Team Compliment

From an email by Joyce:

I was going to say this on Friday, but I just can't wait! I'm so amazed by you and really proud to be a part of this team. When I am on the team rides, I feel like each of you ride better than some Cat 2 women (and a few men) that I race against. You are smooth and really strong! Also, I feel like there is a great sense of "team," and I'm so impressed with the way that each of you has dedicated yourselves to getting to know one another and working w/ & trusting each other. Think back to our first meeting in December and now think about how far you've come in your training and how far we've come as a team. Lastly, I want each of you to be confident about your abilities going into the season - every single one of you is ready, whether you feel like it or not, to race and be competitive locally. I have no doubt that we will be a team first, and the results are going to very quickly follow. All of the components are in place, we just need the season to begin!

Drizzle Whizzle Sizzle

WET ride today. Managed to put in a solid 3 hours despite the 1/2" of downpour. I sang to myself to pass the drudgery. Only saw a few other cyclists who share my insanity.

Back in the saddle

Ahhhh... there's nothing like taking a couple of days off the bike and then getting back to it. I felt normal for the first half of the long ride - but then tappered off. Luckily the rest of the group was game for a mellow ride. I didn't sleep too well last night - stinkin' hacking. I'm going to try and get a nap in today before the Hockey game. Ride possibly tomorrow morning with Joyce.

Feeling better!

Although hard to do, taking yesterday off really helped. I am starting to feel better - although now stuffy - my cough is getting juicer. Ha! I am on the upswing of kicking this stinkin' cold. I will go for a walk on my bike today to get some blood pumping and help drain some snot. Yummy!

Groundhogs Day

Unfortunately I did not make it on a ride yesterday, despite the awesome weather. I really wanted to but my body was yearning for rest. My cough has developed into either allergies or a head cold - I'm trying frantically to surpress my coughing with medicine. I didn't sleep well last night - woke up every 4 hours to a coughing fit, only to down more Robotessin. I feel a little medicine-heady today and am contemplating sprints. As hard as it may be for me - I think I need to take the day off again. I hate getting sick. I really, really hate getting sick. (Part of me thinks, I'm fine! I can still exercise and the fresh air will do me good! Then I panic and think, if I don't rest then I may never get better. The wierd part is that I feel 95% - its just this stinkin' cough that's killing me.)

Beautiful day...

It was super nice outside. Although tempting, I did not repeat my previous mistake and under dress. Did the south end loop and home before sunset. Working on cornering and keeping my inside leg tighter to my top tube. I would also to work on cadence - my average is 80.

sleeping in

I'm getting close to kicking this chest congestion. Sleeping as much as possible and downing fluids should cure it. Going on an easy ride later today - and potentially yoga from 6-7. We could meet after that if you like.

I have developed a persistant cough - lame. Energy level feels fine though - still trying to flush it out of my system with natural remedies. Went for a ride all around town then home. Also did yoga.

Sunday Stroll

Woke up feeling slightly under the weather. My chest felt congested - so I went back to bed and woke up feeling freshed. Rode down to Seward park and home - practiced cornering. I did some research on the web and in my riding tech. books and it has helped tremendously. Worked on temp riding and felt strong. Came home and ate some soup and will take it easy the rest of the night.

Week in review

Jan 23-29, 2005

Sun 28.2 miles, 1:57, avg bpm 131
Mon 14.2 miles, 1:06, avg bpm 121
Tues 17 miles, 1:25, avg bpm 119
Wed 24.5 miles, 1:39, avg bpm 135 - sprint workout intervals
Thurs 39.5, 2:43, avg bpm 128
Friday - day off (massage and yoga)
Sat 45.8 miles, 3:11, avg bpm 132

Total miles: 169.2
Total time: 12:07

Felt good this week. It was nice to take a day off. Had a great break through with sprints. Race season is rapidly approaching!

Saturday drizzle

Today we rode with the Higgins squad. He does a really good job of ignoring non-clients. :) The good part was we went a little faster and harder than our normal routine. That part I liked. My heart rate got up there for a little bit - but I felt really good. My fitness level sure has come a long way.

I would really like to learn more about cornering... techniques, tips, etc. Maybe we could work on that some day?

Friday in review

Went to yoga in the morning and did some shoulder poses, which really helped the knot in my upper back. Work was interesting - we met with a banker for some jumbo mortgage borrowing and my mom didn't like him. We're still looking for additional lenders. I got a massage and discovered my neck is tight, as are my legs so next time I have a 90 minute session. Can't wait. I didn't make it on the trainer today - partly pressed for time, partly because my body needed a break. Going for a killer ride today though. I'll send directions via email.

Ugh! IDIOT!

The team meeting, which has been planned for 3 weeks, the one I was hosting at my house, was cancelled tonight via an email sent out at 3 pm. Nice. I didn't get the email until Melanie showed up at 7, drank some wine with me, started wondering where everyone else was, and then checked my email at 7:30. How nice of someone to call me.

It gave Melanie and I a chance to talk. Luckily my house was clean, bathroom, floors, kitchen, etc.... but still that was pretty rude not to get a courtesy phone call. Oh well.

We both discussed the group dynamix - different coaching and training strategies, etc. Our team rides have been guided by a few people's training regimes. I am pretty frustrated with the whole thing. As are some of the teammates who are not being coached by a certain someone.

Anyways - since the house is clean and all of the "honey do's" are up to date, we're having a dinner party Wed. night and would like to have you and Molly join us. Should be fun.

But the challenge will be whether or not you read my blogs anymore. :)

The Efficiency of Sprinting

Thank you for today. To reiterate - we broke the sprint down to its most basic principle - being fluid on the bike. Analyzing it down to its most simplistic form. Not only did this improve my comfort level and bike handling skills, but it also did wonders for sprints. I will practice my fluidity each time I ride. My hope is that I won't have to consciously practice it - it will just come.

On the sprinting note - your shark anaolgy is perfect. Keeping the body in a straight line, yet letting the bike go where it feels fluid and natural. Wiggling - but not an out of control movement, more like a graceful spagetti noodle with power and speed. Feeling the tension throughout the core, through the legs and upper body; keeping my shoulders and elbows in attack mode.

I really, really like sprints.

The bike is just an extension of the body.

Combine power and efficiency and be faster than 95% of the women.

Computrainer night

After tonights session, I am convinced I am one of the happier people I know. A total of three people showed tonight - my theory is because it was so nice today. (I even contemplated skipping out to ride in the sunshine.) Unfortunately the typical Tuesday night spin fest quickly became a whine fest. I found out two of three people are getting divorced, the third of which is thanking his lucky stars he is alive after 35 years of marriage. I suppose I was there for a reason though - to anchor their insanity. It was a venting session - and I was the prime listener. I didn't mind really - it helped me realize how balanced my life is and how lucky I am to have a healthy relationship with Ryan.

jan 25, 2005

Made it to the gym this morning. Felt super strong. My legs are starting to show veins I didn't know existed. Are you going to Computrainer tonight?

Sunny Jan 24, 2005

I explored the enormous blog world out there and discovered that my blog is boring. So many people use blogging as a tool to vent themselves - one trapped suburban woman, a bored teenager in no-mans land, Colorado, people from around the world. And here I am logging my obsession. I wonder if anyone has come across my blog only to think hmmmm.... next. While surfing all of the endless amounts of blogs I got inspired. One guy from California wrote about the sun after the two weeks of rain they had - and how he now can relate to use Pacific Northwesterners. Ha! He doesn't know rain. But he does know how to relate his emotions. BLOG.

Speaking of rain - today was absolutely gorgeous. I had a great ride through downtown and saw lots of exposed white skin. I feel so refreshed after the weekend. I had a good yoga practice tonight with minimal inner distractions. During the breathing and centering exercises, my mind continued to drift to this section of Mercer Island where my heart soars. It then drifted to another moment - near Port Townsend - when I was riding just for the sheer fun of it. I know I will be a life long cyclist for those timeless and priceless moments. Where exercise, beauty and grace coexist in perfect harmony.

Week of Jan 16-22, 2005

Sun 33.1 miles, 2:00:32, avg bpm 133
Mon 15.5 miles, 1:14 avg bpm 114
Tues 24.9 miles, 1:37:32 avg bpm 133
Wed 40.6 miles, 2:45:50 avg bpm 130
Thurs 23.0 miles, 2:21:11 avg bpm 127
Fri 15.5 miles, 1:28:16, avg bpm 113
Sat 50.9 miles, 3:34:04 avg bpm 119

Total Miles: 204.5
Time: 15:21

Felt strong this week. Put some nice training miles in with minimal pain. The fall was good for me - helps put that fear aside.

Jan 22-23, 2005

What a great weekend. Was able to get my training rides in, along with soaking up some sunshine. It was excellent. Feeling well rested and ready to start another week of training.

jan 21, 2005

Short spin to Matthew's beach and home. Got a pinch flat. I think my front wheel is out of tru - do you know enough mechanics and would be willing to teach me how to fix it?

The elbow is fine - just has some bruises. We may be headed down to Smith Rock this weekend in our hippie bus - no worries though, I'm taking the bike.

jan 20, 2005

Feeling better on sprints - but still have a ways to go. Legs felt strong - as did my lungs. Nice ride today.

Adrienne took me out on the ride home. We hit those RR tracks on the Burke and down he went taking me with him. I bonked my elbow pretty good. Put some vitamin I in my system and hopefully didn't do any severe damage. The tank stayed true to its name.

Owwwweeee my elbow hurts.