Jen the Cyclist turned Rodeo Cowgirl?

Over the last month a lot has happened... I'm still in great health and just for those wonderful people who sponsored me to run 10km on September 18th - we raised over $1000 for the Terry Fox Foundation! Muchos Gracias Amigos - I'm sure we made some front line researcher who slaves away everyday trying to find a cure for cancer a little happier as our money went to fund their initiatives. As many of you know, I've made many attempts since cancer to get back on my bike and faced one road block after the other. I really believe cycling is a part of who I am. As I geared up to start training again for next season I was dealt a blow by my cardiologist who explained to me in terms not thorough enough for my liking, that my heart has developed an extra electrical pathway, possibly due to some tissue that built up during chemo, and in order to prevent my heart from essentially exploding, I have to stay on meds that limit my heart rate and thus limit my athletic ability. Although I still love to ride, I hit a wall shortly into my rides, and this is the doing of this one medication that it seems I'll be on forever. I was in tears for a bit after the appointment, but as many of you know, sometimes you have to roll with the punches. I saw my good friend Lori Ann Muenzer last night. I first met her when we roomed in together at Nationals in 1997. My Mom and her became buddies and I always looked up to her like an older sister. She moved to Edmonton in 2001 and I haven't seen her since. She was in town for a documentary screening about her strife following her Olympic Gold. The movie not only showed Lori as a real person, but Des, Dan, Kurt and a number of my old coaches often were seen in the background with everyone from my first ever boyfriend (who I still talk to and is happily married) to friends I spent most of my teenage years with. Some I've lost touch with, so it was great to see most are still riding. The movie showed the life of a track cyclist in its truest form and I loved it - however it also made me miss a part of my life I've had to indefinitly put on hold. I am hoping to fill the void cycling has left me with by persuing another dream I've had since I was little - and that is participating in some kind of equestrian sport. After attending a rodeo a month ago, I became familiar with barrel racing - as I watched it, I just wanted to find a horse, jump on a start blowing people away! That was the way I felt the first time I saw a bike race.... I'm in the process of looking for a horse and will keep you all posted! If you have any questions about the photos, e-mail me! ;o) xox