Another funny pic…
What do we call this one? Sore loser? 
So on Saturday my stupid bike shoes were still in my bike box (being shipped from AZ). I wasn’t thinking when packing my bike up and just threw the shoes in there, too, not thinking I would need them when I got back to Boulder. I’d done a few indoors rides at FAC with my tennis shoes, no big deal, but Saturday had a 2.5 hour ride on the plan. I called Joanna to ask what she suggested without my bike shoes.
“Dude, I’m riding 2.5 hours, what should I do?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“My bike shoes are still en route from AZ”, I answered.
“Do you have tennis shoes?”
“Uh huh…”
“Use those and bike on top of the pedals”, she said, totally deadpan.
I started to laugh, thinking she was kidding. She wasn’t. I was incredulous. “Really?”, I asked. “C’mon.”
“Yes. Go.” and then she started to laugh, “Just hope no one we know sees you looking like an idiot with tennis shoes on your ride!”
Nice. Thanks.
So out I rode, tennis shoes on pedals, trying to avoid any major routes so I could avoid as many people as possible. I have a pretty good ability at being able to laugh at myself, but I did look like a HUGE dork! I had almost made it home, I was within 8 miles and was on the Diagonal ….. my head is down, I am avoiding contact with anyone …. I go by a huge pack and hear, “CAROLE SHARPLESS!!!”
Oh God.
The bubbly voice of Jen Martinez came shrieking out from the pack. Oh man, I had almost made it. I was too embarrassed to slow and stay to chat — I just pointed down at my feet and yelled, “My bike shoes are in AZ!”, to explain myself. I heard her laugh and could have sworn I heard, “You big loser!” …. but of course I can’t be positive! 
Superbowl morning I went to Jane’s 10am swim at FAC. It was packed. I somehow found myself in Matt Reed’s lane. Shitballs. We started a set to include some 175’s and I swear my ONLY goal was to try to make it to 125 to keep him from lapping me. Each time it was close, too. Frickin Matty! The dude is so tall that he almost is across the pool just when he stretches out. I am awe struck how fast these swimmers are in Boulder. Tons of them, too. It’ll be good for me, eventually.
Later that night at Michael Stone’s Superbowl Party, Matt and I were fighting over the guacamole dip.
“Good swim today, Carole”, he said in his hot Kiwi accent that sounds like: guud svim toodae Caarul.
“Dude my only goal was to keep you from lapping me on those 175’s. 2 months and I’m gonna be on you!”, I winked. (Of course I’ll never be near him, but it’s good for me to try and intimidate him a little. ha.)
“Ahhh, you’ll be there. I won’t get much faster than this, but you will. You’re doing good.”
What a sweet, encouraging thing to say. My friends know it has been a long, long road for me. I really appreciate how encouraging they are, and how supportive they all have been of my attempts to get back in shape.
Boulder really is a good place, with good people….
I think this blog was only to try intimidate me. “I’m swiming in Matty Reed’s lane…blah blah blah!”