This Girl Is On FIRE!!

Tammy minds the heat, so on days when we are cold or freezing, she is loving it!  Days when we enjoy a nice summer day, she does not! So appreciate her situation- arriving in Fryeburg, Maine, like the rest of us, Tammy put in a lot of time and effort in preparing for this trip. We arrive to temperatures that even the rest of us were minding, so for Tammy and her boy, Wind, the temperatures played a real factor in if they would ride, and if they did, would they be able to finish given the temperatures.

Troy rode Wind on the first ride day, and it was hot.  Everyone worked hard to keep Wind cooled down, sponging him, Troy got off and walked up the bigger hills, anything to help get him successfully through.  We all minded the heat that first day of riding- none of us had any kind of heat training prior to this, and we were feeling it.

After getting to the top of a loooooong hill, that felt twice as long the second time up, a very tired Troy spoke up and said something to the effect of, " There isn't a galaxy of any kind, anywhere- where Tammy would ever enjoy this!"

Well we all finished the ride successfully, even Wind pulsed down in the heat of the day, but as I watched them walk their boy to his stall to rest, I saw the tears in Tammy's eyes as she shook her head and said a ride for her and her boy would not be in the cards this week.

I felt the disappointment, I felt the tears.  After a day or so of rest and seeing the other rides, Tammy had a change of heart. She was going to ride her boy, and we were all going to Pit Crew our hearts out to help in anyway possible to see them both get through. So bright and early on their ride day, they were up and the fun started.

We met them at different spots along the way, and at the first pit stop, we had a plan- play music, dance, cheer and make fools of ourselves- anything to bring a smile and bit of encouragement, anything to see them keep going ( we also had cold facecloths we kept in the cooler, lots of drinks for them and the horses, and of course the all important sponging water). 

Well imagine our surprise when we caught the first glimpse of them- we did not see a hot and exhausted Tammy (although we knew she had to be hot), we saw smiles, tears of joy, and we saw our friend showing us what "Cowgirl Tough",  really meant. We watched Tammy enjoying the moment, giving it her best and taking care of herself and Wind in the process,  and we watched her cross the finish line- a moment to be proud of.

Congratulations Tammy- your commitment to fitness, riding, setting goals and seeing them through was a real inspiration to me as I watched you embrace the day, heat and all!

Enjoy this my friend!