A Differently Abled Woman's Fire to Inspire

My handcycle training these past two months have been a positive slow progression. While I have been training a bit more on the roads, I have also stepped up my game on my indoor stationary one as well. Spring has sprung, but there are many of those lingering, cool, soggy days, where I find myself "getting too old" to withstand the elements just for fun. There was a time where I would prance and run around in a singlet and bun huggers, and set a PR (personal record,) amidst a downpour and gale force winds.  While those days are long gone, I find solace in my indoor handcycle. I have increased an entire level on it, giving myself more of a resistance, that is equivalent to my hot pink outdoor handcycle. With that, the intensity has created tears in my hands. They are not pleasant, but I like to think of them as my "pink badges of courage." I'm looking into work-out gloves to prevent tears, and down the road tears (as in the sobbing kind.) Each time I get out ...

It has been almost 19 years now since I had run my last run. I have watching races on television, and attended them in person, and each time that I am a spectator of my passion, I yearn to get out there and pound the pavement beneath me with each stride. On occasion, a twinge of anger and a wave of melancholy washes over me, until today. I found a passion where I can race, and eventually compete in, like decades ago.  A few months ago, I had discovered that my most favorite place on Earth (Disney World), held numerous races throughout the year. I own a stationary handcycle in my basement, where I cycle about three miles a day, approximately three days per week. At the time, I did not own a handcycle for the roads, but I knew somehow deep down that I could train for a Disney race. I spotted the Disney Princess Marathon Weekend, and knew in my heart, that I had to complete the Disney Princess 5k. I envisioned wearing a cute, sporty Disney-related outfit (probably Sleeping Bea...