93 degrees means the kids learn to rest in the shade and inhale water. I thought we would barely be there an hour, but everyone kept rallying. Including me. My legs were dead and my knee was exploding after 6.5 hours and 50 miles through Brown’s Ranch and over Tom’s Thumb yesterday.

It  made completing each sprint up to the dropins on my dirt-jumper so gratifying. I was hard once, and maybe just maybe i can be again. Climbs are fun!  I felt looser each run, fatigue and heat melting the mountain of logistics and driving and coaching and assuaging 3 riders. “Have some fruit, strap on your pads, drink, take the high line, don’t cross the trail, commit, be careful.” The good days are redeemed by  moments, repeating my friends’ advice to attack the jumps, get into the landing position, and trust.

tinyShredder was feeling it too.

pretty good  pic for a 9 yo with an SLR.

As we were loading the car Alana finally asked to swap out her 16″ and ride her 20″, and spent another 30 min on the skills track before she  hit the green line. Each indulgence buys off a future complaint, reminding her she’s done this before and we won’t condone unwarranted timidity.

 

On the drive home the kids were chattering and rambling, littleGirl war stories charged up on stoke. Great session for everyone!