Hello TeamWILD,
Sharon Gets Fit with Her Sweet Bike in Moab! GO WILD!!
I’m so pleased to be able to let you know that I completed my first Century Ride last weekend in Moab! It was a spectacular morning and remained beautiful throughout the day. I felt well-prepared and ready to ride. The first ten miles was a nice warm-up with a small incline. The next 20 miles was a pretty steep uphill (7 and 8% grades) to Dead Horse Point but, slow and steady, I made it!
Of course, the next thirty miles was all downhill and that was a welcome treat. The final 40 miles followed the river through a canyon and was relatively flat. I was pleased at how well I held up and so happy that I accomplished what was once unthinkable for me. I felt great for days afterward and I don’t know when I’ll ever stop smiling!
Mari, I’d like to thank you for creating the Red Riders for the Tour de Cure and the TeamWILD training program. I wear my jerseys with pride. What the Red Rider program offers to riders with diabetes is fabulous.
As for TeamWILD, it is truly WILD! I learned so much from all aspects of the program. I worked hard on the training drills presented by Cycling Coaches Nicole and Amy. Doing those drills really does provide excellent results and continued cycling strength and endurance improvement.
Diabetes Coaches Marcey and Jenny provided exceptional information on the whole process of diabetes and how to properly fuel my body. I laughed out loud during the “under the weather” video. That is so “me” when I’m not feeling well – my blood sugar is so high I’m just not going to check it anymore! I have said that out loud more than once. Lesson learned.
And, thank you, Coach Jenny, for your recommendation of vegan resources in reply to my e-mail I sent during the season. I’m not completely there yet, (to being vegan) but I am definitely on my way and am feeling great! I’m especially grateful for your link in the TeamWILD program to The Ultimate Vegan Energy Bar recipe. I’ve probably made eight different batches by now and they truly are my sustenance during my rides.
Karen L, a special thank you for the words of encouragement you added each week when you sent out my training plan. And, hey! Congratulations on achieving Ironman status! I was cheering you on from afar and was so happy to see you succeed.
What’s next for me?
Certainly, continued training and more goals. I’m heading in the direction of triathlons after learning to actually swim with my face in the water this past year. I’ll continue working with my personal trainer. I set a long-term goal of finishing an Ironman by the time I turn 60 (four years). My trainer feels I can do it in two years with a half Ironman in Boulder next summer. Of course, there will be lots of Masters swimming and running between now and then and, of course, Sprint and Olympic triathlons early on. It all sounds ambitious, but I feel confident I can do it on the strong base built, in part, through your program.
Please share my thanks with all the coaching staff. Your program is absolutely amazing and the encouragement is profound! Thank you so much for providing such an opportunity to those of us with diabetes. I will be forever grateful!
Go WILD!
Sharon, age 56, type 2 diabetes
Hi Sharon!!
Yeah!! I am so very proud of you!! What an incredible accomplishment. You are a rock star – and I’m so glad we could give you all the tools necessary to reach your goal.
It would be fantastic to see you through to the full Ironman status!
I’m really glad all the info I gave helped you with the vegan diet planning. I have to agree that the energy bar recipe is a must have – so much better for you and so much less expensive than those pre-wrapped energy bars at stores!!
Keep up your awesome spirit and hope to work with you more as you train for your 1/2 Ironman!!
Go WILD!!
Coach Jenny 
