Remember the time you got your very first bike?

For me my first bike came on Christmas morning.  I had gotten up early and ran into the living room, wondering what awaited me, and there it was, all bright and shiny with a big bow on it.  Glistening in the lights from the Christmas tree, beckoning to be ridden around the house.  Oh the excitement and joy of that glorious freedom.

Over time and a few years later as I entered Junior High, I received my third shiny new bike!  This time it was an real bike!  A Schwinn 10 speed Continental.

There she was in all her glory!  Beckoning again to be ridden.  This time though she ment FREEDOM!  I was free to travel where I wanted without the parental units taking me there.  I jumped on that bike, with desert boots on my feet, and pedaled my heart out.  Adventure awaited me and my friends.  I don’t think a single weekend passed where we weren’t on our bikes, going somewhere!

And then many many years passed.  More than I care to admit….I had just finished my first year of doing triathlons and decided for my second year I would do an Ironman.  I figured if I was going to do an event of that magnitude I needed a new bike, one made for being in the areo position for hours…..

That’s when Black Betty came into my life!

Black Betty captured my heart immediately as we spent mile after mile together. First training for Ironman Cozumel and then Ironman Florida. She and I became one throughout the 1000s of miles we rode. I thought that black Betty would be in my life forever.

That is until the day I walked into KompetitiveEdge and saw the sexiest bike I had ever laid eyes on. I looked at the size of the bike and I just knew that bike would be the perfect fit. Perfect!

I talked to Scott at Fit and Tri who had recently made some adjustments to my fit on Betty. I asked him what he thought about the Quintana Roo sitting in the shop and if it would be in my best interest to make the switch. His response, without a doubt!

After a phone call and a few texts with Ryan at KompetitiveEdge Black Betty was being sold and my new bike would be ready in two weeks!

Well in was less than two weeks I walked into KompetitiveEdge and laid my eyes on my new Quintana Roo CDO bike.  I took one look and all I could thing was “Dang!  That bike is mine!  And she is SEXY!!!!”

Fit and Tri Scott showed up and got my new QR properly fitted to me and then sent us on our way.  So here’s where life gives you lemons and you make lemonade.  I had just sprained my pinky toe (I know…insert LOL) and I couldn’t run for a few weeks (Lemon).  The Lemondae…..I got to ride every day!!!!  My coach made me a cyclist for two weeks and I was on my new bike everyday!!!!

I immediately fell in LOVE with Rosie!  Yeap that’s her name  Rosie.  Rippin Rosie! 

There we were, day after day, rippin up the asphalt.  I have NEVER in my life had a bike that actually fit me!  This new experience, of riding a bike that I wasn’t moving all around on was amazing!   I am beyond excited for this season of cycling and racing.  I am excited to bond, mile after mile with my new BFF Rosie!  She is a dream come true! 

So, if you see us rippin up the asphalt, say hi!  If you are looking for the sweetest, best fitting bike there is, see the guys at KompetitiveEdge!  They will put you on the right bike and Ryan is an absolute artist at building bikes! And if you mention GoDoreen  they’ll give ya 15% off.

Got to go….time to ride.  Happy Spring everyone!

Let me introduce you to my new sponsor….. 

These guys are the bomb!  They are the real deal!

Jared and Ryan are two of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever met.  They are QUALITY people!

And just like Jared and Ryan, the quality of products that Kompetitive Edge sells are top of the line!!!

Every item that is sold in the store is tested by them or the staff.  After rigorous workouts and putting products through the mill- if the product passes the test only then is a product put on the shelves.   These guys stand behind everything they sell.  And the cool thing…they try to support companies who make their products in the USA!   

I feel so very honored to have been chosen to be a part of this amazing store and team.  They make you feel comfortable the moment you walk in the door.  They listen to what you’re saying and try to help you in any way possible.  I can’t say enough good things about Kompetitive Edge!  They really are the definition of ….The BOMB!!!!

So…if you are need of anything related to swimming, biking or running stop by and see them.   

If you don’t live in Denver visit them at www.kompetitiveedge.com. 

And even if you do live in Denver (or don’t) and want to save some $$$$$$    you can get 15% off if you use the code  godoreen  at checkout.  Any time, any day….15% off all products they sell!  Gotta LOVE IT!

Like I said…these guy are the real deal.  I am really looking forward to getting to know all my teammates and to this new adventure in 2012!

Thanks Jared and Ryan for allowing me to be a part of Kompetitive Edge!!!

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Have you ever had times in your life when you thought to yourself “No Way In Hell that’ll ever happen!” ?  You know, the kind of thought that not even if the stars align perfectly will this ever become a reality.

Well I had that thought a few times in the past couple of months.  It was the kind of thing where I really didn’t believe that something could happen….AND  then I did it anyway.

One of those things was doing Ironman Florida.  When my coach suggested I try for a 13:30- I seriously thought….”NO WAY IN HELL that’s going to happen”.  I went into the race just hoping to finish under 15 hours.  And- I ended up with a 13:16!!!  Well blow me away! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!

Next up- at the urging of my training partner Scott, I applied for a sponsorship with Kompetitive Edge.  My first thought when he suggested this was…yeap you guessed it “NO WAY IN HELL, they’ll ever pick me!”   I believed this so strongly that I didn’t even attempt to fill out the application.  Then, after Ironman Florida, Scott called me and told me Kompetitive Edge extended their application deadline.   After a few days of him nagging me, I finally decided to go ahead and apply.  Even though I still believed “No Way In Hell, they’ll pick me!”.  I did it anyway.

Six days later I got an email.  I began reading it ready for a “thanks but no thanks”.  As I read through the email…”over 150 applicants..yadayadayada…we have chosen you to be part of the Kompetitive Edge Team”   HOLY CR#P!!  They picked me????!!!!!!  HOW DID THAT HAPPEN???

What I’ve realized as a result of these two experiences is- it HAPPENED because I tried anyway.  Even though everything within me believed these two things couldn’t come true- I did them anyway.  And then they DID happen. 

I actually took this new-found philosophy my “No Way In Hell Factor” and actually applied it to my job.  I went to my main, big time boss regarding what I would like my job to look like someday.  I figure…..”what the Hell”.  I’ve got my “No Way In Hell Factor” (NWIHF).  I approached him with my previous NWIH experiences and told him I believed this idea was a NWIH kinda idea….AND I was going to tell him anyway.  He was receptive to my ideas and we began to problem solve how this might workout down the road. 

So here’s the kicker….About 2 weeks later- having nothing to do with he or I- I got an email from a coworker with a possibility of making my “No Way In Hell”  idea a reality.  Seriously!  I was just blown away!  I’m still blown away.  I’m like WTF????  What is up with this idea of a “No Way In Hell Factor”  AND then doing it anyway?

All I know is….if you have a dream, idea or desire….and you are thinking to yourself “Yeah right.  No way in hell this will ever happen”.  Just do it anyway.  Try it.  Do it.  Apply yourself.  Don’t stop just because you don’t believe it can be true.  Take the “No Way In Hell Factor” and use it in your life!  You will never know what is possible until you try even though……  The sky is the limit and our dreams can come true– If we just put it out there, AND act on them anyway.