I went to the first Wed. Track Series last night and am hooked. I always knew I would make a great track racer because I have such a muscular build, but I never knew I would enjoy it as much as I did last night. I could see Rob and TJ enjoyed it just as much when we all wore huge grins on our faces after the scratch race.
The clinic was led by Joe and PJ Walsh, two legends from St. Louis, and was very helpful. I already listed things I need to work on - sit closer to the wheel in front of me, go harder in the turns, and change my gear from 82 to 88 inches and my bars to real track bars. I can't wait for next Wednesday!
I've felt extremely busy lately and it makes me happy. I know I haven't been hanging out with/seeing my friends because of lack of time, but I'm making sure I at least keep in touch with them. I'm just at a time in my life where I need as much ME time as possible. When I work 8-10 hours a day talking to complete strangers at work, then drive each weekend with my teammates and race for 2-3 days surrounded by other racers, I need my evenings alone. I have 2 books I want to start/finish, letters to write to people, tons of boxes to still unpack, and a new career to focus on. I may seem selfish with my time, but I need it right now. This 6 month challenge is making me realize I was running away from myself by keeping myself busy with events that prevented me from looking deeply within.
This blog is going to be a great way to document the next 6 months.
It's raining, I'm on the couch with Fair Trade Ethiopian coffee from Local Harvest to my right, my beautiful cat Elisa to my left, and ever-so-interesting morning news on the teli; I have to do an easy 1 hour ride today and may have to drag out the trainer if the rain is as bad as the radar says it is.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Lawrence is where it's at
Lawrence, Kansas. Who would have thought?
I drove into Lawrence late Saturday night to Brian and Michelle's new house. I thought I had the wrong address as I drove through cornfields, over severely uneven railroad tracks, and onto roughly paved roads. It was some time after 11pm and all I could see were randomly placed homes on large acreage plots and small blue street signs listed by numbers (1500, 1750, etc.). I almost called Brian to make sure I was in the right area when in the blink of an eye those rural roads turned into small town suburbia. The pavement quieted, the street signs appeared more quickly and were actual words (Summit, Northwind, etc.), and street lamps popped up. "Wow, we're going to have an amazing ride tomorrow", I thought to myself.
Michelle woke me up Sunday morning and I walked downstairs like a zombie, only focusing my senses on the smell of coffee and eggs. I was told we were joining an 8:30 group ride as Brian gave me the second half of his bagel, insisting I eat more because supposedly it's a long, tough ride. To hear him say a ride is tough means he is serious. I suddenly became extremely excited to start the ride, also glad I brought my Aeolus wheels. Last year I would have been frightened by a ride description of long and hard, but now it's nothing but a great chance for me to increase my endurance and fitness.
We rode about 2 minutes through town and met the group - all guys, mostly older (masters type guys), and one woman besides Michelle and I. They all watched us roll up and just stared at me with mini-smiles, curious as to who I was and excited to see a fresh face. They all asked about Team Revolution and gave compliments about the teeth on my bike. The ride took off at a great pace through town and once we hit the country roads we began to take turns pulling. I was able to ride next to many different guys, Gary, Tom, Joe, Dan, Scott, and the dude on the freaking fixed gear with bullhorns - kudos man! I took my turn pulling more than some of the others who sat toward the bike and just enjoyed good company. I enjoyed sharing the work and also looked forward to pulling off the front so that Dan could move up and make some silly comment like, "Eh, good", or "have you seen the movie Babe? You did good Babe, you did good", or "not too bad". I finally cracked about 2 hours into the ride and was glad to have Michelle show me where to sit my front wheel in the drafts. After a stop for more water we were close to town and I managed to take a county limit sign before my legs told me to stop the hard efforts. The weather was beautiful, the route absolutely perfect, and the company warm.
Once we were done showering, baking cakes for Brian's graduation party, and refueling, Michelle and I went into town to stop by Dan's shop so I could get a cool t-shirt. Dan ended up giving it to me, along with 2 neat Life is Good stickers I picked out. What a great guy - SUPER strong rider, great business owner, and wonderful friend. If you are ever in Lawrence, please stop by his shop and say hello to him - tell him I sent you. After Michelle had to pull me out of the shop, we drove to get beer for the party and came back home with time for me to start reading my new book and hang out with Nick before the party-goers arrived.
I met some great people on the ride and at the party. Everyone wanted to meet each other, were excited to get to know each other, and just had a great time. It's nice going to parties where nobody acts too cool to introduce themselves. It seems like in St. Louis some people feel they are too cool to meet new people.
What a fantastic weekend.
This week I am working a bunch in order to leave next weekend for Quad Cities. Race hard, rest well!
I drove into Lawrence late Saturday night to Brian and Michelle's new house. I thought I had the wrong address as I drove through cornfields, over severely uneven railroad tracks, and onto roughly paved roads. It was some time after 11pm and all I could see were randomly placed homes on large acreage plots and small blue street signs listed by numbers (1500, 1750, etc.). I almost called Brian to make sure I was in the right area when in the blink of an eye those rural roads turned into small town suburbia. The pavement quieted, the street signs appeared more quickly and were actual words (Summit, Northwind, etc.), and street lamps popped up. "Wow, we're going to have an amazing ride tomorrow", I thought to myself.
Michelle woke me up Sunday morning and I walked downstairs like a zombie, only focusing my senses on the smell of coffee and eggs. I was told we were joining an 8:30 group ride as Brian gave me the second half of his bagel, insisting I eat more because supposedly it's a long, tough ride. To hear him say a ride is tough means he is serious. I suddenly became extremely excited to start the ride, also glad I brought my Aeolus wheels. Last year I would have been frightened by a ride description of long and hard, but now it's nothing but a great chance for me to increase my endurance and fitness.
We rode about 2 minutes through town and met the group - all guys, mostly older (masters type guys), and one woman besides Michelle and I. They all watched us roll up and just stared at me with mini-smiles, curious as to who I was and excited to see a fresh face. They all asked about Team Revolution and gave compliments about the teeth on my bike. The ride took off at a great pace through town and once we hit the country roads we began to take turns pulling. I was able to ride next to many different guys, Gary, Tom, Joe, Dan, Scott, and the dude on the freaking fixed gear with bullhorns - kudos man! I took my turn pulling more than some of the others who sat toward the bike and just enjoyed good company. I enjoyed sharing the work and also looked forward to pulling off the front so that Dan could move up and make some silly comment like, "Eh, good", or "have you seen the movie Babe? You did good Babe, you did good", or "not too bad". I finally cracked about 2 hours into the ride and was glad to have Michelle show me where to sit my front wheel in the drafts. After a stop for more water we were close to town and I managed to take a county limit sign before my legs told me to stop the hard efforts. The weather was beautiful, the route absolutely perfect, and the company warm.
Once we were done showering, baking cakes for Brian's graduation party, and refueling, Michelle and I went into town to stop by Dan's shop so I could get a cool t-shirt. Dan ended up giving it to me, along with 2 neat Life is Good stickers I picked out. What a great guy - SUPER strong rider, great business owner, and wonderful friend. If you are ever in Lawrence, please stop by his shop and say hello to him - tell him I sent you. After Michelle had to pull me out of the shop, we drove to get beer for the party and came back home with time for me to start reading my new book and hang out with Nick before the party-goers arrived.
I met some great people on the ride and at the party. Everyone wanted to meet each other, were excited to get to know each other, and just had a great time. It's nice going to parties where nobody acts too cool to introduce themselves. It seems like in St. Louis some people feel they are too cool to meet new people.
What a fantastic weekend.
This week I am working a bunch in order to leave next weekend for Quad Cities. Race hard, rest well!
Friday, May 16, 2008
It's all coming together now...
I don't know where the phrase "when it rains, it pours" came from, but it seems to make sense. But I don't think situations happen to increase; I think it's all about our perceptions. If I'm in a sad mood and feel like life is bringing me down, of course I'm going to think everything seems to be going wrong. And if I'm in a happy-go-lucky mood, life will seem to be headed in the right direction. The real trick is to change my attitude and perception when I'm sad/down.
2 weeks ago I was in a slump. I hadn't had a real break since I put Angelina down, was working alot, sleeping hard, barely had enough energy to get on my bike, and it was raining almost every day. I picked myself up and told myself to go to Joe Martin (NRC bicycle race in Arkansas) and forget about all the stress I had left at home. So this past weekend I went to Joe Martin and raced hard. My results weren't what I expected them to be, but it definitely kick started me back into being motivated again.
In turn, I passed the physical test to get into Police Academy with flying colors. The fastest time was by this bionic guy named George - 2 minutes and 13 seconds. My time - 2 minutes and 40 seconds:) The Detective is running my background check and my references are being contacted. I am so close to Academy that it's finally becoming reality and not some section on my to-do list.
I'm also training hard and riding well. My new Aeolus wheels are fantastic and I'm starting to manage my weight again. I always struggle with my weight and I feel like I finally have a firm grasp on it.
Everything is falling into place. This is because I have accepted a challenge from my mother - to stay single for 6 months (until November 12th, to be exact). No dates, no searching, no hand holding, no cuddling, no SEX!, NOTHING, NIENTE, NINE, ZILCH. I know, right?! But it's probably one of the best things to happen to me. I am so aware of my surroundings and myself. I can appreciate the sunset with my entire being, music sounds so much clearer, I'm singing and whistling more often, riding my bike is utopian, and I'm not a bitch to people anymore. I am taking time for me and my friends and family, that's it. My life will be back in it's orderly fashion in no time.
This weekends will be fun. After work tonight, Geoff is coming over and grilling bison burgers with me, then we're going to see the Chronicles of Narnia. Saturday I work, but leave that evening for KC. My coach just graduated from grad school and is throwing a party at he and his wife's house on Sunday. This means we're all riding Sunday morning, awesome.
Next week I work a bunch, but leave next weekend for Quad Cities. I'll be ready to THROW DOWN at those races. Plan: dominate 3/4s on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, then help my teammates who are 2s in the 2/3s on Monday.
And for a little eye candy...you may see me rolling in something similar to this nexty year:
2 weeks ago I was in a slump. I hadn't had a real break since I put Angelina down, was working alot, sleeping hard, barely had enough energy to get on my bike, and it was raining almost every day. I picked myself up and told myself to go to Joe Martin (NRC bicycle race in Arkansas) and forget about all the stress I had left at home. So this past weekend I went to Joe Martin and raced hard. My results weren't what I expected them to be, but it definitely kick started me back into being motivated again.
In turn, I passed the physical test to get into Police Academy with flying colors. The fastest time was by this bionic guy named George - 2 minutes and 13 seconds. My time - 2 minutes and 40 seconds:) The Detective is running my background check and my references are being contacted. I am so close to Academy that it's finally becoming reality and not some section on my to-do list.
I'm also training hard and riding well. My new Aeolus wheels are fantastic and I'm starting to manage my weight again. I always struggle with my weight and I feel like I finally have a firm grasp on it.
Everything is falling into place. This is because I have accepted a challenge from my mother - to stay single for 6 months (until November 12th, to be exact). No dates, no searching, no hand holding, no cuddling, no SEX!, NOTHING, NIENTE, NINE, ZILCH. I know, right?! But it's probably one of the best things to happen to me. I am so aware of my surroundings and myself. I can appreciate the sunset with my entire being, music sounds so much clearer, I'm singing and whistling more often, riding my bike is utopian, and I'm not a bitch to people anymore. I am taking time for me and my friends and family, that's it. My life will be back in it's orderly fashion in no time.
This weekends will be fun. After work tonight, Geoff is coming over and grilling bison burgers with me, then we're going to see the Chronicles of Narnia. Saturday I work, but leave that evening for KC. My coach just graduated from grad school and is throwing a party at he and his wife's house on Sunday. This means we're all riding Sunday morning, awesome.
Next week I work a bunch, but leave next weekend for Quad Cities. I'll be ready to THROW DOWN at those races. Plan: dominate 3/4s on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, then help my teammates who are 2s in the 2/3s on Monday.
And for a little eye candy...you may see me rolling in something similar to this nexty year:
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Moving On
I'm starting to slowly move on from my sorrow over losing Angelina. My dad bought a new cat last week and she is wonderful. She is a small Maine Coon with black, white, and orange fur. She is extremely lovable and very talkative. She is a great addition to my life and I am thankful my dad found such a great cat.
Training is going pretty well, but I didn't get in enough hours last week because of the move and this month's unpredictable weather. I leave this Friday to race Joe Martin in Arkansas and even though I haven't been strictly training according to the program, I feel confident that I will do well and take first.
Tonight I have my oral interview with the SLMPD. It's been an entire month since I took the written test, and I'm hoping after I pass the oral interview that the physical test will come soon after. Like I might have said before, I don't think I've ever wanted something so badly in my life, that is becoming a police officer. It's nice to find something so right for me, when in the past few years I've been chasing things that were so wrong.
Life is great out at my dad's house. The house is sunny, the backyard is beautiful, the grill is perfect for having friends over (I've had 4 over since I moved in!), and the area is quiet. I ride either my bike or my Vespa to work each day. The only downfall is that my clothes are ALL over the place and I'm wondering if I should even unpack them...lol.
Training is going pretty well, but I didn't get in enough hours last week because of the move and this month's unpredictable weather. I leave this Friday to race Joe Martin in Arkansas and even though I haven't been strictly training according to the program, I feel confident that I will do well and take first.
Tonight I have my oral interview with the SLMPD. It's been an entire month since I took the written test, and I'm hoping after I pass the oral interview that the physical test will come soon after. Like I might have said before, I don't think I've ever wanted something so badly in my life, that is becoming a police officer. It's nice to find something so right for me, when in the past few years I've been chasing things that were so wrong.
Life is great out at my dad's house. The house is sunny, the backyard is beautiful, the grill is perfect for having friends over (I've had 4 over since I moved in!), and the area is quiet. I ride either my bike or my Vespa to work each day. The only downfall is that my clothes are ALL over the place and I'm wondering if I should even unpack them...lol.
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