Monday Aches and Pains

Today I feel like I got hit by a truck. Wow. My fatigue is at a "5" on a scale of 1 to 5. I had to run up the steps a couple times today and practically collapsed. I guess that's a sign of putting it all out there.

I knew Sheboygan favored my racing style with lots of roots and technical stuff. I also knew the paved road climb off the start was going to hurt because I HAD to get in the top 5 going into the single track if I wanted to pull ahead and gain some time. I lined up in the second row and waited to hear the last GOOOOOOOO of the year.

I had to announce my presence going up the hill, as I was ALMOST taken out by an "out of control" sport girl. Thankfully it all worked out. I got into the single track right where I wanted to be. But we were so tight on the first lap I didn't get to ride the tight turn with the roots, nor did I even get to attempt the creek crossing. Carnage everywhere.

When I got the equalizer I was so spent I barely made it up half way. Lap 2 had me starting to cramp there, lap 3 had me grimacing as the cramps were getting severe. It's hard to RUN with cramps!

It was in the second lap, at the creek crossing that SS Amy caught and passed me. I tried to catch back up but she's so powerful on those climbs! And I was so tired! Every time I'd think I was ALMOST on her wheel she'd drop me again. I never rode the singletrack on the quarry side so fast in my life. It literally was a blur we were going so fast. It was awesome.

I think I only got to ride the entire section of the roots of evil once. People were slipping out everywhere.

And when we got to the jump on the first lap I was right behind a slower sport guy. He took the right, I took the left and we nearly took each other out we merged back together so close. We got great crowd approval on that one.

All and all it was an awesome race. I have to wonder how I would have performed if my fitness level were at it's peak. Maybe next year. :-)

Motivated AND Inspired

I still love Sheboygan. I love every single root, I love the jump, I love the gravel climb, I love the twisty turns, I even love the equalizer. Today, I didn't even mind the pain.

While I didn't get to enjoy a complete season this year, having to spend a little too long OFF my bike, I managed to enjoy the last few races the body would let me do. And this one, was (of course) the best.

I was not ready, in fact I did not even WANT to do this race today, I felt terrible and SS Amy and I debated turning around on our warm up because she felt the exact same way. And somehow we both dug deep into the depths of our souls and pulled it out our butts. Good job sister. :-)

Race recap to follow at a later date. I'm too mentally, emotionally and physcially drained to go any further. It's about time.

Tomorrow is IT

Tomorrow is the big day. The last WORS race of the season. The BEST WORS race of the season. I hope I'm not disappointed.

The pre-ride was good. The course is a little different in a few places, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I rode it fairly well. I don't understand why I can't make it up the equalizer though. . .I'm always SOOOOO close to the top. . . .but then my "big guns" just lift my front wheel up, and it's all over.

The jump was great. . . . .I still don't know why I was ever afraid of that silly little thing.

Tomorrow will be interesting. My body aches today. . . .for who knows WHAT reason. I hope that I worked some of those aches out and tomorrow will go that much better. Bringing the MENTAL game is what's going to have to happen tomorrow. Right now my "mental game" is just about as poor as my "top end". Something's going to have to improve by tomorrow. . . . .or I'm toast.

Although riding the first lap behind the tandem was a riot. I think I might have laughed too much. . . .I hope I didn't fatigue my abs.

See you at Sheboygan.

You may be motivated, but are you inspired?

Are you inspired?? Or are you just motivated?

What's the difference? Find out HERE.

MOVE THAT BUS!!!

So we ventured out to Dundee to check out the Extreme Home Makeover house. It was cool. The house is beautiful. We were only there a short time, as they escort everyone out at 8:00pm, but we got to see one "celebrity" (Michael).

Then we had the most delicious caramel apples. . . . . . .

And drove around screaming MOVE THAT BUS!!!!!

Sweet.

PUPPIES!!

Here's the first glimps of my sister's puppies (well, her dog's puppies). Aren't they adorable?? I guess they are a black lab/shepherd mix. They just opened their eyes yesterday.


Here's the one my sister wants to keep.

Here's the one she says she has picked out for us. . . . . . . .I think she might have to talk to BILL about that one. . . . . . . .

Cute, cute, cute!!

Holy Cow

Cross Race #1 - Badger Prairie, Verona, WI. Two words, IT SUCKED.

For anyone who knows anything about heart rates, my LT (lactate threshold) is approximately 182. Usually in a WORS race I'll average about 182 with a maximum somewhere around 192(ish). Typically that's where I start to hyperventilate, and feel like I could use an oxygen tank. Today I maxed out at 194 and thought I was going to DIE.

The start was good. . . .I'm actually pretty good at the dismount, the barriers and the remount. Generally that drives my heart rate up a little higher. . . .but I can usually sit back and recover. Not today. I literally thought I was going to pass out. Half a good lap, then all the girls started passing me. . . . . I round the last corner prior to dumping out on the road for a nice stead climb to the next lap, and oooops, I seemed to have missed the turn. Of course I didn't get to preride that section, so when the course took like a 270 degree turn, I went straight. Full bore into the caution tape and I snapped it. Then a few more girls passed me. . . . .

It's obvious the first thing to go when you're not training "hard core" is your upper end. Unfortunately that went after my 8 weeks off the bike. At least in a mountain bike course you can gain precious seconds by riding the technical stuff smart and using the base you built to hold you in there. In cyclocross you either have that upper end, or you don't. Guess which one was me?

At least I finished, and I didn't finish last. I ALMOST started crying out there, but I didn't. And I was SOOOOOOOO close to quitting, but I didn't. Thanks to everyone for the cheers. Really that's the only reason I kept going. I didn't want to dissapoint my fans. :-)

Now it's time to recover and see what the body will produce for Sheboygan. It's my favorite. I hope it's as fun for me this year. . . . .

Cross Practice

Tomorrow's the first cyclocross race. Did some practice today. . . .ouch. One forgets how much that hurts. Tomorrow should just be one all out heart attack. I can't wait.

Bill took a digger. . . . . .face planted himself into the dirt. I guess he was afraid to break the caution tape we use to practice. . . . .but on another lap he actually broke the tape. . . . . .stressed CK out a little. . . .he works hard to maintain those "barriers". Bill's sitting this first race out, which is probably a good thing. He might be safer. . . . .

This year they made some changes in cross with regards to the categories. It used to be Womens "A" (fastest), Womens "B" (middle) and then Womens "C" (slowest). Since we've been racing for a few years now, I've conquered the "C" class, and last year moved up to "B". I had some really good finishes, and ended up winning the overall in "B". But last year I was a lot faster too. This down time with the back has taken away from my high end training. Cyclocross will be interesting.

Since they now use the same categories in Cross (Cat 1/2, Cat 3 and Cat 4) as they do in road racing, you have to petition for an "upgrade" if you feel you were assigned the wrong class. I'm at Cat 4 road racer (entry level women's category), but I'm a lot faster in cyclocross. . . . .so . . . . . . I had to ASK for an upgrade. I thought about just doing the Cat 4 race and seeing how far ahead I could get. . . .but I guess that would kind of be like doing a Citizen race in WORS for me. . . . .which just wouldn't be cool. So I'm now a Cat 3 cyclocross racer.

Sweet.

WI Rapids

It was a weekend full of excitement. The boys made it to the podium again. Captain's SECOND best finish of the year. CK took 12th overall, Captain took 22nd overall. Nice job boys.

I thought I'd try a new strategy since I'm not really sure how my body works anymore. I started in the back of the pack at Sunburst, but there wasn't any single track there. So I thought I'd start in the FRONT of the pack this time around, hooking Holly's wheel off the start line. One minute into the race I was so maxed out I was hyperventilating. . . . .I thought it was probably in my best interest to just "ler her go". Why can't I be in shape like that?!?

Rode one lap of single track maxed out, lots of silly little mistakes, a couple "oh my GOD I almost bit it" mistakes. . . . .lap 2 was "holy cow am I tired, what was I thinking? I should be in Citizen I have no CLUE how to ride this crap". . . . . .ending with lap 3 "Why couldn't I ride this stuff this good the FIRST two laps???".

My age competitor (Tammi) volunteered so I took 2nd in age. 3:55 behind Holly (ouch), but almost the same ahead of 3rd. 13th overall. . . . .a little lower than I was hoping for, but I guess my standards for myself are still a LITTLE too high at this point in the game. It hurt, but it was awesome. . . . . at least the 3rd lap was.

Bill's brother BOBBY!! came to visit. . . . . . .hung out on Sunday and harrassed our competitors (and the significant others of our competitors).

This guy won "games" Saturday night, and now he thinks he's "number one". . . . .he doesn't know we LET him win. . . . .


Then when I hit the hot tub this morning, "they' were there again. . . . . . .


Try and scoot them away and they just hang on. . . . . .

The last fun-filled camping event of the year. So sad. Now it's time to focus on Sheboygan and see what happens. Stick a cyclocross race in there. . . . .sweet. Before you know it, it will be time to "take a break".

Friday Funny

I still think this cartoon is a riot, no matter how many times I see it. It's something my dog would do.

Almost the weekend

It's almost Friday as I enter my last update for today. I was boycotting updating for a bit there, but then some of my "fans" called me on it and I figure I owe it to my fans. . . . .

Wednesday CK took off work and we hit Sheboygan for a ride. It's nice to have a slacker job sometimes. Although that can bite you on days when you work 12 hours straight, but Wednesday was not one of those days. . . . . . .and that was a good thing.

The course at Sheboygan is in pretty good shape. Leaf covered. . . . .but in good shape. I was the "seeing eye dog" on the first lap and of course I took a few wrong turns. . . . .oooops. . . .I was really testing CK's patience. . . . he passed - THIS time. Thankfully the second lap flowed nicely and then we were set.

Last year was my first attempt at "the jump". I remember riding there with SS Amy and Lori (aka "squirt" or "minigoat"). They tried their hardest to get me to do the jump but I was just too chicken. I didn't want anyone to see me do it. So I waited. . . .I waited until I was all alone. Then I sat up top of the hill for a good 15 minutes, talking myself into just DOING it. I was so scared. What a pansy I was.

This year I chickened out on the first lap. . . . .since I was with Jeff. . . . .I wanted to be able to do it on my own first. The second lap I went right over. Jumped it good. Just to make sure that it wasn't a fluke, I went back and did it 4 more times. Sweet. Now I'm even MORE excited for Sheboygan.

I know the results won't be what I want them to be this year, since I was derailed on my training. But it doesn't matter. Sheboygan is one of those places where you can just ride and feel like a rock star. I'm SO thankful I now have "skills". It makes riding SO much more fun. I think back to the last few years when I was lacking those skills. Even last year, being afraid of the jump. And now I think "what in the world was I ever afraid of??".

Hopefully Rapids will bring those same feelings out. . . . . .and hopefully they won't have to carry me off and give me oxygen. Coming back to do a 68 minute race is one thing. . . .but coming back to do an all out heart attack 90+ minute race is another. I hope my body is up for the challenge. My mind certainly is.

TOO FUNNY

Happy Thursday.

The Devil

The Devil got them.

Isn't it interesting how we all have our different looks while we're riding. Some look friendly, some look "mean", some look like they're laughing when they're really dying. . . . . . . .





I'm going to try to ride the road bike today. She hasn't been out since the July 4th weekend. We'll see how that goes. I wish there was a manual I could pick up so I could know exactly what to do each day. . . . . .what my body/back will allow for.

I know the back muscles have been tight. . . . . I'll have to hire my own personal massage person. That would be nice.

Oh Yeah, OUCH is the word of the day

Wow. What a day. I woke up last night in a pool of sweat and figured today was going to be bad. The congestion from the cold was in my head pretty good. Decided what the heck, as long as my back allows me to, I'm racin'.

We set out for our LONG 4 minute drive to Sunburst, wishing it was just a TINY big warmer, and maybe a bit less windy. Somehow time got away on me, and suddenly it was time to get ready. My "support team" abandoned me and I felt stressed out. I had to do it all! I had to put my own number plate back on my bike, get my tires ready, pin my number on my jersey (that alone took about 10 minutes and 18 tries and then SS Amy STILL had to fix it). Headed out on pre-ride, expelled a TON of "stuff" from my head and was out of breath before we were down to the end of the street.

I got to the start line, and Don must have been feeling generous because he called up 4 deep in our age class. . . .or maybe it was a sympathy call up. . . . . .but there I was on the start line and it was all I could do not to cry (what a girl).

He yelled "GOOOOOOOOOOOO" and I went. I stayed at the back and tried to listen to the body. If the back was angry, I was toast. I didn't spend all that time OFF my bike to be set back again. But it hung in there.

There were people cheering for me EVERYWHERE. It was so exciting. Of course I could barely hear them over my profuse PANTING & HYPERVENTILATING, but I was on my bike, and I was RACING. Sweet. I thought I forgot what to do, but somehow I pushed myself beyond where I've ever been pushed. My lungs were on FIRE, my legs were screaming, but my back was ok and that's all that mattered.

1 hour 9 minutes, AHR 182 (my lactate threshold), several tears shed and somehow I ended up 10th overall (minus SS's) and second in age. Tammi had a mechanical and as short as that race was, must not have the time to catch up again. I rode the whole thing and didn't even have to walk. Sweet.

Here's my podium picture. . . . .I didn't make it there as I was doing handoffs for the boys.



We'll see how the body feels tomorrow. Hopefully I didn't dig a hole, my back is OK, and THEN I can officially say "I'm BACK".

The Week

The sore throat set in Tuesday evening. Woke up with the cold Wednesday morning. . . . .thanks guys. Figured I'd set off to "Mad Town" anyway.


Had to visit Lori in DETOX. . . . . . . .



After our pillow fight we watched SS Amy iron her pants. . . . . . .



I stared at my feet for a little while. . . . . . .




Then we went to breakfast. . . . .well, Amy and I did. . . .Lori still can't eat. . . . .

Then I went home to sleep. What an exhausting trip. Being out and about until 9:15pm, wow, that was tough. Hope I can kick this thing by Sunday. . . . .

The return to work

After a long weekend of eating, sleeping, riding a little, and generally laying around. . . .it's hard to have to jump back into the "real world". I'm SOOOO glad I don't have a "real job". I'd never make it. I'm so burnt out after one day I'm thinking of heading to Madison for a day to meet some friends. . . . . .

Bill's got "the cold". . . .somehow I think Team Wisconsin passed it along. We're working the system though cuz he breathed on SS Amy this weekend and now she has a sore throat. . . .although I have kind of a scratchy throat tonight too. . . .Hhhh. . . .that plan might of backfired. . . .

Retirement?

Although Sunburst is just about the worst race to come out of retirement for. . . .I might just be able to do it.

I actually rode 3 consecutive laps yesterday. They weren't fast. . . .and they hurt a LOT (in terms of my muscles and cardio), but I did them, and I didn't have to walk. And better yet, I'm not bent over today in pain. The chiropractor seems to be helping, along with all the extra stretching and strengthening I've been doing. The chiropractor also used the TENS thingie on me yesterday a couple hours before I rode, and this time it actually seemed to loosen up my muscles.

Today the body is sore, and the back muscles are sore, but the disk feels pretty good. Perhaps just a tiny bit agitated, but this seems likely from the sore muscles.

I'd be happy with the one day on, one day off thing for now. I'm still easing back in to things. Haven't done anything longer than 80 minutes for a while. . . . . .and "race pace" now takes on a little different meaning for me. But all is well. There's always next year. I'd rather be slow and CAREFUL to recover and still be able to ride my bike when I want to. . . . . .than be laid up in the pain I was in a couple months ago.

Sweet. I guess we'll see how the body feels this week before I formulate my plan. It's one day at a time with this vehicle. I'm no Spring chicken anymore. :-)

Sunburst

I rode Sunburst today. Wow. I feel bad for anyone on a rigid bike. I had to stand up quite a bit just so my back didn't go out! It's a little different than past years, but not all that much. It's somewhat marked. . . . . .I think Dave ran out of arrows 1/2 way through though, cuz all of a sudden they stop.

The single track up top (and below) needs to be clipped back, and raked. I'm sure we'll do this again. . . . . .as in past years.

There's one place up top where you can catch air, then that curves to the left and I can see many-a-rider losing it there. I almost did a skid on my butt, but thankfully I still have "skills" (even if I don't have endurance).

I only did two laps. . . .not sure I could handle a third. Not necessarily from a soreness standpoint. . . .but from an "oh my gosh am I tired" standpoint. It sure sucks being out of shape. Hopefully that stage won't last long.

Caught at last

Someone caught me. . . . . . . . . .