Endure It Featured Athlete of the Month
Victoria Pardee was born in Queens, New York in 1962. She shares the same birth place as Donald Trump and Ron Jeremy. This fact alone should have been an indicator that she'd lead an interesting life. She attended Boston College, becoming a CPA after graduating. Her career flourished in Connecticut for ten years before her husband's job with Exelon started to move them around. Chip's engineering career transferred them from Connecticut, to Georgia, to Florida, to North Carolina, and eventually to Illinois. Periodic moves made her put away her calculator and explore new horizons, like cycling.
"I've been riding for five years", explained Vickie. "I've met so many great people through the sport that my passion for it grew naturally." This year marks Pardee's third season as an Endure It club member. During that time she has completed countless challenging rides including centuries, trips through the mountains of Tennessee, the Horribly Hilly, and intense training rides with her Endure It comrades. When asked why she trains at Endure It, she remarked, "It pushes me more than I would myself. The digital feedback is a great motivator. From a heart rate perspective, I am challenged to a higher level. There is so much value to the progressive training program."
Vicki's courtship with cycling has had its ups and downs, literally. They had a nasty break-up in September 2008. It was a beautiful September morning when Vicki set out on another fun filled Endure It group ride. At some point mid-ride, she found herself inexplicably catapulted from her bike, heading for a face plant with brutal force. She was physically and emotionally rocked. There was blood everywhere, but she was fully aware of all her surroundings. She had broken her upper and lower jaws, chipped several teeth, and had to undergo multiple root canals. Whose mom said to get back on your bike if you fall off? I don't think she was out with the group that day. With her mouth wired shut for eight weeks, Vicki had to become very well versed in nutrition. Her diet was so limited and it was painful to eat. "Initially it was hard to get enough calories. I had to get a good handle on the most calorie and nutritionally dense diet as possible. I am so much more aware of getting the nutrition that my body needs to run at it's best" she said.
Once she became mobile again, Vicki had a decision to make. Should she get back together with the bike that dumped her so maliciously, or find a new love interest? In an effort to salvage their relationship, Pardee saddled up with the Endure It posse to attend the 2009 training trip in Solvang, California. She was horrified and filled with anxiety. When her bike was slightly broken in transit, she felt a huge sense of relief. Much to her chagrin, Jason, an Endure It super mechanic, fixed her problem in no time. "Getting on the bike in Solvang was the hardest thing I ever did. I was terrified. I still couldn't explain how my accident happened, so how would I be able to stop it from happening again?" she commented. The beautiful scenery and great company on the trip played a key role in Pardee's healing process. She continues to work towards full recovery, and feels she is a stronger person for having gone through the ordeal.
"I appreciate my relationships more than I did. I remember the people who stood by me, and I'll never forget it. I value balance and try to surround myself with balanced people," she commented. We are so glad you kept on truckin' Vickie! Your Endure It family will always stand by you! Way to go!
January 23, 2010 | Permalink
