The time has come to truly punch the time clock. This coming sunday morning, i will be leaving at 5:30am for a Biology trip up the California coast. I have the dubious distinction of being the co-sophomore class sponsor, yes, i know i am pretty important. This class is going on the annual bio trip, and i just have to go to. This will be my first experience of being the adult chaperone. In the past, i just bothered those types and caused them trouble. I guess this is some sort of rite of passage into teacher adulthood.
The trip will take us up to Monterey, in a yellow school bus (travel time approx. 12 hours) where we will be camping until Friday morning. I love to camp, get dirty, live on the edge. THese children, however, have all been bred in the IE, making them prime candidates for that step-mom to be in the PARENT TRAP. i know we are going whale harpooning, i mean watching. THen we will hit up the aquarium for a special behind the scenes pass and classes. We will wander up to Santa Cruz for some Sea Kayaking and who knows what else. I know that the farthest we will head is San Fransisco for a day at the Exploratorium. Rumor has it that it will be raining sunday through tuesday. awesome.
So i am totally stressed about riding. There is no time in my life to take a week off of training. I wont start running, that is something you do in November, on big piles of fall leaves and twigs. Not when you are prepping for certain events. I have almost bribed them to let me take my road bike and a trainer. This means i will be up at about 4:30am everyday so that i can get in at least an hour on the bike before wake-up call at 6am. I am not sure where exactly i can ride the thing. Probably in the campground bathrooms. At least it is dry and lit. Oh, we also have to use quarters for the showers.
i am stressed to leave the internet behind too. There are so many races, events, blogs, and googles that will be missed! I will have to take an entire day when i get back just to get caught up on things!!
I also lost about 2 pounds, OFF MY HEAD!! I cut off probably 10 inches of hair today. It had been about 11 months since my last cut at SuperCUts, so this time i went to an actual stylist who was shocked at the sheer size of my mane. So no more pig-tail braids or one long braid. But you will still be able to spot me, just look for the Pinata!!
Friday, May 19
Wednesday, May 17
Ameture hour in the IE
I was riding a little bike in the IE the other day. Now this land-locked, dirty-air infested area has only a few mountain biking areas to moderatly speak of without climbing above the smog line. One lines right in the heart of Loma Linda, Hulda Crooks. I have run into many of you there, seen a few creatures, and taken a few falls. This ride however, i encountered a gaggle of extremely ameture riders. I have become accustome to playing catch up, talking less, breathing less, and overall just taking a beating. The case is far and few that i am the most proficient rider on the trail. This day, it was true.
These boys were scantely clad in wife(husband)-beaters, gym shorts, sneakers, and flat pedals. I think there were 6 of them, but they all seemed to be the same carbon copy of the Ken Doll 5'10" dirty blond hair, really straight teeth. I tried my best to pass kindly and circumvent them at all costs. But those of you who ride here know there is only so many trails to take, especially when i was out on my own. I ended up running across them about 5 times. I passed them, again, climbing up Jedi. I asked, are you guys like in some cool club or something?? Poor guy said "uhgh blah huh" so maybe that is a new club?
I let them all climb up, because i did not want to break up their rythem as they were climbing and i was decending in a very small canyon. They regrouped at the top and i instantly became their groupie. COme to find out they are dental students just blowing off steam. They are in John Reths class which meand they are in my Cousin Audrey's class which is like the coolest thing ever!! I asked them what the name of their "club" was, they said big fat losers or really slow guys. But no, these guys are hard core!!! It wasn't that long ago that i stopped, A LOT and whined and got hot and annoyed because the saddle hurt. As long as they just keep pushin it, they will be out at the next Cal State race in no time! Good work boys, or Ken Clones.
SNAKES: Christie mentioned on my previous post that i forgot about the snakes. Here we go. Christie has a HUGE aversion to these reptiles, once she got one stuck in her chain and rear cassette, not cool. As she, Jeremy, and i rode a long San Tim canyon, i glanced down just as my right pedal crassed inches above a coiled up baby rattle snake. Hmm, this will be fun.
We climbed up Oak Glen through Beaumont and as we were lazily pedalling down Bryant towards the Ranger Station, all chaos broke out. Jeremy was up ahead, then Christie and i was about a wheel length behind her. We were talking about who knows what and there was a car to our left. All of a sudden she slams on her brakes and starts to scream. I couldn't go left because then i would be in the side panel of a car. So i just hit her. Straight into the buttocks and then the left handle bar. i glanced through her and her bike to see a GIANT coiled up rattle snake in the road. If we had fallen, it would have been right on him!!! YUCKY!!! I just got the chillies thinking of it. We didn't fall however, and with much apologies, mostly for Jeremy because we were so sorry he had to ride with a bunch of Girlie Girls we continued on.
thats it.
These boys were scantely clad in wife(husband)-beaters, gym shorts, sneakers, and flat pedals. I think there were 6 of them, but they all seemed to be the same carbon copy of the Ken Doll 5'10" dirty blond hair, really straight teeth. I tried my best to pass kindly and circumvent them at all costs. But those of you who ride here know there is only so many trails to take, especially when i was out on my own. I ended up running across them about 5 times. I passed them, again, climbing up Jedi. I asked, are you guys like in some cool club or something?? Poor guy said "uhgh blah huh" so maybe that is a new club?
I let them all climb up, because i did not want to break up their rythem as they were climbing and i was decending in a very small canyon. They regrouped at the top and i instantly became their groupie. COme to find out they are dental students just blowing off steam. They are in John Reths class which meand they are in my Cousin Audrey's class which is like the coolest thing ever!! I asked them what the name of their "club" was, they said big fat losers or really slow guys. But no, these guys are hard core!!! It wasn't that long ago that i stopped, A LOT and whined and got hot and annoyed because the saddle hurt. As long as they just keep pushin it, they will be out at the next Cal State race in no time! Good work boys, or Ken Clones.
SNAKES: Christie mentioned on my previous post that i forgot about the snakes. Here we go. Christie has a HUGE aversion to these reptiles, once she got one stuck in her chain and rear cassette, not cool. As she, Jeremy, and i rode a long San Tim canyon, i glanced down just as my right pedal crassed inches above a coiled up baby rattle snake. Hmm, this will be fun.
We climbed up Oak Glen through Beaumont and as we were lazily pedalling down Bryant towards the Ranger Station, all chaos broke out. Jeremy was up ahead, then Christie and i was about a wheel length behind her. We were talking about who knows what and there was a car to our left. All of a sudden she slams on her brakes and starts to scream. I couldn't go left because then i would be in the side panel of a car. So i just hit her. Straight into the buttocks and then the left handle bar. i glanced through her and her bike to see a GIANT coiled up rattle snake in the road. If we had fallen, it would have been right on him!!! YUCKY!!! I just got the chillies thinking of it. We didn't fall however, and with much apologies, mostly for Jeremy because we were so sorry he had to ride with a bunch of Girlie Girls we continued on.
thats it.
Monday, May 15
The Big Wheel is Cool Again!
Do you remember the Big wheel phenomena of our childhood? The over-sized hard plastic wheels that were saudered to basically a little cart, which are all still sitting in trash dumps across the country due to their extreme eco-unfriendliness? Well they are back. However, this time they are cool, sleek, land lovers that seem to push the rider over the rocks and ruts smoother than ever before...THE 29er!!!
So i asked someone if there are any girlies racing these bohemeths. Probably not due to the "average" small size of the female racer and their need for women specific design. For us 'larger boned' women, however, the 29er can be an excellent choice for mass race course destruction.
I took one for a spin. Heres the deal. I have been riding a full-suspension sugar for about 3 years now. It also has regular 26 inch wheels and cantilever breaks. Riding a hardtail with disc brakes and HUGE wheels was quite the experience. I felt smoother, faster on the decents, quikcer on the climbs and all around lighter. Also, when i came to a place in the path where the usual thought flashes through my head: "I am going to fall. This will hurt." The big ol' 29er just rolled on by.
So, will you see me on one of these in the future? Who really knows....
RACES: So i totally bailed on my Fontana Cross Country update. HEre it is. I was tired and moderately unmotivated. I cam in 5th (goal was top 5) with a few people too close and 4 people too far away. No worries though, i have now implemented a plan...top secret of course!!!
CAN YOU SEE THE PINATA?
Stellar is the only word i can think of to describe the 2006 Jose Ole kits. Well, i could also think of a few more...
Racing on Cinco de Mayo in Fontana made me feel akward as i toted around a giant, moving pinata. There is confetti spots all along the side panels and sleeves, etched in bright, shiny yellow that makes even a bumble bee flee. After the race i realized my sleeve lines were gone only to realize that i had burned THROUGH the jersey, leaving a sports bra tan instead. Now Teri thinks that is neat. I had no idea, so now my back is burned. It reminds of those not-cool tan through bathing suits from 1982.
BLOG EDIT: I totally forgot about this, just remembered, and had to edit because it is so iglarious (Uriah word).
I went for a ride with some *people* the other day. I had ridden with a member of this group about a year ago. At that ride, they thought i talked sooo much that they faked a cramp and sat on the side of the trail so that i could 'talk' my way up the hill. At the reunion ride, they showed up with an iPod which however, made me feel as if i could talk even MORE! I actually laughed, twice, out loud and actually hardly talked at all because i was actually RIDING hard this time. "If I Shut my Mouth I would Beat You." Must remember, conserve your energy!!!! But if you ever want to talk....
Wednesday, May 10
Scuffing quickly does not equal running
The girls are running in the gym. I hear this annoying "skuff, skuff squeak, skuff" and notice the amount of upward momentum on their knees is about 3 mm. Not enough to create any cardiovascular development or maintain proper biomechanics for running. This is how i felt on Sundays XC race. Going through the motions, but not getting quite as far or getting there as fast as i should, but that is all good because of this:
Which led to this:
Ultimately leading to this:
I was entirely shocked! I went into the short track (dirt circle) with very low expectations thinking with flashbacks of my sub-par crit experiences. HOwever, racing in the Home Land has HUGE advantages! Being Friday afternoon, i paid, i mean asked, a bunch of my work homies to come take a gander. Katrina and Scott Bennie, Linda and Denny Breeze and Carrie Davais were strategicly placed at the top of the grnarly climb. They yelled, shouted and all but pulled me up the climb. At the decent, where impending doom loomed under every rock and dust pile, Velo Bella Sami sat on a boulder and guided me through it keeping me calm! (This decent FREAKED ME out even on sunday after doing about 28 times!) Once i rounded the home stretch, i was greated by the greater mountain bike community. Racing in SoCal really has its perks. So many of the some guys are at every event, you build quite the support network. The Backbone crew, Veeze and Gary (sinlge speed/marathon freaks) and people i dont even know, banging the fences, cheering at the top of their lungs for me to get it done! In the announcers booth, the usual suspects loomed. Larry Longo and Uncle Greg created the most animated and motivating commentary on the race i think i have ever heard!! They said stuff like "Duerksen's throwing down the gauntlet" and various other things i barely heard. As i rounded the courner, Home Girl Teri screamed, jumped, ran, and yelled as i hammered down the pedals. Jose Ole Thom stood at the bottom of the climb giving the time splits. Super-Throopers dad even whispered to me that the next girl was about 5 feet back.
To say the least, it will be nearly impossible to recreate this race. I performed way beyond what i thought i could do. I moved steadily up from 10th place to 3rd and was able to hang on. On the 4th ot last lap, i was sure i was going to puke and thought how disgusting that would be to come across the line covered with vomit.
So pretty much if you were at that race, you will be coming with me to Vermont, thank you for your support! IFelt so warm and fuzzy after that race, it was really cool.
These things, however, tend to not follow you into the next day and especially not beyond and into another event.... more to come, i do have to work you know...
Which led to this:
Ultimately leading to this:
I was entirely shocked! I went into the short track (dirt circle) with very low expectations thinking with flashbacks of my sub-par crit experiences. HOwever, racing in the Home Land has HUGE advantages! Being Friday afternoon, i paid, i mean asked, a bunch of my work homies to come take a gander. Katrina and Scott Bennie, Linda and Denny Breeze and Carrie Davais were strategicly placed at the top of the grnarly climb. They yelled, shouted and all but pulled me up the climb. At the decent, where impending doom loomed under every rock and dust pile, Velo Bella Sami sat on a boulder and guided me through it keeping me calm! (This decent FREAKED ME out even on sunday after doing about 28 times!) Once i rounded the home stretch, i was greated by the greater mountain bike community. Racing in SoCal really has its perks. So many of the some guys are at every event, you build quite the support network. The Backbone crew, Veeze and Gary (sinlge speed/marathon freaks) and people i dont even know, banging the fences, cheering at the top of their lungs for me to get it done! In the announcers booth, the usual suspects loomed. Larry Longo and Uncle Greg created the most animated and motivating commentary on the race i think i have ever heard!! They said stuff like "Duerksen's throwing down the gauntlet" and various other things i barely heard. As i rounded the courner, Home Girl Teri screamed, jumped, ran, and yelled as i hammered down the pedals. Jose Ole Thom stood at the bottom of the climb giving the time splits. Super-Throopers dad even whispered to me that the next girl was about 5 feet back.
To say the least, it will be nearly impossible to recreate this race. I performed way beyond what i thought i could do. I moved steadily up from 10th place to 3rd and was able to hang on. On the 4th ot last lap, i was sure i was going to puke and thought how disgusting that would be to come across the line covered with vomit.
So pretty much if you were at that race, you will be coming with me to Vermont, thank you for your support! IFelt so warm and fuzzy after that race, it was really cool.
These things, however, tend to not follow you into the next day and especially not beyond and into another event.... more to come, i do have to work you know...
Monday, May 8
First Things First...
NUMERO UNO: (In honor of Cino de Mayo) JASON AND I ARE ENGAGED!!! Yes this is old news, as of Wednesday, but so much has been going on! So i guess that means that Dozer and Uriah will be brothers, how cute!
There is not too much of a story, sorry for those of you looking for salacious news! However, i did receive a delightful Mineral or PEARL it is called a "CUPCAKE PEARL" unfortunately, snacks were not included!
I/we/us are very excited to say the least.
No date is set yet, i gotta check that racing schedule!! Seriously...
NMBS update to come plus some pictures!
There is not too much of a story, sorry for those of you looking for salacious news! However, i did receive a delightful Mineral or PEARL it is called a "CUPCAKE PEARL" unfortunately, snacks were not included!
I/we/us are very excited to say the least.
No date is set yet, i gotta check that racing schedule!! Seriously...
NMBS update to come plus some pictures!
Monday, May 1
Total Geek
I am SO the first one to do a Firestone Update! What's up now?!?!
I think i will have to keep this one short. We went, we saw, we conquered...and I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!!!!
Alas, placing me at the top of the podium! Unfortunately, nobody ever wants to go to the podium with me, but i promise there were other girls in my cat!!
THE RUN DOWN: First off, Christie opened yet another can and landed herself a 4th place finish 35 seconds back from 2nd! It was really cool to watch things go down on the curvey course. When i was headed into a single track or around a corner, the pros were heading out (meaning there was SEVERAL minutes between) But it was awesome to see my girls and where they were all lined up. All the usual suspects were there: Meggan, Teri, Mandy, Carolyn, Tomorrah, Sami, Amy and then some wild card chicks getting ready for Fontucky.
I thought for sure that i was runnin for 2nd the whole race, but the Sandbagger i thought was ahead was actually a Pro, leaving me in 1st. I managed to lead the experts for the better part of both laps. However, i seem to hit the wall at times. THis is the longest race i have done at 31 miles. I know, you endurance freaks think i am a Powder Puff, but this is a lot to get used to. The pros went off way too fast, it was all i could do to hang onto the very tail end. When i realized I was out in front of the experts, however, that gave me a little extra motivation.
Bev Chaney from Rouring Mouse caught me and worked together for most of the second lap, with me in the lead. We caught up to Velo Bella Pro Sami and we all started to work. Once Bev took the pull however, i realized i couldn't hold on. I think she finished about 30-60 seconds ahead of me, or a bit more, which was fine. She is 40+ thus not a threat. Also, she gave me her cytomax! We came across a giant bull in the trail and i was so afeared i dropped my bottle and kept going! This was right at the start of the 2nd lap, and surely i would have been toast if she hand't hooked me up!
Sami and played yo-yo for a bit, but i just couldn't keep it going. The trail was super rough, like a wash board, and my fork was way too reactive, thus the vibrations were going all through my body. This actually made me really sick to my stomach and it kept sloshing things around. Sami told me to pick it up, but i thought i was just going to throw it up! So i backed off a little knowing i was rolling in with no other experts too close.
In the end, Bev was the only expert ahead of me and I had passed one pro.
Super props to Essence Barton though, she always keeps me on my toes. AS a 14 year old she raced up an age group to be my competition of the day. She is on it, and in the near future, you will be seeing a lot more of this chick!
Firestone was great. The vibe was good, the venue was beautiful, and the course had little to complain about. Finally bike and body decided to unite and bring home a little bling, or shall i say a big glass mug.
Jason celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday with Uriah and Dozer in tow!
Now the goal is to get tires that are not so HUGE that they rub on the frame, and everything else!
See yall at Fontucky!
RANDOM THOUGHT: Teri Strayer really needs to get a blog. She is quite funny and entertaining, and has A LOT TO TALK ABOUT! Everyone else has some sort of web-momento, so she should too! IF you agree, please make a comment to that affect and we will see if she bites!
I think i will have to keep this one short. We went, we saw, we conquered...and I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!!!!
Alas, placing me at the top of the podium! Unfortunately, nobody ever wants to go to the podium with me, but i promise there were other girls in my cat!!
THE RUN DOWN: First off, Christie opened yet another can and landed herself a 4th place finish 35 seconds back from 2nd! It was really cool to watch things go down on the curvey course. When i was headed into a single track or around a corner, the pros were heading out (meaning there was SEVERAL minutes between) But it was awesome to see my girls and where they were all lined up. All the usual suspects were there: Meggan, Teri, Mandy, Carolyn, Tomorrah, Sami, Amy and then some wild card chicks getting ready for Fontucky.
I thought for sure that i was runnin for 2nd the whole race, but the Sandbagger i thought was ahead was actually a Pro, leaving me in 1st. I managed to lead the experts for the better part of both laps. However, i seem to hit the wall at times. THis is the longest race i have done at 31 miles. I know, you endurance freaks think i am a Powder Puff, but this is a lot to get used to. The pros went off way too fast, it was all i could do to hang onto the very tail end. When i realized I was out in front of the experts, however, that gave me a little extra motivation.
Bev Chaney from Rouring Mouse caught me and worked together for most of the second lap, with me in the lead. We caught up to Velo Bella Pro Sami and we all started to work. Once Bev took the pull however, i realized i couldn't hold on. I think she finished about 30-60 seconds ahead of me, or a bit more, which was fine. She is 40+ thus not a threat. Also, she gave me her cytomax! We came across a giant bull in the trail and i was so afeared i dropped my bottle and kept going! This was right at the start of the 2nd lap, and surely i would have been toast if she hand't hooked me up!
Sami and played yo-yo for a bit, but i just couldn't keep it going. The trail was super rough, like a wash board, and my fork was way too reactive, thus the vibrations were going all through my body. This actually made me really sick to my stomach and it kept sloshing things around. Sami told me to pick it up, but i thought i was just going to throw it up! So i backed off a little knowing i was rolling in with no other experts too close.
In the end, Bev was the only expert ahead of me and I had passed one pro.
Super props to Essence Barton though, she always keeps me on my toes. AS a 14 year old she raced up an age group to be my competition of the day. She is on it, and in the near future, you will be seeing a lot more of this chick!
Firestone was great. The vibe was good, the venue was beautiful, and the course had little to complain about. Finally bike and body decided to unite and bring home a little bling, or shall i say a big glass mug.
Jason celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday with Uriah and Dozer in tow!
Now the goal is to get tires that are not so HUGE that they rub on the frame, and everything else!
See yall at Fontucky!
RANDOM THOUGHT: Teri Strayer really needs to get a blog. She is quite funny and entertaining, and has A LOT TO TALK ABOUT! Everyone else has some sort of web-momento, so she should too! IF you agree, please make a comment to that affect and we will see if she bites!
Monday, April 24
In Case You Didn't Know...
THIS IS THE CRANK...The hole down on the right is where the little pedal goes (The explanation is especially for you, Julene)
Me, holding the crank that wouldn't stick, right after the race.
PS: I KNOW I DO NOT MATCH!! PLEASE DO NOT MOCK ME!! i actually think it is funny. Jose Ole hasn't received their Mtn Bike Kits yet, i guess they are a compilation of yellow, purple, and black, so i must pimp the other sponsor HAMMER NUTRITION which only comes in Red. Gotta Love it! They are very comfortable, and thats what it is all about!
Sunday, April 23
Character Building 101
Being in grad schol means i have taken DOZENS of classes. However, none of them have truly prepped me for the battles on the race course. I feel like a freshman whose hazing just wont let up. Like i am the total loser that gets picked on the ENTIRE school year. But, as they say, this too, shall pass.
FIRST OFF: The weekend painted teh backdrop for success. Nice cool weather with a hint of mist in the air. A delighful Saturday, and i even made homemade apple pie. I was on time to everything Sunday with more than enough food and beverages. JOSE OLE THOM was at BONELLI with an EZ-Up, food, water, Gu, trainers, and support. Christie and I calmly and methodically prepared for all the fun.
For those of you who dont know, as an expert 19-29 we start with pro women and expert 30-39. In my position, you would like to fend off as many of the experts as possible, and stay with at least the tail end of the pro field. The race started FAST, but that was fine! I was chasing the pros, with only one expert ahead of me for quite some time! I ended up ahead of one pro and Teri for a moment, but i knew that wouldn't last. She was pushin' the big ring up a hill climb! ACtually, it was pushing her and they were duken it out! In a few minutes she was right back out in front to lead me through the water crossing, and the mud.
At the start of the second lap, i felt excelent! I had left the heart rate monitor at home and my computer wasnt even working, so i was just in a groove.
I was climbing up by Raging Waters when i thought my left pedal was loose. No, that wasn't the pedal that was THE ENTIRE CRANK!!!!!!! I looked down in utter dismay. Foot and shoe still stuck in the pedal standing ON THE CRANK on THE GROUND! I have these SUPER COOL cranks that connect through the bottom bracket so the right crank promptly took a dive into the dirt. I started to freak out. Fortunately, this all happend RIGHT NEXT Chris Sharp from Backbone Racing! I owe this guy big time! He "showed" me how to put it back together and pushed me up the hill. I knew this wouldnt last. Most of the women had passed me by (flashbacks of chainsuck at Sagebrush) so i knew i was done. However, the only other girl in my category hadn't passed me in the 5 minutes i was hanging out, there was hope to hang onto first place.
Joking! What a joke! The cranks promplty fell off. Fortunately, it was right by the hike-a-bike where everyone was running/pushing/walking, so i kept my pace. Here is where i encountered a young man walking down the trail with a broken chain. He was done he said. I looked at him and laughed, "are you serious? I dont have any pedals man! I can NOT DNF! I see no blood and not a single BONE STICKING OUT! You are fine, got on the donkey and move it!" It worked! In about 4 minutes, we were pushing bikes side by side. Aw. During this time, i moved into 2nd place. Oh well.
This was a shockingly enjoyable adventure. The amount of comments and possitive discussion (instead of volitile banter) I shared with the men will always be remembered. I could kick my right crank in with my heel, put my left food on my frame, and pedal with my right leg up some stuff, down everything, and on the flats. This was neither glamorous nor fun, yet very effective.
As i was leaning into emotional turmoil, i thought about an excerp from a book i was reading Friday that is about to come out. Remember that movie ALIVE about the Rugby team that got stuck in the Andes? Well, the guy who walked out to get them rescued after they had eaten most of the dead, has written a recount of his experience. One line stuck out in particular: "Do not cry. Tears waste salt. You will need salt to survive." Once again, my non-huge issues put into perspective and a great rational put to use. Do not waste your energy or your reserves! You have to focuse so you can solve your problem, not wallow in it.
At the bottom of the big climb, i encountered some of my favorites. Of course i do not know their names, but i see them everywhere and we are all pals! They are the crazy Single Speed Guys so when they saw with no cranks attached, they just laughed and laughed and told me to "get 'er done!"
I kept it together until i saw the finish line through the trees. I came out onto the road and there were Christie and Teri waited with worried looks and understanding eyes. I knew i could have done it, been right in there, but it was not meant to be. As i got closer to the line, pedaling my one little leg as hard as i could, i heard Longo say "Does anyone have a crank?" This pulled those saltless tears out and they started streaming down my face, oh what might have been. Then i got over it. When you think about it, it is funny. Just all those emotions and endorphines piled in there, i just couldn't take it!
SLight reality check however. Remember back at Sea Otter when i flatted and found perspective while sitting in the dirt 100 yards up from an ambulance picking up some guys? Well as i was one-legging the last 300 yards with my right leg, a guy with a prosthetic left leg rode by me. What a coincidence, eye opener, and life lesson in such a short moment!
THE GOOD: Teri, Christie, and Meggan truly showed their "upperclassman" support and understanding. I know they have all been there, more than they would like to think about.
Also, CHRISTIE opened it up for a 3rd place finish!!!! Now thats HUGE!!!!
All in all, it was a great day. i was where i needed to be, i broke something, i had a good time, and i finished! From now on, don't forget to tighten YO BOLTS!!!!! (Thank you, mechanic, for the eloquence!)
FIRST OFF: The weekend painted teh backdrop for success. Nice cool weather with a hint of mist in the air. A delighful Saturday, and i even made homemade apple pie. I was on time to everything Sunday with more than enough food and beverages. JOSE OLE THOM was at BONELLI with an EZ-Up, food, water, Gu, trainers, and support. Christie and I calmly and methodically prepared for all the fun.
For those of you who dont know, as an expert 19-29 we start with pro women and expert 30-39. In my position, you would like to fend off as many of the experts as possible, and stay with at least the tail end of the pro field. The race started FAST, but that was fine! I was chasing the pros, with only one expert ahead of me for quite some time! I ended up ahead of one pro and Teri for a moment, but i knew that wouldn't last. She was pushin' the big ring up a hill climb! ACtually, it was pushing her and they were duken it out! In a few minutes she was right back out in front to lead me through the water crossing, and the mud.
At the start of the second lap, i felt excelent! I had left the heart rate monitor at home and my computer wasnt even working, so i was just in a groove.
I was climbing up by Raging Waters when i thought my left pedal was loose. No, that wasn't the pedal that was THE ENTIRE CRANK!!!!!!! I looked down in utter dismay. Foot and shoe still stuck in the pedal standing ON THE CRANK on THE GROUND! I have these SUPER COOL cranks that connect through the bottom bracket so the right crank promptly took a dive into the dirt. I started to freak out. Fortunately, this all happend RIGHT NEXT Chris Sharp from Backbone Racing! I owe this guy big time! He "showed" me how to put it back together and pushed me up the hill. I knew this wouldnt last. Most of the women had passed me by (flashbacks of chainsuck at Sagebrush) so i knew i was done. However, the only other girl in my category hadn't passed me in the 5 minutes i was hanging out, there was hope to hang onto first place.
Joking! What a joke! The cranks promplty fell off. Fortunately, it was right by the hike-a-bike where everyone was running/pushing/walking, so i kept my pace. Here is where i encountered a young man walking down the trail with a broken chain. He was done he said. I looked at him and laughed, "are you serious? I dont have any pedals man! I can NOT DNF! I see no blood and not a single BONE STICKING OUT! You are fine, got on the donkey and move it!" It worked! In about 4 minutes, we were pushing bikes side by side. Aw. During this time, i moved into 2nd place. Oh well.
This was a shockingly enjoyable adventure. The amount of comments and possitive discussion (instead of volitile banter) I shared with the men will always be remembered. I could kick my right crank in with my heel, put my left food on my frame, and pedal with my right leg up some stuff, down everything, and on the flats. This was neither glamorous nor fun, yet very effective.
As i was leaning into emotional turmoil, i thought about an excerp from a book i was reading Friday that is about to come out. Remember that movie ALIVE about the Rugby team that got stuck in the Andes? Well, the guy who walked out to get them rescued after they had eaten most of the dead, has written a recount of his experience. One line stuck out in particular: "Do not cry. Tears waste salt. You will need salt to survive." Once again, my non-huge issues put into perspective and a great rational put to use. Do not waste your energy or your reserves! You have to focuse so you can solve your problem, not wallow in it.
At the bottom of the big climb, i encountered some of my favorites. Of course i do not know their names, but i see them everywhere and we are all pals! They are the crazy Single Speed Guys so when they saw with no cranks attached, they just laughed and laughed and told me to "get 'er done!"
I kept it together until i saw the finish line through the trees. I came out onto the road and there were Christie and Teri waited with worried looks and understanding eyes. I knew i could have done it, been right in there, but it was not meant to be. As i got closer to the line, pedaling my one little leg as hard as i could, i heard Longo say "Does anyone have a crank?" This pulled those saltless tears out and they started streaming down my face, oh what might have been. Then i got over it. When you think about it, it is funny. Just all those emotions and endorphines piled in there, i just couldn't take it!
SLight reality check however. Remember back at Sea Otter when i flatted and found perspective while sitting in the dirt 100 yards up from an ambulance picking up some guys? Well as i was one-legging the last 300 yards with my right leg, a guy with a prosthetic left leg rode by me. What a coincidence, eye opener, and life lesson in such a short moment!
THE GOOD: Teri, Christie, and Meggan truly showed their "upperclassman" support and understanding. I know they have all been there, more than they would like to think about.
Also, CHRISTIE opened it up for a 3rd place finish!!!! Now thats HUGE!!!!
All in all, it was a great day. i was where i needed to be, i broke something, i had a good time, and i finished! From now on, don't forget to tighten YO BOLTS!!!!! (Thank you, mechanic, for the eloquence!)
Tuesday, April 18
Aw, MAN!
MY BIKE IS DIRTY and broken!! The details of which i am not at the liberty to share. They are both the result of some race preriding on a specific course that, as of sunday, sucks. But if i were to state the ins and outs of said course, people may find out what is really wrong with it which in turn could benefit them on the actual race, thus acting against me. I will divulge my secrets after the fact.
In the meantime, i have to go get a tooth on my chainring bent back to where it should be. Little monster.
SUPER BUSY DAY: Kidding! Here at school we are adminstering the CAT6 tests. Since i have no classroom, i am *stuck* not proctoring any tests. Today, i walked from class to class taking hot lunch count. We are having spaghetti today. Too many carbs for me....Then i had to help in a classroom where the sub could not figure out how to select a specific scene on Romeo and Juliet. good thing he didnt play #13 instead of #14, the 9th graders would have been subjected to a bare butt....
Then i put some jerseys in the dryer and now i am about to fail some girls on yesterdays mile. It took them 19:38 minutes!!! I cant WALK it that slow.
I may actually go for a little road ride today. I will choose to fly solo while trying to avoid the Tuesday Nigh National Championships where racers/riders/tuesday night warriors from all over the world, no, Inland Empire, come to throw down. Ok, so i cant talk any smack because i have only seen them once, heard of them a billion times though, usually with some funny story or quarter second wins on a Sunset hill climb.
In the meantime, i have to go get a tooth on my chainring bent back to where it should be. Little monster.
SUPER BUSY DAY: Kidding! Here at school we are adminstering the CAT6 tests. Since i have no classroom, i am *stuck* not proctoring any tests. Today, i walked from class to class taking hot lunch count. We are having spaghetti today. Too many carbs for me....Then i had to help in a classroom where the sub could not figure out how to select a specific scene on Romeo and Juliet. good thing he didnt play #13 instead of #14, the 9th graders would have been subjected to a bare butt....
Then i put some jerseys in the dryer and now i am about to fail some girls on yesterdays mile. It took them 19:38 minutes!!! I cant WALK it that slow.
I may actually go for a little road ride today. I will choose to fly solo while trying to avoid the Tuesday Nigh National Championships where racers/riders/tuesday night warriors from all over the world, no, Inland Empire, come to throw down. Ok, so i cant talk any smack because i have only seen them once, heard of them a billion times though, usually with some funny story or quarter second wins on a Sunset hill climb.
Tuesday, April 11
Picture Show
WEEKEND RE-CAP:
I have no control over these boys! They were like this when i met them!
This is what Dozer was doing when I left, and came back. Plus, he was pimping his new Collar. The spikes actually hurt and they keep gauging out my leg wounds.
Washing mtn style: Since my house is LITERALLY smaller than a hotel room, there is no washer or dryer. Thus, if it really needs to be cleaned, pull out the bucket. Teri - I bought OxiClean, a lot of it. The socks shockingly came out white, but there are mud splatters stuck to Jose's face on my jersey!!!
SHORT TRACK: This is what i missed out on Saturday, and the truth is, this was a nice spot.
I have no control over these boys! They were like this when i met them!
This is what Dozer was doing when I left, and came back. Plus, he was pimping his new Collar. The spikes actually hurt and they keep gauging out my leg wounds.
Washing mtn style: Since my house is LITERALLY smaller than a hotel room, there is no washer or dryer. Thus, if it really needs to be cleaned, pull out the bucket. Teri - I bought OxiClean, a lot of it. The socks shockingly came out white, but there are mud splatters stuck to Jose's face on my jersey!!!
SHORT TRACK: This is what i missed out on Saturday, and the truth is, this was a nice spot.
Monday, April 10
The Joy (UN)Luck Club
SEA OTTER CLASSIC
What a bunch of craziness!!! First off, there were a ton of high points. I was so excited, and borderline emotional, to see all the local girls lined up for the pro XC race sunday. There they were, all in a little gaggle. Carolyn, Christie, Mandy, Meggan, Teri, Chrissy it has been and i know will be exciting to see what these girls are capable of! I also saw Matt heading off into the drizzle with the pro men!
The Trip: Went smoothly! Spent the night in SLO with the HAMRICKS and the Grandparents were there too! I was actually driving the JEEP it is red incase you forgot. Come to find out it needed over a QUART of oil! YOu would think that when those loosers were "tinkering" with the engine for eight weeks and a day they would have put some oil in it. But they didnt.
FRIDAY:
Jason and Uriah hit up the Aquarium in search of the Octopus as i scrambled in normal form to find Christie, Teri, Mandy and Heather for a little XC preride. It was good un-clean fun due to the mud etc. For the most part, a normal day.
SATURDAY:
To start the off nicely, i forgot my helmet at the hotel. Of course!! While driving into the hotel driveway, there was a BMW infront of the Jeep. They proceeded to back straight out of the driveway and into the front of the JEEP. NO WAY! I was livid. I think i was a bit mean to the poor fellow. His tail light was shattered and the sturdy jeep bumper just scratched. Not a good way to start a race day though.
This would have been my first short track race. It was not to be. This is my first, ever, DNS this one actually made me cry. I was so frustrated and upset. I got there when they were about 3/4 way through their first lap. I went up to Longo and asked if those were truly my girls, and yes indeed they were. After much self discussion i realized it would be ok. It was super, out of control muddy, and i was over it. So i took Jason and Uriah Sea Kayaking. While they went to play in the sun, i went to jump on my trainer. This was not to be either. I misplaced an intregal portion of the trainer, and had to resort to a road ride in a town i have never been in. Fantastic. Almost every main road ended up in a tunnel or on HWY 1 or 68. Very awkward indeed.
SUNDAY: The big day. You see, i have been prepping for this season. I have been thinking of the looming 40 mile race at Sea Otter and what a challenge it will be, and how great it would be. This was, infact, not to be. As i was heading towards the start line, *someone* said, as they stood with a group of people: "So Joy, are you going to start this race today?" It was all I could do to restrain myself from the well over-due verbal assault that should have answered that question. Do they really think i CHOSE not to start stxc? Instead, i resorted to my snottiest 8th grade catfight voice and just yelled "NO, im not gonna start." Theory 854: Stupid questions deserve stupid answers, or worse.
Since i am starting a season of first, as before stated, i decided to have my first ever flat in a race. Ever. I think i was protected by some schroud last year that worded off all ill-fate as i raced. This year, that shroud has been tossed to the wind. Or as Meggan says, were all just getting so strong, we keep breaking things.
I was in the perfect spot. I was with key people who have handed it to me in the past, i felt good, and i knew i had a LONG ways to go. Then "poof" there it went. I HAD to look at this flat in perspective. About 100 yards behind me there was an ambulance taking some semi-pro or expert men out. This was just a flat and i can totally deal. Although about 9 girls passed me, i knew i could catch a good chunk of them, assuming that i was going to get stronger as the race went on.
Thus began the Monty Python movie that was never, and will never, be released. I was flying solo now, except for the phantom tandem. These guys were crazy. Riding through the boggy forest into thick trenches of mud and quagmire, reminding me of Pilgrims Progress, then python these guys kept me optimistic. They were dressed totally in black and riding a single speed. They would just appear through a thicket in the fog, then promptly fall in the mud. Rumor has it that they were wearing dresses earlier that day. I could hear them yelling, laughing, runny, and lugging behind me. We played cat and mouse for the better part of the race. They kept telling me how i would catch up... LIARS!!!! THey should be hung....
While riding the road climb, next to the tandem weirdos, we were split, swarmed and engulfed by pro men. Oh, what a feeling. I told them that it was the highlight of my day and they could stay a bit longer if they needed anything, at all. I actually got a few to laugh. Point for me. FRom then on, i played a little game Christie would call 'name that tune' but i played 'name that jersey.' Since i do my fair share or stalking, ok, i do enough for a small town, i know who these guys are. Wells grunted really weird when he went by, that Bishop guys bike needed some serious lube, and the Fisher boys ALL talked to me. Also, Leslie Tomlison talked to me from the side of a climb. If you dont know who she is, try www.google.com, duh. you way even find youself there!!
So the lap is almost over. Much longer than anticipated, but great things happened. I actually PASSED girls who were riding and normal (usually it is people with broken bikes or bodies) on the descents. I passed Jason and Uriah and yelled at them because they wouldnt give me my water bottle, then i realized, it was all about to hit the fan.
I GOT PULLED. Alot of things crossed my mind. Why didnt i just DNF like an hour ago? WHy didnt anyone tell us there was a time cut? What happens to my time? Am i that worthless? Joking on the last one, totally. A lot of girls got pulled, and were not stoked. I went out to race 42 miles, so you kinda ride conservatively on the first lap.It was just a huge let down. So much money spent to get there and i am not even on any sort of results list. I went there to race a super long, hard race, and didnt.
But you know, next week theres some race type thing in Bonelli so maybe that will be a better day. I will use my super duper flat fixer skills to the full, i will remember to use the good lines while riding through mud, and most of the time there are no good lines, so RUN. I will also remember that it is just a race, we have good ones and bad ones. And sometimes, other people just have more control and power than i do. i hate that the most, really. If i threw my race, so be it. But to have other people tell im out, thats a tough one.
Truth of the matter, everyone had trials this weekend. Check out Meggan's Blog with fantastic photos and daily updates. Also check Christie out although i am not sure there is a Sea Otter update there yet. One day i will learn how to put links on my site so you guys can check out ALL the bikers on a regular basis!
What a bunch of craziness!!! First off, there were a ton of high points. I was so excited, and borderline emotional, to see all the local girls lined up for the pro XC race sunday. There they were, all in a little gaggle. Carolyn, Christie, Mandy, Meggan, Teri, Chrissy it has been and i know will be exciting to see what these girls are capable of! I also saw Matt heading off into the drizzle with the pro men!
The Trip: Went smoothly! Spent the night in SLO with the HAMRICKS and the Grandparents were there too! I was actually driving the JEEP it is red incase you forgot. Come to find out it needed over a QUART of oil! YOu would think that when those loosers were "tinkering" with the engine for eight weeks and a day they would have put some oil in it. But they didnt.
FRIDAY:
Jason and Uriah hit up the Aquarium in search of the Octopus as i scrambled in normal form to find Christie, Teri, Mandy and Heather for a little XC preride. It was good un-clean fun due to the mud etc. For the most part, a normal day.
SATURDAY:
To start the off nicely, i forgot my helmet at the hotel. Of course!! While driving into the hotel driveway, there was a BMW infront of the Jeep. They proceeded to back straight out of the driveway and into the front of the JEEP. NO WAY! I was livid. I think i was a bit mean to the poor fellow. His tail light was shattered and the sturdy jeep bumper just scratched. Not a good way to start a race day though.
This would have been my first short track race. It was not to be. This is my first, ever, DNS this one actually made me cry. I was so frustrated and upset. I got there when they were about 3/4 way through their first lap. I went up to Longo and asked if those were truly my girls, and yes indeed they were. After much self discussion i realized it would be ok. It was super, out of control muddy, and i was over it. So i took Jason and Uriah Sea Kayaking. While they went to play in the sun, i went to jump on my trainer. This was not to be either. I misplaced an intregal portion of the trainer, and had to resort to a road ride in a town i have never been in. Fantastic. Almost every main road ended up in a tunnel or on HWY 1 or 68. Very awkward indeed.
SUNDAY: The big day. You see, i have been prepping for this season. I have been thinking of the looming 40 mile race at Sea Otter and what a challenge it will be, and how great it would be. This was, infact, not to be. As i was heading towards the start line, *someone* said, as they stood with a group of people: "So Joy, are you going to start this race today?" It was all I could do to restrain myself from the well over-due verbal assault that should have answered that question. Do they really think i CHOSE not to start stxc? Instead, i resorted to my snottiest 8th grade catfight voice and just yelled "NO, im not gonna start." Theory 854: Stupid questions deserve stupid answers, or worse.
Since i am starting a season of first, as before stated, i decided to have my first ever flat in a race. Ever. I think i was protected by some schroud last year that worded off all ill-fate as i raced. This year, that shroud has been tossed to the wind. Or as Meggan says, were all just getting so strong, we keep breaking things.
I was in the perfect spot. I was with key people who have handed it to me in the past, i felt good, and i knew i had a LONG ways to go. Then "poof" there it went. I HAD to look at this flat in perspective. About 100 yards behind me there was an ambulance taking some semi-pro or expert men out. This was just a flat and i can totally deal. Although about 9 girls passed me, i knew i could catch a good chunk of them, assuming that i was going to get stronger as the race went on.
Thus began the Monty Python movie that was never, and will never, be released. I was flying solo now, except for the phantom tandem. These guys were crazy. Riding through the boggy forest into thick trenches of mud and quagmire, reminding me of Pilgrims Progress, then python these guys kept me optimistic. They were dressed totally in black and riding a single speed. They would just appear through a thicket in the fog, then promptly fall in the mud. Rumor has it that they were wearing dresses earlier that day. I could hear them yelling, laughing, runny, and lugging behind me. We played cat and mouse for the better part of the race. They kept telling me how i would catch up... LIARS!!!! THey should be hung....
While riding the road climb, next to the tandem weirdos, we were split, swarmed and engulfed by pro men. Oh, what a feeling. I told them that it was the highlight of my day and they could stay a bit longer if they needed anything, at all. I actually got a few to laugh. Point for me. FRom then on, i played a little game Christie would call 'name that tune' but i played 'name that jersey.' Since i do my fair share or stalking, ok, i do enough for a small town, i know who these guys are. Wells grunted really weird when he went by, that Bishop guys bike needed some serious lube, and the Fisher boys ALL talked to me. Also, Leslie Tomlison talked to me from the side of a climb. If you dont know who she is, try www.google.com, duh. you way even find youself there!!
So the lap is almost over. Much longer than anticipated, but great things happened. I actually PASSED girls who were riding and normal (usually it is people with broken bikes or bodies) on the descents. I passed Jason and Uriah and yelled at them because they wouldnt give me my water bottle, then i realized, it was all about to hit the fan.
I GOT PULLED. Alot of things crossed my mind. Why didnt i just DNF like an hour ago? WHy didnt anyone tell us there was a time cut? What happens to my time? Am i that worthless? Joking on the last one, totally. A lot of girls got pulled, and were not stoked. I went out to race 42 miles, so you kinda ride conservatively on the first lap.It was just a huge let down. So much money spent to get there and i am not even on any sort of results list. I went there to race a super long, hard race, and didnt.
But you know, next week theres some race type thing in Bonelli so maybe that will be a better day. I will use my super duper flat fixer skills to the full, i will remember to use the good lines while riding through mud, and most of the time there are no good lines, so RUN. I will also remember that it is just a race, we have good ones and bad ones. And sometimes, other people just have more control and power than i do. i hate that the most, really. If i threw my race, so be it. But to have other people tell im out, thats a tough one.
Truth of the matter, everyone had trials this weekend. Check out Meggan's Blog with fantastic photos and daily updates. Also check Christie out although i am not sure there is a Sea Otter update there yet. One day i will learn how to put links on my site so you guys can check out ALL the bikers on a regular basis!
Wednesday, April 5
Some Photos
MY NEPHEW GRIFFYN, WHAT A CHAMP:
RACE FLASHBACK: MAMMOTH NATIONALS - SEPTEMBER This was an awesome day on the bike and a great weekend, the perfect thing to focus on before going up to Sea Otter...in the rain.
REDLANDS CLASSIC...CHECK OUT THE NEW COLORS my actual kit should be here in about a month, hopefully!!! But the helmet matches, and that is very important
RACE FLASHBACK: MAMMOTH NATIONALS - SEPTEMBER This was an awesome day on the bike and a great weekend, the perfect thing to focus on before going up to Sea Otter...in the rain.
REDLANDS CLASSIC...CHECK OUT THE NEW COLORS my actual kit should be here in about a month, hopefully!!! But the helmet matches, and that is very important
THE DUMBEST THING I HAVE HEARD:
One of our high school boys went to Costa Rica for spring break. He got stung by a Sting Ray. He also already got stung by a one in Laguna at our school picnic day. Coincidence. I guess some local Costarican put a banana on his foot. THis banana came STRAIGHT out of a piping hot FRYING PAN. the spot on his foot from the Ray is very small. The 2nd Degree burn on his foot is huge.
LOW POINT:
I go to grad school. Enough said there, but sometimes the people you end up with really arent conducive to what you want to be getting done. Nobody wants to drive to Riverside after a long day with children to sit in a class of teachers-to-be that lament about Shakespeare and tuition costs, literally. I got stuck next to the only other PE guy who kept talking about my shoes. Yes i wear these Sauconys to work, no my feet do not get hot, yes they cost a bit of cash. Duh, they are shoes, you should not teach PE in anything else. He also wanted me to give him $70 for the book that he would buy sometime for me, although i needed it right then, not at class today, but he really wanted me to give him the money. Like i walk around with that kind of cash.
The jeep is SUPPOSED to be done today, on its 8 week anniversary of being GONE. we will see how that ends up, and the ulcer it has created for me...
Sea you all at Sea Otter!
Monday, April 3
"HOLY PATELLA!!"
Anatomy was one of my favorite college courses. My favorite bone in the body is the left lateral maleolus you know that knot on the outside of your ankle. My second favorite, however, is the PATELLA. I used to take great enjoyment mocking my students health papers and where they "thought" this bone was located.
The following is a tale of my left patella, with of course many tangents.
SAFARI PRE-RIDE: NO 'GAME' TO BE FOUND
Things were crazy. Christie took a wild burm and stomped out in a way in which she thought she could have created a hair-line fracture. But since there was no bone sticking out or blood gushing, i said she was fine. But it actually really did hurt a lot and became a big worry.
I, on the other hand, was out of control. I had a pretty placid season last year, with the main issue being me running into a post at the Fall Classic. I made up for it big time.
The Mechanic pimped my ride so well, i endo'ed 4 times. Really. Those brakes work really well. I guess that is what i was missing out on last year. But one of those adventures was on a huge rock and the only thing that hit it was my left patella I created a hole in my leg warmers, which when i finally took them off, were glued to my leg with blood. There was also fragments of my flesh stuck to the warmers. Cool.
Second incident of pain, actually emotional pain. Teri, Jay, Christie and I all stopped to do something. I came up next to Teri and needed to stop. Out of the corner of my little little eye, I spied a post. But in actuality, it was one of those brown forest service posts that bends ALL the way to the ground. So of course me and the Sugar followed in rare form. Which landed me on my left side, thus engaging my CO2 cartridge, dispelling a lot of gas. It was bad, very bad.
When i thought things couldnt go any farther south, we came to a spot that needed practice. Everyone was watching, good clue to hike it. I got to the middle and promptly fell to the right....on....rusty barbwire fence and post i sustained 3 puncture wounds which quickly changed the orange of my shorts to brownish red. The bruise is quite fantastic. I then began to wail and ask if any one had a booster or knew exactly WHAT tetnous would look like, as i was dying. but today, my dentist (yes, dentist) said i would be ok. If i had lock-jaw, it would have already hit....
THE RACE: i know so much more to go over...The debate started saturday afternoon, whether or not the experts would do the long course. By the time we got to the line with the pro women, Spiegle was yelling at us to never complain to him or say a word about choosing the long course. And we didnt. But then, as i was plodding back at the end of the race, i contemplated my horrid time, what if Tom looked at it and said thats it, from now on, those lazy experts will race the medium. It would be all my fault.
I started super strong on the hill climb. I was in there, where i needed to be, middle of the pack. But once i hit the single track, my luck turned or my karma came to visit. I dropped my chain 8 times, no joke. Those cables stretched out sooooo fast and the multiple wrecks the day before left there mark. Every time i dropped the chain, some girl passed me. This all happened on the single track where time and possition was paramount. This is also where all the grid-lock occurred. The sport men always do catch me, the leaders are great. Quick and to the point and polite. I despise the middle of the pack sport men. They are the bain of my racing existance. I had altercations with at least 15 of them. We shared words, they cut me off, i dropped my chain infront of them and they cursed. I want to ask them, "so are racing for 15th or 16th place? Neat, im racing for 2nd.!"They made me so excessively angry, added to the severe mechanicals, i was a head case. I kept it up though and made it to Los Pinos Climb. I love to climb. I enjoyed this horrid part of the race. I passed an expert guy!! But then i looked back and he was WALKING HIS BIKE UP THE ROAD. I also passed a semi-pro who was riding out on a flat. Hey, whatever makes you feel good about yourself.
At about the halfway point, i totally realized i was in last place. I havent really been there before, and i was not comfortable with it at all. All the experts passed me and the girl who beat me had me by 24 minutes. However, she is a Royal Sandbagger she would have come in 3rd out of all the pro's. She pushed Christie and wouldn't even look at me or go on the podium. Drama queen.
It ends up i was not last! There was another girl in my category who came in 30 minutes after me!! I sure hope she is ok. I dont even know what you could do out there for that long, build a wigwam or something...
The Jose Ole stuff has way too much white on it. I am supposed to wear these socks, totally white. They are mostly brown now. I think i will just allow them to assume that color for the rest of the season, to remind of the pain of sunday. I would also like to secure a sponsorship with OxyClean
This was hands-down the hardest race i have ever done. I have never had mechanicals before. I have never been tested this much. I told you this would be the season of firsts. All the races i did last year pale in comparisson to what i am up against this season.
But it will be good. I have a lot of support and a lot of mentors that have all been there before and know the pain and the yo-yo of emotions and performance.
Just another week and another race to get ready for. And to get that bike working right again. And, perhaps, some clean socks.
The following is a tale of my left patella, with of course many tangents.
SAFARI PRE-RIDE: NO 'GAME' TO BE FOUND
Things were crazy. Christie took a wild burm and stomped out in a way in which she thought she could have created a hair-line fracture. But since there was no bone sticking out or blood gushing, i said she was fine. But it actually really did hurt a lot and became a big worry.
I, on the other hand, was out of control. I had a pretty placid season last year, with the main issue being me running into a post at the Fall Classic. I made up for it big time.
The Mechanic pimped my ride so well, i endo'ed 4 times. Really. Those brakes work really well. I guess that is what i was missing out on last year. But one of those adventures was on a huge rock and the only thing that hit it was my left patella I created a hole in my leg warmers, which when i finally took them off, were glued to my leg with blood. There was also fragments of my flesh stuck to the warmers. Cool.
Second incident of pain, actually emotional pain. Teri, Jay, Christie and I all stopped to do something. I came up next to Teri and needed to stop. Out of the corner of my little little eye, I spied a post. But in actuality, it was one of those brown forest service posts that bends ALL the way to the ground. So of course me and the Sugar followed in rare form. Which landed me on my left side, thus engaging my CO2 cartridge, dispelling a lot of gas. It was bad, very bad.
When i thought things couldnt go any farther south, we came to a spot that needed practice. Everyone was watching, good clue to hike it. I got to the middle and promptly fell to the right....on....rusty barbwire fence and post i sustained 3 puncture wounds which quickly changed the orange of my shorts to brownish red. The bruise is quite fantastic. I then began to wail and ask if any one had a booster or knew exactly WHAT tetnous would look like, as i was dying. but today, my dentist (yes, dentist) said i would be ok. If i had lock-jaw, it would have already hit....
THE RACE: i know so much more to go over...The debate started saturday afternoon, whether or not the experts would do the long course. By the time we got to the line with the pro women, Spiegle was yelling at us to never complain to him or say a word about choosing the long course. And we didnt. But then, as i was plodding back at the end of the race, i contemplated my horrid time, what if Tom looked at it and said thats it, from now on, those lazy experts will race the medium. It would be all my fault.
I started super strong on the hill climb. I was in there, where i needed to be, middle of the pack. But once i hit the single track, my luck turned or my karma came to visit. I dropped my chain 8 times, no joke. Those cables stretched out sooooo fast and the multiple wrecks the day before left there mark. Every time i dropped the chain, some girl passed me. This all happened on the single track where time and possition was paramount. This is also where all the grid-lock occurred. The sport men always do catch me, the leaders are great. Quick and to the point and polite. I despise the middle of the pack sport men. They are the bain of my racing existance. I had altercations with at least 15 of them. We shared words, they cut me off, i dropped my chain infront of them and they cursed. I want to ask them, "so are racing for 15th or 16th place? Neat, im racing for 2nd.!"They made me so excessively angry, added to the severe mechanicals, i was a head case. I kept it up though and made it to Los Pinos Climb. I love to climb. I enjoyed this horrid part of the race. I passed an expert guy!! But then i looked back and he was WALKING HIS BIKE UP THE ROAD. I also passed a semi-pro who was riding out on a flat. Hey, whatever makes you feel good about yourself.
At about the halfway point, i totally realized i was in last place. I havent really been there before, and i was not comfortable with it at all. All the experts passed me and the girl who beat me had me by 24 minutes. However, she is a Royal Sandbagger she would have come in 3rd out of all the pro's. She pushed Christie and wouldn't even look at me or go on the podium. Drama queen.
It ends up i was not last! There was another girl in my category who came in 30 minutes after me!! I sure hope she is ok. I dont even know what you could do out there for that long, build a wigwam or something...
The Jose Ole stuff has way too much white on it. I am supposed to wear these socks, totally white. They are mostly brown now. I think i will just allow them to assume that color for the rest of the season, to remind of the pain of sunday. I would also like to secure a sponsorship with OxyClean
This was hands-down the hardest race i have ever done. I have never had mechanicals before. I have never been tested this much. I told you this would be the season of firsts. All the races i did last year pale in comparisson to what i am up against this season.
But it will be good. I have a lot of support and a lot of mentors that have all been there before and know the pain and the yo-yo of emotions and performance.
Just another week and another race to get ready for. And to get that bike working right again. And, perhaps, some clean socks.
Saturday, April 1
Off to the Races
The day has finally come - the season shall begin. With much anticipation, i pack my gear and spit-shine my Sugar. My OCD behavior returns as I pack Tupperware after Tupperware with cottage cheese and veggies; plain yogurt and spices; an omlette; some pre-cooked oatmeal. You see, we are headed to the Boonies, bring your-own-everything race, Sagebrush Safari it sounds so romantic, so adventerous. I have never been to this venue, thus starting off the Season of Firsts the first Cal State race, the series that runs all the way through October. This race will also act as a warm-up and jitter-buster for the Ominous Sea Otter next weekend.
To start things off with confidence, i PIMPED-MY-RIDE!! I got an assortment of upgrades from SRAM X.O shifters to a new bottle cage. I am sure this will allow me at least 30 seconds of an edge. Then it will all be up to me. Thanx to the mechanic...
NEW OUTFIT:
With a new season also comes new KITS. Since i was late to re-join Team Jose Ole, my kit will also be late. ETA is Fontana Nationals, but you never really know with these things. Until then, i will sport the old Orange or a loaner-mens Medium jersey and stellar black shorts!! I just spent too much time trying to upload some photos from the Redlands Classic, but photoblogger is rebelling against me...next time.
I was also going to post some photos of Dozer, of course!! He has finally grown large enough to fit into a LEATHER STUDDED collar! You will love it, and be afraid!
To start things off with confidence, i PIMPED-MY-RIDE!! I got an assortment of upgrades from SRAM X.O shifters to a new bottle cage. I am sure this will allow me at least 30 seconds of an edge. Then it will all be up to me. Thanx to the mechanic...
NEW OUTFIT:
With a new season also comes new KITS. Since i was late to re-join Team Jose Ole, my kit will also be late. ETA is Fontana Nationals, but you never really know with these things. Until then, i will sport the old Orange or a loaner-mens Medium jersey and stellar black shorts!! I just spent too much time trying to upload some photos from the Redlands Classic, but photoblogger is rebelling against me...next time.
I was also going to post some photos of Dozer, of course!! He has finally grown large enough to fit into a LEATHER STUDDED collar! You will love it, and be afraid!
Sunday, March 26
Wiggly Nerves
SPRING BREAK: First off, the NUMBER ONE bonus of being a super cool teacher is VACATION!!! I have the whole week to do everything that i havent done since Christmas. Awesome.
NON-TRAINING RIDES: Sometimes i get a bit lax in my understanding of where i am going for a ride. Since i began these crazy group rides, it is all i can do to get into my shorts and arrive on time. SOmetimes i even forget food and the such, rarely will i give any thought as to where we will go.
Saturday morning found me floundering once again to find stuff and follow Christie's wheel. We hit up the Rotary Ride in connection with the Redlands Classic and we picked the 60 miler. I should have known when Jon Reth gave me the look, and the laugh, and said "come on Joy". The rest is ancient history of too tall hills and miles that sent the heart rate up. Like who was the demon who got those private landowners over on that Smiley road to open it up?! Gosh! It was a good ride though, very good.
THE CRIT: The past few days i have had a wiggly stomach. I finally realized that it was due to the fact that i had to race today. I dont really count Boulevard as a race, just a "big training ride with really fast girls i dont know." So the last time i suited up was for the Fall Classic in October.
Today there were some goals:
1.) Warm-up on the trainer: CHECK
2.) Don't get Pulled out of the race: CHECK
3.) Don't let *someone* infront of me: CHECK
4.) Don't eat it: CHECK
However, near the VERY end, we got lapped. I dont care though. LAst year was a disaster of sorts on my part with getting dropped like in the first 100 yards and being pulled and really sucking.
But today, we were the CHASE GROUP! Much better than some alternatives i could think of. Also, as the excitment mounted, the announcer called out that whoever was crossed the line first for the CHASE group on the next lap, got some SNACKS!!! So i had to throw down! I ended up with TWO boxes of CHEETAH BARS!! i was SOOOOO excited. Also, they will make a great replacement for my CHeeto addiction! They sound the same, almost, yet are all natural fruits squished together in a block! Much better than processed cheese! (Christie, i know you are very proud of my improvement)
Christie and Teri Finished with the pack, good girls! Although Bev said she was able to take better pictures of me due to the MUCH smaller size of my group!! Yet another benefit for finishing behind all the crazy girls, more press!
EXCUSE OF THE DAY: "Well i havent ridden my bike in *(insert number here) months, i am just not up to par." Well, as you know, i only ride my bike 3 hours a week, so....
Also, BEWARE the trash talking!! It will almost always bite you, and when it does, that is not cool!!I know, we all do our fair share, but COME ON....
NON-TRAINING RIDES: Sometimes i get a bit lax in my understanding of where i am going for a ride. Since i began these crazy group rides, it is all i can do to get into my shorts and arrive on time. SOmetimes i even forget food and the such, rarely will i give any thought as to where we will go.
Saturday morning found me floundering once again to find stuff and follow Christie's wheel. We hit up the Rotary Ride in connection with the Redlands Classic and we picked the 60 miler. I should have known when Jon Reth gave me the look, and the laugh, and said "come on Joy". The rest is ancient history of too tall hills and miles that sent the heart rate up. Like who was the demon who got those private landowners over on that Smiley road to open it up?! Gosh! It was a good ride though, very good.
THE CRIT: The past few days i have had a wiggly stomach. I finally realized that it was due to the fact that i had to race today. I dont really count Boulevard as a race, just a "big training ride with really fast girls i dont know." So the last time i suited up was for the Fall Classic in October.
Today there were some goals:
1.) Warm-up on the trainer: CHECK
2.) Don't get Pulled out of the race: CHECK
3.) Don't let *someone* infront of me: CHECK
4.) Don't eat it: CHECK
However, near the VERY end, we got lapped. I dont care though. LAst year was a disaster of sorts on my part with getting dropped like in the first 100 yards and being pulled and really sucking.
But today, we were the CHASE GROUP! Much better than some alternatives i could think of. Also, as the excitment mounted, the announcer called out that whoever was crossed the line first for the CHASE group on the next lap, got some SNACKS!!! So i had to throw down! I ended up with TWO boxes of CHEETAH BARS!! i was SOOOOO excited. Also, they will make a great replacement for my CHeeto addiction! They sound the same, almost, yet are all natural fruits squished together in a block! Much better than processed cheese! (Christie, i know you are very proud of my improvement)
Christie and Teri Finished with the pack, good girls! Although Bev said she was able to take better pictures of me due to the MUCH smaller size of my group!! Yet another benefit for finishing behind all the crazy girls, more press!
EXCUSE OF THE DAY: "Well i havent ridden my bike in *(insert number here) months, i am just not up to par." Well, as you know, i only ride my bike 3 hours a week, so....
Also, BEWARE the trash talking!! It will almost always bite you, and when it does, that is not cool!!I know, we all do our fair share, but COME ON....
Tuesday, March 21
The Binge
I spend my life on the verge of OCD, leading me to binge on many a thing. I consistently forget to purge, however. I have begun eating large amounts of Cheetos in any form. My fav, today, are the Jalapeno Chedder ones, oh yum.
So my newest binge was lifting weights and going to the gym period. Since the days are rainy and long, i get to the gym by 5:30am, ride the bike there, then go to work. Then after work i go back to the gym to throw some weights around, must maintain my muscle status. But i always over do it, i cant get enough or seem to find the effort to stop going and pushing a bit too much.
JEEP: I am not really going to go there, but it has been gone for 6 WEEKS!!! Here is a rundown of what i could have really done with 6 weeks of my life:
Completed 2/3 of a quarter in grad school
Riden my bike from SF to Wash DC and at least half way back. In winter.
Gone through a complete workout cycle or phase in the gym
Most of the summer holiday would have come and gone
You see i have borrowed 4 different cars, two of which have died upon return to their owners. Suspect, i know. Then my hot water heater decided to leak, a lot all over the kitchen carpet. Whoever carpets a kitchen should have terrible things done to them.
Alas, there are lovely things about life. The 4 inches of snow that falls per night.
The fact that i teach pe which means i chat with jr high girls about boys, movies, tv, clothes, you know, all the things i care little about
I also get to play badminton with them and wear shorts, sweatshirts, and sneakers to work. Then on my lunch, i check blogs and the such.
Then there is always the Pet. He has a few extra names:
Snoop Doze
Pup-pup
Pet
Kitten
Creature
Puppy
Dooz
Snooz
Snuggle Bunny
Pupples
Pupples-T
Muckles-B
Muckles
and DOZER
He comes to all of them, freak.
He also SUCKS on his new bed and whines as he sleeps. Sick sick dog. He's got some mama issues!
So my newest binge was lifting weights and going to the gym period. Since the days are rainy and long, i get to the gym by 5:30am, ride the bike there, then go to work. Then after work i go back to the gym to throw some weights around, must maintain my muscle status. But i always over do it, i cant get enough or seem to find the effort to stop going and pushing a bit too much.
JEEP: I am not really going to go there, but it has been gone for 6 WEEKS!!! Here is a rundown of what i could have really done with 6 weeks of my life:
Completed 2/3 of a quarter in grad school
Riden my bike from SF to Wash DC and at least half way back. In winter.
Gone through a complete workout cycle or phase in the gym
Most of the summer holiday would have come and gone
You see i have borrowed 4 different cars, two of which have died upon return to their owners. Suspect, i know. Then my hot water heater decided to leak, a lot all over the kitchen carpet. Whoever carpets a kitchen should have terrible things done to them.
Alas, there are lovely things about life. The 4 inches of snow that falls per night.
The fact that i teach pe which means i chat with jr high girls about boys, movies, tv, clothes, you know, all the things i care little about
I also get to play badminton with them and wear shorts, sweatshirts, and sneakers to work. Then on my lunch, i check blogs and the such.
Then there is always the Pet. He has a few extra names:
Snoop Doze
Pup-pup
Pet
Kitten
Creature
Puppy
Dooz
Snooz
Snuggle Bunny
Pupples
Pupples-T
Muckles-B
Muckles
and DOZER
He comes to all of them, freak.
He also SUCKS on his new bed and whines as he sleeps. Sick sick dog. He's got some mama issues!
Tuesday, March 14
Why is Hell so cold this time of year?
First off, i just wrote a killer blog, then the computer rebelled and turned off. man, karma or something.
WHEN I GET REALLY NEGATIVE, I LOOK ACROSS THE STREET:
Uriah, Jason and Dozer, ready to sled!
Jason "ridin the bull" check out Dozers ears!
Uriah, what more could a 7 year old want?
Getting a pull home in the snow
WHEN I GET REALLY NEGATIVE, I LOOK ACROSS THE STREET:
As you all gaze up into the snow-capped mountains, or as you sat your your dinner table watching the hail fall and thinking of the wonder and heaven-like land up in the hills, YOU WERE WRONG!!!
And this is why
All the IDIOTS!!!
You see people who live in the mountains are smart, know what snow is, understand the physics and concept of ice and tires, and they wear boots. People who live down below, otherwise known as Flat LAnders, are dumb, and should stay below 2,000 ft or where ever the snowline is. THEY are the ones that made the winter wonderland into a cold, snowy, icy hell, run by CalTrans.
In the history of this place, mountain folk have never been required to chain up. THe gods of CHP and Caltrans took it upon themselves to make history this weekend, and enforce the chain law. Out of control. I had already borrowed an AWD Subaru, then had to borrow chains, which broke at 9pm when everything was closed and WalMart was soled out and then i drove to San Bern to get chains that were just a bit too big and when i was testing them the borrowed car dumped a pint of "something" on the driveway of someone i barely knew in high school.
So, i chained up, or cabled up, drove past the CHP over the hump in the road, pulled over, took the chains off and drove home easier than any snow storm last year!!!
To say the least, all cycling options were thrown to the wolves. I shoveled, A lot, hunted for chains under the house, under the bed, in the yard, never to be found.
Then we went sledding. THis should be a professional sport. We hiked through 1.5 feet of powder to a secret spot where the sledding was pristine.
Sled of choice: Target Boogie Board, sprayed with silicon. Awesome.
Dozer ran with every sled and beat most of them to the bottom. He also worked as a good pulling dog. Check them out:
Uriah, Jason and Dozer, ready to sled!
Jason "ridin the bull" check out Dozers ears!
Uriah, what more could a 7 year old want?
Getting a pull home in the snow
Friday, March 10
Thanx, Girls!
And yes, there is about 3 inches of snow in Forest Falls
SO....
SO....
As you know, i lose everything. In the near past i lost the digital camera, which of course was awful. After tearing apart the house (where i found other things i had lost) and the car, and the office, nothing. But then the Girls Kaitlin and Mindy, cleaned the office on friday. YOu see, Kaitlyn is Jan's daughter who is my boss who shares our single-wide trailor/office together!! They found it!!!! This is a little shot they took of themselves!!
FONDUE: I promised you a picture.. 
Shelli, Heidi (the birthday girl) and me, duh
FLOODING: The flooded road that made me late to work a few weeks back
DESTRUCTOR: For Dozers birthday i gave him a little toy with feet, which he took off in about 32 seconds
Tuesday, March 7
Breaking the Trend
I know, it is not Sunday, so i am breaking the trend. I have a few other trends that i am working on breaking, like the reinstatement of everything 80's, but that will take time.
This is Koho and Glacier. Missing from the photo is Sherpa, the third Husky that belongs to Jeremy and Suzanne!! They are my brother and his wife from Colorado. Perhaps they will be racing at the national in Aspen, little Family Podium time! Jeremy is Cat 3, Expert Mtn, Suzanne has taken the year off to crash through nursing school, but usually hammers it out at the road races! They kinda run a team out there Blue Sky Velo which is pretty cool! It used to be Acme Racing.
This is Koho and Glacier. Missing from the photo is Sherpa, the third Husky that belongs to Jeremy and Suzanne!! They are my brother and his wife from Colorado. Perhaps they will be racing at the national in Aspen, little Family Podium time! Jeremy is Cat 3, Expert Mtn, Suzanne has taken the year off to crash through nursing school, but usually hammers it out at the road races! They kinda run a team out there Blue Sky Velo which is pretty cool! It used to be Acme Racing.
RACE FLASHBACK: CASTAIC, 2005
Yup, thats Shelli and I on one of our HUGE very important Beginner races! Oh how things have changed!!!! That course was not my favorite by any margin and well i am glad it is at the end of this years racing season! I just remember climbing, climbing some more, then descending. THen we just did it again. This race got my feet wet for Sea Otter, which was much needed!Now i just have to find my cool Jose Ole half-hat in my closet again!! Hopefully, i can stand on the podium at this years Castaic race too!!
Sunday, March 5
Isn't it Ironic, don't you think?
Jason has a theme song for me. Its from the late 70's or early 80's, have no idea what it is actually called, but when i get in a tizzy, he just starts singing "ahhh, FREAK ou!!!" So I told Christie and Nicole about this on our way back from a delightful girl's brunch in Claremont (Christies bday) and then it CAME ON THE RADIO!!
You see i was having a near freak-out week.
TUESDAY: Mudslides in Forest Falls, couldn't leave because I HAD NO JEEP which could have made it across the debri in and THEN the little g-ride pickup truck i am borrowing ran out of gas, because, well i was probably freaking out.
WEDNESDAY: Lost, misplaced, whatever, my digital camera in either home/school/car/gym bag. yah, thats cool.
THURSDAY: I locked an unsuspecting Grandma in the girls locker room when we went outside to run the mile. She had to call the front office and inform them of her entrapment. That was awful. I was quite ashamed of my inappropriate behavior.
SATURDAY: Driving this loaner car and all, i forgot to turn the head-lights off when i got to GFE for our little group ride. When i returned over 4 hours later, the battery was excessively dead.
SUNDAY: I was 20 minutes late to Christies for our trip to Fontana to do some mountain biking. This is because, well, i am always late, and i left my leg warmers in my office, brilliant. Then, already on the 10, i blank and feel as if my cycling shoes were left at the house. Back at the house i find clarity and realize that they were snug in the back of Christies car the whole time. I must say, Christie has emense patience, and i will make a birthday oath to her to cease my tardiness...
Oh yes, on the way home, i re-chipped my front tooth. You see, in college i had an issue with my pavement driveway. I wasnt wearing a helmet (genious I know, i was just going to class..)which meant i split my forehead open, and my chin, and chipped the majority of my three front teeth out. Today, a big chunk fell off the right one, probably when i was eating a nerd rope. Now you can't tell from far away, but it probably looks grey or irridescent.
You see i was having a near freak-out week.
TUESDAY: Mudslides in Forest Falls, couldn't leave because I HAD NO JEEP which could have made it across the debri in and THEN the little g-ride pickup truck i am borrowing ran out of gas, because, well i was probably freaking out.
WEDNESDAY: Lost, misplaced, whatever, my digital camera in either home/school/car/gym bag. yah, thats cool.
THURSDAY: I locked an unsuspecting Grandma in the girls locker room when we went outside to run the mile. She had to call the front office and inform them of her entrapment. That was awful. I was quite ashamed of my inappropriate behavior.
SATURDAY: Driving this loaner car and all, i forgot to turn the head-lights off when i got to GFE for our little group ride. When i returned over 4 hours later, the battery was excessively dead.
SUNDAY: I was 20 minutes late to Christies for our trip to Fontana to do some mountain biking. This is because, well, i am always late, and i left my leg warmers in my office, brilliant. Then, already on the 10, i blank and feel as if my cycling shoes were left at the house. Back at the house i find clarity and realize that they were snug in the back of Christies car the whole time. I must say, Christie has emense patience, and i will make a birthday oath to her to cease my tardiness...
Oh yes, on the way home, i re-chipped my front tooth. You see, in college i had an issue with my pavement driveway. I wasnt wearing a helmet (genious I know, i was just going to class..)which meant i split my forehead open, and my chin, and chipped the majority of my three front teeth out. Today, a big chunk fell off the right one, probably when i was eating a nerd rope. Now you can't tell from far away, but it probably looks grey or irridescent.
DOZER:
Is ONE YEAR OLD! It is his birthday today and we celebrated with an invigorating round of frisbee and wound cleaning. He can actually catch the frisbee in flight! At least he did once, but all the other times it just hits him in the face and we laugh.
His mom, the neighbor dog, if pregnant, so if you have been very jealous of my dog, you can buy your own.
CYCLING:
Of course i got some excellent riding in this weekend! Finally back on track, but hurting. On the saturday ride i went to that place i have never really gone before, which lasted well into the ride, then abruptly stopped. Then i had to will my legs home. But at least that "place" is there, and attainable. Quite exciting actually.
Sunday was Fontana with Christie working on technical descents and those quick climbs. The weather has been very kind to the course, so go check it out quick before it gets too dusty!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)