Straight No Chaser

I just wanted to share with you all something Spencer and I came across last year. We really enjoyed this version of
12 Days of Christmas.

It is a fun, short clip. So if you have 3 minutes, click this link to You Tube and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E&feature=email

loose ends

Well, I have a few loose ends to tie up. Remember I mentioned I did a horrible job at getting pictures of the tour? Of coarse I did. I was focused on riding and I wasn't going to just carry along my camera. But, I finally got an email with some pictures from my brother-in-law. His (then girlfriend) was there to take all of our warm clothing back to the hotel after the race started, and she took pics with his camera afterward.
I hope I didn't make the ride sound all easy in my last post, because here is the proof that I was drained by the end. (Pictured here: Kimball, Talmage, Me, Ben)

Me & Ben

So here are some of the loose ends. I forgot to give all credit to my amazing trainer/husband, Spencer. I have my own personal "Chris Carmichael" here. He set up my daily rides and kept me on schedule, pushing me along the way. He watched the kids so I could train, which also translates to him giving up some of his own training time, so I could get in more.

I remember when I was single, thinking of one thing I wanted in a spouse was someone who was active and we could do sports/exercise together. At least have some common ground there. Well, I got that and then some. He is great at helping me in that area. Yeah, I complain at times, but underneath it all, I like it!

Here we are after I finished. --Thanks babe for all your time, knowledge and pushing to get me to this point.

I also forgot to say thanks to Dad Hansen and his goal of going for the family award. Behind that goal, was paid entry fees, sponsered us all with a family cycling T-shirt, a cycling jersey, hotel rooms at the tour and dinner afterward. He also set up monthly training rides for all us that could get there to ride them, so thanks!

And I cant forget my Dad and Vic. They came down and braved the weekend watching the kids for us so we could go. They survived it and even got two annoying NOISE making toys from the dollar store for the kids. I'm sure it was their idea of a good time! I see it happening somthing like this.... "Here are your new toys, but you cant open them until tomorrow morning when your parents are back, then enjoy them to the fullest!"

Thanks for helping us out!

Tour de Tucson

The much anticipated (and sometimes dreaded) weekend has come and gone. This past Saturday was the Tour de Tucson, my first one to be a participant in. I had a great time, it was fun and the weather was perfect for the race. (mid 70*s)

For those unfamiliar with it all, this year the Tour was a 108 mile ride. There was also an 80, 66 and 35 mile rides. Spencer's family has been riding in it off and on for years now. Mostly his dad (12 or more times) his mom, brother Taylor and Spencer. This year the 108 had 3,633 riders finish and for all distances combined, there was a total of 6,483 finishers.

So this year Spencer's dad wanted to go for the "family award", and as I said before, 10 of us signed up to ride. We don't know yet if we got it, I guess that will take a few weeks.
Here's a look at the overall finishing time and place of our family.....

Dad Hansen -4:52:01 platinum ~ 343rd place

Taylor - 5:02:30 gold ~ 424th pl

Spencer-5:23:59 gold ~ 727th pl

Talmage- 5:48:14 gold ~ 1001th pl

Kimball-5:49:07 gold ~ 1024th pl

Lisa-6:04:29 gold ~ 1319th pl (average speed 17.7 mph)

Lindsay-7:08:49 silver ~ 2281st pl

Mom Hansen-7:15:17 silver ~ 2386th pl

Rachel-7:56:02 silver ~ 2767th pl

Mckay- 8:19:02 silver ~ 2970th pl

A few points of interest from the day were:

1) Dad Hansen~ his first platinum finish for the Tour de Tucson

2) Taylor~ got two flats and wrecked 2miles from the finish requiring layers of stitches because the cut was to the bone by his right eye. Face hit the pavement and sunglasses broke, cutting into just right of his eye. Despite this he fixed the flat the wreck caused and finished, missing platinum by only 2 1/2 min., then went to urgent care.

3)Kimball~ also crashed. Was looking down to stretch his neck, looked back up only to see a 'keep left' sign right in front of him and "BONG!", nailed it head on. Rode away with some scrapes on his arm and a bruised ego.

Not knowing if platinum was even obtainable for me, I really wanted to try for it. I was very happy with my end time, but at the same time thinking where I could have pushed harder or what I could have done a little different to close in on those few minutes. I guess I may just have to attempt it again.

I did however fail miserably this weekend at taking pictures, so this is all I have until my Bro-in-law sends me some.


Spencer and I, layered in clothes ready to head to the starting line at 5am in order to get a good place before the 7am start time.

In the 40*s as we waited. Most of us here from L to R. (Kimball, Lindsay, Mom H., Dad H., Me, (Ben a family friend), Spencer, McKay, Talmage. Not seen in pic. ~ Rachel & Taylor.)

Again at the starting line Spencer & I (Kimball in the back, Talmage in the front)

Now, to get to the point of those of you who made a guess at my finishing time. I felt I had to at least come in close to the guessed times. Spencer told me when he posted his that once I finished the race I would realize that I could have pushed it harder. So with that in mind I was determined to come in under his guess. Amazingly the person who won guessed within 31 seconds of my time. My friend Marinda called out a time of 6hrs 5 min, so to her a gift will go!

And here we sit, the day after on the couch. Asking the kids to do everything for us as we recover. I knew they were good for something, sweet little things!!