool gardening contraptions, paint stuff, have tools.
3. Bring roses when I do something extraordinary (and sometimes ordinary), or tell me that I'm really cool and adorable, but NOT because they want to take my picture for some promotional materials, but because they actually believe it.

I'm sure I'll think of things to add to that list.

Here we are looking adorable again. See Christine there on the far end? Her sling is off and she's back at the gym! In another month, she'll be back on the bike! Hopefully she'll ride with us again (and hopefully Ron will let her).

Congratulations everyone! It was such a great time, and I'm looking forward to your continued successes.