YSS Race 1- Snow blower.YSS Race 2- Dust bowl.
A 7 minute improvement on my time- not bad.
Mike won a Yeti ARC- I want to cut him.
Driving to Nathrop twice- sooo exciting.
Finally meeting most of the team- PRICELESS.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Yeti Spring Series in brief
YSS Race 1- Snow blower.YSS Race 2- Dust bowl.
A 7 minute improvement on my time- not bad.
Mike won a Yeti ARC- I want to cut him.
Driving to Nathrop twice- sooo exciting.
Finally meeting most of the team- PRICELESS.
Friday, April 27, 2007
What some call the: "Puke n' Go, 'Everybody Gets Dropped Ride'"
So I did my first Meridian Training Race last night. The coach and I drove up from the Springs and made an evening of it. This 1 hr training race was pleasant for the first 45 mins. Then the winds shifted and the rain started. The pack of 50 or so riders shattered near the end...it was hard to see who took the mock victory.
For me this was both a fitness challenge as well as a lesson in pack road racing. Alison and I were the only women in the group of Cat 1,2,3 and 4 men. We stuck to the outside for the most part. I was surrounded by riders a few times, which I found a bit unsettling. But what a great experience. I hung with the pack for 5 laps, 30 mins before I got dropped on the back stretch. That particular attach happened quick and I wasn't paying attention to the front of the group. Al hung back with me and we caught the pack as they came back around. I watched her the entire night and mimicked her actions. When she shifted, I shifted. When she came out of the saddle, so did I. When she drank, I drank.
All in all we did the equivalent to 20 VO2 efforts in an hour- good training. We chatted some on the drive home. I asked the World Champ if it was hard to hang at the back when she can easily stay at the front. She laughed and said she really enjoys teaching me and watching me learn. I confessed that, with a little work, it is completely possible to hang with the group the entire hour. She, in her confident way, said "you won't just hang, you'll lead". She said when she was racing nationally she would do the Meridian Rides and the CoSprg group rides and then go to National Road Races and excel among the women's competition. There's something to be said for this 'sort' of training.
Tuesday and Thursday6:00 PM
Meridian Circuit Training Race
Meridian Business Park Lincoln and Meridian (I-25)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
This guy took, "Chew on This", seriously.
An unstaged picture from a friend of mine...I guess every(dog)one has his/her preferences. Funny stuff.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Chewing on THIS today.
What to eat? What to wear? Where do I invest my energy? How do I relax? How do I work? When do I train? How hard do I push? How much rest? Do I play? Do I play too much? Am I prepared? Do I care? Do I smile or walk on by?
I work among some of the most knowledgable coaches in the cycling industry. And one thing I continually hear from them is the great importance of day-to-day, moment-by-moment living. The reality that everything I do makes up who I am on the bike. It's not just the 2 hrs I spend training that day but the other 22 hrs that remain. How do I use my time?
They say this sepeartes the great athletes from the rest. And when I start to think and (try to) live that way, I realize how right they are. In a book recently presented to me by an Olympian the same rings true.
"Extraordinary performaces and successes in sport, as in all of life, are created by our passionate moment-by-moment involvements. Our victories are natural by-products of this approach."
"...extraordinary performaces come out of a process of continuous, regular physical and mental practice. The mindset of an extraordinary athlete is relaxed but focused and open to ever higher achievements. Real sucess or victory is measured by the quality of that very process of attention and mindful involvement, practice, and commitment." (from Thinking Body Dancing Mind, by Chungliang Al huang and Jerry Lynch)
Attention to the details.
I work among some of the most knowledgable coaches in the cycling industry. And one thing I continually hear from them is the great importance of day-to-day, moment-by-moment living. The reality that everything I do makes up who I am on the bike. It's not just the 2 hrs I spend training that day but the other 22 hrs that remain. How do I use my time?
They say this sepeartes the great athletes from the rest. And when I start to think and (try to) live that way, I realize how right they are. In a book recently presented to me by an Olympian the same rings true.
"Extraordinary performaces and successes in sport, as in all of life, are created by our passionate moment-by-moment involvements. Our victories are natural by-products of this approach."
"...extraordinary performaces come out of a process of continuous, regular physical and mental practice. The mindset of an extraordinary athlete is relaxed but focused and open to ever higher achievements. Real sucess or victory is measured by the quality of that very process of attention and mindful involvement, practice, and commitment." (from Thinking Body Dancing Mind, by Chungliang Al huang and Jerry Lynch)
Attention to the details.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
NOVA #1: Fountain Hills, AZ
Friday, March 30, 2007 through Sunday, April 1, 2007
Time Trial: 3rd (Expert 19-29)
Super D: 6th (Open Women)
XC: 6th (Expert 19-29)
Overall: 5th (Expert 19-29)
"Chill out", I keep telling myself. "It's just a game." But after a winter of diligent work it felt like more than a "game or sport".
I’m raw with emotion and over-thinking. The mental battle is waging at me. I know that I went into this weekend with more expectations than were necessary. I had intentions of terrorizing the competition. I knew I was strong. I trusted my training. I felt my power on the bike. I had so much support from the sidelines. There were numerous things in my favor.
The Time Trial was exciting and one mistake took me from the top of the podium to 3rd. Still a good outcome. The Super D was my first ever and I did it on a hardtail. I placed 6th in the Open Women category- not to shabby considering my rear hub growled at me the entire time (we replaced that before the XC).
I thought I could catch the pack following a crash 15 mins into the XC race. Unfortunately I didn't do so immediately. I am completely aware of the fact that mtn. bike racing will continue to hand me tough situations and far from perfect scenarios. Part of my strength was the knowledge that I can face those head-on. However, I did not practice that principal in my XC race this weekend. I was disappointed in myself. Even after the pile up I should have caught the pack. I wasn’t urgent enough about catching them.
Only moments earlier I had been extremely urgent about passing racer #2 so racer #1 didn’t get away from me. I was racing to win. So I was urgent when I knew I was sitting well. But I was a quick quitter when I was riding last, chasing alone.
I DID fight…but it was in spurts and not a continual push. In a way I didn’t give up. I didn’t drop out. But I know that I wasn’t pushing a race pace when I was on the trail alone. I tried. I failed. I disappointed.
I absolutely believe I still have an opportunity to turn my failures into improvements following this weekend. The third lap of the race I shifted my attention to my skills and handling. At that point I didn’t care if I completely wiped out. I pushed around the turns faster than I usually do to test my limits. I realized straight away that I need to pour hours into improving skills. I am nowhere close to ready to go against Pros....yet.
Rusty skills are something I felt in all three of the races. It was my first mtn race of the season. I've been on the trainer a lot this winter and not on the trail. I fought with the bike a great deal. Part is the early nature of the season. But a large part is that I have to be gutsy in learning skills at higher speeds. I needs' to get 'meself out wif da boyz again...something about testosterone pumping through their body makes them crazy on a mtn bike.
My coach provided unmatched support at this first race. I wanted nothing more than to give Al a win. That wasn’t how it all played out. I must keep my chin up and keep working harder to be better. This weekend of racing has redirected my focus toward the mental side of training. I am physically fit. I still have a mind to make cooperate. I have new places to focus my efforts as I commit to keep kickin'.
Time Trial: 3rd (Expert 19-29)
Super D: 6th (Open Women)
XC: 6th (Expert 19-29)
Overall: 5th (Expert 19-29)
"Chill out", I keep telling myself. "It's just a game." But after a winter of diligent work it felt like more than a "game or sport".
I’m raw with emotion and over-thinking. The mental battle is waging at me. I know that I went into this weekend with more expectations than were necessary. I had intentions of terrorizing the competition. I knew I was strong. I trusted my training. I felt my power on the bike. I had so much support from the sidelines. There were numerous things in my favor.
The Time Trial was exciting and one mistake took me from the top of the podium to 3rd. Still a good outcome. The Super D was my first ever and I did it on a hardtail. I placed 6th in the Open Women category- not to shabby considering my rear hub growled at me the entire time (we replaced that before the XC).
I thought I could catch the pack following a crash 15 mins into the XC race. Unfortunately I didn't do so immediately. I am completely aware of the fact that mtn. bike racing will continue to hand me tough situations and far from perfect scenarios. Part of my strength was the knowledge that I can face those head-on. However, I did not practice that principal in my XC race this weekend. I was disappointed in myself. Even after the pile up I should have caught the pack. I wasn’t urgent enough about catching them.
Only moments earlier I had been extremely urgent about passing racer #2 so racer #1 didn’t get away from me. I was racing to win. So I was urgent when I knew I was sitting well. But I was a quick quitter when I was riding last, chasing alone.
I DID fight…but it was in spurts and not a continual push. In a way I didn’t give up. I didn’t drop out. But I know that I wasn’t pushing a race pace when I was on the trail alone. I tried. I failed. I disappointed.
I absolutely believe I still have an opportunity to turn my failures into improvements following this weekend. The third lap of the race I shifted my attention to my skills and handling. At that point I didn’t care if I completely wiped out. I pushed around the turns faster than I usually do to test my limits. I realized straight away that I need to pour hours into improving skills. I am nowhere close to ready to go against Pros....yet.
Rusty skills are something I felt in all three of the races. It was my first mtn race of the season. I've been on the trainer a lot this winter and not on the trail. I fought with the bike a great deal. Part is the early nature of the season. But a large part is that I have to be gutsy in learning skills at higher speeds. I needs' to get 'meself out wif da boyz again...something about testosterone pumping through their body makes them crazy on a mtn bike.
My coach provided unmatched support at this first race. I wanted nothing more than to give Al a win. That wasn’t how it all played out. I must keep my chin up and keep working harder to be better. This weekend of racing has redirected my focus toward the mental side of training. I am physically fit. I still have a mind to make cooperate. I have new places to focus my efforts as I commit to keep kickin'.
2007 Schedule.
Mar 31-Apr 1: NORBA#1 – Phoenix, AZ
April 7: Yeti Spring Series#1- Nathrop, CO
April 15: AFA Road Race- CoSpr, CO
April 7: Yeti Spring Series#1- Nathrop, CO
April 15: AFA Road Race- CoSpr, CO
April 26: Meridian Training Race
April 28: YSS #2-Nathrop, CO
April 28: YSS #2-Nathrop, CO
May 1: Meridian Training Race
May 5: LookoutMtn. HC- Golden, CO
May 5: LookoutMtn. HC- Golden, CO
May 12-13: MSC#1 – Nathrop, CO
May 19-20: Crit Racing
May 26-28: MSC#2 – Angel Fire, NM
June 9-10: Road Race/Crit
June 16-17: NORBA#3 – Park City, Utah
June 23-24: MSC#3 – Crested Butte, CO
July 1: Crit
July 8: Road Race
July 14-15: MSC#4 – Snowmass Village, CO
July 17-22: USACycling Mtn Bike National Champ. – West Dover, Vt.
July 28-29: MSC#5 – Telluride, Colo.
August 4-5: Circuit Race/Crit
Aug. 11-12: NORBA#6 – Snowmass Village, Colo.
Aug. 18-19: MSC#6 – Nederland, CO
Sept. 1-3: MSC#7- Keystone, CO
May 19-20: Crit Racing
May 26-28: MSC#2 – Angel Fire, NM
June 9-10: Road Race/Crit
June 16-17: NORBA#3 – Park City, Utah
June 23-24: MSC#3 – Crested Butte, CO
July 1: Crit
July 8: Road Race
July 14-15: MSC#4 – Snowmass Village, CO
July 17-22: USACycling Mtn Bike National Champ. – West Dover, Vt.
July 28-29: MSC#5 – Telluride, Colo.
August 4-5: Circuit Race/Crit
Aug. 11-12: NORBA#6 – Snowmass Village, Colo.
Aug. 18-19: MSC#6 – Nederland, CO
Sept. 1-3: MSC#7- Keystone, CO
Podium Finish.
One taste...I want more!
July 2006
Six long months, day in, day out...sweating, working, hurting, resting, paying attention to the details, focusing, committing, preparing. It really comes down to one block of time...about 2 hrs.... on one given day, on the side of a massive mountain with every possible variable at stake. Anything could go wrong, anything could go right. You hope for the right and prepare for the wrong. This time it happened though...the pieces came together and they fit snuggly.
The altitude didn't sufficate me...the rocks didn't trip me...the ladies didn't out-pedal me...the heat didn't conquer me...the mental game didn't overcome me...the climbs didn't defeat me...and the finish line didn't deny me. Finally, after a long season of trying I pulled off my first Expert XC Mountain Bike podium. 2nd place in Telluride tasted so good- I'd like to dine on that wood box again. I want more of this feeling...more!
July 2006
Six long months, day in, day out...sweating, working, hurting, resting, paying attention to the details, focusing, committing, preparing. It really comes down to one block of time...about 2 hrs.... on one given day, on the side of a massive mountain with every possible variable at stake. Anything could go wrong, anything could go right. You hope for the right and prepare for the wrong. This time it happened though...the pieces came together and they fit snuggly.
The altitude didn't sufficate me...the rocks didn't trip me...the ladies didn't out-pedal me...the heat didn't conquer me...the mental game didn't overcome me...the climbs didn't defeat me...and the finish line didn't deny me. Finally, after a long season of trying I pulled off my first Expert XC Mountain Bike podium. 2nd place in Telluride tasted so good- I'd like to dine on that wood box again. I want more of this feeling...more!
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