How did I get here?

Speeding along the time trial course

Dr Kevin Jones - my hero

Three and a half years ago my Air Force doc recommended amputating my left leg at the hip. Dr Kevin Jones of the Huntsman Cancer Institute had the guts to try a difficult surgery that saved my leg and removed all remnants of my bone cancer. I asked that he give me a solid platform to rehab with and his selection of the Zimmer hip and ZMR stem was a perfect fit for me and my rehab goals. I am deeply indebted to Huntsman and Zimmer and to Dr Jones for allowing me to become the "new and improved" me.

Three years later I look back and remember relearning all I had taken for granted; how to lift my leg onto the couch for napping and TV watching, how to walk, how to ride a bike and how to crawl into bed. Holly was there every step of the way to be my left leg when my left leg couldn't perform like it used to. In order for me to walk downstairs - to ride my indoor bike - she had to get on her hands and knees on the steps below me and lift my left foot up, place it on the step below then help me balance myself to get to the next step.She was my rock then and continues to be today. I would not be here without her.

Today we were not able to ride the road race course as we thought so we rode the time trial course again to become more familiar. I tried to only push hard a few times so as not to burn out my legs - I feel great as a result.

Told you it was "lumpy"

Tomorrow I'll power up this hill

My Special Ops bike and I are ready to slip in under the radar

My Mom, Betsy, flew down from Pennsylvania today to hang out with Holly and me and cheer me on. We all went to dinner, caught up on family happenings then returned to the hotel for a briefing. The briefing by Mike Durner of the Olympic Team outlined how the times would be scored then ranked across the board for equal comparisons. To summarize - I have to ride the 19k course in 26:30 or faster to make the National standard and make the National B team who ride in international events and go to riding camps. If I can ride the course in 27:21 or faster I can be in the talent pool. Anything shy of that will be nice - I'll get a handshake and a pat on the back. Needless to say, with these hills I would be thrilled with anything under 30 minutes but I will sell out -so let the chips fall where they may.

Win, place or show - or anything worse - I will still report back to you tomorrow night. Thank you for all your well wishes and encouragement - I'll be thinking of all of that while willing myself to pedal faster and faster.

Our best,

Steve and Holly...and my Mom