Adventures of the Northwest

Times have changed...

2009-07-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

About 7 months ago I moved down to Concord, CA for a new job with a startup company. Due to the constraints of that job, my cycling has taken a back seat. I started a new website but need to update it. Hopefully I can keep both up to date more than not. I miss the past and what I had in cycling. I want it back and am working towards having a normal - routine - life again. :)

I am looking forward to cycling with more people in the Northern CA region and Bay Area. I look forward to getting back on my training routine next year and do Time Trials and maybe *gulp* do I dare say the track down in San Jose!!! Would be nice. I've already met a great group of people here and try to make the "house of pain - lite" ride as much as possible.

Things are looking up for me and coming into place. I know everything happens for a reason and things will occur as they should. I am looking forward to the new changes that are coming in my path.

More catching up...

2007-02-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Well... I just spoke with one of my friends. He was mentioning blogs.. I'm like oh yeah... that thing. I've been thinking about posting something lately but not getting to it. Seems like a pattern. I think about calling someone or emailing them and they usually beat me to the punch. :( So here I am.. wondering... should I even keep up with a blog? Maybe I'm more of a seasonal blogger when there's lots of excitement and fun with the track season?! But now I opened up a live spaces website and wondering if I should just blog there... or not... Seems blogger is changing to force one to login with the google account. I'm thinking if that happens I'll go to just my msn site. Seattlebiker.spaces.live.com hmmm.... still in the works but I'm thinking about switching it over. So if anyone still reads this and you don't see a posting - you can jump over there. I'll try to notify people if that happens.

On to more exciting things, I'm loving my job at Microsoft! I'm still concerned about the whole contract work and whether I'll have a job after some time. I am praying they'll keep me on for the year and that I can find a job before the end of my contract. It would be nice anyway. :) I'm having a lot of fun meeting new people, learning TONS of new things and taking on tons of challenges. It is a blast. I have a great Lead to work for and talk to many a times during lunches.

On the biking front, I rode 90 miles this weekend. 50 on Saturday which was like heaven!! It was such a great day!!! I'm excited for spring and summer. I'm getting ready for the racing season.... and trying not to be tired going in. I am about to do my first TT on Sunday. I am nervous as all get out and excited. I have no real expectations but to finish. That is the only expectation. I just took my bike in tonight to get tuned - I'm sure it will cost me an arm and a leg but it will be a better tuned working machine. :)

Other than that, nothing much exciting happening in my life. Just working, working out based on my coach's workout plans and volunteer work. The week of March 9-16th I'll be in Seattle for one thing or another. Volunteering for BAW for the bike expo, the MVA for the Auction and then for my work related commitment for the rest of the week. It will be a VERY busy week. WOW! I'm sure I'm going to be greatful I don't have to do that commute anymore! :) My workouts will suffer a bit... but it will be fun talking with our 'clients' and having dinners, parties and so forth. Should be fun!

Oh yeah... and one of my cousins we've all kind of lost track of - finally came back into our lives. That is cool. And he lives near Portland. I'm hoping we will get to hook up with him and his kids soon! :)

That's all... take care... enjoy the great 'spring' like days we're blessed with early this year... and have fun. Life is too short not to! :)

Catching up to today....2007 begins!

2007-01-04T04:10:00.000-08:00

Well I've been offline for awhile. I just got real busy and wrapped up with life... imagine that? A life?! HEE HEE!!! Anyway, the holidays hit and I was busy running back and forth between family, friends and what have you to get prepared for all that. The most important thing is that I had a good time hanging with my family and friends over the holidays. :) Even dancing in the New Year! HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! :)

As the holidays were hitting so were the windstorms, the floods, the snow storm that trapped all my co-workers in for 2 days, then another windstorm with some other minor floods again. The last windstorm hit the weekend before Christmas. It knocked pretty much almost every region out around me out of power due to all the fallen trees, etc. Fortunately, I had to be in Tacoma the day after it hit. I had no power coming home Thursday night but managed to do just fine packing my things and sleeping. I left at 7 am on Friday, did my errands, etc. and went to my mom's. My mom didn't have power but the neighbors on one side did and across the street. I managed to survive. I went to a holiday party that evening where we all hung out and ate by candlelight and two fireplaces. I called to check in on my mother and she had power. YEAH! Tacoma was far less hit then eastside of King County. My sister had no power, heat, etc. and lives in the boonies near Bremerton. She was able to come to my mom's and take a shower. She said all the cables down looked like spaghetti in her region. I stayed at my mom's until early Sunday morning and headed back to Seattle. I did a bike ride and then debated about what I was going to do without power. So many people offered to let me stay at their place and so forth. I felt I wanted to 'rough it out' and make the most of it at my own home. As I headed home I stopped in Issaquah. Not ONE light was on unless it was by generator. It was a ghost town!!! :( It was sad! However, by the time I got home we had power. Hallelujah! I was told it came on about 2 hours before I was home. Miraculously my sister's also just came on as we were hanging up from me telling her I had power. LOL! I think many people realized how blessed their lives truly are having gone through something like this. Many regions were without power for many days, some small pockets for over a week - just getting it in time for Christmas! Thanks to all those hard working men and women that brought us 'comfort' of electricity and heating capabilities again!

I was also busy trying to find a new job! I succeeded! I started to work for Siemens at Microsoft on December 21st. :) I am doing contract work anywhere from 6 - 12 months. If I do not find FTE by the end of that first year then I have to take a mandatory 100 days off then I am allowed to return as a contractor again. I am working in an elite subscriptions department. It is quite exciting. I am loving it already and have a great lead that is teaching me all kinds of things. He even expects me to be fully on board by the end of this week as he is leaving town next week. EEEK! I am confident but eek! It will be fun to see how well I can succeed... I'm nervous... but I'm sure I'll do fine. :) My lead's name is Joe. He is a really great guy. Ironically his brother is dating someone I went to high school with out here - when I briefly went to high school out here. What a small world, huh?! Hey... I may even get him back into biking.. he used to do it way back when. :) LOL! He's a really cool guy and I am fortunate to have such a great lead for my first experience with Microsoft.

Other than that, just busy trying to keep up on my training. The holidays and a bit of being under the weather threw me off. However now it is a new year and I am onboard to start training like an animal!!! It should be quite exciting! I am excited to see what this year will bring both in my personal life (so many family members trying to hook me up - hey ... it will be what it will be and when it will be), career path and on the track! WOOHOOO!!! So many new and exciting adventures await.... so stay tuned!!!!

I hope everyone has had a great start to the 2007 year and I wish you all the very best with your friends, family, health, work and so forth. :) Please take care and I hope to keep in touch with all of you!

Working with the new coach & loving it...

2006-10-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

I am in my 2nd week of working with Kenny Williams as my coach. I am totally loving it! I am doing all kinds of good, fun things. Weights, Yoga, Roller Skating, Fixed Gear riding, Road riding and Roller work. He said in 8 weeks I'll start seeing some changes/results from the weight workouts. I hope so! We went to my gym on Saturday so he could see what machines I had available and what exercises to do and how to do them. The 'sore muscle' feeling felt sooooo good. I love that feeling! I can't ever get enough of it! LOL! I think I scared him and challenged him with my balance issues. One thing I'm going to struggle with is keeping my shoulders down and back flat. Oh well! I got to keep on trying and I can only keep on improving from here on out! I am excited to see where I'll be next year and what progress I'll have made. How fast will I be? How strong will I be? What goals will I achieve? I know it will be a long road which I may not succeed all of them this year and it may take a couple years. I'd be happy with this years' results with just losing some weight, being stronger, faster, working in my zones better and having tons of fun!

I am having fun so far and hope to join some weekend women and team rides while staying in my assigned zones. I've been doing fun things like hanging with friends, going to social get togethers and other things as well. I have quite a few planned in October which will be fun. It is good to have these different activities so I don't feel so burnt out. Now we are thinking about possibly going up to Burnaby the weekend of November 11th to see how it feels to be on that track. Should be fun! I can't wait!! :) WOOHOO!! Another possibility might be in January. I'm all for some new adventures and just enjoying life. I can't wait. This winter will be a great building block to reaching my goals for next year. If I can keep up the enthusiasm and keep away from the boredom and burnt out city.... I'm going to do just fine and have lots of fun! Kenny said it's his job to help me with that. So far he's doing great. He's focused, encouraging, disciplined but yet chill about not pushing anything too hard right now as it's too early in the season. I'm gonna enjoy working with him!

Elite Nationals - Yeah REED!

2006-10-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here's the article that was found on the usacycling.org website. Here's the results regarding Reed. Also, if you notice, there are results for Tim Luther who is the sprinter that Jane and I got the privilege to ride on Alpenrose together.

Reed, Hammer complete sweep at nationals

Carson, Calif. (October 8, 2006)—The 2006 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships concluded Saturday after Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash./Spike) and Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./Ouch) added more stars-and-stripes jerseys to their closets. Reed claimed two more national titles to sweep the women’s sprint events with four victories and Hammer won the women’s 15-kilometer scratch race to score a hat trick in the endurance events.

After successfully defending her sprint and 500-meter time trial victories earlier in the week, Reed won the keirin and teamed up with Liz Carlson (Jim Thorpe, Pa./East Coast Velo) to win the women’s team sprint Saturday.

Hammer, already the individual pursuit champion and points race winner, claimed the scratch race after pulling back a late race breakaway and holding off Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa./Spike) for the win.

Together, Hammer and Reed were the most dominant competitors in the four-day event as one or the other stood on the top step of all six individual event podiums.

In the keirin, Reed easily sailed into the finals with wins in each of her two preliminary rounds. There she squared off against Michelle Bono (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii/Eddie B. Cycling), Kacey Manderfield (Davisburg, Mich./Wolverine-Lees McRae), Anna Lang (La Jolla, Calif./Big City Velo), Catherine Fiedler (Long Beach, Calif./The Home Depot Center) and Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo./Hammer Racing). In the six-woman mass-start event, Reed held the front position when the pace bike peeled off the track and kept everyone at bay to hang on for her third individual title of the week.

Earlier in the evening, Reed and Carlson paired up to post a 36.19-second mark in their qualifying round to earn the top seed in the women's team sprint. In the gold-medal final, Reed and Carlson beat the second-seeded squad comprised of Martha Dunne (Coronado, Calif./Jelly Belly) and Lang for the national title.

In the bronze-medal ride, Hammer and Shelby Allen (Cerittos, Calif./Major Motion) beat Higgins and Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike). Not necessarily known for her sprinting ability, Hammer’s team sprint medal was her fourth of the week.

In the women’s 15-kilometer scratch race, Hammer and Quinn entered as the favorites, but when a late-race breakaway of Miranda Duff (Beaverton, Ore./CPT-Colnago), Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pa./Victory Brewing), Christen King (Huntington Beach, Calif./Young’s Training Group) and Kori Seehafer (Louisville, Colo./Team Lipton) escaped, it looked as though an underdog would score the upset. Ultimately though, the foursome didn’t have enough horsepower to fend off the Hammer-led chase from behind. The break was caught with two laps of the 40-lap race remaining and Hammer continued to lead out the sprint with Quinn on her wheel. The reigning individual pursuit world champion showed why she’s one of the top endurance riders in the world, keeping the pace high enough at the front to prevent anyone from sprinting around her at the line.

In the men’s team sprint event, Giddeon Massie (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike) claimed his second national title of the week with the help of Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif./Spike) and Kevin Selker (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike). The top-seeded trio bested the second-seeded threesome of Ben Barczewski (Breiginsville, Pa./Spike), Adam Duvendeck (Santa Barbara, Calif./Echelon Santa Barbara), and Andy Lakatosh (Trexlertown, Pa./Spike).

In the bronze medal match, Eduardo Cocina (Miami, Fla.), Ryan Nelman (Taylor Lake Village, Texas/CKR Racing) and Mike Friedman (Pittsburgh, Pa./TIAA-CREF) won to take third place ahead of Tim Luther (Vancouver, Wash./Northwest All Stars), Stephen McLaughry (Washougal, Wash./Bike Central), and Zachary Copeland (Vancouver, Wash./Northwest All Stars).

In the final team event of the competition, TIAA-CREF added a second team victory to its list with a win in the men’s madison. Friedman and Brad Huff (Fair Grove, Mo.) joined forces to score 22 points and win the gold medal over a second TIAA-CREF team of Chad Hartley (Boulder, Colo.) and Rahsaan Bahati (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Huff and Friedman joined with Will Frischkorn (Boulder, Colo.) and Michael Creed (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to give TIAA-CREF a win in the team pursuit Friday.

2006 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships
Carson, Calif.
Oct. 5-8

Day Four Results

Women’s Keirin
1. Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.)
2. Anna Lang (La Jolla, Calif.)
3. Michelle Bono (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
4. Catherine Fiedler (Long Beach, Calif.)
5. Kacey Manderfield (Davisburg, Mich.)

Women’s Scratch Race
1. Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.)
2. Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.)
3. Theresa Clif-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich.)
4. Catherine Fiedler (Long Beach, Calif.)
5. Anna Webb (San Diego, Calif.)

Men’s Team Sprint
1. Giddeon Massie, Michael Blatchford, Kevin Selker
2. Ben Barczewski, Adam Duvendeck, Andy Lakatosh
3. Eduardo Cocina, Ryan Nelman, Mike Friedman
4. Tim Luther, Stephen McLaughry, Zachary Copeland

Women’s Team Sprint
1. Jennie Reed, Liz Carlson
2. Martha Dunne, Anna Lang
3. Sarah Hammer, Shelby Allen
4. Cari Higgins, Katie Compton

Madison
1. Brad Huff, Mike Friedman
2. Rahsaan Bahati, Chad Hartley
3. Dan Vogt, Austin Carroll
4. Kevin Suhr, Ryan Luttrell
5. Scott Zwizanski, Cody O’Reilly

A view into the future......?

2006-09-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

Jane and I decided to go to the track and do a workout. Mostly so Jane could try out the new strap pedals that she is borrowing from Jennie. I got there and there were about 6 people that were starting to ride around it on their road bikes. They were there with their coach who was video taping their cadence, sprint and things like that. Jane finally met up with me and we got out there to ride around.

WOW! I felt good. Amazing how good I felt after feeling so horrible on Sunday, so sluggish with my legs having no energy and me having no energy. Jane and I did a few efforts. One of them I saw 28! 28 mph!?! Is that right? I haven't seen that for a long time! What's up with that!? And I felt GOOD! I didn't feel tired! I felt I could hold it for awhile. The front stretch I dropped to 26.5 but it felt so good to maintain such a high speed. Then I did a couple other efforts but staying high on the track since the roadies were in the sprint lane. Then while they were reviewing the tape, Jane and I did another effort. I was on her wheel. She took off and in turn 1/2 I was right behind her with hardly a gap, then a little gap, then almost overlapping her. Enough of a concern about overlapping that I backed off by pushing my weight back and slightly 'brushing' the top of my saddle almost like I was going to sit. Then as I saw she was about to jump, I re-positioned forward and went down. I didn't completely stay on her wheel but I was right behind her and I hit 29.3 and only dropped to like 27 or 26.5 for the finish line (head winds were strong). WOW! WOW! I haven't accomplished strong jumps and finishes like that in a long time. It felt really good and I didn't feel tired. Not at all! I think Jane said she hit 32 mph or so on her jump! AWESOME!

I don't know if it is a combination of my workouts I've been doing at home (with weights), rest, the foods I've been eating and/or attitude right now. Whatever it is I am hoping if I can 'end' that way and go into winter with such speeds that I can build upon that all winter and have such a great year next year! It will be incredible. We are going to be strong next year if we are ending the season this well this year. I just wish I would have had more 'gas' in my tank for the season and to end the season feeling so strong. Oh well, you can't change the past you can only change the future. I'll work on getting stronger, losing weight, getting faster, having more endurance, more of a sprint, not burning out and then focus on my track goals. My coach will help me with all these issues and I'm looking forward to hard work!

Track Heaven... sitting on Cloud 9 and loving it.

2006-09-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Jane and I decided to go for a road ride today. We decided we were also going to bring our track bikes - meet at Marymoor - and ride the track for a bit. Jane and I (although I already got a tiny taste of it on Friday) wanted to ride the track and experience it again after Alpenrose. When I got there Jennie Reed was there. If some of you don't know Jennie Reed she is a world cup champion, olympic medal holder just to name a few of many accomplishments. If you look closely she is listed under many of the 'track records' for the times in my Alpenrose Velodrome "Track Record" pictures. (My alpenrose velodrome adventure pics sent to people through ofoto - please contact me if you want to see them.)

I was so excited to see her as we have talked a lot this year when we've been on the track together. It is sometimes hard to talk to people, while working out, as you don't get a lot of time to 'build friendships'. The conversations always seem cutoff or short or 'impersonal' or more about just track. Anyway, we were talking a couple weeks ago and she said she'd be leaving prior to today for her travels. So I was shocked to see her out there and very excited. She is a real upbeat person and has a lot of knowledge about track racing. She's funny and easy to talk to - just real down to earth. Anyway, I was very excited and gave her a hug hello. She said with a greeting like that - how could she turn it down. Jane was just laughing and shaking her head... typical Molly, eh?!

We talked here and there while we were in the infield. Jennie invited us to do a couple last efforts with her. 500 m flying efforts. I'm no sprinter and of course, my legs are dead from end of year 'burnout'. I got nothing more to give so I didn't expect to be on their wheels. I took the back, Jennie in the front and Jane in the middle. WOW! Jane hit 36 mph on the jump. We jumped off turn 4 and the whole time she was only maybe 20 m off her after turn 2 until about 4 where it opened up a bit more. I couldn't stay on their wheels but I hit 29 mph. A number I haven't seen since the beginning of the season and/or being on JANE's WHEEL; nonetheless, doing my own speed. WOW! Incredible. I was soooooo excited!!! Anyway, it felt good. Then she showed us how to do track stands and Jane and I were doing it; albeit, sometimes only for a few seconds. It was awesome.

Jennie asked us if we wanted to go for lunch and invited us over to her place. I just returned from there. It was nice to sit with her and get to know her more without worrying about a workout and so forth. She is a really awesome person! :) And an excellent cook! I really enjoyed it. We had a lot of laughs and talked about all kinds of things. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed each others' company. I look forward to working out with her more - when she's not on the road - and also being able to hang with her. She is such an incredible person both on and off the track. Like I said, down to earth, funny, tell it like it is and pretty open. She's sweet. I wish her good luck at the Nationals. I hope she kicks butt and I'll be watching the cyclingnews.com website to see how she does! THANKS JENNIE!!! You are incredibly sweet and I look forward to getting to know you more!

OH MY GAWD! SWEET ALPENROSE!!!

2006-09-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

WOW! So I left early in the morning, with a few personal delays, to get to Jane's house in Seattle. I picked her up, loaded my car and Jane and I left Thursday morning around 9:15 to drive down to the Sodo district to get her more kit pieces. She has joined a new team this year - Starbuck's - so she was wanting to pick up more pieces to take with her to Alpenrose. Then we were off. We were on the freeway just south of downtown by 10 am. We drove straight down there (1 gas stop in Milton, one rest stop spot near Tumwater, and one near Vancouver, WA). We arrived - thanks to the BIB in my car - at Alpenrose around 1:30. A bit behind schedule but only 30 minutes! We drove up and we were like OH MY GAWD! Jane's jaw dropped. I was laughing and just figuring out where to park, focused on going to the bathroom again and wanting to just get on the track. We were advised by one of my team mates NOT to look down over the rail but rather to just take all your belongings and go down there. I went to the bathroom and when I walked out I see Jane's hanging over the rail. Dropping some F* bombs and OH MY GAWDS!!!! We were just laughing.

Quick note about statistics between Alpenrose vs. Marymoor. Per the OBRA/Alpenrose track website:

Alpenrose Velodrome is one most exciting tracks in the United States. At 268.43 meters around with a 16.6 meter radius and a 43 degree bank, Alpenrose is also one of the steepest velodromes in the country. The steep banks make races on the velodrome interesting to watch and just plain fun to ride. Alpenrose is still home for the only North American Six-day race.

Because Alpenrose track is not your typical 25 to 33 degree banked track (it is between 42 and 43 degrees on both banks according to one grade meter), so at least one or two training sessions are recommended before venturing out for a mass start race. You especially want to get use to riding the short radius corners although the upper transitions have been improved for safety.

Compared to the Marymoor Velodrome is 400 meters with a 25 degree bank. It is known as the 'concrete monster' as it is so large.

Our goal is to go up this winter as well to Burnaby, located in Vancouver, B.C., which is 200 meters, 43 degree banking and a wood track. Much smaller and faster than Alpenrose. One day perhaps Victoria's Juan de Fuca Velodrome as well which is 333.4 meters with 30+ degree banks and concrete.

So we got our stuff together, got changed and headed down to the track. We first had to check out the 'track record' board. WOW! Amazing what speeds. Hey and we recognize some of the names of those we have rode with such as Jennie Reed! Oh my goodness! It was so odd. Then we had to walk down to the rail and get down to the track. We had to use a 'ladder', or as Jane called it a "SUBMARINE LADDER" to get DOWN to the track. We were having to carry the bikes, our bags and everything. HOW BIZZARE was this!? It was very odd for us as on Marymoor you just jump a rail and you are on the track. All level on the ground. So we are just looking at this track in awe. How small it was, how steep it was and how we were like - we're going to ride this?! AH ok... let's do it. As we're riding around the apron it felt like we were riding against a wall when we were in the 'turns'. Turns 3 and 4 felt 'pinched' so as you were riding around it, trying to gain speed, you lost your 'line' and kept going towards the wall. Jane was the first one to venture out on the track. Seeing her do it made me realize I had to do it so I went out. Ok.... got to stay at least 15 mph (although others told us 12 for 'contact' and others said AT LEAST 18 to feel safe) to stay on this track. I started cruising at 17 or so and stayed upright for a few laps. I then felt tired and got back down on the apron. Turns 3 and 4 were not as 'centrifigual force' like for me as most talked about. I imagined it would get worse on higher speeds but even later it still felt more like I got pushed DOWN rather than the usual UP.

So Jane and I went out a couple more times. I think my third time I decided to venture above the blue line. Jane was quite impressed by that and tried it herself. It was so exhilirating and awesome and scary at the same time. So then we went over to talk to a gentleman that worked for OBRA and picked his brain a lot about the track, speeds, starts and so on. We learned they do rail starts. HUH?! You had like 20m to get up to speed. DANG! OK! He told us many times they start the race and they drop down to the apron to catch 'speed' around the turn and get up on the track on the back straight. We were realizing that this track, unlike Marymoor, has no little 'vacation', 'catch your breath', 'rest', 'unwind', 'hold back' type areas. You were ALWAYS on for this track. We also learned that their 'points races' at the end of the season are BIG! Like 40 laps or so. The men were like 55 or so. UGH! Ok. We did a few more efforts, took a few pictures and then had the BIB take us to town for a restaurant. It was quite entertaining as we tried to go to 2 different Thai restuarants but they seem to be closed between 3 and 4:30 and it was 3:30. We had to be back at the track around 5 for a 6:30 race start. We finally gave into Mexican, in the Highlands area, as we sat and talked about how we were feeling to race. Both of us felt physically drained of any energy, being the end of the season, and weren't sure we wanted to race. We felt like if it was 40 laps or so we would not.

We got back to the 'drome and hung out for a bit as no one was really there but the volunteers getting ready to work. One gentleman, Dean, was cleaning up people's bikes. Lo and Behold Alan K., from Broadmark, showed up from Seattle. We see him on Marymoor all the time. WOW! Ok... now Jane and I are feeling we can't back down... good thing! :) So we signed up, got our stuff and went to the infield. Some guy, in the stands, showed me how to use the rail area to set my bike down - on the rail - as I crawled down the 'submarine ladder'. Later, another guy showed me how to use the other rail to get the bike out. Now I know the secret of the locals. :) We did a warm-up. I jumped into a 'pace line' of 2 younger junior girls. They were going pretty fast and we did about 12 laps or so and then I pulled out. It was tiring to be going so fast so long. It just felt different. Although, I now have a new goal to not 'sleep' so much on Marymoor and to treat it more like it is a small track - to build up speed, strength and endurance.

We were the first race. Field of 7. 35 laps. UGH! (35 laps is almost 6 miles as about 6 laps = 1 mile on their track. That was about 2 miles more than in any one race we ever raced at Marymoor. Also - it would be at higher speeds CONSISTENTLY.) They started us at the rail and Jane and I were at the back. I realized, as we took off, these girls were NOT dropping to the apron. I quickly wound my legs up to get to speed as I worried about sliding down the track in the turn. I later found out that since our field is so small they don't necessarily drop to the apron in those circumstances. GREAT! I was able to stay with the pack for about the first 5 or 6 laps - the first sprint and then some... then I dropped.... completely off. I was lapped 3 times the whole race. OH MY GAWD! NEVER have I been lapped before; nonetheless, that many times. It was humiluating. Jane was off the back, but ahead of me, and was able to pretty much stay much closer to the field then I ever was. She was only lapped 1 time. I was in the 'sprint' lane knowing they were coming around but even though I was going 19-21 I didn't feel I had 'energy' or 'leg strength' to go up above the blue line. I stayed low. Laps 22 to 21 I realized I need not look at the lap board so much but I did. I also kept thinking - just pull off, no don't pull off, no one is here to be humiluated in front of, no don't pull off, you'll be stronger, it's a good workout, so don't pull off. I kept going. The 2nd and 3rd times I was lapped I finally went above the blue line realizing I was ok. After the last sprint I was kind of feeling a 2nd wind and felt bad one of the girls that stayed in the main pack was off. I kept thinking I could find enough oomph to pull her up and then peeter off but I just couldn't. We didn't think we could do it - but we DID! We did it and we are better off for so many reasons because of it!! WOOHOO!!!

Jane and I continued to socialize with others, watch the races and cheer on Alan. He was on his way down to LA for nationals. NICE! We hope he will do well! He did awesome out there - scoring points - for his first time on that track. Everyone was so sweet down there, so informative and so friendly. It was funny to hear how many have never been to another track which is very common for those that race at Marymoor as well. It was just quite interesting. We invited people up and told them they really need to try it and that we hope to get down there more next year! SWEET!

We left and made the BIB tell us the short, but semi-long, way to the hotel. We LOVED the hotel. It was awesome, very high quality and we were able to use my entertainment book coupon to have a $110 room for 1/2 price! NICE! We quickly unloaded and then enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi for awhile. Relaxing and talking. We were both pumped with ideas (like wow - did you hear the paint crinkling under your wheel? Yeah! I imagined a paint chip loosening and sliding my front wheel down the track), workout info, goal info and so on. We talked about our coach, others that we race with and so on. We are pumped and managed to find our passion for track again. We then turned in for a good night's sleep.

We woke up on Friday morning and packed up to leave, check-out and go for breakfast. We got a bit of a late start but no worries. So we used the BIB to find a breakfast place. We found a perfect named place - Sisters of the road! Awesome! Sweet and so appropriate! So we were on our way. It took us through the Hollywood section which we were quite impressed by and then down to the 'Old Town' section of Portland. Ah yeah! Ok... it was like the 'pioneer square' area of Seattle. It was - as I stated at the time - "Scary Seattle". Ok... so we being the 'princesses' that we are decided to go back to "HOLLYWOOD". We found a place called "Biscuits Cafe" on "Sandy Blvd". We really enjoyed it. Such a quaint, nice, clean and quiet little cafe. The food was SPECTACULAR! It was great!

We were just a block away from "Bike Gallery" so we walked up there to see it. Jane saw they were very into mountain bikes and decided to ask about some 'chain tensioners'. SCORE! She got some for her bike! On top of that, we spoke to this guy - Dean - who races for Team Rubicon. He also came up to Marymoor for the FSA Grand Prix. Jane totally remembers him and his "Orbea" bike. So we had a long discussion with him about the Alpenrose track. Again, such sweet people! He even looked up their 'recorded' sprint times that different women (and the men) had. Now Jane has even more goals as they usually do timed sprints on Friday nights. Jane's found a nitch and she wants to pedal with it! :) Hee hee She'd need to have a 200m around 13 seconds and a 500m around 42 seconds to really be competitive with their more 'top end' people that showed up this year.

Off we went and returned back to the velodrome. We did another hour workout there. There was a gentleman, Tim Luther, that was out there. He was giving us some tips about sprinter's type cleats/straps for Jane to look into purchasing. He gave us tips about how to use the track banking, jumps and so on. On Thursday we were just in awe to be on the track, feel the track under our wheels, feel the speed and so on. We didn't have the guts to do jumps. Now we wanted to do jumps. So we did. I did the first one although I didn't have enough guts to stand up. I just took the line. It felt so odd to be against the rail, although I didn't get as close as I normally do on Marymoor; nonetheless, be looking DOWN the track as such a steep bank. YIKES! Jane was right behind. Jane did 3 and I did 4. It felt good. Jane looked really good up there and I could tell she was feeling more comfortable to stay above the blue line. It took a LOT more effort to stay UP in speed PLUS climb the "HILL" of the banking and keep that speed up. OY! Our legs still felt toast but it felt sooooooo good to be out there, on a different track, experience different things and learn different things. It was odd because as soon as you gained speed you were thrown into the turns and had to maintain that speed and fight the centrifugal force and not so smooth turn transitions. Afterwards, Tim asked me if we wanted to do a cool down with him. I said sure and got Jane to join us. We did 15 cool down laps at 17-21 mph. It felt really good. Jane said I looked really smooth out there. She looked really awesome doing jumps out there. I think if she got to ride that track more she could really kick some butt out there and on Marymoor! She was in her element! She looked strong! I want to see her succeed out there - on the track - with her sprints. We thanked Tim for talking with us and helping us out. WOW! We were so impressed by everyone and how sweet and open they were. The area - Alpenrose Dairy Farm - that the velodrome is located is just so special in its own way. It was truly an awesome experience. We took pictures of us laying against the track and sitting against the track just to show how easy it was to be on it. I mean look how easy it is to 'perch' against it.

Jane and I had a lot of fun and we really enjoyed talking about the passion we have for track as we ventured back home. I dropped Jane off around 7 pm and on my way home - having just enough light - I decided to stop and get pics of the velodrome, as I did with Alpenrose, with nobody on it. I couldn't take it though... I almost didn't do it... but I was there... I had to know... what does it feel like after riding that short track? I thought - oh you can wait til Sunday to venture out but my legs wanted to immediately feel the difference. So I quickly through on my helmet and shoes, wearing my street clothes, and took my bike out there.

WOW! What a difference to be out there! My legs were fried - FRIED - but I could tell the difference. The "uphill" didn't seem so "Uphill" anymore. I was able to maintain at least 17-18 mph on the turns and easily pick up speed of 19-22 on the flats. I even tried to do a few jumps and couldn't maintain it for long but felt like oh my god this is so long!!! The turns so flat, easy, smooth and effortless. I even played with going into turn 1 and 2 at 11 mph. It felt slow as molasses and odd to hold that knowing that 12 was the straight away sticking point for Alpenrose. WOW!

So many things to think about and do to get us up to speed for next year! My passion is back for the track!

Also, Jane recognized the name Tim Luther so I did some research and this is what I found. Needless to say, we feel very special that we got the chance to ride with such an Alpenrose Legend. WOW! It is incredible the people we 'run into' on the track, ride with, talk with and race against. AWESOME!

Excerpt from the bicycle paper, see link below.

http://www.bicyclepaper.com/bp/issues/Aug06/bp1.htm

The Olympic Sprint, which showcased a breathtaking
display of high-speed coordination, saw a trio of
exceptionally well-muscled and powerful lads from the
Burnaby Velodrome in British Colombia give a clinic on
cohesion, execution, and speed. They won their third
consecutive title in this event, in 54.36, only a half
second off the track record. Keith Bruneau, Barlee,
and Matt Chater (Fast Twitch Cycling) are so well
matched that only 0.01 of a second separated their
flying laps times! Locals Stephen McLaughry and
Copeland brought Alpenrose legend Tim Luther out of
semi-retirement and earned silver in 55.46, while Team
Rubicon's Dean Tracy, Steven Beardsley, and Abers took
third.

http://rogue.northwest.com/~velo/tr98spr.htm

http://rogue.northwest.com/~velo/tr98stg.htm

This is partial result information for the 1998 State Games

STATE GAMES OF OREGON
ALPENROSE VELODROME - JULY 12, 1998
Portland, Oregon

OLYMPIC SPRINTS
CANADIAN COMP TEAM 57:32
JOE HAILEY, TIM LUTHER, DON GILMORE

http://www.obra.org/track/records/1998.html

Dean Tracy, from the bike shop, is awesome in his own right as well! He did great at our FSA Grand Prix at Marymoor for Team Rubicon.

http://www.fsagrandprix.com/FSA_GP_Results.pdf

http://app.obra.org/results/racer/5960

http://www.butlerpress.com/cycling/2003/six_day/six_day_1.html

http://www.velonews.com/race/trk/articles/6602.0.html

http://www.cyclingforums.com/showthread.php?t=29215

http://www.cyclingforums.com/showthread.php?t=29215

Oregon riders at US Track Nationals
August 15th, 2005

Local racers claimed a whopping 13 medals at this year’s U.S. Track National Championships in Los Angeles.

Here’s the rundown:
Silver
U23 Pursuit; Walker Starr
Bronze
Sprints; Heather Vanvalkenburg
Pursuit; Walker Starr
U23 Kilo ; Dean Tracy
Team Sprint; Jen Featheringill

End of the season...

2006-09-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

It is the end of the track season. With the end comes many different feelings of sadness, disappointment, happiness, relief and many others. Wednesday night's race was a bit off for me. I could tell I was completely exhausted moreso than I ever imagined. I sucked. I was sooooo exhausted and my heart rate was 188 most of the 'warm-up'.

First race was an 8 lap tempo and I was off the back for most of it. I would just catch up and the pack would take off again and I didn't feel I had enough energy to keep up. Second race I decided not to do it. The third race was a 4x4 which I was able to stay in the back, to the middle and then before the 2nd sprint two people took off in the sprinter's lane and I was in the best position to jump so I did. I just jumped on Jen's wheel and she was behind someone else and we went. I then went
around them and I was able to hold the sprint for almost a lap and took the points. I had nothing after that. I simply died. About the last 5 or 6 laps I was
by myself. Just doing laps. I was in turn 2 when I heard the bell ringing as they were on the front stretch for the last lap. I was toast!

It was good overall though. very challenging. Took a recovery drink and hope that will help and I'll be rested for Friday. We will see.

Friday night felt the same way. I did some paceline warm-ups and a couple efforts. My heart rate was now 192 and it was taking 5 or 6 laps for me to get into the 170s or 160s. I remember early in the season it would just be a lap or two and I would be recovered down to like 140's, 130s. UGH! Obviously more tired or out of shape already with the end of the season.

Most of the evening for warm-up I rode above the blue line and tried to take it easy but tried to keep my legs spinning. Perhaps this was a mistake but I'll never know. I was trying to keep them going as our race was only going to be one shot and we were having to sit for about an hour prior to getting to the rail. We got to the rail and with lots of spectators in the bleechers and around the whole velodrome - we took off. Our pack was able to stay together. I luckily stayed in about mid-pack. I was unable to muster the strength for any courageous sprints but I stuck on wheels and stuck in the group. It felt good but it was also painful. Before I knew it it was all over. I was able to do a long cool-down with some of the women and then talk in the in-field with them. One of my friends came over to talk to me and hang out with me in the beer garden. I was able to see other people I haven't seen for awhile that came to visit me like Louise, Leslie and Carl. It was nice to visit with them for awhile as well. They left fairly soon but Kelly stayed around to visit with me.

I was able to congratulate Jill B as she was upgraded to a Cat 3. Jitka was also upgraded. Congrats girls! :) It was fun talking to people, seeing the awards handed out and also seeing a streaker by the end of the evening. LOL! That was hilarious! I was there until midnight and it felt good to say goodbye to most of the people I raced with this year.

Saturday I decided to go up to Rattlesnake Lake and hang out for a bit next to the Lake. It felt really good just to be. Today I will be going for a hike with a college friend. On Monday I'm going to the races and then going to a BBQ. It should be a lot of fun. Thursday I'm heading down to Portland to try and race down there for the first time. It will be fun to take a road trip with Jane and get out of here. I need to do things that I havent' done all summer, need to get out, do refreshing, battery re-charging things to feel better.

I'm lookin gforward to winter training, of being bored, of just spinning and not thinking about tactics and such. To weight train, cross-country ski and whatever else I do. It will be good. I realize now I need to stay out of the energy sucking velodrome politics and save it all for myself and the track. I need to be selfish that way and I realize what other things I need to do for myself to get above and beyond where I am this year. Next year should be a big stepping stone and with less expectations.

Back on Track, again!

2006-08-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

WOW! Last night blew my mind away! I felt so incredibly strong getting back on the track. My legs felt a tiny bit tired but STRONG. I did things without thinking much about it. During warm-ups and the races I tucked down as much as I could to try to draft off people and save energy. I relaxed my hips and felt it was easier to pedal. I scooted to the front of my saddle and felt more powerful. It felt good to be out there and good to feel strong. This is the way I want the whole season to go next year so I can kick some butt! It feels good to be ending on a higher note so next year I won't be so discouraged.

The first race was an 8 lap scratch. I was able to stay with the pack. I even was towards the front across the finish line. It wasn't too bad and I felt strong. Jen made a comment while we were racing about how all the "Byrne girls" were blocked in. I told her where to go - competitively - and somehow we all got out of the box and kicked some butt! The second race was a 2 lap chariot. I hate that race. My heat was going a bit slow and the other 3 or 4 girls were at the very top of the track. I kept awaiting for an attack to occur. I was in the sprinter's lane. I decided to attack between turn 3 and 4. I stood up and stayed up until between turn 1 and 2. I then sat down and pushed, pushed, pushed, tried to relax knowing they were closing in on me.... and then they all came swooping around me for the finish line. I came in 4th or 5th. Not too bad as I usually am way off the back. The last race was a 4x4. I was able to - I think - take a few points on the 2nd sprint as I came in 3rd. I just kept trying to stay with the pack as well as I could and be as strong as I could. I felt stronger and faster which is good for me. I need that esteem booster after the week I've had. I also felt I was very aggressive in some of the races. I think it was the anger and emotions I've been withholding. It is a good thing. I was able to get past a lot of emotions and let out a lot of things.

Tuesday I did a body fat test. It was as I expected but not as I hoped. I want to lose 25 lbs this winter. I want to weight train, cycle, cross-country ski, roller skate, walk/run and so on. I hope to make major changes this year and come back stronger next year. Yet I was a bit down about it. Then I was told that Jane is making some major changes that are really positive for her. I am excited for her but also sad and concerned about how it will all change our friendship. It is ok though. I cried and cried and cried. Yesterday was quite emotional for me still. I don't know how I feel about all those things that have occurred to me - mostly on the track - but also off the track. I don't know how I feel about how it will all change and what it all means for next year. I just know I was in a zone last night. I had to be and I had to stay in it. It seemed to help.

I was also hurt that a 'friend' didn't even say hello. I am happy for him and another 'friend' as it appears they are connecting and happy. That is cool but I felt I got the cold shoulder and not even a hello. That's not what I consider a friend.... so bug off... if you aren't going to be a good friend then leave me alone.

I have a date on Friday night - at the track races. Should be a blast! We will see what happens. I've already met the guy. He seems nice but a bit hmmm.. not my type...but you never know. I got several dates lined up for next week as well. But most of all - I am going to focus on me for awhile.... focus on getting situated and setup for fall/winter training. I need to be on track for several goals for next year. I need to stay really focused and know what my expectations are to be able to succeed with them.

On another note, a girlfriend that moved away a couple years ago is back in town. I am SO excited. She and I really enjoyed doing things like hiking up Tiger Mountain in the winter, riding our bikes on week nights - down the trail, with our little lights in the winter crisp air and so on. It will be SO good to do those things with her again. I really enjoyed it. She is an incredibly - can do, doesn't bother me, independent woman. I've learned a lot from her and hope to continue to learn a lot. I am REALLY excited and I think this is the fresh air I needed right now. I want a lot of support for this winter with training! I am really excited for it!

Slowly enjoying life again.... coming on up the hill.

2006-08-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to get off the bike a bit. I had to take a mental and physical break from everything to get through these last few weeks with a positive attitude. Thursday, I did a bunch of errands and stopped by the track. I got to watch some of the practice but more importantly I took my roller skates and I went to where the Cirque du Soleil setup was and practiced. It felt VERY good to be doing something else, having fun and getting my skate legs underneath me. I then went to the local roller rink and skated with my girlfriend. I haven't done that for about 2 years. It was a lot of fun to see a bunch of old familiar faces. I definitely want to incorporate 2x/month, at least, roller skating in my fitness workouts.

Friday: I had off work. YEAH! I chilled, cleaned, chilled, cleaned. I went to Talledega Nights - awesome!!! TOOOO FRILLIN' HILLARIOUS!!! :) Definitely needed that. Then I cleaned my car - needed that. I then went to the track and watched the races. It was a lot of fun. Some people are definitely coming back strong these next few weeks which is awesome. I got to cheer people on with Sile, Jill and Jitka. Sile challenged me to not cheer on anyone during the Cat 3 Men's last race. MAN that was difficult. Kevin was doing awesome and bridged up really well from the pack to the breakaway! He's definitely a strong rider and is about to upgrade to Cat 2. His first Madison Race is this Friday. It will be fun to watch him do that.

Saturday: I did a short bike ride in the morning. Then Kevin and I got together and went to Rattlesnake Lake. We just sat, chilled and talked. We were easily amused by a bunch of middle school boys. It was fun to get away from the 'world' for a little bit - the city, the bikes, a lot of people and so forth. Definitely needed that time.

Sunday: I woke up at 6 am to get to Seattle by 7. I then fought traffic to deal with getting to the Danskin Triathalon buses. Got shuttled over to Genessee Park and watched my girlfriend compete. She did really well! she coached 65 women this year and did really well. :) I am very proud of her. I also saw one of my track buddy's wife's come across the finish line. LOL! He emailed me that she (along with my friend already trying) is going to work at convincing me to do this next year. After standing around for 3 hours I then went to the bus again and got shuttled back to Safeco Field. I then did some city type things until the "Sprints to Nowhere" happened. I got to Magnuson Park/Sandpoint to watch the races. Jane and Jill R, from Byrne, were there! They kicked butt! Jane won 1st place!!! She rocked!!! Jill took 4th place. Jose, from CounterBalance, did well too. Messman was there and he did well. Kevin was there and even though he said he didn't want to race, I guess he changed his mind with all the prizes that were available and the chance to win one of them. He did but I have no clue what he choose to take home. Jenny, Lara and Sharon were also there and 'working'. It was a lot of fun as the group of people that showed up are really cool. Afterwards Jane, Jill and I went out for dinner. I was tired though. I was comatosed essentially and could barely stay up or have a conversation. I then drove home and my dang GPS system took me the most direct route from where I was but it was SLOW! :( UGH! I didn't get home til about 10:30. I was very tired.

Monday: Some interesting developments are occurring in my life. On a personal note, I look forward to the changes, the challenges and so forth. It is also making me nervous and a bit sad. It will be ok though. I'll be stronger for all of it and keep working at moving forward, progressing forward. It felt better to be at the track and hang out. It was fun to watch Jane practicing her cyclocross mounts and dismounts as the newbie track racers were racing. I also sold my Fuji track bike to one of the Starbuck's girls. I hope she really enjoys it next year and will have fun with all of us! :)

Jane and I are looking forward to racing at Alpenrose on the 7th. We plan on getting down there early to practice on it and then just racing to have some fun. The 8th we may stay to practice a bit or head on home. We haven't co-ordinated about that yet. Unfortunately, my friend Brian gave me horror stories about racing down there that I SO did not need to hear about. Thanks Brian! :) I'll keep your reminder in the back of my brain and try to be as safe as possible.

Tuesday: Today, I woke up at 6:15. I was ready to get on my rollers at 6:30. I could not pedal to save my life. UGH! What is going on? I'm barely awake and I'm trying to figure it out. Is the band broken or off the roller? No. Is my tire flat? Yes. What the?! Why is my tire flat. Dang, I buy the bike on Wednesday and now the first thing that happens to me is my tire is flat?! Great. So I pump it up with no confidence that it will stay inflated and that I'd be spending my workout time fixing a flat rather than working out. Then it dawns on me.... KEVIN! Kevin let air out of my tire last Wednesday night to see what type of tires I had. OK Kevin! You are now on my: "Track men are bad" list. #1 Position. LOL!

Tonight, I am going to meet up with Jane after work and do a fat test. The hydrostatic body fat testing. That will give us a starting point. I am excited to be getting into the gym to lift weights. It will be fun to watch what happens this year as I do more weight lifting (as I've got away from that the last 2 years), eating less again for the winter, working with Kenny and doing more cross-training type work. Should be a fun, powerful, challenging and life changing winter. I am looking forward to it and seeing where it will progress to for next year.

Welcome to Molly's Burntoutland - how may I help you?!

2006-08-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Burntoutland. We have fun here! There are tons of things to do with so little motivation and energy to do it. We deprive you of sleep by making you stay up until midnight, wake you up around 5:30 am, 6 am, oh wait! last night we changed that for giggles and did 3-4 am. We did let you sleep 'til 7 am though so aren't we nice? We zap the energy out of you and make you tired as all get out. You may feel you have the physical endurance with your muscles but your upper body will feel very lethargic, very heavy, your breathing will become fast and heavy, your heart rate will not recover quickly, your lungs will feel as if they will implode and your upper body will completely feel tired. Don't forget, we know you aren't working out as hard as you used to so cutting back calories is a must. You're body will need to adjust to your 'winter' setting again. Zapping you of all energy will build your character to be stronger and better in the end.

You will not race. A warm-up is all we will allow and then you'll feel completely like a weenie. You'll feel like you let yourself and others down. You'll feel like - what's wrong with me? Why am I not pushing myself harder, challenging myself, not backing down and giving it all you can? The answer: Cuz you are just completely beyond yourself with exhaustion mentally and physically.

So once we strip you of all your worth we will build you up again. We aren't cruel enough to just let you lay by the wayside. No, no... this is where you will go out for fun! FUN!!! Fun I say!!! So now you are off to go shopping and then go roller skating. You will enjoy the gym tomorrow and then relax, have fun, go to a movie and then go watch the races! :) YEAH! Saturday - not sure what is up yet but you are going to go have fun followed by dinner with college buds. Sunday you will support a friend in the Danskin triathalon, relax, have fun and then go watch the "Sprints to Nowhere". This should be very relaxing for you. You should have fun and be ready to come out like a frickin' maniacal bull - seeing red - and ready to tear off people's heads for the next two races! YEAH! You will be driven, you will be rejuvenated and you will have fun! You'll end the season feeling like yeah - I was burnt out, yeah I needed to take time off but I did it and next year will only get better.

Soon you'll just enjoy life. Go have fun, get to do a pedicure, manicure, go to a bachelorette party, be in a wedding, do some recreational rides, do other fun things and settle in for the winter. Work with your new coach, Kenny Williams, when he returns from Europe and he will light the firecracker under your rear and get you stoking again! HECK YEAH! You're into it! You're feeling the drive, the inspiration, the motivation... it's just gone for this season but it will be back 10x stronger for next season! Then you'll be in happy land again! :)

Thank you for stopping at Molly's Burnoutland. We appreciate your participation. Please do not forget your belongings as you exit to the right, stand tall, feel proud and know that you can ride this roller coaster again - just don't throw up next time.

Ready for the season change...

2006-08-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Last night, while at home and making my famous vegetable salad, I realized I'm ready for the season change. I'm feeling more 'domesticated' right now. I'm ready to slow down. I'm really examining what worked well for me this year, what didn't work well, how much time I should let myself play this fall/winter before starting up training again.

Racing at the Marymoor Velodrome has been fun this year. It has been a great challenge, great learning opportunities, a place for fun, making friends and learning more about myself. I have enjoyed this year tremendously even though it feels different from last year. I think I'm settled in, feel more comfortable, feel more grounded about what it takes and what I have to give as well as what I want. I am a bit disappointed that I did not see better results for this year. I like to push myself beyond my comfort zone, beyond what I mentally feel I can do and handle with pain (without hurting myself), to strive to be stronger, to get past my quitting zone. To give all I can and then some - as much as possible. But I'm tired. Really tired and burnt out. I've trained since last November. I barely took time off. I hit the track semi-hard in March, April and harder in May as I wound up for the racing season. I was really strong in June and felt I was making a lot of progress. I was feeling hard core strong and dedicated. Then, I believe due to many things, I fizzled in July. Now I feel I am making a slow comeback for the last 3 weeks. It's ok.... I'm ready for change.

Jane and I have discussed this at great length. She is feeling the same way. Although, she will have a blast with cyclocross and I will have a blast watching everyone doing cyclocross since it is not my thing - by any means! I had fun watching, cheering, taking pictures and helping take care of everyone during the race season. It will be a lot of fun and something worth looking forward to - for me. Then, afterwards I can come home and do my own workouts and/or go play. I hope Jane will not get burnt out not getting time off but I know she will after cyclocross season is done. *sigh* Balance is the key word for both of us for this upcoming year.

I'm saddened by the fact that I was driving to the track yesterday, to lift my spirits up and get my inner motivation to be out there for the last few weeks and I got a wiff of what smelled like camp fire. *sigh* I haven't camped at all this year! I am bummed. Next year I think I want to be more balanced with other activities, other ways to have fun and not be so focused on track. Take my bike up to Mt. Rainier and ride around Mt. Rainier for the weekend like I did a few summers ago. That was a blast! Or over in eastern Washington to ride out by Roslyn area.

*sigh*... I don't normally look forward to winter. Fall, yes, with the change of the leaves, the fresh fall air, the smell of the leaves and the crinkling under the bike tires or your foot as you walk. Ah yes, fall is gorgeous and I hope to do some small bike rides or go for a drive up in the mountains with tons of scenery to take spectacular pictures. But winter.... I don't know... rain? Darkness? Gloomy and cold days? But it does bring to light winter training, cross-country skiing, working in the gym, curling up to books on a rainy day with hot chocolate, sleeping in on a rainy day and later going for a bike ride in the cold and rain, hanging with friends and family. It will be a good time.

I feel this year really created a good base for me. My coach did a wonderful job working with me and putting together a program to teach my body how to work well within each zone. I think this year may be a bit easier for me and I might be able to do some more 'fun things' even during the season. I think that is key so I don't feel so burnt out again. I also think I'll be volunteering less to help with Monday night racing and/or classes. I love teaching the classes though and don't want to give that up. But I think going to EVERY Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, some Fridays and then training some Saturdays/Sundays is too much. I need to find more balance (on and off the track), fun, cross-training type fun, etc. for next year. I think I can succeed with that. I am more nervous about starting with a new coach, starting to road race and getting my butt handed to me. I am WAY MORE EXCITED to see what potential I have and to see how well my coach can work with me to get me to my goals!

Onward and Upward for next year! I am very excited to continue to see more people out there, to meet the track 'friends' again, train hard, go faster, stronger and just plain ol' have tons of FUN in the SUN! WOOHOOO!!!

Weekend full of just living...

2006-08-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

I first went to the track races at the Marymoor Velodrome Friday night. Unfortunately, I let myself get a bit wild and let my hair down. I don't normally allow myself to be so vulnerable but with people that I really trust it seems easy. A couple people had my back - thank goodness - and took real good care of me. THANKS GUYS! I appreciate you more than words can say! Thank you!! I had fun watching people race on Friday. I had fun talking with Tye as I spilled my guts to him and his girlfriend - see what state I was in? Not a good state - Molly all out, true, honest, open book WAY more than she usually is. Not necessarily a good thing. :( I had fun cheering people on and seeing them race. I felt bad I didn't go talk to one person in particular, that I usually talk to, and hope I can talk to them this week.

Then I went to Carnation on Saturday to watch the girls race. They did awesome! I then zoomed down to Tacoma for a bridal shower. Yes, I was late and they knew I'd be late. :) It's ok... the party didn't really start yet. The bride is an old personal trainer of mine - back in 2001-2003. She is fantastic! I am in her wedding on September 16th which should be pretty magnficient. Some of the girls were as wild as I usually am but I wasn't. I think I was subdued because there were parents around and so on..... I'll really cut loose at the bachelorette party. I guess we are getting a limo to take us around town - Seattle - and then dropping us off in Tacoma. I can probably get my mom to pick me up and crash at her place since it is like 10 blocks from the bride's.

Sunday I woke up around 6:30 to get ready to ride from Olympia to Tacoma to mark the last half of the RAPSody course. I carpooled with several people and we got there around 9 am. We didn't start til later. It was hilarious to be standing around, waiting for everyone, and to hear about Bob's mishap. The spray paint can cut loose, busted the top, in the Mason Lake area. Bob's shoes were a fluorescent green and he was trying to scrape some of it off. Poor guy. His legs still had signs of paint, his bike (cogs, spokes, wheels, etc.) were all green! His wheels looked like the cheap man's version of Milly's speedblend tires. YEAH! LOL! I sure hope he can get it all cleaned off his carbon bike.

The ride was awesome. I had a lot of fun just riding. Riding with people, riding by myself on some stretches, doing short sprints against Kristin. It was a lot of fun. I want that fun of riding back! :) I'm feeling burnt out and I think I need more social/recreational/fun riding. I'll make sure to get that in this winter! :)

Afterwards, I had to drive towards the Mason Lake area to pick up my old car rack as I found a buyer for it - in W. Seattle. I chose to take the Southworth ferry over. It was a 2 hour wait! UGH! Ok... whatever... I get to chill. Eat, relax, listen to music and chill. Ah the life! :) Got to W. Seattle at 9:15 and sold my rack. We talked about biking a bit. Ironicially his physical therapist is my coach. I got home at 11 pm. Kind of funny... the next day I got an email from this guy. He asked if it would be ok to see me again and call me. I said sure. I mean why not? What do I got to lose?

It's been interesting... I've had a 'dry spell' of just living life, hanging, training and so forth. Not really dating which is fine by me. I'm in no hurry, I'm not into finding someone just to find someone or to play games and so forth. Seems like as the season winds down tons of guys have been coming out of the wood work. What is up with that? You can have really good friends, for a very long time. I find it incredibly fortunate to have such great connections with people - regardless of age differences, distance or what have you. It is way better to have positive people in your life to influence you (even if briefly) than keeping negative ones. REALLY good friends are hard to find and I would welcome the right friendship for a long time. In no hurry.... come out of the wood work all you want... but this woman is going to be very particular about which one won't go back.

USA Cycling Master Track National Championships

2006-08-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

My soon to be coach - Kenny Williams - ROCKS!

Williams, Copeland add to master track titles

Williams added a 3000m time trial title to his kilo and points race crowns (photo: Casey B. Gibson)

Colorado Springs, Colo. (August 12, 2006)—Sixteen more stars-and-stripes jerseys were handed out Saturday at the penultimate day of the 2006 USA Cycling Master Track National Championships at the 7-Eleven Velodrome in Colorado Springs, Colo. Among the national championship-worthy performances were two more world records – bringing the total to six after four days of racing.

The two world records were broken in the men’s sprint competition courtesy of Stephen Hill (Winston, Ga./East Point Track) and Rich Voss (Littleton, Colo./Hammer Racing). Hill posted an in-competition time of 11.117 seconds over the final 200 meters to best the previous mark of 11.338 seconds in the men’s 40-44 age group. Voss lowered the same world record in the men’s 50-54 division from 11.970 to 11.528. Both riders subsequently earned national titles in the sprint. Dave Lindsey (Colorado Springs, Colo./Excel Sports) rounded out the day’s sprint victors, capturing the men’s 45-49 category.

In time trial competition, Randy McLain (Boulder, Colo./Hammer Racing) won the men’s 30-34 3000-meter race against the clock, turning in a winning time of 3 minutes, 34.756 seconds to give him his second national title of the week. On Thursday, McLain also captured the points race. Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) added a third national title to his résumé this week, adding a men’s 35-39 title in the 3000-meter time trial to his victories earlier in the week in the kilometer time trial and points race. Williams clocked a winning time of 3:26.920.

In women’s competition, Annette Hanson (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) captured the women’s 40-44 2000-meter time trial with a time of 2:33.611 and Melissa McCafferty (Manitou Springs, Colo./Hammer Racing) posted a 2:44.379 to earn a stars-and-stripes jersey in the women’s 45-49 2000-meter time trial. Hanson’s win was her second of the week after taking home the points race title Friday.

Copeland won the points race, 500m time trial and sprint (photo: Casey B. Gibson)
Saturday also saw seven points race competitions. In men’s action, Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters) added a men’s 60-64 10-kilometer points race title to his 500-meter time trial and sprint titles, giving him three stars-and-stripes jerseys for the week. Charles Watson (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Southbay Wheelmen) rode to a win in the men’s 65+ 10-kilometer points race, complimenting his 2000-meter time trial win Friday. Paul Mack (Boulder, Colo./American Cycling Association) captured a win the men’s 55-59 10-kilometer points race, scoring 40 points and lapping the field once. Kele Murdin (Kenmore, Wash./Velo Bella-Kona) won her second national title of the event, adding a win in the women’s 30-34 10-kilometer points race to her 2000-meter time trial win. Renee Eastman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Vitamin Cottage) won the women’s 35-39 10-kilometer points race, Louella Holter (Flagstaff, Ariz./Greggs-Specialized) won the women’s 55+ 10-kilometer points race and Melanie Petersen (El Segundo, Calif./South Bay Wheelmen) won the women’s 50-54 10-kilometer points race.

Two more national champions from Friday’s program were also finally made official on Saturday. Dan Vogt (Corona Del Mar, Claif./Vision Velo) earned a national title in the men’s 40-44 25-kilometer points race with a final score of 55 points and Karl Kiester (Denver, Colo./Cody Racing) captured the men’s 45-49 20-kilometer points race with a final tally of 70 points. Both riders competed Friday, however final results were not confirmed until Saturday morning.

The 2006 USA Cycling Master Track National Championships conclude Sunday.

A complete schedule of events can be found at www.usacycling.org.

2006 USA Cycling Master Track National Championships
7-Eleven Velodrome
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Aug. 9-13

COMPLETE RESULTS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:

Saturday, August 10

3000-Meter Time Trial
Men’s 30-34: Randy McLain (Boulder, Colo./Hammer Racing) 3:34.756
Men’s 35-39: Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 3:26.920

2000-Meter Time Trial
Women’s 40-44: Annette Hanson (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 2:33.611
Women’s 45-49: Melissa McCafferty (Manitou Springs, Colo./Hammer Racing) 2:44.379

Points Race
Men’s 65+: Charles Watson (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Southbay Wheelmen)
Men’s 60-64: Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters)
Women’s 30-34: Kele Murdin (Kenmore, Wash./Velo Bella-Kona)
Women’s 35-39: Renee Eastman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Vitamin Cottage)
Men’s 55-59: Paul Mack (Boulder, Colo./American Cycling Association)
Women’s 55+: Louella Holter (Flagstaff, Ariz./Greggs-Specialized)
Women’s 50-54: Melanie Petersen (El Segundo, Calif./South Bay Wheelmen)

Sprint
Men’s 40-44: Stephen Hill (Winston, Ga./East Point Track) (WR)
Men’s 45-49: Dave Lindsey (Colorado Springs, Colo./Excel Sports)
Men’s 50-54: Rich Voss (Littleton, Colo./Hammer Racing) (WR)

Friday, August 11

2000-Meter Time Trial
Women’s 50-54: Charlotte Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gulf Coast) 2:53.397
Women’s 55-59: Louella Holter (Flagstaff, Ariz./Greggs-Specialized) 2:51.314
Women’s 60+: Marsha Macro (Littleton, Colo. / Hammer Racing) 2:43.982 (WR)
Men’s 55-59: Woody Cox (Redmond, Wash./Byrne Specialty Gas) 2:24.439 (WR) (NR)
Men’s 60-64: James Murdock (Loveland, Colo./Hammer Racing) 2:30.993
Men’s 65-69: Charlie Watson (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Southbay Wheelmen) 2:42.752
Men’s 70+: Richard Simons (Oak Park, Ill./Midwest Masters) 2:52.750

Sprint
Men’s 30-34: Brant Hendler (Grand Rapids, Mich./West MI Coast Riders)
Men’s 35-39: James Tainter (Minneapolis, Minn./Loon State Cyclists)
Women’s 30-34: Cari Higgins (Madison, N.J./Somerset Wheelmen)

Women’s 35-39: Julie Bautista (San Diego, Calif./Ranchos Cycling)

Points Race
Women’s 40-44: Annette Hanson (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 24
Women’s 45-49: Tracey Huber (Louisville, Ky./Texas Roadhouse) 10
Men’s 50-54: Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn./AMD Masters) 40
Men’s 40-44: Dan Vogt (Corona Del Mar, Claif./Vision Velo) 55
Men’s 45-49: Karl Kiester (Denver, Colo./Cody Racing) 70

Thursday, August 10

3000-Meter Time Trial
Men’s 40-44: Curtis Tolson (Louisville, Ky./Texas Roadhouse) 3:37.257
Men’s 45-49: Larry Nolan (Fremont, Calif./ Discovery Channel Masters) 3:35.132

2000-Meter Time Trial
Women’s 30-34: Kele Murdin (Kenmore, Wash./Velo Bella-Kona) 2:33.939
Women’s 35-39: Maatje Benassi (Colorado Springs, Colo./Excel Sports) 2:36.909
Men’s 50-54: Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn./AMD Masters) 2:20.858 (NR)

Sprint
Men’s 55-59: Kevin Worley (San Mateo, Calif./Easton-Specialized)
Men’s 60-64: Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters)
Men’s 65+: Earl Henry (Pinellas Park, Fla./BBC)
Women’s 40+: Michelle Bono (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii/Hawaii Cycling Club)

Points Race
Men’s 35-39: Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 96
Men’s 30-34: Randy McLain (Boulder, Colo./Hammer Racing) 102

Wednesday, August 9

Kilometer Time Trial
Men’s 30-34: Jason Garner (Glenview, Ill./Northbrook) 1:07.462
Men’s 35-39: Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 1.06.799
Men’s 40-44: Stephen Hill (Winston, Ga./East Point Track) 1.05.684
Men’s 45-49: Larry Nolan (Fremont, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters) 1.07.888

500-Meter Time Trial
Women’s 30-34: Heather Vanvalkenburg (Vancouver, Wash./Team Rubicon) 38.388
Women’s 35-39: Julie Bautista (San Diego, Calif./Team Ranchos) 38.055
Women’s 40-44: Michelle Bono (Kailua Kona, Hawaii /Hawaii Cycling Club) 38.249 (NR)
Women’s 45-49: Ann Marie Love (Ft. Worth, Texas/Matrix) 40.521
Women’s 50-54: Donna Smith (Cowiche, Wash./Chinook Cycling) 39.862 (NR) (WR)
Women’s 55-59: Linda Miller (Valley Center, Calif./EddieBCycling.com) 41.558 (NR)
Women’s 60+: Marsha Marco (Littleton, Colo./Hammer Racing) 42.884 (NR)
Men’s 50-54: Roy Simonson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Hammer Racing) 34.478 (NR)
Men’s 55-59: Kevin Worley (San Mateo, Calif./Easton-Specialized) 36.096
Men’s 60-64: Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters) 36.482
Men’s 65-69: Earl Henry (Pinellas Park, Fla./BBC) 37.242 (NR) (WR)
Men’s 70+: Luigi Fabbri (Hallandale Beach, Fla.) 40.102

(NR) National Record
(WR) World Record

Eleven more titles at master track nationals

Kent Bostick set a national record in the mens' 50-54 2000m time trial (photo: Casey B. Gibson)

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2006) – Eleven national titles were awarded Thursday at the second day of the USA Cycling Master Track National Championships at the 7-Eleven Velodrome in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The day kicked off with the 3000-meter and 2000-meter time-trial events. 1996 Olympian Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn./AMD Masters) set a national record in the men’s 50-54 2000-meter time trial with his time of 2 minutes and 20.858 seconds. Also receiving stars-and-stripes jerseys for national time trial titles were Curtis Tolson (Louisville, Ky./Texas Roadhouse) in the men’s 40-44 3000 meters, Larry Nolan (Fremont, Calif./ Discovery Channel Masters) in the men’s 45-49 3000 meters, Kele Murdin (Kenmore, Wash./Velo Bella-Kona) in the women’s 30-34 2000 meters and Maatje Benassi (Colorado Springs, Colo./Excel Sports) in the women’s 35-39 2000 meters.

Also on Thursday, four national sprint titles were awarded in various age categories. In the best-of-three format for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, all races but one were decided in just two rides. Seeding was based on Wednesday’s flying 200-meter time trial results.

Taking home one of three women’s titles awarded Thursday was Michelle Bono (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii/Hawaii Cycling Club) who won the women’s 40+ sprint. With the nearest velodrome across an entire ocean, this national champion has had to travel to San Diego, Calif. to hone her track skills.

“I’m a little bit behind the ball because I don’t get the amount of training,” Bono said, noting that several Kona-area businesses chipped in financially to get her to these national championships. Just a year-and-a-half ago, Bono didn’t even know how to ride a bike. “Most people here get two times per week on the track, but when I come over here, it’s like a crash course because training gets crammed in my head to get me up to speed, but I just take each race one at a time, as if the other person has never seen me before.
Michelle Bono won the women's 40+ sprint (photo: Casey B. Gibson)
“

Other sprint winners include Kevin Worley (San Mateo, Calif./Easton-Specialized) who won the men’s 55-59 category, Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters) in the men’s 60-64 category and Earl Henry (Pinellas Park, Fla./BBC) in the men’s 65+ category. Henry set two world records Wednesday in the flying 200-meter and 500-meter time trials.

Winning the sprint 5-8 finals to claim the final spots on the podium were Christi Chenowth (Dallas, Texas/Hard Time) in the women’s 40+ category, Charles Watson (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Southbay Wheelmen) in men’s 65+ category, Stephen Witsitt (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Southbay Wheelmen) in men’s 60-64 age group and Andrew Buck (Dresher, Pa./Bikeline) in the men’s 55-59 category, placing them fifth in the overall standings.

Thursday’s competition concluded with two dominating performances in the men’s 35-39 and 30-34 points races. Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) won the men’s 35-39 points race with 96 points – 54 points ahead of his closest competitor.

“I thought I’d get some good separation so just in case if late in the race I were to cramp or whatever, I would have already secured the points,” Williams said. “With 18 laps to go, they set me up to go again so I thought I’d roll along until they’d catch me and they never quite did.”

In the 75-lap contest, Williams not only lapped the field twice to earn him 40 points, he won 10 of the 15 sprints that occurred every five laps and distanced himself from the field to easily secure the win.
Kenny Williams won the men's 35-39 points race (photo: Casey B. Gibson)

In the men’s 30-34 points race, newcomer Randy McLain (Boulder, Colo./Hammer Racing) also won with a strong 102-point performance, 23 points ahead of second place.

“I was really looking forward to this points race – and I only took up track cycling in May,” said McLain, who is also a veteran road cyclist and triathlete. “I can sprint a little bit, so I stayed in there taking third or fourth in the first couple sprints, waiting for an attack to go that I thought would stick. When that happened, I went with it and worked with another guy for quite awhile. We were just fighting for the sprints and we just held on. I knew I had it, but I tried to give it all I could.”

The 2006 USA Cycling Master Track National Championships continue through Sunday. A complete schedule of events can be found at www.usacycling.org.

2006 USA Cycling Master Track National Championships
7-Eleven Velodrome
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Aug. 9-13

COMPLETE RESULTS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:

Thursday, August 10

3000-Meter Time Trial
Men’s 40-44: Curtis Tolson (Louisville, Ky./Texas Roadhouse) 3:37.257
Men’s 45-49: Larry Nolan (Fremont, Calif./ Discovery Channel Masters) 3:35.132

2000-Meter Time Trial
Women’s 30-34: Kele Murdin (Kenmore, Wash./Velo Bella-Kona) 2:33.939
Women’s 35-39: Maatje Benassi (Colorado Springs, Colo./Excel Sports) 2:36.909
Men’s 50-54: Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn./AMD Masters) 2:20.858 (NR)

Sprint
Men’s 55-59: Kevin Worley (San Mateo, Calif./Easton-Specialized)
Men’s 60-64: Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters)
Men’s 65+: Earl Henry (Pinellas Park, Fla./BBC)
Women’s 40+: Michelle Bono (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii/Hawaii Cycling Club)

Points Race
Men’s 35-39: Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 96
Men’s 30-34: Randy McLain (Boulder, Colo./Hammer Racing) 102

Wednesday, August 9

Kilometer Time Trial
Men’s 30-34: Jason Garner (Glenview, Ill./Northbrook) 1:07.462
Men’s 35-39: Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash./First Rate Mortgage) 1.06.799
Men’s 40-44: Stephen Hill (Winston, Ga./East Point Track) 1.05.684
Men’s 45-49: Larry Nolan (Fremont, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters) 1.07.888

500-Meter Time Trial
Women’s 30-34: Heather Vanvalkenburg (Vancouver, Wash./Team Rubicon) 38.388
Women’s 35-39: Julie Bautista (San Diego, Calif./Team Ranchos) 38.055
Women’s 40-44: Michelle Bono (Kailua Kona, Hawaii /Hawaii Cycling Club) 38.249 (NR)
Women’s 45-49: Ann Marie Love (Ft. Worth, Texas/Matrix) 40.521
Women’s 50-54: Donna Smith (Cowiche, Wash./Chinook Cycling) 39.862 (NR) (WR)
Women’s 55-59: Linda Miller (Valley Center, Calif./EddieBCycling.com) 41.558 (NR)
Women’s 60+: Marsha Marco (Littleton, Colo./Hammer Racing) 42.884 (NR)
Men’s 50-54: Roy Simonson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Hammer Racing) 34.478 (NR)
Men’s 55-59: Kevin Worley (San Mateo, Calif./Easton-Specialized) 36.096
Men’s 60-64: Victor Copeland (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Discovery Channel Masters) 36.482
Men’s 65-69: Earl Henry (Pinellas Park, Fla./BBC) 37.242 (NR) (WR)
Men’s 70+: Luigi Fabbri (Hallandale Beach, Fla.) 40.102

(NR) National Record
(WR) World Record

Climbing to the peak again...

2006-08-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

After having not so much success these last two weeks, it was nice to be out on the track and to feel good. I did a VERY focused, quick workout on Tuesday to open my legs mostly but also to feel more comfortable on the track bike with the saddle position.

I warmed up - I feel quite well - although I felt a tiny bit off. I was in a good mood and felt comfortable on the bike with minimal discomfort. I got to talk to Carol and some other ladies as we rode around. It felt good to be out there and feeling positive again. I feel I am getting past the things that took the wind out of my sails and that was really important to me. I needed that and I need to end the season on a positive note. I also had a good conversation with Annette on Tuesday night which helped me feel quite more positive about the track again. Well that and staying VERY focused Tuesday night.

It was hard.... 8 lap scratch I did lead out a tiny bit and tried to stay more in
the front for a bit. I did come in last - barely by half a wheel. Second race I was kind of dead. In fact the last 2 or 3 laps I was so behind - 1/5 of the track or less to the most part with the distance gaining, that I felt like why am I killing my legs to try and catch up? So I backed way off and tried to save my legs. I then came in and just tried to rest, drink, go to the bathroom and all that. Third race, I got out there and tried my hardest to kick butt, stay on a wheel, helped bridge Jane back to the group and barely missed a possibility of getting points. I was just way too tired though. I did better then I thought since the second race made me think - oh boy I will be going into this last one with 16 laps on my own.

Actually it felt like the races back in June when the following week or two I kicked butt. Kevin and I briefly talked about that and he said well you peaked, you came down and now you're peaking again. Perhaps that is true. We will see. I know Martin, one of my team mates, was really trying to pump me up again and encourage me to do different things tonight. So I rode real strong on the first race, couldn't quite perform on the second and held up ok on the third. Next week I want to do that much better.

This weekend I am supposed to ride from Olympia to Tacoma and help mark the course. It was supposed to be Shelton to Tacoma and even now the arrangements are changing again so who knows how much mileage I'll really get. Either way a good spinning recreational ride will be nice. :) I'll get to enjoy it for what it is worth and have an upbeat attitude for next week's races. :)

Saddle did not do a bum good! :(

2006-08-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

So I was sooooo stoked to try out the Tsunami bike I am borrowing from another racer. I was going to test ride it and race on it last night to see how I liked it, how it felt and see if I'd like to purchase it. Hey - it looked great in my apartment so I could stand for it to be a permanent fixture. ;) I got to Marymoor pretty early and got settled in. I spoke with a few people like Sile and had fun hanging out while getting ready. I then hopped on the bike and started out for my warm-up.

My legs were actually feeling pretty good after trying to take a rest week. I felt slightly dehydrated but not enough to impede on me. I got some efforts in after toodling around a bit saying hi to people as we passed and shortly talking to Kevin. Poor guy, his pedal broke the night before and although he wasn't racing he wanted to get a workout in. At some point my bum started to get more and more agitated. I felt like I was sitting on the seam and it was riding up on me. I decided to come in and spoke with John Hansen about switching things up again. We made some minor adjustments and I went out again. I felt a little bit better and tried a pace line again. Wasn't feeling completely good. I then did an effort and was 'bouncing' during the effort which completely did me in. I pulled in and was trying to get comfortable as it was almost time for the rider meeting. After the meeting, I realized from some physical signs that this was not the night for me to try and race with this issue. Some of the girls encourage me not to race so I wouldn't make things worse and also to get credited for racing next week.

*sigh* I am really frustrated. I guess I should have assumed I would have had problems with the saddle that was put on that bike. I have now taken the saddle off my old track bike to see how I feel after doing the workout tonight. We will see how that feels. *sigh* I'm really discouraged right now. I was feeling pretty rested, pretty strong for last night. I was so disappointed I could not do the races. I just feel like I'm sliding downhill with energy and/or strength since early July. A matter of the lack of proper workout schedules, time with family, motivation due to some track events that occurred and then my overall energetic level. Perhaps it is true burnout like I've never felt before. It is frustrating. I want to end the season on a high note. I want to feel good, to feel strong, to feel fast. At this point, I feel more excited to get my winter training going. To get into the gym to lift weights, to spin, to go for winter rides (and I HATE the rain! UGH!), to do cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, hiking, running and all kinds of things. I am excited to get with a new coach that I think can take me up to the next level and will force me to do road racing which I know will make me faster and stronger. I want that BAD! I want that so BAD it hurts. I think that is why it is so hard to feel the way I am now. After last week's race and not feeling any energy and then this week's saddle problems - I just want to do the best I can for the next 4 weeks and end on a good foot.

Oh well... there's always next year and I know next year I'll be on a whole new track level of physical strength and endurance. I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to ending this season, resting, watching my friends do cross (and dog sitting- WOOHOO!), having winter fun, losing more weight and just moving forward to spring racing, track racing and lots of FUN! :) I am looking forward to the difficult challenges that lay ahead.

FSA Grand Prix – Sweetness at the Track! Sailing on the Sound and Weddings all around.

2006-08-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

I started my Friday morning off with a short, easy spin around my neighborhood. Then I got ready to go down to the velodrome for the FSA Grand Prix. I helped setup and do registration starting at 10:45. I was able to help another teammate with all the registration and then we were just quietly sitting, talking and listening to how the riders were doing with their Time Trial events. I got to watch a few of the Time Trial riders and a few of the pursuit teams. I took many pictures. I was able to hang with a few people like Sile, Jane and Cole. It was awesome to watch the team pursuits and even the individual pursuits just to see the time differences, the strength, the speed yet semi-boring at the same time. Then Cole stopped by with the Tsunami bicycle that he was going to let me test ride to see if I want to purchase. When the time trials were done, prior to the Friday night racing, I was able to take it out for a short spin. It felt good. The feedback I got from many of the riders was that this bike looks like it fits better for me then my Fuji bike. They stated my hip placement looks more aligned and my back looked more flat. It felt good to be on it despite me trying to still figure out the balance of it and the feeling of my legs being like dead weights getting pedaled around the track.

Cole and I then went out for dinner and had fun talking. I ordered my usual northwest garden salad – entrée – and I just couldn’t finish it. I don’t know why as I thought I was really hungry. *shrug* We had a great conversation and then he drove us back to the track. We watched, from the beer garden, as he talked to some (former) teammates and I got to talk to Sile, Yitka, Jill and some others. As he was saying good-bye, I ran into another guy I vaguely know and we talked a bit. It was his first time at the track and he was really excited to see the racing. His neighbor – who started to race – was there and was introduced to me. Afterwards, Kevin was in the beer garden. He did awesome on his racing for the day – pursuit and team pursuit – as well as the Friday night racing with some great sprints! We discussed his recovery after the race and I offered him a recovery drink since he didn’t have anything and was racing the following day. We then talked for quite a bit about all kinds of things – road racing, coaching and so forth. It was great to hear his experiences, get his knowledge and support regarding where I’m at and where I’d like to be. He's a really sweet guy and real easy to talk with. I've really enjoyed our conversations since we've kind of been hanging for the last few weeks.

Saturday morning started out the same. I got up to do a short, easy spin around my neighborhood. I finished packing up to go to the FSA Grand Prix to see many riders take on their races for the day. I also had to be ready for one of my cousin’s weddings later that day. I went to the track and got to talk to many people, enjoy the music, enjoy the racing and take tons of pics. I connected up with my birthday twin again – Glenn Barr from Canada. He gave me his email address so I could send pics and keep in touch regarding their velodrome activities over winter. I was able to also talk to Kenny, with Jane, regarding having him coach us over this next year. He seems like he’ll be very good for us based on what I heard. I think I’ll really enjoy it and now I’m really looking forward to winter training. It was fun talking to people, cheering them on and taking lots of pics. I enjoyed more conversations with Kevin and discussing with him different coaches, styles, my goals and needs and so forth. It was fun to hear how everyone felt they did and to watch them give all that they could for their particular races or time trials. It is fun to see how people are progressing. I really wish I could have been out there and hope to be out there next year. Next year I hope for a lot of improvement, a lot of changes, a lot more strength, speed, better recovery and so forth.

Also, Jane made it to a sprint match. Her first sprint was against Jennie Reed – National/Olympic champion. We took tons of pics for Jane with her going against Jennie. Jennie is a high class competitor that gave Jane a run for her money but did not rub her face into beating her at the line. Jane later called me – as I was at the wedding reception – that she actually made it to the finals! She kicked butt, took 4th place and won $60. She said some of the girls underestimated her and she surprised attacked them with her top speed she hit. I wish I could have been there for her!!!! Dang! Wish I could have seen her kick butt!!! I was so proud of her that the next day I brought her a dozen roses. She, Randall and I went out for breakfast and she decided she wanted to treat us. We all then went out on Randall’s new sailboat. IT was a BLAST! We got to learn more about sailing and had a relaxing, fun time! WOW! It was really fun and peaceful to be on the water. We started at Shilshole Bay Marina and we tacked back and forth to Bainbridge Island up towards Edmonds and then back to Shilshole. It was a long and fun day and I definitely felt the muscles the next day that I was able to give a good workout while tacking as well as just sitting on the boat – like abs, legs, etc.

The wedding was very spectacular. The bride was gorgeous, the groom (my cousin) was handsome. They had a very nice wedding which after the ceremony had a bag pipe player outside the church. Then my sister’s yellow skylark convertible for them to drive away to the reception in. This is typical for the weddings since my sister has moved out here with both the yellow and red cars.  Then we went to the Fircrest Golf Course for the reception. It was very elegant, quaint and peaceful. For once our family members didn’t have to run around crazy for getting all the food, decorations and all that done. It was nice. Fully catered, nice music, nice setup with the bar, chairs/seats and so forth. They had a wine glass for each person with their name and the date etched on it. It was very nice. They had a great video that showed their lives growing up. They are both twins so they played that a lot in the video – past, present and so forth. It was sad when they showed pictures of our grandparents that have passed away. Many of us were crying and yet very happy to see the pictures. Her family created the video and will give us copies which is really cool.

She threw the bouquet – of course – and I had to take my great niece up there. I accidentally stepped on her foot on the way up there so she was screaming. OY! I felt so bad… but when she caught the bouquet all her pain went away! YEAH! She was gorgeous with her dress outfit and the flowers were gorgeous. She got pictures with the bride and her flowers which was very sweet. Then she ran up to her grandpa and told him she could marry him now as she got her flowers. She was too cute.  That was sweet!!! She also cried and cried and cried when she couldn’t dance with the bride longer than was possible. We had to take her out and away from people. Chances are she was getting over stimulated and tired. I think with her fantasy of ‘weddings’ and ‘princesses’ and seeing the bride she just so desperately wanted to be a part of it all. My sister took her home to get her calmed down and out of the situation.

WOOHOO! BOY IS IT HOT!!!

2006-07-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well I had Friday off and worked my way down to Tacoma area. I stopped in at my girlfriend's and got to hold her new baby who is about 4 weeks old. She slept in my arms really well - according to her mother - and didn't fuss for me at all. She was really surprised. It was sweet to hold such a cute, precious baby. It has been a long time since I've hold a baby that young. I can't wait to see the baby again and visit with her mom. We sat for a couple hours and just had a very sweet visit. It was already like 80+ degrees in early morning. I left her place by around noon. It was nice to sit in the backyard on a swing, in the shade and just relax.

Then I worked my way to my sister's house. The news was saying it was like 100/102 degrees in our area of Belfair. I got there and we relaxed, went swimming in the 12' x 3' pool. We then worked our way to the Key Peninsula fair. It was alot of fun for Abby as she got to ride the carousel and we got to check out the different rides, food and vendors. We then got home and we came back to seeing the pigs got out. So we chased the pigs around the yard. My sister's step-son pinched the hose while I chased one that decided he wanted to lay in the front yard where a 'pool' of water was building up in a 'muddy spot'. I wanted to get him out of there before he started to dig. 5 pigs and a ton of fun. My sister was getting the water running to fill their tanks. My sister's husband tripped over a log and fell. He seemed to be ok but hurt and pissed. Then he and his son fixed the pole that fell on the ground and allowed the 5 pigs to get out. My sister's step-son (Justin) is such a dork! He grabbed the pigs from the rear feet to drag them over the fence (proper way -yes) but then he smeared me with all the pig crap on his hands! EWW! LOL!!!

The next two days we just kind of relaxed in the air conditioned home and did some more swimming. We tried to just relax as much as possible. Saturday Night Abby and I were able to tent camp in the front yard. That was a lot of fun. We grilled some chicken, I made mashed potatoes and then some cream of corn. We then roasted marshmallows on the grill (as there was a burn ban with the heat being so high) and made some s'mores. Justin and I assembled my sister's new bike that she bought. Abby and I then relaxed til we were tired enough to go to the tent. We layed in the tent for about 10 or 15 minutes talking and looking at the stars out of the mesh roof of the tent. It was very sweet and a lot of fun.

We enjoyed a great, restful weekend (to the most part - minus Justin being a bit too much to deal with) and had a great big dinner together on Sunday night. We had my sister's step-sons, a daughter-in-law and grand child joining us. I then headed back to drop some things off at my mom's and say hello to her before heading home. Of course, when I got home my apartment felt like 90 degrees! I had to sleep with my patio door open, fan on, limited clothes and sleeping on the futon rather than in bed. It was so miserable!!! *sigh* I'm just grateful I got to stay in air conditioning and a nice pool all weekend. thanks Sis! And of course, I LOVED the company. :)

Wednesday Night Racing with 11 women...

2006-07-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

The rain showers were on and off and more clouds were threatening. I got to the velodrome and maybe 4 people were there at 6:10 pm. Hardly anyone showed up until around 6:30 or later. Traffic was a nightmare as well and the Rob Thomas concert was starting (sweet to hear the concert for free from a distance!).

They didn't confirm racing 'til 7 pm until then I was standing around hoping it would get cancelled. I didn't get warmed up until 7:20 with the races starting at 7:30. Jane was still at work 'til 7.

We were informed one of the stronger women that has been racing with the masters but hasn't been racing due to an injury would be racing with us. She is on our team and didn't want to race against her husband since the Masters A and B fields were so small and they combined them. The first race was an 8 lap scratch. I did ok - came over a few people at the very end as I felt I had oomph and came in 4th which doesn't get any points but came in 4th instead of 7th or 8th or something. :) Our teammate kind of pulled off on the front and held it and the rest of the field was kind of slaughtered. Second race was an 8 lap snowball... I took the 5th lap which was worth 5 points. Then the 4x4 - I just didn't feel it in me and didn't really care... so I just did what I could do. Also, one of the Counterbalance girls crashed off turn 1. :( It was not a good night for her. I felt really bad for her. She lucked out with just some road rash. She is a great person and a great rider so I hope this will not deter her from still coming out. We had a lot of new people in the field and when the field slowed down they overlapped tires. Some of the women were having a hard time getting back into the race and Jane was yelling at them to stay in the race, get focused, hold their lines. I yelled a couple things as well but I was getting focused myself and thinking - until I hear a double gun shot we are racing still.

Overall for the night I placed 4th for the Omnium which means I got 1 or 2 upgrade
points(because of the field being 11 women it may be worth 2 points). So I did ok. :)

Teaching a track class on Saturday for women... and then Sunday doing my first road race. Not really nervous as I don't have any high expectations at all.

Random Updates of the last week...

2006-07-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

4th of July: Jane and I went to Burien to watch the crit race. It was exciting to watch everyone and get to talk to people like the Starbuck's women. We had a lot of fun. Jane was getting psyched up for her race at the Redmond Derby Days on the 8th. I then went home and rested and spent a quiet night to myself. Much needed time to really think about some goals and perspectives in life.

Wednesday Night Racing: Racing went pretty well. We had a couple new people with us and it was a lot of fun. My legs didn't feel exploded like they normally do afterwards; however, I also feel I am lacking a bit of energy in them as well. Not sure if it is loss of strength, dehydration, lack of complex carbs or what. A couple of my friends came out and watched. It was nice to have that support and know that they were there. They seemed to enjoy watching but they missed my 4x4 race where I did the best. I let the miss 'n out go - as usual - but the officials made us race 3 laps prior to pulling any of us out. So the last 2 races I jumped off the front and pulled at 26.5 just to make the group a bit tired. Seemed to work and I was able to take 2nd, 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the 4x4 race. Felt really good! Jane did awesome with her strategy in tricking some of the racers in sprinting on a non-sprint lap. hee hee ;)

Friday Night: Worked the track registration. Then got suckered into helping with the Kiddie Kilo which was actually a good thing. The woman that usually runs it wasn't feeling all that well and wanted help; however, RIGHT before the Kiddie Kilo there was a nasty crash which involved two of our team mates and one other guy. Since she is a doctor, she immediately went down there to assist and I was able to do the kiddie kilo. It worked out just fine. Later, I had one beer and I was under the bleechers. UGH! I was told I was quite comical the whole night after that. LOL! Such a cheap date I am... it is really pathetic. It was good though I was able to let loose of a bunch of frustration, disappointment, stress and all else I've been feeling as of late.

The weekend: Went to a family reunion over in Allyn, WA. It was quite interesting. I went on a family member's yacht for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun to be on the water and get to visit with a few people that I am not as close to and a couple people that I am closer too but haven't spent quality time with. It was a lot of fun as we went down the Hood Canal area. We then came back and I went for an hour and half bike ride. It felt hot and I was trying to keep my speed above 16-20 mph. I succeeded on most of it but it was a 'roller coaster' like ride on Hwy 3 and it was HOT. I then returned to have dinner, play with the kids and so on. I then spent the night in a hotel with my family and went to my sister's for breakfast and hang out the rest of the day. It was good to just be there and be with family. We did a memorial for those that have passed since the last gathering and so on. Since it was not my immediate family's reunion I felt a bit like a third wheel. However, it was good to see new faces and to socialize with those familiar ones.

Monday: Where else was I??? The track of course! I helped out with the track. We had 48 racers and it was a good night. Everything went well and seemed flawless. However, the guy that 'substituted' for our regular official seemed flaky. VERY flaky - flapping his arms like he was trying to fly every time he gave direction, spoke too soft for everyone to hear and barely could keep up with the race nonetheless do anything else. Totally not the same... thank goodness that doesn't happen very much! The bell fell on our bell ringer too! :( UGH! Then I took over on the bell - at the end - until I had to put bikes away and then another official, who was racing that night, took over. Thank you! VERY SWEET of him to help so I wasn't there forever! :)

Tuesday: Had a movie date. That was a lot of fun watching "The Lake House". Afterwards, we went to go have some happy hour appetizers at Newport Bay. It was a blast. I really enjoyed myself even if I didn't get home til close to midnight. :)

It was a really good movie. Made me question a lot of things regarding my own life. I wonder about my future, about my goals, my dreams, my needs and my wants. I wonder about reality vs. fantasy, couplehood vs. single life, about people's actions speaking louder than their words or their promises they make. I am people - in my life - following through, building a bond, creating a friendship, enjoying each other's qualities (good and bad), enjoying activities together, sitting down for one on one time and not just building a fantasy '3rd dimension' type relationship. I'm more a hands-on type person rather than an electro-technology building person when it comes to friendships/relationships. I feel I am worth having a relationship with (friendship or romantic). Whether friendship or a romantic relationship, I am willing to offer so much, to share so much, to achieve so much, to be joyous, to be independent but work in solidarity and to absorb that other person's attributes in the same manner. I don't care to play games, to have someone toy with my emotions or to lead me on. I don't like to waste my time or emotions in the electro world if it can't be more involved in a physical world. Face to face communication, one-on-one socialization with mental and emotional building. I feel if I am worth being in a relationship with someone they will make it worth their time to make it 'real'. If not then what are they hiding from? What are they wanting? What games are they playing? How unreal are they in such a real world? Why can't they work towards combatting their enemies or their demons to take on something - someone - so much more positive, worthwhile and enjoyable?

Sure I have some friendships that are mostly email type friendships. So be it. It is not a bad thing but it doesn't make me feel as connected to them. I am one that likes to truly feel connected to those that can positively influence my life. This is especially important on a romantic level more than a friendship level. I can hold a 'friendship' in emails, text messages, etc. but that is all it can be for me. I think after time you lose the belief that it can be of anything more if it never comes face to face. It's just how I am and how I will always be. I don't give my emotions too easily but when I do it is guaranteed to be sincere, open and strong. I don't like when others use me or my other friends to get their needs met but never willing to reciprocate. I'd rather not be 'friends' with those that can't reciprocate and make room for those that can treat me with respect, honesty, integrity and understanding.

Is love worth waiting for? Do you put your life on hold – living day by day – waiting for that one? Do you continue to move on with your life and possibly your paths shall cross another time in the future? Do you continue to move on with your life and never look back – always moving forward? Will whatever force is driving two people together, yet apart, ever change (with time) towards a positive shift or will it always give the same result?

Getting ready for the races tonight.... feeling dehydrated or lacking of energy. I ate too much this weekend and ate some wheat here and there all week. Felt really exhausted all week. Even Tuesday I took a nap at lunch (30 mins) then slept in the car for an hour before driving to the movies. I was completely exhausted! My brain also felt like it was in a 'fog' and finally feels like it is lifting. I think wheat is not doing my body good. :( I hope to get it kicked by Sunday as I am going to do my first road race! ACK! Very nervous and excited at the same time! WOOHOO!!! :)

Random Poems or quotes...

2006-07-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.
For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.
For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.
But though my beauty meet no eye it still doth glow.
Though my truth meet no ear it still doth shine.
But when my love meets no heart it can only break.
-Ivan Panin

The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved.
-Russell Lynes

No human relation gives one possession in another--every two souls are absolutely different. In friendship or in love, the two side by side raise hands together to find what one cannot reach alone.
-Kabil Gibran

Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.

What a weekend!!!

2006-07-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

My weekend started with going for a ride with my girlfriend. I drove to her Microsoft office, changed clothes and then headed out. We had a lovely bike ride that I was able to pull most of the way and we were going pretty much steady 18 mph the whole time. It was nice! I felt strong... I felt good. I got a little burnt from the dang glorious sun! WOW! It's the northwest and we got sun! What's up with that?!

Then I got to sit in traffic for 1.5 hours to go to Tacoma to pick-up my great nephew. We then played with his sister in the soft tub at my mother's for an hour or so. I had a bit of unwinding time to do before that which was nice to sit in the soft tub prior to them coming home from the park. AHHHHHH! Calgon take me away! then we went to another girlfriends' house where my great-nephew got to enjoy her cats and dogs. He loved it. He was so cute watching these kids across the street running through the sprinkler. He yelled over, "I'll be right there, okay?" LOL! We were just laughing. It was so cute. He would then grab my girlfriends hand and say - come with me, come, come and see. He would then run her over to the cat and try to pet the cat. LOL! We then got to see the bicycle races. Most everyone that met him loved him. He was so cute but I was a bit frazzled worrying about him just running out there.

On my way to the bicycle races, I contacted Jill as she was planning on coming to watch our coach race. However, she had just got news as to the situation with her boyfriend. He was arrested during Critical Mass.

After the races I then took him home, got him to bed which was around 11:20 when we stopped watching a moving, having a fit (he wanted momma, dadda, grandma, sister, etc.) and cried ourselves to sleep. Poor guy. Then I was awakened at 1:30 and 3:30 with him crying 'airplane, I want airplane' and whatever else. OY! Ok now I'm tired.... then at 6:30 he woke up with a bloody nose so he was blood curdling screaming! OY! Ok now I'm really tired. We both fell back asleep after I tried to get the blood out of the items that were bloody. I went to bed til about 8 then woke up and did some cleaning for about 2 hours when he finally woke up around 11. I got him in a bath and headed out the door.

I took him to Marymoor to watch the Radio Control airplanes. He loved watching them go up in the air, doing tricks, climbing on the bleechers and so on. Then I took him to the playground and we played, had lunch and just enjoyed our time together. We had a lot of fun, he was really well behaved and very cute about everything. I really enjoyed being with him but he's definitely 2 handfulls rather than 1. I then took him down to his grandma's where his mother was. I got to hang with them for a few hours and then came home.

Sunday: Track workout. It was a great workout and lots of fun and education going on. I felt very much in a good zone but my legs felt like they needed more 'fuel'. Paul Swift flipped my stem so I wouldn't be so low and that actually felt a lot better. I felt like I could put my weight more forward on the bike and was stronger in my jumps. A bunch of us were hanging in the infield towards the end and were joking with Paul. He has a great sense of humor but definitely very 'business' on the track with fits and so forth. It's really nice when us 'amateurs' get help from the pros and veterans.

Then 4 of us girls decided we were going to go hiking and to meet at North Bend for lunch. We had lunch and Jane's friend joined us. So there were 5 of us. We then went to Rattlesnake Lake with the intention of hiking and then swimming. Jane and I had a deadline to be back at 7 in Bellevue. So we decided with the time frame we had to work with to just go swimming. That was a lot of fun! The girls jumped off the rock and so on while I watched. It was a blast!

We then had our meeting and I made it home around 10. *sigh* It was a fun, relaxing and busy weekend. It felt really good though. I'm looking forward to having the 4th off though and chillin' a bit more. *sigh* I wish I had more Fridays off... like all the time... but at least I get to enjoy it 2x/month for the summer. That will be awesome! Our family reunion is this weekend so that should be exciting. :)

Don't cha wish...

2006-06-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

YEAH! A day off of work and I get to relax before going on a bike ride with a friend.... ahhh the life... chillin', mindin' my own business, relaxin' and enjoyin'. Just watching the Today show (usually watch that during the morning when getting ready for work) and happened to flip over to The Good Morning America Show when they were having their concert series with one of the bands I love! WOOHOO! I love this song!!

Pussycat Dolls
Don't Cha
Oh, baby dolls

I know you like me (I know you like me)
I know you do (I know you do)
Thats why whenever I come around shes all over you
And I know you want it (I know you want it)
It's easy to see (it's easy to see)
And in the back of your mind
I know you should be home with me

[Chorus]
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Dont cha, dont cha
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me
Dont cha, dont cha

Fight the feeling (fight the feeling)
Leave it alone (leave it alone)
Cause if it aint love
It just aint enough to leave a happy home
Let's keep it friendly (let's keep it friendly)
You have to play fair (you have to play fair)
See, I dont care
But I know she aint gon' wanna share

[Chorus]
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Dont cha, dont cha , baby
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me
Dont cha, dont cha

I know I'm on your mind
I know we'll have a good time
I'm your friend
I'm fun
And I'm fine
I aint lying
Look at me, you aint blind [2x]

See, I know she loves you (I know she loves you)
I understand (I understand)
I'd probably be just as crazy about you
If you were my own man
Maybe next lifetime (maybe next lifetime)
Possibly (possibly)
Until then, Oh friend your secret is safe with me

[Chorus]
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Dont cha, dont cha
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me
Dont cha, dont cha

Lyrics to The Pussycat Dolls Stickwitu

I don't want to go another day
So I'm telling you exactly what is on my mind
Seems like everybody is breaking up
Throwing their love away
I know I got a good thing right here
That's why I say (Hey)

Nobody's going to love me better
I'm going to stick with you
Forever
Nobody's going to take me higher
I'm going to stick with you
You know how to appreciate me
I'm going to stick with you
My baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way
I'm going to stick with you

I don't want to go another
So I'm telling you exactly what is on my mind
See the way we ride
In our privated lives
Ain't nobody getting in between
I want you to know that you're the only one for me
And I say

Nobody's going to love me better
I'm going to stick with you
Forever
Nobody's going to take me higher
I'm going to stick with you
You know how to appreciate me
I'm going to stick with you
My baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way
I'm going to stick with you

And now
Ain't nothing else I can need
And now
I'm singing 'cause you're so, so into me
I got you
We'll be making love endlessly
I'm with you
Baby, you're with me

So don't you worry about
People hanging around
They ain't bringing us down
I know you and you know me
And that's all that counts
So don't you worry about
People hanging around
They ain't bringing us down
I know you and you know me
And that's why I say

Nobody's going to love me better
I'm going to stick with you
Forever
Nobody's going to take me higher
I'm going to stick with you
You know how to appreciate me
I'm going to stick with you
My baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way
I'm going to stick with you

Nobody's going to love me better
I'm going to stick with you
Forever
Nobody's going to take me higher
I'm going to stick with you
You know how to appreciate me
I'm going to stick with you
My baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way
I'm going to stick with you

THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS LYRICS

"I Don't Need A Man"

I see you looking at me
Like I got something for you
And the way that you stare
Don't you dare
'Cause I'm not about to
Just give it on up to you
'Cause there are some things I won't do
And I'm not afraid to tell you
I don't ever want to leave you confused

The more you try
The less I bite
And I don't have to think it through
You know if I'm into you

I don't need a man to make it happen
I get off being free
I don't need a man to make me feel good
I get off doing my thing
I don't need a ring around my finger
To make me feel complete
So let me break it down
I can get off when you ain't around
Oh!

You know I got my own life
And I bought everything that's in it
So if you want to be with me
It ain't all about the bling you bringing
I want a love that's for real
And without that then no deal
And baby I don't need a hand
If it only wants to grab one thing

The more you try
The less I bite
And I don't have to think it through
You know if I'm feeling you

I don't need a man to make it happen
I get off being free
I don't need a man to make me feel good
I get off doing my thing
I don't need a ring around my finger
To make me feel complete
So let me break it down
I can get off when you ain't around

Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
[Repeat 4X]

I don't need a
I don't need a man, I don't
I don't need a man
I'll get me through
'Cause I know I'm fine
I feel brand new

I don't need a
I don't need a man, I don't
I don't need a man
I'll make it through
'Cause I know I'm fine
Without you!

I don't need a man to make it happen
I get off being free
I don't need a man to make me feel good
I get off doing my thing
I don't need a ring around my finger
To make me feel complete
So let me break it down
I can get off when you ain't around
Oh!

I don't need a man (I'm over you)
I don't need a man (I'm over you)
I don't need a man
(I'm without you)
(I'm over you)

I don't need a man
I don't need a man
I don't need a man

Growing up...

2006-06-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

We all got to do it. For some reason, today I woke up wanting to walk down memory lane with 80's songs... maybe it's that dang 92.5 channel... but I found the lyrics to one of my all time favorite songs that usually got me crying while I delivered newspapers at 6 in the morning. That I cried to the first time I heard it on the TV show "Family Ties"...

Billy Vera & the Beaters

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At This Moment - (1987)

What did you think I would do at this moment
When you're standing before me
With tears in your eyes
Trying to tell me that you
Have found you another
You just don't love me no more

What did you think I would say at this moment
When I'm faced with the knowledge
That you just don't love me
Did you think I would curse you
Or say things to hurt you
`Cause you just don't love me no more

Did you think I could hate you
Or raise my hands to you
Now come on, you know me too well
How could I hurt you
When darlin I love you
And you know I'd never hurt you
Oh...

What do you think I would give at this moment
Ff you stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again

I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on, baby
If I could just hold you
If I could just hold you.....
Again.

Reminds me of so many happy days.... good memories and not so good but I like to focus on the good.... then for some reason it reminded me of blooming hearts... my favorite plant when I was growing up. There was this eldery woman that I always sold Girl Scout cookies too. Her front yard had all kinds of blooming hearts - white, pink, red... they were so delicate, so beautiful. I loved them. LOL! Now I love pretty much anything to do with hearts. Then that got me thinking about how she lived right near this girl named Kelly F... she and I would sing and dance in her bedroom to "Elvira" ...

ELVIRA
Oak Ridge Boys

Eyes that look like heaven, lips like sherry wine
That girl can sure enough make my little light shine
I get a funny feelin' up and down my spine
'Cause I know that my Elvira's mine

So I'm singin'
Elvira, Elvira
My heart's on fire Elvira
Giddy Up Oom Poppa Omm Poppa Mow Mow
Giddy Up Oom Poppa Omm Poppa Mow Mow
Heigh-ho Silver, away

Tonight I'm gonna meet her at the Hungry House Cafe
And I'm gonna give her all the love I can
She's gonna jump and holler 'cause I saved up my last two dollars
We're gonna search and find that preacher man

Now I'm a singin'
Elvira, Elvira
My heart's on fire Elvira
Giddy Up Oom Poppa Omm Poppa Mow Mow
Giddy Up Oom Poppa Omm Poppa Mow Mow
Heigh-ho Silver, away

*Sigh* good memories.... now I must go to work.... I'm a grown-up now and life has responsibilities. :)

No races for me...

2006-06-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

This week I decided I wasn't into the races last night. I just was not mentally focused, physically just feeling icky with the weather and lingering allergies. I figured I can have 1 free pass for the season and I choose last night. I still went to cheer on my girls and to socialize. Actually it felt like a good decision. I was very proud at how well Jane did with the 2 lap sprint heats and even let one of our team mates - Jill - take the points when Jane could have grabbed it from her. That was after Jane came from all the way in 4th position - last for the final heat - and could have taken it. I was also proud at how well Jill and Jane did the 4x4 points race. They both did awesome! One of our team mates happened to crash so I was able to take his bike from him, talk to him while the EMT cleaned off his road rash and just be supportive. The girls were out there racing and I didn't feel that "I wish I was out there" feeling. Shoot - it's funny how I can get that feeling after going for a bike ride and then seeing bikers as I come home and think - I wish I was riding!! Wait! I just rode so why am I jealous they are riding?! Nope... didn't have that at all so I think I made the right decision. My brain was not in the game.

Afterwards, Jane and I were able to talk a lot about how we are feeling about track this year and how some changes are occurring, how we are adjusting to different actions, different personalities and so forth. It is an odd feeling really. I don't know why... but with all the different things going on - I'm ok with coming to the track next week and being ready for anything that comes my way! For now, I'll concentrate on what I need to for this week.

Confidence.... Life.... Mixed Messages.... Goals.... Gains....Losses.... Risk?

2006-06-28T12:47:00.001-07:00

Life is kind of funny.... not always funny like we laugh to survive funny but ha ha funny. Why do we repeat some patterns that we wish to never repeat? Why do we allow ourselves to feel in a way that perhaps is not in our best interest? Why do we lack confidence at a time when we need to be our strongest? Why is change so slow and painful at times? How can we move forward to strive towards our goals? To receive the results we wish to achieve? To get our needs and wants met in life? Are we that scared to be hurt? Are we that scared to lose who we are, what we are, what we've achieved? or are we simply too scared to gain what we really want, to embrace it, to accept it, to love it, to nurture it and to risk getting hurt to get what we want?

I don't think it is right for someone to 'buy love', to plead for someone to pay attention to them or to want to be with them. If someone does not feel for you or want to strive to be with you then you can't force it. I think it is ONLY right that someone naturally wants to do this because of how they feel and what they want. I think we all have to fight our demons and to battle our fears to get what we want. If we truly want something so badly we have to fight to get it. It may NOT be a right decision for the long term but it could be the right decision in the short term. Perhaps it is just a stepping stone towards bigger and better things or perhaps it will reach us directly to that thing we need or want the most.

My heart has been broken many a times but each time I step out of it as a stronger person, someone that is wiser, more understanding, more grounded, more flexible and more willing to take a risk for something bigger and greater. How much can one stand to be miserable in the path they currently lead before they are willing to get off that path and turn to take a new one? making changes and taking a risk is scary but needed when the current path is torturous and you wish to be happy and are not while you're continuing the path that seems 'comfortable'. Sometimes you have to break out of your comfort level to look back, look forward, see things more clearly and take a leap of faith that things can get BETTER if you just put confidence in yourself, in your gut that tells you what is right and stop analyzing what your fears are. Or maybe analyze them to understand them and help you get past them, to make you stronger and wiser.

Risk can be good.... weigh what you will gain compared to what you will lose. Lose yourself, lose your goals being met, lose your passion for life or what? Or can you gain - gain what you want, gain what you need, gain by living your life, doing what your passionate about and not just being an empty shell going through emotions rather than being a LIVING being full of life, love and passion to live life to its fullest!

These are only some of the thoughts I have as some of my friends are questioning their existence in the relationships they are currently in or their need for a new career after being fired or needing to quit jobs.... no one can MAKE us happy... we have to find the happiness and the confidence inside us. Only we have those answers and only looking deep inside can we understand what we truly long for in life and then work on getting it. What I am saying is happiness, confidence, desire, wants, needs, passion, drive and the ability to fulfill our needs comes from within. Outside factors can play a part on and effect your happiness but you got to 'build your happiness' from within.

we all make choices. I am fortunate enough to feel that all my choices have always been an improvement and keep making me forward with more happiness than the previous path taken.... I wish that for all my friends making these decisions as well.

Bicycling with the bike trailer....

2006-06-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

So Friday I took my great niece on a bike ride. We woke up, ate breakfast, watched some more of Hello Kitty DVDs and then headed out to Redmond to pick-up the bike trailer and go for a ride down the trail. It was a lot of fun. She was very quite but excited. I stopped at some point when I saw a woman looking in her binoculars at something. Ok... interesting... she pointed out a beautiful bird to me. Then I asked her if she would take a picture of us so she did. Abby stated - I want a picnic.... so off we went down the path. It was interesting as she is about 50 lbs and the trailer plus another 15 or so. I felt the pull on my bike, the 'slowness' of my legs rotating the pedals. I realized how much of a workout I was getting and was grateful that I no longer carried the extra 60 lbs like I did years ago. However, I realized how much I needed a massage and was determined to get one on Saturday!

We stopped in Woodinville and had a picnic at the park. She then got to play at the campground. Afterwards we returned back to the bike shop and she was dead asleep. One of the bike shop employees that that was just too cute. She was even snoring! Obviously she was relaxed in the bike trailer and had a good afternoon. We then went home to relax and get out of the heat. It was a very hot day. She really liked it and wanted to immediately talk to her mom about it. We then chilled, had dinner and went to the store before we headed to the track races. She had a blast although her 'shyness' came out. She loved Jane. She would call out to Jane - Janie girl. hee hee it was cute! At some point, Jane was talking and said 'frick' and Abby was quick to point out that Jane said a "say word" and we don't use "say words".

My girlfriend came to the track as well and had a lot of fun watching. It was fun to hang out with her and have her see what the races are like. Abby started getting wound up a bit at the end and tired. Jane and I had a good conversation in the parking lot and then we left.

I had to take her back home on Saturday. I then had my own adventures between a tea with college buddies, a massage, dinner with Jane and a few of her friends, then the Roller Derby. One of my college buddies joined us at the Roller Derby! It was a blast!! :) Then Sunday, we went to the track for a workout and Jane and I taught the class that afternoon. It was a blazing hot day!! However, I smiled as I hit turn 1 and saw there was a little blue with pink sticker that was stuck to turn 1. A sticker that Abby had received from Safeway when we got the fresh, cold water for Friday night. A sticker I can look down at and remember fondly of her coming to the track races with her Auntie! :)

all about Girl's night and girlie things...

2006-06-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well last night Rachel and Mom were late arriving to the 'drome as there was an accident in Puyallup they had to fight through. Then they had to do dinner with the kids and Johnathan had such a bad accident he needed new pants so they stopped at Target in Issaquah.
They made it up there when the training session was done. The kids ran to me when I called their name and gave me a hug. Johnathan and Abby wanted to see me on my bike but I already had my shoes off, etc. Then John decided to start running on the track. He was the track king as he ran to turn 1 and slid down. No problem. He kept going and then out of turn 2 he climbed up above the "Group Health" logo onto the rail. Then he slid on his butt all the way down. In the meantime, I was walking out towards him freaking he would get hurt. Abby had run half way around the track - mostly on the apron. I called for Johnathan and he worked his way towards me as Abby cheerfully reached me and shouted, "I did it! I did it!" She was shaking with enthusiasm as she hugged me.

Then we walked off the track and I was saying good-bye to Jane. The kids wanted a ride on the bike. We put John up by the stem and he held onto the handlebars. Abby sat on the seat. Rachel and I held the bike from both sides and we rolled them out to the parking lot. As we were reaching the parking lot they wanted off but they wanted to help Auntie Molly push her bike. So Johnathan held onto the handlebars and Abby the seat.

We reached the cars, said our good-byes although Johnathan cried he wasn't coming with Auntie Molly. I had to promise him I'd have him another weekend. Then Abby and I worked our way home. I got the scoop from Abby how she loved seeing the water, she was going to get a drivers license, she was going to get married. Married I said? Tell me more. She said I'm going to marry my grandpa Ross because daddy is already married to mommy. I said yeah but grandma Lori is married to grandpa Ross. That didn't matter... she was going to marry him.

We got to my apartment and she helped me open the doors and felt very proud about doing so. Then she helped me carry a bag on our second trip from the car and opened the doors again. Once in she immediately was investigating the apartment. She saw my Lemond bike and immediately I told her there were more - one in the closet, bedroom, etc. so she looked in the closet. Then she looked in the bedroom. She said, about Milly, oh I like this one! This one is pretty! She was admiring it by touching all the different color sections on the tire, touching it, etc. Then she sat on my bed and noticed my hello kitty basket and a bunch of flowers (from my TOPS graduation). She then stated I need to get a ring. I said oh yeah, how come? She said to get married and I need to get all the other stuff too. (What are they feeding this child anyway?!?!) Then she admired my Ti bike and said she liked that one too. She then liked my Hello Kitty toaster. LOL! A girl taking after her Auntie!

So she wanted to find the bag of goodies that auntie Molly bought and she carried in. She couldn't find it so I played the hot, cold game and she figured it out finally. :) The bag had her light up necklace, bracelet and earrings set; bubbles and DVDs. What she really wanted was to watch the Hello Kitty DVDs I bought. I told her she needed to take a bath first. So she took a bath... she wanted to use my Hello Kitty sparkling soap. She wanted bubbles in her bath. I told her we could use the Hello Kitty bubbles so I brought out my Hello Kitty container with bath bubbles. She was sooooo excited. (Can you tell I make a better auntie to a girl than a boy?)As she took her bath she played with the vampire and witch ducks on the tub. She introduced the witch duck to the vampire one by stating: hello, I'm a halloween witch duck. She kept calling the vampire a pirate... ok.... ;)

So then we watched one of the Hello Kitty movies. They are actually quite cute and funny. They put a bit different spin on things with sleeping kitty, cinderkitty, kitty locks and the three bears, kitty and the beast and snow white kitty and the one dwarf. We enjoyed watching the movies and then went to bed. It was very cute. :)

After eating breakfast, now we are going to get ready to go for a bike ride soon. YEAH! Should be a blast.

Somehow while racing I managed to keep my lunch with me...

2006-06-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know... too much sugar throughout the day? Just nerves? Nerves and sugar? Need electrolytes? not enough carbs/protein this week since I cut back? It could have been so many things... Wednesday night's first race was an 8 lap tempo... on, off, on, off just a bunch of sprinting for 8 laps. It was HARD! I kept working and working to be one of the first two. In fact, I swear on one of the sprints I was 2nd, the last sprint I definitely was second with a 3,2,1 (maybe the officials changed the point system from what the starter told us) and one of the sprints I was crossing the line with 2 other riders but I think my wheel was slightly behind both of them. It was SOOOOO close like photo finish. I only managed 2 points out of that race. However, John was most impressed with the fact that out of a 6 rider field I was able to come from the last place coming across the finish line on the bell lap to then move up and past 4 other riders taking that 2nd lap. YEAH!

However, at the end of the 1st race I realized my legs felt as toasted as they have felt at the end of the 3rd race the last 2 Wednesday nights. I knew that was not a good sign. I kept rolling around the warm-up circle until I felt I had my legs back. Not only that but after jumping on my rollers for about 15 mins in the am, I walked into work and had a sharp pain near my IT band above my knee. It stuck around all night but seemed to lessen if I was moving.

The 2nd race was an unknown distance. I think we went somewhere between 6 and 8. I lost track after 5. Jenny pulled the first four laps or so. Lara pulled another lap or so. I was next.... I knew it was going to be soon. I was pulling against the wind from Lara's pull out. I was debating about Woody's advice last week - if I can pull to turn 1 then whomever is next has to pull upwind. I could have time to breath again; however, something inside me said as soon as I get to turn 4 I know that bell is going to ring and I'll be in the front pulling and I'll have to try to defend my position for a whole lap. So I pulled up track late between 3 and 4.... and sure enough that dang bell rang.... Still came in last. That was fine... I didn't care.... most of the time I was able to draft and felt good...saving my legs for the 4x4 final race.

The 4x4 was tough as my legs were already spent and my lunch kept trying to revisit me... I kept thinking and finally voiced - my lunch is saying I'm on my way back to you girl! UGH! so needless to say I didn't do as well as I had hoped. It's ok though.... I know I'll do better next week. Next week I'll have had some strong training sessions, more carbs/protein, some kick-butt rest and I'll be re-energized. YEAH! It will be way more fun and I'll be doing well.

I did slightly cut my leg up again. Not nearly as bad... so I need new screws and/or buy the stem/handlebars from Hyun and them get them dremeled. My stomach is also feeling very icky still. I realized this morning that as bad as I felt, even after my hot bath, laying in bed I still wanted to hurl.... that I did not do a recovery drink. I didn't even think about it last night it was the last thing on my mind. Tonight, after track training I'll take something and hopefully that will help.

Jane and I just spoke at lunch time today.... we both feel the lactic acid build-up. All of us talked last night about how we were feeling after that first race. We all felt it was harder than we usually go. Jane was wondering if perhaps without the two main 'fast, strong riders' being moved to Fridays if the whole field pushed ourselves harder. That we didn't need to just fight for 2nd, 3rd or 4th and so on but we had to fight to be FIRST, 2nd and 3rd and so on. I don't know... hard to say. We are definitely seeing the speeds going up. Last night as a bad night for me I still hit 27.9, on a good night last Wednesday I hit 29.4 and the week before that was only like 26.7 or something similar. So definitely increasing in speeds and my strength is increasing. Just had an off night last night is all.

In the meantime, tonight I have family watching me train and then I get to spend the weekend with my great niece - one-on-one. I'm going to rent a kid trailer and take her on the trail tomorrow for a nice bike ride. Then, I'm going to take her to the track races and then take her back Saturday... Saturday I got a tea party and roller derby to attend! Should be a blas. Sunday I got track training and a track class to do and then dinner with a girlfriend. :) YEAH! I am really looking forward to it! It should be a blast.

Ups and downs.... more down then up....

2006-06-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

*sigh*

Afterwards, I had some personal things going on in my life. Things that put me on cloud 9 for quite sometime after Monday night.... it felt so good to talk to a friend of mine and to get some real grounded understanding about some necessary things. However, today.... today.... well let's just say I am emotional. I am up and down with hormones right now and I am not the best to deal with. Today I am pushing away. Yesterday, I was pushing away. Tuesday I was euphoric but some thoughts came and now they are stuck. I'm trying to shake them.... I'm trying to get beyond them.... it is difficult... My sister gave me good advice. I'm trying to listen to it, trying not to get sucked into a black hole of confusion, mis-spent emotions, overanalyzing the situation, the emotions, worrying about the future. I know I need to take all that I do in life one day at a time.... take it for what it is worth, don't take it for granted, live my life, have fun with it, enjoy my friends and family and whatever happens with what is overburdening my soul will happen.

I know I am strong... but I don't know if I am strong enough. I guess I have to look at what my 'list' says.... what my goals are... what my strengths are... what I need... what I want and what is most important to me. Life will work itself out if we don't push it to take a direction but on the other hand if we don't push a direction will we ever take a risk to succeed.... or to fail... but we will never know if we never took the risk in the first place. *sigh*

My humming bird.... it's fluttering back to me.... my wings have expanded.... I'm not sure which direction to take.... standing on the edge of the nest I must decide how to jump, where to jump and where to fly off and how to land on my feet safely.

Monday Night Racing...49 racers! WOOHOO!!!

2006-06-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Monday night racing brought out 49 racers to our 'drome. That was just incredible. Everyone did really well and some even graduated up to Wednesday nights. Everyone was a bit overwhelmed but held their own with keeping everything as organized as possible. I again did the bikes in the bike barn - taking them out and putting them back. It is fun. Jane and I went for a walk prior as we needed some girl talk. It was all good and I got a better understanding about things. So that helped me be prepared for my duties on the track. However, I really didn't feel so sociable. This year I have not felt as social as I did last year. I feel like I'm doing - as Jill states - the 'race face'. I just feel like I'm too much in my own world right now to be social. I feel like others may look at me as being unapproachable or snotty..... I hope that is not the case. I'm trying to be cheery and just stay out of the way.... maybe next week I will try to be social.

Redmond Little 100

2006-06-22T12:03:00.002-07:00

It was a blast on Saturday!!! I couldn't believe how cute my friends looked on an old orange cruiser all decorated in pink. Everyone wore their pink shirts that Jane so lovingly made with Pretty in Pink as the team name with a high heel logo. Not only that but awesome names inspired by the Rat City Rollers! HELL YEAH! Izette was: Miss Elle (missle); John was: Onya Butz (on your butts); Jane was: Ima Whipya (Im a gonna a whip ya!): due to team problems we only had one so I opted to be pit crew/blackmail photographer.... I forget Hyun's name as he didn't wear his shirt. Hyun was crazy enough, fun enough, confident enough in his masculinity to wear a pink skinsuit that had "Hooray for Boobies" on it with "Boobies" down the legs. Then, the team put a sash around his 'rear' that stated "Princess". It was too awesome! Everyone looked great.

It was hard for the team to pedal the heavy bikes with regular "old style" pedals. It was hard work but they came in 2nd for all their hard efforts. They won the best costume award as well. This was against the League of Super Heros, the Irresponsible Parents, Gilligan's Island and White Trash Picnic. They looked awesome. Hyun looked cool as a cucumber rolling up to the rail and waiting just as if he was taking on a Friday night race. It was hilarious. They had great bike exchanges, great passes around other groups and hey - Jane even did a cyclocross mount during warm-up that tested that seat. Oops it broke... so they quickly fixed it and Hyun and her kept doing those mounts with no problems!

We hung around for the other races and they were just as hilarious with costumes as our team. The races were hilarious with the costumes... men in ONLY diapers. YIKES! Scare me... Byrne team did awesome against 'ride it like you stole it' but came in 2nd. The teams were even encouraged to do a running lap around the 'drome. It was great.

I even ran into people that I used to bike with, hang out with and so on as the Flying Wheels ride finished at the 'drome. It was quite hilarious and fun. So I chatted up a storm before I left for T town to hang out with my family for the weekend. My niece, great niece and great nephew are here from Wisconsin for a month and summer.

Whining will get you somewhere but with no friends....

2006-06-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

Not being able to sleep - at 4 am, I decided to get my thoughts out with the hopes of wearing myself out again.

Well last week I felt stronger but felt I had bad positioning on the 4x4 and couldn't make any moves. This week... just wasn't feeling upbeat about racing. Felt really tired after the weekend but more rested after taking it easy Sunday and Monday. I was asked to do the Women's Track Training on Tuesday which I used to open my legs a bit but not push too much. I felt like my legs were very tired Tuesday and I thought - oh boy - I'm going to be too tired to give anything to the races Wednesday night.

Wednesday came... I didn't feel it. Maybe it was the on/off rain in Issaquah all day. Maybe it was the feeling of still not feeling 100% and/or the fear of not doing well after Tuesday. I showed up, I whined, I pissed people off and I was annoying. I know it... I'm very sorry for it. I did a warm-up and pushed off registration until the last 15 minutes. I really had to be talked into racing. I told Izette - I'm not feeling the love tonight and she said something along the lines of I'm not one to give it. I said no the love within me.... no track love.... and there came the change of events. I couldn't even get my speed up to stay in a pace line. I did some efforts but that was as hard as I pushed.

I tried to stay away from the women's field so I wouldn't be a downer to them. I was thinking - sheesh Molly what's your problem? Why you being so negative? Last week you were all upbeat even if you didn't do well. Negative Molly day I guess.

First race was an 8 lap scratch. Thus first person across finish line gets 1 point. We started out and I was trying hard to stay mid-pack but felt like I kept getting squeezed out to the end. Ok, so I'm accepting that I am at the back sucking a wheel. With 5 laps to go I'm really feeling like why are we going so slow? I feel I can just go strong but I'm being held up by the field. I then thought I wonder if I just go out in front until I blow up then it can't be worse as usual (coming in close to last) but as a benefit I may get some of those girls to chase me and wear themselves down for the last race. I may wear myself down as well.... ahhh shoot - with 4 laps down I make my move on the back stretch. I hear the field grumbling and I am focused on the track. Coming into turn 1 I pull off and I think the whole field is behind me. I look down and OH CRAP! Only Devon is on me. I immediately get down.... oh I'll work with her and see how well I can do. Well as Woody later informed me, I should have held out until turn 3 and been pulling down wind instead of upwind... I'll remember that for next time. By 2 laps to go I was dying. I let Devon get away from me. By turn 3 I was ready to pull up track and wait for the field to suck a wheel. I kept hearing people shout my name: Go Molly! Only 1 lap to go! .... ok... so I came back down and pushed. The field came around me.... I finished last but with a BLAST! Compared to just rolling in. LOL! Definitely not how I normally do this first race.

I cool down and then briefly talk to John H. He informs me I did good and that I should drink lots of water and keep stretching out my legs. I did so and as I'm getting back in the warm-up circle two of my team mates, Martin and Brian talk to me. They were impressed by my lead out and told me that if I keep doing moves like that I'll just keep getting stronger and keep getting better. One of them also stated how I have improved 100% from the first race of the year. Took me awhile to let this sink in... but yes, yes I did having come from being a lap behind on the first race of the year for the same race. I keep talking and cooling down. I go infield to get more water and get ready for the 2nd race.

Hyun told Izette, Jane and I to let laps 1,2 and 3 of the 8 lap snowball to go. Attack on the 4-8 laps where you get those many points each lap. (i.e. 1st lap gets 1 point, 8th lap gets 8 points) I turned to them and said my goal is to just stay in the race and go for the 4x4. As we are warming up, I also informed them of my tactic of the last race as they were shocked at what I did. First lap, I stayed on Jadine's wheel. I knew she was going to lead out. I knew they would be minimal points but I thought - if she goes for it someone has to challenge her and if I get some 'crap points' then so be it. Second lap I let her lead as I sat on her wheel and I was able to sprint to steal 2 points. Third lap, Lara came at the tail end and took the points. I knew I was toast. I let the whole field get in front of me and I struggled a bit to get on the wheel at the end. I did it though and finshed 'last' so to speak. However, I placed 4th in that race. Awesome! This is also where I noticed the handlebars/stem that Hyun lent me cut up my left leg pretty good from the bolts. Man... I could feel it during one of the efforts but didn't realize I was bleeding until after the race.

I stayed in the warm-up circle, stretched out my legs, had water, stretched my legs out even more. I got ready for the 4x4 which is 1 sprint every 4 laps - 4 times. There was so much action and I tried to stick on a wheel and get good positioning this time. I burnt so much fuel from the first 2 races so I wasn't sure how I would be doing. The first 2 sprints I was able to take 4th which is 1 point a piece, 3rd sprint I was able to take 3rd with 2 points and the last one was 5th or 6th. Not bad! DANG! Overall, I placed 3rd with 4 points.

At the end of the race as we were coming into the infield all I could do is shout I was coming in the inside. My legs were absolutely like jell-o and I didn't feel I had any strength to even back pedal. They were toast. About 75% done with the first infield lap I could barely push my pedals around. I was getting prepared to jump off my bike. I had no oomph. But I was able to squeak some strength out of my legs and once I did a few more laps I was fine. My heart rate was totally recovered for many, many laps but I kept going to stretch out the legs and get any lactic acid build-up out.

In the meantime, I am missing the official - Phil M - discuss with the women who he wants to now see on Friday night. I came into the middle of it. Izette, Janeen, Jadine and Devon(?). Awesome. Later Jane informed me he also wanted Jane and I. Jane told him we needed more time. Thank goodness! I am not yet ready for Friday with higher speeds and more challenges. I feel I'm really all about finding where my strengths and weaknesses are right now. Humiluation on Fridays can wait a few more weeks - at best. :)

I made a total of 6 points. I didn't make any friends doing it as I was a whinebag all night. I apologize for that... I really wasn't feeling good though. Interesting, a couple weeks ago I wasn't feeling hot for a Saturday workout either and that was one of my strongest training days. I Also noticed I didn't have so much performance anxiety warming up. I was more like -hey well if I suck I suck and whatever happens happens. Oh well. Maybe that is more of the attitude I need (without the whining) so I don't get so worked up with anxiety about racing. Until next week.... with new players, new attitudes and lots more FUN! :)

Stronger but bad positioning.... lessons learned and challenges will be faced ahead!

2006-06-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

Jane tried a different strategy and kicked butt on the 8 lap point a lap. I was like 4th and 5th in a 9 person field. Izette was like 2nd or 3rd or maybe more.... I wasn't paying attention as we were all split up and I kept debating about trying to get past and catch up with them but thought it was wasted energy. Then the 2nd race was a miss and out and I wasthe first one out which was fine because the first one ate a lot of my energy. The third one (a 4 x 4) I wasin the back and I kept getting bad positioning and was trying to resolve it for the sprints. So each time the sprint was on I was kind of stuck in the back. Then when it was done I had more momentum and would get towards the front but didn't want to lead for 2 or 3 laps so I fell to the back again. It was odd it was almost like we had a bird flying V and I was trying to stay on the upper outside but I kept getting cut offor go way to the front. So either I was in the front or I'd get cut off and fall to the back. It justsucked. At some point on the last sprint Jane jumped in turn 1 - down - and Janeen was on her wheel and I was able to get on. We sprinted to the end where Janeen went around Jane and I went on the outside. I either got 2nd or 3rd. It was really close between Jane and I. I didn't ask about my points. I figured either I got or 3 points - whatever.

Jane did really well and she tried a different strategy and still had some oomph left over. Izette said I did really well cuz I hung in the middle of the packfor both of those races and even helped push the paceup. At some point I hit 29.6 during the last race andI'm sure that was while on Jane and Janeen's wheels. Usually if I'm on Jane's wheel I can go WAY faster than I can by myself. Izette did really well. She won the miss and out, she came 2nd or 3rd or whatever on the first one. The last one I think she was up there but not sure of the whole order. Overall it was good but after that last sprint- oh my goodness! My legs were TOAST! they were FRIED! I didn't think I could make it to the warm-up circle.I feel ok today... dehydrated but ok. I'm supposed toan 'easy' workout at the track tonight to help John. We will see how that goes. :)

Jane did awesome although she called me today and said she was disappointed. I said what are you talkingabout? YOU did a different strategy and you did great! Next time I'm thinking I may decide - 2 laps... oklet's see if I can jump on them and go and make a gapand see what I can do. Or do a fake lead out - get acouple out there, suck on their wheel and get readyfor the real sprint. :) hmmmm we will see what opportunities there are. A bunch of the counterbalance chicks should be coming up soon and it will make it quite difficult.... should be good challenges.

YOU GO GIRL! YOU'RE FOR REAL!

2006-05-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

Well Wednesday was my 'Friday" of the week. I was blessed with getting a 5 day weekend from work. Awesome! Unfortunately, it was to start with my second race of the year and it got rained out. Jane and I decided to hang, have dinner together and she gave me a tour of the Borg. Sweet! It was a lot of fun to see where her work digs were and just sit, relax, talk and have dinner together.

The rest of the weekend was busy, slow, relaxing, fun, up and down all the way around.

Thursday: Planning on being lazy and doing errands. Around 11 am a college friend of mine - Curtis - called saying "guess who I just saw?". I replied - ahhhh not sure I want to know - which ex? LOL! He said nope, one of your co-workers. OH COOL! So he needed a buddy to go to the Mariner's game at 1:35 with him and wanted to know if I wanted to go. So I decided to go. I quickly got dressed, did a few errands and met him at the entrance shortly after 1:35. He was later than me because he choose to catch the bus instead of walk and they started closing the streets for the Mexican President. Game was cool but lame. We lost. :( I was stressed about getting back in time for either a) track workout or b) riding with Jane if it rained. Well the game went so quick I was home by 5 and didn't have to worry about it. The track workout was rained out but Jane and I went for a (dry) ride around 6:30. It was a good ride - we had a lot of fun and we stayed dry! I don't know how we've been lucky out with dry rides lately - but the sun is with us - or at least no rain clouds are with us.

Friday: Lazy day, did some errands including grocery shopping. It was nice. :)

Saturday: Did the Larry Kemp Memorial Ride for my team. That was a bit eye opening and depressing. I got to speak with his mother who unfortunately lost her son 2 years prior. She was there supporting our team, supporting the ride that was commemorating her son and being with us for support of bicycling - and safety. Jane and I then did some sprint drills afterwards! WOW! Those were really tough but we tried our hardest!!!! Then we sat with some teammates at Starbucks and howled with laughter and fun. Felt good. Then I drove down to Tacoma to help a friend move her husband out of her place. That was interesting. Her sister didn't think I could make her (my friend) work - but I did. :) Haa haa Then we had a grilled dinner which was really nice.

I then went to an auction with my sister and her husband. I scored on some awesome stuff including a bed set that is SWEET! 2 shams, a comforter and 2 new pillows for $20. They are sweet! Same ones (slightly different design at the bottom but the same) were on sale at Fred Meyer for $160 for 10 pieces. HELLO!??! I also got essentially a brand new coleman lantern, a camp stove, a 5'5" tent - yes I got to sleep diagonal in it and can put my gear in the corners but if it is only me - hell it will work, a cooler and some 'water bottles' for $12.50!!!! A couple more deals and I called it a night. :) It was awesome.

Sunday: Hung out with my sister. We had fun. I baked some gluten free sweet bread and ooey gooey chocolatey chewy brownies. YUM! Put together my camp stuff - so sweet! I feel liberated. NO more depending on frickin' men for the rest of my camping gear! I am frickin' independent now! HELL YEAH! It feels awesome. Sat with my sister and my mom (after she got done with work) and talked, had dinner and relaxed.

Monday: I went for a bike ride around UPS - in my full team kit. It was a lot of fun just cruising different territory on my bike. I did a bunch of laps in a particular neighborhood that I found pleasant and quiet. I slowly worked my way in my 1 hour workout to have about the last 20 minutes that I thought I'd just go around this one block park area that is a 'circle' right next to my mom's house. It was too funny. No more than 30 seconds being there and some kids started to yell at me. YOU GO GIRL! YOU GO GIRLFRIEND! YOU'RE FOR REAL!! I was just dying trying not to laugh but I couldn't help it. It was toooooo funny and cute. So then they started to race me. They kept going in circles on the sidewalk. Of course, I was holding back not wanting to kick their butts but giving them a challenge.

One boy said - I give up - I admit defeat! I said hey now that's not fair! You can't give up that easily! it was very cute. Another did about 6 laps with me when I finally said - one lap is about .10 of a mile so 10 laps is one mile. He's yellign to his friends - 10 times around is 1 mile! I'm going to do 1 mile! He did by golly! He was sooooo excited.

Then I talked to them for about 5 mins regarding bikes, bicycling, answered their questions and so on then went home. They asked about my pedals, talked to me about the accidents they had and their scars, their broken pedals and so on. One boy said his dad used to ride the hills of San Diego and he's done work on bikes for the last three years at his church. This boy was the oldest being about 12 or 13 maybe. The youngest was 5.

My mom said that was sweet and I should feel good about it as I probably encouraged them to exercise and who knows - maybe I touched their lives. You never know. It was very sweet though - very cute.... it was so hard not to chuckle but also wonder... where was I at that age? What would I have thought and/or wanted to do? I mean I grew up with Greg Lemond showing up in our area and bicycling up our bluffs. I was memorized but somehow it didn't sink in what an inspiration nor the deep desire I have now that I wish I had then to bicycle so much, so passionately, so hard and to love it so much! I wish I could turn back the clock!

Anyway... that's my story... you just never know who you may run into, what life you may affect and what your team kit will give you - a big smile and a great day of fun. :)

I then hung out with my mom for abit more and then headed up here to help with the track. It felt good to be out and laugh and have fun with friends. I needed that. I'm feeling a bit depressed. Yesterday I saw someone dinged my car door. I'm actually going to pay to get this one taken out. Owning a car for 1.5 months and making the first car payment and having a ding is making me QUITE sick to my stomach. I am NOT happy. :( I know it will happen... and won't pay to get the others out...but this one - on MY door... and so early.... it's sickening. :( Then, I was hit with the news this weekend that my mom is being forced to retire. It is a long story.... probably happen in January... but she'll be living a hard life now. It is hard... she sleeps all the time, she has a hard time getting around, doing things and doesn't want to work. They are forcing her to retire but she is really ready. She wants to be done and enjoy life more. She deserves it. I just wish I could give her more than I can. I just want her happy. I love her so much.

Overall, it was an inspiring weekend... a liberating weekend... a good weekend. I also kept in mind all those troops - including my grandpa - who have ever fought for our country.... *sigh* Memorial Day Weekend... filled with so many emotions.

First night of 2006 racing - TOTALLY ROCKS!!!

2006-05-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

After having an AWESOME workout on Saturday with Jane and our coach I felt really good. I felt much more prepared and confident and worked up for our first race. As Wednesday rolled around and we got closer to race time I felt more and more anxious and nervous about how well I would do. It helped to talk to Jane, relax, spin a bit before actually warming up.

During the warm-up my heart rate was immediately in zone 4 and 5. I had a hard time calming down and getting a good workout.... performance anxiety? perhaps.... so we will see how next week goes now that the first race is behind us.

We got our bibs and those are the numbers for the rest of the year. Awesome! Jane and I have numbers next to each other. Two chickas ready to kick ass and everyone knows it! :)

Per my coach, tonight's plan (and race results) is:

Jane and Molly, you guys did great last night! And, I don't want you to blow up first week into racing. So, pat yourselves on your backs, go for a nice easy! mostly zone 1 45 min spin to help the legs recover - nothing more. I'll get you a plan for Sat am track workout.

We are not allowed, per the above, to do our regular Thursday night workout. We're going to stop by the track, to watch, after the workout. :)

Jane and I are very proud of how well we did this first race - way better than any race last year -by far!!! :) We felt good.. sure there were times we both felt 'weak' but we pulled it off and pulled ourselves, and each other, through. :) It was spectacular. First race I ended 4 out of 5 (8 lap scratch didn't matter); second race - we won't talk about.... lap behind by the 7th lap... my legs were toast! Gone! Dead! (8 lap snowball) I was hoping to get the first lap and let them go the other 7 but one of the women stole it from me coming out of turn 4!!! UGH! I was ready to call it a night but figured if nothing else the 4 x 4 would give me a good speed workout. My coach, the other women and my friend Kelly (he stopped to watch the races) all felt I should do the 3rd race regardless! They kept telling me but this is your race.... oy.... my legs felt like I had NO race to give! Boy was I surprised and excited to see the results of the 3rd race as shitty as my legs were feeling. They honestly were quite sore and took me about 5 minutes to calm them down. I honestly felt I had no OOOMPH in them any more. They felt totally depleted.

First sprint - not bad.... think I was 4th or 5th (based on points it must have been 5th).....During that race I hit 29.6 mph which is a new all time high speed for me. YES! Awesome!!! Second sprint - 4th.... 3rd sprint I think 4th. Man it was all a blur... Then between the 2nd and 3rd I was able to pull Jane for awhile trying to buy her time to get energy to sprint for the 3rd one.... I was asking to make sure she was on me after we stayed low on the black line and everyone else was up on the embankment. At some point coming out of turn 3 with one more lap to go I was about to communicate to her when she felt rested and ready to sprint her ass off. However, out of the corner of my eye I saw everyone else pacing behind her. So I kept quiet... coming out of turn 2 I pulled off and we all scattered. But for that sprint.... it worked she came in 1st and I was 3rd. Then before the final sprint I was following one of the women for quite sometime. I mean REALLY following her by reading her body language. I was inches from her wheel and moved instantly when she did. It felt really good...I felt like I was one with her. I felt like a snake's body that just moved when the head moved. Kelly even (later) asked me if I touched her wheel in turn 4. I said no but I was DAMN close! It was amazing how trusting I was, how much I rode her wheel, how well I could read her body. After a couple of laps, coming into turn 1 then I had decisions to make. This woman and I were high and I was deciding if I wanted to go ahead of her and jump out of turn 2 and have her on me and/or jump immediately. All of a sudden I saw two were attacking at the bottom. When I saw them jump - I jumped on them but couldn't keep on their wheel .Regardless... I came in 3rd on that one.

Overall it was a good night. I have that issue where by the 3rd race I'm kicking ass or helping kick ass. Wish it could be all night long. :) I got 5 points -way better than any races last year so that is improvement right there. Woody, Dave and Martin all gave us tips. They told me due to my racing 'routine' of the 3rd race being my race I need a harder warm-up. Interesting. :)Anyway... lots of details....but it was good. Wasn't that bad. Turn out was a bit disappointing. SaturdayJane and I will be out on the track from 8 am untilthe class at 10.... It will be a good workout and should get us prepped like this week.

Also, after the ride someone very 'important' at the track walked up to us and talked to us. It was symbolically very important to Jane and I what this all meant. It was very warm, sincere and eye opening. To be acknowledged, to be appreciated, to be respected and to be accepted as one of ours.... and open to helping and supporting. We were thanked for all our hard work we do with the track - the classes, our enthusiasm and so forth. It felt REALLY good!!!! I was soooooo wired.... I could not sleep until like 12 am. It felt sooooooo good to be out there last night and to have so many highs from so many accomplishments! Hopefully this will continue through the year..... we did better than any other race last year - we know it - and it feels good. There's a lot of room for growth, speed, strength and so on....but it will be fun! :)

Yes... it's true... I AM a DORK! :(

2006-05-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

This is what I sent to my coach about my workout this weekend which was very tiring. I am actually surprised I did so well as I was feeling under the weather - still am - with either allergies or a cold. :(

I am quite tired and legs a bit sorefrom my workout this weekend which I think was very good. Ahhh but I'm a real DORK! a major DORK! a major doofus of a muck nut DORK! You ready for this?

Ahhhh... so I forgot the workout plan at home and couldn't remember all of it for "Sunday" but I was on the track on Saturday - teaching the class. I kept thinking my "SUNDAY" workout was for the track so I figured since rain was expected for Sunday I would do the track while I was there. So I helped with the class and then I did some efforts. This is essentiallywhat I did:

3 efforts at 23 mph for 1 min each (which ended up tobe 25/26 mph on the 2nd turn to 4th turn until I hit NASTY headwinds that slowed it to 23 mph between turn 4 and 2). I did a few laps between each effort to get me into zone 1.

2 efforts at 23/24 mph (trying 25 but my energy was decreasing and I think winds getting worse) whereas the headwinds made me drop to about 20 or slightly above and I could only hold them for 1.5 minutes. That was with a lot of grunting and groaning and really pushing myself through my 'quit zone' at the time. I gave it another 1/2 lap or so past where I wanted to quit on the 2nd time. It was VERY tiring especiallythrough the headwinds. :( I mean they were stronger than any I remember while being on that track. :( I rested about 5 or 10 minutes.

So then I did - I think 3 jumps (maybe 2 but I reallythink 3). I actually felt really good... really strong, really good form, followed my line to the corner really well, didn't feel I hit the saddle hard(plopping) but rather gently sitting. I pushed andpushed so I jumped out of 2 and would go to the finish line... then once was turn 4 and then ended in mid-turn 1 and 2 like we practiced. Definitely felt a bit out of energy on that last one....but overall felt like I really pushed myself in a good way. :) I did notice my heart rate was able to quickly recover on the efforts but the jumps seemed to take just a tiny bit longer but not too much longer. I think the 'top' heart-rate seemed to be about the same after every effort and jump. It seemed to stay around 179 and 176.

Ok.... so if that wasn't bad enough.... on Sunday I went for a 2 hour ride of 30.68 miles. I started at Marymoor (with some nasty sidewinds but wasn't too much of a headwind at all which was good). I tried to stay in zone 2 as much as possible. I rode up toWaynita Drive Hill again and did that 3 times. The first time I was able to ride in my outer front cog again...farther than before. Where I was able to 'sprint' a bit previously, with a dip before a short climb to the rest of the top, I actually treated it like a jump and stood up out of my saddle and tried to sprint up as far as I could. It felt really good. I actually was recovered within like a minute of where I turned around and drank water before descending. Descended, drank water, relaxed a couple minutes -started again. Stayed in outer cog again (back gear was as low as the 2nd to biggest so almost - grannygear with back cassette). This time I stood up a couple times in an area where my legs were starting to feel a little 'weak' and didn't feel I had oomph. I was able to stay in this gear until almost to the very top of the whole hill. Was able to recover in the same manner. Did a 'short sprint' but this time definitely a bit more tired but still felt strong. I descended and rested less at the bottom. Went back up to the top. This time stood up in one short area where I did before - less time. Kept going and going... mostly stayed above 10-12 mph but one shortarea dropped to 9. In the "Sprinter" area I stood up just barely but didn't feel it was right so I sat backdown. Kept in the same gear - larger outer ring and back cassette almost in granny. This was ALL the way to the top of the hill - 1 mile although I had to stand up for the last little bit to get oomph up and over it. Recovered again within like a minute... felt tired but good. Legs definitely felt 'done' but not 'fried' on the descent... on the way back I felt pretty good...as I cruised about 17 mph or so. At some point I dropped just a bit for a mile or two to like 14/15 but overall felt good. Just tired. :) My stats for that was 2:14 with 139 ahr, 1:33 in my zone (my heart rate monitor's 'zone' is 123-161), 1077 calories. Bike computer showed 2:06 time with 30.68 miles with 14.6 average with 28.8 max. Saturday - with the class - was 2:15 time, 137 ahr, 1:06 zone and 991 calories with computer showing 29.16miles, 1:54.02 with a 15.6 average with 27.8 max.

Anyway.... I screwed up.... I'll try not to screw up this week as now coming home tonight I realized - OHDUH! We talked about doing these efforts on my road bike. So this Saturday I'll do the efforts on my road bike. The Wednesday hill repeat should be good for me. We will see how I do on Thursday after that. :) So just wanted to let you know... seems I am getting stronger and I am doing really well but I don't understand why I don't feel that way on the track orwhy I don't have that energy if I am doing so much better on that hill and such. My knees feel ok too...I can feel the workout on my legs but not like so sore it hurts just - wow... that was a good challenging workout. :)

So here's what my coach said:

M...,
That sounds AWESOME! You did great! As for doing the efforts on road bike versus track bike - it's ok to do them with the track bike. I was giving you an alternative with the road bike. But, if you can get on the track...go for it. Did you do the track workout on Thursday? How'd that feel?
As for the headwinds, they are a bear aren't they. They'll kick your ass more than anything. Let's hope they calm down right quick. I'm glad you quit when you did - it's important to listen to your body, when you're done, you're done and then you've got something to strive toward - getting that 3rd effort in...glad to hear that you're recovering nicely! Excellent, that's right where you want to be. And, glad to hear that you pushed yourself! You definitely pooped yourself with the hill climb stuff. Soooo, make sure that tomorrow when you get on the bike - make it slooooooowwwwwww and very easy. Almost like you're not doing much - active recovery. If you're on the trainer - go for 45 mins, if you're out on the trail, make it FLAAATTTTT, SLLLOOOOOOWWWWW and very EEEAASSYYYYYY!

You're rockin' on!
Cheers,
I...

Oops got more emails now:

M...,
One last thing...I want to tweak your Wednesday workout just a little this week - it's going to be a nice evening. Instead of doing hill repeats, I want you to go for a 1.5 to 2 hour ride and every 10 mins I want you to do a 15 second "burst" - or high effort - otherwise stay in zone 2. That will get the body ready for riding with strength on Thursday as opposed to working too hard on the hills on Wednesday and then not having enough in the legs for Thursday. So, avoid the hills and do this instead. I think you'll feel good on Thursday. Let me know!
Cheers again,
I...

My bad, I totally had my days mixed up - I thought it was Sunday night - good job on the recovery. Do the spin ups tomorrow and then the workout I just emailed you. I think you'll feel good on Thursday and I'll be there barking at ya:)
It was freaky windy this weekend. Let's hope it's all blown over now!

Phew! I think I've found my track lane again!

2006-04-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

PHEW!!!!

Thursday night's track training felt so good. I felt like me again. I felt like I was out of my slump. I'm not sure if it was due to me giving myself a 'pep talk' during lunch and trying to lift my spirits, the nutritional change I've been making with complex carbs (rice noodle mac n cheese - hmmm YUMMY!), more electrolytes and water and/or just changing my attitude. But it rocked! I did way better than I did on Sunday. Maybe it was seeing the circus freak tents for Cirque du Soleil. Who knows... but something's changed for the better. I'm happier and that is all that counts.

I got a lot of encouragement and support last night which also helped. I did some warm-up laps which felt good. Izette, my coach, saw my seat position as I was going around. She suggested we change my seat height to give me more pedal power. So we switched that up and I took some more laps. Felt ok... not overextended or anything. So we went with that.

We did a 20 lap warm-up with lots of new people so we took it easy. The first 10 laps were about 16-18 mph, next 5 were around 20 and next 5 were around 23. It felt good. There were a few minor issues with yo-yo-ing and people not able to stay on wheels or jumping off the turns incorrectly. But we dealt with them. Then we did 15 more laps increasing again to 23-25. It felt good and I didn't feel I was struggling too much.

We then did some pursuits. This is where I had to do some real digging. Izette, Jose and Chris were all supportive. Izette kept yelling at me to dig, dig, dig especially at the end of the 10 laps. I had to really dig as I was 'grunting' and trying to come up with last minute jet fuel, strength and energy to stay on a wheel. It was a bit difficult. We took a rest while another group took off. We then did it again. This time our effort topped maybe 24 mph not as hard as the other one and we had a couple more people with us - 5 total. But the effort didn't seem as taxing to me. So I'm learning what is pushing me and what is helping me. I had to dig a bit towards the last couple laps but not as bad as before.

Some people did another pursuit while Hyun and I went into the warm-up circle area. We rode around and talked about what I could do to better suit my training needs, my physical needs and my bike fit. I'm finding - like last year - the initial get up and get going is harder for me than if I'm already going out and about. Izette came up with an idea of how I can handle that by trying to get to the track early before races. I can then do some half-full efforts and then let my body totally recover. Repeating that several times to get my body up and ready before the pacelines and such. We practiced this quite a few times while everyone else was packing up to leave for the evening. She showed me what to do and it seemed to feel good. I wasn't feeling overly tired or anything so that was good. We also saw that I was recovering faster each time which is good.

Overall.... everything was great Thursday night. Without the support of several I wouldn't have been able to do it as well. I missed Jill and Jane though. Not sure where Jill was - perhaps recovering from Tuesday night's workout. Jane is having some lung/respiratory issues but she expects to be ground support for Saturday's class and possibly do a light workout Sunday. :)

Track season may be a great one this year! :)

Track training is like sucking a shake through a coffee stirring straw!

2006-04-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

Man! Sunday's workout was difficult. I don't know why but it was. I was having a hard time catching my breath. I wasn't feeling 100% over the last couple weeks but I was having a real hard time find energy. Maybe the gluten/wheat free diet is not giving me as much of the right carbs or nutrients I need. Maybe I'm not as in good of a shape as I thought with all this training since November. I am not sure. It scares me.... I'm hoping I'll be ok. I'm hoping I can build strength.

I do know that I am able to do several jumps and efforts at speeds that are higher than last year. I am having a difficult time keeping the turbo jets on through at the end. I don't know if it is mental defeat or just physical need to push.

We did a 30 lap warm-up going about 25 mph at the end. I made it to about 26 or 27... my right hand was completely asleep. I went to switch hand positions after my last pull ,where I didn't go back into the paceline, and almost slid down track as my right hand didn't want to hold onto the handle bar. :( We broke up in groups and did some jump efforts. These felt good but Jane and Jill still pulled away from me. I'm frustrated about that but I know 'sprinting' is not my thing. I need to push myself though... I need to keep building strength on it and keep getting better. The groups did a 10 lap pursuit that I sat out on. Then they did one more that I participated in. At some point, due to a group passing us, I had to pull 2.5 full laps. I felt ok but was really tired. We then talked a bit, changed out Jane's cog to be smaller so she could spin more, and then we did some great 'cool down laps' which became more like pursuit laps. I held in there as long as I could. About 2 laps before I pulled off, I was feeling a lot of strain on my left leg mostly. The leg where I feel my ham/quads were either pulled or severely tight from my short run/walk the day before. My legs were fatiguing but it felt good. I finally decided to pull off after my pull. John and Jill went another 5 laps afterwards. They were pushing hard. I need to do that too.

I really appreciate Jill, Jane, John and Hyun giving me all their feedback, support and knowledge. I needed that. I need support right now. I'm not feeling confident. They said right now is going to suck. It's going to be hard to push myself for the endurance, the strength and speed. I hope I won't be sucking wind too terribly out there this year and that I can get my strength, speed and nutrition in check for a successful - and fun - track season.

Everyone's talking about the Tuesday fast track training sessions. I can't do it this week but I hope to do it for the next couple weeks. Maybe that will help me build up some strength. Last week they did 60 laps and ramped it up to 30 mph. That would definitely push beyond my threshold.... I think I need something like that. Maybe the class on Saturday and track training on Sunday will get me stronger too. We will see..... I'm nervous and scared at the same time....

Family is sweet and makes life sweeter!

2006-04-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

My family is so awesome! They really pull through for each other when we need support from each other. This Friday I had some ups but mostly downs in life. Some personal and some - like another car hitting my car with a 'gentle tap' that left a little dent. Then Saturday I went to take my car to emissions and they couldn't even test it because it had a leak.

I took my car to Firestone - close to Marymoor where I was going to go biking with Jane - and they quoted me $1300 to fix my car with several things - needed and maintenance. It really irked me as I spent $700 last month on power steering where my bracket broke. UGH! So I drove with an over-heating car down to Tacoma to my uncle's shop. It was risky but I did it. He was going to fix it but everyone was telling me I should go with a brand new car and get something reliable, something I'm not 'saving money' to only put back into it and to know that I won't have maintenance repairs for awhile.

Monday my sister and I went shopping at a Honda dealer. We found out what it would cost me for the car I really wanted, what it would take, what percentage it was and so forth. My mom said she could help pay off the rest of my student loans. She wanted to do that for me as she was so proud of me doing it with no help for the last 10 years and I asked for minimal help through college itself. She wanted to do this for me. My sister wanted to buy my car. They need a car that uses up less gas and costs less than their trucks. She also feels they got time and a bit more income coming in should anything happen. My uncle said she was getting a deal and it really is a good car and still has a lot of life to it. So that is good because I'm so nervous that she just got a headache...but as cheap as she got it ... just let it run in the ground and be done with it. Save some $ for gas, etc. but as soon as it isn't worth it anymore than get rid of it. That's my thought. :) I hope she can get like another 100K out of it or so with minimal costs and lots of gas savings! :)

So Monday I walked out of the dealership at like 9 pm... ok... I didn't walk... I drove. I drove a new car! A Honda Civic Sedan EX with navigation. It is a pretty blue and it is spectacular. It felt good. Yeah it is a sweet car. I'm really liking it. OY! The voice commands will make navigation easier, and safer,in the car with teh GPS system....but I got tomemorize all these?! Some are easy radio on, radiooff, radio 93.3 FM, etc... then there is find nearestgas station, nearest restaurant (then goes into what restaurant types), nearest bank, nearest honda dealer, nearest car wash, veterinarian and so forth. UGH! Too many things to think about and remember. I'll be trying to memorize this book. I'll be saying find me the nearest peforming arts when I meant amusementpark. LOL! Need a sewing store? I can find the nearest one to the velodrome? LOL! Maybe I can ask it that. LOL! Find nearest velodrome. LOL!

We will see how much fun it is and I want to baby this one more than when I babied my Geo. I loved that car. I was proud of that car as my first new car. My ex-husband harrassed me so much about how much time I spent on it. Then 'we' bought the other car and I didn't like it that much. It was just too big for me and I hated it. I also tried to take care of it maintenance wise and cleaning wise but not as diligently.

I think this one will be pampered. :) It's gorgeous and it has everything I want.... economics of Gas 30/40, pretty color, sunroof, air conditioning. It is awesome. Way better gas mileage than most I saw. I was disappointed at some (KIA) had some options but not others I wanted. Gas was 24/34 for most I was eyeing. I really wanted a Hybrid but the Hybrids don't fold the seats down in the back. :( I wanted that capability. Especially until I get a bike rack. hee hee

However, I couldn't enjoy it without the sweet help of my family. I am very grateful for their support and assistance in helping me with this car purchase. I couldn't do it without them. Thank you for making life sweeter!!! I love you guys!!! :)

Long time no post....life is crazy but looking good!

2006-04-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Life is flying past me….. but yet the time change is making me so slow. I’m so busy that I can’t even think about posting to my blog most of the time. Maybe this summer with the excitement of training, racing and my training efforts paying off will encourage me. Family, friends, the sun, the blooming of new life, adventures in the sun, biking, racing, hiking…. Maybe I won’t have time.

It’s been crazy around my part of the world. I’ve been training most days – 6 days of the week – for 1 hour or 2 or even 3 hours. It has been intense, fun while sometimes wanting to just go home and crash. Crash from being tired, crashed from being emotionally drained about personal things, work things or whatever else things. Sometimes mentally drained and just want to go have fun.

I helped with the Marymoor Velodrome Association’s auction. It took place on April 1st. All of the volunteers did a lot of hard work and made a lot of effort to pull it off quite successfully!!! Hyun was a tremendous pillar for the organization’s success at this auction. He was the man. There were others that volunteered to do the big back drop boards that were incredible! :) Others helped with data entry (YEAH JOHN!!!!), helped organize the bidding sheets, give us feedback as to what auctions (during the live auction) were sold at and who won them and so forth. Jane was one of the MCs for the auction and did a great job. She won one of the best items – Rat City roller racing ticket package!!! :) Go Jane! :) Hee hee I had a lot of fun and enjoyed it. I wish I would have had time to bid on things and I was really shocked and disappointed by how cheap some items were sold at. However, overall we did a spectacular job! It was good seeing so many old faces although I didn't get to socialize like I wanted. I hope to see them all on the track soon! :)

Recently I did a ride with my coach, Jane and another woman. It was a lot of fun even though it rained on us. L It was a 60 mile ride from Renton to Black Diamond and back. It was nice and it didn’t rain too bad but just enough. I helped teach the first track class of the year the day before that. It was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed it and the students were great. What a great group of people that really did not hold back, didn’t have a lot of fears and were ready to get right into track racing. It was a good workout, albeit a bit easy and not what I really needed, but the 60 mile ride the next day whooped my butt. Between the hard workouts that week, the Saturday class and the fast ride on Sunday – I was whooped. I am hoping that all this training will pay off and will help me to be in tip top shape for this season. I am getting really anxious. Happy but anxious to race. Excited but anxious to race. It should be interesting.

I just got my new training schedule. I get to do hill repeats all month. I found the perfect hill, thanks to Jane’s suggestion, outside of Bothell area. I did it last night but started at Marymoor Park. So it was like a 10 mile ride to get up there. I climbed the hill, came back down, climbed the hill and on the 2nd descent it started to rain HARD. I was not a happy camper. I turned back to go home…. It’s ok I thought. I got extra mileage and next time I’ll park closer to the hill and go from there. It will be good. I got back to the park right before dark which was a good thing. It will be great to do that each week – 3 times, 4 times and even 5 times… UP and DoWn…. UP and DoWn…. UP and DoWn…. It should be interesting. The last week of my month long training will include Thursday night’s track training. That means a workout 7x/week. YIKES! I am supposed to get to the track every Sunday for a 2 hour workout. That should be fun – if the weather holds off. If the weather doesn’t hold off (or my schedule doesn’t permit) then I need to do a 2 hour workout at home or on the road.

Tuesday night, I was supposed to do an hour workout of zone 2. Zone 2 ‘walking’?!?!?! I couldn’t maintain Zone 2 in ‘walking’ conditions. That meant I essentially had to run! RUN!?! I’m not a runner but it did feel real good. I was trying to keep up with a friend of mine. Running, walking real fast – oooops, heart rate’s dropping…. Back to running…. Running kicking up my heels, running exaggerating knee lifts…. Ok heart rate is good… walk real fast….. heart rate’s dropping…. Back to running. Then there was this one time where I moved my legs almost as if I was roller skating or roller blading… I can feel that was good for my glutes and quads. Good deal! I need to do that messing around type running again sometime. J I feel good having run and am more motivated to do that type of thing more often now. My abs feel a bit sore which is great, my glutes, quads, inner thighs…. YEAH! Heck yeah! It feels good. I also lost 1.5 lbs this last week which makes me feel good.

Also, along with Jane, Jill and another friend – I have become wheat free (gluten when possible) with my diet. Many people I know (my coach, a friend in TOPS, etc.) are wheat or gluten free with their diets. Some people have SEVERE allergy reactions to those products containing wheat or gluten. Some people have a milder reaction, such as myself, where we feel bloated all the time. Feel like sandpaper is in our stomachs and they hurt so much after eating something with wheat in it. It is a difficult task to be on such a strict diet as lots of things you wouldn’t even think of have ‘wheat’ or by-products of wheat such as soy sauce or vinegar and so forth. It makes it quite challenging; however, I feel SOOOO much better having changed my diet. I do think I need to get more protein though and get a more balanced diet with my new diet. Tomorrow I am going to make some homemade energy bars for a 60 mile “Tulip ride” on Saturday. I LOVE that ride. It is always so beautiful and a great workout! I can’t wait!!! :) It should be a lot of fun but I am nervous as we usually stop at a bakery but I won’t be able to eat anything. I’ll have to bring some rice crackers to eat, some energy bars (homemade and 1 or 2 non-homemade just in case), a banana and I don’t know what else. I’ll bring quite a bit though to keep me going and to last a ‘lunch’ worth. :) Other than that, just looking for new adventures, new opportunities and to see where my ship will continue to sail. It should be fun and exciting. We will see what happens. I am trying to take on new things, have fun, enjoy life and also get really into shape. :)

Off for new adventures….. hope to keep you more in-tuned on them – SOON!

Second outdoor ride with Milly in 2006!

2006-01-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

I met up with John, Jill, Allison and Hyun on Sunday morning at the Marymoor Velodrome parking lot. We left the parking lot going around Lake Sammamish, counter-clockwise, at a pretty good clip. I was trying to watch my heart rate as my coach wanted me to have an average of 160 or lower. So I was trying to slowly go up the hills and not push as hard even though some of the group was at least 1/2 mile ahead.

At some point we were all riding together when there was a lot of debris in the road. The seam area where the 'white line' is painted was bad. Pot holes, bad seam that makes crossing out of the shoulder (into traffic lane with no cars coming) very tricky! However, there was a huge branch in the middle of the shoulder. It basically took up the whole shoulder. It was about 1/2 - 1 inch thick and about 6 to 8 feet long. Hyun just went over it and narrowly missed a crash - fish tailing slightly. I was only about 2 bike lengths behind him and was praying since I didn't have enough time to brake appropriately - especially on a fixed gear.

I hit that branch and it took me right down and hard! :( I feel like I tried to tackle a line backer. :( My whole right side is sore and tight. My right thigh is bruised a beautiful pink/purple color. I got road rash about 3 or so inches long above my right elbow on the forearm. Then my left side knee and inner calf, right below the knee, is bruised. My left palm is bruised as well.

Well at least the ride this week was good and I had a 163 ahr so it was slightly down from the week before (166)! :)

It's been a few days and I am feeling quite a bit better. I didn't do my easy spin workout on Monday but went to bed around 9 instead. Last night I did the same thing: relaxed and went to bed around 9. I am tired but my body is slowly healing. It doesn't hurt to have pants on my thigh; however, moving my arm to open/close a door, etc. hurts a bit. Not too bad but sore like I overtrained it with an upper body workout. My right shoulder/neck area is very stiff and may need to get a good massage in a couple weeks to get beyond the stiffness and make sure I heal properly. My forearm hurts when I lay down in a particular manner on anything (desk, arm rest, etc.) but I know that will just take time. It is nicely bruised with a good case of road rash going on. :)

Oh well.... this week is all about an easy workout/training anyway. Saturday I am supposed to do an easy ride and Sunday nothing at all. Sunday evening I am to go to Izette's (my coach) work place to do a oxygen VO2 test such as:

Active Metabolic Rate (AMR) - Learn your body's physiological response to, and requirements for exercise, including:

Aerobic and Anaerobic VO2 thresholds
Custom training zones based on thresholds, using heart rate or power
Amount of calories and fat burned in each training zone
Profile of aerobic base and level of fitness
Suggested training plan to improve performance or weight management

This should greatly increase my training results and racing results for this year. I am excited and nervous as hell, all at the same time, to find out where I am at, where I need to go, what I need to do to be able to better lose weight, use more muscle, more fat, more oxygen to my advantage for kicking ass on the track! We will see what comes about with Sunday's results! :)

Saturday's Adventures

2006-01-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

So Saturday I drove down to Des Moines to help my girlfriend's family put together her wedding invites. Her wedding is in one month - February 18th - and she had to get them out asap! I am in her wedding and it should be a very pleasant wedding. I hope everything works out well for it. I think she's nervous and excited all at the same time as is expected. :)

I spent from 12 to 7:30 helping them put together the invites. It was a lot of work and I was a bit tired as my neighbor had blaring music happening from 3 to 5 am that kept me up until I fell asleep. :( It was nice to visit with her mom and grandma. She had to do some 'special shopping' that day with her Aunt. They were gone until about 4 or 5. She had a fun time with her Aunt and then I got to visit with her and her Aunt though. Her Aunt is very nice and such a strong character! :)

I think her wedding plans are coming along really well but I worry about the time frame we have to work in. I hope all will work out ok as I want her to have a really nice wedding.

Jane called me that morning after she completed her VO2 Max test with Izette. She stated her base is pretty much non-existent and Izette is putting her on a new training schedule. Jane is such a great friend! She was very supportive and encouraging for me to do my own test. I want to be very supportive of Jane and Jill to also be successful on the track. So I am glad Jane got the test and got good results and feedback so she can have better training and race results. :)

We were all encouraged by Jane's courage to do this test. :) So Jill also did her test this week and had good feedback regarding her results. I am doing mine on Sunday and am worried but excited.... we will see.

Riding Milly for the 1st time in 2006!

2006-01-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

WHEW LORDIE! Sunday - January 8, 2006 1st outdoor ride of the year.

It felt good.... I have had a lot of challenges with my mom's health, recently going on insulin, having fallen; the holidays; being sick over the holidays; being busy just in general and anything else that is called "life" ... it felt real good to see familiar faces in the Marymoor Velodrome Parking Lot. Felt like good ol' times to see John, Jane, Brian, The Aura's and Carol. Felt really good to socialize, get a bike ready and anticipate a great ride. This would be the first maiden voyage of 2006. I have been spending all winter on the trainer with minimal riding outside. I am trying to do my scheduled workouts to a T from what my coach, Izette has given me. Izette showed up on her Lemond fixie (well free-wheel single speed - i.e. she can stop pedaling and not get torpedoed off the bike!) that she transformed a geared bike to and was not only there to show us her stuff but to see what our riding style was and what we needed to change or work on.

It felt good to roll out of the parking lot on a clear sky, free of rain, crisp airy Sunday morning and start heading around the lake. We rode going counter-clockwise. :) I spoke with Izette and let her know I ran 25 mins the day before and then rode my trainer bike for 1.5 hours of the scheduled 2 hours. That was fine, she stated, since 20 mins of running is like 45 mins of riding. SWEET! I was concerned about my legs though as I felt them a bit on the trainer Saturday night.

I seemed to handle the hills and the whole ride just fine. My legs were a bit tired as we were climbing but it felt good to challenge them and feel my muscles tear slightly as there was sure to be growth afterwards. On the west side of the lake I managed to stay up in front, for the most part, with another 3 to 4 riders. On the south end I had to take my gloves off, after already having my jacket off, since I was feeling too hot still. It was incredible as part of the ride I was absolutely blinded by the sun's glare on the wet pavement from the overnight rains. I didn't care... I was happy to see the sun out, no rain and enjoying a great ride with friends!

We re-grouped near FedEx and I was debating taking off my "Byrne Speciality Cases" beanie cap. I should have... I was explaining to Izette, during the regroup, that I definitely felt a difference. I definitely felt I was bouncing less while going down the hills. That I was trying to visualize my feet going forward and back rather than up and around. It appears that my visualization wasn't strong this time around and/or my legs (after doing all the spinning drills at home) knew exactly what they needed to do. They took over and I felt less effort was needed to try to move my feet more in the forward/backward motion - it just was happening! SWEET!

We started to go up the eastside of the lake. Jane was leading out, pulling strong, and then we switched out. I was now pulling strong, leading out with Jane and Izette behind me. Jane and Izette were discussing their cadence. I hear Izette nagging on Jane to up her cadence more and at the same time I thought she was referring to me as well. I was like - dang I am on the fixie and I am slowly feeling overheated and exhausted - I don't think I can do much more. About half the group slowly pushed past me.

At the top of one of the larger 'hills', on the eastside, I stopped and took off my beanie cap as the rest of the group passed me. I then descended down the hill and was able to catch up to the last person, Brian. I could periodically see a few more riders in my view but they were probably close to a mile ahead. I rode behind Brian a bit, talking just a bit but he seemed tired (he also rode to the start from Kirkland). I then pulled next to him and eventually in front. Around Inglewood Hill, knowing I had 5 miles left, I started to get a second wind or maybe it was just the horse seeing the barn syndrome but about 4 miles out of the park I started to pick up speed and strength. I felt really good and I looked over my shoulder and realized I had dropped Brian quite a bit more than I thought I did.

I turned into the backroad into the park and waited for Brian. We then rode into the Park and the parking lot together. I think this was a great ride for all of us to really see where we are at for a starting point in the beginning of the year. It will be a measure of where we are, what we need to do and where we need to go to improve for track this year. We are planning on meeting up this next Sunday as well and Izette definitely wants me only to ride Milly once a week and lower my heart rate going around. My heart rate was an average of 166 over the 1.5 hour ride. I was in my zone only 37 mins of that and burned 1027 calories. Awesome but definitely need to get that heart rate down!

Until next week... when we do it again and hopefully each week we will keep improving. It felt good though... real good to be out, with friends, on a beautiful, rain-free morning - bicycling around the lake. The season is beginning! I am sooooo excited!

Well - you all thought I was dead, huh?

2005-12-22T12:13:00.000-08:00

Life has been interesting. Busy, semi-hectic, simple, complex, up and down. Life has been challenging but I am getting through it. The holidays have kept me busy, my family, my relationship and also my workouts for winter training to prepare me for the velodrome!

I have been busy and not been touching Milly but been on my trainer bike every night for an hour, two or more. I even took up a bit of running. This weekend I'll be down in Tacoma, for the holiday weekend, to spend with family. To bicycle - on Milly - and to do some running. It will be pleasant. No presents to exchange, no things to worry about but rather focus on exercise, relaxing, and most importanting - cherishing time spent with the family. :) It should be quite pleasant. Tonight I will stop at my college friends' home and spend time with them. We will exchange gifts, relax, catch up and then go walk around the neighborhood to look at lights like we usually do. It will be fun! Then I'll head down to see my family. The next two weeks I have Fridays and Mondays off. How relaxing that will be!

I'll try to post more in the near future and not be so distant. Hardly seems as if I have any time anymore. I'll definitely be posting more as my life gets more exciting. Right now I am just maintaining, experiencing, living in a place I can handle. Jane gave me a computer - bless her heart. I hooked up internet at home. Funny though how it never seems as if I have time or energy to use it - although it does help to look up directions, information, check emails, etc. At work I don't care to check those things that I used to check on a daily basis. *shrug* My how things can change but overall I am just so focused on my workouts. It will be good though, I'll come around and life will get more interesting with racing slowly amping up in the spring/summer for me to report on. :)

I have done a few holiday celebrations, have had some family 'crises', relationship challenges and so forth. Overall though all is well and I have some much to be greatful for in life. I am blessed I have family, that I have terrific friends, my health, a roof over my head, $ in my pocket, appreciation for life and those people in it and those things around me. The holidays should be blessed with those things that we have without taking them for granted. I want to wish you all a great holiday season!

Messmann's Messquerade '05

2005-11-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

Here is what I did with Jill and a bunch of crazies on Saturday Night.

I went to my TOPS Fall Rally from 10 am to 4 pm up in Shoreline. I then went to Jill’s over in the Magnolia district, changed clothes and loaded up Rosemary to drive up to Capitol Hill. We then got our bikes together and rode to Café Vita on Capitol Hill (10th and Pine). We then waited around, talking and having fun with people while we waited for the manifest to be handed out. We hooked up with Art, David (who we both already knew), Zack (from .83 rides) and Davis (from .83 rides).

We finally received it around 8:45ish.

http://www.caswebber.com/non-site/messman/messqueradeManifest.pdf

We then split into two groups. Zack and Davis took off towards the north-end to find some answers. We split off on the hill. Art lost us after the third destination so we missed out. Jill was able to call Zack (having got his number while reading the manifest) and we decided to meet them down at the pig – at Pike Place Market. We then went back up to the hill and chased around a school bus and other things (Cuffs matchbook, etc.). Then we went to Pioneer Square where I somehow ended up riding the mechanical bull at Cowgirls, Inc. Don’t ask… it was pretty crazy but fun!!!  Here is the video and a pic of Jill and I down at the Pike Place Market – with a wood carving that Jane did: www.math.washington.edu/~treisman/messquerade Our diva, Jane, created that when she used to own the leather shop on the corner next to the flying fish shop. Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway… we then went to the after party at 1st and Lander. We were there around 11 or so…. Ate around midnight…. Left around 1ish… Zack and Jill talked most of the time at the post-party. Davis and I talked most of the time there too. It was a blast. I then had to take my ass back up that hill to my car. *sigh* I got home around 2:30 and to bed around 3. It was pretty crazy but a lot of fun too!!! 

Life Rated...

2005-11-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.monkeyquiz.com/life/rate_my_life.html

Riding 38 hilly Seattle miles on a Fixed Gear...

2005-10-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

I rode 38 miles with a group last night. I picked up the only other guy that rides with this group, from the Eastside, and we parked in Seattle. We met up with Jill and rode to Westlake Center where the rides always start. We then went from there to SeaTac to the Holiday Inn. We grabbed a beer or two and then rode back to Seattle. We rode 38 miles. Milly's 2nd longest bike ride ever which was short only by 2 miles from the longest. I was sore. My knees ached, my shoulders, my legs, etc. but it was a blast - even as it rained on us. :)

I had a bunch of fun!!! :)

It was a blast.... I can't make all of their rides but hope to continue making more. Riding my fixed gear bike (Milly) is definitely making me a stronger bike ride. I'm going to be kicking butt on that track next year!

Here's a map of the route we took.

http://tinyurl.com/ccp4s

Riding the Lemond like there's no gearing...

2005-10-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday I went for one of Gary's rides. It left Marymoor and went over through Redmond, down to Carnation and then up the Issaquah plateau, through Sammamish and then back to Marymoor. We climbed Novelty Hill, Union Hill, Ames Lake Road then dropped into Carnation. At first I wanted to ride Novelty Hill as if I was on Milly. I slammed the gears into the proper 'simulating gears' and started out. It kept getting harder and harder and I didn't see the hill coming to an end. I decided I had enough and I would go to granny. So I made it up about a 1/3 of the way to the first light then I slammed it back up and did about another 1/4 of it to the light. So I did about 1/2 of it. I didn't do much more of that... I was tired.... I stayed in granny or close to it to the most part until we were done.

There were areas I jammed going 20+ and 34+ on flats, slight declines and such. It felt good... I felt strong, invigorated and had fun!!! :) I didn't feel cold as I was trying the new warming cream - greyhound juice - and was loving it. As we were heading towards Carnation, I decided I would tackle the hill out of the "Nestle valley". I was even excited that the hill coming away from Nestle and going into
Carnation - I did in my big ring in the front and 2nd to 3rd from the biggest in the back and still going 11 mph. That is the best I have ever done that. I remember a few years ago I could barely do that hill in granny. :) I am DEFINITELY getting stronger. Then we left the Starbuck's/QFC in Carnation and went up the Issaquah-Fall City Road to climb up the plateau. That was exhilirating. It was a bit tiring and I felt really hot as all of a sudden with the 'spitting' we got it felt 'humid'. UGH! But I kept pushing harder and harder as hard as I could to get me up. My heart rate was 180-185. I backed off a bit and then would push a bit harder again and kept repeating until I got up the dang thing. We then were in Sammamish and it was a bit more flat and then a decent descent down to the water. It was great. When I got back to the park I had 46.23 miles with a 15.2 average! AWESOME speed for me on such a 'hilly' route. :) WOOHOOO!!! It just keeps getting better... it's like a drug. oh yeah!!! :)

So perhaps riding the Lemond like there was no gearing helped a bit but it was tough. Thank goodness for SOME gearing on rides like that. However, I would love to do some tough ride like that on a fixed gear. Hell yeah! Wouldn't that be sweet to do in a year?! To just take it the way it is and work my way up all those hills? SWEET!

Oh... then in Fall City area we were talking about my bike.... Milly. Louise stated she names her bikes 'male' bikes. I told the people around hey now... that means NOTHING about my sexuality. Otherwise, I could... then I realized... heck ya.... I could start calling my Titanium Vin Diesel. HELL YEAH!!!! ;) Sleek, strong, bold, attractive... hmmmmm Vin Diesel between my legs... what more could a woman ask for?! LOL!!! :)

We also all went to dinner at the Pizza Time restaurant. It was a fun time! :) I really enjoy hanging out on a social level with the riders. :) What a way to end the weekend.

Once a bridesmaid.....

2005-10-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday I ventured down to Southcenter to meet my girlfriend, Vanessa, her mother and two of her girlfriends. We will be in her wedding. Stacy will be the maid of honor and Michelle and I will be bridesmaids. We met at 10:30 and got out of there around 1. We tried on dresses, pointed, laughed, smiled, complimented, agreed, disagreed and whatever else women can do. We had fun trying on the dresses and seeing what looks best on each of us. We tried on shoes and Michelle and I agreed on the same shoe even though Vanessa wasn't particular about what we wore. I bought a small hand purse to carry items in and then we ordered/purchased our dresses. We got to see Vanessa in the dress she chose. WOW! She looks incredible. She is going to be a beautiful bride for sure! :) It will be wonderful to see her so beautiful and so happy on her glorious day.

Vanessa, Stacy, her mother and I went to Newport Bay to have lunch. It was fun visiting and having lunch. We then went over to Bed, Bath and Beyond and helped Vanessa register those items she was most interested in. It was a long day already - 7 hours - so she will undoubtedly have to update more at a later date.

It was a blast though hanging with her, planning things and having fun with the other girls! :) I can't wait to hang out with them more and for the big day to approach.

Point 83 Bike Ride...

2005-10-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

After posting Milly on the FixedGearGallery.com website #2451:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/oct/MollyJohnson_2.htm

I got an invite last week to join this mostly fixie but also geared bike ride. It leaves from Westlake Center every Thursday. They also have rides on Tuesdays but they don't work well in my schedule. So I decided to do last night's ride.

I bought fenders for Milly last week - racer blades - but they didn't fit. I took them back to Marymoor to meet the mechanic but he didn't have time to figure it out since traffic was so bad and I wanted him to do his cyclocross practice. He took Milly for the night (I was told she was a HUGE flirt!!!) and I went to pick her up yesterday. Interesting enough, he said that she seems to have a longer wheel base or something odd. He had to use extra long fender 'spokes' to get it to clear the wheel.

Milly and I left the Green Lake area. I stupidly forgot the bulb to my awesome Cygonite light. I brought the battery, had it all charged and so forth, and forgot the bulb. I quickly ran to Gregg's Greenlake and bought a light which I wanted to get anyway as a backup for night riding this year. Then we were off to Westlake. After crossing the Freemont Bridge I saw a fixie rider at the light ready to turn onto "Elliott" (?) to go around the lake. I was nervous about meeting all the riders even though I knew 2 of them that would be there. So I got the nerve to ask this guy, noticing he was on a fixie, by any chance are you going to the Westlake ride? He said well yes I am. OH it's YOU!, as he noticed my speedblend tires. I laughed ahhh yeah that would be me and you are? He was Tony. Very nice guy. So off we went to Westlake.

We got to Westlake and there were about 30 riders. We talked, some practied track stands and so forth. Then we decided we were going to ride although we weren't all quite sure where. So we ride through downtown Seattle heading south. We eventually go past Georgetown and past the Boeing Field area. We keep going and loop back and through the Rainier Valley area. Aaron looked like a mother ship with his xtracycle and its green and blue lights that colored the pavement. People rode around him - on the sides and behind - like he was the mother ship guiding all of them. :) We pissed off a bunch of motorists through a construction area that was HORRIBLE pavement and only one lane. We could only go so fast. As soon as we could we turned off and took some other roads. There were some lights where we 'blew through them' as me - Miss law obiding citizen was very leery and unsure of whether I wanted to do all these lawful acts. In Rainier Valley area there was a cop at an intersection and there was a red light. Many of the riders blew through it. I was NOT going to and I let the riders near me know that. The cop yelled at us on his speaker - how many red light running tickets am I going to write tonight? Then he said and no helmet and no headlights? I kept saying quietly, to the group around me, not mine, not mine, not mine. PHEW! So we got going and the cop left us alone. We stopped at Safeway and picked up some beer and chips. People were also making 'sparks' with their cleats... eek...first time I've seen that....crazy ass people. We then worked our way up a slow, gradual hill. One where I had to alternate sitting and standing, standing and sitting, sitting and standing. It was good though. But then all of a sudden we started to descend. STRAIGHT DOWN!!! HOLY CRAP!!!! OH MY GOSH! I saw immediately that we were heading down to the I-90 lid where you can overlook I-90, Mt. Rainier, etc. by the Mt. Baker Tunnel but HOLY CRAP! The steepest hill I have ever gone down on a fixie and I didn't feel I could back pedal well and I was GREATFUL I had a front brake! PHEW!

We rested, talked, ate chips, some ate their 'dinner', had beer, etc. at the I-90 lid. It was awesome. it felt good to be there, be active, to have fun, to be on my fixie, and to enjoy the different people. Then they played "Foot Down". Where cyclists cram themselves into a small cement square and try to do track stands, etc. without going out of the box and see who holds up the longest before putting their foot down. It was pretty fun to see and I hope I can learn how to do all that! It looks cool! We then left - going towards the Mt. Baker Tunnel.

We went through the backside of 1st Hill and Capitol Hill. The bulk of the group was going to some place to go for drinks. Another 4 riders decided to go to the U. District and go home. I asked if they could get me back to my car at Greenlake and they said no problem. So they took me that way. I descended some dang hill that was HORRIBLE!!! I didn't know it so I was holding back but it was quite BUMPY and was giving me a headache. My hand ached holding the brake so much. Again, I felt as if I couldn't back pedal so I need to work on that. Eventually we went up another slow, gradual hill up 15th that I had to sit, stand, sit, stand, etc. but I finally got to my car. It was a blast but I was VERY tired. I could barely stay up to drive home. We rode about 20 miles: http://tinyurl.com/8bn9b

It was fun! I got in touch with my bad/wild side a bit even though I was still trying to be the sweet innocent, law obiding citizen I am but still trying to have fun and let go of some inhibitions. I had a great time and almost felt like a little kid wearing regular clothes for a bike ride. It was funny, I got home and then realized my white 'suede' saddle was now 'blue'. Reminded me of a few times where, as a kid, I would ride to church or school with lighter colored pants and end up with a black bottom from riding and rubbing the saddle. Lovely!!! :( LOL!!! :) Oh what fun it was and I look forward to my next ride - hopefully with my home girl diva Jilly! They seemed like a great group - real nice, real fun and I think Jill will feel at home with many of them...hey maybe even hook up with one. ;)

KOPS reinstatement honors...

2005-10-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

What a great group of TOPS members I get to see every week! I am so blessed by what a great supportive group they are! They honored my peer Peggy and I last night for our reinstatement of our KOPS status. What beautiful flowers and cards we received. What kind words and big smiles. It is a blessing to come to the meeting every week and see all those supportiving, smiling and happy faces. To feel the love and joy they bring. To give many a great big hug! I feel like they are all family and they care so much. It is an honor to be in their presence and I am taken back by all their endless generosity.

Thank you TOPS Pals!!! You'll never know how much you mean to me and how much your support can change a life!

Pictures to be posted soon.

Thighs like Tree Trunks...

2005-10-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

That is what diva Jill said after Saturday's ride. A fixie gear will make your thighs like tree trunks whereas your body is doing the 'shifting' and your body is just obeying with the strength of a tree trunk to get you up hills. I have a feeling I'll be walking with tree trunk legs soon after Saturday's ride.

My girl, Milly, and I rode around Lake Sammamish from Marymoor Park this Saturday with a group of wonderful people. Erik, Tamara, Jill, Allison and a guy named Scottie adventured around Lake Sammamish. Tamara, Jill and I had fixies while the others all had geared bikes. We had a lot of fun! :) It was a blast. Tamara gave me some tips on how to better pedal, smoothly and efficiently, on my fixie both up and down hills. It took us about an hour and half to go around the lake. Tamara suggested doing a bit more mileage so we went up the Sammamish River Trail to Woodinville's rest stop and then turned around. My legs started screaming at me. We ran into Hyun on the trail and he turned around stating he would recognize those tires anywhere. The same tires that Jill exclaimed that she needs to drop acid to ride behind me with all of Milly's color! LOL! Hyun and I talked for a mile or so and then he went off to do his own ride. By the time we got back to the parking lot I was feeling the Byrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrne. (play on words based on our race team: Byrne Speciality Gases) LOL!!! Yes....my legs were screaming and I had to keep moving them around for a bit. I haven't felt that much pain in a long time.

We all talked a bit and then departed. Allison and I went to Celtic Bayou for lunch and ran into the infamous John who was having lunch at a place next door. That was funny! I was able to walk on Saturday like I had a corn cob up my butt but by Sunday's cyclocross spectator adventure I could walk 'normally'. PHEW! :)

Yep... Milly's going to kick my butt and take me for a ride of great endurance, strength and courage.... there's no turning back now.... my life has dramatically changed.... just need to sit back and ride like I'm going downhill on a fixie and try to relax and enjoy where it takes me and how fast!

Weekend adventures is just too much adventure...

2005-10-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Friday: I went to a friend’s house and we went out to eat. Somehow the Cucina! Cucina! Staff in Redmond decided that Mike and I needed to have a free meal because we waited too long to get assistance. I didn’t think we waited too long before we were served but they did so they gave us a free meal with the stipulation that we come back and bring our friends. HECK YA!!!

Saturday: I was going to ride but the book I was finishing sounded more intriguing as it was raining outside. I finished the book and then the Sun came beaming into my windows. Milly was screaming but I had to soothe her with the thought that I was about to go to Star Crossed and she will get to ride 20+ miles next week around Lake Sammamish. She needs to save her energy! :) So she decided to rest and will eat pasta to gear up this week.

I went to Star Crossed! Dang that was getting so wild with the rain, thunder, lightening, etc. right before I had to leave. I ran into Dane, Jane, Carol, Pat, John, Dawn and many others. It was a lot of fun and I wish I could have seen the podium girls in action! They were HOT! WHOA! IF I was a man I would probably be all over that…. If there were podium men!!! *DROOLS* I was in hormone city. The guys that were assisting at the ride and allowing, when safe, for us to cross the taped sections were hot in their “I drink Naked” t-shirts. (Pictures to follow later) DANG! And the riders were hot too!!! Man…. Boy were they hot… yep I was in hormone city….. couldn’t help it. I had to keep wiping the drool off.

I then went to the Bicycle Alliance auction. That was really good. We had a great turnout and I believe it was the biggest raised funds ever! WOW! Awesome!!! It was great seeing all the familiar faces that I recognized from different bike clubs, events, track and so on.

I then went to my mom’s and spent the night. I woke up early in the morning to do a ride with the Tacoma Wheelmen Bike Club. We rode from Tacoma to Steilacoom for the Apple Squeeze festival. We had a great time and then stopped there to warm-up while having some apple pie and hot apple cider. I also had a roasted corn on the cob! YUMMY! Great memories of the corn festivals in Wisconsin! :) On the way back, I decided to get into my first argument with some RR tracks. So I slid against them and fell down. I hit pretty hard but not too bad. My left side is SORE as my knee and elbow are cut up, calf feels 'scraped up', shoulder (which already has popping issues with the muscles overlapping while riding, etc) is popping more than
ever. *sigh* Probably need to get a massage soon. My thigh hurts. Of course, this is the side I was sleeping on to give my right hip (with bursitis) a rest. *Sigh* So that is how it goes. My first instinct was get out of the road! There was a truck behind me. He pulled over to assist me. He asked if I was ok. I couldn't put weight on my leg at first. It hurt so bad. *sigh* I said "yeah, I think I am ok but I am worried about the bike." He just looked at me. I said, "Bikers always worry about the bike first." Then I was worried about: "Did I tear up my clothes?"; "Did I ruin Jane's Byrne team jersey?", "Did I rip my jacket?" nope... all was saved! PHEW! He asked if I wanted him to call someone. I said no, that is ok and I have people in front and behind me. My friends pulled up and thought the truck hit me. THANK GOODNESS - NO! They checked my bike over, wheels still looked true, no spoke damage, fender damage, derailleur, etc. so all is good. Just the pain of going up Chambers Creek hill was my only issue. My arm started aching more later as we approached the vehicles.

Other than my STP 'ooops' (a couple years ago) which wasn't even going at like any speed really - this is my first crash. *sigh* It was bound to happen and I am just greatful it wasn't serious! I just need to take it easy. We will see what happens. Until the next adventure…which will NOT be cyclocross….but hey bicycle riding is dangerous no matter what! So whatever…. ;) I just want to be safe for the rest of the season so I can be up and on track next season. LOL!!! :)

Afterwards I then went to Gig Harbor for our RAPSody wrap-up committee meeting. We had an awesome potluck of pizza, salads, and awesome desserts!!! TOO MANY desserts!!! I think I gained 10 lbs just looking at all of it! Afterwards I then drove back to my mom's, in Tacoma, to visit a bit before heading home for a HOT, well deserved, soaking bath. :) It was a great weekend!

Cyclocross.....for those that are dedicated and strong!

2005-09-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

Many people that I raced with or trained with during the track season have decided to do cyclocross. I decided it was not a sport for me and after seeing the first race I can see how right I was. Regardless, it is an intense sport that requires a lot of conditioning, endurance, strength, determination, bike handling skills, lack of fear, joy of being covered with mud, possiblity of flipping yourself (and your bike) across the dirt, the mud, the rocks, the asphalt and whatever else I am not thinking of! It is intense and I hope those that I know can do it - having fun and staying safe! My thoughts will be with them at every race they do and I hope to watch as many local ones as possible! :)

May their wheels stay on the ground when needed and be lifted (over barries) when needed and never be reversed! :)

Pictures of Pat, Jane, Jill, Carol and Maura racing their first cyclocross race.

Pictures of Milly...she is a beauty!

2005-09-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Pictures of Milly and her beautiful pink bracelet!!! Also, pictures of the spectacular views I was able to enjoy on my first few rides, just down the road from my place, with her.

A Sunday afternoon jaunt with Milly….

2005-09-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon I decided it was nice and I needed to get out. I wanted to go for a bike ride and was debating with the way my hip has been hurting – do I take my road bike or Milly. I decided I would take Milly and see how I felt afterwards. I put my road bike’s pump and saddle bag on her. I raised the seat, to the max height line, and I put air in the tires. We were off to Marymoor to start our ride.

I got to Marymoor, prepped her for riding and we were off. In the parking lot I heard a woman state ‘did you see her wheels?’ as I smiled at the comment and started on the trail. I rode Milly with confidence, riding high and yet cautious to not go too fast until I understood her stopping power with the much expected jigging and jagging I would need to do on her with the ‘crowds’. I was feeling pretty good on her and able to steer without problems, slow down without problems and speed up just fine. A few times I was concerned upon passing other trail users and gave a much needed early warning of ‘on your left’. As I was riding I felt like – ‘dang! This seat is just not working for me. If this is all she has for height on this seat post then I am in trouble. I need more because I feel as if I am kissing my knees. I was also concerned not having any water. I stopped at the Woodinville area and got some water. Relaxed a few moments and kept on going. As I was leaving a gentleman was behind me and stated ‘great purple chain’. I don’t know why – but I said: “It’s pink but they have purple too!”…. ok so what, he’s old enough to be my dad so I guess it is ok I didn’t just take the compliment and be more social. LOL!! I got to Tracy Owen’s/Logboom Park and rested there for a moment. The water fountain wasn’t good enough to even TRY to drink at this point. I realized that my seat had actually fallen down. Yep! It actually slipped almost all the way down so I had to readjust it. As I was doing that I spoke with a gentleman that was quite intrigued by my bike. He really liked it. Then we discussed his recumbent – a Bacchetta - new model. He is the 2nd one to have that model in the NW. Very cool! Seemed very relaxing and good to ride. :) We talked a bit and then I was off.

I stopped at the Bothell Landing park for a bit. Sat on Milly for a bit, gazing in the river, hearing kids play, seeing ducks swim and just deep in thought. Kind of felt good and was very much needed. Then I was off again. Stopped at Woodinville again. I had a little girl, maybe about 6, tell her dad what a cute bike I had. I had a couple other people state something about the tires and such. One woman was a runner and I passed her, coming from Marymoor, earlier in the day. I talked to another gentleman that had a handmade bike, from his friend, about 20 years ago. Kind of looked like a Pinarello but I can’t remember the name…. started with a K – almost a ‘german’ like name… or scandian or something…. It was pretty cool looking blue though. I then started off again.

I decided to stop for a drink at the concession booth. There were a few bicyclists there that stopped to talk to Milly. They asked what kind of tires, if I painted the chain myself, what kind of bike she was. One guy said that he had a frame that was similar but didn’t know what it was so he was interested. I had a woman that walked by and stated – oh I love the tires. I smiled like a proud mother and said do you want to see them spin? She said sure. Oh she loved them!!! :) Of course, so do I!!! Hee hee As I am approaching Marymoor I had a gentleman pass me, announcing himself, on the left. As he was passing me he said, “Excuse me but are those speedblend tires?”. I said in a proud momma’s voice – “Well, yes they are!” and so he was off. LOL!!! It was a good ride. I was a bit concerned about the small ‘inclines’ along the trail on the way to Tracy Owen’s/Logboom Park but Milly handled them just fine without any challenges! I am ready to go along Lake Sammamish now! It will be a lot of fun!! :)

Rain and Sun and Success all around!

2005-09-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday was an interesting day. I woke up around 6 am and heard the pouring down rain on the roof. WOW! I am supposed to be biking in 3 hours and it doesn’t sound like fun. Oh how much I wish I could lay in bed this morning. I finally got up, fixed some pancakes and got dressed. I loaded the car and headed to Mercer Island. The rain seemed to let up right out of Bellevue and going towards Mercer Island. I got to Mercer Island and it started to pour. I was going to wear a real light rain jacket and realized that would never do. Ok, so I switched jackets to protect my butt from all the dirt and grime knowing that I didn’t have fenders yet and it was going to be a wet, muddy ride. I took off and went to Pert’s at Leschi. I met up with Jane and Carol. Eventually other Byrne riders were there that I was able to meet – including Dan Byrne himself. I was able to see Tamara who I met two years ago on the “meet the team” ride for a different group. She has been working on me for 2 years to join the track racing. She and I were talking about how much fun it was and how much I was enjoying it. She stated, “I don’t normally say I told you so but can I be so bold in saying I told you so?” I said, “Yeah you can say it. You were right!” hee hee We all stood outside and heard more about the team, the clothing order coming up, etc. and then we set off to ride. We had easily 60 or more riders… probably 75 and it was nice to see everyone enjoying themselves. We finally got to Coulon and the group split up a bit. Jane and Carol were going to head back the way we came but I was heading to MI so I didn’t go that way. They rode with me and we passed 3 bicyclists and I yelled out to Jane – Jane! I feel bad as those three riders are with us and we are dropping them. So we slowed down and rode with them and talked to them. A woman with that group, which I spoke with at Coulon, was talking about possibly track racing. She isn’t a hill climber so she was feeling bad she was going slow. I told her how bad I am with hill climbing and how well I have been doing this year due to the training I did all winter and the track racing this year. We rode with them and I split off on Mercer Island. I felt like I rode stronger than I ever have on that south end loop on the hills. It felt so good!

I got home and took a warm bath. WOW! A warm bath feels so good after being drenched!! I cleaned all my wet clothes immediately and hung them up to dry. I then took a nap. I cleaned up all my bikes trying to get them ready for their tasks of the winter. Milly was screaming at me. The weather was now sunny and nice and she wanted to do a ride. I gave in. I took her down the road again knowing I needed to challenge myself on that hill. I took her down and this time I felt more in control of my legs spinning down the hill. I was able to take in some wonderful views again of the mountains, the pink/purple clouds, the slivered moon and the beautiful pine trees. I got to the dead end and turned around. I started back towards my challenge and still taking in the exquisite view. My legs spinning in control yet out of control then I feel the slow incline prior to the steep, short hill. I tried to keep the momentum going and at some point stood up to keep it going. I kept talking to myself, and Milly, ok keep on going, keep on pushing, you can do it! OH MY GOSH!!! I DID IT!!! I made it to the top of the hill!!! I can’t believe it. I called Jane from the top of the hill to let her know that Milly and I conquered the hill!!! WOOHOOOO!!!! :)Success is mine!

Then I continued to pedal home going down the slightly long descent. Again my legs felt in more control of the pedals but less control. I realized I had more confidence in myself and the power that Milly holds to keep me pedaling fast and to keep me going up a hill. I let my legs spin like crazy and only tapped on the brakes and/or back pedaled slightly just to lose a bit of momentum but I felt more confident of the control this bike had on me and what it can teach me this winter with spinning and strength. I felt powerful and exuberant! Oh what a good winter this will be!!!

Fire Alarm at work..... burnt popcorn? Come on!

2005-09-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well that was like 10 or 15 minutes of fun today. Like reliving my college days with a building fire alarm. All of a sudden the alarm was going off and we had go to outside and stand outside for awhile.

As we were walking outside we heard rumors of 'burnt popcorn'. We didn't smell anything. After the fire department came we could finally smell it. They brought in fans to help blow the smoke, etc. out of the building. WHOA! My boss can't believe it.... 10 AM and here we are having our first fire alarm since being in this building for 3 years - due to burnt popcorn. LOL!! We felt sorry for those in the dentist chairs, downstairs, that probably had their mouths wide open, wearing dental dams and having to stand outside. Man!

Back to the real world of work....

Taking Milly for her first ride...

2005-09-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

I got Milly's pink chain in the mail yesterday. I was sooooo excited to get her down there and get it put on. I flew down to the bike shop to have them put it on. (Subsequently, I forgot to take my purse with money down to the shop! another visit today with the credit card will even things out!) I got home shortly after 7 and wanted to take her for a quick spin. She was all jazzed up and ready to go!

First things first, I have to cross a semi-busy road to then ride that about a mile or so to the 'dead end' road I wanted to try. As I am crossing quickly, I realized that ahhhh the pedals only have a clip on ONE side. AND it is difficult to try to get clipped in - still having momentum - while pedaling and trying to find that ONE side. LOL! I made it up a short little hill - standing up - and felt real good. I was watching the wheels spin and the chain. I think the seat needs to go up a bit. It was cool to look down and watch the beautiful colors, of the tires, spinning. What a pick up that will be for winter riding! I took her down the dead end where it starts by going down this short, but steep hill. My legs were going as fast as possible! I felt like road runner going out of control! YIKES! I had to apply the brakes a bit. I got to the dead end, turned around and then came back. It felt good but I had to go up that short and steep hill. I started out fine but slowly lost power and I couldn’t crank her up. She hesitated and I couldn’t crank any more and I knew I was just going to fall like a piece of paper trying to stand on end. LOL! SO I had to unclip and walk up it. That was a sad moment for me as I haven’t had to walk up a hill for 3 years. I know it is entirely different from riding a road bike - due to the ONE gear and the ratio. It will now be my challenge - to get up that hill on Milly. Once I do that then I can try to conquer like Lake Sammamish. I also know that it will get me stronger and that it is totally a different experience. :) UGH! She is a pretty bike though. You will have to see it! She is a beauty!!! :)

However, in walking up the hill and looking back at the hill that I couldn't conquer I then noticed the beautiful sight behind me! WOW! A spectacular view of the Cascades. One I have seen before but this was incredible. The way the sun was hitting the mountains giving it a beautiful fall orange/gold with purple hazed look. It was absolutely gorgeous and I wish I had a camera. Perhaps I wouldn't have taken that opportunity to turn around if I didn't walk Milly up the hill. Everything happens for a reason, right?! ;) Next week I am taking my camera!

In emailing the divas, I wrote this eye opening thought:

It is a builder - character, morale, muscle, self-esteem, ego. LOL!!!... ok... mental and emotional and physical... all will be stronger and I will be: STRONG Molly! Able to pedal high mountains and descend low valleys on a single gear! LOL!!!

PROS pictures

2005-09-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

Tom, Me and Erik
Me at the start
Me doing my guppy impression
Gettin' giddy with Jean-Phillipe
Allison, Me and Erik

Some of these are just plain good and some look horrible. I look giddy and/or drunk as a skunk and one makes me look like a guppy! :) It was great to see everyone though!

The rest of the weekend and PROS ride

2005-09-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

Saturday, I woke up and headed towards Gary’s house. He is a ride leader for our bike club and was hosting a PROS meeting so we could be organized for the PROS (Perimeter Ride of Seattle) ride occurring on Monday. It was a good, yet long, meeting. We were supposed to go ride our bikes afterwards but we didn’t. I was glad since I started not feeling well again with a bit of allergies trying to creep up. I decided my body was saying to slow down so I did. I relaxed the rest of the day/evening. I hung out with someone a bit at the book store on Saturday night a bit late but that was ok. It was relaxing and had to get done. On Sunday I slept in until 9 am. I read a book for an hour, cooked breakfast, read a book, napped, read a book, napped and then took a hot bath. I kept reading emails from Jill, one of the track divas, regarding her visit to Louisiana. So much pain and suffering down there. So much mass confusion but she is holding strong down there with what they have.

I then got a call from my friend who let me come over and helped me set Milly up a bit more properly. That was great. It was a fun visit and still relaxing so it didn’t wear me out. As I hung out with my friend, I learned a lot about how he used to work at REI as a bike mechanic back on the east coast. Specializing on Litespeed bicycles but able to work on others. He was so excited to work on Milly! He treated her well and I got to hear about his old racing days. He even showed me some vintage (80’s) type items such as the water bottle cages, pedals… and the crème de la crème – to see his old Pinnarello. Wow! Such a sweet bike! Bright red and beautiful. He is going to make it into his winter riding bike which will be very cool. He said that the ‘axle’ broke at some point which broke the drop outs. He had someone weld it but it was never the same after that and he pretty much stopped racing (crits, etc.). That sounded very sad! He also said his cyclocross bike is the first bike to really fit him properly.

Taking a trip down memory lane through our conversation and seeing the older bike parts, I’ve been thinking about that and realized yeah not until I got my Lemond did a bike fit me well. I think my Ti bike fits me a bit better (handlebar wise, etc). When I was growing up I had only one women’s frame bike that always seemed too small and I didn’t like the geometry. Finally, my mom bought a blue men’s frame Schwinn bike for me. I was stretched out, perhaps way too much, but I liked the feel of the bike. I had pink cello tape put on it. I realized, not able to sleep, why I am having so much fun with Milly. Milly is beautiful and sleek looking in her all black attire with chrome details. To have her in flamboyant colored accessories will make her so bright and happy looking. I don’t like dark things especially in the winter time. It changes my mood so I like to have festive, lively and fun colors around me. Milly has a personality all her own which will be loud and clear to those that see her: she is happy and fun!

I came home and passed out. I was completely exhausted.

Monday I woke up and picked up Erik, one of the track buddies, to go to the PROS ride. We went and it was great. Such a good turnout with approximately 100 people and great weather, great route, great scenery and great people! It was a lot of fun for me to be a ride leader/sweep and to see everyone enjoy themselves.!!! Dan Wakefield and Jean-Philippe did a great job in both creating the route and advertising for the ride. This was a ride put on by the Seattle Bicycle Club and Native Planet. What amazing men these two are! What amazing volunteers we had that brought all this together - organization, fun, safety, etc. in such a short time! Without all those people, all their happy and energetic karma this ride could not have been successful. The power of people bringing together so much experience and knowledge to create such a wonderful event was overwhelming. I hope Jean-Philippe's Native Planet organization will really benefit from the ride's success! On a personal note, my legs felt well rested and I was surprised, and quite happy, at how easy the hills felt on Monday. I felt like they were not challenging me hard at all. I felt strong, I felt good, I felt alive. We had a blast and then I came home to veg out for the rest of the evening. What a weekend it was!!! Couldn’t have asked for much more than lots of fun.

Friday riding and last velodrome racing.... season ends.

2005-09-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

Friday, Jane and I met early at Gasworks Park for a short bicycle ride. We went from Gasworks to Seward Park. We were definitely feeling our legs. My legs were full of pain and heaviness. I felt I was going in slow motion up hills and felt as if someone was pulling back on my saddle trying to keep me from going up and up. We got to Seward Park and checked out the course for the crits. We are thinking perhaps we will want to do crits next year – at least once or twice – just to experience it. Wow! It was hilly. It wasn’t hilly…. It was hilly…. My legs were heavy so it felt REALLY hilly. I know it isn’t as hilly as my legs made it feel. It would be a good thing for training. I think we need to use it for some training this winter if it isn’t too slick and/or we can be safe about it. We rode back to Gasworks. OY! My legs felt like lead balloons. It was difficult but we finished. It was weird to ride with Jane but not weird. It was comfy riding with her but weird to be off the track with her. We had a blast and we had fun sprinting through the Arboretum area! I was cruising 30+ mph for most of it but then my legs started giving way to the slow incline. We got back to Gasworks and we were hanging out talking. Lo and behold there was another Byrne rider riding by. He stopped to talk to us. I had my new bike, the winter fixie that I bought off Craigslist, on top of the car. Jane and I were going to stop at Wright Bros, which is Jill’s major bike shop hangout, to get the bike prepped. The Byrne rider, Dan, looked familiar to us as we met him before on the track. He was looking at my bike and said – hey! It’s the freak wagon! LOL! Jane loved it! She had such a hoot and thought that was the best name ever for this bike. That was before she was all jazzed up with all the things that make her unique and fun! I wonder what he will think of when he sees it in the future.

Jane and I went to Wright Bros. and saw what an awesome place this bike shop was. It was totally cool with tons of vintage type things. We could totally see why Jill loves to hang out there and what a great person Charles would be to hang out with. He hooked up my bike with taking some pieces off that were not needed for pulley type brakes, setup a brake that I needed, the tape I needed and sold me a fixed cog. The fixed cog will go on the bike when I get the pink chain and do all of it at one time. I got pink, white and black marble looking tape. It looks cool! Charles also informed me that my bike was a Windsor which was known based on a stamp on the bottom bracket that was used by Windsor. Very cool! He tried selling me on a pink campy hat and pink rims. Man! Do you know how hog wild I could have gone in that shop? I could have spent so much money that my bikes and I would be living on the street. I had to control myself. I loved the colored rims though and may do that in the future and/or on my titanium bike. We will see.

I got home on Friday and had my speedblend tires in the mail. I put them on and took my bike down to the velodrome for the last Friday night races. It was sooo cool. I got there and Jane was there and so was another friend. They totally loved the bike! They thought it was rockin’! Although my friend gently let me know how I was nescience about some items with the bike (i.e. the label of the tire going over the stem, on the drive side and so on). I harassed him about fixing the items as well as some other things discussed over the course of the evening. I told him that I saw his future full on Sunday with fixing my bike and those things that were a nuisance to him. Other than that, I hung out with some friends, and acquaintances, at the track and I was distracted by others totally in awe of my bike. When I first saw Jane she asked if I came up with a name yet. I told her I decided on Milly. My mom bought a book for my great niece and nephew to read about Milly and Molly riding their bicycles. I thought Milly was a good ol’ fashioned type name for a good ol’ fashioned type bike.  I then took my friend home Friday night since he needed a ride home, having rode his cross bike and not having lights, and we talked for quite a bit (I got home around 1 am). IT was very cool! I felt very well connected and quite at peace having fun.
:)

Last Thursday Night Track Training. :(

2005-09-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Thursday night was our last track training for the season. I felt completely exhausted from the week – mentally, emotionally and physically. It was hard to get energy to do the short workout that we did. We did a 20 lap warm-up, a team pursuit and then we did a 2K time trial. I guessed I would come in at 3:25 and I came in at 3:26. I was in pain! Excruciating pain with the 2K. I was totally wiped out from all the racing on Monday and Wednesday and I think the overall exhaustion I felt did not help. Oh well, next year when we start the season with another 2K time trial I hope I’ll be kicking that time by a bit! It will feel good.

About a dozen or so of us went to Cucina, Cucina, in the Redmond Town Centre. We had dinner, had drinks and talked. It was relaxing and fun for all of us to touch base. Several are going to keep in touch with us and try to do winter training together which will be nice. We signed a card to give to John and we gave him his special gift from the track trio divas. It was a black lacy 44DD bra. It is an inside joke but we definitely made him blush and laugh. Mission accomplished. He said next year when we least expect it and totally forget about it – he’ll bring it out. LOL!!! John is a riot…. We like him! He gave so much to the MVA and we hope he’ll continue to give and that we can all give to the MVA next year as well. What a great organization to be part of and to give back to.

Last week of track.... how sad it is! :(

2005-09-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday night race of the season….. wow! It was good. First though, Monday night was also our last race for the season. It was threatening rain and even sprinkled here and there and questionable. We had a small turnout but it was good. We were able to have fun and race a lot. Everyone did good and had fun. There was a minor ‘incident’ of one or our friends crashing trying to do a two lap time trial. He is ok other than his pride. Poor guy! But we know he’ll come back strong next year and kick bootie and more than make up for it.

Wednesday night, I was tired and not really into it. Not sure why. Maybe just down and out about the last race of the season. Maybe lack of sleep for so many days in a row. Jane felt the same way and as we talked to some others they felt that way as well. Tired just plain old beat. I did ok though… not my best. I realized why, at the end of the evening, I pushed hard on the first race rather than taking a back seat like I normally did. I didn’t have enough energy to rev up at the end. I finished towards the middle. I should have finished in the front. Oh well, lesson learned. Now I will go off to track training tonight and out for beers. Friday is the last race of the season – what fun that will be. Then off we go to winter training and cross racing. SWEET! We had a few spectators there which are always nice. (Sorry to them for not winning a sprint – but hey, whatcha you going to do about it?!)

Last night, we did have fun talking to people. We made connections, said good-bye which is difficult whether it is saying good-bye short term or long term. You feel this bond, this energy, excitement amongst those that you race with. How will people do next year? It will be determined…. Hopefully we all will do well. Hopefully I will do well. Hopefully the divas will do well. Many did exceptionally well Wednesday night and many will be on the Byrne team next year so that will be exciting to watch, to train, to compete against. We had fun talking with some of the Byrne guys that were hanging around to talk to us. We will hopefully get to know the team quite well when we do the meet the team rides. We found out last night that one of our divas is being taken away from us – our last Thursday night training – to go to Louisiana to help support the response teams down there. She will be extremely missed but will be back before we know it and we can all have fun again. Our thoughts are with her and those that are down there. We hope everyone will do ok and she will be able to really help those down there, affect their lives for the positive and will come home safely.

I was able to call and get my speedblend tires for my winter fixed gear bike. They should be here by Friday. Friday I have off work so I am going to the local bike shops to get a fixed cog, a brake and some tape. I also got an order in for the pink chain. It will be here in a few days. YEAH! My bike will be PHAT! WOOHOO! I can’t wait. I am excited for this year’s winter training. It will be awesome and I’ll be one hot chick on some hot wheels and chain! LOL!!!

Track pics from Monday night.... how sad....

2005-09-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

Master Hyun

Dane

Pat

Phil and Gregg

Cornhusker, Farmer, Bob

Trio Track Divas with Sensei John

Watch out world - here come the trio of track divas in Byrne Kits. Hear them ROAR!!!!

I wonder.... wonder....wonder....wonder....

2005-08-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here I am - going into my last race of the season. How sad it is yet how magnificent it is! It has been exhilirating to ride with some really strong riders - men and women. How fun it has been to get to know each other, to join the same race team and to make plans to see each other during the winter (cyclocross and/or training)! I can't help but wonder what this winter will bring me, what new experiences I will be surprised with in the coming weeks and months. How magnificent it has been to create such good friendships - friendship that I feel deep down inside will last a long time. Brought together for reasons still unknown but knowing it is positive and empowering.

I wonder where I'll be after a hummingbird returns from being free. Will the bird be buzzing crazy mad like now? Or will the bird be able to sit for awhile to experience the surroundings, drink from the feeder and let me take in its beauty? Three weeks may tell a new story, a different story, an exciting story or one of no progression. Time will tell, actions will tell, words will tell.... I hope words will tell. I hope actions will tell. I am full of excitement like a little kid waiting next to the balcony window, watching the feeder and seeing - will the hummingbird come today? Will the hummingbird drink from the feeder or just flit away not interested in it today or always? Whatever happens - the bird will know where to go and I know that one day another bird will come visit and to give me what I desire from a hummingbird at my balcony window. Either way - happiness is here to stay!

Get Out of My Head Lyrics....Cypress Hill...

2005-08-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, the winds have shifted. I am not sure they are shifting in the right direction, a direction I want, the direction I long for, the direction I need... are they even pointing to a direction? Maybe it is just a black hole. Maybe it is the eye of a storm. I feel I am trapped in calmness and I know there is a powerful, horrible storm just building up around me and I don't want to leave the magic, the serenity, the calmness of the eye of the storm. Calmness but yet not seeing out to see what is going on, not able to see what is going on inside either. What is happening? What is being said? What are actions when they speak louder than words? Do they speak louder than words or are the words saying it all? Why must I feel so confused, yet so alive, so excited, so full of energy yet zapped? Life should be simple, life CAN be simple, life may get simple.... IS life simple? Maybe it isn't.... maybe it is all about a bad "Twilight Zone" episode.... maybe I am currently stuck in a twilight zone.... will it be temporary or will be permanent?

Get Out of My Head Lyrics

uh..uh...yeah....
These voices up in my head...

All these voices up in my head
Makin me dread, when I sleep at night
Visons of people with evil intensions wanna fly my sight
Visons are changin, engagin, and ragin', I'm in a stage and a fight
Listen, the system is pissin' me off, you wanna feel my pipe
Fingers pointed, annointed people, day better up to the knight
Whispers, darkness the hardest, time ain't never gonna feel alright
Feelin' my soul in the hole,
I can't breathe, and I'm frightened for my life
Think I need help or I dwell in hell, cuz I got a grip too tight!

[Chorus]
Will you ever get out of my head? [4X]

Through every dimension as tension ahead, I gotta go my main
Dreams are like beans up like coming through my brain,
then I know I'm baked
For every single minute that's in it, each and every brand new day
Denial of trial I'm vile, whatever that bullshit they say
I'm sinking so low in my self, help me gain, never give no break
Confusion is usin me sinkin me up, now the sky's all grey
I'm blazin and liftin my mind with kite, let me hit that J
Holding, controlling my self over, but the shit won't stay!

[Chorus] [w/ Sen Dog]
Will you ever get out of my head?
Will you ever get out of my head?
Will you ever get out of my head?
Will you ever get out of my head? (Will you ever get out of my head!)
Will you ever get out of my head? ( Will you ever get out of my head!)
Will you ever get out of my head? (Will you ever get out of my head!)
Will you ever get out of my head? (Will you ever get out of my head!)

Jay Buehner sighting - at Issaquah Qdoba...

2005-08-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have visited Qdoba a few times and keep forgetting to grab the gift card that my previous co-worker gave me at Christmas time. So enough is enough – I put it in my purse the other week and today I decided I was going to use it. I went in there and guess who was in there?

JAY BUEHNER! Yep… the one and only! :)

Anyway… thought that was funny… here I purposely go in there to use this card that Nate (my previous co-worker) gave me… a big Mariner’s fan…. And there is a Mariner in there!!

RAPSody - Part 2 -

2005-08-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

My mom and I went to the store to pick up a couple things and off we went to our Yelm rest stop - leaving Tacoma by 7:30. On our way I received a call from MarkR who was a bit lost in Yelm. We desparately tried to assist him with our Thomas Guide we had but were not successful. Once I got onto the course that the riders would take, just 2 miles from our rest stop, I tried to call him but he said he got directions and would be there momentarily. He was quite concerned that none of our volunteers would be able to make it to the rest stop. Ralph, from TWBC, was there with the trailer full of food. Mary, from SBC, was there already and did a great job setting up and unloading! Mark got there and then Mary and Mark worked on calling our volunteers to make sure they got there properly. We realized that most took Ralph's directions while Martha, whom came a bit later, took my directions and said they were perfect! LOL! That will teach them who to listen to! :)

We slowly started to get riders and started cutting up all the fruit, the "Thai" and "Taste of India" wraps that were purchased from Essential Foods. We had bagels, scones, cookies, twizzlers, chips and salsa and so forth. The "Julie's Java" hut was open as well and many riders came in and purchased their daily fix of lattes.

Because we were on Van’s Burgers property, we did not want to put a dan henry down on their property to show people to make a right hand turn. We did put a dan henry out right next to the road/driveway but some of our riders missed it. So we started taking turns to be human dan henry’s until my mom came back with the support vehicle to make some dan henry’s on tag board I already had in the car. All was pretty good on that – we taped one to the ground and one to the white picket fence. Still a few riders went in the wrong direction.  We will figure that out next year to be a bit better. So many volunteers came out and did such a wonderful job. I think we needed most of them as busy as we were late morning/early afternoon. They did such a great job and we wouldn’t have made it without them!

I spoke with Pete and Patricia, owners of Julie’s Java and Van’s Burgers, and they really liked us being there and thought it went really well and enjoyed us. They think next year they’ll get a couple more people to work during that rush and they will do good business. It was awesome! We did hear from riders that this year the sprinklers didn’t get turned off at the high school and came in at 2 am. Funny, the guy with the world’s smallest tent was telling Mom and I, the night before, that he was waiting for that to happen because inevitably it always happens. I told him I didn’t hear any complaints from the year before so I think we had them turned off and all under control. Ok, well someone didn’t get that memo this year. So we heard all kinds of stories, one woman had a puddle because it blew out her window and flooded her, one woman (Ralph’s sister) had hers over a sprinkler, a gentleman meticulously put his bike under a tarp to protect it in case of rain but unfortunately put it right over a sprinkler head! Oh NO! Can you picture that? Kind of funny but I feel horrible for him. I think everyone had fun socializing with the riders, the riders had fun relaxing and enjoying the ride. Everyone loved the wraps, the area and so on.

Towards the end it was a waiting game for the 1 day riders. Volunteers started to leave. We had 55 riders sign-up for a 1 day ride and only 30 showed up. We know a few did it Saturday (only half supported) and a few didn’t show up at all. My ex also called my cell, early Sunday morning, and I had my mom take the call. She called him the night before around 8:30, as we knew he was trying to ride it in one day without support past Shelton, to make sure he was ok. He called us and said he was out about 12 miles and was ok. When he called on Sunday he told my mom he finally got in around 9:30 and was completely exhausted. I was a bit concerned about the rest of our riders that were going to do it in one day - based on him being out 12 miles at dark time - and knowing he wasn't doing it leisurely. We had to keep tabs on where those riders were and whether they would make it to our rest stop by 6:30. As it approached 5:30 we started to clean-up and a couple riders started to get sagged off the course.

There were 2 guys that were relentless about giving up. One finally agreed to be sagged right before our rest stop and his friend kept going. There were about 3 riders that were last minute at our stop at 6:30 or no later than 6:45. One was the friend of the guy (#44) that was being sagged. We put #332's gear in our car and since we were all packed up my mom and I supported them up to I-5. Then we got on and supported them a bit and then whipped up to the top of Chambers Creek and dropped off #332 off so he could finish the last 5 miles of the ride. We then turned back to Steilacoom and saw the other 3 coming. They made it up the hill pretty much before dark. #44 was a strong rider and was jamming hard but was slowly winding down as we could see he was getting more tired and wanting to know how much farther. #332 told us, in the car, that his friend is a strong rider and would not have a problem as he was the one holding him back. Both have done STP and finished it - in 1 day - by 10 pm. I think this route was more challenging (and Ralph and I discussed maybe the last route should give out lights for those 'determined' so they at least are safe and then they can turn those lights in at the end. We will have that as a discussion for next year because we know many bicyclists will say - I don't need a light - I'll be in before dark - no problem).

Anyway... the last 5 miles I tried hard to follow the last three guys with my flashers on to let cars know something was up and so they could use my headlights - without getting in the way of cars. So really I should have sagged - especially the last guy - off the road but I communicated with him that I would be behind him the last few blocks, etc. protecting him a bit and then he got on the sidewalk right in front of TCC so he was good - very exhausted - but good. At 8:45 all riders were off the course.

This year had some new learning parameters based on the route being reversed but overall I think it went over well. There will be some things we can improve next year and I think the ride will still be a big hit!

RAPSody Day 1 -

2005-08-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

So up at 3:30 and at the Start line by 5:30. Helped at the finish line a bit, to set things up. I saw the ex but I looked away. Later, ex came up and hugged me and started a conversation. Ok, bit weird but felt 'natural' or at least not tense/angry/sad nor happy/excited... just indifferent... odd after the explosion and calmness we had last week... all was fine. Weirdness out the door, coridal is now in.

Trying to get on the ferry, I got in, not necessarily the wrong lane, but the wrong lane. Spoke with a King County Sheriff's Deputy and he seemed nice and semi-helpful. We talked about how we were basically going on the island for the same reason - to help direct traffic for the HOTS Triathlon and us to make sure our riders didn't get in the way of the triathlon. He would be at the intersection my mother would be at and I would be up by Burton. In the process, mom later tells me that he has been asking about me. They sat and chatted in between their 'duties', ate berries together, and had fun. He wanted to know who she was with, how old I was, if I was single and they exchanged all kinds of wild stories about travel, work, degrees, etc. OK so he had white hair... not that that means anything but I assume he may be old enough to be my father. Maybe not, but um yeah. So I doubt it - but I had a fleeting thought later on the drive home from Shelton. He probably took note of my license plate and could track me down. My mom told him I was into track racing, lived up by Redmond. ok... well hopefully he is not a stalker. LOL!!! (ok.. those of you that know me... dang! When it rains it frickin' pours around me!!!)

We sagged the rest of the RAPSody riders off Vashon Island without incident with the HOTS Triathlon - PHEW! Most our rides missed the triathlon. It was cool to stand their and watch it. My mom thought it was weird to see all these bikers in the skimpy speedos and such. We boarded the ferry with about 100 bicyclists and then we stopped to talk to the photographer, Taunja, and then at the Manchester Rest Stop put on by West Sound Cycling Club. What a great rest stop it was with a view across the water to downtown Seattle! Then on to Allyn's rest stop put on by Bikes of Everett. I think it was wonderful. People really took their time there now that they did not have to rush for a ferry. They enjoyed the water views, the live music, the food, the sun and just had fun. Then we went off to Shelton. We saw a few riders off the main course and helped them to the High School where they would stay overnight. We helped at the high school to get things coordinated. We had fun talking with people, directing them to their hotel (that we knew where it was because of the previous lost people), having dinner with them, watching the dance team, people getting massages, listening to the band, watching people put up their tents and so on.

As people were setting up tents, I was able to talk to Anna, wife of Phil from Phil's Cyclery in Federal Way (who puts on the May Day Metric every year), about Cyclocross... She got into it last year and laughed about how much she loves it, how much people set themselves up at the most dangerous and hilarious obstacle just waiting for mass chaos! People getting their front wheel stuck in 'peanut butter' like mud and flipping, pedaling in water as deep as their knees - while on the bike, people falling in a mud pit and struggling to get out looking like pigs in a pen! It sounds suicidal yet fun. We will see how into this sport I will get. :)

The tents were funny. It is so cool to see all the different tents people have, small, large, round, rectangle, octagon. I got a picture of one that was a designated 'condo tent' although different from last year. Next to it a gentleman told me he had the smallest tent. I looked and said - tent? It looks like a sleeping bag. In reality it was a cover for his sleeping bag with a 'head piece' that snapped on to protect for the rain. "Really? Don't you feel like a worm? I would feel clostrophobic.", I said. But he stated it was quite comfortable. ahhh ok. Interesting... then I ran into Steve, a friend of Jane (one of the track divas), and we talked a bit. It was a lot of fun. We got mega compliments about the food, the setup, the massage, root beer floats, music, scenery and such. It was a blast!

We 'monitored' the last person off the course close to the high school. He is a strong, older gentleman that is impressive. We met him last year as he was the last rider across the finish line. He was awesome - probably in his 60's riding a bike that weighs about 50 lbs. Just amazing as he rides hard down the road with some huge 'horns' coming out of his helmet that remind people of a viking. He was having fun but very tired. He kept apologizing he was 'messing us up as I should have been in 3 hours ago'. I told him nonesense as he turned on his lights and kept pedaling along. I felt bad for him and I knew he wouldn't let me sag him off the course as it kept getting darker, being from 10 miles out to 2 miles out but the headwinds weren't giving up either.

It was fun to see familiar faces, faces of Bicycle Alliance, board members, members and employees, members of my bicycle club and other bicycle clubs (or events) that I knew as well as new faces that looked happy.

Off we go tomorrow... to the Seattle Bicycle Club rest stop in Yelm. Where my mom will sag from Yelm to the Finish and I'll be having fun helping man the rest stop!

Can't sleep...

2005-08-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

Well here it is 4 am. I am in Tacoma and need to be at Tacoma Community College for the start of RAPSody 2005 in about 90 minutes. I woke up at 3:30 not able to sleep after only going to bed at 10:30. What a long day this will be. :) Hey! I got to watch Smoking Gun TV on CourtTV that was interesting. Now the show I fell asleep to is back on - Forensic Files - and I can finally find out if the son deliberately set the fire or if it was the mother, by accident, that killed the mother and father..... hmmmm....

Some caffeine later and hopefully I will be good to go and ready for RAPSody 2005!! :)

Velo Pictures

2005-08-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you that can view this site (unfortunately my work website is hit and miss and I can't view it sometimes):

http://imageevent.com/seattlebicycleclub/veloaug22

here are a few of those pics. Look at those game faces! SCARE ME! LOL!; look at the fans - they have so much fun and we enjoy them being out there!

I am getting hooked on going vintage!

2005-08-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

WOOHOO! I am excited. Last night, after a fun and hard workout on the track I went to the Tully's in Redmond's Bella Botega Plaza to meet a guy. I contacted him through Craigslist since he had a vintage fixie bike for sale. (Pictures to be posted when I get them developed - next week!)

I may have mud on my face but I thought for $150 it was a great deal. The frame is all black with chrome for the fork, beautifully designed lugs and the rear dropout. The only real concern I had was that the chrome was in excellent condition but you could tell 'rust' got to it a bit. Not a lot but just enough to discolor some of the areas. He said the top tube had that issue a bit too but he sanded it (or whatever), primed it, painted and clear coated it. He said he has had it hanging in his garage since 2000. It looked pretty good though, otherwise. I will need a
'fixed cog' on it since right now it has a bmx freewheel. I will need tape and a brake. A new back tire - at least since he said that was real old but that the front tire may be ok. Tom will give me his honest opinion.

It has:

Front Wheel: Mavic CXP32 (SUP)
Rear Wheel: Velocity Aerohead
Salsa handle bars (recycled cycles)
San Marco seat - old style - big, feels like suede almost
Raleigh SR Seat Post
Bullseye rear hub
OB-1 front hub
Super maxy crank

It is a bit heavy which is good for a winter bike!!! :) It will put the power in the legs.

It is a 42x16 so not sure what I should use for winter riding.

Dang! But now I am online shopping around for vintage tapes and so forth. I am thinking of doing Benotto Cello Handlebar Tape - Pink - like the kind I had when I was in Jr. High/High School. I had a blue - I think Schwinn - men's bike with pink tape. Very cool! Loved it! BUT WAIT! I can get a pink chain as well just to have some matching accessories!!! Then! I found these cool tires but I don't know if they will work on the wheels. SpeedBlend Tires! OH SO COOL! Ok, ok, if not then I may just go standard black tires. There are no decals on the bike, etc. so it would be a 'stealth' bike with some awesome PINK accessories screaming to be looked at - screaming I'm being rode by a female that loves bikes and wants to have fun in those ways that 'accessorize'. LOL!! (Pictures posted below)

Pictures of the Pink Chain and the SpeedBlend Tires....

2005-08-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

"...when the tire rolls, the two colors blend to form a third. ... The colors are kind of blue and red, which blend to purple, and blue and green, which blend to aqua. So half the tire looks purple, half looks aqua, and the effect is pretty neat."

Happiness at the track, how sweet it is!

2005-08-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

Happiness at the track comes in so many forms both familiar and yet some are all new to me, new worlds, new relationships, new challenges, new adventures. My world, through the track, is always evolving and changing, always fun and forever in my memories. Yesterday was an exciting day for me as I participated in my 3rd Wednesday night race night.

Happiness takes so many forms, like clouds, they are forever forming and changing as they gracefully dance in the sky…I was on cloud 9 yesterday for so many reasons.

*I received my welcome letter from the race team of my choice…(Jet City Velo/Byrne Speciality Gases)

*Having a team member, and good friend, offer you her extra jersey to wear for your first race as an official team member, even if I was unsure of whether I should wear it. I asked another team member: “but will you be embarrassed if I come in last?” He came back with – well make sure that doesn’t happen. LOL! :)

*Getting to the start line, preparing to race and having my name, and new team, announced over the PA system for the first time…

*Talking and laughing with all kinds of team members, ride participants and friends regarding the races, the performance, strategies and just having fun..

*Not coming in last…

*Sucking a wheel like my life depends on it and not coming in last…

*Being mentored on the track by those that really want to see you succeed and getting positive feedback…

*Having our token male ‘coach’ email me, and Jane, the next day and tell us what a blast it is to watch us improve, get stronger, get faster and for me to come in 2nd on the last 4x4 lap race sprint! (Wish Jill could have been there! We missed her! :))

*Networking with others, encouraging them, praising them because you truly felt they did well and want to see them next year on the track – and succeeding!…

*Recognizing those people that are there for your friends and being excited that I saw them, before they did, and I am excited they are there for them.

*Getting positive feedback that even though I only made 1 point, with all that dang hard work I did, I am reminded that I should be proud that I am even out there. That in all the population of the world, how many people are doing any such activity? And of those people that are racing, on the track, how many are placing points? I should be proud of myself beyond having fun, challenging myself and just showing up to participate!

*Chilling after a race night and enjoying each other’s company and getting to know those people that are important to you and those that are important to them.

*Being driven crazy that someone, during one of my races, was cheering for me in Turn 2. As soon as the race ended, *POOF!*, they were gone. Who was that? No idea who that was, emailing everyone you can think of, but just no clue! Hmmm…. What is up with that? I got people cheering for me and yet, I have no idea who is my fan. How bizarre!

Happiness is found on the track.... the track is happiness!

So I was following this guy in the warm up circle....

2005-08-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

He had on his shorts:

http://www.evilcycling.com/

I thought I would check it out. Interesting....very, very interesting...

Monday Night Track Racing - Aussie style....

2005-08-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

Monday Night Track Racing – I got to the track a bit late and only did a warm up for about 30 mins and my legs felt like toast! Jimmy and Dan, our faithful fans, came to watch us. They also brought with them TomP and GaryS as well as SherryJ showed up too! MikeM brought Rebecca so there was quite a crowd. It was a lot of fun to see everyone and I think they all enjoyed the races! We always appreciate them being there supporting us – and all the other riders as well! Thank you!!

We split the 14 women and juniors up into an A and B group. I took the B group and Jane took the A group. The first race was a points race, 5 lap point a lap. I didn’t do so well but I wasn’t trying to push myself too hard either – trying to hold back a bit for Wednesday night – but I came in ‘2nd’ on the last sprint which means nothing other than – I was close to taking a point. :)

The next race was an Australian Pursuit. I wasn’t excited about this because there was no Australian, not even a Kiwi, to pursue but I did ok. They put ALL women on the track at one time – juniors and women. They did the same for the guys when it was their race – all men. The purpose of this race is you start 25 meters away from each other. It is a standing start and you just jet as fast as possible. You are supposed to keep passing people and as soon as someone passes you then you are out of the race. Some people were out within the first 10 to 20 meters, some lasted all the way to the end. I was expecting to get out asap and I was praying as I was getting tired – someone take me out, someone take me out. My legs felt fried and I was having slight breathing difficulty. I really need to figure out what is causing that. It is my asthma kicking in on some high endurance, hard sprint/push type training exercises and/or races. It doesn't happen all the time just here and there. I finally got out after 3 or 4 laps and was like 4th from the last to be out. I didn’t think I would make it in that race for that long! WOOHOOO!

The last race was a 3x2 which is 3 sprints every 2 laps. This one wasn’t bad as I used some strategy. I knew some of the girls I was racing with would be tired after the first few sprints. I led them out a bit fast to try to get them tired. Then I backed off, sucked on a wheel a bit, lost a wheel, sucked on a wheel, went around, lead, lead, sucked on a wheel and so on. The second sprint I could have had it but I wasn’t sure I would be able to hold the pack of 4 girls for that long. I knew I would have the last sprint for sure so I was just holding back a bit. Then the last sprint came and I was the only one taking it – no one was sprinting to catch me. So my strategy worked. :) Everyone said I did really good Monday night. I just hope I didn’t blow myself up for Wednesday night. :) All the women racing on Mondays are doing really well! I am quite pleased they are doing so well and hope they will continue to come out next year. The guys such as Gregg, Pat, Bob, Jean-Phillipe, MikeM and more are doing really well! It will be nice to see them out there next year as well. Rumor has it that Gregg will be joining the Byrne team which will be awesome! :) Jean-Phillipe, MikeM and who knows - Dan, Jimmy or some of the other guys will be joining their team, Native Planet, to be racing next year! :)

Oh, and I played a practical joke on Bob – the Nebraska Cornhusker – on Monday night. Last week he made fun of me about this inside track joke and I decided to get back at him. I put some fake poop on his water bottle. Of course, he knew it was me immediately. He knew it was me or Pat and he said my guilty smile and laugh told it all. LOL!! Well I can’t keep a straight face but it was funny. :)

Other than that - my racing is getting stronger and I am pleased with it. I am also pleased that some other things in my personal life are starting to form quite pleasantly, I think, and will be excited to see where things go from here.

Until Wednesday….. RAPSody is only 6 days away and I am getting anxious about everything going well….

Wed. Track - BAH! and Yaquina Lighthouse Century

2005-08-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Night’s Track was not that great so I won't go into detail. I didn’t do so well as I was a bit frazzled with some personal things I was trying to deal with and I just know that I wasn’t mentally into the races. Oh well – this week will be VERY different. After having a long and somewhat emotional week, as well as unexpected/wanted guests on the track on Wednesday, things died down on Friday and I was able to skip town early on Friday afternoon. I carpooled with LloydW and his wife Cathy, from SBC, for a weekend getaway to Newport, OR. It took us about 7 hours to drive down there as we hit the Portland rush-hour traffic. We got into town, checked into our hotel, and then went out to eat at a local establishment. We then came back to our hotel and called it a night.

Saturday morning we woke up and Cathy was a bit under the weather. So Lloyd and I went down to Starbuck’s for breakfast. We stopped at the farmer’s market and I bought a hoody sweatshirt with a lighthouse appliqué on it. We then went down to the lighthouse and walked around on the beach. It was a lot of fun and felt very relaxing. We looked at some of the tidal pools where I got to see crabs I have never seen before. We walked and talked and I took a few pictures (I’ll post them later on). We then tried to go down to the historic bayfront but traffic was horrendous! Parking was not available so we decided to come back down, with Cathy, on our bikes. As we were going up a massive hill we saw some parking that hardly anyone touched yet. We got Cathy and we decided to park down on that hill instead of bicycling down. We hung out down at the bayfront for a bit. We saw the sea lions and then had lunch at a little deli that had excellent sandwiches. Afterwards, we went out to the Yaquina Lighthouse and walked around in the interpretive center and down to the lighthouse. We went up in the lighthouse which was very cool. I was able to take some nice pictures from inside, outside and at the top of the lighthouse. We then went back to our car and went to get our packets for the Yaquina Lighthouse Century ride which was what we went to Newport for. We picked up our packet and then went to get dinner. We ate at the Spouting Horn restaurant in Depoe Bay. I realized I already ate there once with my ex-husband years ago. It is a great little restaurant. We got to sit near the window and watch some seals in the bay. It was very relaxing and really good food – HMMMM!! Macaroni and cheese was melt in your mouth, homemade GOOD!!! WOW! :) We then returned to our rooms to get ready for Sunday’s ride.

On Sunday we got up early, went down to the interpretive center next to the lighthouse and started the ride. We rode with Cathy until the first rest stop, about 11 miles out, then Lloyd and I took off to do the Century ride and Cathy was to do the Metric Century. Some how a bunch of us (later we find out Cathy did as well) missed the ‘out and back’ section to Elk Hill from Toledo. This was to give us another 20 miles. So we were only going to get 80 miles under us. Oh well we can live with that. The rest stops were nice, the route was scenic, low traffic and awesome. The second rest stop, really the third, was beautiful next to a little river. It was quiet and they served us some great turkey/cheese sandwiches. This was a stretch of the road that was NEWLY paved for 19 miles and was excellent. The last rest stop was along Hwy 101 in Lincoln Beach. WOW! Awesome pictures of that. A little gazebo, sunny day, and beautiful look over the bay/ocean it was just beautiful – absolutely stunning! We are about 25 miles out and it was such a relaxing stop. They had a nice display of oranges with star fruit cut up like ‘garnish’, they had bagels cut up in small pieces with ‘tropical’ fruit trail mix sprinkled on them, celery sticks with cheese and little crab/lobster/fish type crackers standing up in the cheese. They also bought some cookies that had alphabet characters on it and spelled out their bike club name. Excellent idea and I think I’ll do that for RAPSody next week! :)

Lloyd and I left and within about 5 miles my Michelin Pro Race – LIGHT – tires blew a hole in the wall. We patched it up with a “Bumble Bar” wrapper and off we went again. We are about 20 miles from the end and getting into some very scenic areas. About 10 miles out my tire wall blew again. I could hear the air escaping from the same area. At this point we decided to just forget it. Lloyd went on while I called the sag and got sagged off. They were nice enough to sag me through the section that I would have missed of Otter Rock Lookout. It was gorgeous! I took some pictures and then my sag driver took a picture of me, with my camera, and then took a picture of me – taking a picture – for their website. Then they dropped me off.

We changed our clothes and I decided I wanted a souvenoir t-shirt. I stood in line and realized you can get one with the logo of the ride, on the front, and the names of participants on the back. I decided that would be cool as that is the first time I have seen that setup. So I bought a t-shirt with my name highlighted on the back as a participant of their inaugural ride. Lloyd, Cathy and I drove home after that. We had a long night – left Newport around 1ish and got back around 9 pm. Traffic backups, accidents, etc. kept tying us up. It was tiring and I took several short little naps as well as caught up on some reading. Felt good. I felt bad they had to do all the driving but appreciated it. It was a lot of fun! I would love to do that ride again next year. This was their first year and they did an excellent job.

Monday Night full of insight, fear, harrassment and plain old fun!

2005-08-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

Monday night racing was interesting. Jane, Jill, Melinda, Liz and I took on the roles of ‘mentors’ as we had 5 new girls, all from Sunday’s track class, and a few returning new girls show up for racing. We had a field of 12 total (including 2 juniors that we split up) which is a great field. We were able to split into two groups and we split the more ‘experienced’ of us 5 between the two groups so we can assist them with the race strategies, push them a bit beyond their comfort level and such. Jill and I were in the same group. We tried to let them know what was expected with the first race, what the neutral lap was about, what strategies they may want to use on the race – 5 lap, point a lap. I think they did great. Liz took off way ahead with the junior rider. Then, Jill worked with a couple girls in the back and I worked with one girl in the middle. I tried to have her work with me on pulling laps, trying to close the gap and so forth. She did an excellent job! I kept hoping that Jill and her two girls would be able to close the gap on us so we could all work together but no such luck.

Second race:

We went out for a 5 lap scratch race. The girls were more prepared on this one. We did a bit of pace lining for the first few laps as I think that is what they were comfortable with and we worked well together. Jill decided to spice it up a bit near the last lap. She revved it up and took off! I was right behind her wheel. I tried getting around, no such luck, got back on her wheel. Then it was an all out sprint although I didn’t want to take the points away from her from all that hard work she did with the break away and pulling my sorry butt so I wasn’t trying to put a full effort in my sprint. She beat me by a couple inches!!! She did awesome!!! 

Third race:

We only had 4 girls this time. The junior, went home sick – we pushed him so hard the first race he just up and got sick – then another girl also went home totally tuckered, I think. This one was a 3x2 so 3 sprints every 2 laps. The first sprint I think Jill got it. The second sprint – I think Jill got it… I tried so hard but couldn’t get up there. I think one other girl beat me so I may have come in third – the details are fuzzy for me – the third sprint I was like – heck no! I am beating someone even if I can’t get Jill. The second girl and I worked together to try to close the gap with Jill but we couldn’t so it was an all out sprint at the end for us. I sprinted HARD!!!! Then, as I was in the last maybe 10 meters to the finish line I stood up to pound it out and even yelled as I went through the finish line. I was able to make it 2nd and the other girl made 3rd place! WOOHOOO!!! That is what I was working so hard for - I was NOT going to let her beat me out of 2nd! GRRR! Later some girl – maybe about 10 years old – asked: Who was that that yelled so loud? I said, that would be – the big mouth! Phil (our critic) said that yes, I am a bit loud. LOL! Ok well ahhh huh…. Do you expect any less? LOL!!! My max speed on Monday was 34.4!

Tonight’s races were quite interesting. I think Jill and I helped educate the girls while also pushing them and showing them what has to get done out there to start winning and to train for the winter. Also, Jane was able to race against a few faster girls; however, they were a bit squirrelly so she was giving a bit of distance. She was smoking out there though! I can't wait until Wednesday! The second group of girls had someone in their group get unclipped out of her pedal at some point. It was quite scary!!! She was able to recover, get clipped back in and keep on racing. My friend Brian also had that same issue but BOTH pedals. EEEEK!!!! It made the officials very, very worried out there. It was truly an interesting evening. Gregg sprinted hard on a few races and won; however, on one of them he went hands free after crossing the finish line which was an instant disqualification. I know he was TREMENDOUSLY ecstatic for winning with all that effort. Poor guy! :)Everyone did a great job though…. I can really see the improvements with Brian regardless of his knee being very sore lately and the pedal issue. He has increased his speed, been able to suck on a wheel better and overall look more relaxed and strong. I think everyone is improving by leaps and bounds. Next year we will be killer on the track! Bob and Greg are thinking about joining the Byrne team. I think Brian is still unsure but if all them got together, with Pat who is already on the team, wow!!! They will be kicking butt like us Divas! 

I DO need to pay Farmer Bob back though…. Hmmmm… I have to scheme to pay him back for picking on me and harassing me. There is a ‘weird’ guy in the stand each race night that is difficult to describe. But he is “ODD” and “NOSEY” as he is in everyone’s business, has to talk to everyone, ask people about their bikes, their clothes or whatever else. He tells people about his pancreatic surgery. He looks like he is trying to be a cross between a Grateful Dead band member and a Harley Davidson biker with his skull cap minus the Harley. He walks like he is about 9 months pregnant and sadly looks like it too. The guys were giving me a hard time – all with the influence of BOB egging it on – about keeping my guy in check, etc. The way they were saying it I was completely confused until they had me turn around and I realized who they were talking about! MAN!!! GRRRR!!! Those guys are going to get it…. I got to scheme something up for them.

OH! Brian brought his rollers that he hasn’t been using so I could borrow them and see if they will work. I hope to get on them a bit later this week. We will see – or maybe even Tuesday night after the SBC picnic. WOOHOOO!! Winter training – here I come!

Trio of Track Divas taking on new jobs: track instructor

2005-08-15T22:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday was fun! What a blast! The trio of track divas (Jane, Jill and myself) along with Pat and Rolf assisted John in teaching 26 riders learn how to track ride. What an adventure as we all took on our first efforts of teaching a class and in blazing HOT heat! (As John said - we did all the work - having to bicycle for 4 hours around the track, round up the class participants, etc. while he barked out instructions!) It was a lot of fun helping those that were timid feel more comfortable with getting on their bikes, stopping, starting, standing up, sprinting, get the feel of the whole track and so on. Prior to the actual class beginning, we had a couple of minor crashes/falls with people just trying to get on the bike, push off the rail as well as on the track. I encouraged some timid riders to use the warm up circle to get used to starting/stopping, pedaling, make sure their seat was adjusted properly and to use the grass to slow themselves down to stop. We then did exercises of riding around the track, pacelines, partner work where one person places their hand on another’s hip or shoulder and then the elbow bumping exercise. We did have one small accident where someone fell, for an unknown reason, and came down track. It happened within 25 meters ahead of me. I was able to stop with some others and assist her. She thought she just pulled a ligament; however, we saw her Monday night, since her daughter participated in her first race, and she had cracked her collar bone. :(

Jill really did a great job coming up with some good exercises/drills to go through like follow the leader. We split the girls up from the guys and we took turns leading out different groups – up the embankments, down the straight aways, using all areas of the track so they would feel more comfortable, pacelines, sprints, etc. We did a double paceline cool-down. I did not participate but rather took pictures. The 12 girls that showed up – wow! They showed tremendous improvement by the end of the 4 hour class! And what an improvement it was. Many were psyched to come out and race on Monday night and some weren’t sure. We really tried to encourage them to come out and get psyched to continue for next year. It is impressive to watch how in 4 hours those girls that didn’t feel comfortable even going on the track and/or going on the track around a turn (staying on the apron) improved by 100%.

I believe everyone had a lot of fun helping teach the class. I know the trio of track divas are wanting to do it again next year – and hey, bonus! - It will count towards our ‘community service’ for the Byrne team! And hey, it gives us a chance to harrass John - we know he likes all the attention - he's a great sport dealing with us! :)

The trio went out to dinner at Big Time Pizza. It was a lot of fun as we sat there for a couple of hours to talk about track, winter training, having fun, relationships, work and so forth. It was a blast just chillin' with the trio of divas and having dinner to supplement the workout we just did. I hope there will be more times like that in the future - as well as great coffee rides through the winter. :) I am sure there will be tons more "chillin'" times for us.

Mariner's Game in the Vulcan Suite... My OH My!!!

2005-08-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

I was invited to a Mariner's Game for Tuesday, August 9th by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. I invited my college friend, Curtis, to go with since there are many times he invites me to share his 'season' tickets with him each year.

I picked him up in downtown Seattle in front of his work building and drove to the Qwest Field parking lot. We were able to get prime parking spots in the garage. WOW! Much better than paying money on the street several blocks away. We then walked over to the stadium and went in. Usually we walk around the stadium on the lower level but this time we took an elevator up to the Suite level. We got off the elevator and immediately had to show our tickets in order to get to the suite area. We were glancing into several suites, Alaska Airlines, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, etc. There were pictures upon pictures of newspaper clips, signed autographs, posters and such on the wall. It was a different sight to see all this memorabilia and be in such a classy area of the stadium. We walked past the 'home plate suite' and enjoyed looking at the classy sign. We also enjoyed looking at the posters of the Jackie Robinson Scholarship Award posters where our school, The Evergreen State College, sponsors.

We finally got to our suite and we sat down in the 'deck' seats to watch batting practice. I took some pictures of the awesome view. We were pretty even with the score board. We then walked around, as we were the only ones there, and I took pictures. When we returned there were more people showing up. Soon it was a full party. We ordered food from the 'menu' where you could order a 'package' of pizza, salad, appetizers (popcorn/peanuts), drinks, etc. for about $300 to feed 8-10 people or you could order individual items like 50 rotissiere chicken wings for $75 or a bucket of peanuts for - I believe - $17.00 or was it $27... either way - wow! So we ordered pizza, salad, popcorn/peanuts (hey what is a baseball game without?!), beer, pop, chips and a 7 layered salad. I really enjoyed visiting with those that joined us:

Gary Strauss (and guest), Dave Janis (and his daughter), Claire Bonin (bicycle paper), Josh Hicks (bicycle paper), Barbara Culp (Exec. Director of BAW) and her husband Andy, Jill P and her son, Gannon (it was his 18th Birthday - what an awesome gift!!!), Cynthia Putnam and her guest, Susan Hiles and a couple more.

It was a lot of fun. The seats were plush and some rolled around. The suite was sweet. hee hee with a flat screen tv as well as each area of the 'deck' had a tv to view the game on as well. It had a 'island' and a buffet type area for serving food. It was pretty cool. We all had a blast sitting, talking, relaxing AND watching the shortest (from what Josh Hicks told me) game ever in Mariner's baseball. They won - in the 8th inning (if I remember right) with 1 run. Yep! 1 run!!! GO MARINER'S! (pictures to be posted later tonight)

Track Racing on Wednesday Nights.....kicks some major BOOTY!!!!

2005-08-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

Pictures:

Jane, Me and Melinda - is this the game face Jane refers to?!

Me racing.

So Jane and I talked prior to getting to the races. We agreed if they didn’t have enough Cat 4 riders for a separate group then we would just watch. I got there and people were trying to encourage me to just do it. It looked a bit promising since a lot of people were at Nationals. So we signed up knowing it would be challenging but a bit more even in the field. I also heard some Byrne members discussing how Wednesdays are technically supposed to be for new people and all those at Nationals are supposed to just ride on Fridays.

First Women’s Race:

On to the races, the first one was an 8 lap scratch thus only the first person cross the line at the end scores points. I didnt know what to expect as they put all of us women, about 12, together. The group quickly took off. I struggled to get on a wheel to try to find a good position. Up track, down track, up, down, trying to get past a slower person but unable to pull it off thus falling back on their wheel. Up, down... 2 laps to go my legs feel the pain of earlier this week. I know I am not winning this so I back off on my exertion for the next races.

I see Jimmy in the stands and went to talk to him. He missed the gasworks ride so he came to see me. That was nice because I could hear him cheer me on and it gave me some strength. THANKS JIMMY! :-) dang say what?! I am up already?! I go running into the infield and grab my bike.

Second Women’s Race:

This is the split women’s 8 lap snowball so now we are racing with others closer to our ability. I was trying hard to stay on a wheel and watch the group, watch for attacks, get in front, not overlapping tires. At some point Jane came next to me and wanted me to take her wheel. So I did and saved some energy. It was hard to time being on a wheel, not being in the wind, wedging myself between other wheels to get in the paceline. But being behind Jane gave me a break and on the last lap on the back stretch I was able to sprint. I pushed soooo hard and I could sense someone closing in. I gave all my might but their wheel just passed the finish line by About 3 inches! Crap! I was so close. :( I then freaked out and almost off the track as that woman, Jody, swooped next to me and I felt was going to take me out. As I was in the warm up circle Martin told me I had a good attack. At some point I shook my head at Phil he asked me what was wrong and I told him she almost took me out and he said he thought that was what happened. She later came up to me and apologized. I told her that was ok it just freaked me out. Phil was there and said he wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be a fight. I thought it was an odd remark until Jane's remark later. She said I have such a mean game face on when I am out there. LOL! ME?! CUTE, INNOCENT ME?! Ha! I am just focused, working hard, grabbing strength from every little cell of my very being to whoop BOOTY! It can be painful too so I am gritting, grimacing and pushing! She said my eyes go all crazy and I could scare kids with my race look. Hmm I bet I look like I am about to morph into Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde!

Last Women’s Race:

So the last race Jane and I were worried. It was the whole field of women again and it was a 4x4 which would be the longest RACE for us. So off the group went - fast! Sigh... My legs are feeling the strain. I am feeling the yo-yo affect as there were times I over-lapped a wheel and had to yell stick or below you and so on. I kept trying to stick with the group, trying to slowly work up, as the Byrne team mostly lead. The race was going so fast. I saw 7, out of 16 laps, to go. I felt exhausted and wanted to quit but knew I couldn’t. Jane and I agreed to work together. I tried to look for her but I couldn’t see her and it was hard to do anything but watch in front of you when you are so packed together. There were times I got up track and passed Jane, using my momentum, hoping she would get on my wheel. At some point the Byrne team went off sprinting and it was so early! It ticked me off because I knew they were just trying to wear us all down and I also knew that I would be dropped if I didn’t go with them. UGH!

So there we went! On the last lap, going into Turn 1, Jackrabbit Jane leaped out. I went with her but I had so much momentum I would have had to slow down to stay on her wheel so I just pushed hard. I could feel myself slowing as I prayed for strength around the 4th turn. I now am on the straight away and feel an approach coming on! Come on! Dig deep! Push! Ugh! I have nothing left! Crap lost that sprint again by 3 or 4 inches! ALL that hard work for 1 point. DANG! I did come in to place 4th on the 4x4! I also hit a max speed of 28.7 for the evening.

Lesson of the day:

I need to try to use someone’s wheel just a bit longer because 3 or 4 inches DOES matter. :-P A BIG THANK YOU TO JANE FOR LETTING ME SUCK ON HER WHEEL! :-) I couldn’t get that close without her help. They were getting tired but they didn’t know what hit them! We did awesome! I wish Jill was there. We will rock next year!

RAPSody pre-ride rappin' and Monday Night Track Butt Kickin'...

2005-08-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

I was whooping butt last night. In the 7 lap scratch I think I came in 3rd or something. Then on the 5 lap, point a lap I think I took 2 maybe 3 laps. I lost track. I broke away on the back stretch and I pounded with what was comfortable. I heard the girls say ‘just let her have it’. I yelled back, hey! I heard that. I kept looking over my shoulder for the attack….. no attack, yet! I know I did 2 and then after that I started lightening up because I felt my legs getting sore and I felt like I couldn’t go ‘out’ off the pack much longer. I thought, ok you can either come in at the end and have made a few laps or you can finish crawling on your hands and knees at this pace. I thought I could maybe jump on their wheels for the last couple laps and have them pull me in. Well they attacked me on turn 4 and I tried hopping on a wheel. Everything becomes foggy after that. I think I was able to get barely on a wheel but by then the race was done. It was a blast though! Then, we had the 3 x 2 with 3 sprints every 2 laps. WHOA! That was even more tiring! It was a blast though. The first sprint I took Jane’s wheel and she just led us out hard. I know I wouldn't have done so well not taking her wheel. I would have been back with the pack. I think I took 2nd on two sprints and 3rd or 4th on the last sprint. Oh sheesh, hard to remember. I am not good at those details. I just keep pedaling and try to get done with the race. I maxed out at 28.6 somewhere along those races. I know at some point Jill whipped by me (can't remember which race they all mesh together sometimes) and was whooping butt all over the place! We were three wild kickin' butt ladies on the track last night - and then some! Izzette did great as well!! I hung on to her wheel for one of the 3x2 sprints!! I wouldn't have made it in without her! Next year we will rock working together - Jane, Jill and I - on the same team!!

John stated I looked much better out there and could stay on a wheel much better!!! I am also able to race on Wednesday’s. Phil was there again giving us feedback and he stated we are all really looking good and should do Wednesday night. He promised to have a CAT 4 on Wednesday and not throw us into the CAT 2’s and 3’s. I think Jane, Izzette and I are definitely do it. Unfortunately, Jill has prior commitments. But it should be fun!!! We are allowed to race Mondays and Wednesdays for the rest of the season now since we were all smoking last night and we keep learning and improving!!! :) I feel I am strong enough for Wednesday nights if we can stay with CAT 4’s! WOOOOHOOOO!! I think last night I did pretty good after riding 168 miles, 9000’ elevation gain, this weekend on the Pre-RAPSody ride.

I rode 86 miles on Saturday – with a bob trailer in tow – and practiced some sprinting up the south end of Vashon Island’s Hwy hill coming off the ferry. I did multiple sprints on the island against Kristin and Kristi. I also did more sprinting later on the route. We had a blast!!! I was pulling the bob trailer with our dan henry template and paint. There was a lot of stopping and starting but there were some long sections that I could practice sprinting on. Then on Sunday, I rode 80 miles and took it easy. This time Bob had the trailer. So I just had to paint the route. I just sat and spun up hills, etc. I didn’t push it. So I seemed to do better than I thought I would after such a challenging route. It was fun. We had fun stopping at the Port Orchard for lunch, Blue Heron Bakery, the Allyn park, the Lacey designated rest stop and so forth. My mom sagged so that was fun to have her on the route and cheering us on.

My whole life… it is becoming cycling. People are trying to convince me to do cyclocross now. I may be crazy enough to do it too! UGH!!! :) LOL!!

Track Training and the RAPSody Volunteer Pre-Ride rappin'...

2005-08-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I was out on the track participating in the Thursday night Track Training, as I do every week. It is so much fun to see the familar faces each week: Gregg, Pat, Jane, Jill, John and Brian among others. Last night John put a 15 T Cog on my bike. My friends said that I looked much smoother with my riding. I felt I was able to stay on a tire with MUCH more ease. I felt my breathing was slower - i.e. less spinning was occurring - and ,in general, I felt I was riding stronger in a sense. So Hyun made us do a really good drill. It was half laps of standing up and sitting down. So we 'sprinted' for half a lap sitting then 'sprinted' for half a lap standing up. We did 4 laps total (1 mile). It was completely exhausting but such a great workout! Jill immediately said - I know what I need to do this winter. YEP! That was my feeling exactly. I KNOW what I need to do this winter - LOTS of butt pounding, sweating like a pig, focused, obsessed, move it 'till you lose it, pedal until you drop, never done before, don't know if I'll live through it but chances are I'll be stronger if I keep it up, good ol' heart thumpin' training!! Interval training, roller training, front brake on my fixed gear - ride around the lake - training and ride with my new race team on weekend training rides. On top of that I need to just plain old have fun riding, cross-country skiing, hiking and anything else I can do. It should be a lot of fun especially since Jane, Jill and I will be on the same team to train together, encourage each other and have fun.

When we ended the class, John asked some of us 'veterans' if we would be interested in assisting to help train a class on the 14th. Sure! That sounds like fun! I would love to do that. So I will be doing that on the 14th. Afterwards, he stated next year we can assist a couple other classes as well. So next year I'll have even more fun things to look forward to! Jill, Gregg and I also spoke with Hyun about Wednesday night racing. It appears the MVA board is working hard on getting a Cat 4 group of women setup for Wednesday nights - especially next year - but that they are ok with us holding back, for Mondays, for the rest of the year. We will see... it seems it is kind of a flip flop about this but Jill, Jane and I are feeling comfortable with Mondays and working hard on Wednesdays. Then, Hyun suggested that next year we could do a couple Monday nights and then immediately go up to Wednesday nights. He also said then maybe by the end of the year we will do Friday night races. It all sounded good to Gregg, Jill and I. I think we are all psyched up for next year!

Off I go... to get ready for my 168 mile RAPSody Volunteer Pre-Ride this weekend. I don't know what shape I'll be in for Monday night's race. I sooooo want to just pound the pavement and see how fast I can go on this ride and see how strong I can go but I know it will hurt me for Monday night. I think I'll hold back a bit - maybe practice some sprinting on Saturday. I may try to be in a gear comparable to the fixed gear and practice sprinting. Then, take it real easy on Sunday so I can rest up a bit for Monday. :) We will see how that will work and see how dead I am on Monday... it will be interesting especially with my new gearing. :)

Stay fixed and keep pedaling! :)

Track does a body good....

2005-08-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

I just want to share my good news...... :) After struggling this winter with my dang 'licking my wounds' from my attack (non-serious,of course. I kicked the arsehole's arse!! Was there any doubt?!!?!) and then dealing with the ex-boyfriend and all that..... Many of my friends know I struggled with the emotional and mental energy I needed to just get up every day, to go to work, to go home, to just deal with things the way I had to deal with them. I was frustrated I wasn't physically where I wanted to be since I was having a hard time getting out and about. I kept pushing myself and I was riding stronger this year but it still wasn't having a positive effect on my weight-loss goals.

I emailed my previous personal trainer, Danyll, and desperately asked her what I should do with my eating vs. training. I wanted to make sure I wasn't eating too much for what I was burning off on the track with the training and races. I also wanted to make sure I was keeping my muscles and burning fat. She suggested that I keep a food journal. I have always hated keeping a food journal and felt they did the opposite effect on me; however, I reluctantly did it starting 7/13/05. I also got my butt back in the gym. It is hard to get in the gym during the summer when I am so busy and I try to enjoy other activities (biking, hiking, family, friends, camping, etc.) but I decided I needed to do it. If I can't get in the gym then I have been pushing to be more diligent about working out at home with my free weights.

The story has now changed...

Let's see we (Jane, Jill and I) all started racing on July 11th. My last weigh-in, with my TOPS group, was July 12th. I weighed in last night and I have lost 9 lbs since the 12th!!! YEAH!!!! I am hoping with the hard training we will all be doing this winter, etc. that I will be able to keep it off and perhaps then some!!! Also means I probably need to keep that up forever and ever and ever and ever and ever.... and ever....and ever... and..... ;) Hee hee

Anyway..... here's to good kicking butt times on the track! :)

Monday Night at the Track.....whooping!

2005-08-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

WHOA NELLIE!!! I started with the WRONG group to begin with. Jane also started in the wrong group. Jane kicked butt against some newbies - pounded them like there was no tomorrow - and grabbed some points while at it. On the other hand, my butt was pounded and handed to me on a silver platter. Against junior racers! It was humiliating to say the least! Well I had fun doing 5 laps anyway. So Jerry told us to switch and we did - a perfect match (no not the website!). Jane was giving those juniors the run for their age!!! hee hee.... I was making the new girls work hard. I was able to place and grab some points in the last race. The second race I came in 4th - no points - but hey better than last! :) Jill was with Jane on the first race. She was with me on the second race and helped kick butt! I think she came in 2nd or 3rd. I am not totally sure because I become so tunnel visioned during racing. Funny, how I wish I could be that way at work. Just block out all the noise, criticism, other issues in the world and just become tunnel visioned. Jill was having a challenging day and took it a bit easy. It wasn't the same without her lively attitude and trash talking. She is affectionately known as the dominatrix. Me the trash talker.... now... Jane... I think we need to come up with something for her. She strategizes, she is vengeful against the youngsters and she kicks butt. Man get her on that track with her gearing - whoooo lordy! WATCH OUT! She's going to whoop your butt!

Monday night's racing wasn't as energy filled but it was still fun. Tom P, Jimmy P and Dan W came to watch us again. They cheered on Mike M and Mario for their first races ever! WOOHOO! They did awesome. They also cheered on Brian who already - in one week - is definitely showing improvement. Gregg did awesome as well! I think we are all getting stronger and tactically smarter. Not just week to week but from race to race each week. It is awesome to watch. Last night Phil gave us feedback and criticism about what we did that was good or bad. It really helped to get his feedback.

It was a good race night and hopefully next week we will all be up to par again for an exhilirating, heart pounding, muscle aching, fun and challenging good time! :)

Article in the Outspoke'n and the Photo Gallery

2005-08-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the article that I wrote about track racing. This was posted in the Seattle Bicycle Club - August 2005 Newsletter.

http://www.seattlebicycle.org/newsletters/OutSpoken_08-2005.pdf

Also, the Photo Gallery currently contains photos from my third race:

http://imageevent.com/seattlebicycleclub/velodrome

Friday Night Races, Weekend of kids and Tour de Kitsap

2005-08-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Friday Night Races:

I met up with a group of people for the Friday Night Races. Brian, Mike, Mario, Kathy, Rebecca and then my two racing chicks - Jill (with a co-worker - Sandy) and Jane. A few other people knew Mike and Mario and joined in on the fun. We had a blast watching the races! Jill, Jane and I enjoyed seeing the different tactics and speeds in each race. It was a blast! I later went down by the beer garden to take pictures. I found a perfect place and got some pictures of the Kieran races, Mt. Rainier in the background and the women's races. Evening Magazine was on sight and unfortunately I had the best view and they wanted me to leave so they could stand in my spot. Say WHAT?! So I joked around with John Curley (got a couple pictures of him as well). I told him I could do his job. :) I REALLY think I could with my witty humor. Maybe this year when they invite people to take his job for the day I will do some audition tape to do that. That would be fun! Anyway, Jane, Jill and I spoke a lot about the races and our potential for next year. We are all very excited at how far we have come already!

Saturday - a day with the kids:

I drove to my sister's place. My niece had to go home, to Wisconsin, and be at the airport at 3 pm. I visited for a bit and then watched her kids. We played in the pool, watched Pocahantas and just in general had a blast! They are such great kids! I read them books and then they went to bed. Only after watching Pocahantas 2 times did I have to read the book once. LOL!!! Well that is how it goes! They are such a joy and I try to embrace the times I have to spend with my great niece and nephew as much as possible. Time is so precious and valuable when it comes to relatives and friends. When I was playing with the kids in the pool I was spinning them around and somehow hurt my left hip. It is still acting up from holding them at the zoo a couple weeks ago. I was in good pain all evening! I swear I'll never be able to have kids - I'm going to fall apart before that ever happens! I worry about that.... not that it is the end all of life but if I want kids... I worry I will be in bad shape to enjoy them. :(

Sunday - Tour de Kitsap:

I drove from my sister's and parked my car in Bremerton. I started the ride around 9 am. I just missed a big group of riders! PHEW! I started the ride by myself which felt good. I pushed myself to what felt good and comfortable. About 8 miles in I crossed paths and with Mike and Mario. We went to the Silverdale Start/Finish area. I met up with Jean and Ken. I saw Jillie, Ken and Lee. I spoke with them briefly and also let them know about my track racing and such. I then left with Jean and Ken. We spoke briefly as we rode together. At some point we were going up this monstrous hill and a group of 3 people rode behind me. They passed me and I was pretty much on their wheel until we pulled into Poulsbo. One gentleman - that had an australian jersey on and also spoke with an aussie accent (I kept thinking - oh my co-worker would LOVE to be sitting on his wheel listening to that! :) ) - and I spoke for awhile. Then I left them in Poulsbo and did my own thing. I rode and rode and rode. Seeing more familiar faces - Val and Ken - on the way as well as those operating the rest stops.

I felt really strong on Sunday. Even though it was hilly I didn't feel like it was that hilly. It felt tolerable and I felt stronger after all the track racing I have been doing. This ride was my longest - and pretty much only bike ride - in a month. It felt really good to be out, to do hills and to feel so strong. Mike even mentioned that he thinks the track riding is giving me some good calf muscles. I pushed hard the first 30 or so miles and then I backed off a bit when my hamstrings felt a bit tight. I had to keep in mind that I am racing on Monday night and didn't want to push myself too hard. It felt good riding by myself and going as fast as I wanted - not worrying about others.

Now, the funny story about Tour de Kitsap: I was riding up Hwy (301?) past the Hood Canal bridge. I forgot my mirror for this ride so I was trying to hug the right side of the road as much as possible. At some point I just looked up and realized that the car in front of me, that just passed me, had an "Oversize Load" sign on top of it. OH BOY! I held on tight because as I just realized what that vehicle was the 'oversize load' truck, with half a house on it, passed me. I am very greatful that I was staying to the right as much as possible. Then, about a mile up the road I sensed a vehicle slowing down behind me. My mind was instantly processing - ok you are either going to get a car full of punks harrassing you or some grouchy person to yell at you being on the road. I am standing up at this time and sprinting up a hill. I am feeling good, feeling alive, feeling strong, feeling like Armstrong for once and I hear this: "You got a wide load..." ahhhhh ok.... ahhhhh.... huh?! My brain is immediately going into quick thinking - who is this jerk? What the heck is he saying and doing? What is his problem? Do I know this guy - is this our sag and he is heckling me? I turn and I see he is in this jeep with an "oversize load" sign on it. He finishes: "....coming at you!" My brain still can't compute what was said and all I can spew out is: "OH GREAT!" Later I thought - man I am glad he warned me because I didn't have my mirror and I had no warning before! The shoulder of course immediately narrows a bit more... I am hugging the road about 2 inches away from it dropping off into a small ditch.... holding my handle bars tight! WHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! The other half of the house passes - without incident. OY VAY! :) Well that was exciting!

I finished the ride without incident. I then went back to my sister's and played with the kids a bit more. We played in the pool and before I left I read them a bed time story. I then left to talk to my mom a bit before heading home at 11 pm. It was such a beautiful and HOT weekend!!! It was a fun weekend though - fun had by all!!! :)

Mariners, the past, the future and the blog.

2005-07-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was treated to a Mariner's game by my long-time friend, Curtis. We usually go together to one or two Mariner's games a year. It is always nice to catch up on what is happening in each other's life as well as just sitting back, relaxing and watching the game. It was a lot of fun talking about the past (our wild, odd and adventurous college days), our present (i.e. I told him about my hilarious/entertaining/disastrous dates I have had, track racing, work, what he will be doing with the rest of his summer, his vacation plans, etc.) and what we want in the future. It is always nice to reflect where we have been and where we are today. It is good to reflect what I have now, where I am now, what I want, etc. based on those good (and bad) memories of the past. (For example, if my friends didn't save me from a few guys I was interested in at college - oy vay! Can't even imagine where I may be now based on those decisions!) WOW! How things have changed. It is always good to get with Curtis since we both don't keep in touch on a consistent basis and I am always reminded of all the good things in life. He is a good friend and I am glad I have some really good, long-time friends.

So then, I am hearing back from everyone.... you started a blog? My how much you have to write. Well, not really. For those of you that know me, you know I just like to ramble and my writing stinks. So don't think it will be a great piece of art but rather see it as just an expression of myself in the real world - virtually. LOL! :) I think you can see blonde moments on virtual screens too. ;) Although, my friend Brian was quite surprised that I hit this realm of technology before him. Sorry Brian - I had to geek out a bit. ;) Actually, I got this idea based on my friend who races with me. She has her own Blog and I read it! WOW!!! She expresses herself quite well and what she talks about is fun, insightful and hilarious too. :)

Just enjoy my random thoughts for what they are - distinct, full of rambling and entertaining - to say the least. :)

Racing at the Track last night...

2005-07-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

My how things can change in life. This last year has brought so many changes to my life. Most all are seen as good - in one form or other. With those changes, I decided to find a focus again. I felt two years ago my life was quite balanced when I really focused on what was important to me between family, friends and personal goals/achievements. I decided to start taking action with some of those personal goals and achievements. I have wanted to race for two years but never felt I had the speed to compete. I ran into a friend that convinced me to take a race class at the track. She has tried to tell me this for two years now. I finally decided to do it. It was just a month ago that I took a track class at the Marymoor Velodrome in Redmond, WA. Since then I have been hooked! I even bought a Fuji Track bike right away to keep my motivation high.

I have done three races on Monday nights and a lot of Thursday night trainings. I am having so much fun learning what is right/wrong, what are good tactics and what is needed physically to ride hard with the rest of my opponents. I met two women on the track that are incredible. They have a great sense of humor, know how to kick butt and have fun. We are learning together and enjoying our adventures. We are trying to learn how to work together with our tactical measures. It is a lot of fun! Our goal is to join (one already is part of) a racing team so we can do winter training together, work together next year on the track and have fun using tactics while encouraging each other to keep improving.

I am really enjoying the fact that I am taking on a whole new adventure with cycling. I just can't believe 8 years ago I weighed 300 lbs! My goal was only to do STP in 2 days. Since then I have done it twice in 1 day. I have done some wonderful rides in WA, MT and CO. I have a lot of room to improve and I hope this winter will really get me physically where I want to be with the training I am planning on putting myself through. I may not be the fastest woman out there but I am having a lot of fun challenging myself, learning better bike handling skills and making new friends. Pretty amazing... I can't wait to finish stronger this year. We are all improving tremendously but next season will be incredible after training hard all winter. I already am getting built up anxiety!!!

Last night was a blast since I had my mom, my niece and her two kids along with several Seattle Bicycle Club members (Mark R, Jennifer, Mike M, Dan W, Arnie C, Tom P, and Jimmy P) cheering me on! It is awesome hearing everyone cheering you on and feeling the adrenaline build up from the energy in the crowds. My friend Brian made his debut last night. He did awesome for his first race! He is hoping to join a race team as well so we can train this winter - working hard to build up speed and endurance at high speeds for longer periods of time. My friend Mike, his friend Mario and my co-worker's husband Jim took a class on Saturday as well. They all hope to debut this coming Monday. It will be fun to have us all out there and racing hard. The 'rowdy' group from Seattle Bicycle Club are planning on being there again to cheer us all on. That should be pretty hilarious again! Last night they would choose a selected person out of each race - get their name - and cheer them on like you wouldn't believe!! LOL!! I thought they were going to get kicked out but they were having a blast. More of my friends may even join next year which should be a bigger blast! Until next week...