OK, so I wasn't with Maury, I don't even know a Maury. It was still, however a Tuesday. But I decided to shake things up, or at least the decision was made for me. Word came down that there was only one police escort for Tuesday Donaldson festivities and of course they would be with the A group. I, along with the others decided that I would go with the A's.
We started, it was a good pace and then half way through the lap (as the A's only use half a lap to "warm up") the train stretched into a long line and everyone was booking. I had stayed up to close to the front and new I was gonna have to fall back or give it everything I had in me. I decided to go for it and pour what I had into staying with the attacks as long as I could. These dudes weren't playing. I was moving from wheel to wheel as riders came from behind. I slowed at the top of the hill before the RR tracks and got back into the group where I thought I would be somewhat safe and have a better draft. Oh S*&@!!! I lost a water bottle over the tracks. I called out to the riders behind me "BOTTLE".
The group continued to surge further along the 7 mile course. We hit the hill that comes before the finish and I just tried to stay tucked in, the attack shenanigans had worn me down. As we headed back out for lap two I had drifted all the way to the back, luckily Arthur was there and I took his wheel to get back into the crowd where I stayed until golf course hill. I again started to fall back. Arthur caught me again and pushed me back in where I stayed until the end of the that lap. I let them ride away from me, I didn't want to kill myself with a race comming up this weekend (see below blog entry).
But as I was spinning slowly, feeling somewhat beaten a Land Rover/Touring Sport racer passed me. "Oh Hell NO", I was not going to let him pass me and leave me, I would at least try to get his wheel. As it ends up I passed him up the hill. Then he pulled up next to me saying he guessed we's have to duke it out until the end. I didn't have the breath to say no, just smiled and nodded. I figured the motivation of keeping up with him would be a good thing, I ride faster with others than when I'm alone. At some point I got ahead of him, not sure how. He caught up after I stopped at the RR tracks to pick up the bottle I had dropped and we rode together for a little while longer, then I got ahead of him again. Still not sure how that happened either, he must have been tappering.
I pulled off and meandered a bit and then Dawn, Cissy and I jumped back in with the A's. I didn't last to long in the lap but I didn't feel like crap. Giselle told me how strong I looked in the attacks at the start of the ride. Yeah, unfortuantely they shelled me by lap three. Gotta stop getting so damn excited and remember to stay back in the pack.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
NC/SC State Road Race & The Pink Pain Train
So the State road race is Saturday. I have decided to do the race with 4 or 5 other teammates. There are several of us riding strong so we have great chances to get to the podium which is extremely exciting. The Pink Pain Train will be in full force.
I've raced on team before but never like this with girls that are friends and so connected to each other. I'm excited, nervous, hopeful... but the best part is that Saturday night after the races we can take our number to Barley's and a free beer!!!
I'm looking forward to the race, spending some time with my teammates and a fun night of seeing those I already know and meeting some new people at Barley's post race. I haven't been out in a LONG time, gonna have to dust off the jeans, heels and lipstick :)
I've raced on team before but never like this with girls that are friends and so connected to each other. I'm excited, nervous, hopeful... but the best part is that Saturday night after the races we can take our number to Barley's and a free beer!!!
I'm looking forward to the race, spending some time with my teammates and a fun night of seeing those I already know and meeting some new people at Barley's post race. I haven't been out in a LONG time, gonna have to dust off the jeans, heels and lipstick :)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Another Big Finish
I had another GREAT ride at Donaldson this week. I finished 7th in the sprint, bridged a few gaps (one of them up Golf Course Hill), had one big attack and a few good pulls. I'm starting to think I want to race the SC/NC state road race and I only have one more week to decide.
I'm having a real breakthrough wtih my riding right now. I did a few rides with people who made me feel "less than worthy" to be looking at their ass as they rode away from me in recent months. I've always understood that there are going to be riders that are stronger than me. But being less than humble makes me want to smack the doo doo out of people. I spose I just need to focus on those that are willing to go a little slower than they can, make me hang on their wheel and encourage me when God and my legs know I want to stop and curl up like a little girl on the side of the road. Regardless, I've seen my progress mentally and physically. I never understood until these last few months how much those two aspects go hand in hand in cycling.
For the first time I feel really strong going in to the fall. Though it is hard to judge my "racing other women" ability unless I actually get to race them. Truth is the female competition around here blows some of the men I've raced out of the water. I'm thinking i need to step up my game and try to ride with the A's.
Keep the rubber side down :)
I'm having a real breakthrough wtih my riding right now. I did a few rides with people who made me feel "less than worthy" to be looking at their ass as they rode away from me in recent months. I've always understood that there are going to be riders that are stronger than me. But being less than humble makes me want to smack the doo doo out of people. I spose I just need to focus on those that are willing to go a little slower than they can, make me hang on their wheel and encourage me when God and my legs know I want to stop and curl up like a little girl on the side of the road. Regardless, I've seen my progress mentally and physically. I never understood until these last few months how much those two aspects go hand in hand in cycling.
For the first time I feel really strong going in to the fall. Though it is hard to judge my "racing other women" ability unless I actually get to race them. Truth is the female competition around here blows some of the men I've raced out of the water. I'm thinking i need to step up my game and try to ride with the A's.
Keep the rubber side down :)
Monday, August 20, 2007
MTB in GA and thats no Bull
I have come to realize those things that I truly value in life. They are the things that make me leave a table full of Girlfriends out for a somewhat raucous evening of Birthday celebrations because I have to peel my butt out of bed at 5 in the morning. Yep, you read right, I got up at 5:00 am Sunday. ?For what??" you ask. For some mountain biking in Georgia at Bull Mountain. Well that and the promise of IHOP pre ride. Yumm, pancakes and crappy coffee :)
The plan was hatched by a friend who had a buddy driving from Atl to meet him and commence the "ASIAN GAMES, PART II". Both of them being of Asian descent they named their competition as such. We started the ride around 10:30 or 11:00. The weather was great, though a little humid, not to swampy. We climbed service road for a while and then ducked onto the trail. There was a lot of climbing to be done, big roots and loose rocks here and there. The trail was rolling, a few grunts, but it was nice.
We came to another portion of gravel service road that had to be climbed. As we started my friend Abey pulled away from me like someone was paying him to do so. I moved right to let his friend try to catch him. He pumped hard, came by me and looked like he was on his was to catching up. The road reminded me of Mitchell, I figured the best thing for me to do was just settle into my pace and stay steady since I didn't know how long we would be on it. But then something wonderful happened, I caught sight of Abey's friend and realized I was gonna catch him. Just as I started to pass him he stopped to rest and get a drink. Then the next mark came into sight. I could see Abey and I was determined to catch him. I put it in a harder gear and just stayed steady, gaining distance on him with each pedal stroke. I rode up next to him and we stayed together from that point on up to the top of the climb and waited for everyone else. We talked about it after the ride and he wasn't happy about being caught, I just told him I'm not fast or slow, just steady. So at least I have that going for me :)
Later on in the ride there was a nice downhill section that flowed really well, wasn't to steep. I was barely touching my brakes (which is rare on a DH) and I was finding some good lines. Debbie was right on my wheel so I think the pressure helped. Then all of the sudden I saw this big gray blob on my right. My front wheel shifted and before I could correct I ran over it. Debbie said my whole bike went sideways and my front tire went hard to the right. Luckily I caught enough air to get straightened out and somehow managed not to wreck.
We all regrouped and headed back to the cars. The ride was fun, we only did 15 miles and that took a while since we had different abilities and fitness levels in the group. But it was a great day in the saddle spent with people who mean the world to me.
The plan was hatched by a friend who had a buddy driving from Atl to meet him and commence the "ASIAN GAMES, PART II". Both of them being of Asian descent they named their competition as such. We started the ride around 10:30 or 11:00. The weather was great, though a little humid, not to swampy. We climbed service road for a while and then ducked onto the trail. There was a lot of climbing to be done, big roots and loose rocks here and there. The trail was rolling, a few grunts, but it was nice.
We came to another portion of gravel service road that had to be climbed. As we started my friend Abey pulled away from me like someone was paying him to do so. I moved right to let his friend try to catch him. He pumped hard, came by me and looked like he was on his was to catching up. The road reminded me of Mitchell, I figured the best thing for me to do was just settle into my pace and stay steady since I didn't know how long we would be on it. But then something wonderful happened, I caught sight of Abey's friend and realized I was gonna catch him. Just as I started to pass him he stopped to rest and get a drink. Then the next mark came into sight. I could see Abey and I was determined to catch him. I put it in a harder gear and just stayed steady, gaining distance on him with each pedal stroke. I rode up next to him and we stayed together from that point on up to the top of the climb and waited for everyone else. We talked about it after the ride and he wasn't happy about being caught, I just told him I'm not fast or slow, just steady. So at least I have that going for me :)
Later on in the ride there was a nice downhill section that flowed really well, wasn't to steep. I was barely touching my brakes (which is rare on a DH) and I was finding some good lines. Debbie was right on my wheel so I think the pressure helped. Then all of the sudden I saw this big gray blob on my right. My front wheel shifted and before I could correct I ran over it. Debbie said my whole bike went sideways and my front tire went hard to the right. Luckily I caught enough air to get straightened out and somehow managed not to wreck.
We all regrouped and headed back to the cars. The ride was fun, we only did 15 miles and that took a while since we had different abilities and fitness levels in the group. But it was a great day in the saddle spent with people who mean the world to me.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
A Swarm of Bs and my first honey pot
OK, let me get this out of my system... I FINISHED MY FIRST DONALDSON RACE OF THE YEAR LAST NIGHT!!!! AND I FINISHED IN THE LEAD PACK!!!
So yesterday was a good day. Arthur took me to work so that he could tune up my bike and then picked me up for Donaldson. As I walked out to the car I noticed my FUJI was perched upon some sweet Cane Creek wheels, yippee!! As we rode he asked what I planned on riding. I told him it would probably depend on what everyone else was going to do.
Once parked I met up with Susan, Kimberly, Danna and Caroline for the GO pics and then Kimberly and I went off for our warm up spin to Golf Course Hill and back. Once lined up I decided I was going to do the Bs with Cissy. We started out and Abhey came around the front on the warm up lap. We got going pretty fast for a warm up lap, at least that is what my legs were telling me. Caroline, Danna, Cissy and myself stayed close to each other for a while. Caroline busted booty and went on several breaks, staying strong in each one. Danna repeatedly worked her way to the front to mix it up. Cissy was showing everybody how to hang tuff after 2 months off a bike!! The laps went on and on. I just kept telling myself to ride smart and find the right wheel. I was forcing myself to survive the accelerations and hills. I lost one of my water bottles i think on lap 4, luckily I survived without it. I heard Danna ask me as we headed out for lap 5 if I was gonna do all 6?? I told her I was gonna try. My brain arguing with me each time that I was done and could quit, after all I had made it to 4 laps, farther than ever before. But then my bull headed alter ego showed up and asked what the hell good are 4 laps when you can finish???
At some point I attacked on the start of a lap. I pushed back into the draft when they caught me. On the start of lap 6 we got stuck behind some student drivers, driving 18 wheelers no less. But they got out of the way and we proceeded to finish our LAST LAP. After crossing the railroad tracks Tyler accidentally pushed me right. I went into the grass. Luckily Cissy was behind me and she kept a big gap so that I could get back in, it only took THREE tries to get back on the blacktop. That last hill came and I was thinking "I'm actually going to do it!!!" The front of the group surged as people tried getting off the front. Riders behind me tried to maneuver around me. I went up a few gears and my legs were burning like a five alarm fire. I caught as many wheels as I could since I was about to pop myself. But it happened, I finished, I think somewhere between 12th and 15th.
I jokingly told Arthur that it must have been the magic wheels on my bike but he reminded me that it isn't the bike, its the rider. The best part was being able to, even if only briefly, celebrate with Caroline and Susan. I think I'm ready for next week :)
So yesterday was a good day. Arthur took me to work so that he could tune up my bike and then picked me up for Donaldson. As I walked out to the car I noticed my FUJI was perched upon some sweet Cane Creek wheels, yippee!! As we rode he asked what I planned on riding. I told him it would probably depend on what everyone else was going to do.
Once parked I met up with Susan, Kimberly, Danna and Caroline for the GO pics and then Kimberly and I went off for our warm up spin to Golf Course Hill and back. Once lined up I decided I was going to do the Bs with Cissy. We started out and Abhey came around the front on the warm up lap. We got going pretty fast for a warm up lap, at least that is what my legs were telling me. Caroline, Danna, Cissy and myself stayed close to each other for a while. Caroline busted booty and went on several breaks, staying strong in each one. Danna repeatedly worked her way to the front to mix it up. Cissy was showing everybody how to hang tuff after 2 months off a bike!! The laps went on and on. I just kept telling myself to ride smart and find the right wheel. I was forcing myself to survive the accelerations and hills. I lost one of my water bottles i think on lap 4, luckily I survived without it. I heard Danna ask me as we headed out for lap 5 if I was gonna do all 6?? I told her I was gonna try. My brain arguing with me each time that I was done and could quit, after all I had made it to 4 laps, farther than ever before. But then my bull headed alter ego showed up and asked what the hell good are 4 laps when you can finish???
At some point I attacked on the start of a lap. I pushed back into the draft when they caught me. On the start of lap 6 we got stuck behind some student drivers, driving 18 wheelers no less. But they got out of the way and we proceeded to finish our LAST LAP. After crossing the railroad tracks Tyler accidentally pushed me right. I went into the grass. Luckily Cissy was behind me and she kept a big gap so that I could get back in, it only took THREE tries to get back on the blacktop. That last hill came and I was thinking "I'm actually going to do it!!!" The front of the group surged as people tried getting off the front. Riders behind me tried to maneuver around me. I went up a few gears and my legs were burning like a five alarm fire. I caught as many wheels as I could since I was about to pop myself. But it happened, I finished, I think somewhere between 12th and 15th.
I jokingly told Arthur that it must have been the magic wheels on my bike but he reminded me that it isn't the bike, its the rider. The best part was being able to, even if only briefly, celebrate with Caroline and Susan. I think I'm ready for next week :)
Monday, August 13, 2007
Don't Look Back
It has been one hell of a month. Things are in a place right now that I didn't think they would ever be in. I've had my share of tears, hurt and anger recently... the kind of pain that makes you physically sick. My riding suffered just as much as my heart.
I had talked to Arthur Saturday afternoon and we planned a longish road ride for the next morning. Maybe 30 miles or so, nothing to hard or long since I was feeling less than par. So Sunday was a new day, I was coming out of the black abyss where I had been gripped by the kind of anger that leads you to say all kinds of nasty things to those that you would have never intentionally hurt. Around 8:00am we were off, headed south for a nice gently rolling ride.
It was a beautiful morning, gray and cool. After temps of 110+ in the afternoons the overcast day was a welcome sight, far from the normal label of "gloomy" that I would normally have smacked on it. We kitted up and pedaled away from the school out towards Spartanburg. I tucked in and sat on his wheel, it was strange how safe I felt behind him. I wanted to ride that way and not stop, just in his draft, away from hurt feelings and all the what ifs I had going through my head. Arthur is one of those very talented cyclists who can size you up within 5 minutes of riding with you. He has always known just how hard he can push me and I was thankful for that. He knew what I needed and what I could handle. I stayed so close to him that we might as well have been on a tandem.
The miles hummed by, we passed a house that had a huge stone gate and I turned my head to look at it. In just that brief second, where I lost focus, Arthur's wheel slipped away. I had to work to get back up to him. I realized something in that moment, that I have to look straight ahead and let those things that pass me by pass me by. No matter how beautiful I thought they were or how much potential I thought they had, they just weren't meant to be anything other than something that slips from my peripheral vision. If I stop to look back I'm going to slow my journey to the next wonderful destination that lies ahead of me or lose the safety of the draft in front of me.
At about 20 miles Arthur asked me how I was feeling, "I'm good". My responses are never long and I don't talk much when I ride... that is my time to either work my butt off or shut my mind down and just melt into the road. I had one gel with me as I had forgotten my gu flask when we left the apt. I sucked it down and fought to stay where I was. A few extremely flat sections came along and we were both in our big rings, Arthur kept looking back to see if I was still there. I was so tight on him that if he stopped pedaling even for just a second I would have ran up his rear. The surge in my legs was electric, it felt so good to be working and going so fast. We just glided over the blacktop the way a bird glides over the water in the winter when everything is still and silent. Arthur is always mindful to look back to see whre I'm at and make sure I'm still with him. He's always mindful to ask if the pace is alright, do we need to slow down or speed up. The funny thing is that his pace is always just where I need it to be, again I was greatful.
At the end of the ride we were in a headwind. Arthur was taking breaks here and there, taking what little pulls and draft I could offer him. I pulled the last few miles with everything I had left in my legs, I was to the point of bonking. But I wanted the pain, I wanted the physical pain to replace the wayward emotions and anger that had been occupying every part of my body. It swallowed me, turned me inside out and released so much of what had been building inside of me. It was almost like a bomb went off, leaving me black and charred. But at the same time I was refreshed, ready to move past it as we came to a stop sign and waited our turn to cross.
We headed back to the school where we started from and commenced changing and loading up. Something inside was dormant now, relieved. Arthur told me we did 50 miles @ 19.5mph. That was a hard pill to swallow considering how crappy I've been feeling lately, but good to know my legs can still kick, even if to the south on what we in the south call "flat". We both agreed there is much work to be done with me between now and October to be ready for Fall for Greenville and the Classics Race. I'm not a crit racer, never have been, but that is where my focus will be between now and then.
I'll probably hang my mtb shoes up until the fall. I'll have to take the winter to decide where I'm headed next year, if anywhere... we'll see. Luckily I have friends and everyone at the shop and the best team that anyone could ask for. I'm inspired to grow and redefine happiness for my life. Go Do, that is all you can do in this life. Let go of anger and move forward, be accountable for your words and actions and praise God that He gives you a new day to do the things that you didn't yesterday. Hope above all that your path be quick and your load be light because trials are not enemies of faith but opportunities to prove God's faithfulness. I intend on proving God faithful!
I had talked to Arthur Saturday afternoon and we planned a longish road ride for the next morning. Maybe 30 miles or so, nothing to hard or long since I was feeling less than par. So Sunday was a new day, I was coming out of the black abyss where I had been gripped by the kind of anger that leads you to say all kinds of nasty things to those that you would have never intentionally hurt. Around 8:00am we were off, headed south for a nice gently rolling ride.
It was a beautiful morning, gray and cool. After temps of 110+ in the afternoons the overcast day was a welcome sight, far from the normal label of "gloomy" that I would normally have smacked on it. We kitted up and pedaled away from the school out towards Spartanburg. I tucked in and sat on his wheel, it was strange how safe I felt behind him. I wanted to ride that way and not stop, just in his draft, away from hurt feelings and all the what ifs I had going through my head. Arthur is one of those very talented cyclists who can size you up within 5 minutes of riding with you. He has always known just how hard he can push me and I was thankful for that. He knew what I needed and what I could handle. I stayed so close to him that we might as well have been on a tandem.
The miles hummed by, we passed a house that had a huge stone gate and I turned my head to look at it. In just that brief second, where I lost focus, Arthur's wheel slipped away. I had to work to get back up to him. I realized something in that moment, that I have to look straight ahead and let those things that pass me by pass me by. No matter how beautiful I thought they were or how much potential I thought they had, they just weren't meant to be anything other than something that slips from my peripheral vision. If I stop to look back I'm going to slow my journey to the next wonderful destination that lies ahead of me or lose the safety of the draft in front of me.
At about 20 miles Arthur asked me how I was feeling, "I'm good". My responses are never long and I don't talk much when I ride... that is my time to either work my butt off or shut my mind down and just melt into the road. I had one gel with me as I had forgotten my gu flask when we left the apt. I sucked it down and fought to stay where I was. A few extremely flat sections came along and we were both in our big rings, Arthur kept looking back to see if I was still there. I was so tight on him that if he stopped pedaling even for just a second I would have ran up his rear. The surge in my legs was electric, it felt so good to be working and going so fast. We just glided over the blacktop the way a bird glides over the water in the winter when everything is still and silent. Arthur is always mindful to look back to see whre I'm at and make sure I'm still with him. He's always mindful to ask if the pace is alright, do we need to slow down or speed up. The funny thing is that his pace is always just where I need it to be, again I was greatful.
At the end of the ride we were in a headwind. Arthur was taking breaks here and there, taking what little pulls and draft I could offer him. I pulled the last few miles with everything I had left in my legs, I was to the point of bonking. But I wanted the pain, I wanted the physical pain to replace the wayward emotions and anger that had been occupying every part of my body. It swallowed me, turned me inside out and released so much of what had been building inside of me. It was almost like a bomb went off, leaving me black and charred. But at the same time I was refreshed, ready to move past it as we came to a stop sign and waited our turn to cross.
We headed back to the school where we started from and commenced changing and loading up. Something inside was dormant now, relieved. Arthur told me we did 50 miles @ 19.5mph. That was a hard pill to swallow considering how crappy I've been feeling lately, but good to know my legs can still kick, even if to the south on what we in the south call "flat". We both agreed there is much work to be done with me between now and October to be ready for Fall for Greenville and the Classics Race. I'm not a crit racer, never have been, but that is where my focus will be between now and then.
I'll probably hang my mtb shoes up until the fall. I'll have to take the winter to decide where I'm headed next year, if anywhere... we'll see. Luckily I have friends and everyone at the shop and the best team that anyone could ask for. I'm inspired to grow and redefine happiness for my life. Go Do, that is all you can do in this life. Let go of anger and move forward, be accountable for your words and actions and praise God that He gives you a new day to do the things that you didn't yesterday. Hope above all that your path be quick and your load be light because trials are not enemies of faith but opportunities to prove God's faithfulness. I intend on proving God faithful!
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