In need of a nap

End of year/CX season report

2012-01-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

The past month has been kind of crazy. After the Afterglow, was all the craziness of Christmas. Christopher got way too many toys, I was able to go ride singletrack on Christmas Eve -- so mainly good stuff but very busy.

New Year's Eve & New Year's Day I did the CX races at Indian Lakes Resort. I was able to get out and preride on that Friday. A course that helps if you have a lot of power, which is something I do not have a lot of. On Saturday, the 3/4 race could have gone better. But, it could have gone worse as well. I was 9th out of 23. I then volunteered at a course crossing. I looked ridiculous but I mainly stayed warm and I got to watch the women's and men's elite races at the same time. = )

After I was done volunteering, I got ready to do the Women's 2/3 race. There were seven starters with two breaking derailleurs. I finished 4th and was happy with my racing. After crossing the line, I grabbed my pit bike and immediately hopped in the car to go celebrate Christmas with my mom's side of the family. I arrived late and muddy but was happy to see everyone and eat way too much food.

On New Year's Day, we had a much smaller turnout. There were only 12 starters for the Women's 3/4. I raced really well and took 4th. The only bad part was I mistakenly thought I was in 3rd so it was a bit disappointing to realize I missed the last podium step. However, I got another upgrade point!!! Woo hoo! Granted, not that I think I'm Cat. 2 caliber yet but I'm still pretty excited that I now have 2 points.

Tom & Christopher showed up after my race. I was able to see them, volunteer and watch some of the men's & women's elite races. Only Ellie and I were signed up for the Women's 2/3 race. We were able to just do a parade lap and she was nice enough to let me win. That was very fun. = )

Then, it was off to Madison for Nats. We got there Tuesday. I prerode the course and was in an excellent mood. The morning of the race was just too hectic -- as things can get when you have a five-year-old and spouse with you. I did a lot of stupid things -- such as forgetting to change shoes, or at least clean out my cleats, before the start. I kept unclipping at the start and was almost dead last by the time we hit dirt. I would gain some spots and then either slide out or have a mechanical. I ended up 12th out of 19 finishers/23 starters. Bleah. Since that was the B race, I had hoped to do better.

Friday (Jan. 7) was the 35-39 Nats race. There were some Cat. 3's but an awful lot of Cat. 1 and 2's so I was hoping to race well for me but not expecting to place well. I was 12th out of 16 finishers/18 starters and was mainly pleased with how it went. I seemed to keep being attracted to poles/stakes however and felt a lot like a pinball bouncing around the course. It took me forever to track down the gloves I tossed during the race but I then scored a six-pack of beer. It would have been better if I actually drank beer but that's okay.

Not quite a full week later and we were trekking down to Kentucky for Worlds. I was excited for the opportunity but also not very optimistic. There were barely any other Cat. 3's registered and I came down with some type of stomach bug Wednesday night, spent all day Thursday in bed and went 24 hours without eating. Luckily, I was almost back to 100% by Saturday morning. Since you had to pick up your number the day before your race, I had the opportunity to preride the course on Friday. Lots of frozen ruts in what would have otherwise been a power course. The officials did, unfortunately, take out a technical section that I could ride.

The course stayed frozen for my race. I went back and forth with a couple of girls for most of the race. One got past me but I held the other one off. I did slip on the ice going over the barrier and went down hard on my left knee. Lots of blood on my skin suit and it is still actually sore. I ended up a lap down but was still very happy with how I did. I was 14th out of 17 out of a field filled with pros, speedy girls and an Olympian. A huge thanks to Tom who took off work Friday so we could go and who made sure that I could warm up and get ready for my race. = ) Another huge thanks to Rob Curtis who was in the pit for me in case I needed to switch bikes, cheered and, of course, gave me some awesome wheels to race on.

On the way home we stopped at the "Midwest's Largest McDonald's" which had an indoor tree-house playground. Christopher was a happy boy. We then stopped at another eating establishment before getting back on the highway so I could get a veggie burger and fries.

Last week was spent trying to catch up on various work projects. Sunday, I was able to try out a fat bike at 2Bici. My first time out I couldn't understand what all the hoopla was about. I came back tried the same section on my 29er and realized there were some perks. I went back out on the 15 Salsa Mukluk with the seat dropped more and forward and some air out of the tires. I liked it a lot more the second time around. I think I would definitely need a 13 or, more than likely, the XS 9:Zero:7. Unfortunately, a fat bike is not in the budget. I'm still trying to catch up on work stuff and have barely given much thought to 2012 except for realizing that my CX age will be 40.

Mud, 2nd trashed derailleur of season & rides

2011-12-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

(Photo credit: Melissa Kelly)

Saturday was the Afterglow CX race. It was odd to go to a Chicago CX race & not be doing registration. I had the luxury of sleeping in until after 7:30, when I was woken up by Christopher. = )

I did not get to do this race last year. I had gotten the doc's okay to be on the bike but not race CX yet; so, I rode at Palos. The course was great. Some climbs but sand, cornering, mud and fun.

I lined up and started like crap, which has been a trend this year. I was then starting to do quite good for me and was going back and forth with some ladies but kept making stupid falls in front of Kristina Young. After the second dumb crash/fall in the sand, Kristina ran into the back of me. Soon after, I realized that my rear derailleur was screwed up. If I tried going into easier gears, it started acting not happy and I knew I was in danger of a major mechanical. I kept contemplating switching to my pit bike but opted to mash the harder gears. A.) I figured the disc brakes had an advantage on the course. B.) My pit bike has bad toe overlap which would definitely be a disadvantage on that course. And, C.) Last time I rode the Trek, the brakes were barely working. Tom had adjusted them but I had not had a chance to ride it since then -- meaning, the brakes could be working perfectly OR the brakes could not be working at all.

I soon lost a few spots and finished 16th out of 20. Could I have beat a few other ladies? Possibly but not swapping was a good decision. After the race, I noticed that my bike had a lot less mud build up than ones without disc brakes. I also rode the Trek after the race -- the brakes still definitely needed tweaking so that would not have been good.

It was depressing to get the mechanical but great to start to feel like I was racing well again -- even if it was only for part of the race.

On a good note, Tom found a shop on the way home -- Kozy's -- that had the derailleur hanger. I was able to buy 2 so I have a spare. On a bad note, this is the second race this year that has killed a derailleur hanger on my bikes, with the other being the USGP when I had to run my bike for more than half a lap to come in at 40th place.

I didn't stick around to cheer so I could get to Kozy's. On Sunday, I had the prospect of not having to get up early to go to a CX race. I thought briefly about sleeping in but the chance to ride my mountain bike won out. I set the alarm for 7 a.m. (which was not terribly early, at least) so I could get in a ride at Palos before the trails thawed. It had been way too long since I was on my 29er. It was a mellow ride but a lot of fun. I also had perfect timing. On my last bit of single track, some mud was just beginning to stick to my tires.

The decision of the day is whether to sign up for Worlds. I found out this morning that the registration fees go up tonight.

Cold, CX & my Crux

2011-12-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend were the Badger CX races in Verona. Saturday was brutally cold. When I got there it felt like 12 degrees. It felt like 8 degrees at the time of my race. The course was bumpy, bumpy, bumpy. My hand was not happy and the bumps made some of the turns very difficult.

The course has been described elsewhere, such as The Bonebell, in greater detail so I won't give a big description here. There were quite a few aspects that did not make it particularly suited for me -- namely there were two climbs, a run-up and a couple paved power sections. However, there was also some tight turns, dirt and/or rutted downhills & a sand pit. I prerode and warmed up with multiple layers including gloves with mittens over them. My fingers were numb for a bit of the race but, otherwise, I was okay temperature-wise. There were 10 of us at the line. It wasn't a great race for me. I managed to get ahead of some girls and then they would power past me or run past me on the climb. I was 9th, with Melissa unfortunately dropping out after a crash in the sand drew blood.

Sunday, I was hoping for a better performance from myself. The course was mostly the same. A few of the corners had been tweaked. The big change was a longer sand pit with a turn. I was psyched about the longer sand pit. My start was not horrible but definitely not good either. Again, I would get past a girl, only to be passed on a climb, run-up or power section. I ended up 8th out of 9. I had been hoping to reel in the 7th place girl and then almost ate it on the run-up. I avoided going face-first into the stairs but lost time. Still, I felt faster/stronger out there and managed to beat a woman who I have never beaten before, which was a personal victory.

I still don't feel like I'm at my A game and can hopefully still gain some more fitness by nationals. I keep going back and forth on Louisville from "definitely not doing it" to "possibly."

While I may not be at my A game, the bike is. The disc brakes were not essential but great to have. And, with the new PSIMET tubulars, it was not that noticeable of a weight penalty. I know I have said this before, but the geometry of the bike is great for me. In particular, I noticed it during the run-up this weekend. I can actually shoulder the bike and run. With the Trek, I could not grab the handlebars while shouldering and the seat would usually smack me in the head. The bike fit is in good form; now, I just need the motor to get there. I still have to experiment a bit with the tire pressure as well. I think I had it a little too soft on Saturday & I may have had it a twinge too high on Sunday.

Saturday is the Afterglow. I'm psyched. Last year, I had just gotten the okay to ride outside but not the okay to race CX yet. So, instead of going to the Afterglow, I rode at Palos -- still a great way to spend a day on the bike. = )

Montrose

2011-12-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Amy Dykema.)

Sunday was the last CX race in the Chicago series. It is always awesome. I was bummed to not be able to race last year and so excited that I could do the last race in the series. So excited that I decided to race four times. I preregistered for the 30+, Women's 123 and 4B races. When I started volunteering at registration, I started a 4A wait list with my name on it and snagged the first DNS spot.

It was actually above 50 degrees in the morning, which was incredible and wonderful for a December race. I squeezed in one lap but was, otherwise, at registration until lining up for the 30+ race. The course had a gazillion sand pits, tight turns, a short muddy hike-up and climbing up the sled hill. It was mainly a good course for me -- except the sled hill climb and short run up. My hand was not happy with the bumpiness of the course but is very close to 100%.

The 30+ was really just a warm-up for the women's race. I definitely warmed up and wasn't last. I ended up 16th out of 21 (with 1 DNF) in the women's race. I think I could have snagged 15th if we had another lap. It wasn't an awesome performance but definitely good considering my time away with my broken hand.

After the first two races, I was back at registration until I lined up for the 4A race. The temperature had dropped 15-20 degrees. I decided to race with my heavy jersey underneath my PSIMET jersey and definitely was too warm. It's easy to forget how much body heat you generate doing a CX race.

I had decided beforehand to use the 30+ as a warm-up/pre-ride, race my butt off in the women's race & then have fun for the 4A & 4B. So, I did race. But, I also did stop several times for $ hand-ups. With my gloves I quickly found out that it is really hard to grab money while riding. So, I stopped and, at times, backed up to collect $. I ended up with $4 from the 4A & $8 from the 4B. Since I volunteered, I only had to pay $5 to race which meant I ended up $7 ahead. For the 4B race, I actually ended up in 52nd place.

(Photo courtesy of Amy Dykema.)

I felt fine afterwards but was exhausted by the time I got home. My body is definitely sore today.

The new bike & the new tires/wheels are totally awesome. I had several people tell me how hot my bike is. = )

Next on tap is Badger CX, which I had preregistered for before I broke my hand. I'll likely do the Afterglow as well. Nationals reg rates go up at the end of the week so I'll have to try to figure out what I plan to do. I'll likely reg for the age group race, which is Friday afternoon. The B race is early Wednesday morning and I'd likely have to drive up that day so I'm still going back and forth. I'm at 27 CX races for the year. I love, love, love CX.

(Thanks to Ronit Bezalel for making me appear fast.)

Jingle CX

2011-11-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday morning I drove to my doctor's appointment as nervous as I am before a race. I was so happy when I found out I could ride outside again and race. I know the trainer and running are good for me and was really hoping it would help even out the six weeks of not racing.

We took the RV to my cousins on Thanksgiving and were on our way that evening with lots of leftovers, which was awesome. We got there between 12-1 p.m. on Friday. It was so great to be back on my bike and the new frame is awesome. The hand was sore and it was still difficult to brake with my right hand. Early in the race, I was able to pass a girl on the downhill, which rocked. As the race went on, the hand hurt more and I found that, if I didn't brake early on the downhill, I couldn't get my right hand to squeeze the brake at all. I didn't place well, which was disappointing, but was overall happy with how it went. I got some ice and iced my hand for the rest of the evening.

Saturday, it was raining. I rode the course, including Mt, Crumpit, and then found out that we wouldn't be going down the hill. I was ambivalent about it, knowing how much I suck at going up hills. The hand felt a little better. My start sucked almost as bad as it had on Friday night and I definitely could have raced better. I was okay with how it went but was hoping I would miraculously be back at my A game.

After my race, Christopher did the kids' race. This was a highlight of the weekend. He opted to ride his balance bike instead of his bike with pedals, which was a good race move. = ) It was much easier for him to get over the logs. He won a stuffed reindeer -- Clarice from the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer cartoon. He loves it and put the teddy bear he got at Jingle CX two years ago in the box with Clarice.

Then, things went totally downhill. The awning had blown off the RV before Christopher's race. Water started leaking in the RV and got into the electrical system, shorting out everything. No power to the fridge, no lights and we couldn't bring the slide out in. Tom was able to manually get the slide-out in but, he had been miserable the whole trip. We left to go get some caulk to fill the hole and ended up just driving home instead. We got home around 8 p.m., I think.

I decided to go back and race on Sunday. It was probably not my best decision but I have always loved this race. I was so bummed that I couldn't go last year and so excited that I had gotten the okay to race. Plus, I knew we'd probably get to do the technical downhill on Sunday. While my speed sucks, I am usually good at the technical aspects.

After loading up the car and getting Christopher to bed, I went to bed late and 3:30 a.m. came way too early. I got there earlier than I expected and, as a total bonus, found that my rain jacket and water bottle were still at the start, after forgetting them there the day before.

I prerode and found my hand was feeling better and that my brakes needed tweaking. The SRAM guys tweaked them three or four times for me. My start was a little better but then I just kept sliding backwards. I have the hardest time getting up Mt. Crumpit. Even walking, I have to really concentrate to keep from sliding back down. I braked way too much on the downhill but I was still concerned with the braking power of my right hand. I figured going too slow was better than taking it too fast and then not being able to use my right hand to brake. I wasn't dead last but I was only one off. I was pretty disappointed but knew that my exhaustion definitely didn't help.

Tom had decided last week that he didn't want to race since he's been sick and he didn't want to take parts off of his road bike to fix his CX bike. He couldn't get a refund so he transferred Sunday's entry to me. I sat in the car shivering with the heat on until everyone was lining up. We started and it was so obvious that my body was not up for another race. I figured I'd do a lap or two, get lapped and get pulled. On lap 2, I got lapped and happily thought that would be my last lap. I didn't get pulled. That last lap was so painful. I was DFL which I was totally fine with and was happy I came back and raced.

The Specialized Crux frame is awesome. I have no toe overlap and the frame seems to fit me so much better. I had no issues braking or shifting during the races -- well, except for hand-related issues. My old Crosswolf tires, however, sucked in the mud and I can't wait to get my PSIMET wheels. = )

I got home exhausted and then decided to check CrossResults.com. Even with the six weeks off the bike, I've done more than 20 races this year. I knew I had raced well that Friday night at the Golf Barn and CrossResults.com confirmed it. I actually have an upgrade point! Then, I got hyper which made sleeping difficult and Monday even worse. = )

I'm psyched to do Montrose. I'm going to do the 30+ as a warmup/preride, since it's hard to sometimes get those in when I'm volunteering at registration. I also plan to do at least one of the 4A & 4B; and, hopefully, both.

I'm registered for both days of Badger CX and the New Years races. I'll likely do the Afterglow. I'll probably do the age group race at Nationals but am unsure about the B race. If I did it, I would likely have to leave really frigging early that morning and I'd have to figure out how to get Christopher to school.

For biking, I think my hand is quite close to being 100% back. Now, if the rest of me could hurry up and get there. I still am having issues typing but realize that it will take a little time since I couldn't move two fingers for six weeks.

No CX

2011-10-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

I feel bad that I did not go to the CX race yesterday to help out with registration, heckle people & ring a cowbell. But, I had a feeling it would just depress me so Tom volunteered at registration & I stayed home.

It was a beautiful day & I was dying to go ride. I asked Christopher if he wanted to go ride some trails. Nope (which was probably good since I'm not supposed to be riding outside). So, instead, we looked through a booklet I have with all of the village parks in it & I let him pick one to go to. The park had a boat, a castle, a compass on the ground, a net thing to climb up with alligators in the sand, swings & this type of log/tight-rope type thing. I'm pretty sure they did not have parks like this when I was a kid.

Afterwards, we came home & watched "Megamind," which we had borrowed from the library and was pretty good. Tom came home, we ate & then I did a short interval work out on the trainer.

Today is mine & Tom's 11-year anniversary. Nothing exciting planned. The toilet downstairs sprung some type of leak, which Tom will have to look at when he gets home & I'm hoping to go do running hill intervals at Palos.

Unplanned training block

2011-10-18T07:51:00.001-07:00

(The photos from Amy Dykema are post-break at Saturday's race.)

The week sucked. Tom's grandmother passed away, which was hard on all of us; but especially Tom obviously. He decided he wanted to come with on Friday evening, make a mini trip out of it, race Saturday, come home, and then he & Christopher would go to a birthday party on Sunday & I would race.

We got to the race on Friday night about 15 minutes before my race. I warmed up on the course & actually had a really good race. It was basically turn,turn, turn, flyover, turn, turn, turn in dark spot & try not to fall in the pond & repeat. I was third. I won $. Woo hoo!

Saturday was the opposite. I had a hard time sleeping, the girls that normally babysit weren't there, etc. Scott Sanda agreed to keep an eye on Christopher while he course marshalled but I was a little afraid Christopher might be in demon mode & run out on the course. I pulled myself out of the 30+ race.

For the W123 race, my legs felt like lead going over the barrier and I was struggling. But, it looked like Becky was struggling too. I went through the area they tried to make berms and was trying to catch Becky when BAM. My front wheel must have hit the berm wrong. I got up, finally got my chain back on & started again. My right hand started hurting, which lead to the interesting stairs technique above and soon lead to my riding most of the course with only one hand.

The best guess of an EMT was that it wasn't broken but get an x-ray. Tom had to help with tear down so we stuck around. We got home kind of late. Tom didn't think the primary care center did x-rays & I figured I'd rather not spend the entire Saturday night in the ER, so I just went to bed. It didn't hurt too bad so I figured it was probably not broke & I'd try to race on Sunday.

Not my best move. It didn't help when I hit a plastic pole and then one of the guys in the 50+ or 60+ decided to ride over me. He kind of got stuck on top of me, but instead of getting off, pushed his way over me leaving some nice chain ring marks on my back. Totally not cool.

Rob Curtis helped me get my bikes to and in the car, which was not easy after his crash on Saturday, and Leah was nice enough to fetch my bottle from the start line.

I showered and then Tom dropped me off at the primary care center on the way to the party. When they told me it was broke, I wanted to cry and then go on a drinking binge. Instead, I walked over to the bowling alley, getting there as the part was winding up.

However, I saw the ortho yesterday afternoon & NO CAST! I have a splint and can't race for six weeks. I can run and he told me I could ride on the trainer. Man, I hate the trainer. But, I guess I have a good six-week training block to be back in shape for the end of CX season. = )

I'll have my bling, light & awesome PSIMET wheels by then. I'm hoping to finally have my new Crux frame by then as well.

Jingle CX is pretty much exactly six weeks from when I broke it. I wrote an article years ago about a woman's research that cats' purring could help mend broken bones (along with quotes from some experts saying nicely that she was off her rocker). I think I'll have to go cuddle with Freedy a lot more in the upcoming weeks, just in case. = )

CX & Life

2011-10-11T09:28:00.001-07:00

Saturday I went to the CX race in Grafton. Tom's grandmother had been in the hospital but seemed to be doing better on Friday so we decided kind of last minute that I would go. Christopher got us up before my alarm could; so, I got there early enough to get a couple of laps in before my race. I had forgotten the hill until I started preriding. It is a monster that makes you wonder whether you will make it up or not, rideable sand, lots of turns and one small muddy section that made my bike covered with mud. I wasn't sure how I would do but felt pretty good.

There was a slightly smaller group than last week, with about a dozen starters. I ended up 8th. A few girls got past me that I couldn't reel back in but I did manage to keep Heather Curnutt behind me -- who beats me somewhat frequently so was a small victory. I also ended ahead of Melissa Putzer, who I tend to go back and forth with and who was having an off day.

While cooling down, I called Tom and heard that his grandmother was doing much worse. I got home as soon as I could so he could get to the hospital and hurried up and got cleaned up and changed so Christopher & I could go to a family wedding -- which is where the above photo was taken.

Sunday's course was awesome but my head wasn't in it. Tom came and volunteered and opted not to race.

(Photo credit Louis Fernandez)

I started horribly. I didn't necessarily race horribly but felt horrible.

Michael Angus posted a video from my race, which is great in that it shows the technical aspects that I am good at and doesn't showcase my lack of speed or fitness: http://youtu.be/nVDTqzO7zsM

We left very soon after my race so Tom could get back to the hospital. Christopher wanted to visit her too. We were really unsure about it but decided we didn't want to deny him his request. That didn't go great but didn't go horrible either. Tom's grandmother is now home with hospice. She is more comfortable at home but it is obviously a very hard time for us and Tom's family.

CX Celebration

2011-10-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

I decided to handle the one-year anniversary of breaking my ankle in my sixth CX race by racing six CX races in the weekend. = )

Last year, I had my first major broken bone at CX the Domes. This year's race was almost exactly one year later. I decided that I definitely had to race it this year. I'm still trying to get rid of all the emotional crap from breaking my leg, such as being too timid. Finishing the race seemed like a good way to exorcise some demons.

I decided to do the Men's Cat. 4 race, which was immediately before mine, so I could get any nervous jitters out of the way before the women's race.

(Photo courtesy of John Senkerik)

I probably went a little too hard as I was going back and forth with a guy who sprinted past me at the finish and who I almost caught back up to. I started in the last row and ended up 56th out of 63 finishers, with 1 DNF.

For the women's race, I ended up 10th out of 15. It is such an accomplishment, for me, to finish this race. It is also disappointing as I was doing really well at the beginning of last season so placing so much lower is still depressing. I got passed by some girls but did manage to pick a few girls off. I did occasionally start to freak out about a turn or two but should give myself a gold star for the effort as opposed to beating myself up about it.

And, I arrived at DeKalb bright and early on Sunday morning with a small scab on my knee as opposed to a cast. I would finally get to do the flyover. I was so, so excited when I learned there would be one last year. It is definitely fun. But, man, oh man, is it so hard to climb up those stairs with a bike when you are shorter than 5'2".

In previous years, I had rode the course before the first race and then warmed up. Since I now do registration, I did the 30+ race to warm up on the course. But, Tom also is in the 30+.

I had a better start than him but then got stuck behind a minor crash at the first set of turns around the trees and he got by me. I was catching up with him and then I dropped my chain. Got it back on but was in too hard of a gear to pedal. And, away Tom went. I reminded myself this was supposed to be a warm up for the women's race. And, then, is Tom getting closer? Yep, I was gaining on him. I thought he dropped his chain but afterwards he replied that he had dropped/crashed. I went harder and ended up passing him. = )

I, then, changed out of my skin suit because it had really warmed up since we got there at 6:30 a.m. I snagged the last spot in the front row. My start wasn't great but didn't suck. And, then, we got to the first set of trees. I should have been more aggressive. I ended up behind Bev, who is a very fast mountainbiker but somewhat of a CX newb. I was on the brakes for the turns and saw the rest of the group get further and further away.

I actually was able to pass Bev and kept her behind me for probably 1 1/2 to 2 laps. I was pretty sure I would not be able to hold her off, as she is incredibly fast and strong. She got past me and started getting further and further away as she was powering off and my quads were screaming at me and complaining for doing a fourth race in a 24-hour period. My lap times dropped a bit, due to probably both my body as well as knowing I wasn't catching Bev and that there was not any ladies immediately on my tail. And, that's how I finished. 20th. A little better than Jackson Park, much worse than Jackson Park 2010. Of course, I have to keep reminding myself that I finally got to race the flyover!

So, I changed and went back to registration. I was second on the wait list for the 4A race and first on the list for the 4B. So, I decided I would do both. I need more time on the bike and I need more CX practice. I knew two more races would hurt like hell but I also decided that I would then have six races in the weekend. Last year, I didn't get to finish my sixth race so I decided it would be a perfect way for me to "celebrate" the one-year mark.

The course was more firm by the 4A race which allowed me to get both my fastest and slowest laps of the day. Slowest, being the first parade-like lap and my fastest being the second lap. By the 4B race, I wanted to die. I'm pretty sure I ended up 57th but there were glitches with the registration computer and I am not on the results.

I got to cheer on the singlespeeders and then, sadly, had to give Leah back her son's bike. My Trek was not back up and running until Saturday night so Leah kindly let me use the Cannondale again on Sunday since I was used to the geometry. It is a 44cm and fits me almost perfectly. I also got to ride a 46cm Specialized Crux again. I cannot wait to get my new disc frame! And, I cannot wait for Leah's son to outgrow his bike. = )

It is a long season and I plan to get myself back in shape by the end of it. Am I still being too tentative in some of the corners? Yeah, I'm sure I am. But, that's improving as well. I love CX and am so excited that I am back racing. = )

Edit: I have to post a photo Amy Dykema got of me sticking my tongue out on the flyover during the 4B race.

CX

2011-09-26T11:01:00.001-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Nikki Cyp.)

I've now done seven races for this year: Women's 123 and Men's 4 in Rantoul, Women's 123, Mens 3 and Mens 123 at Jackson Park and Womens 3/4 both days of the USGP. Last year, I broke my ankle at the beginning of my sixth race. So, things are definitely better this year.

But, Nikki's photo seems to illustrate how this season is starting out frustratingly -- and, yes, I just made that word up. If you look close at the photo, you'll see my rear derailleur in my wheel.

I would see people running with their bike around a CX course, laugh, cheer them on & think "wow, that sucks." I can now officially say that yes, indeed, that sucks. I ran -- okay, very slowly jogged -- around the bulk of the course on Saturday.

I prerode and thought the course was very similar to the previous year. I was getting over a cold but had hopes of bettering my results from last year: 12th on day 1 and 11th on day 2.

I started very poorly in the race and was beginning to pick ladies off. On the third lap, I was coming to a downhill, 180, up and downshifted in the back in preparation when BAM. The derailleur went into my wheel. Rob is yelling at me to kick it, I'm trying to pull it out and then start running. I think to myself that I definitely need to do more running as cross-training. At the start/finish, I got pulled. The guy said my bike was done. I said I was trying to get to my pit bike and he replied I wouldn't make it there without getting lapped. Bummer. So, I was 40th out of 40. But, of course, running a course to finish dead last is still better than being carried off the course for a visit to the ER.

No one had a derailleur hanger so the bike was unrideable for Day 2. Then, Katie mentions that Leah is not racing on Sunday. I asked and she graciously allowed me to take her son's bike. I was originally going to use it as a pit bike but realized it is better than my pit bike. = )

Tom & Christopher took naps (well, at least Christopher. I think Tom did too but am not sure) and then Christopher & I played with blocks while Tom spectated.

I did get to watch the end of the men's race which was awesome. It was also rather amazing to see people go from mostly sober, chill out in the RV and then come back to find people mostly completely drunk. = ) It was like the alcohol fairy had waved her magic wand or something.

Saturday evening, we left the RV in the lot and went with Rob, Julie and their son Andrew to Red Robin. Who knew they were actually vegan friendly? I ate way too much.

Sunday morning, I prerode on my borrowed bike and felt really good on the bike. I was taking turns with barely any braking and was psyched. It started raining. We stood at the start for what seemed like forever. I had my old Fox jacket over me and could watch some of the girls in front of me visibly shivering.

We were off and I was completely excited to see I was in the top five. I was in the top 10 for most of the race. I rode a little too conservatively though and kept losing spots, ending 14th out of 31. I'm a little bummed I didn't hold on to the top 10 but did good. I'm sure I'm still being too tentative -- particularly as I come to the one year anniversary of my break. I hope to do some more racing with the guys -- maybe 4A or 4B, perhaps. But, obviously, 14th is a lot better than jogging with my bike to take dead last. = )

Saturday is CX the Domes. I'll be going and doing the Men's 4 and Women's 3 races. Sunday, I'll be doing at least the 30+ and Women's 123 races. I'm hoping to get another one in as well.

Mud

2011-08-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

(Me trying to keep up with the speedy girls at the Meltdown start. Photo courtesy of the ever awesome Amy Dykema)

The past two races have shown me I need new tires. When it is slick, my Racing Ralphs have no traction.

The Imagination Glen race was a mud fest:

(Photo courtesy of the also ever awesome Betsy Silzer)

Imagination Glen would have been an awesome course for me but it poured during the first lap and I ended up sliding around. I rode very conservatively and was fine with my race.

I was able to do most of the Palos race course lap on Thursday evening, Friday morning and Friday evening. I went easy to not over do it but wanted to feel like I could rock the course, so to speak, since I don't ride out there as much as I could. I was psyched and excited. I felt really good on the bike and was riding the roots, rocks and ravines well. I was very nervous, however, that it would rain. As I was helping out on Saturday, it did rain and then rained again and then rained a little on race day. I was bummed knowing my tires would suck. For my warm up, I rode over to the first parking lot and did bad ass hill and most of the prologue part of the lap. I felt good but knew I would have issues on Turf. I lined up and was going good until I slid out on Turf. I got up and hopped back on the bike but, obviously, lost time. I had issues on parts of Turf each lap and on a root on, what I believe is, One Day but otherwise it was good. I knew Regina and Kristina Young, who had missed the start, were both behind me which definitely caused me to go harder. I ended up fourth out of sixth. I would have loved a dry course but I'm still, overall, pleased with my race. I was not that far behind the speedy girls.

So, tires with better traction in slippery condition will definitely be on my wish list but will have to wait for now as finances are still tight.

Christopher came with for the race as Tom ended up having to work. He had a great time playing with some kids and they spent a lot of time climbing a tree. My dad picked him up around noon, allowing me to change and warm-up. Christopher is always spoiled at my parents' house so he was in a great mood. I chilled for a bit and then got all of his stuff in the car. I came back in for him and saw him bugging my mom's dog, Jake. It was one of those things that I was thinking I had to intervene before he really pissed Jake off and then...oh crap. Jake was barking and then Christopher was crying and holding the back of his head. I take him with me and sit on a chair, holding him and bouncing him and trying to check out how bad it is. My mom started getting ice and I'm asking my dad to get Christopher's blanket out of the backpack which I had, of course, just put in the car. Then, blood is dripping down his head and neck. Crap.

I wiped off the blood with a Kleenex, get some ice on there, get the blanket from my mom, bring him to the couch and turn on cartoons. I'm able to see that it's more a scratch from Jake's tooth and start to breathe normally again. My mom went and picked up some chewable kids' meds for me and Christopher and I each ate a vegan frozen fudge bar thing. He's totally fine but, man, what a crappy end to the day.

I'm excited for Kickapoo and riding my mountain bike as well as for the start of CX season. I'm signed up already for the Half Acre CX clinic and the USGP Sun Prairie. I can't wait for my Specialized Crux to come in. And, thanks to Kim buying my Trek XO frame and some race winnings from last fall and this year, I can cover the cost of the frame. = )

Birthday Parties & Racing/Training

2011-08-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Christopher's fifth birthday. He ended up having almost a birthday week. He saw his first movie at a movie theater (Cars 2) on Wednesday. Friday was his birthday party for his friends at the Jump Zone. He had an awesome time, as you can imagine. Saturday he opened his gifts from us, then had his family birthday party at a park and then he got to see the Wiggles, as I had won free tickets. His birthday ended with our neighbors having movie night. On Sunday, we went to the CIMBA race -- Christopher got to do the kids race and play with the other kids so he had a ball.

I went looking at it as a training race. It was four laps of less than five miles of multi-track. As training, it went well. I had my fastest speed on the first lap, as you would expect. But, my fourth/last lap actually had the second fastest speed and I was starting to pick off sport guys. So, the race was a definite success. As a bonus, I won $30 which is going into my new CX frame fund. = )

Macomb & other races

2011-07-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

(photos courtesy of Kalib Jackson)

This past weekend I did the Illinois series race in Macomb. It was brutally hot, even in the morning. I pre-rode most of the course before the beginner race, missing one of the turn-offs to the sport/expert loop. It was a fun course. There were log piles, some bridges, etc. However, there was also quite a bit of double-track, which sucked in that I'm usually much better at technical aspects than speed and the double-track was getting a lot more sun.

Christopher did the kids' race on his bike, with newly added brakes. It was almost all grass, which is of course harder to pedal on, but he beat some kids and got a cool water bottle with a chocolate chip granola bar and other items inside.

I finished my warm-up and got to the line with only minutes to spare, which seems to be a trend for me lately. We started and I felt okay and was right on Betsy's wheel. Then, I forgot to downshift for one of the ravine-like sections and had to briefly hop off the bike and run up. At the end of the first lap, I was about six minutes back, which is pretty respectable for me.

Then, I ran out of water. I started with less than I should have and then had some leak out in the fridge. There was an unmanned water station which I really should have been utilizing. I figured I could finish the lap and then totally dabbed on a log pile and realized I was not doing well. I came across a water bottle with a sports top on the trail. I was pretty sure it was one that spectators/volunteers were using to squirt racers in the first lap. Regardless, I stopped and grabbed it. I drank some, poured some on my head, drank some, poured some on my neck & back, etc. I wasted a lot of time but I was able to finish; and, I was able to finish without walking up any of the hills. I should have been smarter (regarding water) and more competitive (not stopping so long) but there were only three of us and I knew that, unless I encountered Bev or Betsy unconscious on the side of the trail, that I'd be third.

I've heard a lot of grumbling about lack of women road racers this year and it is definitely an issue with the Illinois mountain bike races as well. There were only three of us in the expert race and no sport women.

Without a post in more than two months, I've obviously been slacking in the blogging department. I've been really busy with working and trying to watch Christopher so Tom could study for an exam he needed to take for work. That has not left a lot of time for blogging and it has also meant not having a lot of time for training. I've been getting out a couple of times a week, on average, to ride but that's it. I should be doing intervals, etc. for those rides. But, when I know it is likely going to be the only time I can get a ride in all week, I just want to ride singletrack. It's good for my sanity but not good for racing.

Black Partridge Open should have been a great race for me, considering the awesome trails, but it sucked -- I felt off almost the whole race. Jubilee went a little better than that but I still didn't feel like I had my "A" game, like at Mathiessen. Now that Tom has passed the first exam (he needs to take three or four more), I'm hoping things will get a little less hectic for us and I can ride more and start training again. The Meltdown is right around the corner as well as CX.

Woo hoo!

2011-05-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

(Thanks to Eric Eiseman for the great photo!)

I decided to race Matthiessen on Sunday. I was a little apprehensive as life has still been pretty hectic and I have not really been training -- riding, yes; but, not really training. There ended up being only three expert girls. Myself, Betsy, who is incredibly fast, and Liz, who I went back and forth with quite a bit last year. The course was technical enough that I thought I could keep ahead of Liz and figured there was no way I'd keep any where near Betsy. We started and I actually was ahead of both of them into the trail. It was a short grass route around trees before the trail but, Liz a good starter and Besty is fast, so I was kind of proud of myself to be the first girl into the singletrack. I gunned it as much as I could and figured Besty would soon pass me. But, holy crap! We were at the end of the second (of four) laps before she passed me on the horrible climb. I actually led the race -- in front of Besty -- for almost half the race. And, I finished less than two minutes behind her. Less than two minutes!!! Full disclosure -- she is on antibiotics after finding out she has had Lyme disease for several years but I'll still take it as a victory. = )

The course was super fun and I really felt like I was riding well for most of it. (I still have a tendancy to dab when someone is right behind me.) My quads are not used to hills like the one at the end of the lap and I'm sure preriding that morning did not help. Several times my quads started cramping up and I did have to walk parts of the hill every time but the first lap. But, I walked only the small muddy section on the last lap and rode the rest.

The course, like I said before, was extremely fun to ride and had rocks, roots, small logs, swoopy turns, etc. They gave everyone socks and I won a cool glass and $60 for taking second place. Very cool.

We made a little trip out of it and camped the RV at Starved Rock on Saturday. Christopher liked playing at the campground's park and at the race with the other kids. He loves trips and thought the worst part about this one was that the trip was too short, since we left home on Saturday afternoon and were home by early Sunday evening. Tom, on the other hand, was miserable the entire time and just in a foul mood -- even though he had just gotten his first pay check from the new job shortly before we left. It's entirely possible Christopher & I may take the next trip with just the two of us. That will be for the Black Partridge race, which we will likely leave for after Christopher's graduation from preschool on that Saturday morning. I can't believe my little guy is turning into such a big boy.

Wilderness Wake Up Mountain Bike race/trip

2011-03-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

(Christopher riding his bike Saturday evening)

We decided to take the first RV trip of the year and do the Wilderness Wake Up Mountain Bike race near Peoria this past weekend. The race is a fundraiser for Wildlife Prairie State Park, which has cool critters that have been rescued and could not be re-released into the wild and we got to visit the park for free -- big draw since money's been tight. We drove part of the way on Friday and got there by 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Christopher loved seeing the critters in the afternoon and loved the huge slide the most. After checking out the park, I prerode the course. There are only about four miles of trail but they are great. Turns, rocks, logs -- I was so happy to be on singletrack. It was the first real ride on the rigid fork and I have to say that I really liked it. My arms/shoulders were sore but I felt like I had better control, particularly with cornering.

After I rode, Tom went out and I got Christopher on his bike. He decided he wanted to ride the same trails I did and Tom were on but then I convinced him we should go find Betsy and say hi -- which lead to his first downhill ride. = ) I asked him if he remembered how to brake, which he did, and he made it down the hill pretty much all by himself. I did grab him at one point when he took his feet off the pedals.

Sunday was race day for Christopher and I. His course was all grass. Much harder to ride in and he was not particularly pleased. But, he absolutely loved the little swag bag he got. My race ended up being just me and Bev. I probably should have gone harder but wasn't sure how my body would handle that long on the rigid and, really, there is no way I'm ever beating Bev. So, I enjoyed being on my bike and being on single track -- albeit less since the freeze/thaw made them have to take out part of the course on Sunday.

We got more swag from a raffle and my taking second place and then Christopher and I headed back to the park. There are a total of three playgrounds that we played at and we saw more critters. As we were heading back to the huge slide, we even got to see the bear who wasn't out the day before. Christopher was excited. We still have another portion of the park that we didn't check out yet and plan to the weekend of the Jubilee race.

Overall, it was a great little trip.

First race back

2011-02-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

(Speedy fast bike goddess Bev & me after the Tour de Groundhog CX race, photo taken by Amy who took 3rd)

So, as many of you probably already know, breaking a bone sucks. I had broken a finger in grammar school but had never had a serious injury before breaking my leg in October. I was totally unprepared for how long it took to get better. Then, I started freaking out about racing CX again. I had wanted to do the Tour de Groundhog but our finances suck so I thought it was out. Then, I found out Amy was thinking of going. She's now my hero. She ended up paying for the bulk of the gas and I did the bulk of the driving letting her rest just a little of what was a really long day.

Yes, it is insane to drive that far for a cross race. But, I am so glad I got that first race out of the way. It was a very short course -- only about 0.7 miles, I think. A set up double barriers, a slick downhill to a left turn, a slight downhill into some slushy snow (for my race anyway -- it later turned to mud), to a barrier, run-up to another barrier, energy-sucking mud to a short on-street portion, then through a ditch and some turns around trees to finish up the lap.

I started out actually in front of Bev, who is insanely fast but relatively new to CX. I actually kept her behind me for half the first lap and stayed on her heels for a bit and ended the race feeling pretty good about my speed. By the last lap, my going over the set of two barriers was darn near perfect.

I ended up second in our 3-person women's field. But, I felt I raced well and I did finish before all three junior boys.

Once the race was over, I realized that my ankle was pretty sore so I opted to not do another race. But, I also realized that I hadn't been freaking out the whole time about possibly crashing and breaking something. So, it was really a win. I had already spent too much time freaking about that first CX race and am so happy I got it out of the way now instead of stressing for six more months.

As a bonus, it ended up getting in to the 60's so I had awesome weather to be a super fan. = )

What a year

2011-01-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

2010 was a hard year for us which was a main reason for the very small amount of blog posts during the year. Who really wants to hear me complain on this blog all the time?

But, the year was not all bad. I was able to buy Rachael's 29er and it definitely made me a better rider. I could ride things that I could not before and the 1x9 made me a stronger rider. I did nine mountainbike races and did well in most of them and also participated in the WORS women's spring fling as well as helped lead beginner women's rides. I rode over Rachael's Log and finally made it up the hill on Garden Grove on the 1x9 in the fall. Christopher loved the trips to the races and keeps asking when we can go to another race. Yes, I have a wonderfully odd little boy. = )

I did do a couple of ABD's indoor time trial series but not all of them and skipped the outdoor time trial to do the Sylvan Stampede. The only other road events I did was the Gapers Block crit series Half Acre put on in March. How could I turn down doing five races for less than $20?

Cyclocross season started great. I did five cross races at the beginning of the season. I was riding well, won a pair of gloves and a little $ and actually earned my first upgrade point. = ) I had offered to volunteer for the Chicago cross series so I could race for $5 a day but only got Jackson Park in before I broke my ankle at the start of the second lap of my sixth race. That obviously sucked.

For 2010, I had a total of 3,235 miles on the bike and nearly 125 miles of running -- not bad since I was off the bike awhile with the broken ankle and, obviously, have not run since it happened Oct. 2.

Work went well to as I now get to do more writing/communications for the League of Illinois Bicyclists -- as well as still being able to work from home and pick my hours, which is an awesome perk.

Otherwise, holy crap was it a difficult year. My Grandpa Welch died at the beginning of the year, after my Grandpa Oudsteyn had died almost exactly a year earlier. Our pet rabbit, Buttercup, also died. Christopher did not know his grandfathers that well so the death of our rabbit is the first death he has really had to deal with. He still tells people -- including random strangers -- that she died and occasionally asks us when she is coming back.

Tom lost his job. Part of his group went with a new firm but things have not been going well at all. His pay was sporadic and his last paycheck was on Sept. 1. The stress has been huge, obviously. I have not been healthy for the entire year -- first, Christopher and I had some type of infection, then I had recurring sinus infections and I broke my ankle on Oct. 1, which I'm still recovering from.

I would love to think this year will be better but it has not been off to a good start. So, I likely will not be blogging much this year either but do hope to ride a lot, even if I don't get any racing in.

USGP

2010-09-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend rocked. We left on Friday at about 11:30 a.m. which let us get to Sun Prairie in time for me to preride the course. It was quite similar to last year -- lots of turns, off cambr stuff, but also a hellacious run up. I tried to find good lines, practiced turns, etc. and was psyched to race. Christopher got to play at their awesome park so he was excited as well.

When we got to the number pick up, Christopher wanted to stay in the RV so I just grabbed my number and we left being able to camp at the race site, which rocked. I got up early and rode the course before the men's 4 race started around 8:20 a.m. or so, warmed up and that stood around waiting for the race to start. I had a good start but my legs felt like lead from waiting around for the start. I'm passing girls, feeling good, I'm hopping back on my bike after the run-up and get bumped. Ugh. My pedal gets stuck on a post, I finally get it off and I get run into from behind. Crap. Get my pedal unstuck again and then play catch up the rest of the race, going back and forth with Courtney from xXx and one or two others. I ended up 12th out of 43 finishers. I was pretty excited once I saw results because I seriously had no idea where I was. Unfortunately, Sue crashed on the first lap and broke her arm. When I passed her, I figured her wheel slid out in the turn and she would soon be behind me. Looks like her CX season is done but she'll be spending lots of time on the trainer and kicking butt next year.

We watched the fast women and men race which was a load of fun and got to socialize which is always fun. Watching Jeremy Powers ride up the run up was awesome. Since we were camped in the parking lot, I was able to do a few laps of Sunday's course on Saturday evening. I was bummed that we would still be doing the run up as last year we rode up the hill twice and I would much rather ride up it once then run up it.

Sunday morning, I was out on the course again. They tamed down the course a little in spots which was disappointing since technical stuff is always good for me. Warmed up, kept bouncing around before the start. My legs felt better but my start totally sucked. I was in the third row (one row of 1/2/3 and the second row of the 3/4). I had waited to register 'til Tom got paid and, unfortunately, got stuck behind some slow starters on Sunday. So, similar to Saturday, I was picking them off the whole time, going back and forth with some. I felt good on the bike mostly; although, I kept getting passed on the run up and could use a little more practice on my dismounts and mounts. I ended up 11th out of 35 finishers. I cheered on the 50+ and juniors and then we headed back home.

This weekend, I'll be doing the My Wife Inc. Cross the Domes race on Saturday. Tom and Christopher will be coming with so we can visit some friends in New Berlin, WI afterwards. Sunday is DeKalb, which I am totally psyched about -- especially the stairs/ramp thing -- except for having to be there by 7:30 a.m. in the morning to do registration. I am going to have to leave at an ungodly hour.

Yesterday was more hill sprints. Not exactly the most fun way to spend my time at Bullfrog Lake but they definitely seem to be helping for CX. = )

3rd, 5th & 49th

2010-09-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend marked the start of the cross season. Yippee! I went up and did the No Good Double CX race in Eagle, WI on Saturday. As I pulled into the parking lot, there was a downpour. I put on rain gear but, by the time I registered, the rain had stop. It was a great course; although, there was a lot of horse crap. I had a bad start but was mostly feeling good. I passed two girls the last lap. I thought one of them I might have been lapping and the other one I wasn't sure about. I ended up moving myself up from 4th out of 7 to 3rd in that last lap. Woo hoo! I won an awesome set of long-fingered gloves that actually fit and grabbed a bunch of the free gels.

Sunday was Jackson Park. I had to be there at 7:30 to help out with registration. That sucked but it will save me a lot of coin by the end of the season. I did pretty good. I went back and forth with Courtney from XXX but couldn't keep up her pace. I was stoked to take 5th on a fast course -- not one of my strong points. Woo hoo!

More volunteering and then I lined up for the Men's 4A. I needed more caffeine, more drink and more food by that time. It was also blatantly obvious that I had not raced with the boys in nine months. 49 out of 75 starters. Not great but it's early in the season.

I need to work on making my mounts better. I keep fumbling with the pedals. When I was riding the course beforehand though, my mounts were great. So, I know what I need to work on -- getting back on the bike and pedaling quicker and getting more aggressive. The season is definitely starting off well. It will be great if I can keep up the good results but there were quite a few of the regular girls missing from the Saturday WI race as well as Holly missing from Jackson Park and Leah still getting back in form after having to spend some time off the bike.

This weekend will be USGP and should be awesome. I love CX. = )

Last mountainbike race of the year

2010-09-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

This weekend was hectic and involved both cross as well as my last mountainbike race of the year.

On Saturday I went to the Half Acre Women's CX Clinic. It was geared more towards beginners but was lead by Kristin Wentworth and was only $15. It was fun, cool to hang out with everyone, good to get in some CX practice and I did learn some things. I realized I wasn't grabbing my top tube during the dismounts and they pointed out another technique mistake. It is really hard to concentrate on two different things so I may have to focus on the hand on the top tube first for awhile unless I want some magnificent crashes attempting to go over barriers in my near future. = )

Pretty much as soon as I got back, we headed down to Hudson so I could preride the course. Fun course with some bridges, log piles, etc. I rode some things Saturday night knowing I wouldn't ride them during the race as the other line was faster. We were able to camp nearby which was nice. Race morning, I did another lap as it is a short course at less than five miles. My legs were tired from all the CX mounts & dismounts the day before. Oh well. I warmed up and then it was time for the kids' race. The photo above is Christopher doing the kids race at Comlara Park. He had fun. We still can't get him interested in riding bikes that actually have pedals -- unless it is hooked up to my bike. He got a small box of sidewalk chalk, a sticker and a t-shirt. Pretty cool.

I lined up with only two other girls. Betsy who is a wickedly good and fast mountainbiker and a girl named Rachel, who I was told was a fast roadie that does adventure races. The guy in charge told Betsy we'd start two minutes after the guys. He tells the sport guys to go and then yells that we should be going with them. I took advantage of the slight confusion and got in front. We soon were on the sport men and started slowly passing them. I was actually able to keep the lead for half a lap. Yea me! Betsy passed me and I thanked her for letting me be 1st briefly. = ) Rachel had passed us at one point earlier and then crashed. She later passed me and got a little gap and I saw her crash at least 3 more times. The last section of singletrack had a lot of logs and long bridges and I was right on her tail -- then we came to a long fast section before the start/finish and I never saw her again. It was fun pretending to be one of the fast girls but I definitely went way too hard the first lap and could have felt better the last three laps. I took 3rd, which got me the most points for the season but I was DFL. Granted, I was beat by two really quick chicks but being DFL still is not a big ego boost. We were each in different age categories so they gave me a gold medal for being first in 30-39. Later, I looked more closely at the medal and realized it said "Novice Women," which seemed typical of how they have been treating the Women's Open category. I did also get a $10 gift card for a bike shop near there.

Tom did two laps of the course afterwards while Christopher & I chilled in the RV. We stopped at a park before the drive back. He got to play with two little kids and had fun. We thought he'd pass out on the way home but he was really hyper most of the way and finally passed out once we were off the highway.

Now, it will be all cross, cross, cross baby! First CX race of the year will be in Wisconsin on Saturday followed by Jackson Park on Sunday. I'm sure I'll be excited later in the week. Today, I'm exhausted and sore.

Kickapoo & 1st day of school

2010-08-30T11:53:00.001-07:00

Christopher getting ready to ride on the tag-a-long to the first day of preschool.

We traveled down to Danville so I could race at Kickapoo on Sunday. We had actually raced here in 1999 but I could barely remember it. I was able to preride as it was getting dark on Saturday. The course was technical and fun but I was a little stressed that there were a couple of steep short climbs I couldn't get up in my 1x9. But, at the start line it ended up being me, Betsy, Bev, Rachael and a girl I believe was named Melinda. It was Melinda's second race and she would have did novice if she could have made it there early enough. Betsy, Bev and Rachael are three very speedy chicks who I will likely never beat. So, I had fun. I probably could have gone a little harder but I was confident it would not change my placing. So, I had fun. I passed a few sport men, I didn't get lapped by the expert men. Tom had hoped to ride but lost the spring from his brake while he was checking his brake pads. Not as much fun for him.

There will likely be one more mountainbike race for me and then it will be cross, cross, cross baby! I'll be volunteering at the races for the ChiCrossCup series so I'll be able to do both the Women's 123 and the Men's 4A races and hopefully scrape up enough $ to do some of the WCA races, the USGP in SunPrairie and Jingle CX. I would love to do Nats as well but I'm growing doubtful our financial situation will improve enough to make it happen.

Today was Christopher's first day of preschool for the year. He's going full days for four of the five days. He should enjoy it and I'll be able to get more work done, which will mean more $ for CX. = )

Meltdown & Thomas

2010-08-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

(Photo from 2Bici)

Yesterday was the Palos Meltdown. It is the closest race to me but I do not tend to have a home court advantage as it seems to get a little less technical each year and a little faster. Approximately, 3.6 miles of the 8.3-mile course was singletrack and it was all together. I have been going back and forth with Liz in the IL series and was doubtful I could beat her today.

So, my expectations were not incredibly high and I am happy to say I definitely exceeded them. I actually was close to Rachael much longer than I would have dreamed, went back and forth with Regina and managed to barely hold off Liz. I finished in 2:20, my longest race of the year and, man, could I tell. The last lap my back/hips were killing me and my hamstrings kept feeling like they were going to cramp up. Regina, having done more longer races this year, definitely had the advantage. It was still awesome to go back and forth with her. The last lap I was starting to get a little sloppy but still rode well. I got compliments on my strong riding and technical riding, which was cool. = ) It was awesome to have so many people cheering for me out on the course, particularly John S., Anne and Roger and the Half Acre gang.

Christopher got to do the kids race and he got both a red smiley face key chain and a medal so he was excited. Tom didn't do as well as he would have liked but he hadn't raced since Iola in early May and scored a free race entry from Anne (Thanks!).

The weekend before that was "Christopher's weekend." We took the RV, he got to ride Thomas at the railway museum on Saturday morning and we checked out the museum for several hours -- including him getting to play in an inflatable dragon and another bouncy thing, on a sand hill, miniature golf, with Thomas the Tank Engine toys, color, get temporary tatoos, check out a few trains and go on a ride in an old Metra car. Then, we went to a KOA where he got to play at a park, play more minature golf and swim in a pool. They had a hayride on Saturday and showed Madagascar Saturday evening. Sunday, we played at the park, miniature golf and swimming again before heading home. Oh, and on Friday a girl I went to grammar school and high school with gave Christopher her Smart Cycle that her kids weren't using and he got to play with her two little kids. And, on Sunday evening, Christopher got to ride the trails at Palos for the first time on a tag-a-long hooked up to my bike. I practially needed a weekend to recover from it but Christopher had a great time.

Where to begin?

2010-08-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

(photo of Christopher racing at Jubilee)

Christopher's birthday was on Friday. He had an awesome weekend--getting to celebrate at summer camp and going to Chuck E. Cheese with Tom & I and his grandma on Friday. And, of course, opening quite a few presents. On Saturday, we had his birthday party at a local park. Several of his friends from preschool, summer camp and the neighborhood came and he had an awesome time. We went to the race in Lake Shelbyville and he got to do the kids race with Zoe Gatto, earning blue ribbons and then he, Zoe and Casey chilled out and played in the air conditioned RV. On the way home, we stopped at a rest area after he woke up from a nap and he got to play on the playground there.

I did not have a good race. It was a great course for fast girls and didn't really have any technical sections for me to try to make up time on. I was fifth out of five. Yuck. I did get in a hard effort and, as Rachael pointed out, the trails here likely would have been too wet anyway. Tom was able to get two laps in after the race so at least he got to ride too.

I had also did the Jubilee and SoCaPa races. Jubilee was great. I took 4th out of 6. The trails are great although it was toasty. SoCoPa was not great. The trails were not as technical. The race officials and organizers annoyed the heck out of me. I spent a week of emails going back and forth with the race director trying to explain that they should not be encouraging expert girls to race sport for series points. Had the same discussion at the race. After being told that sport and open were two totally different races, they were scored as one. They had 10 or 11 girls signed up for "open" with one of those also signing up as the sole women's expert entry. I was 6th and have a medal for being third in my ag group that says "Sport" on it. I was a little unhappy with the result but it definitely didn't help that arguing with officials was my "warm up."

Mainly, I've been working or riding. I have been able to spend a lot of time on the trails lately, which has been great. I've been trying to improve my turning -- not having to brake as much. And, the riding has been great for trying to keep stress levels down. It's been a crazy couple of months. Tom finally got paid again so I was able to pay a bunch of bills and breathe a little easier for the time being. I was finally off anti-biotics for a recurring sinus infection -- but ended up back at the doctor and back on meds within a week. Those are starting to kick in again so I'm hoping to be able to do some more hard rides.

Nearly 30 for Women's MTB Ride!

2010-06-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

(photo from Nancy, from CAMBr)

Tom & I decided not to do Wausau, mainly for financial reasons, which was bummin' but did give us the opportunity to do quite a bit-- a Friday evening ride with Rachael and Ryan; the Women's MTB Ride on Saturday and way too much fricken' stuff on Sunday.

Friday's ride I wasn't feelin' quite right-- turns out I have a cold but I think I'm getting over it soon. It was still fun and Tom & I rarely get to ride together.

Saturday was the women's MTB ride. I didn't know how turnout would be with WORS and the Iowa road crits. We had a total of 27 women and girls show up! A few that already mountainbiked but most were pretty much newbies, including a woman who had just bought mountainbike tires for her bike that were switched minutes before the ride. Women and girls split off into two groups of beginner and intermediate. Truth be told, they were pretty much all beginners for mountainbiking but there were also some new to shifting. Julia Daher, from Johnny Sprockets, and Jennifer Mosley, from Half Acre, led the beginner group and I was nominated to lead the intermediate group. I was a little nervous -- would I ride too fast (not something I usually have to deal with), not call something out and cause someone to crash, etc. But, it went well. No major crashes, no one got lost, everyone seemed to have a good time.

We did Out & Back and then took the trails to Cemetery Hill. I had us stop to regroup. For one section of Out & Back, I had us stop, we discussed the area, the women watched a few people go through and then each woman tried it with cheers for everyone. = )

Afterwards, everyone chatted, ate and enjoyed the afternoon. Tom brought Christopher and I watched him while he got a short ride in. As lame as it sounds, it was rewarding to try to make other women as excited about riding as I am. = ) I'll actually be helping to teach the MTB101 class CAMBr is doing next Tuesday if it doesn't get rained out.

On Sunday, I worked Bike the Drive for LIB. Amazing how many people I spoke with that didn't know who ATA was. Umm, the group hosting this event, that actually got Lake Shore Drive closed so you could ride on it. Also, surprising was the amount of rented bikes. Lots of people. I got to check out lots of bikes, talk about biking and get paid. = )

I rushed home so Christopher could go to a classmate's birthday party at her grandparent's mansion in Homer Glen. He had a ball. We then went to where some Bandit CX races have been at Shoe Factory Woods to catch the tail end of my nephew Steven's grad party. We got Christopher to ride his bike a little and he got to go on a hike of part of the CX course. = )

Great race, great trip

2010-05-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

(race photo courtesy of Aaron)

We had a family trip and went to the PAMBA race this weekend. We left Friday night, slept at a Flying J's and got there at about 10 a.m. on Saturday. Christopher had a blast at the park. He is climbing up a metal slide in the first photo. It started lightly raining and I did a pre-lap of the course, a little apprehensive since Rachael had mentioned the tires on my bike are not great for mud. Tom and Christopher went for a hike and then Christopher got to play with two older boys for awhile. Then, Tom did two laps (for about 13 miles) while Christopher had a blast jumping in a mud puddle -- I made him stop in the doorway of the RV so I could take off his muddy boots and clothes and wipe him down. After dinner, I decided to do another lap and things were much better. The last part of the lap had more open sections where girls might catch me and, as I was finishing the lap, the PAMBA guys were marking the course -- showing us riding around the park, an extra 1/2 mile of just grass. I knew that would be where girls would be flying past me.

Race day. Rachael and John showed up with Zoe. Christopher was excited. The two of them played on a big pile of rocks. Slid down the rocks like it was a slide, made snow angels in the dirt, played at the park, used Tom as a jungle gym, we got to explore a cabin built in the 1800's and got to do a kids race where they won water bottles with Snickers inside. Christopher thought the trip absolutely rocked. = )

There were only eight girls that lined up. I was a little disappointed that there were so many less girls than last time and that they had us line up after the Sport guys (although it probably ended up for the best). I went back and forth with Liz Baumgaurdt and Gina Champion throughout the race. I got past them in the single track but Liz got past me right before we lapped and Gina was right behind me as we lapped. I got past Liz in the single track and red lined it trying to get a gap before the end of the lap so they couldn't get past me before the finish. I always make more mistakes that way and made some bobbles in sections I should've rode cleanly but oh well. I did manage to finish without getting caught. I took fourth place, about three minutes behind Rachael. Woot!!!

I lost my gel flask before I even had any, for the second race in a row. I really like the flask so I can water down the gel, otherwise I feel like I'll puke. I have a Nashbar flask holder I've been using. People suggested sticking it in my jersey pocket or pants leg. I think it will bug me in my pants leg, if I don't lose it, and I think it'll be harder to get it out of my pocket. Hammer products makes a flask holder too I'm thinking of buying and am open to other suggestions.

Iola

2010-05-03T06:56:00.001-07:00

I should be extremely happy with Iola -- and, for the most part, I am. I finished at 2 hours, 14 minutes faster than in 2008 (last time I raced there). I finished less than a minute than Christine, was within sights of several girls throughout the race and went back and forth with a few of them. I rode everything cleanly -- with the exception of catching a tree with my handlebars while trying to see if the guy that crashed up ahead was still down. And, probably most importantly, I felt like...I'm not sure of the correct wording but, basically, that I deserved to be out there.

Training definitely has helped. I think all the cross races helped a lot too. A chunk of racing is mental and I don't always have the right attitude/frame of mind. The CX racing helped boost that confidence, racing instinct, whatever you want to call it. And, my new wonderful bike also definitely helped. Those 29 wheels...I'm in love. = )

The 1x9 was tough. It was the first race I did with significant climbs on it and I was afraid my legs would not hold out. That fear was not helped by losing my gel flask soon into the first lap and having my Camelbak leak leaving me with no liquid for a good chunk of the last lap. I held back a little and really shouldn't have but now know better for next time.

So, I was really happy when I finished. Then, I learned I was DFL. I was ahead of Jennifer Whitedog and didn't notice when she passed me back in my oxygen-deprived state. And, I was ahead of another girl that then dropped out. Arrgh!

Tom wasn't thrilled with his result but didn't do horribly.

Christopher had a great time. He was thrilled to get a medal and, in fact, even during the race he would all of a sudden say happily "I'm going to get a medal." = )

I couldn't get him to race his new bike for the kids race. Hopefully, next time. He is soooo close to being able to ride it by himself.

Sylvan Stampede

2010-04-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated my blog for ages. I've been busy, Tom's been unemployed until recently -- now, his group has started working for a new firm but are not getting paid yet. Who really wants to hear me complain about my lack of finances?

So, when Rachael posted she wanted to sell her 29er, Tom and I were torn. Then, I rode it and immediately felt like a better rider. I finished doing our taxes, realized we'd get a decent return and bought it. Yea!

Of course, I had to try out the bike ASAP and decided to race the Sylvan Stampede. Christopher had also really been bugging us for a trip so we left Saturday afternoon after I was done co-teaching a bike ed. class. We got there about 6 p.m. and I was able to get in two laps. The trails there are awesome. I knew that, even if the race went horribly for me, I would still have fun riding those trails.

We got there early on Sunday so we could find a place to park the RV and I was able to spin out the legs doing an easy lap before the novice race started. I warmed up and then we waited around for the kids' race. Christopher had a fun time and we were so happy they had a fun little course mapped out for them.

There were a lot of girls lined up for the Women's Open and we were starting before the guys. I wasn't sure what I thought of starting before the guys. I figured the Women's Open should be good for me. I always get my butt kicked in Expert but am not really "sport" either. I ended up 9th out of 25 girls. I wasn't sure if I could hold off Liz Baungart. I had never beat her in a MTB race and had beat her once at CX. Last lap, I was passed by a guy who was then really laid back about passing a slow sport guy so the three of us were kind of just riding along with me thinking girls were catching up on me as Tom was yelling a girl was right up ahead. I was just under 30 seconds behind that girl but did keep Liz behind me -- by 8 seconds. Luckily, I didn't know she was that close 'til they put the results up.

It was awesome although I felt like I was going to die. Anne and Roger, from CAMBr, were course marshalls and it was cool to hear them cheer for me each time I went by. Paul and Jennifer from Half Acre were also happy to have them as a Half Acre cheering section. There were open stretches that I would redline myself on trying to keep from being passed by the faster girls and I actually ended up with an average heart rate of 187.

The 29er is so fricking cool. Although, as the race went on and my thinking ability diminished, I kept shifting the wrong way with the grip shifter and had issues shifting when my hand was sweaty and all of me was tired. Once Rachael gets back from AZ though, she is going to change it to a trigger shifter. = ) The 1x9 was good and kept me from going into too easy of a gear on the short climbs.

Our plan is now to go to quite a few of the WORS races for me to get in a long ride on Saturday and have Tom and Christopher race as well as hitting quite a few of the IL series for Christopher and I to race. = )

CX & Year-end wrap ups

2010-01-01T13:37:00.001-08:00

(Photos of Christopher, at Grandma's, loading up his new robot to shoot and a hug)

Well, I'm a little late, but I've been wanting to do a cross season wrap up. I did a total of 30 races.

10 Women's 123 races in the Chicago Cross Cup series, taking sixth

4 Women's 3 races in the Wisconsin Cycling Association's cyclocross series, taking 10th

4 Women's 35+ races -- The USGP Planet Bike Cup & Jingle Cross

3 Women's 2/3 races at Jingle Cross

5 Men's 4B races in the Chicago Cross Cup series, taking 40th

4 Men's 4A races in the Chicago Cross Cup series

In addition, I did three of the Church Cross and one Bandit Cross training race and was able to make it to a few of the Beverly Vee Pak CX practices. I love cross because it is loads of fun but also because of the great community.

It was an awesome year for me for cross. I had three races where I took 5th including 5th out of 13 at Northbrook -- my best women's race. I also took 14th in the Men's 4b at Montrose, which rocked.

As for the year, I rode 4,523 miles -- which includes, racing, commuting, mountainbiking and a few trainer miles. I also ran more than 203 miles. Shocking for me. I actually ran five miles today, stopping after the first 10 minutes to drop off the dog and change gloves.

Race wise for the year, the focus was definitely cross but I managed to get some road races in -- mainly crits, which I did a shockingly high number of 15 or 16, including two or three of the Matteson training crits and two outdoor time trials (yuck) in addition to the indoor time trials my club, ABD, puts on. Unfortunately, I only did a few mountainbike races:

Two WEMS 12 hours that I didn't actually do the whole 12 hours, the Palos Meltdown and four WORS races, including Lake Geneva where I DNF'd after I crashed and rang my bell, so to speak, and killed my helmet.

This year is still totally up in the air as Tom will be out of a job by the end of February if he does not find a new one first. I want to focus on cross again and I would like to again do a few road and mountainbike races but it depends on our finances. I've told Tom that, if our finances improve, I would be fine going to WORS races for him & Christopher to race as long as I get to do a long ride on the course during the pre-ride. Tom's small trading group did meet with another firm yesterday and will meet with a different firm next week. "Hope. Hope." (Quote from the film "True Romance.")

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

Ending on a high note

2009-12-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

(Photo from Amy)

I, finally, started getting excited about Montrose on Saturday evening. I got there bright and early on Sunday and it was cold but there was no snow. I prerode the course and was more excited. There were some technical aspects, a load of sand that was pretty rideable. You also had to go up the sled hill twice but it still seemed like it would suit some of my strengths. I was going to try to improve my overall standings in the series from sixth to fifth. It wasn't likely but it was possible.

I didn't have an outstanding start but I was doing good. I noticed Pamela Loebig ahead of me and thought I might have a chance to pass her. I noticed her getting up in the rocks under the viaduct and I was soon able to pass her right before the hill. I managed to keep her behind me and not let anyone else pass me for the race. I tend to start good but then get passed in later laps so I was considering this a small victory as was beating Pam. The Cat. 3 men kept passing me, though, and then crashing in front of me. By the end of the race, I was really getting annoyed by this. I ended up 10th out of 15. Tenth is lower than normal but we also had some fast girls show up for the race like Holly and Megan Korol. I beat Lara from MOX but there wasn't enough people in between us for me to take fifth in the series. She beat me by three points, which sucked a little but oh well. I still did a lot better this season in the series than I have in previous years so I can't really complain.

I was also signed up for the 4B race. I'm sorry to say that I was pretty unsocial in between races and spent quite a bit of time sitting in the car with the heat on. I was fine, temperature-wise, when I was riding but really fricken cold when I was just standing around. I did do one lap in between the Mens 123 and the 4A races but that was really it for my warm-up. Still, I lined up second row behind the series winner and was excited to get to do the last Chicago Cross Cup race of the season. And, holy cow, did I have a good race. At the end of the race, I knew I did good but really had no idea where I ended up. Some guys would pass me in the big sand pit -- they were running and I was riding. But, with my short legs, I think I may have ended up slower running. And, I would usually be able to get back past the guys later on. I waited for results. People would come up to me and tell me I did great or I rode the sandpit great and I would thank them but was a little confused. Then, they posted results. Holy crap, I was 14th!!! I had no idea I did so well. It was an awesome way to end the season.

Jingle CX

2009-12-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

(Middle photo of Christopher from Nikki Cyp with other two from Tom)

Tom and I registered for Jingle Cross a really long time ago so I didn't have to feel too guilty about us taking a trip with our dismal finances. The trip part went really well -- we had heat for the whole trip as opposed to last year when we ran out of LP gas on Saturday night.

Unfortuantely, Christopher gave me a cold so I wasn't feeling real hot. I didn't have as much energy and it was effecting my technical skills a little. Still, I did better than last year. I wasn't DFL once in the five races I did. Tom was signed up to race on both Saturday and Sunday. He didn't even make a full lap on Saturday before his rear derailleur and hanger broke. On a good note, we just need a new hanger as we had switched my stuff from Shimano to SRAM last year. But, no bike for him for Sunday.

However, it did let us sign Christopher up for the kids race on Sunday. He had such a fun time riding around with all the kids before the race. He did one lap -- with a guy picking him up on his bike to carry him over the barriers. I asked him if he wanted to be done or do another lap. He says he wants to do another lap and then a kid ended up hitting Christopher's wheel and taking him down as the kid was trying to sprint past him. Christopher was crying. He didn't seem to be hurt so I asked held him and asked him if he was hurt or just scared. After a little bit, he told me he was scared and he wanted to do another lap. = ) He got loads of cheers the whole time. Probably because he was the littlest one out there -- the race was supposed to be for five and up, but they told us he could race. I was so excited for him to do his first CX race! And, he won a teddy bear. Pretty cool and definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

Woodstock CX

2009-11-23T10:32:00.001-08:00

Photo courtesy of Half Acre's Al Thom

As I was racing, I looked up and thought cool, a banana hand-up. Then, I looked closer and realized someone was trying to handup a banana peel. Bummin'

I remembered this course from last year thinking it had a lot of climbing, a few technical aspects but not much for the two-mile course. The course was mostly the same as last year meaning I was going to just try not to be DFL. Soon into the race I realized I was beating two girls including Lara from Mox. I've begun quite a few races in front of her only for her to pass me after the first lap so I kept going as hard as possible and checking to see where she was whenever the course allowed. I managed to hold her off! 7th out of 9. I was pretty proud of myself considering the course does not suit my strengths and wondered how the heck I was going to survive the 4A's (the 4B's were originally full).

I didn't get to the start line as quick as usual as Jason had promised me a call up. But, he forgot so I ended up about third row very close to a guy on a mountainbike who said he had not been on a bike since he was five, didn't know how to shift and hadn't prerode the course. So, I tried like hell to get away from him. My legs felt like lead to start with but got a little better as the race went on. Riding through the circle-thingy, I got too close to the post where you switch directions and locked my handlebars with it. I didn't have a problem in the girls race but, of course, there were only 9 girls as opposed to 72 starters in the 4A race. Oops. I was 55 out of 66 finishers. Not great/Not horrible.

I had lots of fun talking with everyone. Christopher would have loved the parks but we kept him home since he has a cold. I can't believe there is just Jingle Cross and Montrose. I'm going to totally go into withdrawal.

Golf courses & CX

2009-11-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of RKryszak)

I did a total of three races this weekend. All went okay, nothing stellar, nothing horrible.

Saturday was the Chicago cross race in Bloomingdale. I went there on Friday hoping to preride and helped out with the course for a couple of hours. I was totally unsure of the course. It had some great technical aspects but also a lot of power sections. I was annoyed that I didn't ride the first sandpit clean one single time in my two races. I rode the hill after the second barrier most of the laps in the women's race. It ended up being faster to run it and I have to sometimes remind myself that being faster is the whole goal. I ended up 10th out of 13. Not a great result but I still won $35.

Second race was the Men's 4B. I wasn't sure if I should race since I wanted to do the cross race in Janesville on Sunday. In hindsight, I probably should have skipped it but it was still fun. I could see Bob from Beverly Vee Pak and Mike aka Supergirl slightly ahead of me for most of the race. The last lap I was able to get past Bob which actually yielded me 30th place out of 73 finishers and 2 DNF. An additional point towards a series score. = )

Sunday was Janesville. As we were driving there Tom was reading me what Jeremy was posting on Facebook. I was not exactly jumping for joy or in excitement as we arrived to the course. The course was okay but there seemed to be a lot of gradual climbs. My legs were not happy with doing a third race after the couple of hours of coursework on Friday and racing twice on Saturday. My goal was to finish up my races in the Wis. series without an additional DFL. I was not completely sure if I would accomplish that or not. Seven of us lined up, including Melissa who just catted up and I usually am right around in 3/4 or age group races. I actually started fairly well and was in 4th for a good part of the first lap. Heather C. got past me and then I tried to dismount on the right side so I could run on the right edge after a barrier. I tipped over and another girl got past me making me sixth where I would stay the rest of the race. Sixth out of 7. So, goal accomplished. Besides tipping over, there were no huge mistakes. My average heartrate was lower than normal though. I'm guessing the two races the day before and a lack of sleep lately worrying over finances.

We'll be doing the last two Chicago races and we've already paid for Jingle Cross so we'll be doing those as well. I'll be sad to see cross season end but that will of course mean spending a little less cash. Although, I did get a dollar handup during the women's race on Saturday which meant I actually got $1 dollar more than I spent. = )

bad & good races

2009-11-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

Above is Christopher being saying "I'm a scary ghost. Boo." in his, of course, scary ghost costume going into school before Halloween.

I did three races this weekend and it was pretty much like night and day between Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I decided to go to Whitewater even though I knew it had a lot of climbing and I'd probably get my butt kicked. DFL. 7 out of 7. It definitely didn't help that I started out in a gear to sprint at the start forgetting that almost immediately there is a steep climb. I couldn't downshift quick enough and had to get off and run. I later also took out a pole and messed up a downhill/turn stretching the tape to the point that I don't know how it didn't break. Oh well.

Sunday was the Northbrook course. Leah asked me "Is this a Gina course?" Oh, yes, it most definitely was. The sled hill was out so no big climbs -- not one of my strengths anyway. There were lots of turns, including a small wooded section, off cambr stuff, a sand pit where you went through, did a U-turn and then went through it again. I prerode it and thought "I could ride this all day."

My biggest problem lately is my stupidity. Before the race a guy told us to take the outside lines as the inside lines were getting too slick. Umm, it took me three wipe outs to actually heed that advice. I believe that had to have been how I dented my frame. I didn't notice it until going over one of the barriers in the Men's 4A. I still took 5th out of 13. Woo hoo! Without the wipeouts I think I could have nabbed 4th but Wendy from Alberto's is pretty fast so who knows. I had dropped to sixth and was able to get past a girl the last lap grabbing 5th and the last money spot. = ) Yea!

I wanted to do the 4B's but they weren't letting anyone register for it in the morning so I signed up for the 4A's assuming to get my butt kicked. The best I had previously done in the 4A's was 63rd. I was actually 36th out of 64 finishers and 8 DNF's. There was a sharp left turn to a barrier that you then had to get over a ditch and run up a short steep climb. I got passed there by the guys every lap. They have a half-foot to a foot on me in height and those steep run-ups are one of my weaknesses anyway. But, I just kept trying to pass them back anyway. A highlight was grabbing a dollar hand-up after the first part of the sandpit and actually being able to shove it in my sportsbra and make it through the second part of the sandpit. Yeah, I'm odd.

The South Chicago Wheelmen course is next Saturday. I'm undecided on doing a second race as I'd like to go up to Wisconsin on Sunday and do their race. I also have a family function though on Sunday that I have to see if I can show up late for.

CX Love

2009-11-02T08:04:00.001-08:00

(photo of 4b race from Nikki Cyp)

I love cross.

I was bummed Halloween was on a Saturday this year as I couldn't go up to the Milwaukee race. Although Christopher had a great time. He had school parties Thursday and Friday, we went to the mall trick-or-treating on Friday, visited my mom and Tom's aunt at Tastee Freez Saturday and then trick-or-treating. He went in the afternoon with me, hung around eating candy and then went in the evening with Tom. Massive sugar buzz.

Sunday, I left them to fend for themselves and went to St. Charles. It was muddy -- which is an understatement. There was a ditch after a barrier that I desperately tried to ride in the preride. Most guys could just hop over it and I was dreading how slow I'd be slopping through it with my short legs. I lined up and had a great start. I was 4th for awhile. Diane from Planet Bike got past me as did Lara from Mox. Lara went down on a turn and I was excited thinking I'd get past her when a Cat 3 guy wiped out immediately in front of me. I never was able to catch back up with her. I went back and forth with Diane and actually finished ahead of her. I'm sure she raced on Saturday but I'll take my victories where I can get them. It was a great race for me and I was actually 5th out of 10. I won $10 which paid for my 4B race. I was absolutely soaked and changed shorts, jersey, socks and shoes.

I actually got a call-up for the 4B race, which I was initially excited about 'til Jason called up a heck of a lot of people. Still, being in front for these races is key since 70-something people is a heck of a lot more than the 10 that started the Women's 123. I had loads of fun and actually ended up 21 out of 69 finishers (with 1 DNF). Woo hoo! I avoided all the food handups, since a vegan food handup is pretty unlikely. I did take a dollar hand-up my last lap. My first money handup! Woo hoo!

So, it was crazy wet and muddy and insanely fun! I love cross and can't wait 'til Northbrook. Nats is out forseeing a miracle -- but I keep trying to scheme one up. If anyone wants to drive to Oregon in an RV with a three-year-old and/or wants to watch a three-year-old so I can preride, warmup, race let me know. = )

An anniversary, small successes & things to work on

2009-10-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of the Glinka's)

Saturday was Tom & I's ninth wedding anniversary. We had planned to do a small trip -- in part, to satisfy Christopher's constant requests for a trip with the RV. And, what could be better than doing a cross race for your anniversary? = ) We had figured on doing Saturday's Wisconsin race, coming back part of the way and then racing the ABD CX race in Bartlett on Sunday. The cancelled race changed that. I ended up getting a lot of work done while Tom and Christopher hung out. Then, we visited Tastee-Freeze, hung out with his aunt and cousins and stuffed our faces.

Sunday was the ABD cross race. Even though my club puts on the race, I was not looking forward to it. It's a fast course and I'm not fast. My goal was to not be last for either the women's race or the Men's 4A (I'd rather do 4B but it was full). I did accomplish both goals. I was 10th out of 12 (with 13 starters) for the Women's race and 62 out of 73 finishers in the men's 4A race. I lost a lot of spaces in the men's race right after the first set of barriers. As I went to hop on, someone hit my right leg causing me to somehow make it on my bike seat while my right leg was wrapped around the left side of the seat post and then over the rear tire. I have a nice scrape on my shin from the tire but nothing else. I did have to stop and untangle myself from my contortionist pose though. Other than that, I picked off guys one by one and was mostly pleased with my race.

Except -- there was a slight downhill and then right turn into a single barrier. I had no real issues with it in my first race. For my second race, I crashed/tipped over two out of the three times. Second lap, I went to hop back on, didn't hop high enough, got my shorts caught on the seat, fell back on the tire tipped over. What a dork.
Third lap, I went to get off my bike for the barrier, slid in the mud, tipped over. Dork.
So, obiviously, I need to work on still being smooth and keeping good technique when I'm fatigued.

Woo hoo!

2009-10-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Russ)

I did three cross races this weekend in a little more than 12 hours. = )
On Saturday, I went up and did the cross race in Verona, WI. Last year, I was dead last -- in part, due to still having the Shimano brake levers on my bike and in part because there was a lot of climbing and a run-up. This year, the log was not there meaning the run-up was rideable but really tough. I was 9th out of 12 Cat. 3 women. I had a horrible start, passed a few girls with one not sticking. Not a great race but not terrible either.

I was a little nervous as to how all the climbing at Verona would do to my racing on Sunday. But, the course in Carpentersville was excellent for me. It had lots of turns, a spiral which I'm starting to get good at and a pump track! I was a little hesitant on the pump track at first but by the race I was sprinting towards it and not braking. It was so much fun! The sand pit seemed shallower. You actually had to do a U-turn. My first race, I rode it most of the time but did tip over one lap. The photo shows my determination to ride it as I suck at running.

My race went awesome. I was was 5th out of 10 girls. My best finish for a Cat. 3 or Womens 123 race. I beat a couple girls I never beat. I went back and forth with a girl. It was great.

I did the Men's 4B. I cut my warmup short to snag a prime starting spot in the first row. I really was feeling all the racing. I would make it through the U-turn in the sandpit and then wouldn't have enough energy to power through the last little bit. It was really frustrating and cost me spots. But, I still had loads of fun -- even when there was a crash that caused me to put a foot down, which immediately got ran over by a bike. I rode a little slower than the morning but still pretty strong and was getting better about picking spots to pass people. I actually got 26th out of 67. Being in the top 30, I actually got series points! So, I'm currently 7th in the women's 123 and 68th for the Men's 4B. = )

Next weekend is the ABD race and I'm hoping to do the Wisconsin cross race on Saturday but we'll have to see. It's Tom and mine wedding anniversary -- nine years. While I can think of nothing better than racing cross for our anniversary, I'm not sure if he'll agree. = )

Still a rock star but not as rockin'

2009-10-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

(Photos from EWWhite of the Dan Ryan Woods CX. First is run-up for 4A race. Second is the singletrack to the left of the run-up. I'm so jealous of the guys who were able to ride up!)

I did a total of three cross races this weekend. Man, I love cross. On Saturday, I trekked up to Grafton. It was a pretty cool course with a wicked climb. I made it up every time which was, in itself, somewhat of an accomplishment. But, I made a lot of stupid mistakes. I didn't give myself enough time to get up there, register, get my bike in the pit, warm-up etc. I had a very brief warmup. I noticed there was too little air in my back tire. I didn't have a pump but, of course, I could have borrowed one and didn't. And, at one point I turned too early into tape. Seventh out of seven. DFL. I did have a freakin' awesome start. I could have been more aggressive a few times and realized I'm getting killed by those climbs. Still fun.

Today was the Beverly Vee Pak race. They did an awesome job. Great course. Free food -- although some vegan options for next year would be appreciated by at least myself and Dave from Flatlandia. But, still, it was awesome (I know I just used that word) to have a course so close to home AND to be such a great course. Lots of turns -- I should be more descriptive but am too spent right now. A relative watched Christopher so Tom and I could both race at the same time so he could do the 3's. We got there early to pre-ride the course, sat in the car to warm ourselves up and then warmed-up.

My start wasn't great but not terrible. That hill run-up though. Man, I need to work on those even more than climbs. Three girls got by me there. I was 10th out of 12. Not horrible and I was pretty pleased with the results.

I had signed up for the Men's 4A race as well since the 4B race was filled. Tom went to pick up Christopher. Turns out I didn't grab enough Gu's. A huge thank you and shout out to Beverly Vee Pak for giving me a gel. Unfortunately, I can't remember who gave it to me at the moment. I forgot about the whole 70+ field thing and lined up later than I should. I think I was about third row. Far enough back that I got held up by the crash that happened immediately after the start. Before the hill run-up, I think there was nearly 5 crashes. I had a lot of fun but my seat got tilted when I hopped back on the bike and got progressively worse so it was pretty much sticking straight up by the end. I lost two places near the end of the race because it is really hard to remount your bike when your seat is like that. I was 63rd out of 68. I was really cranky immediately after the race, because of my seat, but am still pleased with how I raced.

It is so much fun racing with the 4's because I end up with, almost, my own fan club. Besides the people who know me that have stuck around, I also get cheering simply for being a girl. The people at the run-up were actually chanting my name the last lap -- I wish it would've made me speedier! By then, I was dragging. I love cross. = )

(Edit: first photo is not actually the run-up but the incline is similiar.)

Feeling like a rock star

2009-10-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Tom, Christopher and I trekked to DeKalb yesterday for the Half Acre cross race. I was torn between DeKalb and the Wisconsin race which would have been two miles of dirt trails. DeKalb's course was slightly more than two miles, lots of grass, two big stretches of pavement. It did have a lot of turns but, with it being more than 2 miles, it was still a course for fast people.

There were only 11 girls in my race. I had a good start but a few more girls got by me -- particularly as I was trying to get over the barriers, which were up to my knees. I was 9th out of 11. I could see eighth but could never close the gap. On the new tire/wheel front, I had let out too much air in addition to my brakes shuddering. So, I cheered on the Women 4's and decided I wanted to sign up for the Men 4B's if there were any spots left.

There was a great park where we were at and Christopher was more than happy to spend more time there in addition to eating cookies and bananas from the bake sale. There were six spots left when I signed up. I socialized, spent time with Tom and Christopher and tried to eat. The only thing I could get down was a package of Clif blocks and a Gu. I did a lap before the 4A's and spun around a little but didn't really warm-up again. Not a great recipie for success. But, I did get a first row start (lining up early once I saw Bob with Beverly Vee Pak already lined up). And, I had people cheering for me pretty much all over the course. Thus, the feeling like a rock star. (And, Tom had put more air in my tires and adjusted my brakes -- Yea for Tom!) I was in the lower 30's for most of the race but gave up about 4 spots, according to Tom, the last lap. I finished 36 out of 71. There are a bunch of turns before a straight shot to the finish. I heard someone saying something like "You're not going to let a girl beat you, are you" and realized there was a guy right behind me. I sprinted, went to a harder gear, sprinted, went to a harder gear and out-sprinted the guy. Woo hoo!

Tom has had a cold so he didn't race. They changed the ChiCrossCup schedule but Tom will still have to race the 123's for us to both be able to warmup and race. We'll definitely do Dan Ryan since it's so close and Beverly Vee-Pak is planning an awesome course. We may go up to Grafton and do the Wisconsin cross race on Saturday but we're not sure yet. Hopefully, we can both stay healthy.

addendum

2009-09-28T19:25:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Lynne for getting an awesome shot of me at the finish as I'm about to actually outsprint someone.

I forgot to mention that Christopher may have had the most fun this weekend. They redid the park there since last year and it is really, really, really nice. Lots of things to climb on, slides, play race cars and a fire truck, sand box, etc. Unfortunately, it was so much fun that he had quite a few accidents in that he didn't want to leave to use a rest room. We also got to "go on a trip," which made Christopher happy.

Good races & not-so-good races

2009-09-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

We went to the USGP cross races in Sun Prairie this weekend. First, a huge, huge thanks to the Poppers for glueing our tires for us. Tom & I are total newbies at the whole tubular tire thing and would probably still be trying to get Christopher unstuck from a wall or something if we tried it ourselves.

I picked up Christopher from preschool in the RV and was able to meet Tom near downtown on Friday afternoon. I was able to get a decent preride in before it started raining on me. Tom rode too and had his crank come off. We went to the packet pick up and Williamson Bikes was awesome and fixed it for us, even though they were officially closed. And, they only charged us about $10. Yea!

My race on Saturday was great. I felt strong. I kept making stupid mistakes, mainly due to not being used to the tires. I know -- never race on something that you're not used to. But, the weight difference is so fricken huge that both Tom and I raced on them anyway. I was 4 out of 7 in Masters but out of all the girls I was somewhere between 10-15 I think out of 29. I was quite a happy girl.

We were able to spend the night in the grass parking area which let me get my number Saturday evening and preride Sunday's course. I knew it would be brutal.

Sunday -- well, it wasn't as good as Saturday. I think four girls I beat on Saturday ended up beating me on Sunday. I was 5 out of 6 in Masters and I think 18 out of 28 for all the girls. Not attrocious but, after Saturday, I was cranky. I was way too wussy in the turns and stuff -- I'm going to spend as much time as possible this week trying to get used to the tires. And, I only made it up the hill one out of three times. The first lap, I was almost up and my tire slipped. The third lap, I think I drifted into the tape, I don't remember. But, a 3/4 girl tried to sprint past me at the end and I got outsprinted her right before the line. Yea!

Tom's races didn't go well. He did the 35+ so we would both have time to warm-up. The announcers kept saying how it was former pros and the second fastest race of the day. But, awesome courses.

My main complaint is they had the little, little kids start before the women. Other racers saw kids crying by the side of the course and I probably scared the crap out of two of them when I slipped in some mud and crashed into the tape when I was passing them.

We still don't know if we're doing DeKalb or the Wisconsin race this weekend. But, hopefully, I'll be totally rockin' my new wheels by then.

No throwing up & not DFL

2009-09-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

(photo from NikkiCyp)

The bugs won. I spent nearly 36 hours from Friday night until Sunday morning hoping to be well for Jackson Park. I did two easy warm-up laps and was kind of worried. Then, I did a hard lap and realized this was totally going to suck. It didn't help that everything I ingested made me want to throw up -- including water. I lined up anyway. I figured I paid $30 (on Thursday, when I still felt okay) so I might as well race. I started out okay but didn't have it in me. I also let too much air out of my tires and had some problems cornering because of it. But, like the title says, I didn't throw up and I managed not to be last. There were girls I felt like I could have beaten if I was healthy; but, of course, I'm not healthy. I shocked the people at preschool by actually driving Christopher today, came home and laid down for two hours before picking him back up. My mom's watching Christopher today so I can lay in bed and a relative may watch him briefly tomorrow afternoon for me too. Of course, being self-employed means no sick days so my income is definitely going to take a hit. As long as I don't drink anything, don't eat anything and lay in bed, I feel fine.

I was able to cheer on people after my race and Christopher got to play in the dirt with some new friends. Tom survived the 1,2,3 race. (No results yet though for his or my races. WTF?) And, I was able to give Ben my wheels which should be glued and ready by the cross races in Sun Prairie next weekend. Man, I hope I am.

lots of packages & sick bugs

2009-09-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

My house is starting to get filled with boxes. Two small packages arrived last week and earlier this week that I'll be giving to my dad for his birthday, my new desktop arrived this week, the printer arrived last week as a somewhat cruel joke and then today I got three packages!
FedEx came with my new wheels and, literally like a minute later, UPS showed up with my small box from Cyclocross World with the tires and brake pads. (Last package was from Ex Officio -- they were having a sale and I have come to love their underwear to commute in.)

I'm so excited about the wheels and tires. But, I won't have them for Jackson Park. Julie will be glueing them for me and she is off having fun up north right now.

I'm trying to get Christopher healthy and trying to keep myself healthy. He picked up some type of bug. Diarrhea and then vomiting last night and this morning. I kept him home from preschool today, obviously, and it's been a long day and Tom won't be home until after 6 p.m. today. The doctor's office said they've been getting a lot of calls about kids with similiar symptoms. I'm supposed to give him bland things and no sugar. He's a picky eater and I had no idea how few things we actually had in this house without sugar. I was feeling crappy myself late this morning but am feeling a little better now. At least I don't have his symptoms yet. I'm crossing my fingers that I can stay healthy since the cross season is finally hear (pun intended).

I'll try to get a pic of the wheels and tires up soon. I don't have my new computer hooked up yet so I have to figure out how to get the photos downloaded to my laptop.

DNF

2009-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

I hate not finishing a race. But, as I sit here sore, I know it was still the right decision.

Tom & I were originally both going to race but he's had a cold or something and decided not to which meant Christopher could go on a trip and race. We got there late on Saturday and I rode a lap. Awesome trails but, man, what a lot of climbing.

I warmed up starting a little after noon with some guidelines/tips from my coach since I tend to just pedal around, chit chat, etc. I finished in time to watch Christopher do the kids race, which was definitely one of the highlights of my day.

Lined up. Soon into the first lap I acutally passed a girl in a green jersey (possibly Hannah?). Holy crap. I lead the rest of the lap, even keeping the lead after a guy HAD to pass me up the singletrack climb, bumped me which I recovered from, and then hit me again sending me down off the trail and into the trees. Arrgh!!!! My Garmin got knocked loose from the strap and I had to shove it in my pocket. I'm such a geek that it was horrible not knowing my lap times, when I should eat a Gu and not being able to see my HR -- it makes me go harder when my HR drops.

After the rock garden on lap 2, I saw a girl in a blue jersey just ahead (possibly Liz?). Soon after I passed her and was actually in front of two girls! Wow. Then, the girl in the green jersey passed me on one of the climbs. I went into lap 3 barely ahead of the girl in blue -- I was really feeling the hills and heat. We passed Christine who was stopped. Then we came to the singletrack climb. The girl in blue was chatting with me as I felt like I was dying. My hamstring felt like it was going to cramp and I put my foot down. I shouldn't have. Oh well. She and Christine went by. I started again, feeling better actually. I rocked the rock garden -- as I had every lap -- and then started down the rest of the downhill, and crashed. I would have sworn I fell right but all of my scrapes are on my left-hand side. I got up, untwisted my handlebars and started again. But, I didn't feel right. I would've sworn my helmet was on crooked but, when I felt it with my hand, it was fine. I shook my head and it wasn't loose. But, it felt off, I felt off. I thought I could just ride it off but it didn't work. I kept having to stop. Not because I was cramping or felt like I was going to puke or because of pain (although I was in some pain). I just had to stop. Then, I would just stand there. Not good. I finally found a course marshall who directly me to another course marshall who sent me on the trail. It took forever. I finally found a sign for a cut-off for citizen/sport which I fell onto. Made my way down to the finish area and tipped over again. By then, women were finishing up. I have no idea how long it took me to get off the course. I woke up early this morning with some pain on my left side by my ribs. No serious bruises. A lot of scrapes.

So, I didn't finish, which I hate. But, as odd as it sounds, it was a good race for me. I rode that rock garden beautifully each lap. It was cool hearing people cheer me on each time. And, being in front of three separate girls at different points of a WORS race is awesome for me.

This weekend is Jackson Park Cross. I'll have to take it easy so I'm ready. Unfortunately, I won't have my cool new wheelset. Which leads to my dilemma -- 32 or 34 for what will be my new Challenge Fango tubular wheels? Julie said 34. Russell said 30 or 32. I posted on the cross forum on MTBR and got pretty evenly 32 and 34 with some 30 suggestions as well. So -- I'm looking for a few more suggestions and reasons for 32 or 34.

Failed commute & CX obsessions

2009-09-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

I had my first flat during a commute last night. I decided to try a new route out to New Lenox for a school board meeting which should have shaved at least two miles off the commute. But, the sun was setting and I was riding west so I missed my turn. It turned into an 18-mile ride as opposed to a 14-mile ride. Still, I made it just as the meeting was starting so I was still in relatively good spirits.

On the way home, I was on the planned route, things were going good. I was going through a housing development that wasn't finished so all the street lights weren't on. All of a sudden I heard a pssst. I had seen a dead huge snake on the side of the road going to Lincoln-Way Central so I immediately thought it was a snake and screamed. I, then, quickly realized I had a flat and pulled over under a working street light. It was going good. I even thought to take my skirt off (I had shorts on underneath) to keep it from getting all greasy. Pumping up the tube was a huge pain. People kept stopping and offering me a ride home. I was in Mokena at this point, I believe, and still a good chunk from home and people were assuming I was down the block. I almost had it pumped up (after a few tries) when a guy in his late 40's, early 50's walking with his wife decided he had to help me. He let all the air out, twice at least. Then, he thought he broke the stem. Well, he didn't but he had loosened it so, when I almost had it filled again, it twisted out. Crap. I got it pumped up, I thought good enough, again and started out. I only made it less than nine minutes when I got a pinch flat. I had only a cheap light for a weight savings figuring that I'd be on lit streets. I didn't see the huge bump and, as soon as I hit it, I was like oh crap. Start walking, pull out the cell phone, Tom is of course thrilled to grab a sleeping Christopher (who of course didn't stay asleep) and go pick me up. I kept walking and, let me say, walking with a bike on Wolf Road over I-80 is not for the faint of heart. Ick.

As for CX obsessions, I now "need" new wheels. I put "need" in quotes because I obviously rationally do not need them. I have wheels. But, man, I need, need, need them. I'll look odd having blinged wheels on my Trek XO1. It would be a good deal but nearly four-figures so I'm trying to get Tom's blessing, so to speak. I figure he could use them too so it's like we're getting them for half the cost, right? Obsessions can be a terrible thing. I think Tom is going to put me in a 12-step program soon.

First day of school & other madness

2009-09-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

The past couple of weeks have been insane. Christopher didn't have summer camp or pre-school for two weeks and started pre-school again on Tuesday. That would have been crazy enough but I decided to really try at the potty training. He was ready but didn't usually feel like going through the effort of stopping what he was doing and using the potty. My car died -- the alternator and starter have been replaced and now there appears to be a short somewhere. The car is a 1996 but we just really can't afford another car payment right now. And, now, my desktop computer is pretty much dead. It's been dying but, after yesterday late afternoon, it's pretty much dead. I was able to get it back up to get some files off it. I had last backed it up late August and wanted to make sure all the photos, etc. were on the external hard drive we have. At least new desktops are a lot cheaper than new cars.

The Meltdown could have gone a little better for me but it was still an awesome time. Cook County cut out a lot of logs the week before the race. Considering it is the technical stuff I'm good at and am not a speed demon, that made my race a lot harder. I was duking it out with Ronit, from Half Acre. I was faster in the single-track and maybe a little on the hills but she was faster on the flat power sections. She'd be right on my butt and then I'd get a little gap to see her back on my butt again. I was ahead until almost half-way through the race but couldn't stay with her when she passed. Almost every race this year, I get nauseous when I eat during a race(I had eaten a Gu a little before she got by me) . It's annoying. I stopped feeling like I was going to puke but she was gone and beat me by a few minutes. My legs started cramping going up gravity cavity for the last time but I am proud to say I didn't go in my small ring in the front and stood to climb most of the last time up the grassy hill -- mainly because Julie and Erica were screaming at me and were almost as fast running as I was trying to make my way up the hill for the last time. I did beat about five guys and passed several of them during my last lap. All in all, awesome race put on by an awesome group. I can't wait for next year.

Tom and I will likely do Lake Geneva and then switch gears to cross. Yea, cross! Tom put in to upgrade so we're still working out how we'll both do this. We'll likely focus more on the Wisconsin races with me doing Women's 3 and him doing the 30 plus or 35 plus (I can't remember which) for 1,2,3. With the Chicago series, he'd have to do the men's 1,2,3. We'll definitely be at Jackson Park though. And, I'm already registered for the Jonthan Page cross races in Sun Prairie and just registered for Jingle Cross. = )

A good week

2009-08-10T11:47:00.001-07:00

I rode a total of five different bikes this past week and was able to ride my mountain bike three days with different trails each time. It was a good week.

My old hardtail Juliana is hooked up to Christopher's little Trek and Christopher now asks for his helmet on and to get "Mommy's green bike and my blue bike." My kid is three and already bugging me to ride. Awesome. = )

I also went to the bandit Church Cross on Sunday morning. It was a great layout and it felt awesome to be on my cross bike and hopping over barriers. I was even happy to look down and see my heartrate so fricken high. Yes, I'm insane. I opted to ride out there, which wasn't bad, but riding back home in the heat after the all-out effort was brutal. I definitely should've brought an extra Gu with me.

I should have worked this morning while Christopher was at summer camp but snuck in an hour ride on some singletrack before the forecasted rain. It hasn't rained yet which is even better since I'd like to log some more time at Palos before the race.

I'm planning on doing Downers Grove so I'll probably do the Matteson training crit tomorrow. Downers is a huge race and I'm interested to see how I'll do but it's hard for me to get excited about a road race. Now, Palos -- that I'm totally psyched for. I've been feeling good and have my fingers crossed that I can actually stay healthy for a couple of weeks.

Almost

2009-08-03T11:41:00.001-07:00

(photo from Rusty)

First off, sorry to those I spoke to right after the race as I always tend to be cranky-- focusing on what I did wrong. In this case, I started the race freaking out about the guys having to pass me in the singletrack, particularly the first rock garden on Alpha. I kept thinking I would crash if I had a bunch of guys behind me there. So, of course, I did. I rode it super smooth my second lap. But, both the first and third lap I stopped and then tipped over to the left. Totally dumb.

The rest of the race actually went pretty good for me. I rode most of the singletrack really well. Even parts that I usually have problems with (although I did clip a tree my first lap). I would occasionally freak out and tell myself to calm down and ride smooth. I noticed Liz coming over the bridge over all the rocks as I was heading to O'Malleys Woods near the end of our second lap and looked at my heart rate monitor. When I got to her spot I realized I was only four minutes behind her. I tried to kick it up a notch telling myself to just ride smooth. Then, I tip over in the same stupid rock garden my third lap. Great, there goes that I thought. But, as I was climbing the top of the hill I saw her standing on the down hill, letting people go by (which was because she had unfortunately crashed as I later found out). I tried to kick it up again although that last part of the climb to the top is a killer. When I got to the bottom, I realized I was probably less than three minutes behind her now. I went all out and ended up about a minute and a half behind. (I thought I was less but apparently WORS timing doesn't delete the minute delay from the men's start to our start.) My best WORS finish in a long time -- not including the short track at last year's Suburu Cup. So, not bad considering it's only my third mountainbike cross country race of the year when it's probably double that for many and I'm still hacking up crap on climbs from that chest cold I had. I'm excited about the Palos Meltdown. I got out there twice last week and am hoping to get out again this week. We'll probably do Lake Geneva and then switch to cross. I've bought numerous stuff for my cross bike with my QBP discount -- Tom and I (mostly Tom) will have to get crankin' on getting it ready. I love mountainbiking but, boy, do I love cross too. = )

Back to life

2009-07-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

I was sick all of last week. It really sucked -- especially, since I had so much crap going on last week, which I'm sure is one of the reasons that it's been more than a week and I'm still not quite back to 100%. I'm mostly better but I still have crap stuck in my lung/chest area. After climbing up a hill, I'm hacking for awhile.

I went out on a long ride yesterday evening. I rode from my house to Canal Trail and then did as much as last year's Meltdown course as I could remember, thinking it'd be better to have a planned route. It was a lot of fun but I kept getting lost on the multi-track. My mother had Christopher this afternoon so I kind of played hooky and rode back doing Canal Trail and then the course from two years ago and back. There was plenty of work-related stuff I should have been doing but I just needed another fix before it rains again.

The photo is of Christopher in his Elmo costume. He refused to wear it last Halloween and yesterday I couldn't get him out of it until he was a big sweaty mess. Christopher enjoyed his second race at Kewaskum. Me, not so much. But, it was an okay race-effort. Looking at my heart rate monitor after the race, it seemed my heart rate was too low and then, waking up the next morning sick as a dog, it makes a little more sense. Poor Christopher will not be racing at Alterra as both Tom & I are registered. But, he'll be with his fan club and will get ice cream and other goodies. The fan club may only be able to watch him part of the day though so we have to figure out if we have to take two cars or if I have to try to hitch a ride home.

Christopher's first race

2009-07-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

It was somewhat of a last-minute decision to hike up to Eau Claire. I really wanted more single-track and Christopher had kept saying he wanted to go on a trip. Tom reluctantly agreed to come along and let me race.

Christopher did pretty good on the ride there and rode around on his bike without pedals while I prerode. On Sunday, he woke up cranky and not himself. When I said I had to sign up for my race though, he said he wanted to race too. So, we signed him up. He seemed to have fun and insisted on wearing his medal inside the restaurant we stopped at last night and to summer camp this morning. = )

I really enjoyed most of the course during the preride except for a rock garden they added simply to have a rock garden (well, that's how it seemed to me anyway). It was basically a long driveway of large rocks. I'd ride all of it but the last bit that you had to turn left.

My race was icky. I went way too hard my first lap trying to stay with the girls -- which didn't work for long -- and trying not to slow down the guys too much. My first lap was 43 minutes (which included some unintentional stopping trying to let guys pass) with a heart rate between 187 and 195 for 21 minutes. Unfortunately, I didn't know at the time that I finished lap 1 not that far behind a group of girls. That definitely would have been the push I needed but Tom didn't think to mention it to me (watching Christopher is not exactly easy). I do much better when I'm just behind someone.

I had opted to use bottles for this race and, in hindsight, I should have taken the camelback -- I went a little too easy on the long sections when I was taking a drink and ended up a little dehydrated with a little stomach cramping the last lap. I was about 12 minutes behind the next girl and also about 12 minutes longer from my goal of finishing in.

But, I thought my technical riding was really good. I'm trying not to beat myself up too much. I hadn't done a mountainbike race since the Palos Meltdown and my last WORS race was last year's Kewaskum. I'd like to do decent (decent for me, anyway) at Crystal Ridge, Lake Geneva and the Palos Meltdown. I'm planning to do Kewaskum -- more of a training race for both the mountainbike and cross races coming up. If you see me slackin' off during the race, be sure to yell at me. = )

Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy

2009-06-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

(If I was better at this, a link to Underworld's song "Crazy" would be here.)

I had really wanted to go to the Suburu Cup but we decided not to with Tom still being injured. I ended up being then was able to run a bike rodeo in Homewood, which are what the photos are from.

I went to the Metro 12 Hour on Saturday. I ended up being the only 12-hour girl which ended up being fine by me. I'm still getting over a cold Christopher picked up from summer camp and my body is no longer used to doing 12-hour races. But, I had a hell of a lot of fun. The singletrack was great. My bike was making these horrible squeaking noises and, by the end of the day, my wonderful Team Extreme teammates had fixed it. My poor bike is so in need of some love and maintenance. I only did seven laps with a lot of socializing in between. Riding, chilling out and catching up with people I haven't seen in ages was just what I needed. It was an awesome day.

Good deed

2009-06-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

I decided sort of last minute to try to get a ride in before it rained. I grabbed some bike shorts and one of Tom's jerseys that were hanging up to dry and rushed to pick Christopher up from summer camp. We get to the paved trail start up a hill and Christopher says "Mommy, it's raining." Crap. I put the rain cover down and continue. It starts raining harder. Crap. So, at the top of the hill (where there is a "T" intersection), I turn us around and start back. It eases up so I decided to aim for an hour ride and go to the lake, do a little more meandering and start on the spur back to my house. I pass a guy stopped and then my mind starts wandering. I hear the "on your left" and apologize as I had been taking up most of the trail. I then get to see him crash magnificiently. The trail curves after crossing the street I was going to hop off the trail at and he took it too fast for the wet conditions. I cross the street and stay on the trail to see if he's okay, ask if he wants me to call for an ambulance as I see blood on his arm and think of Tom's crash a couple of weeks before. He says he's fine.

I notice Christopher is passed out and I have just over an hour so I decide to cruise around a little. I get to the next street and turn back -- the guy is still sitting on the ground. Hmm. I ride down a side street 'til the next busy street and turn around and come back. The guy is up but walking his bike. Turns out he got a flat. I have everything but the pump which he has. He's impressed as I start changing the tire. Then, of course, I can't get the tire back on. He gets the last bit on. Then, as usual, I have problems getting the pump off without half of the air coming back out.

Eventually, I get him on his way telling him to avoid to big bumps and I actually got 1 hour, 30 minutes in. Yea! Now, it's raining again and I'm doubting ever being able to ride my mountain bike again.

Successes

2009-06-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

On Saturday morning, I decided to gamble and try to go up for the 12 Hours at John Muir. It looked like it might rain but it looked like there was a better chance it would rain at my house. It rained quite a bit as I was driving up there. By the time I got there, I was tired from the 12+ hour work day on Friday and not in a competitive mood. I told myself to go out and ride a couple of laps and that, if it wasn't fun, I'd go home and see my little guy and my injured guy. The trails were muddy and I just kept thinking that, if I crashed, who was going to change Christopher's diapers.

I rode with a girl a good part of the lap that was competing as part of a 12-hour team. I did one lap, stopped to fix my speed sensor and really had to convince myself to go back out. Most of lap 2 I had a guy behind me who wanted to chat -- and wanted me to find him a girlfriend. It was still muddy, I still wasn't having fun and the guy would come up beside me as I was trying to pick the best muddy, rocky line for uphills/downhills causing me to put a foot down and hoof it up the last part of the hill in one instance and get a handlebar in the quad during a downhill part. As I finished the lap, it started raining again. Decision made. It totally did not help that I was planning on ditching out early on the Friday event I had to work ,which my co-worker knew -- she then bought tickets to see some play and ditched the event completely meaning I didn't get home 'til late and didn't get to see Christopher before he went to sleep.

I went home after bailing from Saturday's race, helped Tom with Christopher, cuddled with Christopher, spent more than 1.5 hours mowing the jungle of our front yard with a reel mower. I was absolutely shocked, amused and somewhat embarrassed to see I actually took first in the 12-hour race. I believe the other girl was a young girl who took a spill during her first lap.

For the 12 Hours at Crystal Ridge, I plan on not working the night before, tucking my son in the night before and coming with my game face.

Tom's still on the mend. The pain is not as bad but he's getting back spasms from the arm sling. Two weeks down. Hopefully only four to go. It's been a very, very long two weeks for both him and me.

LCI 51207272

2009-06-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have my official LCI number after taking a really, really, really long three-day class to be a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor. I'm co-teaching my first class on July 1 down in the Champaign area.

Other than that, my life has been even more insanely hectic than before. As I'm sure most of my few readers know, Tom broke his clavicle (I think that's how you spell it) at the Wonder Lake Super Crit. It's now been one week and one day. It's hell for him. He's in pain and in an arm sling for probably a little more than six weeks. I've been trying to help Tom out and also doing everything with regards to taking care of Christopher, the house, etc. (Both our back and front yard are only partially cut at the moment.) I've been going out of my mind. I did do the crits in Winfield this weekend and volunteered. It was nice for me to get out of the house but horrible for Tom to have to deal with Christopher for most of the weekend. I was kind of sad to not get to race 9 Mile but my plan of sticking to races closer to home has seemed to be working well for the most part -- with the exception of Tom crashing during a crit.

1st to DFL in 24 hours

2009-05-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

I decided to do ABD's crits this weekend. I'm dying to be on my mountainbike but the races were close to home and I could race for free. Saturday went well. I hung with the pack of women (30+, 40+ and one 50+ woman) and finished 2nd in my age group and I think 8th overall in the about dozen racers. Sunday we were with two men's age groups. I couldn't hang with the faster pack but noticed no other 30+ girls were up there either. I rode with two guys most of the race, took first in my age group and got quite a few compliments about riding strong. The compliments about strong riding and the top podium spot were very rare and very nice.

Then things started to suck. We thought we had someone to watch Christopher Sunday afternoon so Tom & I could actually go on a mountainbike ride together. She said she couldn't last minute. On Monday, I had a good chance of taking the overall and getting $50. A teammate and another girl even said they were going to just ride with me the whole race to make sure I got the overall. I'm sure my few readers know where this is going. I had a horrible race. It was really windy and we had a smaller group and I can't draft for anything. I fell off our little group. My teammate had previously shot off and ended up winning the race. The other girl who was going to work with me worked with one of my competitors and, working by myself in the wind, I almost reeled 'em in but couldn't. I ended up with the same amount of overall points with another girl. Even though I had beat her the previous two days and my best placing was a first vs. her second, she got the overall. Then, I realized I lost part of my skewer for my front wheel that had been in the pit. I was told that there were no vegan sandwiches (they had a PB and J for me the day before) and I couldn't find the spare umbrella we keep in the car. Someone at least lent me a rain jacket as it rained on me for several hours being a course marshall. And, then last, I had to argue with the volunteer coordinator because she didn't want to give me one of my volunteer vouchers (which I can use for race fees). So, I was cranky. Some seemed to be annoyed I was in a bad mood. But, what a crappy day!

On a good note on Sunday evening, we briefly had the training wheels off Christopher's bike. He's "riding" the bike without pedals like a pro. We took the training wheels off his little Trek, he rode a very small distance (with me kind of holding the back of his seat), he started tilting to the side and wanted his other bike. He is sooo close! = )

[Edit: I added a photo taken on Saturday since it shows the new bike. It no longer has the white seat, which you can't really tell since my butt's on it.]

Starting to catch up with me

2009-05-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

I've been going at a really hectic pace and this weekend it appears to have caught up with me. I did ABD's time trial on Saturday morning and then did the Vernon Hills crit on Sunday. The time trial went icky. My pace was slower than I was expecting. So, it probably was not the best idea to decide to go to a crit on the next day. The crit was really fast and I made a dumb move of starting in the front to the left which put me in the wind when I should have been trying to draft. Most of the race was basically a time-trial effort. At least, I have a rest week this week. Now, whether or not I'll actually have time to get any rest will be another story.

Home stretch

2009-04-27T11:04:00.001-07:00

I did my last batch of phone calls this morning for LIB's Train the Trainer classes. Whew. I have another month of work for ATA (formerly CBF) which means life is still going to be insanely busy for awhile. I have not had a day off in...I have no idea. I worked a health fair Saturday morning for ATA and then covered events Sat. and Sunday afternoon for the local paper. I was sort of sad to have missed Flatlandia's race. Christopher is enthralled in SpongeBob at the moment so I thought I'd take a minute to finally update this blog.

Tom switched the handle bars on my road bike to Salsa Poco's. I love those bars. I picked up another pair (with my wonderful ATA discount) for my cross bike as well as some cool-colored grip tape for the cross bike. I keep checking chicrosscup.com and WCA to see if they have the cross schedules up yet.

I did make it out about a week ago for a mountainbike ride. Only my second of the year. I rode from home, taking part of the multi-track loop at Swallow Cliff so I only got to do the Canal Trail but it was so nice to be on dirt again. I saw lots of people that day including Ben leading a huge group.

Arrgh!

2009-04-08T15:17:00.001-07:00

First, before I rant, Happy Easter to everyone! I had to go through the line for the Easter Bunny three times to get that photo. Christopher would squat and bark at the bunny, try to beat the bunny with his blanket and try to brush the bunny's fur with his brush. But, he would not sit on the bunny's lap or even stand in front of the bunny. I had to grab him and then tickle him to make him smile.

People are complete idiots. Two of the candidates were a man who was a teacher and then a principal for the district who is now retired and a superintendent for a different district who is retiring in June. Both seem like very intelligent guys and I think it's great they are willing to give up their time to serve on the school board (you don't get any type of pay or stipend to be a board member). I'm sure you know where I'm going with this --neither received enough votes. This woman who seems to be a complete idiot was the top vote getter. Flipping channels, we came across the meet the candidates thing on the cable access channel. Seriously, she is an utter imbecile. I'm just totally disgusted right now.

Things are still insanely busy. I'm making lots of phone calls to tell people about a class LIB is doing and still doing 15 hours a week for the other bike group besides covering meetings here and there for the local paper. I really, really need a spring break. Unfortunately, being self-employed means no spring breaks or vacation days. It'll get much easier after June 1 -- I keep telling myself.

I just did a tentative race schedule and it's depressing that it seems to have mainly road stuff on it. I'd much rather be racing in dirt but the road races are a lot closer and neither Tom or I can see Christopher handling the long trek to WORS races or Christopher actually letting me warm up. Who knows, maybe all this roadie stuff might actually make me faster. = )

I'll be doing a Fix a Flat workshop at My Bike in Tinley Park on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. if anyone is bored. No throwing things though. = )

I'm not dead, I just feel like I'm on my way

2009-03-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

Everything has been insanely busy -- which I keep telling myself is a good thing. I've heard about way too many people losing jobs lately. So, the fact that I have way, way too much work to do I'm sure is enviable. And, I only have to survive until June 1. But, I'm still not sure how I'm going to survive with my sanity until then.

Christopher has really been doing well on his bike without pedals. Last year, he would not even ride it. He kept pointing to where pedals would be and saying "On." Now, he's cruising around and lifting up both feet so he can coast. He just needs a little more practice, and a little bit nicer weather, and I think we may be able to start trying to get the training wheels off his little Trek.

His vocabularly is really jumping lately. He said something today like "I drink my milk. I'm thirsty" and I was in absolute shock. I'd like to say I'm a wonderful mom but it's really the preschool. The preschool had to call me on Wednesday to pick him up as he had a fever. He'd been really tired on Tuesday but I thought it was just being tired and didn't even take his temperature. So, I guess I won't being getting the best mother medal any time soon. Too bad -- Christopher really likes playing with medals. = )

I'm happy the weather is getting nicer and I can get more riding done outside. I went to the Kenosha training race last Sunday. It was a really slow pace but I was actually able to stay with the pack the whole time so I was happy. I was second for the Cat. 4's (out of a whopping three) but I think I was 5th overall. My final sprint sucked. Tom did well too and actually took 5th for the Cat. 5.

Insanely busy

2009-02-19T12:22:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, we bought Christopher a new bathing suit. He's in a water babies class and he's been wearing a suit for 12-month-olds. It actually still kind of fits. The new one is a 2T and is almost like pants. He got to pick it out and, obviously, really likes it. He took the tag off himself and next thing I knew he was running around like the above photo -- a flannel pajama top, swim trunks and snow boots. Fashion designer is probably not going to be a future career for him.

I don't know how often I'll be posting. It's been insanely busy and will likely continue through the end of May. It's mainly job-related so the extra cash will be nice to help pay off mine & Tom's bikes. You can see Tom's bike in the background behind Christopher.

New Bike

2009-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

First race report of the year

2009-02-02T11:58:00.001-08:00

(photo courtesy of the Glinka's)

I did an indoor time trial on Sunday. I had the new road bike -- which I'll post a photo of once they get me the right seat and this hideous white one is off of it. The time trial did not go well. I was a minute slower than my goal. But, I had a cold most of last week and I just wasn't mentally there.

Tom did well though and Christopher and I got to cheer him on when Christopher wasn't racing his own bike. = )

my grandfather

2009-01-20T11:08:00.001-08:00

Business owner, volunteer fire official dies
January 20, 2009
BY WILLIAM LEE, Staff writer
John D. Oudsteyn, a former Chicago Ridge fire official who helped start the village's volunteer fire department in the 1950s, died suddenly Sunday at his home. He was 89.
Mr. Oudsteyn and his wife, Harriet, moved to Chicago Ridge about 1950, when the village had about 600 residents. For 14 years, Mr. Oudsteyn answered fire calls from his home, racing to a large black telephone hanging from his kitchen wall. Mr. Oudsteyn was named assistant fire chief in 1974.
His wife also was dedicated to public safety, working for the Chicago Ridge Police Department for 35 years and serving as secretary under four police chiefs.
In addition to his work with the fire department, Mr. Oudsteyn was self-employed for many years, installing and repairing wells.
He and several partners purchased All Electric, which sold and serviced pumps and still exists at the same site, 67th Street and Ashland Avenue in Chicago. They opened a second business, Accurate Electric, which remains on 111th Street in Worth.
Mr. Oudsteyn was proud of his service during World War II, for which he received a Purple Heart medal. He fought the Japanese at Okinawa from April through June in 1945. A member of the 1st Battalion, 29th Marines, 6th Marine Division, he also participated in the occupation of China during November 1946.
Born Oct. 24, 1919, in Chicago, Mr. Oudsteyn grew up during the Great Depression, which his family said made him frugal.
"Growing up, my cousins and I were always somewhat both amazed and amused by the shelves in the basement filled with enough food and supplies that it resembled a store," SouthtownStar correspondent Gina Kenny said of her grandfather.
"He faced a lot of challenges during his life - financial as well as physical. He never quit trying," his daughter, Harriet Lynn Welch, said. "Every challenge life threw at him, he kept going."
Mr. Oudsteyn met his wife at a Halloween party, and they were married on Jan. 14, 1939. They were married for 67 years before her death in April 2006.
The couple's love and devotion to each other always was an inspiration to their family and friends. They traveled extensively in the United States, usually in a motor home, and around the world, including China and Australia.
In addition to his daughter, Mr. Oudsteyn is survived by a son, John; a sister, Ruth Sorgenfry; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Schmaedeke Funeral Home, 10701 Harlem Ave., Worth. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Gardens South Cemetery in Worth.
William Lee can be reached at wlee@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-6747.

(text from http://www.southtownstar.com/news/obituaries/1386884,012009oudsteynobit_.article)

Doug Thiessen

2009-01-18T18:53:00.001-08:00

(from Maryland GOP)

Photo from the 10-year reunion held in 2001

I just found out on Saturday that Doug Thiessen died. He died Jan. 9 after an accident while downhill skiing in Penn. I went to high school with him. Being the honors/AP geeks that we were, we had almost every single class together throughout our four years there. We were on several clubs together, both played tennis, etc. I would consider him more a friend, than acquaintance although most of our hanging out was at school. I dated him briefly my senior year and went with him and my friend Christopher to a Violet Femmes concert the summer after my freshman year in college. I last saw and spoke to him at the reunion. A bunch of us all sat together at the same table talking about school, what we were doing now etc. I remember talking about his kids and how they were at his parents, teasing each other, etc.

I overdressed

2009-01-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

I went for a 30-minute run today. And, despite the dismal forecast, I actually managed to overdress. My cheeks and nose were a little cold but the rest of me was a little too toasty. While Julie was not the inspiration for the run, she did help me convince family members that I was not completely insane and didn't need to be chained to a chair or anything to prevent me from going out.

Poor monkey

2009-01-14T19:47:00.000-08:00

As Tom was trying to Christopher ready for bed last night, Christopher just passed out. His poor Curious George stuffed animal was almost suffocated and permanently emotionally scarred from the incident. I walked in and saw him like that and almost woke him up by bursting out in the giggles.

Still alive and not in a padded room, yet

2009-01-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

We all made it through the holidays. Christopher started preschool again on Monday and I was excited to get a lot of work done. On Sunday evening, I went to bed feeling fine and woke up feeling insanely nauseous. I hadn't felt so sick since Christmas 2005 when I was pregnant. On Monday, I mainly laid on the bed or the floor and tried to turn Christopher into a couch potato. By Monday evening, Tom was also sick. Christopher had the stomach bug a few days before and apparently wanted to share. By Tuesday night, I was mainly better and even hopped on the trainer. But, it wasn't until Christopher went to preschool this morning (he goes three days a week), that I was finally able to catch up on some work for ATA (formerly CBF). I still have a huge amount of crap to do and have been pretty stressed.

My father is currently at Palos Community Hospital with a bad leg infection. That definitely has not helped with my stress, obviously, and has also taken out my main free babysitter, which is my mother. I'll be visiting him tonight and he'll hopefully be out by Sunday. He's pretty bored.

The first ABD indoor time trial is this Sunday in Winfield! I'll be the volunteer coordinator from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. so be sure to stop by and say "Hi!" if you come. = ) No racing for me this time. I'll be doing "testing" on Saturday so I'll just be volunteering and cheering on Sunday. Unfortunately, since my laptop hard drive had died while at Jingle Cross, I don't have any of my heart rate or wattage data from last year. We bought Tom a used PowerTap from Rick and he is now turning into a geek like me. I'm finding it pretty amusing considering all the teasing I've gotten from him.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Speaking of the holidays, Christopher does not have pre-school for the next two weeks and my mother is also not watching him (she usually takes him one afternoon a week) for the next two weeks. They may lock me up in a little padded room by the beginning of January. Last week, he urinated on the carpet once; defecated once partially on his potty seat and partially on the floor; and, when I didn't immediately change his diaper after he said "poopie," he took his diaper off, dumped most of it out and then shook the diaper to get the last bit out. The dog ate it before I could stop him which then made Christopher extremely upset.

On a more amusing note to me (I'm sure what I just wrote is very amusing to most people), my poor little son is already becoming a freak. With me as his mother, I knew he was doomed but I didn't expect it so early. He has taken to riding his little bike, getting off, picking it up and walking with it a little and then getting back on to ride again. I have to try to videotape it or at least get a photo of it because it is so insanely obvious that he has been to way too many cross races. = )

Nats

2008-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

Cross Nationals was an awesome experience. I raced the Women's Cat. B and the 35-39 races. My Cat. B race sucked but was a great learning experience. There were more than 30 girls lined up with a road leadout. I was way too tentative and let too many girls get in front of me. I started passing them in the dirt but then slid out and had my chain fall off. I get the chain back on, catch up and pass some more girls but was then redlining. I see Tom & Christopher and wonder why they aren't cheering and clip a white pole and can't get my pedal off of it. Ick. So, I ended up 21 out of 29 finishers and 2 DNF's. I didn't get lapped which was good but I felt I should have done so much better so I was pretty bummed.

On Friday was the Women's 35-39 race. I raced much better. I stayed upright. Redlined a little and let a couple girls past me but then got back ahead of all but maybe one, I think. I ended up 15 out of 19 finishers and one lap down. However, 10 of those girls were elites. There were a total of six of us that did both the Cat. B and 35-39. I only beat one of them in the Cat. B race but beat 3 in the 35-39 race including the girls who were 12th and 16th in the B race. So, I thought it was a good end to the season.

I think I'm going to focus on cross for next year. I'll do the few local mountainbike races there are, hoping we can have a relative watch Christopher. But, it is just too aggravating to try to both watch Christopher and warm-up at the same time. I then don't race well and am way too cranky. Tom isn't nearly as addicted to racing anyway and, of course, would rather not have to deal with me being a grouch. I'm going to try to do some road races. I figure it will help me get faster and will help me with cross.

I'm also going to get a SRAM Rival 165 crank and swap my cross gears to it. But, of course, I now have like nine months 'til the next cross race. How completely depressing.

As an early Christmas present though, Christopher has now started going to pre-school three days a week as opposed to one. I can get some work done and he was starting to get way too bored being with Mommy all the time and has been destroying the house.

Woo hoo!

2008-12-09T15:26:00.001-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Amy)

I thought this course was so much better than last year's race. I called Tom after preriding (to ask him to bring with him some spare socks for me), and told him how great I thought the course was. I lined up with a larger group of girls than normal. I traded spots throughout the race with Beth from xXx. I definitely race better when I'm going back and forth with someone. We both had a few minor spills during the race which facilitated with the going back and forth. I thought she had me and then as I came through with two to go I saw her getting up after slipping going around the tree. I kicked it in high gear, got past her and had my fastest lap of the race. I then saw I still had one to go and thought crap. But, I managed to hold her off. Yea! We had traded spots in the beginning of the season but I hadn't beaten her since Carpentersville so it was cool. I ended up 11th out of 14. I was a little disappointed but there were a lot more Cat. 1 and 2 riders than usual. The officials said 17 girls registered but a couple actually didn't start and one didn't finish.

As I was walking back to the car after getting my Schwinn out of the pit, I saw a small Redline Conquest. It ended up being Sarah Huang's. I was able to ride it around and talk to her father. I definitely had less toe overlap but, when we held the frames up to each other, the geometry was pretty much identical. He said he has 165 cranks on her bike. I'm now trying to find a 165 cross crank. QBP doesn't have any. I found a FSA Gossamer 34/48 online. According to FSA's website, they have a 36/48 in a 165 crank length so I've emailed them to try to find out where the heck I can get it from. I'm also going to try to track down Sarah's dad at Nationals to find out what cranks are on there.

I'm taking a break from packing as I type this. We're leaving for Kansas City tonight. We'll do some of the driving tonight while Christopher is sleeping and do the rest tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to be going. I'm doing the Cat. B and the Women's 35-39. Some of the elites are signed up in the 35-39 so I'm prepared to get my butt handed to me in that race. Tom will be doing the Cat. B 30-39. We'll then start heading home on Friday afternoon/evening with the hope of actually making a family party on Saturday evening. I love cross.

Yeah, it's been awhile...

2008-12-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

Woodstock

(Photos courtesy of Amy)

Woodstock was fun. It would have been a great course for me if it was more condensed. At 2 miles, it still had lots of flat power sections. Unfortunately, power is what I'm lacking. Still, I was pretty happy with my race. I stood on all the climbs and kept it in my big ring.

Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving, I rode with Leah in the morning at Palos. My Gary Fisher is getting repainted to make it pretty again so I had to go with my old Santa Cruz hardtail. A lot of logs are gone on Out & Back and Turf 1. It was fun but depressing that all the logs keep disappearing.

Christopher got to play with a little three-year-old named Abby at my cousin's. It was really cute. I've decided he has a thing for girls named Abby since he also has a crush on the Sesame Street character Abby Cadabby.

Jingle Cross Day 1

First -- Tom is famous. He is on the beginning of this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUwYOvPayzM

It also gives a feel for the course. Tom did the Cat. 4 race. I did the Women's 2/3 and the Women's 35+. I got about a 20 min. warm-up (Tom's race was immediately before mine). There were only 10 of us. I was 9th for a good part of the race and got passed by Heather Curnitt at the end of the last lap. I thought we had another lap to go and should have sprinted once I got ahead of her after the logs -- I rode them, she dismounted and ran them. But, Heather is faster than me and it is quite unlikely I would have held her off.

I was 8th out of 10 in the Women's 35+. I slid out on a section in the first lap. I had been riding it fine in the first race but the 35+ men apparently tore it up more their first time through. My chain fell off and by the time I got back on the bike I was dead last. So, I was happy I passed a few girls, wished I would have been able to pass a few more.

Day 2

Our generator died at about 4:30 in the morning after running out of LP gas. Tom was then up and moving around the RV -- keeping me up as well. I was pretty tired and Christopher let me get a four-minute warm-up. I was so not looking forward to the 2/3 race. I had prerode the course the night before and it had some climbs that were going to be painful by the end of the second race. I had a great start for the first race but just did not have any power. I had put toe spikes in my winter shoes hoping it would help me climb. Instead, I just couldn't clip back in. There was this nasty downhill that I knew I could ride but I kept spending so much time to clip in, I wasn't paying enough attention and would immediately slide out.

For the Women's 35+, I switched shoes -- in addition to bikes, tights and gloves. I'm sure the disc brakes helped, but the switching of shoes was definitely a wise move as I could clip in much easier. I rode down the hill both laps getting huge cheers both times. I gave a little whoop of my own each time after I knew I wasn't going to careen into the building at the bottom of it.

I felt much better this race. I was 7th out of 9 and was right behind sixth place -- literally, right behind her. If there was another lap, I know I would've beaten her as she was really bad on the technical stuff. I would've did better if I was better at hiking up muddy steep inclines. I had a great start but was at dead last trying to get up that stinkin' thing. Still, I was happy with my race. It was amazing the huge difference in my attitude during the two races. I couldn't wait for the first to be over and was wishing to do another lap for the second.

Bikes

The one thing I noticed from the two races on Sunday is the pros/cons of my two bikes. Riding the Schwinn, I just kept thinking how freaking heavy it was as I was lifting it over the barriers. But, I had no toe-overlap. As the season has progressed, I've had more and more problems with toe-overlap with my Trek. I didn't realize how much it was affecting my riding until Sunday -- which totally sucks. I'm probably going to buy a different frame and switch everything over. A girl who did the Wisconsin series and is about my size has a Redline Conquest. I think her name is Meghan Korol. I need to track her down to see if she'll let me ride her bike before I order a frame. I also am not sure if I want to go with disc brakes or not. After I switched the brakes, I haven't had a problem really with the brakes and it would limit my options if disc brakes is a requirement. But, I do like disc brakes. Opinions are definitely welcomed on this topic as well as help in contacting Meghan.

Upcoming Races = )

This weekend is, of course, the state championships. I'm hoping to do better than last year. It was my first Illinois race as a 3 and it went so incredibly bad.

Tom is taking off work next week so we can go to Nationals. I am so, so excited! I'm going to race the Cat. B and the Women's 35-39. Tom is going to do the Men's B 30-39. I can't wait! = )

Whitewater/Lansing

2008-11-17T20:10:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Amy

On Saturday, I went up to Whitewater for the cross race. It was a fun course but short and had a brutal climb that I did 8 times. I was 7th out of 8 but was pretty happy with my race. I was riding well. I was taking turns good -- and even got some compliments a couple of laps on this slick downhill to a 180 turn and then up again. I rode the sandpit good. And, I made riding up the hill all 8 times.

Sunday was Lansing. It is the closest cross race to my house with a less than half-hour drive. However, I had one of my worst races here last year. It is very flat and was not really technical last year. This year, I think it was even less technical. They took out a section that you had to go around some trees. You barely had to brake for any of the turns and the only technical part being the sandpit. Last year, it was the first race my teammate beat me at and I thought that might well be the case this year.

Yup. I was ahead of Sue for the first part of the race and then it seemed like she came speeding past me. I tried to draft but fell off. Looking at my lap times, she didn't come speeding past me but my speed was just dropping. My first lap was about 6:13 and my second to last lap was 7:40, I think, which I dropped to 7:05 for the last lap. A girl from SRAM beat me as well who I've beat the other couple of races she did. I was initially disappointed and annoyed -- particularly, that I was riding the sandpit so poorly (as in not riding it very far at all). But, I think I was so redlined I just couldn't accelerate enough before the sand. On a good note, my first lap was so much quicker because I was actually hanging with the group for longer than usual.

I'm really bummed that there are only one race this weekend for both Wisconsin and the Chicago series and, yet, they are both on Sunday. I really liked the Hales Corners course last year and am sick of riding around on just grass. I'm sure Jingle Cross will be fun but do not know how I will survive doing four races in two days (Women's 2/3 and Women's 35+).

In case, anyone hadn't heard -- Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has changed its name to the Active Transportation Alliance. Personally, I like the old logo better but I'm sure that's why they had consultants help with the change and not me.

Also, a big THANKS! to everyone who took time to fill out a survey for me at the Lansing race. = )

Icky

2008-11-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Amy)

I am surprised by how many people told me that I should have loved the Northbrook course. The downhill turns I should have rocked. Instead, I rode it cleanly the first lap and went down the first turn the next three. I think I took it too fast but I'm still not sure. Each time I would think Yes, I cleaned it and then I would slide out. I was able to pop right back up so I actually don't think it lost me much time but it was still so infuriating to not clean a section you know you should be.

I did realize we need to change our tire setup though. After pre-riding, I was thinking my WTB cross wolves would be the better tires but they were on my Schwinn which I can't shoulder. We're going to put the WTB's on my bike and I'll bring Tom's wheels up with me which will give us both more options for racing. I'm learning. = )

But, back to why I didn't love this course -- No barriers! Also, those stairs blew. I thought I couldn't get a rhythm because of my short legs but I heard others say the same. And, even though there were fun off camber sections, there were also plenty of flat non-technical sections for speedy people.

It was my worst placing with an 11th. I wasn't dead last but only one off. Besides screwing up the one turn nearly every lap, I was also really cranky because I witnessed a girl lifting up the tape and riding under it as opposed to riding around a stopped rider. Going under the tape allowed her to not have to complete the last tight turn and to bypass completely the last left turn off the ski hill. She wasn't out of control when she went off course. She stopped, lifted up the tape and rode under it. I figured the officials would ask her about it, remind her not to cut the course and that would be it. They posted results, I went and asked the officials if they spoke to her and was told they hadn't seen the incident (which I totally understand) and that, basically, she was low in the placings so it didn't matter if she cut the course. WTF? And, they said that she wasn't still around. Yeah, but she was when I first brought it up. Grrr. It's not like I think it will change the series standings or anything but I still think they could have at least talked to her about it.

On a more upbeat note, I'll be near registration at Lansing (after my race) for the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation trying to get people to fill out surveys for our program to get people to use cars less and do more walking, commuting by bike and using mass transit. We take info. on a recent car trip you took and try to plan a route using bike, bus, train, etc. So, please stop by, fill out a survey and say hi to Christopher. = )

Halloween & CX

2008-11-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

Christopher had an adorable Elmo Halloween costume. He would not wear it. So, he was a bike rider for Halloween instead. I did get Tom to wear the Elmo costume on his head for awhile but, alas, I do not have any photos of it. Christopher like being able to ride up to people's doors and have people give him candy for it.

I went up to the Polska cross race on Saturday. It was an awesome course except for the hill run-up which spiked my heart rate and slowed me down to a snail's pace. Getting over the barrier on the hill climb was horrible and I felt like I needed a ladder to get my short legs over it.

I had the same feeling on Sunday. Two of the barriers were on the tops of little inclines. My getting over the barriers was sloppy and I kept banging my shins while pre-riding the course. The course was, like all the Chicago races, almost entirely grass and asphalt. However, there were a lot of turns to make it interesting. I was right behind Beth, with xXx, when I took the turn leading into the gravel mushy road too quick and at a bad angle and washed out. Then, I was in too big of a gear and couldn't get going for about two minutes. I have an extremely bad tendancy to get focused on trying to pass someone and forget completely about riding the course cleanly. I totally lost any chance of catching Beth and then had to put it in high gear to keep a girl from SRAM from catching me who I had previously had a pretty decent lead on.

Christopher has been a total demon lately. His new thing is to bring a chair to the fridge and then use the water dispenser to fill a cup and, then, overflow the cup causing water to go everywhere. After both Monday and yesterday, I would say "wow, this has been a long week." Thus, the late post. Tonight I have a meeting for the local paper which will be a brief break and tomorrow afternoon my mother is watching him. I'll be jumping for joy when my mother's car pulls out of the driveway.

Race registration

2008-10-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Bartlett CX course was put on by ABD. Unfortunately, I didn't have a say in course layout. It was slightly more technical, I think, than last year but still mainly wide open. It did seem like we had more of an incline this year. I was 7th out of 8, which would have been 8th out of 9 but Holly had a major mechanical that took her out of the race early on. I had a crappy start and couldn't get my right foot clipped in or get it to even stay on the pedal. I then got ahead Imelda and a xXx girl. I was ahead of both for awhile and then the xXx girl came flying past me and I couldn't keep up.

I did get to race on the SRAM Rival's. I didn't have a problem shifting the wrong way but we do still have to do a little tweaking as I was having a really hard time getting in my big ring during the race.

My best performance of the day was registration. I volunteered as soon as I got changed after my race. During Tom's race the wind really picked up and would have knocked the registration tent over except for Kevin Klug and various others who helped hold it up until it could be taken down. Christopher handled it fairly well and Holly, thankfully, took him until Tom's race ended. People still kept coming in to register and one guy actually tried to shove his registration forms in my hand while I was taking someone elses. There had to have been 10 people holding up the tent at this point, I was on the other side of the table as a pole had came loose knocking over the stuff that had been behind me and my chair and stuff was still flying all over the place.

I also have to thank Debbie for buying Christopher a truck. It makes cool noises and has levers and kept him entertained during most of the time I was volunteering. Christopher has been quite the demon at times lately but I lucked out on Sunday, thanks in part to his cool new toy. Thanks.

Conversion is almost complete

2008-10-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Tom is down in the basement as I type finishing putting all the SRAM stuff on my cross bike. I'm so excited! What is not exciting is the stupid rain. I couldn't ride to take Christopher to story time tonight, it's supposed to rain tomorrow and Saturday morning. Icky.

I was reading my report on Carpentersville and realized how short it was. Things have been way too hectic around here. I wanted to add that I was really excited about the race. I just barely held off getting lapped by Rebecca Much (which could have very well been her being nice). I beat both xXx girls that I've been going back and forth with -- which is especially cool considering that I had raced the day before and I'm pretty sure they had not. And, I had won the water bottle and socks -- which is the first time I have ever won anything as a Cat. 3. = )

Racing, cops & braking

2008-10-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Not only did I get pulled over today by the police, but the guy actually called for back up. Why? The light illuminating my rear license plate was out. I was at a village board meeting for the local paper and, as I'm driving out of town, I see lights behind me. He takes my license and I sit. After awhile I look up and see two sets of lights and the two of them chatting. Finally, both officers come up to the car -- one on each side with the guy on my passenger side having his hands ready like he's going to shoot me or something if I make a wrong move. The other one gives me a written warning ticket. It'd be amusing as hell if I wasn't so annoyed.

Racing was bad and good. My race in WI on Saturday sucked. The legs felt like crap, my mounts sucked, my dismounts sucked. I prerode and figured I should ride my Schwinn with the disc brakes and second guessed myself only to then keep going off course.

Sunday was great. Great course. I finished 8th out of 13 which included two Cat. 1 girls and two Cat. 2 girls. And, I won socks and a water bottle. = )

I was finally able to order my SRAM Rival stuff today for the Trek XO after almost a month. Then, Calamity! Tragedy! Horrors! I got an email that they don't have rear derailleurs. So, now, I have to try track one down so I can finally race this weekend my new cross bike with brakes that I can actually brake with.

DFL

2008-10-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

When I upgraded to a Cat. 3 at the end of last season, I did two races and finished last in both. This season, I had done 5 races up until today. I had finished in the back of the group but had beat a couple of girls in most races and wasn't last in any of them. Up until today. 9th out of 9 in the Women 1/2/3's.

The Hawthorne Woods course was nearly half pavement and nearly half wide-open grass. (I was told later in the day that with it being the first year for the venue they wanted to use as much pavement as possible to prevent damage.) There was also a toboggan sled hill that we rode up, rode down, went back up with a barrier at the bottom and then rode down once more. I pre-rode the course and thought immediately it was suited more to roadies and hit pretty much all of my weaknesses. I also thought immediately Damn, I might be dead last. The hill is actually what did me in. I now know what I need to work on. I rode it after the barrier three times and ran twice. I ended up with an avg. HR of 190 and a max of 199 but my lap times took a nose dive during the course of the five laps. Icky.

Tom's race went slightly better as he was 29th out of 49 but he was pretty disappointed as well. As a bonus, my car tire blew as I started driving there this morning. I had already been running late. Luckily, I was still close to home and a good samaritan came to my aid so I just had to give Tom the tire by the time he showed up. New tire: $60.

I'm thinking of racing in Verona on Saturday and the Carpentersville race with the Chicago series on Sunday but am not totally sure. I like the Wisconsin courses so much better than the Chicago ones but also need to try to beat two xXx girls for series points.

7th

2008-10-06T18:47:00.001-07:00

(photo courtesy of Sheri)

I opted for a full weekend of racing and went up to CamRock on Saturday and then did the ChiCrossCup DeKalb race on Sunday. I rode well on Saturday and was 6th out of 8th until about 1.5 laps to go where I got passed on a flat section and couldn't keep up.

I was a little concerned about Sunday that my legs would be toast and that I still have a lingering cold. The legs actually did pretty well but I kept screwing up the same friggin' turn -- wiping out once good enough to turn my brake/shifters and another time good enough to screw up my rear derailleur. I was 6th out of 9 for a good chunk of the race and went back and forth with a girl but I screwed up the turn yet again and then couldn't catch back up with her on the pavement sections. Still, I was mostly pleased. It was a fast course and I wasn't sure how I'd do after racing the day before. My starts totally blow though. I think I'm being too tentative and am going to try to be more aggressive to get closer to the front for the next race. Of course, being faster would help too.

Well, I can get an awesome deal on the SRAM Rival's but will have to wait probably a month to get them or I can get some used short-reach Shimano's at a good price a hell of a lot sooner. I know the SRAM's would work for me. I'm not sure about the Shimano's. Decisions, decisions.

No word yet on Christopher's blood test results. So, hopefully, that's a good sign.

Spleens, cross and brakes

2008-10-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

(photo stolen from Russell)

I had Christopher's appointment today with the oncologist. It was scary walking into the waiting room and seeing the sick kids and all the info. on cancer support services. Luckily, we probably do not need any of it. After our appointment, he had blood drawn and I have another appointment for him in four weeks.

Tom & I went up to the cross race near Madison. Unfortunately, I came down with a bad cold on Thursday that hit me full force on Friday. I took allergy and cold meds before the races on both Sat. & Sun. and it seemed to work okay but I'm still kind of sick today (thus, the late posting). The courses were great--my brakes were not. I can't get my tiny hands around the Shimanos. I went through the tape on the turns on Sat. and then went through the same section again later in the race. On Sunday I used my old cross bike which is heavier but I can brake! Yea! My legs were definitely not feeling as good on Saturday but I still did pretty good. 9th out of 13 on Sat. 10th out of 12 on Sun. I won money on both days which pretty much paid for my entry fees so that was really cool.

I checked out lots of people's brakes AND found out I can order from QBP with my part-time gig with the bike fed. so I'm going to buy the SRAM Rivals along with a new front and rear derailleurs. The thing that sucks is that CBF only does orders once a month and I haven't heard back from the guy of when they do it.

I want to do the Wisconsin cross race on Sat. and the DeKalb race on Sunday so hopefully I get better soon.

Splenomegaly

2008-09-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

I had to make an appointment for Christopher with an oncologist/hematologist for next Wed. He has an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly). The pediatrician noticed it on a regular checkup, I had to bring Christopher back in for a re-check where the doctor and one of his associates both felt Christopher's abdomen. I then had to bring him in for an ultrasound. He couldn't eat beforehand, it took forever and then he puked a couple of times during his nap -- either because of the stress or because he didn't get to eat breakfast but, rather, snacked on stuff on the way home from Loyola in Maywood. The day after the ultrasound, I had to take him in for blood work where they totally screwed up the first time, put him in pain and then did the other arm. He had another re-check today and now I have to bring him to see the oncologist/hematologist. I was already mildly freaking out and then I found this on the Mayo Clinic's website:

Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
Causes
Enlarged spleen causes vary, including:
Viral infections, such as mononucleosis
Bacterial infections, such as syphilis or an infection of the heart's inner lining (endocarditis)
Parasitic infections, such as malaria
Cirrhosis and other diseases affecting the liver
Various types of hemolytic anemia — a condition characterized by premature destruction of red blood cells
Blood cancers, such as leukemia and Hodgkin's disease
Metabolic disorders, such as Gaucher's disease and Niemann-Pick disease
Sometimes pressure on the veins from the spleen or to the liver cause an enlarged spleen. A blood clot in a vein from the spleen or to the liver can have the same effect.

9th*

2008-09-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

First cross race of the season.
Third race as a cat 3 -- Neither of the previous two went well
I had a terrible start -- I need to pay attention so I'm not chatting when the guy says go. But, I made it around three girls. Went back and forth with one. Knew she was going to try to sprint past me at the end. Held her off--barely. Looked down at my HR monitor right after I finished: 201.
I also beat a girl who I came behind every single race last year so that was pretty cool as well.
I ended up 9th out of 11. One of the girls stopped with only a few laps to go. I never understood why someone would suffer through most of a race and then just quit. But, of course, she could've quite likely had a mechanical.
And, of course, I was 9th out of all the cat. 1, cat. 2 and cat. 3 girls. About five of the girls were cat. 2's or higher so I'm pretty happy right now. Tom's going to look at my brakes and I need to work on my turns.

Tom did awesome. They split up the Cat. 4's into an A group and a B group. He raced B's last year and did the A's this time. He was 13 out of 53. Pretty awesome.

*Edit: The Chicago Cross Cup website now has me listed as 8th. One of the girls who had finished before me is now just not listed at all. I'm not sure why.

I love cross

2008-09-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

I fricking love cross. I went to a Bandit cross training race tonight. I have some minor shifting and other issues I need to get fixed by Sunday but, as I was coming home, I just kept thinking I love cross. Although I find it so odd that the bottom of the top tube on the '08 Trek XO's come to an almost point. I got a bruise on my shoulder from a clinic I went to on Saturday where he had us practicing shouldering the bike.

I feel like I'm living in invasion of the body snatchers and someone took my little boy and replaced him with this big one. Christopher is no longer using a high chair and we took the side off the crib to turn it into a toddler bed.

I don't have photos of the trail-gator yet but we did try it out briefly on Sunday. We hooked Christopher's bike up to my old hardtail and I pedaled very slowly for a couple of houses with Tom jogging alongside Christopher. Christopher seemed to like it but it will be quite awhile before I'm actually able to take him the mile to mini pre-school or anything on it. I just bought a big dorky handlebar mirror for the bike so I can keep an eye on him.

Commuting surprises

2008-09-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

I had to go to the village of LaGrange on Wednesday afternoon. I was running late so I took LaGrange Road/Route 45 all the way there -- about 15 miles. The majority of the ride was actually quite nice as there are now huge shoulders about a lane wide from 111th Street through Archer. I had looked at a map put out by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF) and took the recommended route home. It was better up until Archer--the map has Willow Springs/Flavin Road highlighted as the preferred route. There's no shoulder, the road is crumbling at the sides and cars are just flying by trying to avoid traffic on LaGrange. Who would've thunk Route 45 would actually be the safest street to ride on in that area?

On Sept. 22 I'll get to attend an all-day training on the bike for the new part-time gig I have with CBF. Very cool. The job may only go through July so I'll have to enjoy it while I can. Hopefully, I have better luck getting people to commute than I've had with Tom. He hasn't commuted since he got stung on the tongue.

We just got our trail-gator thing yesterday. It's supposed to let me connect Christopher's bike to my bike, kind of like a tandem. I'll post pics and a review once we get it put together.

Apologies for being grumpy

2008-09-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize for being so cranky after yesterday's race. I probably rode decent for me but really felt like I should have rode better. I have not been able to get in a good warm up (as in 30 minutes or more) the whole season except for a few races and, unfortunately, had some issues with the food I ate that morning and night before. Oh, well.

Christopher, however, had a total ball. I helped him get his little bike up the grassy hill and got him down without him killing himself. He got to ride around with Tom as well, pretended to drive our car, got told how cute he was, got to see horses and got to see lots of bikes. So, for him, it was a great day. Tom did well in the overall for sport although most of the really speedy guys appeared to be in his age group.

It was really nice having a race so close. When we got home, I discovered that I could fit both my new cross bike and my old cross bike into my tiny Hyundai Accent. We got my seat at the right height on my new bike, I practiced a few mounts and dismounts and was quite the happy girl again. For all Chicago cross races, I'll get to race first and Tom will probably come up separately with Christopher. So, I'll definitely get to warm up without changing diapers, keeping Christopher from riding out in front of a car on his bike, etc. = )

This afternoon I got an email that I got a part-time job with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation helping people commute by bike more in addition to walking more and using public transportation. Yea!!!!! I seriously get way too excited planning my commuting routes so the job seems to be so perfectly suited for me

New bike, lots of rides and rain

2008-09-04T12:21:00.001-07:00

Christopher got a new bike -- a Trek with 12 inch wheels. The photo is of his first ride (not including in the store). At first, it was a little hard for him as it is a lot heavier than his little Radio Flyer bike and it's his first bike with brakes. But, he's getting the hang of it pretty quick and was riding around a little yesterday evening at the bottom of the big grassy hill at Palos.

I was able to get out for nearly three-hour rides Saturday, Sunday and Monday which was wonderful. Sunday's ride was pretty short since I had just got to Psychopath when I encountered two guys off their bikes at the first little log. One of them had gone over it, nose dived and flew into a tree shattering the helmet. He was sitting on the ground with his camelback bladder held up to his eye -- the area around which was already reddish-purple-ish. I had actually printed out a map of the trails thinking I'd be adventurous after Psychopath and Turf 1 so I used the map and called Tom to figure out the best way to get him to where his friend could pick him up. It took 40 minutes but there was really no way I could leave them there without them having any idea of how to get back. Tom also got in long mountainbike rides on Sat. and Monday and did a ride on the paved trails with Christopher on Sunday. I caught up with them as they were coming home on Sunday which was nice since Christopher kept saying "Hi mommy!"

This afternoon my mother is watching the little guy and I had hoped to ride the course for Sunday's race but it's been constant rain. We did both get a quick lap in yesterday evening after picking up the packets. I actually had a meeting I had to attend for the local paper at 8 p.m. so, while Tom was riding, I was changing and trying to get everything ready. I shut the rear window and then hear the front car door shut. Christopher comes walking over to me but the keys are still in the car and he had managed to lock all the car doors first. I had to flag down about 5 guys riding by before I found one with a cell phone (mine being in the car). While we were waiting for Tom to finish riding and my dad to pick me up, poor Christopher kept asking for juice and his helmet not understanding why I wouldn't get them out of the car for him.

belated race report

2008-08-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of mountaingoat)

Tom & I decided to trek up to the Border Battle this weekend. I was concerned with how Christopher would handle that long in the RV but it didn't go as bad as I thought it might. I had stocked up on books, DVD's and a puzzle at the library and brought a bunch of toys and other puzzles.

The course was awesome. Logs, bridges -- I was really glad to ride it but was not so sure how it would be racing with comp guys behind me. As it turned out, the WORS guys were fine for the most part. It was the Minn. guys who were a pain in the butt -- passing without letting me know, bumping me, etc. as they passed and actually wanting me to come to a stop so they could get around me. What ticks me off even more is I had told this group that one could pass me now and I'd find a spot quickly for the rest to pass. No one passed me and then they tell me to stop. I got over as far as I could to the left (so as not to fall off the trail to the right) and was annoyed I ended up having to put a foot down as they went by.

My start blew and I couldn't make up for it. I was able to line up in the front, even without a call up. But, by the top of the hill there was a gap between me and the girl ahead of me. Normally, my heart rate shoots up for the start but I couldn't get it up high and didn't feel like I was going as hard as I should be able to. Weird. I'm guessing it's because I got less than a half-hour warm up but am not sure. I will be so happy for cross season when I race first and will actually get to warm up.

What sucked even more than my start was that I guess there was some type of wind burst right after the start of the race that ripped our awning off the RV and destroyed our EZ up. We had put up the EZ up with the screen so I could warm up on the trainer and try to keep Christopher contained but it turned out that Tom hadn't brought the trainer. So, it sucked even more since I'd still have the EZ up if it just hadn't been put up in the first place.

For Tom it was even worse since he had crashed good enough during his race that he actually cracked his helmet. His shoulder is still a little sore today.

My last lap of the race ended up being my fastest lap. I may have to try some more endurance races but I'm probably not heading up to Green Bay this weekend. I've had a cold most of the week and will finally be getting back on my bike this evening to ride to a school board meeting. I'm probably going to stay home and ride the Palos trails. We'll see.

On the job front, I had interviewed with a bike group last week for a position where I would actually help people commute by bike and walk. A job that I would seem to be made for since I get so excited planning my bike commutes. I actually thought the interview didn't go that well and that they seemed to think I actually biked too much. But, they contacted me for professional references and I know they've called at least one of them so hope, hope. It would be a part-time position that I could do from home but would only last probably until July.

Exhausting weekend

2008-08-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend but am exhausted and feel like I need a few days to recover. On Friday afternoon, I was lucky to tag along when my mother took my nephew to see the new Batman movie for his birthday. The movie was awesome, she bought me popcorn and she bought me Jimmy John's afterward. Yea! And, I got to ride my bike to drop off Christopher with a relative beforehand and to meet up with my mom and nephew at the theater. Riding is always good. = )

Saturday, I did the Women's 3/4 criterium race at Downers Grove. I was kind of nervous about it as I would be a Cat. 4 competing against Cat. 3's in addition to the fact that I have extremely little road experience doing very few races and even fewer group rides. So, my goal was to not be last. Being promoted as the national criterium championships, I wasn't sure if that was possible but I figured it was, at the worst, only 20 minutes of humiliation. Well, I was 19th out of 23! Yea for me! I had been riding a good portion of the race with a group of four and two of them came past me before the last turn and I couldn't keep up. It didn't help I sprinted with one to go, thinking the race might be over. Whoops. Afterwards a girl told me I was in front too long. But, it was only 20 minutes and the girls I was with did not seem to be able to take the turns at all. They'd brake way more than they needed to which made me brake more than I needed to and then have to sprint to catch up to their sprinting. It was easier to just ride past them and stay in front for awhile. And, again, it was only 20 minutes and was just a learning experience for me anyway.

We didn't get to hang around too long as I got to cover a Bike and Dine for the local paper. It was kind of fun but I got so hungry! It didn't help that I didn't have a chance to really eat after the race. I was offered food -- but, being vegan, there wasn't really anything I could eat anyway. I stuck around for about an hour and a half and then rode home. It was a total of about 22 miles -- which was in addition to the race and in addition to nearly 98 miles of commuting various places during the week. So, my legs were tired and I was tired.

Sunday morning, Tom and I got up early and dropped off Christopher at Tom's aunts to go on our first group ride together since before Christopher was born. We went to Palos with Rachel, John, Bubba, Coop, Anne, Rick, a Skinny's guy that I can't remember his name (Dan, maybe) and a couple of Hayes guys that I should know their names -- another Dan I think. We had a couple of other guys for the first part of the ride that I think Bubba knew. Tom and I ducked out a little earlier than everyone else to go get Christopher. I had 19.1 miles and more than 2 hours of actual riding time -- not including some of the longer breaks to talk and regroup. Even though these trails are within riding distance from our house, it was an hour into riding before we were on trails I was familiar with (although, a couple I had been on once or twice). There are just a lot of trails out there and when I go by myself I stick to trails I know so I won't get lost. It was a lot of fun but I thought I was going to die. Rachel, our tour guide for the day, is so frigging fast. We'd stop to regroup and my HR would be 190, 188, 191. I'm sure all my bike time this week and race yesterday didn't help. Afterwards, we all went to Portillo's. It was great to ride with everyone and great to get on a bunch of trails I don't normally ride.

Tom proved me wrong

2008-08-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

I keep joking we will be in the emergency room any day with Christopher. We were in the immediate care center last night but it was actually because of Tom. As he was riding his bike home from the train station last night, a bug flew in his mouth. Normally, not a big deal although a little gross. Well, soon after he spit the bug out, his tongue started to swell. By the time he got home, his tongue was huge. We should have took a photo but didn't think of it. He took a Claritin but the swelling increased more so, after a search to find Christopher's Elmo doll, we were off. We were there about an hour and a half. The Claritin had started to kick in by then so Tom got a prescription for some steroids but only needs to take them if it gets worse.

Christopher thought the whole thing was great fun. There was another 2-year-old there briefly, he got to run around, he played with a pay phone, figured out how to make water come out of the water fountain AND an ambulance and fire truck came to take some poor woman to the nearby hospital. The firemen waved to Christopher and said hi to him both as they were coming in as well as when they were leaving. So, for Tom, the evening sucked. For Christopher, it probably ranks up there with his birthday. I just kept thinking I was hungry and felt like I needed a nap after chasing Christopher around.

I signed up for the criterium in Downers Grove on Saturday. It's a 3/4 race so I am so totally going to get my butt kicked. Not only am I slow as hell but, with Christopher and my insane schedule, I have not done any group rides in more than a year and have only done a few criteriums. It's only 20 minutes so the humilation will be short. = )

Then, afterward, I get to cover a "Bike and Dine" event in Homewood, IL for the local paper. The race is at 2 p.m. and the event starts at 4 p.m. so Tom will drop me off but I should be able to ride home. I'm very excited. It's almost like getting paid to ride. = )

Kewaskum

2008-08-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

I made the mistake of driving up Saturday to preride the course. Ick. Barely any single track and lots of high grass and weeds that I appear to be allergic to. I hadn't been there since 2005 and I swear there is even less single track since then. Tom didn't want to race so I decided to drive up by myself -- (relatively) close race, series points and, perhaps most importantly, I could actually warm up! Normally, I'm watching Christopher while Tom races.

I did well for me. My times were pretty consistent with my last lap time actually being a smidge faster than the other laps. Fastest speed was during the first, slightly longer, lap. I was farther behind April than I normally am but this is about the worst type of course for me there could be: no singletrack and lots of climbing. It was obviously a good workout as my butt muscles were sore for the ride home. I'm not sure if there's any way I convince myself to ever race there again though.

Photos of Christopher from the wedding

2008-08-10T20:19:00.001-07:00

Christopher with my nieces and nephews after the ceremony. Two of my nephews are modeling the lovely tuxes they had to wear as groomsmen.

Christopher holding my fake flowers after the ceremony. You can see part of my dress, as he is standing next to me.

The best parts were hearing my little guy babbling happily during the ceremony and watching him dance around during the reception. Other than that, it sucked.

(Photos courtesy of my sister.)

First failed commute

2008-08-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Monday was the first commute I had to bail on. I rode to a village board meeting that was about 12 miles away. I was kind of excited because I had changed my route slightly from the last time I went and it went much smoother -- less traffic, smoother roads. Then, they cut the meeting short because there is a tornado warning. The forecast had said there was a chance of rain but it seemed like it would be later in the night and there had been no mention of tornadoes. It's not raining yet but I have to ask the mayor a few questions before I go. The mayor then decides I'm not allowed to leave; I have to call to have someone pick me up. Ick. So, I call Tom back and tell him to drive out to Evergreen Park. The mayor then decides I need to leave the building and that a squad will take me somewhere to meet up with Tom. It ends up that the police chief drove me and my bike to my parents where Tom was waiting in the driveway. The village officials said I could leave my bike there. Yeah right. I was trying to get in a low-intensity wattage workout and had actually brought my road bike. There was no way I was leaving it.

The rest of my week has been even more insanely hectic, stressful and busy than usual as I was doing part-time stuff for the local paper, attended two local meetings for them with a total of four articles, did some part-time stuff for a bike group and churned out 10 articles for the commercial real estate publication. Whew. Tonight I have to stand up in a wedding. I'd rather ride my bike home with the tornado warning.

Bleah

2008-08-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

24/9 blew. The bike worked beautifully. It truly seems to make me a better rider. Whether it is the geometry, slightly more suspension or just because I'm riding a cool teal bike, I'm not sure and it doesn't matter.

Although the bike worked great, my body did not. To not make this a long and boring post -- let's just suffice it to say that I did basically everything wrong you could possibly do from lack of training and lack of sleep to an incredibly stupid decision of finding out my camelback bladder of Heed and Endurolytes had more than half leaked out into the cooler and just adding more water before my race. It kind of just spiraled down after that.

The first two laps did go good and I had a lot of fun riding, passing people in the single track (and then, of course, getting passed in the open and hilly sections), talking briefly to people I knew on the trail and even getting some compliments on my handling skills. Oh well. I did ride 70 miles -- about the only good thing about it. I think all endurance races will probably be out until Christopher is like 10. At this rate, I'll be stuck to cross and road racing -- since there's local races. And, I do love cross but really consider road as the last resort when considering biking options.

My demon turned 2

2008-07-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

(Photo from last week's B-day party)

Christopher turned two-years-old today. It's hard to believe he is both so old and that it was only slightly more than two years ago that I actually had some control of what I do. It's a good thing he's a cutie because he has been on a tear lately -- jumping, throwing everything, kicking and even occasionally biting me for the fun of it.

I will soon be changing jobs, sort of. For more than the past year and a half I have been churning out 10 articles a week in what they term as a part-time position. This is in addition to writing some articles for the local paper and working a few hours a month for League of Illinois Bicyclists. A temporary part-time job opened up at the paper and I jumped at an excuse to quit the 10 articles a week. Of course, once the temp. position ends I'll probably have to try to scrounge up some additional income but I'm hoping to actually have a small amount of free-time instead of working every night 'til 1 or 2 in the morning. The other bad thing is I start the part-time job immediately but still have a week and a half to go before I quit doing two articles a day for the other publication. So, I will be an extremely stressed, tired and cranking camper until then.

Alterra race report

2008-07-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

(Image stolen from Mountaingoat)

I was hoping for a good race. And, it wasn't great but it wasn't horrible, so I guess it was good. Except for the one long climb in the sun up the ski hill, this is a great course for me. Not only is it technical, I've ridden these trails enough -- including several 12 hour races -- that I should know them by heart and know the places to let the expert and comp guys to squeak by. It would have been a "great" race except I had my chain come off three times, including once in the "Small Intestine" (I think that's the name of the trail) that just took me freakin' forever to get back on. Brittany passed me after I had worked so dang hard to get in front of her and the other girls I had been somewhat near were, of course, way gone. I also went, apparently, a little too hard my first lap. Avg. HR: 186, Max HR: 200. I took a Gu my second lap and thought I was going to puke. I started bonking, a little cramping. But, I made up the hill every time and I did start catching up to April at the end. Without the heat (and playing with Christopher in the heat for an hour or so before the race), I think I could have at least come close to catching her. But, it was still a good race and I still love those trails.

With only a two-hour drive each way, a box full of toys, several books and a Sesame Street DVD, you would think I could have kept Christopher entertained. Nope. By the time we were almost home, I had told Tom we should have named him Damian after the character in "The Omen." It does not bode well for the trek to 24/9.

EDIT: I almost forgot to mention that I picked up my cross bike yesterday. I'm in love. It is so light and so cool looking. I also found out that I can get my mountain bike repainted at the end of the season. Yea! As long as I can get it the same beautiful color. = )

My son the "Hamster"

2008-07-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Here's Christopher hamming it up for the camera on the new toddler swingset my parents bought him for his B-day.

Woo hoo!

2008-07-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

The stars aligned and I decided to make the trek up north and do the Metro Wednesday race tonight. I have been really tired lately and considered blowing it off but I'm so glad I went. I have not been on my mountain bike nearly enough this year. I was kind of skittish starting out but soon got into a groove. I did the back section of singletrack when I first got there (O'Malley's Woods, I think) and then climbed up to the top of the ski hill. There were five girls that started, four that actually finished. I did two laps and then realized there was still at least one guy that still had to do another lap so I went out and did a third lap (women & juniors have to do two) and then went up to the top of the hill one more time.

The two hour drive home and the fact that I still have two articles to write blows but I'm still really happy that I went. I forgot how much I love that course. I'm actually excited to race Sunday and I get to pick up my new cross bike this weekend! Woo hoo! = )

Foiled, and foiled again

2008-07-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

My plan was to do the 12-hour race at Crystal Ridge on Saturday. I've been pretty exhausted lately but I was still excited since (1) I love that course, (2) it would be a good warm-up for the WORS race this weekend and (3) it'd be a good warm-up for 24/9. I've only done one six-hour race this year and that would have been my only 12-hour race. Updates kept saying 50/50 chance. I get there to find a one-hour delay. By the time they cancelled it, I was glad. By then, I was in no mood to race. I did some shopping at the Wal-Mart in search of these Wal-Mart brand PB crackers we could only find north of the border but, apparently, they no longer make them. I did find a present for Christopher's birthday, a small backpack for commuting and a few other things so it wasn't all lost.

I got back home, took a nap (I had gotten up by 5 a.m.) and had plans to do a nice long ride on paved trails by my house to Old Plank Trail and possibly even trying to find how it hooks up with the I & M Canal Trail. I didn't get started 'til 4 p.m. and was at Central and Vollmer when I hear hissing coming from the back. I cross the street and turn around thinking Crap! because I suck at changing tires. I then realize the tube is sticking out of the tire. Double crap. I call Tom who comes out with a new rear tire. After sitting in the heat for 20+ minutes and learning our last tube is now on my rear wheel, I say screw it. We get my bike in the car, get home and I went with Tom & Christopher (with Tom pulling) for a long loop. A total of only about 2 hours.

Sunday was Christopher's 2nd birthday party at a local park. It was a little toasty but everyone seemed to have a good time. Christopher was running all over the place -- from the slides/swings area to the tennis courts, to the basketball court, to where people were sitting, etc. Last year, he didn't really enjoy his party so it was nice that he had so much fun this year. I have some pics but I have to still figure out how to post those. = )

Here we go...

2008-07-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

After lurking and reading other people's blogs for more than a year, I finally created my own blog. I should actually thank Julie. I needed to sign on to post a comment and, when I went to change my profile to display "vegan" instead of my first name, I decided to take the plunge.

But, I do not have too much that's interesting for my first post. I commuted to a local village board meeting. I had another person beep at me as if bikes are not allowed on the road -- mind you he was in the left lane of a two-laned street and I was in the right lane as far right as I could be. The people who pull out of parking lots, or turn at intersections, without looking for pedestrians or bikers really annoyed me this evening making me want to pound on some stupid lady's car.

I can't decide if I actually want to race at Crystal Ridge on Saturday or not. I hate muddy races but I hate even more the suspense of whether a race will go on. I almost just want it to rain so I know and can just sleep in -- of course, with a two-year-old who am I kidding about thinking I can sleep in? = )