Pedaling With a Purpose - Peaksware's Tammy Sadle

As you can probably imagine, the Peaksware office is always buzzing about training and racing.  It seems like there isn't a week that goes by that someone doesn't have a race on the calendar.  This summer, one of our Peaksware team members is putting a twist on her racing.  Customer Support Manager, Tammy Sadle, is riding in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race in August with a team called First Descents.

First Descents is “Committed to curing young adults of the emotional effects of cancer and empowering them to regain control of their lives by experiencing outdoor adventure therapy through kayaking, rock climbing and other outdoor adventure sports.”  While she's preparing to ride in the Leadville 100, Tammy is also raising money for First Descents to help the organization provide its unique programs.

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You can read more about First Descents here and you can make a donation (and help Tammy reach her goal!) by clicking on the image to the right.  There's a special race going on right now and the first 40 people to raise $500 will have their donation doubled. We hope you'll help Tammy make some great headway in her goal of raising money for  First Descents by making a donation so (hopefully) your dollars will be matched!

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Here's how Tammy explained the connection she found with First Descents: 

I sometimes wonder if my love for bikes is simply a substitute for my love for horses, but whatever the reason, I just can't quit this love! I've actually tried several times, but either I jump back into it or somehow it chases me down. Maybe it is the fresh air, changing scenery, or pure speed of the motion that has me hooked, but I've learned not to question too much the 'why' and enjoy the fact that I have found at least one thing in my life that I can lean on to give me that unidentifiable feeling.

It is in my nature to take on new challenges head on, so when I started riding my first road bike I wanted to go farther and farther and farther. My fitness soon followed my enthusiasm and the pushes from the guys on the 'fast' group rides gave me the confidence to keep going. Soon I was introduced to the idea of racing and was 'that girl' in my first race wondering what 'Hold your line!' means. I met my first coach that afternoon and was soon hooked up to a VO2 max testing machine, fully committed with a structured training plan. Many categories, races and a few crashes later, I wondered if this was the only way; all or nothing? 

Recently I've found a version of integrating the sport of cycling into my life that feels sustainable in my work, athletic and personal lives. Working at Peaksware, representing products and services I believe deeply in and working with like-minded people gives me the 'kid in a candy shop' feeling every day! Mixing structured training into activities such as commuting to work by bike and lunchtime work rides has given me ways to save time and reduce the impact the sport has on my life. Finally and most importantly, finding a 'giving back' focus has given me an ease of mind in how cycling fits into my personal life. 

First Descent is an organization that gives individuals diagnosed with cancer the opportunity to experience outdoor adventures that take them out of their current situation, even if temporarily, so they can feel the exhilaration of life without the fear and weight of cancer getting in the way. The funds that I will be raising while training for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, will be going exclusively towards these camps provided by First Descents, and that is something that motivates me beyond my own personal satisfaction.

Over the next few months, Tammy will be keeping a blog (called 100 Miles of Purpose) about her training and experiences on the First Descents Team.  It's a big honor and big challenge and we're excited to see Tammy take it on!  We'd appreciate your help through donations or by passing this blog post on to your friends and family.  Thanks for helping Tammy and First Descents make a difference in the lives of those living with cancer.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DirkFriel and TrainingPeaks, Alan Greening. Alan Greening said: Pedaling With a Purpose – Peaksware’s Tammy Sadle http://t.co/J0tJaZ0 [...]