It's just a day in the life of, a m(*&%#(*% f*&^%@ bike racer

Have you ever watched this video?  It's so funny.  This blog post is just a day in the life of...me.

It's been awhile since we last spoke.  In the past three weeks I have: been in a wedding, cooked an entire Thanksgiving feast, raced my bike, went to a wedding, attempted to race my bike again, worked, drove to Bend, OR and raced some more, then drove back to Bellingham.

My very good friend went and got hitched on Nov. 20th and it was an awesome beautiful wedding and I was so pleased to be a part of the bridal party.  The weekend was quite an extravagent 2 days, for me at least.  On Saturday we had the rehearsal, and then we were treated to a yummy brunch (thanks Beth and Brian).  Later that day the girls went to get their nails done.  I think I have had my nails done...twice in my life, and a pedicure?  One time, and now two.  It was, needless to say, an experience.  The lady had a heck of a time shaving and scrubbing off my calus filled feet.  I even told her she was getting a work out (I don't think she found it as funny as I did).  Instead of me explaining to you my experience with the language barriers how about I let you watch this video and look at the pictures. 

After my feet and hands were rubbed, scrubbed, and painted we had a girls night and watched Bridesmaids.  The next day the real fun "pampering" began.  As you know me...I had to go for a run, so I woke up a little early and went for a nice crisp morning jog before the mayhem began.  Our first trip was to the hair salon to get our hair done.  I searched high and low for a picture of what I wanted for my hair, and found something I wanted.  So when it was my time I told the girl:

1)  I didn't want to look bald with my hair up
2) I wanted something curly

The first thing she did to me was pull my hair directly back and slicked it up with some hair spray, and curls?  What curls?  The end result?  Sarah Palin.  $52 later I looked like Sarah Palin.  I had no time to tell the lady I didn't like my hair, we had to get to the make up place, so I...let it be, I was ready for a day at the office.  Next was my face's turn to be pampered.  I thought the lady would take her time when doing my make up, she didn't.  2 of the bridesmaids had their make up start at least 20 minutes before me, and the girl finished my make up at least 10 minutes before theirs was done.  One look in the mirror, and I looked like a China Doll.  No time to tell her I don't like it. 

So we raced to the venue looking like a Sarah Palin China Doll.  I just told myself, it wasn't my day and who cares what I look like, as long as the Bride was happy and looked beautiful then I don't care about me. 

Isn't she beautiful?!!!!!

AND, I caught the bouqet!

Thanksgiving was fantastic!  I cooked for 20 and had 9 guests.  We had so much left over it was awesome.  Chris and I ate well for quite a few days. 

Sunday Nov. 27th we raced at Monroe for the Seattle Series Finale race.  The weather was....cross weather.  Pouring rain all morning, all day, with big gusts of wind and cold temperatures.  I don't want to bore you with any details of how my awful race went, but it did go something like this...

There was mud, and a lot of it, there was also a lot of moisture, some barriers, a run up, a decent, and some turns.  Oh, and a falling leg warmer.  If you where at the race and you saw my awesome look going on...I wasn't going for a new gansta' trend, my leg warmer wouldn't stop falling off my leg...so I eventually stopped racing, pulled over, and took my mudd covered leg warmer off and handed it over to a spectator...as I did this....3rd place passed me...putting me in, well, 3rd place.  I pouted for awhile and then decided I should try to chase her.  Time ran out and I finished 3rd.  I wasn't too stoked on a 3rd place finish.  That's my worst finish this year, but I was able to hold onto the series...so I WON THE SEATTLE SERIES!  It was my goal going into the season, and to know I achieved my goal makes me feel DAMN good!

This last weekend Chris and I made the annual trip to Bend to race bikes!  Ever since the first year Nationals was at Bend, we have gone every year (third year now).  I have a large crush on Bend and have nothing but good things to say about that city!  This year the USGP was moved from Portland to Bend, it would be my grand finale of my cyclocross season.  There was only one thing missing from the course this year.

MUD!

The course was BONE dry, dusty, gravel, bumpy, FAST.  There was NO slogging around this course this year.  Apparently Bend has been sunny for a long time now, and they have not seen any precipitation recently!  There was a race on Saturday and Sunday and I was racing with the Elite women.  My goal going into the races was to NOT get lapped by the leaders. 

Watch the race day videos on cycling dirt

Saturday I had the best call up a non-ranked rider could get!  Number 25!  I drew a lucky number I guess, so I knew luck had to have been on my side.  I tried to remain as calm as I could at the start of the race and to not worry about anything just race my bike in a smooth fashion.  Before I knew it, I was catching and passing ladies.  On lap 4 I was talking to myself through a corner about being smooth and in control, then the next thing I knew I was on my ass!  I washed out on some gravel I suppose.  I jumped up, laughed it off tried to get back onto my bike, but my break had wedged onto the wheel!  I yanked my brake out of my wheel and finally got it moving again, but I had lost 3 spots. 

By the end of the race I was able to gain back 2 of the 3 spots I lost from the crash and I finished 19th/41 riders.  I was stoked!  That's not too bad for my first big UCI race.  Katerina Nash won the race and was approx 3 minutes and 40 something seconds ahead of me.  She's such a stud!  At the end of the race I felt better once I heard how many women crashed...there where quite a few that went down. 

Sunday was a whole new day!  This time I pulled the LAST number!  So I was the last call up.  Oh well!  Sunday didn't go quite as well as SAturday and I finished 21st, but I still had a great time, loved racing my bike, and I am very proud of my accomplishments!  There is an awesome video someone took of me on my facebook page, but I couldn't figure out how to get it on here, so you if you want to watch it go to my page! 

This year has been such a great year for me, that I can only hope next year goes just as well, or even better!  I am SO motivated to train this next year, train hard on the road so I can become stronger and faster for next cross season!

Sorry for the lack of interesting photos.  I really was trying to find some!

if you want it bad enough, you can get it...part 2

Remember last week how I said if you really want it, you can have it.  It still remains true.  I didn't really know I was going to have a part 2 from last weeks blog post.  Oh well.  As I lined up for the final MFG race in 9th place for the series, it didn't matter how the race went because I had no expectations for the series.  Just another fun cross race.  The series finale took place at Woodland Park in Seattle, close to Greenlake.  This course was my 3rd cross race ever 3 years ago as a Cat 4 AND it was my first cross win ever!  So I kind of have an attatchment to the course. 

Having no expectations for the race I decided I wanted to do as well as I could to win some cash.  So that meant I wanted 1st or 2nd.  I wanted cash, and MFG pays well.  As soon as we started Mel got the hole shot again with Kristy right on her wheel.  To be honest, I don't ever want the hole shot because...who can hold that pace for the rest of the race?  How many times does the hole shot winner actually win?  I sat third wheel behind Kristy through the first few turns of the course and thats when I saw Mel was pulling away from Kristy, I needed to make my move...so I did.  I jumped past Kristy and hopped right onto Mel's wheel and stayed there until we hit the barriers.



I completely hyjaked this photo from Mel's blog.  Her significant other takes fabulous photos.  Here is where I made my move... 

I was able to get through the barries just a tiny bit faster than Mel, hopped on my bike, and then I heard her scream, and apparently from there she had some technical difficulties.  Kristy was hot on my wheel after that and stuck there until the run up when I was able to form a gap.  As I mounted back onto my bike I thought about what I wanted to do, I had a small gap between the group of 3 behind me and I wasn't sure if I wanted to hold back or go hard.  So I thought about it going up the 2 climbs and decided once I went through the start/finish I was going to make my attack.  That's what I did.  I gained a larger gap and kept my eyes on the competition, making sure my gap was getting larger or maintaining with each lap, which it was, AND I didn't have to go full gas like last weekend!  YAY!  I don't like being THAT uncomfortable during a race.  I just thought to myself, once I have a gap all I need to do is go as fast as the competition and they wont catch me!  I wanted that cash and I wanted it bad!  Oh yea the course is an absolute blast as well!!!  One of my favorites. 

I finished with a solid win and felt great at the end of the race.  I had an awesome cheer crew there with my parents and my dads friends out cheering for me, Chris, Katie, and my team!  It was just wonderful. 

My friend Joey, from CX Magazine (or internet famous Joey's Ok), was reporting on the race that day and had a great write up!  Thanks Joey for all the cheering and recording my gap each lap! 

My friend and teammate Aaron informed me that I was ranked #37 in the country for women riders this week.  I didn't know what he was talking about, so I did a little research and discovered this.

Not to bad if I do say so myself.

Watch yo' back....umm...I mean your front side

One of my most favorite things about riding my bike by myself is the alone time.  How it's just me, myself, and I alone with everything that is going on around me.  I don't have to worry about trying to keep up with anyone, or waiting on anyone.  I can just pedal my bike at my speed for how ever long I want.  I can stop to smell the roses, I can stop at a bakery and eat cookies galore.  I can do anything I want when I ride my bike alone.  It gives me a lot of time to think about my life, what I am doing, what can I change, how I can make it better?  I can clear my head of anything that is bothering me, I can push myself to get stronger, faster.  But it also means that if I'm not smart (ie. bringing a tube and pump with me) I could get stranded. 

This week was...weird, to put it bluntly.  I received the phone call on Monday that my job at the hospital is no longer.  Peacehealth decided to close the LifeQuest department and I was officially "layed off" I suppose.  Not too big of a deal for me because it wasn't my main job and I didn't work too many hours.  Just here and there contract type hours.  At the gym I had a lot of clients cancel or reschedule and at my new job, 2 clients where scheduled on Wednesday!  So I was given the afternoon off and decided it was the perfect opportunity to ride my bike in the daylight and not go to cross practice that night. 

Being the lazy person I am, I contemplated bringing a tube and pump with me on my cross ride out the Interurban.  I decided not to, my pockets where full, and there isn't much you can flat on out there.  As I am bombing down the hill into Arroyo park from Old Samish I hit a rock and hear the rock hit the rim of my front wheel and I knew instantly I had a flat.  CRAP!  15 minutes into my ride and I flat.  I did the best thing I could possibly do and turned around to walk home.  How disappointing!  Then I began to realize how long it was going to take for me to walk home, crap this sucks!  What a waste of my day!  30 minutes into my walk home an angel drove past me (think awesome), picked me up and took me home!!  YAY!

The following day I found it pertinent to complete my ride out the interurban (Thursday).  After working in the morning I arrive home, got dressed and hopped back onto my cyclocross bike, this time with a pump and tube!  I was not going to be unprepared.  I made way towards the Interurban and down into Arroyo park and out towards Larabee singing in my head and smiling at the people.  On the way back I see two men off to the side of trail looking helpless staring at their bikes, so I offer my help.  They needed a pump, and I just happen to have one!  To make a brief stop even more brief, I help these two men fix the flat, get the tire on the wheel and pump it up.  I introduce myself, they say thank yous, I say you are welcome, and I hop back onto my bike feeling really good about myself.  I couldn't help but smile thinking about my selfless act for these two men.  I'm heading back towards Arroyo park singing to the tunes in my head, feeling confident in my bike handling skills down the trail, having a grand ole' time thinking "there is a switch back coming up soon, I should be prepared to stop".  Well, I wasn't too prepared to stop, when all of the sudden I pick my head up and I see a flash of color, next thing I know I'm on the ground with my feet above my head.  In my head I was thinking "oh please dear, oh  please let this be someone I know.  OH please, oh dear" and then I heard it "that was your fault!!!!"  and I just busted out laughing.  Thank goodness to the whole entire world I knew who it was.  Yes people, I bull dozed into this innocent guy riding his bike up the trail and it was just my luck that I have met him...twice. 

It was entirely my fault, I sent him off the trail into the abyss, tumbling.  I couldn't stop laughing because I couldn't believe it happened.  I was in total shock and I was absolutely humiliated, probably because I was feeling so confident on the way down...that shows me.  So I learned my lesson..slow down in the park, don't sing songs in your head, and keep your head up when on the trails. 

Just another trail lesson for Courtenay. 

If you want it bad enough, you can get it

I'm sorry, I wish I had pictures to show my defeat...nah I don't really.  I also have a lot to say about this race, so this is quite a length post.  An inside look to my racing mind that never stops.

Cross is my all time favorite discipline of bike racing.  I race road to excel at cross and gain strength, I race mountain to improve my technical skills and  I put it together to race cross.  This season has been an incridble breakthrough CX season for me, I have won not 1 race, but 2 and as of now I am leading the Seattle Cyclocross Series.  But when I finish a race and I am upset and I didn't have as much fun as I would have hoped, I get dissapointed.  I don't want to race at the same venue 2x in one series (okay maybe if it was Enumclaw twice I would), but this venue is BORING.  Where is the technical?  Where is the mud?  Where is the discipline that I fell in love with?  The sunny weather we have been having doesn't help. 

Another weekend of a double header, Saturday was up north in Ferndale for the Cascade Cross Series and what an amazing course.  It was awesome, thank you Ryan and the guys at Traitor Cycles for creating a very memorable cyclocross course I was able to hold off on going all out and took home the W for the USA (Cross Border Clash...bringing the Canadians down to America)!

Sunday was another ball game.  We raced at Steilacoom for the 2nd time this season, and I wasn't feeling it.  When I pre-rode the course I just had this feeling I wasn't going to have fun.  The course (although mostly uphill for the first half) felt fast.  Here we go again another fast painful cross course with no mud and a lot of sunshine.  I wasn't feeling it, and with my track record I was going to get 2nd place (so far this season it has been a 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, and now....***gasp*** 2nd!).  I just had an inkling, I think that's where I went wrong, I didn't visualize myself crossing the finish line first.  Actually, I went wrong in many places throughout the 49  minutes of racing.

It started well, I was third going into the first turn, by the 3rd turn I was 2nd, and by the run up I was first.  Then I realized my bike wasn't functioning well (um what's new?) I couldn't get out of my big chain ring and my bike was making horrible rubbing noises, and my rear shifting, well that never works.  I basically fumbled around with my bike all race long, getting frustrated, trying to shift, just the usual when racing my crappy Felt CX bike.  I even was fumbling on my mounts (which where awesome the weekend before), my head wasn't in the race, it wasn't in the game of holding off second place.  When it came down to passing men, I just didn't have the urge I usually do, I wasn't my normal bossy self yelling "get out of the way" (Okay usually I am a lot nicer than that).  So when I needed to pass the men, I didn't have the motivation to do it and I let myself sit behind them for far too long.  I didn't have the mental capacity to push it when I needed to.  My head wasn't in the right place. 

I was able to hold off 2nd place for most of the race, until the last lap when she caught me and almost pulled away.  Chris was yelling at me to get her and I almost gave him the finger, I was THAT unmotivated.  But I found a little bit of extra drive in my legs and dug in to catch her on the 2nd climb.  On the decent my bike decided it didn't want to cooperate (How the heck do you spell that anyways?) anymore and my chain fell off to the outside of my cranks, I was only pedaling for goodness sakes.  So naturally I shift down to get the chain back on and it pops back onto my small chain ring.  Great now I am in a gear I do not want to be in and I can't get out of it.  After racing all race in my big chain ring I was used to what gear I needed to be in through each turn and now it was going to be a whole new agenda.  2 turns before the barriers I was able to take a better line and accelerate out of the turn faster than the girl who caught me, so I got back into first place, hit the barrier, mounted faster, and it came down to a sprint to the finish.  I put all the gears on in my rear cassette and when it came to shift into my big chain ring..well it wouldn't budge, so I ended up spinning my legs out like a crazy person to the finish line, only to get passed at the line (wait, there was no line so who knows where the finish was). 

Awesome.  She wanted it more than I did, and she deserved it for the work she put in.  I didn't have that internal drive I needed to pull off a win. 

This race really upset me and it reminded me what I like about cyclocross and why I fell in love with the sport.  I fell in love with the sport because it challenged me, not just physically, but mentally.  It challenged me to figure out the best line through tricky turns, to try to catch the person in front of me, I was challenged to learn how to ride through mud and how to dismount my bike quickly and scoop it up before a run up.  I was challenged to escape the person behind me and work on my own to push myself to my capacity, but these courses haven't done that.  Is it the course?  Is it the weather?  Is it a combo?  After Enumclaw I had a sh*t (excuse the language) eating grin on my face for days because I had such a good time, I could have rode that course all day long.  Steilacoom...not so much. 

This weekend is at Woodland Park and is the  MFG series final.  My mom and dad, and my dads friend are coming out to watch so I think I might actually try to perform well for them!  This is one of the best courses we have so I can't wait for the race!

The following weekend is my friend Beth's wedding and I will have to miss Sprinker Park for the 6th SCX race.  This REALLY bums me out because it means a possible loss of the series title.  I really wanted to win the series, but I am setting myself up for a 2nd place finish so I do not get disappointed.  I can only be happy that this season has shown me how strong I can be and how much I can accomplish when I set my mind to it.  I came in wanting to win races, and I have accomplished just that.  It's amazing how when you find something that suits you, how well you can excel at it.  I never thought in another lifetime that I would be where I am with my abilities today, so all I can do is smile because the work I have done has payed off.  And that work has been pleasurable, I enjoy it, and it's my hobby.

....And then it was November....

I haven't been super amazing at keeping up with my blogging this Fall, but I sort of do that on purpose.  In my experience, if you blog too much, no one wants to read your blog.  You must keep your readers on their toes, eager and ready for the next blog post.

And honestly, I don't want to bore you too much with my random mumblings and rants. 

Two weekends ago was my good friend Beth's Bachlorette party, and boy did we have a good time!  We attended a drag show (hillarious btw) and then we went dancing all over Seattle.  We rented a "luxary van" that drove us all over, it was the best thing we could have done!  8 girls dressed to impress piling out of this white 15 passenger van, it was too funny!  Thank you to our driver who took great care of us the entire night, you couldn't have made the night any better.



Bridesmaids!

The following day I went and cheered on my fellow racers at the MFG race at Marymoor.  It was a different view being a spectator that day, but I had a ton of fun. 



Chris running up the stairs at the MFG race at Marymoor

This weekend was a double header.  MFG hosted a race at Magnuson Park in Seattle on Saturday and SCX hosted a race in Enumclaw on Sunday.  So far this season I have finished 1 MFG race so that puts me...in the back of the pack!  Have  I mentioned I am leading the SCX series? 

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place on Saturday, deciding if I wanted to race hard or not.  Do I save it for Sunday or do I go all out.  Which series is more important for me?  What am I focusing on?  What do I want?  Crap!  One of the riders told me "check your ego out the door today" and she was right.  Thank you so much!  That's just what I needed to do.  I worked hard for the first 1.5 laps and then I just didn't know if I should keep that pace up, my rear wheel felt flat and I was honestly stuck on how hard to work, my mind wasn't in the race.  So I basically toodled around in the back, riding in circles. 

Sunday we finally had a REAL cyclocross race!  Rain, mud, a run up, barriers, turns, crowds, and beer gardens!  I had been hearing about this course for 2 weeks and I was SO excited to finally race at the new venue in Enumclaw.  I kept reading about some "grim reaper" run up, we haven't had a run up yet this year, I train for those damn run ups!  So needless to say, I was excited, I can excell at the run up and I know I can put some time into people on them. 

After pre-riding the course I knew I was going to have fun so it didn't matter where I placed because I would have a smile on my face the entire time.  At the start line I wasn't even nervous, I let it all go and couldn't wait to get some mud in my face. 

For the first time ever, I got the hole shot!  Then I was quickly passed by  Kristi and Natasha and I let myself sit third wheel...not blowing it up, and waiting for the run up.  My plan was to try and be the first person to the top of the run up so I wouldn't get stuck behind anyone going into the single track at the top.  My plan worked, and by the top of the run up I had a couple second lead on the next women.  Then the lead got bigger and bigger and bigger with every single lap and I finished 1 minute 15 seconds up from 2nd place.  I was smiling the entire time because I can't remember the last time I had that much fun in a CX race.  The course required a lot of fitness, strength, and skills.  It was such a great combo of everything cross related, AND it was nice to finally have a race that required some technical skills!  Lots of muddy off camber, an awesome muddy decent (no brakes needed), and an awesome leg cramping run up!  I'm still smiling from the weekend. 

After this race I have a pretty good lead in the series, but that doesn't mean things can't change!!!

Jess and I at the finish.  She finished 2nd! 

I finally made a headline in CX Magazine !!!

Thanks to Jess for finding this picture of me.  Also thanks to Ian's dad for capturing that precise moment in time

A local garage sale

Apparently I dug deep.....to find myself a 2nd place finish this weekend at Silverlake, I call it a good ass kicking through the sand and hills to FINALLY wake my legs up from a long sleepy cold morning. 

This face perfectly portrays my feelings for 45 minutes.  I really did just want to kick my bike and cry.  Unfortunately for me, I had to keep going since I am focusing on this series.  Luckily I did keep going because once my legs woke up, I crawled my way to 2nd place. 

To make (what felt like) a long race short, the start went like this:
Into the sand and I was body checked out of the line I thought I was going to be taking

The middle went like this:
Chain dropped a few times and I lost a few spots and seconds, can I quit?  Fumbled through the sand...many times, lost more seconds.  My legs felt like icicles, perhaps a longer warm up next time. 

The end went like this:
My legs woke up.  Maybe I can catch Kristi if I play it right through the sand and work hard on the up hills.  Okay I caught her.  Wow 2nd place is just hardly in front of me, maybe I can get her too.  Okay I caught her, now I just need to hold it off for this last half lap.  Oops sorry Mel, I nearly decapitated you with my foot as I clumsily tried to get through the sand.  Can this race be over, I am officially embarressed of my performance today. 

Sunday was one big CX lesson.  I am so embarressed and dissapointed with the way I rode yesterday, yikes.  Kristi said it best when she said she had to take advantage of my fumbling all over the place!!!!  Man...how embarressing!  What a terrible race.  It's dissapointing because having a bad race and finishing 2nd...wow that's not too bad.  I'm trying to not dwell on the past, and I am looking at every race as a learning experience.  Racing in such a tough category teaches me a lesson EVERY week, whether it's a lesson about cross or lesson for myself and how I respond to this type and level of racing.  I'm learning and figuring it out.  It's a slow crawl for me (maybe?) but it's happening, and I'm just happy to be improving with every year and every race. 

I have so much I need to work on that one season isn't long enough to satisfy the crave of cyclocross and desire to get better. 

I'm setting this goal for myself right now:
Save money, buy a new cyclocross bike next year, have no mechanicals, and have FUN. 

Sorry no pictures this week.  I am going to try to remember to bring my camera with me from now on, and then actually try to take pictures.  Next weekend I will be racing at Wooley Cross in Sedro Wooley on Saturday, but then Saturday night it's a bachlorette party for me for my dear friend GOPHER!!!!!  So no racing on Sunday for me, it would be a sloppy mess if I did.

A pleasant surprise

Gosh I LOVE cyclocross!  I know every Fall I say it over and over again about how much I love cyclocross, but I really do love it!  I love everything about cyclocross, and the season ends too soon!  I can't believe the season just started and I am already depressed about it ending.  Who am I?


Ryan's race.  This guy was funny.



I had such a great weekend of racing.  Remember how I was taking a rest week?  Well, they pay off.  Saturday I raced at the first race of the Cascade Cross Series put on by Ryan Rickerts.  He never disapoints with a cyclocross race.  The course had some serious variety, including; flats, up hills, downhills, a bark mountain, rocks, pavement, gravel, single track, dirt, logs, barriers, off camber sections.  It was a total blast.  Knowing I was racing on Sunday, which is a very important race to me, I held back, and raced around 70-80% effort.  If my legs started to feel a little pain, I backed off, if my breathing was too much, I backed off.  I just needed/wanted to open up my legs for Sunday's race.  I ended up winning, an awesome way to start the race weekend.

Sunday was another fabulous race at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood put on by Seattle Cyclocross.  I hadn't ever raced here, so I was excited to check out the course.  I heard it was either really interesting, or really boring, it has been in the series for a very long time.

The race started out FAST, I was thinking to myself, holy smokes I can't pedal that hard or that fast, let alone try to keep that speed for an entire race.  I was setting myself up for a 4th place finish.  A lot of the time with the womens racing your placement tends to be set about 3 minutes after the start of the race.  A few turns and body checks later I found myself sitting in 3rd place hanging on for dear life.  The first time up the hill the women in 2nd place powered by the leader, and I followed closely behind.  By the top of the hill it was myself, Jess, and Natasha powering away from the field.  By the time we hit the section by the second set of barriers I was able to make it through a turn past Natasha, and from there I held onto first place for most of the race.  With about 2 laps to go I hear Jess behind me "Courtenay lets work together so she doesn't catch us" and I said "Yes Please!!"  The last lap I wouldn't have gotten through without Jess leading me up the hill for the final time, I was hanging on for dear life.  When we hit the technical turns I ended up chopping Jess on a turn (sorry!) but she was so nice, let me get through the turns and to the home stretch I went and ended up with my first Elite win! 



apparently I can REALLY clear the barriers

This is so exciting for me because I feel as if I am still learning about this whole cyclocross racing thing, how to race with tactics, how to power through turns, and when to attack and when to hold back, how to work together, etc.  It was so great to have the top 3 be so close to eachother, even had I finished 2nd or 3rd I would have still had an awesome time racing with Jess and Natasha, that is how a race should be!  We need eachother so we can all push eachother to become stronger. 

I still need to work on my mounting onto my bicycle, but maybe by next week I can just stop thinking about it and commit already!

Next weekend is a stop at Silverlake in Everett.  This course was an absolute blast, aside from all the sand, and all 5x my chain dropped.  

Have I ever mentioned how much I love cyclocross?

PS.  Thanks Debbie for the pictures!

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Cross season...YEAAA!

I had a bad race last weekend and I have been trying to recover from it ever since (it's now Wednesday), the first weekend of October is not the time to get tired...yikes what have I done to myself?!!  There have been a lot of stressors in my life in the past 3 weeks and my outlet to escape is exercise, but sometimes your body can't take it and a rest day is necessary.  I remembered that on Sunday.  The past year of racing has been me playing with my "training", seeing what works for me and what doesn't.  How far can I push my body before I can't push anymore? 

Lets start with a positive note, I had a great race for the Seattle series first race, I placed 2nd, in a pretty stacked tough field.  Whenever I enter a race I never expect any result, because every course is different, every day is different, and everyone feels different, it's important to never get set on any result.  For some reason the race promoters thought it would be a good idea to start us 30 seconds behind the 55+ men....we caught up to them in the first corner!  It was outrageous!  I was cut off so many times, I ended up T boning a guy because he decided to not turn his bike through a corner and rode directly into the tape...it caused me to tumble because I lost my balance after coming to a complete stop.  From there I chased the entire race...and kept chasing. 

After this race I realized I needed to really work on my mounts.  I never looked at a 2 or 3 second loss as that much, but when you add it up over 5 laps, that's nearly 15 seconds, and that's what I lost by!!!  So I have been working on my mounts to perfect them at speed!

Last weekend was MFG race #2, and after not having a rest day for over 2 weeks my body revolted and I pulled the plug after much debate in my head and DNFed.  I thought I could push myself to finish, but all of the sudden I couldn't pedal anymore, and any power I tried to push...just didn't exist.  I decided this would be an appropriate time for a rest week.  I took Monday and Tuesday completely off of exercise and spent today as a really easy day.  I hope the race this weekend goes better than last weekend!

Some great news aside from racing...I found another part time job!!!  Maybe by next year I will have enough money to buy myself a functioning cyclocross bike so I can actually fit in to the Elite field with a bike that shifts and responds, and maybe some wheels with bearings that aren't shot!

YAY to having money!

Cyclocross season is upon us!

In case you didn't already know, I love cyclocross. 

I started off the season racing at MFG's Cycle U Kick Off Cross at Big Finn Hill in Kirkland.  My brother came out to cheer me on, so I had to do well!  He FINALLY made it to a bike race, it only took a couple of years.  I am glad he was there to see what it is I do, and how I spend my spare time. 

The race started off hot (the temperature and the speed).  I had a pretty good start and by the first turn I was sitting third wheel.  I pretty much was there for most of the race.  My legs felt like death had taken over them and a ball of cotton was shoved into my mouth.  It was awful.  I guess a mountain bike ride up Chuckanut Mountain on Saturday was NOT the way to go into a race.  Oh well, I wanted it for training for Starcrossed.

With about 3 laps to go (maybe?) the women who was in front of me crashed and then flatted, so I was able to hold onto 2nd place for my first race of the season.  Not too shabby for having dead tired legs and a mouth full of cotton. 

This last weekend was a double header at Lake Sammamish State Park.  Starcrossed and the Rapha Focus GP where on Saturday and Sunday, two big races.  Starcrossed was my first UCI race and I was all sorts of nervous.  I had an awesome call up and made it into the 2nd row (of 4) and lined up behind pros (like Katerina Nash).  I didn't really feel I deserved to be in the field I was in, but I knew it was going to be a really good experience for me. 

Once the gun went off the race started, and it was FAST (at least to me it was...this is all relative to whom you are talking to), immediatly the race turned into one big line.   I thought to myself "this is what it's like to race with the big timers".  I was actually able to stay upright and on a wheel, when I looked back there was a gap behind me.  Within about half a lap the field was pretty spread apart, but I was able to hold onto Kari Studley's wheel (a northwest favorite and local lady hero).  I learned a lot by following her wheel, but as the race went on I couldn't hang in there!  She is so stinkin' strong!  The atmosphere at the race was spectacular, so many spectators out there cheering, totally incredible!  This race made me realize all the friends I have at the cross races.  It's heart warming hearing all these people cheer your name, and motivating you.  Sometimes when I am in pain and someone is telling me to work harder, I want to smack them, but it's actually quite motivating to be cheered/coached to.  I love you people!!!!

I finished the race in 12th place (out of 30) about 2.5 minutes back from the winner, whom I am sure wasn't going full gas like me and didn't think she was going to vomit 5 minutes after she finished racing.  Oh well, what a great experience, and who knows, maybe next year I can break the top 10. 

Sunday's race was very similar to Saturday's race, except for the start.  I learned a few things on Sunday.

#1) The cross race and skills on the 2nd day is far less smooth than the first day

#2) A good call up is really amazing

#3) I need to learn to balance on my bike at the start of the race

#4) I need to learn how to "race" against other people in the field, and chase them down, hold them off, and push push push

#5) I need to do some running track workouts along with running stairs (it's not one or the other anymore)

#6) I need to learn how to get faster

The Sand Pit/Run/Ride if you could

Race review:

I was literally the last women to be called in my field.  I had a positive mentality about it though.  The previous day I had a great call up so naturally I would get a bad one this day.  Also I didn't think a field of 30 would really matter, it can't be THAT hard to get through these women.

When I chose where to line up I decided I needed to pick wisely...who looked like they could clip in quickly and sprint.  Certainly NOT the women in their small chain ring, so I didn't line up behind them.  I lined up behind 4 women that looked strong and where already in their big chain rings.  When the official shot the gun I clipped in, stood up and sprinted...err tried to sprint but no one in front of me was moving, so I literally hit the girl in front of me.  I ran right into her wheel, I was so shocked, I had to unclip and WAIT for the ladies to actually start pedaling.  That's when I learned why people complain if they get a bad call up.  From the start I had to have been 10-15 seconds back from the leaders. 



It's a smile and not a grimace.  This sport CAN be fun.



 Within the first 1/4 of the first lap I was able to get past most of the women and by the 2nd sand section I was in about 13th place.  Within the next lap or so I caught the women in front of me and was sitting in 12th place, gaining on 11th.  I worked my butt off to catch 11th place, passed her on the last lap, got to the running sand section and she SPRINTED by me as she hit me with her bike.  I had to laugh as the spectators commented on her sprinting ability and how totally awesome it was.  I was trying to catch her through the turns on the last lap, then the last turn she wiped out, got up SOO fast, and her and I duked it out for 11th and 12th place.  She beat me by 1 second!  Another 12th place finish, not too shabby, I was pretty happy. 

I only hope that this early season success can continue on and I can only get stronger!  Considering I did a lot of beer drinking and beach louging and not a lot of bike riding in August, I hope that my skills, my strength, and my fitness can only improve from here!

All photos where taken by Deanna Loyd and posted on Patrick Means Flickr account.  Thanks guys!

Also I should leave you with this awesome video

 

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all I can do is pray.

Not too much to write about in the life of me.  The past month has been a little hectic, I don't think I have been home for one weekend yet, so every week has been trying to play catch up on the things that need to get done.  Chris and I are officially done going to weddings for at least 2 more months.  Every Friday/Saturday for the past 4 weekends was the same thing; shower, get ready, pack a bag, put the bikes on the car, and drive to a wedding, watch a ceremony, see some kisses, eat dinner, drink beer, and dance.  Always a good time, but I am so glad we get to take a break from it!

Last week my boss from the hospital called to let me know they where canceling the class I teach there, but only "for this go around" due to financial reasons (dumb).  Who knows if I will have a job at the hospital, so it's game time to start working on my resume and looking for another part time job.  I am sick of my income being below the poverty level.....sometimes I tell my dad I'm low class, he just likes to shake his head and tell me "im not".

Sunday I received a phone call from my brother, I always get worried when he calls, I get worried when he doesn't call.  After the 30 second small talk of how are you, what are you doing, his voice gets loud and happy and I hear him say "I'M COMING HOME"!!!!  I can't recall the last time I heard his voice with that type of inflexion.  It really was....different.  I have so many mixed emotions of him coming home.  Being down south working for the company he was at, was a safe haven, I knew he would be okay if he was there.  Then I get this phone call that he is coming back to where it all began, where his life could have ended.  Why wouldn't someone worry?  My intial reaction was "oh dear, my brother is going to be dead in 6 months".  How do you let something like that soak in?  How do you process knowing your older brother might not be alive in a few months. 

The doctors in California told him if he uses one more time he WILL die, his kidneys are not strong enough to tolerate an abusive substance in his body.  It's amazing to think he has been sober for a little over 1 year, especially after living in a high state for probably 8+ years.  I really hope it was enough to clear his head, to gain some mental strength, to realize he CAN over come an unhealthy addiction to drugs as long as he tries.

So here I am, in an even larger state of worry of the future of my brother.  I want to believe what he is saying, but like I told him the only way people can believe him is if he starts acting on his words.  Actions speak louder than words, all the people you hurt in your past, you need to rebuild that relationship with, you need to physically show them that YOU want to change.  All I can do is sit and pray that he makes the right decisions. 

Canada: An outdoor recreation mecca

VA-CA-TION!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was on it for two weeks, and it felt good.  Is it a bad thing that I didn't want to come home?

The start of our vacation began in Squamish.  Chris climbed on Saturday and I rode my mountain bike, and it just so happens that I am so friendly I rode my bike with the Mayor of Squamish.  SO AWESOME that the Mayor of Squamish rides bikes, I wish the Mayor of Bellingham would ride bikes, and that way he might realize how totally cool Galbraith is and see that we need that mountain so we too can have a mecca of outdoor recreation.



The view from the ferry, Canada is beautiful



The following day Chris and I rode, and I showed him the same trails I rode on Saturday plus a little extra, tons of fun.  After our ride we hung out at Alice Lake for a while in the beautiful sunshine.  The lake reminded us of Padden, small and really crowded.  After that we drove south to Horseshoe Bay to the ferry terminal and sat for 2 hours with everyone and their mom to get onto the ferry to Nanaimo to make it to Comox.









View from Cumberland of the Valley



That Monday Chris and I rode mountain bikes in Cumberland.  So we went to the local bike shop, picked up a map and head out onto the trails.  Last year we rode there and I loved it, so I was really looking forward to more awesome riding.  To make a long day short, the ride turned out to be an Epic Fail worth blogging about.  It started when I crashed over a drop and re-split my knee open (about a month ago I gashed my knee open on Hush Hush and it's still healing).  Then, I crashed again on some stupid root that I blame on my breaks (my front break needs to be bled).  Then, we went down into some ravine dip and back up and I heard a terrible crack, crack.  Chris's bike broke...big time.  He had to walk out, so I continued on to ride.  Then I realized I lost my sunglasses, so I turned around to where I crashed the 2nd time, they weren't there.  So I retraced my steps back to where I crashed the first time (this was a total hike a bike not ride-able up hill trail).  They weren't there.  So I rode back to where I crashed the 2nd time and they were glowing inside a log.  So I continued on until I heard some growling, when I looked up and saw Momma Bear staring at me, then I saw her cubs.  I freaked out, got off my bike, and stood sooo still (for what felt like eternity).  I would have taken a picture had I not been shakin' in my skin.  They continued on into the woods and I turned around and sprinted as fast I could out of the trail and descended back to the car on the logging roads.  4 hours later I made it back to the car and just wanted to get home.

The part in the middle should be attached right below it...that is a sheared bolt

Broken Carbon

 

 The next day we ride road bikes around town and stopped at the local bike shop in Comox (Simons Cycles) to see what the chances are of fixing the bike (none) or renting a bike (positive).  One extremly awesomely friendly worker named Craig offered to let us ride with him and his friend on Thursday, we accept.  The best part about this offer was he was sooo kind he let Chris borrow a test bike for nearly the whole 2 weeks we where there (how cool is that)?!  So it wasn't a total fail that I brought my bike and his broke.  Riding with people who know the trails is so much better than stopping every 10 minutes to look at a non-waterproof map. 

That first week in Kye Bay we spent lots of time just hanging out, riding bikes, kicking back on the beach.  I even let Chris take me rock climbing, my cousin and his "special friend" even came!  On Sunday we rode our bikes to the top of Mt. Washington.  From the cabin it's about 25ish miles, and the last 10ish are the uphill to the mountain.  I am really glad I didn't know how steep it was at the time.  The whole climb it averaged 8-12% grade.  We even invited my mother, she nearly died. 




Lovers on the beach (it was cold)




Myself at the bottom of the sand cliffs




Chris in the middle of the sand cliffs




Chris jumping around in the sand



Rock climbing at Comox Lake.  This was called the devels ladder (scary huh)?


That Monday we rode mountain bikes again with our new found friends, this time we rode at the Forbidden Plateau (an old Ski Mountain), then we jumped into the river.  That was the first and only jump into the river this year, the water was so cold it took my breath away.  Damn late summer weather didn't warm the rivers up for us!

The second week we were even more lazy than the first week.  Lounged on the beach, rode for a little bit, went on a couple runs, and drank in the sun.  One morning I was reminded of my childhood in Kye Bay when we were woken up by F18's (??) that were flying and turning right over the cabin.  The first time they came through the house shook!  These jets used to fly ALL the time, but now the Air Force Base has some what retired there and it's more of an airport, so we don't see regular shows like that a lot.  Chris loved it.  I swear if the jet was turning in the opposite direction we could have waved at the pilot and looked right into his eyes.  It was perfect timing considering it was just a couple of days before the Blue Angels were flying at Sea Fair. 



My Grandpa and myself.  I found that hat in the duplex so I gave it to him to wear (since it was originally probably his)



Chris and Grandpa heading out to golf



Beach Day!!!



Beach, sun, and water.  What more could I ask for?



Saturday came and it was time to pack it up and head home.  It was agreat 2 week vacation, maybe next year I can convince Chris to vacation for 3 weeks?!  :-) 

NAH, I think 2 weeks was just right!

They say things come in sets of 3

So when will be my 3rd?  Nationals was race #1 of crap, and now race #2 of crap just passed by.  I need to race again before the fall so I can get my 3rd mishap out of the way before cyclocross season.

On Thursday Chris and I, once again packed the car with the bikes and our stuff for yet again, another race.  This time we drove to Suncadia Resort in Roslyn, WA.  Raleigh was hosting a cyclocross race out there.  The top 3 Elite men and women where given cash prizes of $1500, $500, and $250.  Who wouldn't want that kind of money?  The top amatuer Elite man and women where offered a "pro contract" with Raleigh to race the Cross in the Dark series.  They where also given 2 Raleigh cyclocross bikes, with their entry fees paid for, and travel stipe-end.  Not to shabby right?  I didn't say it allowed because I didn't want to get my hopes up, but I really did want that contract.  How cool would that be?  Once I saw the list of registered riders, I wasn't really sure it would be something I could claim.  So I just told myself race for fun, lets see how you stack up to the other ladies you will be racing agianst in the NW.  If anything it will be a tough hard workout, see what cross skills I need to work on, etc. 

At the start of the race I was feeling pretty good, my start wasn't too shabby either.  For the first half lap I was sitting in 6th, and moving on up!  I was pretty sure I was going to get past some of those ladies, I just needed my cotton mouth to go away!!  As I was riding down a small decent just after the pits on the very first lap, fate struck and I my rear wheel was flat.  I was somewhat confused for a moment...do I run the entire lap to the pits?  Do I ride on my flat wheel?  I tried both, and then I realized it wasn't going to happen.  The course was so dry and fast that by the time I would have reached the pits, I would have been lapped.  It just wasn't something I wanted to do, so I pulled out.  I wanted to whine for a little bit.  So that's just what I did.  I pouted for a little bit, until I had to perk myself up and give myself a mental talk "at least you didn't pay for the race".  That's right, I didn't pay to race, it was a free entry.  So instead I test rode a Raleigh bike, that was pretty fun!  The bike had SRAM on it, and it convinced me to convert from Shimano to SRAM.  I think I'm going to go for it. 

Once I got over pouting over the fact that my race was over in half a lap, I heard there was a bike I could pedal that would blend a margarita for me (courtsy of Cyclops)!  So instead of worrying about my half lap race, I drank tequila while the Elite men raced and had a good time heckling Chris.  Love you Boyfriend.

This race really teased me, and it has me mentally ready to race cross, but it's July!!!!  I have nearly 2 full months before cross season.  I am so sad!  I have a lot goals for myself in the coming season.  I want to win, I want my Cat1 upgrade, I want to stand out, I want to be fast, and skilled.  Every race I do, I do it so it makes me stronger in CX.  Every time I suffer through a road race I do it for CX (and a little bit for me), any time a scary section in a mountain bike race comes, I try it for CX.  I race for 4 straight months to get me fast and in shape for CX.  I also race road and mountain because I like it, but I believe it helps me.  Road gives me the fitness, mountain gives me the handling skills, and CX gives me the love of my friends every Sunday. 

I just love Cyclocross, there's no other way to put it.  I love the sport, I love the spectators, I love my team, I love the scene.  With the summer we have been having, Fall just might be my favorite season these days (since I get to race CX).

SEPTEMBER GET HERE!!!!!!
(Okay maybe not)

Chris and I are officially on vacation for 2 weeks.  We are headed up to Vancouver Island to my families beach house in Comox.  I absolutely love it up there.  I was named after the town Courtenay, and there is awesme mountain biking in Cumberland (part of the Comox Valley).  We will probably do lots of mountain biking and road biking, along with hanging out on the beach and at the river.  I love vacation.

A disappointing way to end a fantastic season

I hate the year of the La Nina, we can't even have a summer!!!

So I had to escape to Sun Valley, ID for some Mountain Bike Nationals and oh what fun did I have!  Sun Valley is not close.  Chris, Whitney, and I packed the car up on Tuesday morning and we headed to Sun Valley.  We didn't get in until 2:30am Wednesday morning, it was a long long long drive.  Thank goodness Idaho has a speed limit of 75mph.   I was able to get us some host housing from someone who used to work at the gym, it was so genorous of him (thanks Randy)!  He had the sweetest little dog named Kaiya, and I am not a dog person, but she was just so stinken' cute!  I should have taken a picture of her. 

If you have been following my blog you know that I have been racing in the Open women catgeory.  I originally wanted to race in this category for the challenge and the pay!  As it turned out, it is the category I should be racing in for our local races.  Which tells me that at a sanctioned race I should probably be a Cat 1 rider.  Unfortunately in WA we do not have sanctioned mountain bike races, with the exception of the 1 national qualifer race we had this year.  I raced in the Cat 2 race because that's my official category on my licence.  So at nationals I had to race in the Cat 2 race as well, which I wasn't too stoked about, but I did it so I could get my official Cat 1 upgrade.



Pros are awesome.  Georgia Gould hustling through the rock garden



Wednesday afternoon we pre-rode the amature race course, and it was SOOO hard!  The course was set up on Baldy Mountain (one of the ski mountains there) and we were around 6,000 ft elevation.  Our course started with 2 prologue loops which took about 5 minutes or less.  You started up a steep steep ski run and turned left into the start of a single track decent and down and over to the main staging area, over a fly over, and onto the rock garden and then back up the prologue or to the main large loop.  The main loop of the course took you through a steep single track climb with loose dirt, sand, and rocks.  Along the climb there were tough roots to get up and over at the top of the steep climbs, they were challenging!  I was breathing really hard, but I was enjoying the toughness of the course, it suited me well.  Once at the top of the single track there was a fire road climb, before decending down some fire road and onto the long single track decent.  The decent was entertaining, but the switchbacks where really loose!  The decent wasn't technical at all, just very very loose and marbly.  When we finished the loop, I thought to myself, this wont be too bad tomorrow, it might be a cluster ***k the first time through the prologue loops, but I think it will be okay. 

I was wrong.

Do you ever wake up and you just aren't ready to race?  Or your nerves are so twisted in knots that you can barely function?  I felt a lot of pressure that day.  Everyone I ran into kept saying to me "oh you're going to smash the field, and you're going to win, blah blah blah".  It made me really nervous, and when I look around at people all dressed up in their spandex, I get intimadated, everyone looks so freakin' fast.  When I got to the race I looked at the start list, and my jaw dropped.  They where starting each category 30 seconds apart, there where roughly 10 categories, with about 200 people total.  I got to go 2nd to last.  This wasn't good. 

Chris and I warmed up and went to staging.  My group slowly crawled forward as the other racers where starting, and then it was our turn, and I got the hole shot!  I was the first one up the hill, and I wasn't even working at full capacity, so I just told myseld, hold steady and you will win.  Then, I got to the first set of single track and I had to get off my bike and wait in line.  There was probably about 10 men in front of me waiting to enter the single track.  So all that work I put into climbing the hill, didn't get me any further away from the women in my field.  Once I hit the rock garden there where a couple of men in front of me but I was able to maneuver my way around them and get through it unscathed and on my bike.  2nd prologue lap up the hill and into the single track and the line to enter was even longer (how is that possible?).  So I got off my bike and I waited in line for the 2nd time in 10 or less minutes.  It was stupid.  I managed to pull away from the women on the decent and this time through the rock garden there where lots of men in my way who didn't know how to ride their bikes.  They got in my way and forced me to get off my bike and run with the damn thing (can you tell I'm getting fired up writing this?).  I thought to myself, this is not a cross race this bike is heavy, I don't like this.  I entered the single track as the first women, and I was feeling SO good!  Then about 3 minutes into the single track all of my hopes and dreams where crushed when I saw the line of 30 plus people WALKING their bikes up the trail.  My first thoughts where...okay this happens, it wont be long.  But then it really was a long time, people where seriously NOT riding anything, and most of the stuff was ridable.  I was so angry, but then I got even more angry when all of the sudden I heard female voices behind me.  Turns out they where pushing men out of the way to get further up the walking train.  That didn't make me happy, and nor did it make the man that was directly behind me happy.  THeir conversation went something like this:

Man: What are you doing?  I am not letting you by me

Females: We want to race with the women

Man: Uh the race leader is right in front of me, you ARE racing with the women.  She has been walking behind all these people too, wait your turn. 

Females: Let us by, you aren't even racing

Me (at this point I am incredibly angry): I have been patiently waiting behind all these people, if you really want first place THAT bad come up here and get it.

Females procede to push by the man, the man then pushes one of the females into the hill side and she falls down.  That makes me happy because she was having poor sportsmanship. 

75% up the hill and people finally start riding their bikes and I don't see the women again, because THEY CAN'T CLIMB!   I am pretty sure if people would have not been dumb and walked their bikes, or if they would have gotten out of my way I would have rocked that course.  But instead I had to push my bike up the fun stuff because too many people didn't know how to ride.  Once I was finally on my bike and pedaling I caught even more men, and they wouldn't let me by them.  I would ask and they would say no, it made me even more mad.  So I would ride next to them on the hill side to get by.  Then I hit the fire road climb and I was angry and not tired.  Then I hit the decent and was still angry and bitter.  I couldn't find an ounce of positive in me.  On the last switch back of the course I pulled over to let a man go that was behind me, and turns out a really fast women on the downhill whizzed on by as well.  OOPS.  I shouldn't have been so nice.  At that point though, I didn't even care.   When I finished I don't think I was even sweaty, I wasn't even tired.  I went on another ride and a run later that day. 

 I finished the race in 1 hour and 3 minutes and 59 seconds.  Their estimated time was 1 hour and 30-45 minutes.   I paid $63.50 to hike my bike up Baldy Mountain.  Dear USA Cycling, I WANT MY MONEY BACK!  That race was the most poorly planned out race I have ever participated in.  I am so dissapointed with the way the lower categories where treated.  I put in for my Category 1 upgrade today, so I should be able to race in the ACTUAL catgeory I belong in, that is if I decide to go back next year. 

Chris managed to pull off a first place finish in his race.  He was the first category to go off so he had a very different race experience than I did.  He didn't have to hike his bike up the mountain because there was no one in front of him, except for one rider!  I was jealous of him.  The climb would have been such a feat to do...if only I could have experienced it during the race. 



Chris on the podium



On a really positive note Sun Valley has awesome riding and weather.  The day after the race Chris, Whitney, and I rode around the outside perimeter of Baldy Mountain.  We went up Cold Springs and down Warm Springs, for about a 3 hour beautiful ride!  The decent down Warm Springs was incredible, you hardly had to use your brakes, the trail flowed so well.  Here are some pictures:



Us three at the intersection of Cold Springs and Warm Springs



Myself and the mountains of Sun Valley



 On Sunday Chris raced the Super D race.  This race is a cross country downhill event, with some hills interspersed to prevent people from racing on straight downhill bikes.  This particular course had the riders take the Gondola to the top of the mountain, immediatly start with an uphill half mile climb and then they hit the blazing fast sketchy marbly decent.  This picture is of Chris coming down the rock waterfall.  Of course, he didn't take the right line and almost crashed hard core, then he almost ran into course tape and spectators.  It gave the spectators something aww at. 

There you have it, our weekend of racing and riding packed into one long blog post.  On Thursday Chris and I head back over the mountains to Suncadia for the summer cyclocross race.  This should be a good race to see how much I need to train for the fall.  I am giving myself some high ambitions for this coming cross season so I can't wait to see what I need to work on.