For me as far as the  109 mile EL TOUR DE TUCSON bicycle race is concerned, success can be interpreted in many different ways. As the summer progressed and my rapid recovery from brain cancer surgery on March 5, 2009 became a distant memory, my hopes were raised that I could make it back ( all the way back ) to a Platinum speed ride in one of the biggest bicycle races in the country. From my first easy 25 mile ride 10 days after brain surgery to a great 3rd consecutive weekend century plus ride 2 weeks prior to El Tour, I thought that the stars and planets were aligning for me once again to achieve what everyone would have thought impossible when I was wheeled into the Operating Room back on March 5th. I trained with intensity, focus and a purpose like I’ve never had. It was like I had a constant tailwind pushing me up every mountain with an extra gear I never had before. Instead of whining during my rides about the pain I was experiencing, I laughed at it and kept smiling thru it. I even welcomed it because it meant that I WAS ALIVE- SO ALIVE!! Dead people don’t feel pain! I was ready and  feeling very strong on a fast 50 mile Miles Ahead shop ride the Saturday before El Tour. I felt great the next day when I was interviewed by FOX11 news for their lead story on the 9:00pm newscast. The next day as luck would have it- I came down with a nasty cold – 5 days before EL TOUR!! Was this just another seemingly insurmountable obstacle that I would have to overcome? Would I even be able to ride the race? Much less make it in Platinum time? I didn’t want to disappoint all those wonderful people who have encouraged me during my latest journey by not making it to the race. I decided quickly that unless I was extremely ill, I would make it to the race and finish the 109 miles no matter how long it took. I took lots of zinc & vitamin C, got plenty of rest and by Thursday I was set to ride the race- even though I was not quite back to 100% yet. Maybe by the start on Saturday I hoped! I did a easy 16 mile warm up/ leg stretching ride on Friday and my legs felt very strong even though I still had some nasal congestion. My hopes were rising that when the adrenaline kicked in at race time, I could still do a Platinum time, as I know very well that “miracles do happen”!