IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

The stork arrived and brought my sister and brother-in-law their first baby today! Aiden James Roan came into the world at 11:24am this morning, weighing 6 lbs 12 oz, and measuring 20 inches long!Congrats Liss and Chris!!! You'll be awesome parents! We can't wait to see you!!

I can see?

Now that I'm officially on vacation, it's time to take care of the mundane errands that I've put off for the last 16 weeks... doctor, dentist, and optometry appointments.

It's been a year-and-a-half since I last visited the optometrist, but realizing how I wear my glasses all the time now, and have prescription sunglasses, I knew I could not procrastinate any longer. I could tell that my eyesight has been getting worse, whether from stress or just getting old... I am nearsighted and have a pronounced astigmatism. In short, my left eye is approximately 80/20, and right eye is 20/200!! And that is just the nearsightedness!

I am adamantly considering laser surgery now, and since talking with my optometrist, am planning to do so in summer 2009. In the meantime, I decided to try contacts, in hopes to liberate myself from cycling between my regular glasses and prescription sunglasses all the time. I got the contacts today, and they are much trickier than I thought to put in and take out. However, correcting my astigmatism is even more challenging with the contacts... and I already have another pair on order, with a different prescription.

No more buying bikes this year... it is time to take care of me!!!

Finals done...

This semester has been a trying test of my utmost strength and will, but I continue to battle my way through.

Good or bad, I'm glad to be done with this semester and finally enjoy a 3-week break.

One Week

It's only one week post-'cross racing, and I'm already feeling a lonely emptiness. 'Cross has been fueling my inner drive and happiness for the last 3 months, and while I'm ready for a rest physically, my mind doesn't yet want to let go.

Too bad my finals fall this week, or I definitely would have made the trip to KC for Nationals. I cruised the results all weekend, with big thoughts and big dreams of competing next year.

I went for a run this morning, in the snow and with temps barely cracking the positive digits. I couldn't help but think how epic the CO State CX Champs would have been today, just one week later. It would have been frigid, but I would love it!!

"Cyclocross is an
adrenaline charge
on a nice day but,
it's even better when
conditions take a turn
for the worse."

Only one long week of comprehensive final exams to go, and then it's nothing but R&R for 3 weeks. I'm already starting to plan for 'cross season next year!

My Favorite (CX) Things

Working off the eternal classic, "My Favorite Things," I have come up with some of the things I enjoyed about today's race. Get the catchy tune going, and sing along with me...

(If you do not know what I'm talking about, shame on you, go see The Sound of Music immediately!!!!)

Bright sunny weather and windy conditions,
Lined up against the state's best competition,
Teammates and friends on the sideline cheering,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Running through sand and jumping o’er barriers,
Testing my strength as a rider and harrier,
Spurred by the timbre of cowbells that ring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When my legs hurt, when my lungs sting,
When I’m feeling mad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad!

Today was the culmination of my inaugural cyclocross season: The Colorado CX State Championships. I have never had more fun racing my bike than I've had this fall, and I was a little sad for it all to end. But studying for final exams is most important now, and I will be back and even better next season!
I had a solid final race, and finished 10th overall, and 1st in Cat 2. (The other 9 women that beat me are all pros, so I don't feel so bad!) Thanks to everyone who has lent me support this season, especially my super supportive and awesome husband Chris; I would not have made it this far without you!!!

Killin' the Demons, Celebrating with Friends

Today was all about release and redemption. After 2 weeks completely away from the bike, and a crap-load of midterms and stress in between, today's pain was the reward.

Chris and I drove out to Golden for the second installation of the GMS Mammoth CX. It was a gorgeous day, sunny but a bit chilly with temps hovering just above 50F. I've been bound to homework all weekend (as is the norm these days), and racing was my chance to get out and rediscover the competition that fuels me.

I got a great start, and basically just put my nose to the grindstone. Within the first lap, I was solidly rooted in 4th place, and I rode the entire rest of the race alone, against the wind. I was not without strength though, as even when the pain set in, I continued to slay the demons within me, and free myself to ride on, harder and tougher.
I finished 4th overall and 1st in Cat 2, just one spot out of the money, but my best finish to date! One last race looms on the horizon, the Colorado State Championships on December 7th. I plan to save the best for last.Chris took some awesome photos, and three of my friends showed up to compile a sustantial cheering section! Thanks Stefanie, Becky, and Lindsey!!

Double Whammy

Yesterday just sucked, that's all I can possibly fluff it up. It's been 5 months since my Dad passed away, and life doesn't just go on as normal like everyone thinks. Those demons live inside me and attack my psyche often, and when I least expect it. Coupled with the extreme stress of school, it's been a rough semester to say the least. I've been getting help, and helping myself, but what happened yesterday just blew me out of the water, so to speak. While we sat for our last class of the day to begin, a 3-hour doozy of Health Ethics on Friday afternoon, we were abruptly informed that our professor had sustained extreme head trauma in a motor vehicle accident, and that the family had decided to discontinue life support. Our class was in shock, I was in despair.

Frankly, I'm tired of traumatic events, and I'm tired of people I really care about dying. I feel like I've been stripped down to the raw bone and nerve again, with all of the anxiety and helplessness flooding back in.

Today was better, yet it's another insurmountable task added to my plate to work through this latest bout of grief. I'm planning to race tomorrow, and hopefully exorcise some of those lingering demons.

REST

I read a quote the other day, it went something like this: "It is only work when you'd rather be doing something else." Good or bad, depending on your frame of reference, I suppose. Although I'd always rather be doing something else, especially riding and racing my CX bike any day of the week, I've realized life's priorities have taken command.

So this week, I left the bike in the basement, went running twice, and focused on studying for yet more midterm exams.

One Speed

I came into the race today feeling a bit listless, tired, irritable, and stressed. It's halfway through the semester, and it's that time when things start ramping up, and the inevitable midterm exams arrive. I knew this feeling would come sooner than later, especially when I've been steamrolling through the 'cross season, and paying lesser regard to studying.

Still though, getting outside, thrashing my legs, and gasping for air during a 'cross race does something to revive my mind and spirit. It was literally an afternoon break from exam studying today, and Chris and I drove out to Golden for the Schwab Cycles CX #3 race. It was held atop South Table Mesa, at the CSP test track. Not your typical stopping grounds for 'cross, and more than a few people were disgruntled by the extreme presence of tire eating goatheads. I was glad I was running my tubulars, but was still wary during the warm-up... there were even goatheads on the pavement!

With my legs feeling a bit sapped from the last few weekends of hard racing, I aimed to make this race a "hard workout." While I always race my hardest (and get my money's worth), I knew today was a day to focus on the small details and technical aspects of the race that will pay bigger dividens down the road.

I got my front spot on the line, but when the gun went off, my legs just didn't have their usual snap. I was immediately engulfed and sat mid-pack for the first couple laps.
I got into a groove and passed people back as the laps counted down, but I had only one speed today.
My focus on the details paid off as I cleared all the barriers efficiently, cornered well, had no crashes or major technical errors, and no mechanicals.I finished 13th overall, and 4th in Cat 2. With one month of the 'cross season remaining, I know there is still room for some big improvement. The best thing I can do from here on out is get some R&R (in between late nights studying of course), and be ready for the CO state cx champs when December rolls around.

Runnin' with the BIG dogs!!

Racing Category: Road: 4 Cross: 2 MTB: Expt Track: 4

It's official: I'm Cat 2! Woo hoo!

Living the CX Dream

Sunday, November 2nd: 75F and beautiful sunshine, all under the majestic backdrop of the flatirons for the 2008 Boulder Cup. While the weather was seasonally atypical, I wasn't complaining. I was solely focused on the task at hand, winning.After my first win in Cat 3 last weekend, my confidence soared, and I was on a high all week, anticipating the Cat 3 showdown at today's Boulder Cup. The race was run under the UCI format and rules, so my race was only Cat 3 women (instead of the usual large Open Women field), and was a mere 30 min in length, compared to the usual 45min. It was gonna be short and intense, no doubt.

Goal #1: Get out fast. With a 100 meter paved straight at the start, it was much easier to judge my competition and my speed. Within 50 meters I was commanding the front.
Goal #2: Open up a gap. I put the power down right away, and after the first set of barriers I opened up a sizable lead.Goal #3: Put the hurt on, and power to victory. I did just that! Even though I was physically hurting, and had gone out much faster than I normally do, I put my heart on permanent redline, not only to win, but to do so while giving my all. I was stoked to come across the line first, arms raised high overhead!!
I got to stand top step on the podium and relish my victory! Chris was there every second snapping photos and congratulating me!
After the race, my bike went up on the stand at the CoMotion trailer as a shrine to my efforts!
Chris got artistic with his photography.
It was great to have the support of the CoMo crew and my friend Stef came out again! Thank you!! From here it only gets harder, but CX has definitely found its niche with me... Bring on the pain and torture!!!

Goathead demise?

After the crazy rear tire blowout last week and the subsequent bike switch, I luckily managed to avert potential racing disaster before the race started today. The Boulder Series CX #3 commenced at Boulder Reservoir today, under sunny skies and mild temps. As I warmed-up on the course, I somehow managed to attract and collect both my front and rear tires full of nasty little goatheads. The course was dry and sandy - a perfect hatchery for goatheads. Since I've been running clinchers all season (and had not yet graduated to the snobbery of acquiring tubulars), my tires were goathead magnets and more flats were to be assured. To my relief though, my teammate Chris Butler stepped in and offered up his tubular wheelset, complete with Stan's and all. I was stoked and ready to go about my race worry-free!The race went nearly textbook perfect; a solid start, efficient technique over the barriers, a strong run up the big sandy hill, and light handling on the sandy beach stretches (which seemed to encompass nearly half the course). I actively worked to draft off people, and my efforts payed well, as I bridged my way from pack to pack throughout the race.Not to mention, the Yeti argyle socks were definitely good luck!I rode a smart and consistent race, taking advantage of my inate running ability and technical keeness, to gap people. Even I surprised myself when I finished 5th overall, and 1st in Cat 3!!! I never imagined I would be doing so well in my first year racing 'cross!
My victories would never come to fruition without the amazing support of my husband Chris! He is always at hand to support me in everyway possible! I also had the awesome support of my friends Stef and Jen, who were cheering the loudest and waving their handmade signs for me! Thanks so much!!Well tomorrow it's back to the saltmines at school, and I'll being daydreaming all week and planning for another victory in Cat 3 when I race the Boulder Cup next Sunday. After that, my ascention to Cat 2 will be confirmed.

The Switcheroo

I've realized in my short 'cross career this fall, that nothing should be a surprise, and there is nothing out of the ordinary during a 'cross race. In fact, it is rare that anything is ordinary! That is the very nature of 'cross - unpredictable. This Saturday's race did not disappoint in that aspect!
We traveled back to Xilinx in Longmont, the same venue as the rainy, muddy affair, one week ago. Today was met with blue skies, and unseasonably warm weather, with temps topping 80F. The course was changed up from last week, and included some longer sections, and the infamous sand volleyball court throw in for good measure.
It felt good warming up in warm weather, without all the struggling and shivering that plagued me last weekend. Apparently I am one of the leaders in the BCR (best cross racer) for the series, and I got sweet spot starting in the front row, in a big 66-person field. That's great news to me!! I got out fast and strong, but within 2 minutes of the race, I blew out my rear tire! It was going to be a loooooong way to the pits for a bike swap, and the only option was to hoof it for the next mile. As I was getting passed by hoards of people, my teammate Catherine came along and gave me her bike! I was astounded! There was still a chance and I was so grateful! So we pulled a little switcheroo, and I took off to catch up, while Cat made it to the pits for a bike change.
Little did I realize, her bike's set-up was Campy, and having never ridden those components before, I struggled for about a half lap frantically trying to shift the damn thing! Once I calmed down and stopped freaking out, the shifting came just fine. I settled in, and employed my only tactic available - start moving up. I gradually started picking people off again, and felt strong all the way through the race. I made up a ton of the time I had initially lost, and put in a demolishing surge just before the line, gapping one last girl!
It was great to finish so well for how crappy the race started out. I owe it all to the selflessness of Catherine! In a huge field of 66, I finished 14th overall, and 2nd in Cat 3. I was so close to a first win in Cat 3! Oh well... I am happy with my effort, especially with coming back from the brink of disaster.After the race, I cooled-down and then headed over to the Valmont bike park tent. I talked to Zach about the latest plans, and offered my $15 support by purchasing a t-shirt. Chris and I are planning to purchase a brick, which will be etched with our names and placed somewhere in the park when it is finished. It is an awesome project just getting underway, and we are in full support of positive directions like this for bikers! Check out Valmont Bike Park for more info, and to make your own donation.