Tiger Road

All fun led to Tiger Rd today, as we engaged in another cross country skate skiing outing. We headed to Breckenridge this time to try out the Gold Run Nordic Center. We soaked in a gloriously beautiful day in the snow, and thoroughly thrashed our legs and arms with multiple laps on the course. And we remembered to bring the camera this time!!

Smiles all around!

Looking smooth.

Good for the balance skills!

Here is the REAL Royal Tiger!

What a fantastic day! This is becoming addictive!

Mental Break

The semester is in full swing, and thus my life has returned to a rather mundane routine of school and studying.

This homework break is brought to you by our Bengal cats, Guinness and Jameson.It's always nice when I come home to be greeted at the door by two curious chirping, meowing, happy little kitties!
Looks like it's getting close to bedtime.

Mixing it up

After the first week back at school, I've been rewarded with a lovely 3-day weekend. I am celebrating in style by taking advantage of little homework and doing lots of exercise! Though I am not "officially" training for the mountain bike season yet, I am staying in good shape this year. As opposed to past years, this year I vowed not to gain weight, or take excessive time off, which inevitably has resulted in starting my training by digging out of a deep fitness hole.Chris is on the comeback trail as well, and we are trying to mix it up with lots of different activity. We started off going ice skating last weekend, went on road ride with our fellow CoMotion teammates yesterday, and spent a day skate skiing in Frisco today!! I am already feeling my muscles awakening and the soreness setting in!

Have I learned anything?

Halfway done, halfway to go...

Hopefully the next 1.5 years grooms me into a functioning PT, cause this school stuff is getting old.

What a great day!

60F in January... can't get any better than that! It's only 4 more days till I return to school and begin the next semester in hell, so getting outside for some mountain biking today was a must.

I haven't touched my mountain bike for 4 months, since the final race, but it felt just like slipping into an old pair of shoes... comfortable and familiar. Green mountain was teeming with hikers and bikers today, and 2 hours of climbing and flying downhill was just what my soul needed!

After the cyclocross season, I am in much better shape than last year, and am looking forward to the mountain bike season!

First of the Year, Last of the Season

What a better way to usher in 2009 than with a quality session in the pain cave... my first cyclocross race of the new year, and essentially my last race of the 2008 season!! The Lyons CX race today was organized by popular demand, and attended by many die-hard 'cross racers.

Even though I haven't touched my bike for over 3 weeks, I couldn't pass up one final race! It was a chilly gray day, 29F and windy, and the skies threatening snow. My category was a combination of men and women; I didn't care how I finished, just as long as I had fun!

Enjoying the day and having fun. That's what it's all about!

Storming up the long run-up. My feet were frozen solid after the first lap and trying to run, each step was searing pain through my feet and up my legs.
Stalking our notorious mountain bike foe, Feedback Sports. I soon passed this guy and never looked back!
Charging hard up the sand pile "mini-hill."

What goes up must come down.
Frozen to the bone, and making one last push to the finish.

Oh the agony of thawing out my feet! 15 minutes of me screeching in pain!The day ended well, with a 14th overall, and 3rd woman in the field. It's a good, healthy start to the new year!!

Xmas in AZ

We spent a fantastic week basking in the sun and warmth of Arizona, hanging out with family, and best of all, staying with my sister and brother-and-law and new nephew Aiden!!


Aiden came home from the hospital on Christmas Day... what a great present!

Holding my new nephew Aiden for the first time! Such a cute baby!!

Hiking in the desert with one of our good friends. This peak was 4,700 ft elevation... not even as high as our house here in Denver!
That is one huge Saguaro cactus towering over Chris and me!! Saguaros can grow to 50 ft and live for over 200 years!
My sister and me... best friends!

Mom, Dad, and baby check out the Casa Grande Ruins.
Our own version of "Reservoir Dogs"
Whenever Aiden demands food, Daddy is ready!
Bye-bye little pirate-eye... We'll see you again soon!