The Courage Classic

I was invited to ride with the Courage Classic this year with the COGA Elite Cycling team on Sunday, July 19th, 2015.

The Courage Classic this year was a long weekend from July 18-20. While this ride has been going on since the 80's, this was my first year hearing about it.

From the Official Website... Last year, the 25th Courage Classic raised a record-breaking $2.9 million for nearly 200,000 patients at Children’s Hospital Colorado!

Courage Classic fundraising supports Children’s Hospital Colorado’s continued efforts to provide pediatric health care excellence to every child that walks through our doors like Annalisa. Diagnosed with lung disease as an infant, Annalisa depends on Children's Colorado. In 2014 we served over 200,000 infants, kids, and teens. As the region's only all-inclusive non-profit pediatric hospital, we rely on and greatly appreciate the contributions of our supporters to make a difference for our patients and their families.

Just weeks before, this is how it started.. Christina got roped in, and now by peer pressure and support, she has a brand new bike, a jersey, and has even done the Colorado passes her first real ride out!


Keeping this short, while the COGA elite cycling team ultimately did laps around us (whether it was laps around the high school running track, extra passes, up and down hills), they stayed with us, cheered us along, coached us and Taylor even helped push a few people up the hills.

It made me think, Taylor was born a coach, a mentor, a guide. He rode along side the slowest person, always had his eye on his riders, he teaches boys how to become men. Even toward the end he had a few words of coaching for me. I thought to myself, how awesome would it be to have a coach in your life, how everyone should have a coach in their life. To cheer them on, help them get over the hard parts, make it seem easy, where without the coach, may seem hard. Make it seamless to reach that next level.





Yet another new experience! Another way for my bike to get out of Denver and explore the wonderful bike trails of Colorado. The opportunity to ride in something that is bigger than just riding. Community.

Through it all, Christina thanked me for being a part of this, where I was the one grateful for having the opportunity to be a part of this.

1st Annual Denver Mile High Rotary Ride

The Denver Mile High Rotary Club decided to do a ride of our own this year! Enjoy the Fellowship that Rotary has to offer and raise funds for Mental Health Awareness. It turned out to be a wonderful day!

With a 7am Start ~ well maybe 7:20 ~ We hit the pavement riding. All 13 of us, mostly road bikes but even a few mountain bikes.


This is a fun Fellowship Ride, our 1st Annual and we wanted to see how it went and, smoothless at that. At Mile 8 we were met by Diane and Pat at our first water Stop!

At Mile 16, we all regathered and were met by our very own President Bob Kemp, who decided his wheels needed a motor, so he showed up on his motorcycle, and Roberta, who made this water stop happen!

We made out way back toward Denver, and the day could not have gotten any better! The weather was fantastic, everyone had such a wonderful time. I was left with the idea, that was created sometime in February was coming to full fruition and it felt good!!

We got just that, Fun, Fellowship, perfect weather, we have a cause, and everyone came together.

Only to be followed up with a nice cold brew at the Denver Ale House.

To a job well done! Cheers!

Denver Mile High Rotary 1st Annual Rotary Fellowship Ride

Tomorrow is the 1st Annual Fellowship ride and the Denver Mile High Rotary club is excited! I am ready!

I did a ride tonight tonight to check out the detours so I can give everyone a heads up! A fun Friday night ride!

I love riding, as it really clears my head. Not like running, where sometimes I feel when I run, all sorts of good, bad or indifferent things go through my head. While, when I ride, it seems there may be nothing, clearing, or positive. Maybe it is the wind in my face.

Last Sunday I went for a short ride, just for the heck of it, ended up on a trail I have never been on before, so I went with it. I didn't mean to end up on this trail ~ but knew all I had to do was turn around and head home. When I came out on a street, I realized where I was. I was even close to a friends house. While I paused to text this friend... by the powers that be, the universe, whatever it may be - Another friend of my happened to be sitting at the stop light, saw me and was heading over to our others friends house. The stars all aligned at that moment.

So I rode my bike over to our friends house and had a wonderful time. I still cannot believe it happened. That is what I am coming to love about riding.

So I am ready for tomorrow. I have my new Rotary cycling jersey.

So today, while on a my ride, I see a French Bulldog, for the last 9 months, I have been seeing French Bulldogs everywhere. I want one, but I don't want to pay $3,000 for one. I had to stop when I saw this cute little guy.

Sparky is the name of the puppy (3 months old)!!! Sooo cute. The boy named him because he had a little Spark on his neck. We never did get into the ASU conversation, I decided not to bring up ASU's mascot. I got a little kiss from the puppy and that made my night!











I continued home as the sky darkened, and the lightning started to strike. The bugs were out of control and annoying, but the evening summer sky was fantastic!

Looking forward to the ride in the morning!!