30/08/2023
So happy for my warrior Christine ❤️ she had a fantastic weekend ! Here’s her post :
What a weekend! There is so much to say I will try to keep this short of a novel.
This past weekend, some of my good riding friends, and I rode in beehive, which is an Enduro race, which also happened to be the first race I ever did last summer. So this was my one year anniversary of racing and unfortunately probably my last opportunity to also ever ride in this particular race. To say it was emotional weekend is an understatement as I’m already crying typing this. Was it a smart idea to do, probably not. Am I hiding it from my doctor yes, yes ma’am. lol
When I tell you, as I’m riding through this single track I could feel the support from so many people back at camp and also those riding the course or working the course. I could feel the amount of people rooting for me. I could see the jerseys people were wearing here and there. Random people were coming up to me and shaking my hand and introducing themselves to me. so many people wanted to see me get through this race. It was truly humbling, surprising, and just felt the out pouring of love. If I could somehow convert all the love and support, I have from so many people, into a cure. I would be fine.
I really think that some thing in the universe or someone was watching over me in this race and keeping me safe. Just earlier this week, I was basically bedridden for two entire days. I was so weak, I was in so much pain, I could barely get the strength to heat up a bowl of soup for myself, and I was really doubting my ability to show up for this race. But slowly got life back in me after many bags of fluids and hours of rest. During the race, I had a few Oopsies that I should’ve went down, but I managed to save. I felt a very strong presence of my cousin Emily all day long. She passed away a few years ago from stage four melanoma at the age of 36. She is the reason for my race number 583, that is her birthday. Before we started the race, there was a single dragonfly that landed on the bike suspension that was right next to me, I smiled, and I knew she was looking down. And then there were a few times I was crying behind my goggles, thinking about her and the things she would be saying to me that day if she could. Fast forward many many miles in my physical exhaustion and delirium. I’m sitting on my bike bouncing around through single track and I just have this image of her hanging onto the back of me riding behind me on my bike telling me we were going to finish this and we were going to get through it. And I could hear her giggles, but also fear filled screams here and there. Lol .  she always used to tell me how much of a bad ass she thought I was and I never saw it, I always thought she was the bad ass one and she was the one that was cool. I wanted to be just like her. I had to finish this race for not just me but for her too.
I lined up at the start of this race with a few of my best riding girl pals, and a few awesome trail Dads along for support. Erin Christine, Shelly Yashimski Frost, Angie Messick, LeeAnn Kinney, Kerrynoël Barile all took this race on with me. For some of them, it was their first Enduro ever.  I told them all to ride their best and leave me, or if I somehow could pass them I would be as well lol. Every single one of them finished all 53 plus miles. I am so proud to call you my friends you are all so good to me. I cried so many times because of your love and support I could feel all weekend. 
Thank you Kenny Lee Taylor for the love and support, and helping with accommodations because of my health. Thank you to the one and only pro rider Thorn Devlin for putting my new front tire and bib on my bike for this race. I liked the set up thanks for the recommendation Ben.
This weekend also wouldn’t have been possible without the help, love, and support from Ben Horvath. From getting the bikes ready amidsts working all week, completely threw away his own race as an A rider to stay with me through the course in the event I have a medical emergency and have to get out of the woods asap. ❤️ so patient every time I needed to stop and catch my breath before pushing on. He started a row right behind me and as my row was about to start he came up hugged me with tears in his eyes said he loved me and was proud of me, and other stuff but then I was crying too. Lol we also had a good cry at the finish line too. Before we left, He basically loaded up everything himself with the help of some friends, because I had heat exhaustion or some thing was happening to me. Drove us home and then when it was time to unload everything I was puking so he did all that by himself too. Then he also made me dinner, made sure I ate. Called off of work and drove me to get my chemo treatment the next day. The very next day that was about a 10 hour day for us both. When we got off the exit for my hospital, I saw a Boba tea shop and I got excited. Fast forward through the day. I totally forgot about it and we’re heading home and he pulls in and said you wanted some so I figured we’d stop. How freaking sweet and thoughtful but the most exciting part was he got one and it was his first Boba experience and I got to be there for it! Whooo. It’s not the easiest to be with me as you inevitably end up being a caretaker as well. That in time drains people I know. Hopefully we can recharge a bit this week. ❤️