KATHY SHERWIN

Dealer Camp Dirt Gran Prix Short Track - Park City, UT

2011-07-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Women's Podium: moi, Katerina, Chloe

As if 4 races in 8 days in 3 different states weren’t crazy enough there was one last race I wanted to hit. It was a 30min Short Track race at Dealer Camp that was taking place at Deer Valley Resort.

My thought was that if I get my act together enough and recover from Saturdays race in Montana the best possible I could maybe pull off this one last race before taking some down time. The plan was to just wait and see how the body reacted over the few days until race day. I know mentally I was on a high after placing 4^th at the US Mountain Bike Short Track National Championships and then winning the first Cyclocross race of the season but I didn’t know if I had anything left after lots of car time and lots of intensity too!

Believe it or not, once Tuesday night rolled around for the 6:20pm start I was ready to go!! What I was really excited about was that some semi foul weather had moved in bringing some sprinkles and thunder. Plus, I love Short Track too much to miss it, especially when it’s so close and taking place where I have worked for 17 years. And there was GREAT prize money too. What’s not to crawl out of bed for!?

The course had a pretty good amount of climbing for a Short Track. It started on a fire road that took you up to the top where you made some zig zag turns taking you back down and around to do it again. It was a short 2-3 minute gut wrencher.

Ready, set,....GO!

We got going and the group stayed surprisingly well together for the first couple laps before completely exploding into our own version of a mtb Time Trial. When you have a Garmin (mine is an Edge 500) and you end up in a Time Trial race that you didn’t sign up for, you have nothing but data to keep you thrilled. Up to 8 pieces of data per screen means you can have more fun reading that riding! Perfect for a Time Trial especially if you have it set up in “Scroll” mode meaning it scrolls at your pre selected pace from screen to screen. It even will count your laps so you don’t have to! That is a good thing when you are dizzy and can’t even say your own name while racing. Will the Garmin Edge 500 pedal for me too??!! I think it’s getting there!

With the race now a Time Trial it became a race against my own head. I had done a lot of racing in the last 11 days and I was definitely on the edge of being fried. I knew my fitness was still there as my legs were allowing me to move up. But my head had moments of not wanting to push because I have been pushing my mind and body plenty recently. I quickly squashed those thoughts as they entered my head and planted dollar signs in their place. Nothing like that to make you roll across the line in 2^nd!! Pay day!

Dealer Camp was impressively large.

US Mountain Bike National Championships - Sun Valley, ID

2011-07-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

US National Championships Short Track Women's Podium

Sitting in your respective room, hermit-like in a massive house at Sun Valley trying to harness any energy you have in your body is NOT what you want to be doing the day before the US Nationals. Yet, I was.

After racing 10 years + now I know my body and I can tell when it’s not happy or when it’s about to get real unhappy. I am fortunate in that sense because it allows me to pull the plug, take a step back and try to salvage anything left that my body has to give for an upcoming race. Sometimes this approach works and sometimes you still end up sick as a dog.

Although way fun, the lead up to US MTB Nationals was maybe not the best for me travel wise. I knew I was cooking myself a bit with lots of travel to races prior but that is part of it and its DANG fun too. When opportunities arise you must partake!! Part of being a pro athlete is recognizing these things and putting the pieces together in a manner that will work for you, whether it’s when you are planning your schedule for the year or just planning on what you do in the hours leading up to your big races. Oh and just so you know, the second you get it dialed in….it changes! That is part of like I said and it’s actually what makes this sport so intriguing and keeps you grasping for more. There is a reason I have been racing for as long as I have!!!

A view of Sun Valley from the Gondola

I had everything going for me as I sat there in my own private room with bathroom attached and now I just needed to make it work for me. Our well supported team had 2 team mechanics in Sun Valley, Alex and Jimmy, our never ending working team manager Shannon, my wonderful teammates Kaila, Zeph and Nina and we even had someone to cook and clean for us. Things really couldn’t be better.

Jimmy Deaton in the feed zone. Note the bottle still in mid air.

That said, it is tough when you have wonderful support at the race but your body is not in the right place!! There is nothing more that you want than to make it all work out. That is all I had to do this week once I made the short drive up from the Salt Lake City area – RACE and STAY HEALTHY. Sometimes that is the toughest job of all.

Cross Country

The body is such a crazy thing. Everything I did worked which means doing nothing worked!!! I was lucky to be allowed to do NOTHING and just show up for dinner and excuse myself to return to my room each night. Thank you to EVERYONE!!!

On race day I felt good in my warm up from the first pedal stroke and everything was GREAT from there. Who would have thought!!!?!

At the line with teammate Zephanie

Well aside from that horrid hill that went straight up a mountain on fire road that we had to climb up 5 times. 500 + feet of climbing all at once in just over ½ a mile. Ouchy momma!!!! NOTHING can really prepare you for something like that except for some good ole fashion mtb stage racing I don't think. Or your Garmin Edge 500!!! If you knew what the course was going to be ahead of time you could train appropriately using the data from your Garmin since it will record every last detail of a course. Especially for a key race such as US Nationals this is an extremely useful tool to have on your side. Map it out and train for it! And since the Garmin Edge 500 weighs only a scant 57g you really have nothing to lose. That is less weight than my former heart rate monitor and I have the option for 3 data screens that each contain 8 features vs. the whopping 2 features total I had been using on my old set up!! I would say that is a fair trade indeed!

Garmin Edge 500 tells all: The main climb was topping out around 20% grade (oh, wait....I didn't want to know that!!) Haha.

When I first pre-rode the course it dawned on me that no one really trains like this anymore because courses are in the process of really changing. But in stage racing you are always presented with something of this magnitude at least one time each stage. My legs were more prepared than I gave them credit for after mtb stage racing in Spain earlier this year. And here I was looking for a pair of legs to swap out with for the race!! Well, as it turned out, that wasn’t needed and I really just needed to believe in myself a bit more. I owe myself a big apology.

Rock Drop for the fearless. There was a B line option too for those with brains. Ok, it wasn't that bad.

Of course, up the hill the first time I was pegged, gassed, and almost literally crossed eyed and I did think “Can I really do this 4 more times??”. But that dang downhill that was literally ALL downhill allowed your heart rate to drop to near resting heart rate levels (ok, well, not really) but it seemed that way. So by the time you got to the bottom, hit the rock drop (totally fun!!!)) and made your way through the rock gardens you had already recovered and was able to convince yourself that going back up for another lap was doable and not going be THAT BAD. What a sick way to live eh? What is wrong with racers?!! : )

Shannon on the dusty powdery singletrack.

The downhill was pretty fun but there was no passing unless a wonderful soul ahead of you was kind enough to let you by slowing down and moving over (you know who you are – thank you; good karma headed your way). The corners were moon dusty and rutted (I LOVE ruts) and the lead up was fast and packed. It was a balance of not letting your speed get away from you as you approached each corner because blowing one of those things meant you and your bike were tumbling down the mountain for a while – game over. By the 3^rd lap I had really figured out how to slide around the loose 180 degree corners effectively – a new tool for me!! Pretty exciting to learn something new that I could do but never tried.

Spectator friendly Rock Garden

As the race went on I only found myself getting faster and faster and was gaining on the group ahead. That was a nice feeling and set me up well mentally for the next day. Although I never attached to the group ahead of me I did take 11th place!!

I have to thank Stan’s NoTubes and Schwalbe for the best set up out there. We were hitting rock gardens and the rock drop without a second thought at unthinkable speeds. And did any of our team have any issue?? Ah heck no!! That is one reliable set up!!!!

Short Track

What a great way to end the weekend….on a Short Track course that was extremely similar to a Cyclocross course minus barriers and run ups.

After a busy and bustling morning of gathering all our stuff that we had scattered around in the 5000 square foot house we were staying in (read: we had to text each other to find one another!) we made our way over to the venue for a late afternoon race start under blue skies.

I don’t know what it is with me but everyone deems me as “Calm Kathy” in most situations and today on the start line was no different. I have never been one to get all riled up and anxious on the start line. It’s just another day on the bike I guess….

I had a descent call up for the race and plopped myself on the 2nd row behind some fast legs. I had the opportunity for a first row start (one spot was left open up front) but thought the better of it based on the layout of the course making 2 turns immediately upon start. That seemed like a recipe for a nice ball up.

Trying to get away.

The gun went off and 5-10 seconds into the race I heard metal and crashing behind me and even got slightly shoved around unintendedly. Oh geez….need to pedal faster now to get away from the mayhem!! I found myself immediately in the top 10 but what I didn’t tell anyone was that I was NOT going away from this weekend without a podium and that a top 10 today was not going to cut it. I was bound and determined to make it happen.

With my legs on boards with this scenario, I made my way up towards the front while sitting on the fast turning pedals ahead of me and looking for opportunities to pass. About halfway through the race I found myself in a group of 4th place to 6th. That was a huge reminder of last year’s US Cyclocross Nationals. I had the same mind set too of that I WILL be 4th and I NEED to make it happen. When confidence comes like that it’s overwhelming and has so much passion behind it that you can’t ignore it.

Making my way up to towards the front

After drilling it on the front and then sitting in and recovering I was able to split the group up with 2-3 laps to go. Now I was alone in 4th and noticed that 2nd and 3rd place was coming back to me a bit at about 10 seconds ahead!! I then really put my head down to close that gap knowing that time was ticking. I was taking even faster and sketchier lines and in doing so felt my rim bottom out on the final lap. It was at that moment that I decided to take my carbon Orbea Alma 29r gingerly around the rest of the corners and chuck the idea of trying to close the gap. I came across the line in 4th place!

Having 2 US National podiums in 7 months time I could not be happier!!! I must thank my sponsors for EVERYTHING that they have done to get me here. It means the world to me! THANK YOU!!!!!

That is no road. That is part of the mecca of bike paths Sun Valley has!

UT State MTB Championships - Deer Valley, UT

2011-06-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Deer Valley Resort still has plenty of snow at the base!

I did learn my lesson last week. What a race today!!! I am pretty excited to have just won the Utah State Championship race.

The Pro Women’s field was comprised of some strong Utah talent along with the current Australian XC and STXC National Champion who had just arrived into town. It was anyone’s guess as to who would roll across the line in first…..especially mine after last weekend. I had to screw my head back on straight after that one and I luckily I was able to just in time. It actually took me a while to get my body back after digging such a hole at the Teva Games and that meant doing intervals on consecutive days late in the week. GREAT – not the best way to prepare for a race but maybe it was?!! The body is always changing to keep one guessing!

How things can change from week to week, day to day, hour to hour and…. ok, even year to year in this sport. This is why you rely on yourself, your race knowledge and your training to keep plugging away at what you love to do, because you never know. What worked one time may not the next and visa versa.

Cool award/keychain

The race started with a super steep climb right off the bat. It was similar to the start of MTB Nationals in Granby, CO last year. You also got to hit this steep section right after standing around for race start and getting warmed…..ugh…DOWN. Ouch. But this kind of scenario is what got me last week at Teva when I went for it on the climb right away, so this week I decided to just chill–ax on the climb and ride my own race up it and go from there. The climb was short lived so this idea was not such a bad one.

Off the line I settled into my own rhythm, then started the climb and purposefully did not redline (this is pretty much a first in my career to do this). It was hard to hold back but I was seriously scarred from last weekend so it wasn’t THAT hard to do. I knew my body would be happy I did it this way since we were at 7100 feet!

Katherine (AUS) was able to get in front of me on this section which allowed me to see my competition for the first time as she was wearing our version of the Stars and Bars jersey, but for Australia!! Ah heck ya, this was going to be fun!!!!! Ok, I know that is just sick and wrong but I was feeling good, was ready to race and was ready have some throw downs going on while I was at it. And that is exactly what I got.

I kept her in sight until we got down to the bottom of the Deer Crest Chairlift and that is when I used a solid transition to the next climb and big gear to push past her. I didn’t get too far in front as we made our way back up to Deer Crest and on up to the top of Heinous Hill. There was PLENTY of traffic from all the other fields to get through which added and interesting element to the race. That was almost half the battle trying to time your attacks to get through the other categories safely and effectively. Don’t want to burn a match unless you have to and it needs to stick if you do! As I went through other categories she was quick to follow always keeping me in sight. It was great!

That kept me on my toes and forced me to push harder on the climbs and DH for the rest of the race allowing me to grow a big enough gap to seal the victory!!!! It has been a while since I have been the Utah State Champion and it feels good!

People kept telling me I had the "Eye of the Tiger" look.
Thx for the pic Melissa Perry!

It was so nice to feel so confident in a race and feel like myself again as compared to last week. In addition, I can’t tell you how good it feels to completely and whole heartedly depend on your bike and equipment 110%. When you are ripping down the DH taking corners in the woods like a bat outta hell you HAVE to depend on your equipment!!! From your tires, frame, wheels, to the proper shifting all the way down to your grips and pedals. The Stan’s NoTubes EliteWomen’s Team is so lucky to have some of the best product out there which makes it easy to just simply......race.

Bump skiing anyone? June? Really? Wow.

Teva Mtn Games - Vail, CO

2011-06-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

It had been a good long while since I had seen my Stan's NoTubes team and I couldn't wait to see everyone again! I also couldn't wait to pick up all the goodies that were waiting for me in Vail which included a set of ZTR 29r Race Gold rims that Stan's NoTubes was kind enough to send our way!!!

1345g and solid - bling bling!

This down jacket weighs just over 0.5lbs is all and I could stuff it in a pocket!

We were also collecting many other goodies while in Vail like more Stan's sealant (of course!!!), more Schwalbe tires to create the most bomb proof combo of tires and wheels out there, Ti King cages some of the lightest in the biz at 28g, Patagonia outerwear, Stan's Bamboo Socks, and some pink Sharpies to label our water bottles with too! Our sponsors couldn't be more generous this year. Thanks to everyone who is supporting the Stan's NoTubes Elite Women's Team!

If you haven't been to the Teva Games you really have to just GO. It is one huge event filled with everything from Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Photo Contests, Dog Jumping, Fishing, Rafting, SUP, Running and of course Riding!! People come from all over the world to compete in their respective disciplines. It's pretty amazing and really fun to see so many athletes from all the different sports.

On top of all the contests, there is also a huge expo area that goes on for light years. You will get lost and turned around in Vail Village I guarantee it. There is so much to see, do and even eat! Choose from expo vendors such as Chipotle or go to a Vail restaurant and dine on their patio. What a great atmosphere!

On Friday I headed to the venue to pre ride the course and I liked what I saw. What I was most impressed with was the fact that they were able to hold a mtb race at all this year given the amounts of snow and bad weather that has been affecting all of us in the west. My new wheels that I was testing out for the first time were awesome. Stiff, responsive and light. The Stan's 3.30 Ti Hub is just the icing on the cake. Stan's NoTubes does such an amazing job with their technology!!

The course was short and condensed with 900 feet of climbing per lap. It was surprisingly NOT muddy at all, as those in charge had been clearly busting their buns to create a flawless event that would go off without a hitch.

That said, my race DID NOT go off without a hitch. What happened is beyond me although I think I have an idea. I prepared as I always do in the days leading up. I had descent sleep, a great place to stay, our awesome team mechanic Jimmy was there to make sure the bike was ready and generally, all signs getting up to the start line were pointing to a great day on course.

I could not have been more dead wrong.

The race started and I was right up there in front where I needed to be and about 5-10 min in without warning I popped. I am still not completely convinced that I actually blew but I am going to guess that I was ready to but knew enough to lay off the gas before I actually did.

Once this happens or comes close to happening as in my case, it is all over. I went backwards. In fact at that moment I don't think I could have even pedaled backwards if I had wanted to. I had NOTHING. Nothing at all to give. At that point my legs felt empty and hollow and if negative watts could be produced, I was producing them. It felt like I hadn't trained in a year and decided to come race Pro. What an awful feeling but I did it to myself off the start line at 8232 feet. I should have known better.

As I pedaled my empty legs around in circles everything screamed at me to stop. My mind was relentless with bad self talk and the seething pain in my legs was almost completely unbearable as I made my way around the course. My heart rate wasn't even a factor because I couldn't push enough to even get my heart rate high.

So I rode. I JRA'ed (Just Riding Along) this race. My legs were jello and I couldn't push. The thought of having to go around 4 times on this loop was almost more than I could bear so I just chose to concentrate on whatever was in front of me at the time and to NOT think about the big picture that I really had a good 1.5 hours of pure suffering still left. It is these kinds of races that make those races that seem "easy" all the more sweet.

I prayed for a mechanical or anything to happen to just save me from my misery but our darn team mechanic is so dang good that nothing happened. : ) I am not sure I should thank Jimmy Deaton or not?!! Hahaha!!

I somehow slopped it across the line in 11th place and went straight to the car where I curled up and couldn't move for about an hour. I couldn't stretch, I couldn't eat or drink, I couldn't get out of my clothes - I was a wreck. And I knew that not being able to do these things for recovery was going to compound the issue!!! Aye yie yie.

I finally mustered enough energy to go to Garmin tent that was centered in the middle of Vail Village. They had given me an Edge 705. Tools such as these are great in a race when you are going good and you see on your screen what you need to accomplish in order to be better (like trying to keep the same average speed each lap). But they are even more valuable when you have a bad day because every last little bit of information is recorded and as much as it hurts the ego to look at that stuff.....YOU HAVE TO. It is what will make you a better rider and racer in the future. The Edge 705 couldn't have come at a better time in my season. And on a fun note, I hit 34.1mph on some of the dh. At least I was going fast somewhere! Stats like that are interesting to see and all with only one push of button. Thanks Garmin!!!!!

In addition to all these fun things that I acquired at the Teva Games, The Sherwins were also adorned with some Teva shoes.....it being the Teva Mtn Games and all! I think I was just actually felt sorry for after my race. Hahaha!! Mine are so comfy that I have literally been wearing them ever since I got them!

On left: Teva Men's Links On Right: Women's Teva Brea TMG

At least I wasn't the only one at Teva Games just whooped

Once back at base camp with the team that night I still could hardly move or do anything really. Even on our team ride the next day in Eagle was not a pretty sight but it was fun to get out with the ladies and ride some singletrack! Jimmy also gave us all a great downhill lesson along with drills to do. I will gladly take advice from Mr. DH and Hall of Famer himself. That was pretty cool.

(l to r: Shannon, moi, Zeph, Kaila)

I am now looking forward to moving on from this and not letting it get me down. It was just one race among many that I have done and will do in the future. Lesson learned. Case closed. Don't redline at altitude.

Posted at the coffee shop in Eagle, CO

Intermountain Cup #6 – Draper, UT

2011-05-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

The dry and rippen fast part of the course

I woke up to snow on this race morning! And not only was it snowing at my house it was raining and sleeting the whole 1 hour drive down to the race at Corner Canyon!!

Who knew that it was going to be cyclocross weather and racing in Utah on May 30th?! I was really happy to have my full arsenal of cyclocross clothing and cold weather gear packed with me. My clothing choice of leg warmers and a wind proof vest proved to be the ticket. Yes, a tad hot on the uphills (that's what zippers are for!) but perfect on the downhills and a great defense for the howling wind and cold.

Off the line I was able to jump in front of the group of Pro women which gave me a nice head wind to contest as well. I wasn't feeling the love on that first lap and was pretty sure that maybe I should have warmed up even longer than I actually had on this cold day - oops. And, that was really proven to me on the second lap when I started to feel better and was in a better groove as I climbed.

The trails were awesome and even muddy in sections which is pretty unique for Utah at this time of the year. There were many parts requiring Cyclocross skills and mudder skills. I felt very at ease on all those sections as I was able to plow through them with not a second thought. It certainly kept you on your toes though....or on your face if you weren't so lucky!

Another thing that kept me on my toes was Sarah Kaufman who is having a great season. She was in it to win it and kept the pressure on. It was a great race in that respect of having to really think about things tactically and to try and figure out where the best places were to really throw down and keep growing the gap. You are never "safe" in any race so growing the gap is always a goal along with winning which I really wanted to do too!

The wind was mighty making every effort I put in seem almost unsustainable but my body and mind persevered as I came away with another win for this season!

Heading into the mud!

A big thanks to all my sponsors who give me equipment and support that make my world and wheels (Stan's NoTubes Crests of course!!) go around!

Santa Barbara Living

2011-05-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

I ran into some very friendly Peacocks on my ride

Every year I think I start this paragraph out the same way…..we are so lucky to have such GREAT friends in SB who open their doors to us allowing us to stay in their home. We have come out to their house every year right after Sea Otter in order to get away from the mud season in Utah, see friends, hang at the ocean, ride to our hearts content in the sun and get some great sea level training in. When the sun comes out and starts baking the mountains of Utah is when we return. We love this open ended journey every year and feel extremely lucky to even have this wonderful option each year!!

A view of the Pacific Ocean

It was downright AWESOME there too with the May weather, the posse of friends, the riding, shopping, dining, nights with wine flowing and just simply….the environment. We feel so lucky to be able to visit old friends there and to have also made so many wonderful friends that we keep adding to every year. It’s almost another home away from home now.

We love this place!

This is the time of year that I just don’t want to end but sadly it has to as all good things do. That said, thanks Eric and Kristin for another GREAT GREAT GREAT time in Santa Barbara. We will miss ya and we can’t thank you enough!!

Chris's hang out for most of May while he Kiteboards

If there is a snake to be seen, I am always the one to see it

Idyllwild Spring Challenge - Idyllwild, CA

2011-05-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Idyllwild Singletrack

Just outside Palm Desert up in the mountains at 5300 feet sits the town of Idyllwild which offers up some of the best riding and racing I have yet to come across.

The views in Idyllwild

The cross country course was a 27 mile loop course of some sweet buffed out singletrack. And that’s no exaggeration….it’s awesome and I highly recommend checking this place out! This weekend’s stage race would begin with the long cross country on Saturday and then end with the shorter Time Trial and Super D events on Sunday.

This Road Runner at the house kept us entertained!

My hubby Chris and I were staying in Palm Desert with family and the weather differences were huge between there and Idyllwild. It would be 70 degrees in the early morning when we left for the race but then it would only be in the 40’s once we got up into the mountains! It was quite the climate change in a 1 hour drive! Rest assured though it was a beautiful weekend with highs in the 60’s. Perfect race temps!

Need I say more? Ok..."Ahhhhhhhh"

Cross Country

In addition to the cross country course being fabulous it also offered some superior climbing. There were three hills, all of which had Queen and King of the Mountain awards and primes for the first lady and man to the top of each one.

Race Start

I punched it as hard as I could up each climb because I was seeing $$$ signs instead of stars like I normally do. It worked, as I grabbed all 3 Queen of the Mountain primes!!! Once at the top of the course I had to find my way down to the bottom safely while still punching it up and over power climbs to get there. I hadn’t pre-ridden this part of the course so each fast approaching corner was a new experience! There was a lot of DH to be had and after all that climbing I would have to say that we earned our turns!!

As I made my way down the wooded trail the boys pushed me as they always do and they were a pleasure to ride with. Coming in safely and smiling across the line after a 3hr race was the perfect way to end the day while nabbing some nice cash for the win too!

Time Trial

Sunday was a busy day with two races, the Time Trial and the Super D back to back starting almost right in the town of Idyllwild itself. I hadn’t pre-ridden either course so getting on these trails early was imperative. I was able to get a lap in on the Time Trial and get warmed up just in time to hammer out my race lap.

We were all being shot off the line 1 minute apart with the Pro Men in front and Expert Men behind. Yikes! Don’t want to get caught – pressure was on!!

I had a goal of doing the TT in less than 20 minutes but a chain issue requiring me to get off the bike and hang out in the middle of the singletrack to fix it for what seemed like an eternity put me 9 seconds over that goal. Bah hum bug! Least I finished!

A good weekend!

Super D

Immediately upon completion of the Time Trial I jumped in the car and Chris drove me over to the Super D to check it out. I didn’t want to do a Super D without seeing it first and there was little time in between races – we had to rush!!

After taking a good solid look at the course and enjoying every last minute of all the downhill (a Super D is 80% downhill and 20% uphill), Chris picked me up at the bottom in the car and we headed back up to the top for the race start. They were again sending people off in 1 minute intervals with me being sandwiched in between the pro and expert men.

The goal again for myself was 20 minutes or less for the Super D. I not only met that goal, I was also was able to catch up to the Pro man ahead of me!

My Super D wasn’t without incident unfortunately. Even after pre-riding everything I still managed to blow a corner losing all my momentum. That was really annoying but I was able to get back on track fast enough to start bombing down the hill again!

A beautiful solid granite award!

A weekend of family, sun, wins, primes, trophies, plaques, medals, money and some of the best singletrack out there was the perfect weekend! And if it weren't for my sponsors I wouldn't be doing what I love. Thanks to all of them for every last speck of support!

More at home entertainment!

Sea Otter Classic - Monterey, CA

2011-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Leaving the land of snow and rain

The Sea Otter Classic bike race is always one I look forward to even though it can be highly schizophrenic with its weather. I have raced there in extreme heat when people were being taken away in ambulances from heat exhaustion and I have also raced in the biggest nastiest deepest mud bogs and puddles known to mankind there. You never know what you are going to get!

I like that this race serves as the kick off for me and my ever supportive husband to hit the road together for a open ended journey to CA to visit friends and family, race in warm weather and just hang out by the ocean! He gets a little break from work and that means we get to catch up with each other while driving out to CA after a busy winter for both of us!!

That said racing can be such a blessing as it can take you through the towns of your family and friends. And Sea Otter does just that allowing me to stop off and see my Aunt and Uncle every year. If it weren’t for racing I don’t think I would see everyone nearly as often!

Someone has a great sense of humor!!

After jumping in the car with the threat of snow over Utah and driving endlessly straight across the flats of Nevada we finally got to Monterey, CA on Wednesday. We were greeted with blue skies (that were supposed to stay that way) along with fairly warm weather. Yes!! Goodbye training in the basement!!! Hopefully this will be the official start to the “no trainer season!” The winter has been a good one in the Wasatch Range with tons of snow and I am eager to get out on the roads and trails for good now.

Our host Michael shows us where the locals go near 17 Mile Drive

Sea Otter is a massive race that serves as a multi day trade show and sports festival and there are almost 10,000 participants and 50,000 spectators expected to pack the venue! Therre are countless vendors and bike companies on hand to showcase their new 2011 product too. And Stan’s NoTubes did just that with their new “29r GOLD Race Rims” that are lighter than light! Stan’s NoTubes always manages to pull off the unthinkable and give every rider and racer a product to “ooh and ah" over!! And lucky me…they are my sponsor!!

The new NoTubes 29r Gold Rims

Being at this event always serves as a place to meet up with your sponsors and learn more about their new product and discover new things about the current product. It is an excellent race to attend for all. You can race, walk around, spectate, visit the booths, eat, ride or do one of other ba-zillion things that go on during this weekend. There is always tons to do for the whole family!!

The Pacific Ocean just off of Pebble Beach

Sea Otter Short Track Race – Monterey, CA

Ever feel defeated before you even start? I was fighting off that exact feeling as I was called up to the line on the last row of 29 ladies.

Today your call up was way more important than normal too. One look at that first off camber, slightly slick and rutted turn that would come 10 seconds into the race and I knew THAT corner would be THE deciding factor in the race. This meant wherever you were once you got thru the off camber section, that is where you stayed for the most part. And that was true for me at least…

Despite the last row call up and being LAST off the line too (what the?!), I found the jagged hole through the sea of women falling, crashing, slipping and carnaging right in front of me and all around me. Thank you Cyclocross skills!!!! In that section I was almost taken off my bike by a wheel above me that slid into mine causing my rear wheel to skip down to the next rut below but I managed to keep it upright. The light at the end of the tunnel appeared as I rode to the top of the off camber hill passing ladies that were running. It was a chaotic scene.

Once to the top of the off camber hill I had real estate in front of me and behind me which is unheard of only 25 seconds into a Short Track race. Like I said that first off camber turn was the deciding factor for most.

At that point I was thanking my lucky stars that the night before we had dinner with Schwalbe North America to discuss tires and pressures. It had been an enlightening evening and everything I learned I used in the STXC race. That allowed me to have more contact with the course and at the same time have excellent rolling resistance helping me to keep moving forward and to stay on my bike the entire race. Thanks Schwalbe for all the info and support!!!!

Kelli making me suffer for it

The Short Track course was a whole 2 minutes long as I made my way alone around it in 12^th place. Kelli E. snuck up on me and threw in some attacks that I kindly returned but in the end her legs and lungs outdid mine. 13^th was going to have to do.

Sea Otter Cross Country – Monterey, CA

The start of the race was noticeably hotter than it was during the Short Track Race the day before. I was once again called up pretty dead last but with a very long pavement start it wasn’t a huge deal as there would be time to move up.

After we started I positioned myself in what I thought was a great spot near the left of the pack. Well… it was a good spot until we hit the wide dirt stretch. That’s when, as anticipated people got jumpy, the pace picked up and people were going for it trying to be first onto the “singletrack” that was now only a 100 feet away.

The pack veered left to the shortest line which I just happen to know had the “Grand Canyon” in it. It wasn’t marked as hazardous and it also wasn’t apparent to the eye that it was even there until you were on top of it either. And because of the course pre-ride restrictions I knew not a lot of the people were able to see this section yet. To no avail I yelled at people to not go that way and watched as the pack headed right towards the “Grand Canyon” while taking me with them stuck on the inside. Instead of becoming a carnage number I slammed my breaks on and surrendered while ladies stuck their wheels in it and flipped over.

And that put me LAST into the singletrack. SWEET. Well, at least I was moving with my bike intact I guess…

Chasing back on for the 2nd day in a row

I figured it was only up from there so the fight began to get through the pack as we made our way around the 15min (ish) course 7 times that day. Time was on my side certainly but the long pavement section was not as groups ahead would seem to only get further up the course on that section. As I started to see this occur on the 2^nd and 3^rd laps I decided it was ideal to “rest” the best I could before the pavement so that I could try and jump group to group on my own. That was the only way to move up otherwise the real estate between me and everyone would just have multiplied. At that point I didn’t even care if I took anyone with me from one group to the next. More power to them if they wanted a free ride up – I had work to do! The sun was beaming down and sweat poured off of me for the next hour or so as I worked my way through the pack one by one.

It was a HOT weekend!!

And while doing so I was dealing with a loud noise coming from my drive train that sounded like a lawn mower. DOH!!! Well, at least it was still working, it just sounded BAD. So between thoughts of possibly having to DNF because of bike problems and being off the back anyway, I had it tough mentally but I hung on for a 12^th place finish!

XC MTB race? Yep.

I am pretty bummed overall because I had GREAT legs and instead of racing for real with them I had to use them to chase back on. But that is racing and there will certainly be another race right around the corner!

Intermountain Cup #2 - Hurricane, UT

2011-04-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Pro Women's Podium (l to r: Erica, me, KC, Jill)

As I drove down to southern Utah into the inferno of 80+ degree heat for the Intermountain Cup race I was sweating bullets. This was a first for me this year to be in such hot weather. I have been to AZ, CA and Spain recently but none of them produced temperatures such as this!

The Hurricane, UT course was awesome as it offered some slick rock, power sections through washes and some great sandy singletrack that was sure to get looser as the weekend wore on. My Stan’s NoTubes Raven tires were certainly going to adhere to the slick rock like glue and take me through the long power stretches with little resistance! I couldn’t wait to race as I was likening this short (33min laps) course to a cross course. Race day was going to be another hot one but with a touch of wind expected.

Not so Pro

The race started and I had a strong start….but not for long. I went the wrong way after the first turn!! As I started to sit up and wonder where the course was going all the girls in my group were kindly yelling at me to go left. So what’d I do? I went right. I guess the course just wasn’t long enough for me so I decided to add some more on that first lap. DUH!! This is the second time I have EVER done this and when I did it the first time….it was on this course!!

So now I was last and off the back. Nice. After picking my way over to the course I was able to catch back up to the Pro women who were drilling it up the first climb. There went all my matches to catch up and get to the front again! Luckily the climb was short and I was able to recover on the downhill before powering over to the next fun climb and start getting into a rhythm.

As I made my way through the course lap after lap all the racers, men and women alike from all categories were really nice and very supportive – thanks everyone! The Intermountain Cup races offer such a great vibe along with a lot of comradery and that is part of the reason it is such a successful and fun race series.

By the time the last lap rolled around I was starting to feel the effects of the heat and was starting to wilt but held on for the win!

DJ got TWO flats on our ride on Sunday - bummer!

Race Note: I would like to thank Quentin and DJ of Over the Edge Sports in Hurricane, UT for the home delivery prior to my race of some great coffee to get my day started. And I might mention too that DJ makes a mean recovery Mocha at OTESports that you all should try!! In addition they let me squirrel away in their loft for the weekend which was much appreciated. One of the best parts about racing is catching up with old buddies when you can!!

Over the Edge Sports shop in Hurricane, UT - open 7 days a week!!

Pro XCT #2 - Fontana, CA

2011-03-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Lap 1 up the monster climb

No matter how long you have been racing there is always something new happening or something new to learn. The trip to Fontana, CA to do my first cross country race since July of last year was no exception.

As for the new experience: That’d be the fire alarm going off at around 1am in the hotel the night before the Cross Country race. I have never woken up from a deep slumber in such a panic while flailing around trying to figure out what that horrible sound was! Did we exit the building? Why no we didn’t. Did everyone else (the ones with a brain)? Yes. Glad it was a false alarm!!!

And learning. How was my body even going to respond to this first national race of the year??? I really had no expectations which can be a good and bad thing. And I didn’t have those expectations because last season was more of a building year for me getting my fitness back after losing both my parents. And I finally got that fitness back by the time cross season hit and found myself on the podium at the 2010 US Cyclocross Nationals in December!! But since then everything has been “not normal” training wise.

I was hoping to make the Cyclocross Worlds Team. That meant I was going to be training hard until I found out in January if it was a go or not. When I found out it wasn’t meant to be I took some time off the bike and then started training trying to build some base. It wasn’t long after that when I headed to the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo and then immediately on to Spain to do my first ever 6 day stage race!

After Spain I literally sat on my toosh for 2 weeks and then headed on over to this race. Ya, you can see why I didn’t know what to expect. No real formal training had taken place….or it had, but just in a different way. I was also trying to dial in recovery from the stage race without over or under doing it. Yikes. Hope I read my body well!! Better to over recover after putting in more hours in 6 days than I normally would all month long. How would my body even respond? NO CLUE but I was about to find out.

Pre-riding the course

Tiziana reminding us what it is like to have no fear!!

Cross Country

So there I was on the start line with my trusty Stan's NoTubes teammates, Nina, Shannon and Zephanie lining up against the nations (and worlds) best along with all the others that are in the hunt for the coveted UCI points for the upcoming 2012 Olympics. Oh my. This ought to be interesting. The plan? Go hard, have fun and see where I land.

I had uncharacteristic sluggish start. All I remember is looking up and seeing an endless line of women in front of me. GREAT….lot of work to do before the singletrack comes up in just a few minutes.

The terrain at this race made the “go hard” part of my plan pretty easy to do. There was a climb called “The Elevator” that was up to a 30% grade and took you up 250+ feet in under ¼ mile. That climb had parts in it where I needed to will myself to spin harder to just stay on the bike so that I wasn’t off and running the rest. Oh my goodness it was not easy by any stretch but it was somewhat familiar to my legs after doing the stage race.

The Elevator

As I did my best to pass people I had enough in me to fire off some attacks. Some stuck others did not. But I was surprising myself with how good I felt out there. Maybe I rested the right amount after Spain?!

Ok I take that back. On the second time up the brutal climb I thought I was going to die. No really, I thought I was going to DIE or perhaps barf and curl up in a corner and then die. That time it was pure hell but somehow I cleaned it for a 2^nd time. At that point I had to reassess what I was doing because I didn’t want to feel that way again on “The Elevator” when I came back around for the 3^rd and 4^th laps. So I did a few things differently on those next laps and the climb was much more manageable…..thank heavens!

My Orbea Alma 29r glided down the stutter bumps with ease making me feel like I was on a full suspension and my Stan’s NoTubes Crest Rims withheld the jolting from all the rocks and different terrain that was thrown at them. Together the combo was unreal allowing my body to just race.

It was fun too because mid race I found myself with my teammate Zephanie Blasi. We kept each other on our toes and kept the pace high which was a great thing since we had others breathing down our necks waiting for that one mistake. NOT an easy race with people there all the time but that is what makes it so fun!!

When I could clearly see that I wasn’t going to win the race (try placing 13^th instead - haha) I came up with other minor goals. One of which was to clean that blasted hill on all four 4.4 mile laps. And I did!!!!

Overall considering my pre race prep, I am happy with 13^th but will be expecting a much better showing the rest of the season!

Short Track

Oh how I love the!!! Today I got a descent call up and was on the second row. Not sure how that happened since its been a while that I have been at one of these races but I wasn’t going to complain!

We were off like a shot on the quick 3 minute (ish) lap for 20 minutes of FUN!!!! And did I have fun!!! I found a little hole after the start and was able to get right up there towards the front by the 2^nd corner when just as fast as I got there, was pinched out and found myself chasing wheels to get back up.

One moment you are there and the next you are not. I love that about this race. I was lucky to have such a strong team presence and was able to ride wheels to get back where I needed to be. By the time I did, the split up front had happened and we were now chasing in a group of 5. I drilled it off the front of our group but wasn’t making headway so I had to come up with a new plan since we were now officially racing for 6^th-10^th.

We all took turns pulling, attacking and trying to get a gap on each other but in the end I was able to jump around and in front of everyone on the final climb just in time to grab 6^th place! I was really pleased to finish the weekend solid.

Next up is a local race in the great state of Utah and then on to the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA.

Race Notes: A BIG thanks to Jimmy Deaton, MTB Hall of Famer who helped us with all our bikes from washing and wrenching. Now if we can just get him out on the trail to give us some downhilling tips!!

The Stan's NoTubes Compound

Fontana has grown a lot!

Zephanie making her way up to the tippy top

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Final Days/Thoughts

2011-03-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

After Jenny and I parted ways Chris and I headed to Malaga, Spain which is like the “South Beach , FL of Spain. Malaga sits on the Mediterranean and there were beaches, restaurants and plenty of shopping although they were in the off season. This cute neighborhood was right by our hotel along with tons a wild green parrots!

Grilled Sardines seem to be all rave here and there were several places such as this grilling them whole.

Chis and I found a Paella restaurant and became repeat offenders there getting different Paella each night!

It was so fresh that I thought it was going to crawl off the pan!

Fresh olives (I've only had canned!) were served prior to our meal.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thank you to the race organizers: This was by far the best experience I have ever had on a bike. I didn’t know what to expect as I was a first time Stage racer and I was extremely pleased with everything from the organization, the stages and the way everything was run. The organizers were some of the nicest people you will ever meet and were EXTREMELY invested in the international athletes making sure that everything and everyone was going to be ok. In addition, the media coverage was AMAZING. The amount of interviews we had, footage taken and pictures snapped was unbelievable. I could go as far as saying not a moment was missed.

As for Jenny: Thanks for choosing ME!! She was there for me through thick and thin and is one of the strongest athletes both physically and mentally I have ever met. Did I mention she climbs like a mountain goat? The laughs we shared each night after the lights went out recounting a ridiculous situation will not be forgotten.

And my husband who somehow found his way to the various feed zones in the middle of Spain when he could. It was so wonderful to see your smiling face while helping us out as we hammered towards the finish line. There is nothing like a pick me up such as that just when you need it the most!! Thanks for your endless support while you help me pursue my passion.

And to all the people that became part of my world while I was there, through the thick and thin, THANK YOU. The passion we share for the love of mtb racing is such an amazing thing!!!

And last but not least to my Sponsors: ‎6 days, 313 miles, 39,000 + feet of climbing and I had NO MECHANICALS. A HUGE thanks to Stans NoTubes for supplying me with the super sturdy 29r Crest Rims, Orbea (Alma 29r) for a smooth ride, Sixty-Five.12 out of Durango, Schwalbe Tires for getting me down the hills in one piece, Ergon for happy hands, Rotor, Genuine Innovations for PINK air, Sram for flawless shifting, Crankbrothers, and Verge for all the must needed clothing!!

Needless to say, you don’t even have to ask me - OF COURSE I would do this again!!

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Stage 6

2011-03-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

STAGE 6: Southern Jaen

Why didn’t we catch the weather report? Oh yeah that’s right, because every racer and their mother was clogging up the internet all week long and we gave up ages ago. MISTAKE. To add to the insanity of the weather to come, we were in the lead for 2nd overall BY ONLY 6 seconds (after 24 hours plus of racing) to the Spanish Esteve Team!!

Let’s get this out on the table now: Spain does not necessarily mean sunshine and warm temps. We can attest!! Jenny and I lead the race today for 4 hours and 20 minutes up and over several mountain tops (where it was snowing!) and we were overall having a GREAT day on the bike. As the rain and snow moved in the descents became brutally cold and almost excruciating. Unfortunately Jenny and I only had our jerseys and shorts with a few other pieces like arm warmers and knee warmers. I have never wanted to climb so badly in my life (just to stay warm)! It was so cold as we made our way around the gorgeous dam below but yet I still found time to enjoy the view. We endured about 30k of extreme cold and wet. The shaking, shivering, teeth chattering was abundant as we descended through the mist. Jenny and I didn’t speak a peep for about 2 hours as we kept moving forward toward the finish line still in first place.

The weather and chill got so bad that I was taking mental note of where I saw a person with a car so that if we had to go back we’d know how far. It was becoming a survival…..of the stupidest really. In my lightweight summer gloves I could not feel my hands. They felt like stumps and I was worried. Several things went around in my head like wondering if finishing was worth getting frostbite over? Apparently it was because I kept going….but really, what are you supposed to do? I was seeing the finish line as a place I would be safe and I just wanted to get there. I forced myself to drink my sports drink to stay hydrated and to just move my hands.

It was highly uncomfortable at this point on the bike which is what inspired me to pick up the nastiest oldest, dirtiest garbage bag and put it under my jersey for wind protection. Moments after I did that it made a big difference. But it was too late. With 10k to go, getting splashed and sprayed with water from the roads we were passed by the race leaders who were clothed from head to toe. Our fault for not being prepared. We crossed the line in 2nd place only 2.5 minutes back and extremely close to being hypothermic.

The good news was that we had secured 2nd Overall in the Stage Race!!

I was so hungry after 6 days of racing that I could have eaten anything!

Notes: Stage 6 was by far the best stage yet for us and it’s the one I was most worried about!! We both climbed the 8000 feet like a charm and put up with some extreme conditions. Although disappointing to take 2nd for the day, it’s good to know what are limits are.

Award ceremony at the Discoteca

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Stage 5

2011-03-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Downtown Jaen, Spain

STAGE 5: Eastern Jaén

After the race yesterday we all got settled in our new abodes in the middle of downtown Jaen. It was culture shock at its finest coming from a hotel that was more removed to a BIG beautiful city where there is NO parking anywhere and concrete everywhere. The dinners and breakfasts on china plates continued as we ate like kings and queens never getting exactly full for an entire week. Strange concept as you completely stuff your face.

Today the race started with another longer 1hr climb this time through olive trees and Jenny and I were able to hang with the leaders again. The Spanish Ladies team was also there and they were now officially starting to put time into our time gap for the Overall after coming in ahead of us the last couple days. Our goal was to stay 2nd or better Overall and to try to win a stage. The terrain was either up or down but the beauty of the scenery and the ripping singletrack that meandered along the cliff was downright breathtaking.

On one of the fast loose descents I witnessed (right where I jumped off) 2 out of 3 men lose control and eat it hard. One flipped over his bike in front of me and luckily ONLY broke his saddle. Our team motto this whole time has been “Bike and Bodies” for good reason….one crash like that and you are out. Not worth it. But it’s hard because you are racing but you need to know when to hold back too. That is part of it. That said, our “Bikes and Bodies” have been great up to this point. My Stans Crest Rims are bomb proof and my body is letting me hammer it into the ground over and over again, all for which I am grateful!

The Spanish team was clearly finding their form and was gone pretty quickly towards the top of the climb. Jenny and I did the best we could, enjoyed the experience and the singletrack, even took a wrong turn (only a few minutes lost) and made sure to keep looking up to check out the views. Then we were stopped at a time checkpoint….STAGE OVER. Say what? The race ended 10k early because of problems with the police. I can certainly see how that might have been an issue in such a hugely populated city. Jenny and I were 3rd again holding on to 2nd overall by the skin of our teeth now.

Note: I cannot believe HOW LITTLE I am looking at my watch, and am just simply enjoying EVERYTHING about being on the bike for more hours than I have ever spent on a bike at one time. I didn’t know what to expect from my body because I have never expected this much from it, even in training but I am pleasantly surprised at my attitude toward hopping on the bike every morning for another 4hours + of racing. It’s so fun!

View from hotel room window (note the castle on the hill)!

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Stage 4

2011-03-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

STAGE 4: Priego de Córdoba-Jaén

Today’s stage was just what I needed. It was a longer stage of 115k with a climb at the start and end with the middle section being a long flat Rail Trail. But we didn’t get to start (what was) the 5hr and 40min stage until our 5:30am wake up call to pack all our stuff in preparation for the transfer to the new hotel and city (Jaen).

It was important to be race ready as well since the bus was dropping everyone off at the stage start in the middle of Jaen, a beautiful white city on a Mesa at the stage start. At the beginning of the race on the 1hr + climb the top 3 Women’s teams stayed together but unfortunately we were separated from the leaders in the feed zone immediately following. They had a feed and we had to stop to fill our bottles up. That minor separation put us in a group of 9 or so along with the Spanish Ladies Team (Esteve) who have proven that they can and will be right there when we crack or have a mishap. They are strong and they clearly wanted 2nd again.

Priego de Cordoba, Spain

Downtown Priego de Cordoba, Spain

I was purely in love with the long stretch in between climbs letting my legs flush themselves while Jenny was looking for her gun. It was a bit windy on the flat section but I found a great use for all my wrappers as I stuffed them down my race jersey - wind block barrier! This would prove to be a valuable lesson in the days ahead.

When we hit the final climb The Spanish Esteve team was off like a shot and I did my best to stay with them. I didn’t have as many matches as I had hoped for on this day but was able to climb steady until I almost cracked like an egg along with everyone else near the top. It was like a sea of delirious people barley turning over the cranks at that point at about the 5 hour mark. I had sweat pouring off me as I suffered up the last part of the climb at a snails pace. I was more annoyed that I was feeling that way because my mind was in it but the body was conking out of me.

That is when Josh Ibbett (Mixed Team Overall Leader with partner Cait Elliot) came to my rescue. It was taking EVERYTHING I could do to TRY and eat. I wanted to eat my gel blocks so bad but had no energy to do so once I finally willed myself to get them out of my pocket. I held the package in my hand forever as they bounced out onto the ground one by one. Josh recognized the ridiculousness of the situation and grabbed my bag and literally ended up feeding me. What a guy! Thanks Josh!!!

By the time I hit the top deliriousness really set in and so did the lack of balance and coordination. It was such a terrible feeling knowing you were that tired. But the trails were so good you wanted to truck ahead! As we descended towards the finish we encountered a steep slope leaving you to wonder if you were really even supposed to be WALKING your bike down it.

In the end and with a few gnarly crashes by yours truly, the Spanish team had come across the line 4.5 minutes ahead of us. RATS!! We took third, which we were pleased with but knew we were capable of better.

Note: By now after all this climbing we have been doing, my mind just assumes that around the corner is a climb. And you know what; my mind was pretty spot on!!

Spain is know for its bullfighting and Flamingo Dancing

Jenny getting settled at the new hotel

A bit of the stage:

Andalucía Bike Race. Etapa 4, parte II from Paco Portero on Vimeo.

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Stage 3

2011-03-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

STAGE 3: Eastern Cordoba

What a mess. Today after hitting the first mud puddle my rear brakes decided to work just barely. Sweet…only 45 miles to go on unfamiliar terrain!! UGH. At least when I kept them dry I would get a bit more out of them.

This was the day that I knew would likely come but I didn’t know when. I could barley turn the pedals over. A sufferfest at its finest for me. Luckily it was only 5600 feet of climbing on this day but that was about 5599 too much. My body had a complete melt down and I know it was screaming “REALLY?? AGAIN???” It was an excruciatingly painful 5 hour day of dare I say, hell. Towards the end I almost lost it completely but didn’t let my mind go there. Told myself I HAVE to get through this because there kind of really is no choice when you don’t know where you are. You aren’t really just going to stop. Instead I chose to enjoy the captivating views as I slogged every foot of that stage to the very end. And it was odd, I didn’t want to stop racing or riding I just needed to get off the bike and recover the best I could. Oh and maybe not see another hill in a while too. Yeah right, fat chance on that one.

Perhaps I chose the wrong kind of coffee this morning

But with Jenny pushing me around all day we came in 3rd. Here’s to an understanding and wonderful race partner!!! We were still sitting 2nd overall in the race too!

Note: After the race I summoned the help of Julian Absalon’s (2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist and multi-time World Champion) mechanic for my 29r Alma Team Orbea. They totally dialed my bike and did WAY MORE than I even asked for. Those guys were incredible, did an amazing job and were SO NICE. Thank you for keeping the bike purring!!!!

Olive farms can be seen forever

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Stage 2

2011-03-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

STAGE 2: Western Cordoba

What a crazy way to start a race…..take 170 riders up a 10 second sprint on a dirt road and pinch them all through a 2 person wide hole in the fence which sends everyone STRAIGHT down a steep loose rocky hill. It was tempting to ride that steep part but with all the mayhem, carnage and people slipping everywhere (on foot and on bike) I chose to think about the bike and the rest of the long 4.5 hour day we had ahead and run the sucker.

Staging just outside our hotel Ayre

It was a good move because whatever Jenny and I did allowed us to jump on Mads and Henricks wheels (current Masters Leaders) across the flats. They were drilling it to get a gap on their competition while Jenny and I held on strong behind them before going our own pace up the long climb. We were doing well at this point. So well that we were in the lead!

The leaders caught us towards the top and we continued to put the pressure on when Jenny said “We are doing GREAT Kathy”. And (not even kidding) a second later she says “OH NO!!” Jenny had chain suck BAD. So bad that she had to take the chain apart to repair. I was calm as I didn’t want to rush the repair job. I was confident in our ability to get back in there if we could do a solid fix. The real thing I was worried about was what seemed to be an angry bull headed our way. He got close but didn’t bother us (amen!). 15 minutes later we were back on the bike and riding our own tempo in 5th place now. Such is bike racing!

It took us about an hour to catch up to the next competitors. As we made our way through the field, fellow racers were cheering, giving us time gaps and letting us draft off them. Pretty neat to see the excitement and enthusiasm everyone had to race a bike and help us get back up front!

Spain is hardly flat!

I think we ran into almost every kind of scenario on this day. From the mechanical to horses merging onto the path that we needed to take, some random hike a bikes on the river (it was NICE change to get off the bike), some missed turns (discovered quickly – no time loss) and a few dropped water bottles (which must be collected in a race like this) but we found our way to back up to 2nd place and 2nd overall in the race!!

Note: I think I am already getting as good as those competitive eaters are at powering down bananas and figs in the feed zone. What a sight!! It’s something you’d not want to be caught doing at the dinner table!

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Stage 1

2011-03-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Getting ready

The next morning we got up around 6:30am for what turned out to be an excellent buffet breakfast by the hotel. Pretty much everything you could ask for to include the thickest black coffee ever along with salty meats and cheeses galore. Olive oil was abundant as we were in the olive oil production capital of the world. And, In case you are wondering what the current MTB World Champion, Jose Hermida, chose as his pre race food it was a fresh baked baguette with olive oil drizzled all over it.

Now it was time for the real test for me…..to figure out what to eat on the bike. What was I going to want to eat? I don’t know!!! I rarely eat on the bike and usually only fuel with sports drink but now that we were going to be on the bike for 60 + miles I HAD to eat. I just packed it all (gels, blocks, bars, etc) so that I had a choice. Better off with some food that you will actually eat because what sounds good now may not sound good at race pace. I was ALREADY thinking about Stage 6 and how I could make it that far without depleting my body or getting dehydrated so I really wanted to be careful. I also settled for carrying 2 sports bottles and no camelbak because there were going to be plenty of feed stations along the way.

Neutral Start: CRASH

Before the race started I was on my head. There was a neutral roll out from the hotel to downtown Cordoba before Stage 1 began. I knew jitters were in the air and I told myself to stay out of trouble. I purposely put myself ALONE in the extremely large pack when from out of nowhere a guy swooped in, crossing bars with mine!! We fought it for a while and I ended up going down hard on the pavement. Everything flew out of my pockets and no one hit me thank heavens. Jenny was luckily right there to gather everything that had launched and get us back up to the group before the stage start.

Downtown Cordoba

The bike was fine and I was fine- more just annoyed. Got the first war wound on my bike from that one. Can’t believe everything was ok aside from what turned into a sore left arm for the rest of the week. To think that my (our) race could have been over before it even began!!!

STAGE 1: Córdoba–Cerro Muriano

Jenny and I rolled up to the start of the race only having a few minutes to shake off the shock of the crash. The gun goes off and I send my body into more shock racing from downtown Cordoba towards the hills for 6400 feet of climbing. That kind of intensity trying to get a good position in the pack made me feel like I wanted to barf for the first 2 hours of the race. Awesome feeling.

But my mind was easily diverted as all the Andalucía Bike Racers had been started WITH a separate Marathon race that had 1000 starters. It was flat out mayhem as Jenny and I rode with groups for the first 2.5 hours of the race. Still at that point there was only about a 10 second gap to the next person. I even gave some poor guy begging for food as I rode by my sports bar. When you are out in the middle of nowhere like that, you are all in it together.

We headed up paved roads, through tight singletrack, into tiny towns, and down some of the sketchiest descents that I found myself riding thanks to my Nobby Nic Schwalbe Tires! We passed some amazing ruins during the stage too. It was truly breathtaking out there. But it wasn’t completely dry. There were MANY stream crossings that were ridable but left you with a cold, wet, and frozen foot for the rest of the race.

At about the point we thought the race should be ending it just kept going and going and going. Oops, they forgot about that last hellish 7k. And it’s not that the last 7k was that bad but when you expect it to end and it’s not, that’s when the troubles with the head begin. But Jenny and I kept trucking along even pushing ourselves up one hideous climb only because people were lining it screaming. It just about cracked me. That is what you call peer pressure and we succumbed and both decided after maybe that wasn’t the best idea in the world.

When we finally crossed the line we were told we had come in 2nd and I really thought that they had made a mistake. But after a few interviews for Spanish TV and a bunch of pictures, it was reality that we had indeed really come in 2nd!! Wow, in my first stage race ever. I think I could like this stuff! : )

There was more media coverage than can be imagined

Notes: I am loving the international feel of this race!! 14 countries are represented and it’s a hit or miss if the person speaks English or not. Even have some heavy hitters from the pro road arena (Heras and Beltran) mixing it up in the dirt and dust!

Cars are encouraged to park on the sidewalks to make room

Riding home from the grocery store

Many home have a sturdy door that leads to the courtyard

Andalucia MTB Stage Race - Cordoba/Jaen, Spain

2011-03-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

Jaen, Spain

Never say never. I should know that but I had always thought that Mountain Bike Stage racing just sounded like something I would never want to do. Putting that many hours on a bike some of which can be grueling just had never appealed to me, that is until Jenny Smith (Alpine Orthopaedics/Giant), successful Xterra and MTB Stage Racer, called with an opportunity of a lifetime.

A paid “vacation?” Geez, who can say no to that really. Hotels? Eating off china plates as though you were actually normal and civilized? Free Massages after the race? Accommodations paid for? Transportation and Transfers included? Well “DUH”, of course I want to go!!! I think?!?!

Jenny and I made sure we were on the same page before signing up as a team. The goal? Get some ripping base training and mileage in. Never mind the fact that I have yet in my lifetime to put in 4.5+ hours on the bike (that may even be a stretch) let alone doing that 6 days in a row!

SLC to ATL to Paris to Malaga, Spain

Let the mishaps begin: No luggage

Ah heck, who needs luggage anyway? Well at least the Air France Pilate warned us to “Not smoke IN the toilet”. That mean I can smoke outside of the toilet??? Just wondering. : )

I probably should have been a little more alarmed than I was without luggage, being alone in Spain and hoping that my ride from the race organizers was going to be there. I don’t speak Spanish and my husband Chris (aka Pepe) who does, was flying in the next day. Oh boy.

My luck turned around as a gal I started talking to in Paris, was native to Malaga, spoke English and Spanish and knew exactly what to do about lost luggage. She waited patiently with me at the luggage carousel to make sure my bags were indeed not there and then walked me over to the “window” to file a lost luggage claim. This was taking time and I was sweating a little that my ride (that I hadn’t seen yet) would leave me since I was officially late for the pickup. Ok, getting nervous. And I couldn’t go outside and get the driver because they wouldn't let me back in!!! So I made a few calls (that’s gonna hurt!!!) and found out that the van driver was there and would wait. Relief.

Next mishap: Towed van

Secretly I didn’t mind not having to lug my luggage around the airport to the van. Only thing was that our van wasn’t there. The driver, Pablo was, but no van. Apparently he parked a bit too long waiting for me and the van was towed. Oops.

In the meantime myself, Jenny who had appeared on scene from another flight, and newly formed acquaintances Thomas (Specialized), Henrick and his race partner Mads (eventual Masters Overall winners) hung out at the airport Starbucks. Yep, Starbucks is near the Mediterranean too.

Mishap #3: Got insurance?

Once Pablo figured out the van situation and paid the fine we packed and were off…..well until he scraped the side mirror on the concrete parking structure. Poor Pablo!! And once he got going again Henrick took his fist and hit the side of the van to make Pablo think he hit something else!! Pretty funny but I think at that point Pablo was ready to abandon ship!

I could see clearly that this was going to be quite the experience!

Malaga to Cordoba

Spain was super green as we made our way through the hills, expansive olive groves/plantations and even some bull fighting arenas. To make the area even more beautiful there was a dam nestled in between the mountains. Incredible area.

An olive grove

Small white cities were nestle in between olive groves as we drove

Getting settled

A couple hour drive to the beautiful hotel in Cordoba and a frantic trip to the quick mart (think 7-11) that had a BAKERY in the back of it and Jenny and I were feeling like we could start getting settled.

Jenny at the mart with Bakery in back!

Well that was after rearranging the room, identifying that thing in the bathroom as a bidet and laughing about the hairdryer that looked like a hose vacuum.

Remodeling

Opening ALL my luggage

The next day my bike showed up and I got it built just in time to join Jenny for a ride. The ride felt great after 2 days of no riding and the warmth felt exceptional. Even got a sneak peek of some of the singletrack in the area. Hard packed smooth dirt-loving it!

Just around the corner from the hotel was a cute neighborhood

24 Hours of Old Pueblo - Tucson, AZ

2011-02-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

Going to Tucson, AZ mid winter is not the worst thing in the world. But only if Tucson holds up its end of the bargain!!!

It at first sucked me in with its 60-70 degree days. Zephanie my teammate took me to a ripping place to mountain bike called Fantasy Island. And it was just that, with rolling, swooping singletrack through cactus. It was fun but I couldn’t help but think it was called Fantasy Island only if you fantasize about cactus!!!

It was time to hone in those mtb skills of looking at something like a broken off cactus in the middle of the trail and teaching your brain to NOT to go right towards it. This was the maiden voyage ON DIRT sitting in the saddle of my brand new Orbea Team Alma 29r and Stan’s Crest 29r wheels. What an unbelievable ride! I had the bike working for me in no time. I sat back and put it on autopilot as it took me down steep rock drops, fast tight turns and up and over the punchy climbs that make Fantasy Island what it is!

After that we met( where else!?!!) at Trader Joes with our team manager, Shannon, to start thinking about the needs of the weekend and pick up our sparkling fresh and clean team kits and wardrobe. Pink and white! I love it and its super well done. I think I have enough stuff for 20 people though! Wow, Verge clothing really dialed us in and set us up really nicely!

Then in no time it was time to head up to the Old Pueblo course, check it out and get our camp (of tents, cars and one box truck) set up. The course was mostly fast hard pack singletrack in the beginning, a bit of fire road to break it up and at the end there was “the climb” which was actually quite gradual and nice. The sun was still out and it was still relatively warm when we pre-rode. I should have reveled in it when I could have not knowing what was to come for the weekend.

Team Camp

After taking a bunch of team photos along with filling some sponsor obligations, our team of 4 (Zephanie Blasi, Kaila Hart, Nina Baum and myself) in our total and complete seriousness met at about 11:59pm before the 12pm start on Saturday to figure out who was going to do the La Mans Start (a race start when a person has to RUN to their bike). Luckily Nina was the winner.

And she was the right gal for the job because once the race started I have never seen someone looks so “together” as I did when I saw Nina near the front of the race, daintily jog up and delicately grab her bike and go hit the course for the first race lap. It was truly impressive.

The bikes lined up waiting for their owners to come grab them after a nice run

I was up next after her lap and the wind was fierce. I was fighting it all the way out to the end of the course waiting patiently for the moment I would reap the rewards of a tail wind back through the cactus. Ahhhhhh….

I unfortunately passed a few people that had gone down hard and were being taken off course by medical. The word was that one person face planted and had a new feature in his cheek (a marble sized rock) and the other gal reportedly hit a cactus and the 4 inch prongs were only sticking out of her skin maybe an inch. Oh my!!! For me as I meandered thru the same cactus, it served as a HUGE reminder to BE CAREFUL out there. All my best to those athletes and I hope they are on their way to good health soon.

But that is all it took for me. I turned the “I don’t want to hit a cactus” mantra into “I WILL NOT hit a cactus”. I made that happen thank heavens.

By the time Kaila and Zephanie did their laps and Nina did another it was time for my first night lap (2nd race lap). It was just as fun as I remembered too not having ridden at night for about 7 years when I last did a 24 hour race (24 Hours of Moab). The lights helped out extremely well with that one – thanks Light & Motion!!!

Zephanie and Kaila ripped some awesome laps next and Nina even rolled in a great lap after having a bit of a mechanical. The rain had started in and the temperature was plummeting.

We were ahead in 1st at this point!!

And...that’s about when I got to head out in the pouring rain. Well, I guess it was good to have the cyclocrosser do the nastiest lap to exist in the 24hr race because I ripped one of my fastest night laps!!! What is seriously wrong with THAT picture? I mean really.

Throughout the night I would return to my tent to either find that I needed a dust buster from the high winds that had completely loaded my tent with silt or that I needed a shop vac to get rid of the water that had poured in.

Luckily for us Verge clothing had set us up with so much race gear and I had to use every last piece. I had to start really planning ahead and picking and choosing what I would be wearing each lap because things were NOT air drying in the AZ humidity. I couldn’t believe it!! Thanks Verge for the support!!

The “Baum Bros.” and Alex (mechanic) served as our race support, logistics coordinators, alarm clocks and cooks throughout the night and they were absolutely positively invaluable to “Operation we want to win”. Could NOT have done it without their support and help. They also stayed up all night long getting our sorry buns out of the respective tent at the right time. On that note, I NEVER EVER went to sleep and was up all night. Too hyped up I think.

Alex working hard

Jack B. after supporting us all night long

During the 4th lap at around 4am I pulled a rookie move and didn’t check my tire pressure and by the 2nd turn on the singletrack race I was bottoming out. Oops – ee – daisy. That was a moronic move on my part. But that’s what the first race is all about-working out and remembering all those details.

If that could have been the only thing to go wrong on that lap I would have been happy BUT my light started flickering about 20min into the 1hr 10min lap. Great…..I think I remember what that means from racing Moab ages ago….low battery!! It must have somehow not got charged in between laps. DOH!!! So I really picked up the pace not knowing how long I had and yep, the main light on my handlebars went out with about a half hour to go. At least it faded out and didn’t just go dark on me. And also thank heavens I had a helmet light still that weighed as much as a paper bag. That Light & Motion “back up” light could have been run on its own really. It was a strong light. On that note our lights from Light & Motion made it so that you didn’t even really notice that it was dark out! Pretty amazing how far the technology has come!

In between laps it was KAH-KAH-KAH KOLD!!!!! I was hanging out in my knee length down jacket that I use for Cyclocross, rain boots, wool base layers, hat, etc. IT WAS NOT WARM by any stretch but thankfully there were a few camp fires around to get some heat from.

By the time my last lap came around at 9am I was excited to do one last lap in the daylight. It was a blast!

Kaila Hart brought in that last, final and winning lap effortlessly! The award ceremony was freezing and windy but well worth hanging around and celebrating with everyone to a job well done!

Stans NoTubes teams take two 1st places in Single Speed Solo Female and 4 Person Women's Open and 2nd in the 5 Person Co-ed 200+ Comined Age!!!!

About Those Doors.....

2011-02-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

New Team Alma Orbea 29r

You have heard it a 1000 times: One door closes and another opens.

I didn’t make the Cyclocross Worlds Team. Bummed, yes, Heartbroken, no. Gonna make myself into a little ball and cry??? Heck no but am I bound and determined to make the team next year? Yes!!! Of course its not going to be easy but I am REAL good about making lemonade outta lemons so here I go again at what I do best!!! I have already scoped out the CX World Cups and have a soft Cyclocross schedule for the fall/winter and I can’t WAIT.

That said, I am going to have to wait. In the meantime though I have been had the privilege of being picked up by a newly formed mountain bike team, Stan’s NoTubes Elite MTB Team. I can’t tell you just how honored I am to ride for Stans NoTubes, Orbea, Sixty-Five.12, Schwalbe, Ergon, Rotor, Genuine Innovations, Sram, CrankBrothers and Verge. Zeal optics even threw in a slew of sunnies at me for on and off the podium.

The Stans NoTubes team will be seen doing the Pro XCT’s, World Cups as well as many races around the USA and globe. See press release HERE.

As for the open doors…..24 Hour racing and stage racing. Say what?! Yep, I am committed. First up will be the challenge of jumping back into 24 hour racing. It has been 8 years since I did a 24 Hour race (24 Hours of Moab) and I am looking forward to checking back into the scene for a weekend. Our team is doing its team launch at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo in Tucson, AZ as a team of 4 women. And immediately following (2 days later!) I will be heading to Spain for a mountain bike stage race to race as a 2 person team with Jenny Smith, consistent Xterra and Stage Race podium finisher.

What what what?!!! Yeah tell me about it. These are the wings of change it seems. Or maybe it’s that thing called……..I am actually enjoying riding and racing for the first time in my life to such a degree that I am willing commit to these things now knowing that I am fully in and excited about doing them!!

Oddly enough, if I had made the worlds Cyclocross Team I would not have been in a comfortable position to commit to either of these races. Guess that's where the open door comes into play!Not that it is an extremely comfortable position because I have no idea what to expect from my body and mind for either race!

I am looking forward to what adventure lays ahead. I am also looking forward to learning even more about myself as I master the art (hopefully) of pushing through when you just want to stop and think you can‘t make it or think you can’t even turn another pedal during the mtb stage race. It’s called a challenge and I am looking so forward to it. Bring it on!!!!!

Getting down to St. George to train for the upcoming stage race with Bob Saffell and stage racers extraordinaire, Jen Hanks and Shannan Boffeli.

Ya DON'T want to see this (a helicopter) in the middle of the desert when you are riding.

2010 Season Recap

2011-01-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Who would've thunk that I was going to go from being sick as heck in January for a month while mourning the loss of my parents to standing on this the podium at US Cyclocross Nationals in December?

I have always believed in myself but after such a turbulent 09, I wasn't sure what 2010 was going to bring me....life wise or fitness wise.

But all that said, I have wanted the podium at cross nats for a long time. The hunger started when I came super close in my first big season of racing cross in 2007 at the snowy, ice rutted Kansas City Nationals when I was knocking at the door to the podium with 1.5 laps to go and then promptly put an end to that with a slashed sidewall. I have never felt disappointment like that. To be so close to seeing a dream becoming a reality and then bam...it was all over in a blink of an eye.

In 2008 I had the fitness but not the mind. After having a great cross season I was dealing with what was the start of super sick parents right before nats. I placed 12th that day but wasn't expecting much from myself do to life circumstances which of course was part of the problem (not expecting much).

And last year of course, I showed up for the US Nats race in Bend 5 weeks after dad passed and that would be the only UCI race I would contest that season. I had no points, started 67th or something and made my way up to 21st by the end. But that is the race when I got hungry again. I could feel it. I knew I could do it and most importantly I knew I wanted to race full time again!

The immediate trauma of losing my parents was over by then although the wounds were still wide open and would take almost a solid year to really heal up. And guess when that year mark was? You guessed it, at the beginning of the Cyclocross in Sept.

I have never felt like myself (and beyond really) until this year in cross once the wounds had a chance to mend. I never knew what it was like to race at this level without having ill parents to worry about. Dad was sick when I was just starting to show my face in the Top 5 at big XC races in 07 and I worried about him and mom all the time. The worry started to wear on me especially in 2009 when both mom and dad took a big turn for the worse.

When my parents passed last year during the cross season, it was 2 of the saddest moments in my life so far. But I was happy for mom that she found her rightful place, a place she wanted to go and I was happy that dad was no longer suffering silently. I was also oddly happy for myself, that I too was now able to move on since they had already done so themselves. Now it was my turn to move forward knowing full well that it was going to be a long road.

And it was.

But now here I am. Healed, happy, doing what I love and dare I say doing it well.

I have never felt like this EVER on the bike. Even in the days that I started getting on the podium at NORBA's in Cross Country, I never felt like I do everytime I ride or turn myself inside out racing. I look forward to whatever the training is that day, easy or difficult and to just be on the bike is more fullfilling that it ever has been. I am happy and I am loving every single second of what I am doing, even on the bad days. I don't just love the training and racing part either. I enjoy the whole thing: the travel, the people, the experiences- everything. Even packing! And that says a whole lot because if anyone knows me they know that packing is my least favorite thing to do.

I have been set free from my emotions and from my life that has drug me down with it these past few years.

Looking back on it I was merely floating along, just getting through, dealing with the most important part, my parents and their health while trying to race.

They are now both gone bless their hearts and I am pursuing the dream that has been in me all this time to pursue: To race, be successful in my mind and to enjoy it!

I am now doing that and every fiber in me tells me that this is why I am standing on that podium in that picture. I love what I do and I am willing to take risks to get there.

No, I did not win, I came in 4th but to me that is my win. It is something I wasn't expecting until I got further into the season and saw just what I was capable of physically and how strong I now was emotionally. Nothing for me has ever been as hard as losing both parents in 8 weeks time and it has made normal life seem like a breeze now. It has made racing and the pain associated with digging deep bearable.

The pain I went through last year was excruciating and it lasted a long time, not just a few hours like a cross country race or 40min like a cross race. The pain was all day and all night as I worried and cried most days. Now the pain is simply a 40 minute race? I will take it! I think I can give 40 min of crushing myself pretty easily after years of mental pain.......its all tied in. I think that is what the difference is now.

I am a changed person from that experience. I see things completely differently now. I see other people completely differently. I see life different. I see people's actions differently. I forgive easier, I am not as quick to make judgements. Its all for the better and I have come out on top of a hugely awful experience somehow. I don't know how it morphed into a positive experience but maybe that is what you do when you are so low and you are an athlete that plays mind games with yourself all the time in racing, training......and in life. Maybe that translated into life and making a good thing out of the bad. Whatever it was and however it went, it worked and I stand on that podium with probably the biggest proudest smile that I could ever have.

Happy with 4th place, not sad that I didn't get third. Happy with 4th. Sure the athlete in me asks what I could have done to get third but there is a time and place for everything and this whole season has been a process for me of learning the courses again, learning who the girls are again, learning what I am capable of, what my and their strengths and weakness are and most importantly learning who I am again as a different racer and person.

What a year!!! I am certainly hoping it's not over as I have put my bid in for the Cyclocross Worlds Team and have been training my butt off ever since Nationals. We will know tomorrow who made the team.

But seriously, I am just simply happy to be in the running for a spot. I couldn't ask for more right now really. I am just..........plain happy!

Obviously I would be honored to go to Germany at the end of January. If it's meant to be it'll be and if not, there is a reason for that too. If it's not meant to be I will simply look to new goals for the mountain bike season ahead with my new team (more to come on that).

Cross your fingers....or don't....because whatever is supposed to happen WILL.

US Cyclocross Nationals - Bend, OR

2010-12-12T23:37:00.000-08:00

After the USGP in Portland I was able to hang out a bit before heading off to the next race. Got a nice non rainy ride in with Sue one day and then it was back at it as I made my way toward Bend, OR for US Cyclcoross Nationals.

The lead up to that race was VERY different than I am accustomed to travel wise. I kind of let the ball bounce where it wanted to and let go of the reins a bit. This was probably a real first for me in my whole career. I usually am super self sufficient and book hotels, cars and all the rest far in advance and will do so sometimes just as back up in case something doesn't work out. But not this time! This time I rolled with it, getting a ride to Bend, not knowing as I was making my way there where I was staying and even how I was going to get around once I was dropped off by my lonesome (the rest of the team was coming in on Thursday). It was an interesting experiment for me and everything turned out just fine as I lived to tell the tale. I can't believe now looking back at it all that I wasn't a little more concerned about where I was going to be sleeping that night in Bend as I was making my way there. But it was all fine!

Once in Bend Shannon, Kenny and I road to the TT course from their host housing then we road the (TT) course itself. It was a good ride but we had to get back ASAP because it was going to be dark soon!! So what did we do? We went the complete and toal wrong way home getting "lost" on our bikes in the dark, cold snowy and sometimes icy conditions. Ah heck yeah, that is certainly the way you want to prepare for nats! Hahaha. Our 45 min quick ride turned into hours. It was a mini epic ride. We almost called a cab but figured it was better to keep moving because the temp was dropping fast. It was actually pretty fun but just slightly chilly and perhaps a bit dangerous at times too!!!!

The reason I got to Bend early was that I thought I may do the Masters race on Thursday (Time Trial for call up purposes) and Friday (the actual race) along with the Elite race on Sunday but my body had other plans. By the time Wednesday came I still had no idea if I wanted to really do the TT and the Friday race and I was really struggling with the decision. Something was holding me back and that was that I was thinking I really wanted to put all my eggs in one basket and really go for it on Sunday in the Elite race. But I was already there, signed up for the races and blah blah blah so at bedtime the night before the required TT I asked for a sign if I should race or not.

And....I woke up with a soar throat that very next morning. Ask and you shall receive I suppose. Yikes.

So problem solved there...no Masters race for me but new problem created....don't need a full blown head cold before Sunday now do I? Oh brother, now what?

Guess I just lay low. I had told myself adamantly that I will NOT get sick. I can't and I won't. I told myself that after the race I can get as sick as I wanted but not until then. I was really dead set on this too. I gave my body no option and went nowhere which really sucked since I wasn't full blown sick and there were plenty of parties going on. Instead, I took a day off then road the course the next day and because the course wasn't easy to spin I put out some effort to do so and woke up Saturday with even more of a sore throat (but not full blown one yet). Great. I nursed my body again the rest of that day still getting on the bike but not doing anything too crazy. I was treading the thin thin line of completely overdoing things and showing up on Sunday with a head cold now!!

Racing with a head cold is doable but so is racing with a fracture right? Its not something you really want to do if at all avoidable and I was doing everything I could to avoid it including downing my new favorite tea discovered at our host family's house, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride. Yep, they got everyone hooked to that. So much so that I couldn't even find it at the Newport Market (the best market ever - a must go!) anymore!!

But it all worked. I woke up Sunday not even thinking about how I had been feeling the last few days, got to the venue and started warming up. I was already in the zone. SWEET.

This was looking to be one of the nicest days yet this week for racing too. Temps were in the 40's and the course was still sloppy in areas (see pic)...

...wet boggy grass in others (see pic)

...and of course there was still the massive mud puddle (it was a lake earlier in the week) that we got to ride through just ensuring that you got totally wet during your race.

Some of the course was even tacky!

In addition to that there was a flyover that you got to ride up, over...

...and back down.

There was also a set of barriers (of course!) and that was followed by a "Get in your pedals now and go as hard as you can section" in order to get up and over the steep hill that immediately followed. That hill took everything to get up it each time. You HAD to be in the correct gear before you went through the barriers. Just one of those Little extra things you must think about in your race while pinned. Lovely!

Before the race, the women lined up on the line 8 across and well over 10 rows deep. I was the start of the third row as you are called up by your UCI ranking, which of course depends on how many races you did that year, how well you did or maybe how well you hit those races knowing that no one was going to be there and you could clean house. It's all about the points. This year I didn't go points crazy like I have in years past. I did what I wanted to do and kept it at that. If you are strong enough, you will prevail although it will take extra work and determination and maybe even some extra risk taking to get there.

I got my call up and took my calculated position on the line and I was ready. I got a great warm up in, and I was soooooo excited about the course that I could hardly wait to race. I was ready to rock.

Here is the 3min version video of the race where you can see all the conditions out there.

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The whistle blew and the mayhem of 100 plus women all wanting the best possible outcome at the end of the fast and furious 40minutes started their race. We all sprinted up the pavement and all rounded the corner hitting the downward muddy straightaway in mass.

I was able to start escaping at that point and was around 12th after the pits, halfway through the lap. I wasn't worried as I just pressed on. The confidence has been with me this whole season and it has been such a wonder!!! It is amazing how much more you relax when you know you are capable of something, your bike is working, your body is working and everything is just flowing at that moment. What a great feeling.

I continued to chomp away at the field making my way towards the front and eventually up to 3rd place! That was short lived though as, Meredith, who would eventually take 3rd that day had no intentions of letting me stay there. She is right behind me in this picture getting ready to make her move with a few laps to go.

Once she got through the fireworks really started happening as our team of 3 Hudz-Vista Subaru riders (me, Sue and Nicole) all came together.

This was a good thing because we are teammates but its also a bad thing. You do the math. 1st - 3rd were up ahead and then there was us three. ONE of our team members would not make the podium. Ugg.

It was time to be smart, be calculated and to not let anything hold you back. We all wanted the podium....and bad. You wouldn't believe how bad I wanted it. I was so determined that I told myself that it will happen and to just let it play out. I had no ultimate plan to attack here or to attack there...yet. I just went and watched for the moment. The 3 of us traded places leading, attacking each other, and just plane taking blows at each other for the remainder of the race. It was downright dare I say, fun as we were letting each other have it.

And with not even a minute or two left in the race, everything came apart. Nicole was first up and over the flyover with me behind her and then Sue. We were all slightly separated at that point but not by more than a few seconds. The race was coming to a close. We just needed to get over the flyover, through some boggy grass, a set a stairs, an off camber muddy rutted corner until we hit the pavement straight to the finish line. There wasn't much time!

And it was right after the flyover that Nicole hit the deck and that is when I knew it was "Go time". Pin it to win it. I am taking off here around the corner as Nicole tries to remount and Sue is closing in behind us both!

I get through the boggy section and up the stairs......barely.... and Sue is now right behind me seeing her opportunity to snag and pass me. She takes that opportunity right before the off camber mud section and is now in front of me. I bomb through that section, no brakes in order not to let her go. We were going to be in a perfect position to sprint each other now as we rounded that final corner to the straight when all of the sudden I see her look back and hesitate for 0.3 seconds. And I was faced with another pin it to win it moment. And I did, coming across the line in 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sue then came across the line right behind me for 5th and Nicole 6th.

What a (good!!) day at the office for us all. That was one of the most exciting races that I have been involved with this year.

Sue giving me a big hug at the end of our race.

Post Race interview:

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The Elite Women's National Cyclocross Podium (me, Georgia Gould, Katie Compton, Meredith Miller, Sue Butler)

Afterwards before heading back to Portland and then finally home the next day our team got together and (Sue and I) had a big ole burger and beer at the Deschutes Brewery.

A GREAT job well done to all!!!

(Our team at Nationals, clockwise: Jake Wells-23rd Elite Men, Jon Baker-Masters 35-39 National Champion, Nicole Duke-Masters 35-39 National Champion , Matt Pacocha - Masters 30-34 National Champion and 21st Elite Men, Sue Butler -5th place Elite Women, Tom Hopper - our trusty team mechanic and me with the uh.....devil eyes)

What a downright fun season!

USGPCX #8 - Portland, OR

2010-12-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

It's funny how a mere 22 hours can change everything about your racing....thank heavens. Today I felt GREAT. It was such a better day than yesterday. Yesterday I had the mental fire but seemed to not have the legs to back it up and today I had both. Oh joy! That can make for some super fun racing when it all comes together like that. The confidence comes through and life is good!

It's amazing how strong everyone is right now. Everyone is getting ready for US nationals next week in Bend which means most people are trying to peak around now......and it shows. Suddenly there are 20 people in front of me in the first turn instead of around 10. That can be mind boggling 1 min into your race thinking that maybe you are going well but luckily I never had that thought! The confidence was there and I knew it so I just kept calm and steady and passed when appropriate.

Overall the course was the same, it had dried out a little bit and the wind was howling. The thick mud was now fudgey where you would ride thru it and the line would stay there. The back section of berms was getting pressed out and seemed to have more but deeper lines in them. They would throw your bike a little but that made it fun! There were still power boggy sections through grass and such but overall a dryer course and luckily my body was ready for it.

I simply stayed on the gas and was determined today. I even fell and slipped (see knee above) losing a few spots but I didn't let that affect anything as I chomped my way back thru the girls that took advantage of my fall. Kind of annoying that I did that but oh well. I decided early on I wasn't giving anything away today and that people would need to earn their spots so I kept on it.

I was super aggressive in the corners taking inside lines that were less traveled and more risky. But you gotta do what you gotta do to get up there and today I was confident enough and willing to really bank everything on my skills in those corners. And it worked. I gained seconds in each corner and made my way up to 6th in the end!!

This was the final USGPCX to be contested this season and my 6th place finish put me in 5th Overall for the USPGCX Series. Given that I had no idea how this season was going to turn out after having miss all of last season racing against the nations best, I am pretty darn happy!!!

USGPCX #7 - Portland, OR

2010-12-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

I got to Portland safe and sound and the weather was unseasonably shall we say.....nice. The course was pretty boggy thick with mud in sections. Half of the course was tacky and the other half not so much. But either way it was a blast because the mud made it so technical on that other side of the course. Mud ruts were forming (my favorite!!!!) and I was gonna have a blast on that techy side. Or so I thought......

Had my body not felt like it had shut down from not racing (GASP!!) a whole 2 weekends in a row I would have had extreme fun on that backside instead of just some fun. And actually I know what "shut down" feels like for me and really I wasn't quite in that particular pain cave but I was indeed in this one which was a step better:

The pain cave really speaking its mind

I honestly don't think I have worked that hard for 8th place in a while. OUCHEE - MAMA. This realization started to hit me about 2 laps in. I was like "Wow, I really am not feeling the love right now." Not something that you want to find yourself saying mid race either and usually I am really good and nipping those thoughts in the bud but this was hard to not truly realize! But that's when you REALLY do need to step in and mix those thoughts around to play mind games on yourself to get you thru.

And at that same moment of realization that I was hurting, I by accident got a look back and saw that only 4 bike lengths behind me there was a train of 6-7 girls sitting on each other. Where'd they come from!?And there I was in never never land all by my lonesome.

The thought then was "Catch or Be Caught and to go like hell". Had those women caught me I would have been effectively been in no better position than the last girl in that group which was around 15th and I was going to do everything it took, EVERYTHING to stay away by what small gap I had already formed on them. God that was painful and hard mentally too.

I also thought I was going to puke mid race and actually thought I might have to stop mid race to do so. I raced my heart out, somehow broke the group behind me, passed a few women and came in 8th at the end. And this is just what it felt like that whole 40 minutes. Eeeek gad.

And in proper fashion for this cyclocross season, I crossed the finish line and started barfing. This time though, it really didn't feel relieving as it always has, instead it felt pretty yucky. Just par for the course I guess.

Santa Barbara

2010-12-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

Because I hadn't travelled every single weekend the last 5 weeks to WA, KY, CO, CA and back to CO, we decided to head to Santa Barbara for Thanksgiving. I mean really, do you have a house to live in? I think that may be over rated, plus we have super good friends, Kristin and Eric who live in SB and we love seeing them!!

As if the company, the weather and everything else wasn't already great in SB, on one of my training rides I saw a baby bobcat! I was cruising along on my cross bike on some trails when all of the sudden this what I thought was massive house cat started running down the trail in front of me. Then I figured out that is no massive house cat! That's a bobcat!

And upon acknowledging that fact, within a blink of an eye I had dismounted, turned the bike and heading away from the bobcat. I went the other way to the street and to my surprise when I looked back up at the trail he had been on, he was still on it, only further down now and stalking out his meal. It was amazing to see all that especially in a local Santa Barbara and very populated neighborhood!

The training over the week was great though and getting away allowing the body to recoup some was a nice benefit although during the car ride on the way out my legs thought differently. On the way out my legs were not happy campers. They were achy and fussy and it felt like I had restless leg syndrome while my hubby drove. I was a squirmy mess the whole way which I have never experienced. It was all the racing and travel I am sure of it. Luckily there is a GREAT massage therapist in Santa Barbara who has tons of experience working with Pro Cyclists and he got me in. That did wonders as I was a new person the next day.

Santa Barbara was a blast but immediately upon the close of our quick vacation I had a few days to turn it all around and head up to Portland and Bend, OR for the next 11 days for the final races of the series and year.

A view of the Pacific Ocean out of SB

USGPCX #6 - Fort Collins, CO

2010-11-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Yay!!! I got to race today!! The evidence is here in this pic.

I felt so good to be out there racing normally today after yesterday's horrible incident. On that note, I woke up with absolutely positively NOTHING sore, swollen or even scratched. A whole lotta nothing from the crash. I still can't believe that.

Now if only I hadn't had to start the race on my muddied up new B Bike, while not having seen the whole course yet and after not getting a great warm up in, it would have been awesome.

What is this amateur hour? Good lord.

So the bike situation was all a mess because I broke my frame in two spots in the crash yesterday so my B bike became my A Bike and my team manger had to piece together another bike last night and this morning so I could have something in the pits heaven forbid I need a bike change again.

This is also when you feel like bowing down to your team that you already thought was wonderful. Trying to deal with this jargon while supporting yourself is not fun (been there). I don't take anything i have for granted and am so thankful for any and all help that I get!!!! And here I now miraculously had a second bike for the Sunday race. Wow that is awesome, thanks guys!!!!!

So off I went on my, shall we call it almost a C Bike, on the start line. Nice. It was fitting a bit odd even after trying to get it right and it was rolling different too which is to all be expected since it was a different size and the whole nine yards.

Now had this been.....oh say.....5+ years to go and had I rolled to the line on a bike that really didn't fit me and that I wasn't used to I would have had an internal explosion of freaked outness (my new phrase). But today it just simply was what it was and I laughed about it on the start with my teammate Amanda. Yeah, its not the greatest scenario but whatever, I will figure it out. I think one might call that plenty of experience with a lotta different junk happening to you over the years of racing. You learn to roll with it instead of wasting precious energy having a cardiac arrest about it.

Oh and if that wasn't weird enough to start a race on an unfamiliar bike, you think I wasn't freaking out just a tiny bit about that first corner?? Last thing I wanted to do was cause another commotion so I got a great start, then laid off in the corner staying FAAAAAAAAR away from everyone and THEN started my race. I had issues with that corner. I just felt BAD about what went down the day before because it sucked. But once thru that corner it was on like Donkey Kong.

Amanda Miller and I riding in the Top 10

The course which I didn't mention in the previous post was interesting in that it had a lot of climbing in it. "A lot" when you are talking about cyclocross that is. It had dried out much more today and was tackier. That would be good for me as maybe I wouldn't need to pit after I pitted the one time to get MY bike back.

I just had to plan when to pit and get my normal bike back and get rid of this other bike that didn't really fit me. I did about 3 laps and kind of established my position and then went in for the pit change. I wanted to do it way earlier but I really needed to get where I wanted to be for the most part in the race. And that I did and then went in and got "my" bike. Ahhh.

Once on that thing I really started to make headway as I knew how to turn it a lot better and I knew how the pressure in the tires would roll over things. Life was good!

It turned out to be a solid day coming in 8th with just about everyone who's anyone there racing. And most importantly, no incidences either!

Taking a corner with Amanda C. hot on my trail

USGPCX #5 - Fort Collins, CO

2010-11-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, another easy hop skip and jump over the mountains for another big race near Boulder. I love these fast flights vs. layovers and all. I am starting to feel spoiled as UCI races make their way toward the West coast a bit more!

So if the race could have been just as nice as the plane ride, all would have been extremely good. But the race was awful. Do you know why it was awful? Click here to watch this video of the race start and you will see just why. Or maybe just take a look at these pics as I am face first into the pavement:

And then sitting dazed and confused wondering A) where my bike is and B) why I am not on it. Sunglasses even popped off my nose.

Yes, that is me sliding across the pavement on my rear and head in the video only seconds into the race. It was awful in so many ways!! A lot of people asked me what happened assuming I just know how to fall off my bike on flat dry pavement. Let's just say I had help and leave it at that. NOTHING was intentional but this is just how things panned out. I have never had that happen and it was gut wrenching in all respects. The last thing I want to do is ruin someone elses race!! But that can be racing unfortunately.

After making sure that everything was moving on my body I found my bike and hopped back on and tried to pedal. You can see that in the vid too. And, I was not able to pedal at all!!! The derailleur was jammed in between the cassette and the wheel which I found out later after the race was the least of the bikes worries.

After trying to pedal and remount and trying to get it thru my thick head that the bike was flat out broken I decided that maybe I ought to focus on my own body for a second because my rear was starting to hurt BAD as I slid on it for quite a ways. I screamed for medical as I was sure something was super wrong and I needed stitches or something. I decided to take the time and check for blood which thank heavens I found none despite expecting the worst. Other than that area driving me crazy, I was all good to go with no bruises, bumps, hema tomatoes and not even one tiny scratch. You have to be kidding me? My skinsuit was even intact with no holes. That night I wasn't even sore!!! NOW THAT is a weird crash.

The bike on the other hand, well it had 2 broken chain stays and some severely bent handlebars in addition to the derailleur issue. Check out the right handlebar compared to the left in this pic. It goes inwards quite a ways from being bent in the crash.

Man I was lucky - the bike, not so much. It was the one that ended up broken and seeking medical attention.

Ok, so any reasonable human being might call it a day and head for the spa at this point but I am always programmed to forge ahead no matter what like a robot (I have finished races with broken bones - maybe not the greatest choice).

So I headed for the pits running with my totally busted up bike on my back. And by the time I actually started running, there was NO ONE around. I mean no one. The race, its leaders and anyone dangling off the back had already made their way to the other side of the course. I could have heard crickets if I had listened close enough over the sound of my huffing and puffing.

Once to the pits I turned in my mangled bike and got my "B Bike". Ok, now I can start racing. Good thing I am only starting about 10min later than everyone hugh?! Try finding motivation at that point?! Well, I found it because I didn't want to DNF and I came out there to race!

I got in as much as I could getting back up to the tail end of the girls and making a few passes before my race was over. I placed poorly but I wasn't expecting the world after all that happened. Such is racing and luckily there are tons more races to come!! Today's happiness falls with the fact that I CAN race tomorrow, didn't get hurt, and didn't hurt anyone else. What a day.

Dam Cross Race #2 - LA, CA

2010-11-07T16:38:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful day in CA to race bikes!! And again it was Sue and myself establishing a bit a gap off the front from the rest of the field although no one goes down without a fight at any race!

Today in warm up I could feel the hemo tomato in my arm but only when I went to brake and only when the course was a bit bumpy which it certainly had sections of. But anytime I pulled the brake lever I felt like I had no power because I immediately wanted to let go because of the pain involved with braking. Ok, guess I won't be using the brake much then! Problem solved.

There was one time because of the pain in my arm going across the really bumpy section that my hand actually fell off the handlebars! It was a super BAD place for that to happen and I really cannot believe I kept it upright at race pace, while hitting huge bumps and guiding the bike thru everything with one hand on the bars. I think I was a lucky ducky there.

When it was all said and done, Sue took another win and I doubled up for another 2nd place. It was a good weekend for the Hudz-Vist Subaru team!!

Remounting over the barriers

Dam Cross Race #1 - LA, CA

2010-11-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

Flying to Hollywood........for a race???? Yes, really. The race was held at Griffith Park near the Griffith Observatory in the hills of West Hollywood only blocks from the famous Hollywood Blvd.

And here is the famous "Hollywood" sign that I got a glimpse of on my Friday training ride. I have never seen it before in my life so that was pretty cool. I guess I need to get out more hugh......or not!!!

Here is bit of the park on Friday before the course was set up. Everything pretty much took place within the boundaries of where I am standing to take the pic to the far side of the pic. Let's just say there were A LOT of turns when the course was finally up and running.

Still standing in the same spot taking the picture there were a few coves that the course went up into and then u-turned back down.

Given the awesome location and the ease of getting there, this was a great race! Dorothy Wong, whom I have raced mtb with for years did a stand out job getting this together and getting the west coast another big UCI race. Thanks Dorothy for making it happen!

And speaking of finally making it happen, I did what I set out to do. My teammate Sue was there and once the gun went off there was no mercy. We were socking it to each other, driving each other into the ground. It was awesome. Neither one of us were coming away with anything given to us.

We got off the front fairly quickly and established a good gap from the rest of the field and that is when the fire works started with me taking the lead, then Sue and back and forth. It was quite fun actually!

The only not so fun part was me hitting a big plastic garbage can with my arm while flying down a paved straight. Luckily I took the garbage can out instead of visa versa. That could have been real bad. All it did was leave a good mark and a nice hema tomato as well. It didn't affect me too much the rest of the race other than being aware of "the garbage" can each time I road by it.

After it was all said and done, Sue took the big win with me right behind her in second. What a fun day!

A Tribute to Dad

2010-11-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that one year ago today I lost my father unexpectedly after a continued battle from effects of a stroke he had 4 years prior. Dad was such a strong man to have made it FOUR YEARS without being about to tell his family that he loved them, without being able to tell us what he needed, wanted, was thinking about, etc. He was a prisoner in his own head for four years – bless his heart – but could still walk and get around just fine although a bit slower.

If that doesn’t say something about my father’s determination and strength I don’t know what would. He was an amazing man and the fact that he dealt with all of that for so long gives me even more amazing things to think and say about him.

When I think of my father I remember his crazy wit he always had. I remember him laughing along with others at the things that rolled of his tongue. Sometimes those things would just flat out floor you too and I really have to wonder if he wasn’t staggered himself at how fast he could come up with stuff. But his wit was certainly where he would display that never ending honesty and perhaps his silly side as well!

My dad had great character, was honest, determined, had integrity and never strayed far if at all from his beliefs. He was dedicated to his family, friends and clients in the investment business and had a keen eye for a fashion. Oh my, did he have any array of shoes and jackets and was always “Dressed to the Nines” as he would say!

I will always remember dad for his sense of humor, intellect and his vivacious personality. When I think of him I remember him enjoying a good read about World War II in his big chair, him chopping up trees and rose bushes to oblivion while calling it “pruning” (it was done well, just maybe went a tad far).

And of course the German thing….good lord the GERMAN thing. Anything made in Germany was love at first sight for him. He LOVED Nutcrackers, Hummel’s and any other collectible made in Germany of course. Heaven forbid you brought a fake Nutcracker home!!!

I also remember him studying charts, tables and graphs endlessly and reading the Wall Street Journal and Investor’s Business Daily like they were going out of style. He always kept on top of things in his investment business and was very successful at what he did. I sure hope he was proud of himself because I am not sure he ever knew that or felt that about himself.

Dad, thank you for being there for me for 37 years and for giving your all to our family. You taught me life lessons well. I was lucky to have you and mom for as long as I did. And with that I will say “Ahviterzen dad, until we meet again!”

With all my love,

Your Daughter

NACT #6 Boulder Cup - Boulder, CO

2010-10-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

Very interesting....I have never raced most of a race on the side of a hill before. Weird but cool. Luckily weather conditions were dry otherwise it would have been a slip oh rama fest!

Nor had I ever been at a race where I could have sampled perfume and gotten a makeover before the event.

The race was at a mall!! Ok but seriously, shopping was the furthest thing from my mind. It was time to race....or crash, or roll a tubular. Your call. Ok, how about all 3 since we are being super greedy here? Why not?

So the race starts and this happens:

Click here to see video (I am coming into the VERY FIRST corner in 7th).

After being pinned down for what seemed like a year and after everyone got off of me I started my race all over again. I did a quick check of my bike while running to remount and decided it was good to go and to start trying to make headway through everyone from around the 20th position I was now in after the crash. Gotta love cross! There are always challenges and mine weren't over.

I did not give up in any way shape or form as I made passes as best I could and EVERYWHERE I could. This was not the time to be hesitant or scared of anything. And I wasn't, instead I was on a mission.

Toward the end of the race I had made my way up to the Top 5 and was really starting to feel the love and had gotten into a real groove on the bike. I was having so much fun and was keeping the pace beyond my limits in order to get through people. It was a good suffer day in that it felt good to suffer.

Here is the run up. Not sure why there is a ball on my helmet. Was that why I felt so sluggish right there? : )

But all my hard work came to a close when as I took an off camber corner (remember the race was on the side of hill) and my rear tubular rolled off the rim.

And of course it rolled off not too close from the pits so I was left to do this for a LONG time. Sure am getting those running workouts in though during my races so that is good......or not. Ugh. I rather by on my bike RACING thank you very much.

After getting a bike change it became all about how far I could get back through the field for the second time today.

I was not giving up easily at all and in the end made it up to 14th. Game over and I was bummed.

In fact I was so bummed and so determined and so EVERYTHING that I went back to Lance's that night and booked my flight to do the LA races that next weekend.

I had decided pretty easily that was NOT going to take my rest week and was going to instead hoof it out to LA with one bike and RACE without incident dang it!!!! I was bound and determined!

NACT #5 CO Cross Classic - Boulder, CO

2010-10-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a quick flight just directly over the mountains to get to your next race! Getting to Boulder was a pleasure and staying with my team manager and family was even more so! What a great family who all opened their doors to me with open arms.

When I got there and into the car there was immediately talk about a fire that was just outside of Boulder up in the mountains. Schools were being evacuated and the wind was howling allowing the fire to take over as much as it could. The smell of smoke was in the air almost everywhere. Wow, this could be an interesting training ride today in Boulder. Hmmmm? Was I doing more harm than good if I couldn’t get away from the smoke? Yikes. Luckily I was given great directions by our Team Mechanic, Tom, to head out of town away from the fire and it worked out not smelling a bit of smoke.

You can see the fire is in the background of this picture

That night we went to the Wenger store on Pearl Street in Boulder. They are one of our wonderful sponsors this year and it was nice to meet the folks in charge and pick up some great goodies for my feet and wrist along with a bullet proof back pack! You can always count me in for a shopping spree.

The next morning on race day we had a great team breakfast. Lance and his wife Carol went crazy making tons and tons and tons of food for everyone. It was great to see everyone again too and even meet some more of the team that I had not met before. It was a good lead to a well….alright race I guess.

Not sure what got into my legs or what didn’t get in there. I wasn’t feel ing the love at all out there during the race. I was loving the course though! But I swear the race started and then I started 5 seconds later. One of those days. Therefore it was makeup time from the get go. I pushed my way through the sand pits and painfully dismounted to run over the barriers as I was not loving life in the legs. There was some fun mtn bikey stuff on course which was a blast for me and then when it wasn’t about your skills, it was time to hunker down and pass people the best I could. The course even took us to a sand section that ran along the reservoir. It was pretty darn fun and fairly ridable too. I stayed on the gas, not feeling the love but pushing through and finally got over the finish line. It wasn’t the worst I have ever felt in a race but with the way I have been feeling this season it certainly was not the best. I was BACK there at the start but ended up 7th.

Teammate Amanda Miller and I getting thru the sand together

USGPCX #4 - Louisville, KY

2010-10-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today was another beautiful day in Louisville. Riding to the venue from Lisa’s was such a pleasure as I made my way along River Road with the sunshine peaking its way through the trees.

The course was mostly the same today with the exception of some added fun grassy corners.I was little sluggish off the line which is uncharastic e but I didn’t let it hold me back. Funny how sometimes you can lose a race in your mind in the first 5 seconds of race. So off I went not feeling spectacular but not feeling horrid either. The race was ahead of me and I just seemed not to be able to connect. The gap grew and those in chase shuffled around a bit as we powered through the sandy dry course.

Then I found myself reconnected with Teal from Giant Strawberries. Yes! Someone to work with!!! Then I blew it, meaning I hit the birm that was right before the barriers going mock 10. I had actually told myself when I first saw the course to NOT do just that. So much for that in the heat of the moment – eh? So I hit that basically JUMP (not birm at this point) at race speed and flew through the air. I remember thinking oh crap as Cyclocross bikes are just not made for jumping with NO suspension. This was going to hurt. I also remember Teal saying “Oh Kathy!!!” as she got to witness the carnage.

I landed on the right side of my bike and the bike took a BIG hit. I am pretty sure I didn’t take a big hit (although my neck was sore that night from a bit of whiplash afterwards) as I had no signs of any bodily damage. Unbelievable really.

I jumped right up and looked at the bike for any obvious damage AS I was jumping back on it to get back up to Teal. I have learned a thing or two about what can happen in crashes like that so I gave I it a good once over as I softly pedaled. The only thing that really seemed to be an issue was the shifting. And it wasn’t even that bad. It was just stubborn now instead of super easy and quick. But hey the bike was working and so was I! Wow! Off I went to chase back on…..again.

So now the question was to pit and get a new bike or not to pit. That was a big one in my mind since the bike was mostly working at this point and now every second was counting as the race was soon to be over. I chose not to pit and kind of cringed as I road by it (you can go backwards to it once you pass) hoping it was an ok decision as I hadn’t had much time since the crash to really assess.

In the meantime I got back up to Teal and dangled off the back. We were in 5th and 6th and it was likely coming down to a sprint finish on the pavement. This ought to be interesting! We hit the pavement and she took off giving it everything she had to get that 5th spot and I had the advantage being on her wheel BUT I went to shifting into the big ring and it wouldn’t go, tried it again, it stalled and then finally went and that was it, she got fifth and I took 6th. Can’t have ANY delays when trying to sprint someone at the finish. Oh well. I came away from the weekend with double 6ths and I am happy enough with that. Just gotta stay upright next time and take a pit change too.

That night after the race we went to a famous Halloween street in Louisville (can’t remember the name!) and walked up and down the several blocks of houses that went ALL OUT in decorating. Some of these houses must either have a storage unit somewhere to hold all the stuff the rest of the year. You wouldn’t believe the amount of detail work put into everything from music, dancing figures, the automated life size scary creatures all the way down to the elaborate decorations from the sidewalk to the roof. It was unbelievable and I will tell you what, I wouldn’t want to have to put those away each year after Halloween is over! Yikes.

And my little surprise when I got back home to Utah. Ugh.

USGPCX #3 - Louisville, KY

2010-10-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

After a really good travel day I arrived in Louisville, KY. Lisa’s parents were there to pick me up the airport and in proper fashion took me directly to the country club for dinner. Now that is southern hospitality at it’s finest although I was bit concerned that my bike racing/airplane attire may not be the best fit in the ole club- a- roo. But it was fine as I strolled in there with my flip flops (flopping loudly as I walked) along with each step past some fine diners. Gheesh, can’t take me anywhere I tell you.

The next day we headed to the venue where Cyclocross Masters Worlds are going to take place in 2012 and Cyclocross Worlds in 2013. The last time I was in Louisville to race was a few years ago and this new park that they built was just a bit across the road from the the old race venue. It was nice to be somewhat familiar with the area.

The weather was gorgeous and hot and that was anticipated for the rest of the weekend as well. Sweet!! I love the mud too but I at mostly at home in the dust so I will happily take it.

The first pre-ride of the course left me thinking that it WAS HARD. Wow. There were so many challenges per lap that you couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t daunting hard though. It was going to be flat out and downright FUN. You were going to be on your toes the entire time, that is for sure. And actually on that note, I think you were going to be off your bike a fair amount too.

What made it difficult? First off, there was a steep man made birm right before the barriers, then not long after there was a steep uphill that you could barely push over while still riding, then a ridable sandpit if you picked the right line and powered through then you got a bit of a break as the course was just flat windy through trees in what I called the “mountain bike section”. Immediately following that was a long sand pit that you ended up running through, then the flyover (about 7 monster steps up then a ramp on the other side to get you down it), then a few turns before entering the final part of the course that had a steep sharp downhill section with a 180 at the bottom that lead to a run up, then back on your bike before flying down another steeper section before having to really power up the legs in order to make it up another steep hill that was again, barely ridable. Wow, that is a lot to take on and it was going to be fun!!!

The flyover

On race day I had a great start getting right up there near the front but my laps weren’t flawless and I found myself in the top 10 but SOOOOO far away from the front which was getting away quickly on the first and second laps. I had a moment while sitting alone in never never land in the Top 10 somewhere when my brain started to say “You can’t….(make it back up there)” and I stopped it mid sentience knowing where it was going and then said “Oh yes I can!!!!!!”. And at that moment I put on the jets and settled into good rhythm to close a 10 second gap that seemed like an eternity away. And I did!!!! I was up there now in the chase group of 2, with me now being the third in the group. We were in 3rd -5th position as the eventual winner of the race was off the front and the gal in 2nd was up there alone as well. I sat on the front of the group for several laps driving the pace hard as I knew the gal in 6th was working her way up to us! And as generous of person that I am I didn’t want that!! : )

Other girls in the group took their turn up front but we just couldn’t hold off Meredith who was slowly but surely reconnecting with the group with all her power. She tacked back on with one to go and then the fireworks really started as people were jockeying for position. And just as I knew might happen, most of them made their move right before the finish in the difficult run up area and the last steep uphill section. Rats, I was going to have to settle for 6th today. Could have made it a 3rd place had I played my cards correctly but live and learn and I am still learning about the different strengths of everyone this year….and even myself. It’s been interesting after taking a cyclocross season off last year but it’s all good and it will only get better. In can’t wait to see what the future holds in cross!!!

The Sandpit

The pain of trying to squeeze everything out of your legs that they have just to make it up the last steep hill.

The run up

A Weekend of Racing

2010-10-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

Men’s B 35+ Race

Today was SO fun. It is always so great to race locally and to see everyone again. Our local races in Utah have grown BIG TIME and it is so neat to see. Everyone is always happy and excited to race and the vibe is just flat out neat to be around. We are lucky to have a series like this that is so well run and extremely organized.

So my coach decided to sock it to me this weekend. First up on Saturday was a race with the B Men then immediately following the awards for that race was the Women’s A race. Then Sunday I got to race again. Ouchy. This was gonna leave me dragging and worked by the time Sunday afternoon came that is for sure!!!!

At the start of the Men’s race (which I almost missed the start of!) I snuck in on the back row. I figured that getting thru traffic is what I need to practice since I have had to start on the last row at all the other races I have done this year. It is always great to practice that plus it will certainly make me race even harder just trying to get up front!

And race hard I did. Those boys don’t slow down for anyone nor should they. It was fun. I got near the front pretty fast and got to witness some pretty spectacular roadie tactics during the race. It was the reminder I needed that being tactical is exactly what you have to do sometimes.

I found myself up front duking it out with the top 5 or 6 in the Men’s B class. They were handing my own a** to me. PERFECT. It was just what I needed. Not only was I on the rivet most of that 40 minutes, I was having to THINK (about tactics) while on the rivet which is a skill on its own. Attacks were being thrown in and I had to chase. Then counter attacks. Wow, I was getting worked and enjoying every painful second of it. I lasted the entire race and came in 2nd!!

Women’s A Race

Then it was time for the podium, get something to drink, make any adjustments to the bike and then off for the women’s A race. The women’s race was a fun race and I could immedialy feel the effects of working myself over in the men’s race where I fired off every match I had in order to be in contention for the win. I was sluggish now for sure. Standing around in between times sure didn’t help but you got to stand on the well earned podium!

Me and the boyz

Ok, so here I was already hurting and it’s just the start of the race. Great. So I thought to myself, what a BETTER time than to take what I just had learned in the Men’s race about drafting and sitting on and put it to use to see how it would go both physically and mentally. And it was weird. It is a different experience back there when you choose to draft. Cornering is different cuz it’s not your line or maybe it’s too fast or too slow based on the person pulling. And mentally it’s strange especially from an mtb perspective…..do I go now? How about now? Maybe now?? Now must be the time???....oh yeah I tell myself we are only 3 min into the race…..relax girl! : ) Better to sit and really get the full experience out of it while I could.

I did go up front a few times but I now could feel what I couldn’t feel in the Men’s race while up there: the wind, the ground sucking my tires to the ground creating more resistance, the fatigue, etc. Ok, just push thru I tell myself. I had my plan and was executing it perfectly despite what my head was telling me (to just go). I disregarded those thoughts and just sat. Then unfortunately with ½ lap to go I took a corner pretty bad and exploded on the ground allowing the gal in 3rd to take advantage. I just slid out, no harm done except I had officially lost the race right then and there. Oh well, there are always more races to come!

B Men’s Race

The next day I felt like I had been hit like a truck but I still drug myself out of bed to hit one last race for the weekend. I was less than enthusiastic because I was beyond tired but in the name of getting faster I was going to race!

And lucky for me it was a bit of a smaller race, as it is a newer series that has just started up in Salt Lake. I chose to race with the Men again only based on the fact that I could sleep in longer. Yep, I admit it.

The course was pretty interesting in that there was a bit of a climb in it as well as a cement fire pit of sorts that had a few cement stairs leading into and out of it. It was up to the rider to figure out the best possible way to get through that quickly and everyone had different methods based on what they were strong at. I chose to ride down the steps, dismount, run up the other side and remount. Some didn’t have to get off their bikes at all. Others found another line on the outside that was conducive. It was an interesting barrier for sure.

At the start we all lined up together and at the line they told us it was a 50min race (not the usual 40min). Ugh really? Ok, I am going to bail at 40min I tell myself. Yeah right I should know myself WAY better than that!! At 40min in I kept telling myself I could hang on for just a bit longer, just a bit longer. Nothing like total mind games to trick yourself to do what you need to do. I didn’t even have to race the whole race according to my coach but the thought of DNFing was just out of the question. I don’t do that I won’t start now. Sure, I will DNF if I broke my body or broke my bike (and don’t have another) but willingly DNFing – no way. So I suffered like a dog trying not to get lapped by the leading Men and it turned out to be a painful but great way to end a weekend of racing! Ah, now time for some rest…..

USGPCX #2 - Madison, WI

2010-09-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

The next day was about mirror image day weather wise as you could get. The course was almost the same except for a few minor corner changes, one very mountain bikey section that we were now riding up on (instead of down)and the run up was still there except that the entrance to it was a 180 degree turn after doing a steep downhill section.

The run up

I warmed up a little and decided it was a bit too early to warm up so I took a seat in our team tent. It was warm out, the weather was gorgeous and I seemed to be as calm as a cucumber. Almost sleepy calm and almost alarmingly lax about the “big” race that was coming up in an hour or so. What the heck was going on with me!? I sat there in there chair when Mike from my Kansas City cheer squad walked up. I asked where the rest of the crew was and he said they were over on the playground. And I remember looking at him and saying “This is my playground!!!” as I pointed to the course I was about to do god knows how many painful laps in on for 40 minutes straight. It’s so nice to know that I feel that way about what I do! Sometimes it takes random comments such as that to see just how you really feel about something.

When looking back on this comment I made I am psyched that I see what I am doing as fun!!! To have the passion back for everything from training, racing, riding to traveling and getting excited for all of these things to on a daily basis is such a blessing to me. I am so glad that my mind and body are letting me live this way and I can honor that. I am so grateful for all those feelings and often wonder where they were dug up from because I will tell you what, I haven’t had these kinds of feeling for this sport or riding or any of it to this degree EVER. I am not sure if they had been buried deep inside for the last 4 years as I mourned my father who had a massive stroke but was still alive and well and walking and needing but not able to talk, read, wright or even communicate. Was I in mourning that whole time and now that dad has found the light, I did to?

Mom was also struggling a lot through most of my Pro career. She had Rheumatoid Arthritis and things just got uglier and uglier as the diseases progressed causing her pain and misery. Was I only racing with half of myself during this period of time? I love to worry and these would have been great reasons to have something to worry about in my book.

I am not sure why now these feelings of absolute LOVE and PASSION for the bike and everything related to that have fallen on me but I am so open to it you don’t even know. I am going with it and I have a team that is totally taking care of me in every way so I don’t have to worry about that either. Don’t have to pack bikes, don’t have to worry about what I will need to do if I get a mechanical before during or after the race. There is truly something to be said for knowing you are taken care of. Just knowing that alone allows the mind to be at ease and to think of other things and not worry about the normal everyday stress that racing can unfortunately bring sometimes. Thanks to Hudz-Vista Subaru for opening your doors to me!! But I think they may have created a monster since I am having a complete love affair with the bike now.

And back to the race……ah yes, a back row start again, I feel just you know…so at home there.
The gun went off and I was on a mission immediately. Made a bunch of passes and got near the Top 10 pretty fast. I was also in the perfect position to take advantage of a few traffic jams/crashes and could just go around. That was all that needed to happen – just get a tiny gap. A tiny gap can seem like a year in a cross race. Not only did I get a tiny gap, I then kept growing it and was making my way forward. I found myself with about 3-4 laps to go and had some company with me. One of them had pulled themselves back up to me and the other gal had to chase back on from quite a long distance and I knew she could be tired just from that effort alone. I continued to drive e the pace at the front taking the lines that I wanted to take. My thought was “Hey, if you can pull yourself back up and still hang on for dear life then more power to you” but I wanted to take my lines instead of sitting on and taking their lines. There is a problem with that of course which is that I am doing a lot of work and not getting much rest while on the front. Oh well – I could have played the game but just didn’t want to for some reason…..ok that is the mountain biker in me I admit. I need to get over that. We got to the last lap and not much had changed. I was on the front and was trying to anticipate where the 2 gals that had been sitting on this entire time were going to attack me because of course that is what is going to happen! Duh!! : )

They both attacked on the run up and passed me but when they went to remount onto their bikes they got slightly tangled, not falling to the ground but causing a pause/delay to both of their remounts. The tension was high as the finish line was just around the corner now and we were all in 4th-6th place at the time. It is pretty big to get a Top 5!! When they fumbled, I still had enough in me to get around the slight mess and take it in for 4th place!!!!!!!!!

You could say I was ecstatic! A 4th at a USGPCX this early in the season is more than I could have ever expected from myself. But guess what now….I now have some pretty high expectations of myself. That 4th place combined with my 8th the day before puts me in 6th overall in the USGPCX series. I really didn’t think the weekend was going to work out like this but it sure did and I am so happy about it! LOVING what you do certainly has its bennies.

Coming around the final turn in 4th!!!!!

My cheer squad from Kansas City!

Interview after the crazy race conclusion:

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USGPCX #1 - Sun Prairie, WI

2010-09-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

If only my bag had decided to show up it would have been a great start to a great trip to Madison, WI. Oh well, makes life easy when you have nothing to carry, mess with, choose from, organize, etc.! Luckily Sue was coming in on the exact flight that my bag was going to be on and she was able to nab it and hand it over the next day.

Sue and I were scheduled to do a school talk at the C. H. Bird Elementary School before about Cyclocross for the 3rd and 4th graders that day.

We were excited to learn that most of the kids had heard of Cyclocross and were already familiar with the sport (in part due to one teacher showing a cross video in his class prior to the talk!). Sue and I had fun explaining cross, answering questions and getting tons of participation from the students. One student even asked me “Why do you ride uphill?” Um, hmmm, well, uh, yeah, let’s see….oh ya!!!.....so that you can ride back down it (the funnest part!!) of course!

Afterwards we headed straight over to the course to check it out. I got my bike off the truck that had been on the road from Vegas for 24 hours plus and noticed that my saddle rail was cracked!! Oops, that’s not good. Luckily the Organic Mechanic, our team’s choice of mechanics that weekend didn’t skip a beat and had a new saddle on there in 2.5 seconds. Thanks guys! THAT is why it’s nice to have support!!!!!!! Otherwise I would have been begging for saddles and possibly needing to buy a new one. Been there, done that. The support this year is awesome.

Now that the bike was set it was time to ride the course. I had done a UCI race here a few years ago so I was familiar with the area but the course was a tad different. There was good dry run up and of course there was the barrier section. The barrier section in my mind was on the flat part of the course and the other half of the course was the “hilly side” where the run up was. Great course that was sure to be lots of fun!

I then took a trip to the grocery store to get a few items and was entirely disturbed that my “quick trip” to the store took far longer than it should've. I wanted bread. Not too hard a thing to want, get and go but at this particular store, there were probably 30 varieties of bread. Great I thought, I am sure to get exactly what I need here..... or not. My search for bread that was actually bread with just a few basic ingredients was futile and after pulling every last loaf off the shelf I finally settled for a version of bread. Lesson learned, my time is valuable in certain situations and if I am going to be picky I will just bite the bullet and go to Whole Foods or something of that nature next time.

Loaded with the rest of my goods I headed back to host housing where Amanda my host had opened her doors to me for the weekend. She was racing too and even volunteering that weekend for the Elite Races. Way cool!

The next day I was off to the first big National Cyclocross race that I had done in the series since 2008. I was excited. I was even more excited to see everyone again, I was excited to meet new people, and I was excited just be out and living life to the fullest and enjoying every second of it. It was a gorgeous day in Sun Prairie (near Madison) and the weekend was looking to be just awesome weather wise.

I yet again got a back row call up start and to the race announcers credit; he gave me an “atta girl” for a solid performance in Vegas. And even though I didn’t seal the deal there do to my tire rolling off the rim he certainly didn’t need to remind me what I wanted to accomplish today. I wanted a good result ON PAPER. I needed that to prove to myself and everyone that I can do this still, that I can race at this level and be competitive after taking a Cyclocross season off.

And we were off! How exciting!!!!! I love racing. I found my way up to the Top 10 immediately. It was awesome. But I was a little careless from time to time getting there, taking some chances but somehow still remaining up right. I wanted it though. Full on “Eye of the Tiger” syndrome.

The Barrier Section:

The race shattered apart and I was duking it out with Teal from California Giant/Specialized Cyclocross Team. So far this season she and I have very similar fitness and it’s so awesome to be up there throwing down and have her throw down on me too. That what racing should be like!! I lead a ton through the corners, taking the lines that I wanted to take and she was always right there putting the pressure on. It was awesome and I was loving the challenge while I was definitely in that zone where you are just loving everything about the fight that you are putting on.

In the end she was able to get the best of me and pop off the front by a smidge to take 7th place. Holy cow, are you series? I just scored a top 10 from a back row start!!!! Now that is what I call a GREAT day. I was pretty darn tooting psyched and was already ready for whatever tomorrows race was going to bring. I couldn’t wait; it was going to be a great weekend as I now had my sight set on Top 5. I knew it was going to be possible. I just knew it.

After the race my host family from Kansas City Cyclocross Nationals (for 2 years in row!) was there to watch me race and we went to downtown Madison and enjoyed catching up with each other at the brewery down there. It had been so long and these guys are a super active family, VERY into cycling and have kids that are into it too and there was lots and lots to talk about. Fantastic!!

After a great night, it was time to head in and prepare the mind body and soul for a fun race the next day. I couldn’t wait!!

Cross Vegas - Las Vegas, NV

2010-09-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

After a relatively easy day of travel (without bikes thanks to Tom Hopper driving all over the country for us!!) we arrived in Vegas. As expected it was hot and dry out, everything that I love being from Utah. Host housing was great and I got settled in right away. And so did another one of our teammates…..outside sleeping!!!!!! Too funny.

The next day I met more new teammates and we just hung out and waited and waited and waited and did I mention waited for the race to start? The race was taking place at 8pm at night under the lights just a bit outside Vegas proper and it was going to be an eventful evening with team photos beforehand, a warmup in between races somehow and then racing with Cyclocross’s finest athletes at an event that pretty much no one likes to miss out on. And no one really ever does because this race takes place during Interbike, one of the biggest retailer functions known in the US. It brings athletes from all over the world as well as ANYONE that makes ANYTHING for bikes or related to bikes. It is HUGE.

The race was sure to NOT disappoint with the mayhem either of a huge crowd that comes out to watch the race, drink beer and have a good time. The course was the same as I remembered it from a few years ago…pin it on a grassy straightaway and then turn left, pin it again on a grassy straightaway turn right, pin it on a grassy straightaway, well you get the idea. There was actually a difference from a few years ago with one barrier section and 2 stair step sections that weren’t very long. It was a well set up course and it was nice and warm out!

After team photos, to start things off properly on my first pre-ride on the course, I rolled a tubular off the front wheel on a straightway. It sent me into the tape, breaking a post and thankfully nothing more than that!!! I didn’t see that one coming. It also decorated my already messed up knee with some nice tire burns. Not sure how I just didn’t flat out eat grass. But that did throw a wrench into things as I was in the middle of warming up and now had to not freak out (wasting precious energy) and get back to the team tent ASAP without blowing a gasket (it was hard not to try and get there as soon as humanly possible). So 20min before race start I calmly walked back to the tent and got a new wheel from our team mechanic. Whew!

At the start line in proper fashion out of the 42 or so Elite Women I got to be on the last line this time or at least it was darn close! But despite a poor starting position I was able to get into the top 10 within the first few corners. Thank Heavens!

I was having the time of my life racing out there. The course wasn’t feeling like velco or overgrown grass as it has in the past to me and I was happy about that. At one point I even thought they may have cut the grass super short for us. Yep, was feeling the love out there.

Things broke up into a group of 4 up front then a group of 3 then the next group of 4 that I was in. We were charging hard trying not to let the gap grow ahead of us. It was a blast and I was having so much fun!!! Hard in our charge we shed two members of our group. While sitting in 9th and 10th position with 1.5 laps to go I had just gotten a gap on the other gal and I was making headway and loving life. Then all of the sudden BAM, my rear tubular comes off on a straightaway. I kept riding down the straight and rounded the corner unsure of what was happening and chanting to myself “No No No No, Not now!!!!!” because I knew something was way wrong.

This really couldn’t be happening???!! But it was.

I rolled the tubbie back on hoping to limp it along to the pits to get a bike or wheel change. That worked for a while until the course got ever so slightly bumpy and it bounced off again. Then I was left to run but I had a choice now that I had gone from 9th and was slowly slipping backwards as girls passed one by one. My choice was to either sprint to the pits or keep it mellow and trot. I chose trotting because I had a full weekend ahead of racing in WI in a few days that was sure to be tough!! I needed to not expend any extra energy when possible today. You sometimes have to pick your battles and weigh out the costs and bennies of doing so.

I finally got to the pits and was able to get a wheel change with Mavic. That seemed to take some time, quite possibly a few minutes but I was just happy to get back on my bike to finish up the race the best I could. I think when you are standing there in the middle of the race waiting for your bike to be ready, watching girls fly by that even a second seems like an eternity. By the time I got rolling I had slipped back to around 30th and was still left with 1.5 laps to go.

Great, getting some sweet UCI points for coming in 9th was out of the question but I still had the motivation and desire to finish as strong as possible and started to make my way back through the pack doing everything I could to get as close as possible to where I was. And it was interesting because in that moment of furry trying to make my way back up front knowing that realistically this wasn’t going to happen I heard a Lady Gaga song playing over the loud speaker “Just Dance, it’ll be ok!” And I thought, yeah you know, everything is going to be ok. This is ok I will just have to make it right in Madison. Never knew the church of Lady Gaga could be so enlightening! : )

By the time I crossed the line I had made it back up to 22nd. MEH! Lame especially considering how well the race was going prior to the tubbie rolling. Oh well. And, not a minute later I was throwing up from the effort. And that felt good! What the heck is wrong with me!!!!!?? I have never had a more reliving throw up in my life. Totally bizarre.

But I will be honest that it did tear me up inside to not get that Top 10 result on paper. That really sucked because I really needed to do that for myself. I knew that I had what it takes and would eventually get a solid result this season but to have that on paper to prove you can and did is something totally different. Dang it!!!!!!!

We then got packed up and headed back to host housing only to get stuck in Vegas traffic at 1am. Only in Vegas!! Just wish I didn’t have that 8 am flight out to Madison the next day. OUCH.

Some of the Hudz-Vista Subaru team stuffed in a car on the way to the race with pedals going into our ears. (R to L: moi, Sue, Nicole, Lisa)

Here is a clip of the Cross Vegas race. For those that don't know what barriers are but hear me talking about them, check them out at around the 1:20 mark.

NACT #2 Rad Racing - Issaquah, WA

2010-09-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

When I woke up the morning of today's race I couldn’t believe how stiff the knee I popped open was. I was hobbling around the house trying to slowly put weight on it and get it mobile again. It was a tough sell. I had felt it all night long and when I had to get up in the middle of the night I was hanging on everything in order to not fall over. It was not good!

But luckily by the time we had to be racing at 3pm I had enough time to work my knee into full motion and was able to weight bear again. It actually wasn’t that bad by that time but I wasn’t sure how running with it was going to work out since there was a long beach run we had to do in the race! Yikes.

Picture of the venue on the water before everything was set up

Despite all that was going on with changing tires and wheels (I was NOT about to use my set up from last nights race in the mud today!!!) and the knee among everything else I was really super calm before the race. So calm in fact that I only did one lap of the new course. ONE!!!! And it didn’t even bother me that I had only done one. It was like I just knew things were going to be ok.
And they were. I lined up on the last row again. My brother and Chris were right there to cheer me on (they were there last night too!!), lend a hand and give support which was awesome.

The gun went off and I made my way up to the super front of the race by the first corner. Alrighty then!! Now we are talking. The mudder tires and mudder skills were working much better today which was a good thing since it was super duper muddy. It even started pouring mid race after shining sun on us for the first part. Crazy weather! I was sitting in 7th for a while and made my way up towards 5th but the sandy run section got the better of me and I went back to 7th. It was a full on duking it out session for those spots I tell you. It was so fun and awesome to be back in the mix! 7th was maybe not exactly what I was capable of but given the long running sand pit sections, I will take it!

I didn’t get to race Cyclocross last year as I wanted to and planned to and I cannot tell you JUST HOW MUCH FUN I am having right now. Nothing beats the passion that has come to the surface again along with a great team, Hudz-Vista Subaru, who supports my endeavors with awesome support and great equipment. A huge shout out to all those that gave me the opportunity to get in the saddle again and rediscover what I had lost and wasn’t able to do during 2009.

After the races are over it is always a little time for some rest, relaxation and some fun! That night my best friend from preschool came up from Lakewood to hang with me and the gang. It was so great to see her. She even got to meet some of my team which was very cool.

Here is Jon B earning his keep at the Sherwin household, lending a much needed hand.

The next day, Monday was a chill day in WA just trying to waste time away waiting for our flights out the next day to Las Vegas for what was sure to be a really BIG race.

I decided to see my Aunt at her assisted living facility she was in. I hadn’t seen her in a few years and she has a bit of dementia now. She is my moms only sister so seeing her was a big deal and a huge priority. Mom would want me to visit and I really wanted to. I'd been far too long.

We were told to expect anything from my aunt as things can vary from day to day. But we were blessed on this day with an aunt who immediately recognized my brother and I and then started crying with joy. She then immediately perked up and we had a wonderful conversation. Absolutely wonderful.

The hard part was leaving. Not only did my aunt look like my mom to me now, she was the closest thing I have to mom and I had to walk out the door and perhaps never see her again. How hard is that? It’s super hard. I cried the whole way home. But really I just needed to see that this day as a blessing and nothing to cry about.

The rest of the day I got in a beautiful ride, riding over to my brothers house for dinner. We got to just sit and hang out and I got to know my niece a little better which is always a wonderful thing! Being able to drop in on family while on the road racing sure is a GREAT thing!! I love what I do!!

A little post race interview with a very flattering thumbnail....or not. Gheesh. Makes me laugh though everytime I look at it.

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NACT #1 Starcrossed - Redmond, WA

2010-09-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Now that is what I am talking about!! Ridley has provided the team with some super sweet X Night Cyclocross bikes to ride around in circles on until we barf. Such awesome bikes. Feel pretty darn lucky.

I am not sure that the week leading up to the first big cross races of the year could have gotten any crazier. Seriously insane but yet totally fun and awesome week!!!!! Parts were coming in for our 3 bikes (I mean why get only 2, when you can have 3 right?!), getting things built up at the LAST POSSIBLE second. When I say, last possible second I mean not getting home till 11pm Thursday when you still need to pack in order to leave on your flight for the races THE NEXT MORNING!!

All final bike parts came in Thursday afternoon and I was to leave on a plane Friday morning for 10 days. Oh boy…… Can you say sweating bullets and freaking out a little? I think I burned every favor I had coming to me from the bike shops (if I had any at all) that day.

Yep, Revolution Mountain Sports and Binghams to the rescue on that one. Revolution built up 2 bikes in a few hours!!! BIG sigh of relief there.

Then I still needed to have the bikes fit to me and it was 6pm. Luckily Chris Tolsma HAPPEN to be closing Bingham’s Cyclery that night. HAPPEN to be.

Here is Chris T around 9pm at night doing the last minute fit to my bikes. In this pic he was sawing off the seat post. I just couldn’t stand there and watch because that stuff makes me nervous so I took a pic to keep my mind off the “Handsaw to carbon frame action.”

I won't even touch my bikes unless this guy has fit them. I trust his judgment like no other. He always says anyone can do it but do they use the same measuring tape, do they eyeball it the same, have they been working with me on my fits for 10 years now? I think not!! : ) As much as I would like to think his right, I just prefer to have him do the trick because simply put, Chris rocks!!!

So yes the week leading up to the first couple races in WA was insanity at its finest. But fun insanity!! Just can’t let all the stuff get to you I have learned. Just roll with the punches because pretty much guaranteed, that wasn’t going to be the last punch! And you just learn to expect the madness. After being in the bike biz racing now for 10 years there always has to be a crunch time so you prepare mentally for the email inbox to load up with huge changes from second to second (same with your voicemail) and you go with it. I mean come on its bike racing after all!

After a super late night up packing just “stuff” I was lucky that our team mechanic Tom Hopper was heading to our house from Boulder, CO to pick up the bikes. Not sure how I would have packed bikes too without having stayed up most of the night. In fact Tom wasn’t even planning on staying with us until a few hours earlier. Thank god he changed his plans.

I got on the plane the next day fully packed and ready for a full 10 days of meeting some new teammates, learning how my new Cyclocross team operates and of course racing too. In fact, 5 races in 9 days were upon all of us.
.
Not only was I flying to the first 2 races of the year, I was flying to my hometown back to my family. Gotta LOVE that action!! My brother lives across the street from the first race on Saturday and just down the road from him sits my mother in law and her sister who were a 4 minute bike ride for the course on Sunday. Really? That is just way too convenient, plus its home!!

As for who was going to be at this big first race of the season: Jon Baker and I were bunking at Chateaux Sherwin, Sue B drove up from Portland and Tom H (mechanic) and Jake Wells were staying just down the road. 4 racers plus Tom.

I got settled on Friday after my flight and went for a ride on my trusty steed that collects dust at Chateaux Sherwin (our race bikes were still enroute to WA at this point). The ride was awesome, the legs felt dare I say phenomenal and I just knew. Just knew that I had what it took place well in tomorrow’s race. That is rare feeling for me these last couple years so to have that back was awesome.

Too bad I couldn’t work it out at the actual race the next day. What a freaking tool bag I was. I started on the last row which I expected after not having any points from last year due to not being able to race in 2008 …..and off I went. Life was good, I was feeling the love in the legs, mind, heart and soul BUT…

…I had THE WRONG tire set up for mud conditions. In a haste among many last minute changes I brought up my old Reynolds Clincher wheels that had my training tires FROM THE LAST 2 YEARS ON THEM. OMG what was I thinking?!!! I wasn’t. I was basically riding slicks because the tread was so gone on them. I should have brought up a fresh pair of tires but I wasn’t thinking clearly when I left. All I was thinking at the time was "" Working wheels – check. Tires that hold air – check." Full on rookie move and boy did I pay the price during the race.

While this was going on the team was frantically getting our new Reynolds Tubulars shipped and glued up for the next big race to take place in Vegas on Wednesday. I was going to be happy to see those!!!

During the race this opened up the door to slip slide, fall, bang in to things, take myself out, take others out (so sorry!!). It was a total as we say in the biz “S*** show”. I couldn’t stay upright in the mud to save my life and was losing confidence about my skills with every lap. I had worked my way up into the Top 10 right off the bat in the race but as the race wore on I might as well had just stood on the side of the course waving those that made a good tire choice ride on by. Toolbag. But as the race continued I fought and fought to stay upright in the pouring rain and ended up 12th.

Blah, not what I was looking for. Oh and I was left with a lovely souvenir of a knee that was popped open like a tomato when I hit a metal pole. One more layer down and it would have needed stitches. That left me not able to walk the rest of the night. Lovely, good thing I didn’t have to race the next day, oh wait, yeah I did.

Sue B. took 3rd and Jake and Jon B took 9th and 20th in their Elite Men's race!!!

Here is a post race interview

Starcrosed

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1 Year Anniv of Mom

2010-09-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Dad had this painting made of mom when he was serving his country in Germany after being drafted out of college.

Today is the day one year ago when we watched my mom pass away in front of our eyes only 20 minutes after getting her home. Knowing this day was coming has been hard and its been on my mind for weeks. Just remembering the pain of that day, leading up to that day and beyond is excruciating. But mom, god bless her, found her way into the next world on her own terms. All the way up to the end she was able to make decisions on her own. What a strong lady!! With that, a bit of a tribute to mom because she deserves it.

One year ago today we lost a women WHO:

....appreciated everything you did for her
....would do anything for someone else
....was kind enough to pay for a surprise latte to give to the serviceman behind her at Starbucks to say "Thanks" (she always did this!!)
....would did her best to "Forgive and Forget"
....would hold a door open for you even though she was ready to fall over with stuff in her own hands
....would donate $, goods or time if she could
....would pick up something a stranger dropped, without hesitation in order to help them
....would always follow the rules
....would NEVER lie or even fib for that matter
....was involved in many community efforts
....did her best to keep smiling
....would come to your aid at anytime, anywhere, no matter what the price
....was thankful for everything she had including friends and family
....was strong willed
....cared selflessly for my dad until the end
....wouldn't hurt a fly
....was duty bound

....tried not to pass judgement
....lived her life knowing where she wanted to be in the end (with god)
....fought arthritis and infections to until the very death of her.

Mom you were so strong, generous and kind. I was so lucky to have you as long as I did - you were the BEST role model I could have ever asked for!!! Thank You!! Thank You! Thank You for being in my life!

New Cyclocross Team!

2010-09-06T14:06:00.001-07:00

I am excited to announce my new team for this coming Cyclocross Season!

The Hüdz-Subaru Cyclocross Team!!

I am already so impressed with their commitment, organization and their motivation to grow and expand the team and sport of cyclocross. I cannot wait to meet all my new team members (some who I know already and some who I don't know but certainly will soon!!).

I am really looking forward to a great season with a great team and am SO THANKFUL for their support and their belief in me.

The first big race of the season is next weekend in Redmond, WA followed by Cross Vegas a few days later and then on to WI only days after that. Can't wait!

Follow us here:

Team Website: hudz-subarucx.com
Team Blog: hudzsubarucycling.wordpress.com
Facebook: Hudz-Subaru Cyclocross Team

Mid Week Race Series - Heber City, UT

2010-09-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

I can't even tell you how excited I was to race tonight!! Not only was it local, it was the first cross training race of the season. Time to get the ole rusty bike skills back on par in addition to racing the cross bike at full speed!

The course was pretty darn fun consisting of a barrier section (where people needed to be reminded that they were supposed to go OVER, not around - I love it!!!), some of the tightest turns I have ever dealt with on a cross bike and a nice little quick run up where once you got to the "top", it was still going up. Can you say red red RED REDLINE on that one, especially this early in the season! Definitely tasted my dinner again on that one a few times. Luckily after that part there was a quick downhill that you could descend cross eyed and at least recover 1 or 2 heart beats on. Oh, lucky us! : ) Then on and into the twisty singletrack with the sun setting directly in your face. You like riding blind around corners while trying to keep up your speed? Then that was the place for you. It is amazing what the mind remembers from the first lap when you were actually able to SEE what you were riding on in that section. I just pedaled and prayed in that part in the final laps!!

A solid 45min later I was left with almost 800 calories burned, a dry mouth, tight lungs and soreness already settling in. It is always nice to get that first race out of the way but this time that first race just plain felt good (in a sick and wrong way of course). The guys all kept me on my toes as I was expecting and thank heavens for that. Nothing like the drive of someone on your wheel to keep you pedaling hard to try and shake em. Racing on the rivet was just what I needed!! And oddly enough there were moments in the fury, craziness, pain and competitiveness where I felt an absolute calm - something I haven't had happen in a long time. It was a wild experience to feel the mind connected to the body in that moment. It was probably the highlight of the race and I will certainly be working on having more of those moments!

Sunny - Sets

2010-08-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

We had some wicked awesome sunsets this last month!!!

And on that note, we are loving the new house. It has been nice to be here for bit and really get settled. We are slowly but surely learning the little quirks of the place and its just nice to feel "at home" now. We love the area, we love our neighbors and we love our house!!

Getting this part of my life settled has certainly been nice as boxes become unpacked and things get more and more organized. Moving can be stressful although it really didn't seem like it at the time (April). I am going to guess that I can attribute that to the fact that I am always on the road anyway! This was just another new venue. But its a venue I can call HOME now.

New Outlook on Life and Racing

2010-08-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

Views from singletrack in Park City

When I got back home from US MTB Nats I was given a new joy, a new mission and a new outlook on racing and life. But after trying hard to make my way thru workouts my legs weren't having any of it. Something was wrong. My mind was in the game but my legs were doing things they never have and so was my body. Almost as if everything was revolting against me. I was supposed to have an easy week and my body and mind was telling me I needed even more than that.

I came to the realization that I hadn't had true time off the bike in the last four years....unless I had dislocated my ribcage, or broke my thumb or broke my wrist/hand needing surgery or because the parents died, etc. All EXTREMELY stressful circumstances that I shouldn't have used as proper time off the bike. I see this now.

So I did it. I pulled the plug.

And it was by far THE BEST thing I think I have ever done. I was finally HEALTHY and taking time off the bike, just for me and me alone. What a wonderful time. I cooked, got projects done, unloaded some more boxes from moving in April, had loads of friends over, and just simply enjoyed life. I went to Yoga and Pilates if I felt like it and didn't if I didn't.

We even went golfing! Well....mini golf at the SLC Art Center (each artist had their own hole to create - it was AWESOME).

Eric and Chris contemplating the way to get around the sand trap

Chris, Eric and Kristin navigating their way around the fabric hole with many yarn obstacles.

We also went to the local Derby so I could breathe in some clean fresh air to help my lungs get stronger.

Being at the Derby is just like riding a bike on a nasty day getting pelted with dirt chunks

So you could say I had enough stuff to do to keep me quite busy during this time. So much so that it went by in a flash!

Once I got back on the bike I felt like the most renewed and regenerated person in the world from inside out. And that has translated into the most invigorating feeling on the bike every single day that ride. It is just AWESOME to be on my bike everyday. I am just LOVING it. Like a love I have never had before with it. Every time I ride the feeling I get is when you've been training indoors all winter and finally get to ride mtb for the first time in months outside. This is like an addiction I have never had for the bike to the extreme right now!

Enjoying the views from the bike in Heber

The time off the bike was also the time I needed to reflect on the past mtb season (which is still going on for some through MTB World Championships in Sept).

I realized that it has been only 9 months since dad died and ll months since mom passed and looking back on it I was asking WAY too much of myself which goes without saying for a pro athlete of any type. I was ready to race like I normally do with my mind and body but they were both still working their way out of their own personal hell that was called 2009.

I see that now but it is amazing how things can get jaded in the process as they sure did for me. Wanting something to happen quickly when trying to undo the last 18 months of my life (when my dad first went into "Memory Care") at the same time just wasn't in the cards. Time was needed to mend and undo everything that had been done. I didn't see that until now.

I have also realized that the grieving for the loss of my father hasn't just been going on since November. It has been going on since January of 2006 when he had his massive stroke that took away his ability to simply say "I love you" to me. To simply understand that I was saying "I love you" to him. His ability to communicate from writing - reading - speaking was gone in an instant and he never regained any of it. He only continued to deteriorate for 4 years and I was heavy in heart the entire time. My father meant everything to me and of course mom did too but she didn't start her downhill spiral until a bit later when she ultimately (in my mind) died of a broken heart of not being able to take care of her sweetheart of 56 years anymore do to both of them deteriorating.

View from the bike: Heber Valley

Looking back on it too, I see that for the first 5-6 months from each of my parents death I was operating in a cloud. Fuzzy hazy thought process if you will although at the time I thought I was fine. Imagine how that translates onto the bike. Well, just look at my results and you will see how that translated - I am capable of so much more!! Amazing how connected the mind and body are to each other. And although we all know this, it sometimes takes an experience such as this to really see it.

Loving every second in the saddle

I was lucky to head to US Nats and experience the things that I did. It changed the course of my racing career and life. Not sure I could have handled another life change anyway if I had actually retired from racing. That would have been too many major life changes in one year with losing both parents and moving houses too!! Plus it would have been a MASSIVE mistake.

More views of Heber Valley

I am happy to report that I have a renewed sense for what I should be doing with my life, I am excited to ride and race and I am so ecstatic about the future!!

US MTB Nationals - Granby, CO

2010-07-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

On Thursday before US MTB Nationals I hopped on US 40 out of Heber and 6 hours later I had made it to SolVista Basin for the second year in a row for this big event. I love driving directions like that. Short, sweet and easy as in "Get on highway, drive long time, you are now there".

Ahhhh, if only the course were like the directions I just described of short, sweet and easy! Check out this first climb. Doesn't look like much here but it was a lung and leg buster. Nothing like hitting that right out of the start gate!

No, but really the course was great. I expected somewhat of what we had last year (straight up and straight down) and was pleasantly surprised to find just the opposite with more punchy climbing and descents, berms galore (fun!!!) and fresh fresh FRESH cut singletrack (read: better hold off on eating a lunch before preriding or you WILL see it again). It reminded me a lot of what we ride in Utah with a lot of the course sporting moon dust and it being pretty open for the sun to sear. All in all, a step up from last years course indeed.

Alright so the course wasn't SO great though that I wanted to pre-ride it again on Friday. Instead I took a venture off into the woods out of Fraser and found some true gems.

And jumps!! Yep........I went around. : )

Too bad I was feeling like total and complete JUNK on this day. Legs and all. What the heck was going on????? I had nats the next day for crying out loud!! I don't want to feel like this the day before. Plus WHY was I feeling like this the day before? I had done everything "proper" to prepare. Sometimes that is just how it goes though. You prepare the same best you can and sometimes you win and sometimes you don't....literally. Let's hope for better days ahead, namely Saturday and Sunday!!

After the early ride I got settled in the team house in SolVista. Got to meet some of the team that I hadn't met yet, greeted those that were just arriving off the plane and got to meet some other great people that weren't on the team that I have heard about a ton. Nice to put a face to the name you know? GREAT vibe at the team house for sure. Plus met Brian Alders who has my exact car/truck down to the interior and year. He gave me all kinds of tips for travelling in the ole 4runner with bikes. A super highlight of the weekend for sure when someone who is as serious as you about cycling can give you car tips!!

CROSS COUNTRY
So I guess my legs were listening somewhat to my perplexed brain and they decided that "no, they shouldn't feel like shat right now and yes, it was time to get - r- done." It was now Cross Country race day and the legs were in my court.

The base of the ski resort and home to every last industry tent and trailer for the weekend.

Game on!! Had a great start even though I was near the back row of the 31 ladies. I maintained a solid pace choosing quite the lovely section to pass people on each lap. That hurt but it had to be done! I really enjoyed most of the course and was looking forward to each section as they came up. The downhill was especially fun with its wide swoopy turns and berms.

I was sitting in/near the Top 10 until the last lap when I slowed down. Not on purpose though. Just spent. Could only push so hard and when that happens, you get passed. I ended up 12th which is a step in the right direction for the year. I only thought I would get faster as the season progressed and I did!! Yes!! Is is my best placing at Nats? No. Was it better than last years placing at nats when both my parents were extremely sick? Yes. I am satisfied as I move forward.

SHORT TRACK

This was one of those days where you simply wake up and you know you got it. Your legs are good, your mind is good and you are relaxed, calm, cool because you feel the energy inside and YOU KNOW its going to be a good day in the saddle. I have been doing this long enough to know this feeling and I was pretty psyched!!!!

Got the dream warm up in where you are feeling the love, life is good and you know you are ready to and can take on the world.

Then the dream came to an end.....

Gun goes off, made a poor starting position into an awesome position (things are still good) and then in the second corner not even 15 seconds into the race I take MYSELF out. NICE.

I simply slipped while taking a corner too aggressively. Duh. You can see the slippage here in the lower right corner of the picture. I went from Top 10 to mid 20's in the blink of an eye. Oh and "P.S.", the slippage wasn't just a quick one.....it was this long drawn out ordeal until I finally fell. Good lord, learn to ride a freaking bike will ya!

When I got back on my bike, I have to be pretty honest, I was very disheartened as I had my work cut out for me - even more so now. The little bad inside voice told me quit (which I never have willingly) and call it since it was going to be impossible to make my way thru the field especially on this course in this 20 minute race. But that voice was quickly stomped on as I made the conscious decision to make the impossible possible. There was now none of this "Hoping, wishing, trying" there was only "Doing". And I needed every second as I dashed off and up the course to catch those that already had good gap on me!!

This is where the good legs and day comes in. I pushed beyond the limits that I even knew I had. My mind and legs allowed for this on this day and in the end I was not only able to fight all the way back up into 12th before the the race ended I was able to do it and be proud of what I had accomplished given the circumstances.

After the race - this was now the time to reflect on the shoulda, woulda, coulda. Maybe this was the moment that I really really needed to see that I can and will do it. Maybe that slip in the corner was the best thing that could have happened to me. Maybe all that nasty retirement talk swirling around in my head is just that bad voice that I need to push away again because this is TRULY what I want to do. It has just taken a long time to get back after the death of my parents in late 09. I think I just needed patience all along and it took todays "victory" to see that.

Maybe the fire is still burning inside a lot bigger than I ever thought it was!!! Going into the weekend part of me thought these may be my last races ever. I have been fighting for so long to get everything back, to get my life back in order, to get my fitness back after a too hard 2009 and maybe this was the sign I needed that this can and will be done! One thing for sure is that I will never get my parents back on this earth but I can get my own existence, fitness and fire back . In fact, its all already here but I just didn't know it because I couldn't see it! Now I see it and any questions I had about racing have been answered.

See you at the races!!!

Mafia Racing members (me, Becca and Meghan K)

UT State MTB Championships - Solitude, UT

2010-07-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

After getting back from WI, I was able to be home for a while and lucky for us, our great buddies from Santa Barbara had come into town. It was fun to get out on some great rides with them!

Eric tearing up Round Valley

Chris L, triathlete. We need to get her racing mtb!! She'd be awesome!

Brooks dad was riding so well. We were all very impressed since it was his 2nd time on a mtb.

And Kristin, a Boston Marathoner, enjoying some time on the bike.

But in no time flat it was down to biz-nass yet again with the Utah State Championship race coming up at Solitude Ski Resort.

I have always loved the riding at Solitude. I think one of the best things is buff, well cared for singletrack in a beautiful alpine setting. It is just amazing and the race should be super FUN.

The start of the Pro Women's UT Championship race

The race started great and I was feeling like myself again! What a awesome feeling that is!

We had the Slyfox cash zone there too.

By: Ryan Keating

That was a sight enough to put a smile on anyones face which is exactly what I was laughing at here.

I was feeling good enough to have my nose out front the entire race.......up until the last lap. At the start of the climb I was passed by Zephanie Blasi, a teammate from last season on the Kenda Tomac MTB Team and local Pocatello, ID ripper.

She had a burst of energy that I could not match despite my best efforts. I kept her in sight but that was not good enough to take the Utah State Championship win. 2nd place would have to do today.

By: Ryan Keating

Pro Women's podium.

Next up is the US MTB National Championships in Granby, CO.

Pro XCT #4 - Mt. Morris, WI

2010-06-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, Madison, WI is cool. Never been there, heard all about it and....yeah, its a great place for sure. A tightly knit community with bicycle paths all over linking the city up at every point, bars, great food, coffee shops, co-ops and a great atmosphere are all part of what makes it amazing. Yet again, the reason I love my job is getting to go places like Madison where I may never have had the opportunity to go to in my life!

And actually, I paid a whole $10 to get there. I had a bunch of unused cyclocross flights from last year that I couldn't use due to life circumstances (see sidebar if you need a hint) and they were all going to expire mid July. So I combined them all in order to head to the the next Pro XCT race at Nordic Mtn (NE of Madison by about 2 hours).

And the really best part about going there was that I was about to meet some of my new teammates for the first time! Meghan Korol lives there smack dab in the middle of all the action but we had yet to get to the same race. And Stephan Ettinger, our U - 23 wonder boy, was making his way from MT to for this lovely event too.

I got to Meghan's after one of the best flights ever on Southwest. Not only did I get the exit row, I sat with 2 of the funniest people ever. We all didn't know each other when we got on the flight but we sure did by the time we got off it! It was perfect, the flight went by fast, we laughed the whole time, told stories and I kept getting FREE adult drinks from the flight attendant. We got to WI in no time flat! : )

I gotten eaten alive by mosquito's as I built my bike up but being lead around Madison by Meghan and biking around one of the many lakes in WI made up for it.

Road right past the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center (a Frank Lloyd Wright building) on one of the bikes paths there too.

We also swung by Machinery Row Bicycles where Meghan and her boyfriend Dave (what a great mechanic!!) works. It was an absolutely incredible shop. I have never seen so many bikes and gear in my life. The shop was well laid out with plenty of mechanics to answer any questions or work on your bike. Incredible place.

Oh and just outside the shop was this little ditty. Yep, a place right off the bike path for you to work on your bike in case of a mechanical. Note the bike stand in this picture.

And then the vending machine of bike parts, clif bars, etc in this picture!! Amazing!

And I just didn't have enough of Madison yet so we cruised up toward the capital and over to yet another lake. Check out the sun setting.

And the moon above the capital. This place was showing itself off!!!

Well not really.....I had a bit of a mishap. At the very end of the ride/tour my crank arm slipped and came loose!! Didn't come totally off but had to walk it home. And I will tell you what...having a mechanic at home to ease my mind that it was NOT a bottom bracket issue or something like that was certainly nice since we were leaving for the venue first thing in the morning! Or well uh....at least leaving for the venue after going to the bike shop to make sure my bike was going to work, going grocery shopping to load up for the weekend, having Stephan leave his wallet at the bike shop (these kids - hahaha!), packing the cars, getting gas, etc. So after all that we finally drove on up to the venue to check out the course.

The pic below is Nordic Mtn where the race took place. A bit different than those high altitude races with straight up straight down kind of action on the west coast! But don't let this pic fool you too much, there was plenty of climbing snuck in there. Short punchy climbs through dense forest and steeper twisty and techy downhills throughout the loop made for a quick loop of no rest. I would liken this course to a World Cup course.

CROSS COUNTRY

By the time we warmed up and started the race at 11 am it was already 82 and humid. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE humidity actually but today it didn't love me.

Dave and Meghan - our wonderful hosts/teammate/mechanic/support crew/tour guides

So yeah, about that humidity. This was a first but it happened. I hit the wall at about the 1.5 hour mark. The first part of the race I was amped, making up ground, getting through the pack, had that fighter instinct to kill it and then it was like a switch was flicked and the lights went out. I found myself at that point with a super high heart rate (anaerobic zone) but if you had asked me at that moment what wattage I was putting out I bet it was around 150. The heart rate wasn't matching the effort in the legs at all. I have never had that happen. I then started to dream and obsess about the cold water ski pond that was at the bottom of the course. We still had 2 or so laps to go and we would ride past the pond and I wanted to stop SOOOOO BAD and just jump in each time. I was overheating bad and getting worse.

Between that, the humidity, the cold chills, I should have known what was going on and perhaps I did but just pretended everything was ok as I drifted backwards each lap. I wanted to just go get in the air conditioning and/or get in that cold pond. I became more obsessed with the lake than racing. Oh wow, I just called what I did "racing" those last few laps....now that is funny. Let me clarify.......I was mearly riding. I will slow down but I will not quit!! Something inside said this is not right which was a first in my career and so I listened and backed off mid race - another first. I have learned to listen to those inner race voices at times because sometimes they know best even though you just want to beat them down and pretend all is well......which I did to a certain degree. But I did have a sneaking suspicion that if I pushed beyond what I was feeling I was going to do damage so I slowed way down which sux but I believe it was the best option unfortunately.

So after a not so stellar finish with the temp now in the 90's, you could find me in the lake - helmet, shoes, glasses, EVERYTHING still on. The water skiers were getting a kick out of the crazy fully clothed bike racer hanging out in the water!! I was the happiest I had been all day!

Like I said, that lake was calling me and I forgot to mention, I really am not a fan of pools of water, ponds, streams, lakes etc. I like to LOOK at them but usually do anything I can to stay out of them! So the fact that I was dieing to get in one says something.

SHORT TRACK

The next day we had the Short Track race which I wasn't too concerned about over heating in. I could handle 20 minute all out effort. I did make some modifications to my warm up though, broke out some ice and was extra cautious to stay cool as possible up until the start.

My start was dreadful too.

Not sure what happened but I think I was almost last by the second corner. There was some kind of hoopla going on up front but I couldn't quite make out what had happened as I focused on my race.

My glasses slipped down on my nose from the humidity!!

But I was so annoyed that I was almost last that I just gunned it, even more than the all out effort that you have do in order to survive the race. The big effort paid off though because I was able to make a ton of passes and land in 12th in the end after suffering like a dog.

And where did I go after? The pond again! And it felt GOOOOD.

The rest of the afternoon was first spent trying to find Milty Wilty (known for its custard) and then the rest of the evening was spent hitting Madison with Meghan, Dave, Stephan, a slew of U-23 nats team and a bunch of others. It may have involved lots of beer, bars, bikes, barfing (not me), broken bottles and almost a brawl (not really but it rhymed!!) but we did manage to stay outta trouble somehow.

We stayed up till 3:30am and I had to leave at 4:15am for my flight!!! I just ended up staying up and leaving a bit early for it and didn't even bother trying to sleep. It was pointless. Ugh, haven't done that since.......oh........college maybe. But man it was a fun night!! Now I need to put my pro "hat" back on and go to bed at a reasonable hour for another 15 years until I do this again. Once every 15 years isn't so bad! : )

Here is a quick video of the races that weekend starting with what I call "Lake Obsession" now:

Intermountain Cup #8 - Logan, UT

2010-06-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Immediately following the race in Vail we headed home to WA to take care of some family business. This was the first time I was home since my parents funeral in November and it was hard. Hard not to call them to tell them I am going to be there and hard TO visit them...not at their house but at their grave.

Their graveside was more beautiful than I remember, lush with trees, flowing streams and a blooming rose garden too. I was happy for that. It is so amazing to me that this was reality as I stared at a plaque that now represented my beloved parents. There is something to be said for being gone in another state and not fully understanding the scope of things until you go "home" and realize there is no one there to greet you with those loving open arms as a parent would. Reality struck when in WA that is for sure. My parents are gone in body but definitely not in spirit (thankfully!!).

On top of that reality was the reality that Chris's mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. All signs are pointing to good places at the moment and she is doing everything she can to get her body into fighting mode. I am proud of her for everything she is doing right now to combat this and will continue to sending healing vibes her way as she undergoes treatment for the next 5 years.

I did get some riding in too while I was there. Seattle is so lush green!!!

But there is a reason for that too. I think I missed 2 huge storms by about a minute. I was one lucky ducky.

Speaking of rain....holy cow when we got home there was nothing but storms galore!! Yikes!

The calm before the storm from our deck.

Not too long afterwards the storm was here

Lightening

Another shot of lightening

The bad part of the storm clears out leaving just massive rainfall. Yep......it's June alright. Hmmm????

As for the race in Logan. It was a beautiful day!!! Probably one of the hotter days that we have raced this season. It was also pretty much the first weekend that it was beautiful out. The drive up to Logan was awesome just seeing ALL the outdoorsy people doing their thing or getting ready to do their thing from camping, motoing, kiteboarding, hot air ballooning, road biking, para gliding and....oh ya...mtbing!!!

Oh also forgot to mention that I woke up early this AM and saw a BOBCAT at our next door neighbors house!!!! Here kitty kitty kitty. I have never seen one of those in the wild let alone 50 feet away from my house!!! Anyway, that was pretty cool although it was only cool because I had a house protecting me. : )

The drive up to Logan.

I hadn't pre-ridden the course yet so when I got there I got on it to see what I was up against. That is a total first for me to do that the day of the race. It was a good choice though as I needed to know the course because the last time I raced there was in 2004. It luckily made for an excellent warm up too. 10 years into this sport and still having "firsts".....always learning or trying out new stuff I tell you!

The course was the same for the most part which was a good thing because its still fun with windy tight singletrack through dense trees that eventually spit you out into open fields making you fen for yourself as you gage your pace. Short laps too which I like. A hot 1 hour and 45 minutes later I came across the line in first!

Next up is the Pro XCT in WI this weekend!!