JS and I did our very first cyclocross race,Spooky Cross, which was held out at Living History Farms. There was alot of mud and ALOT OF WIND!!! Did I mention the wind....When you are riding on the flat and you are out of gears it is windy. Well enough about that. I am not the best bike handler, I found that trail very unnerving for me. Bill and I did a practice ride ,by the time we got done I was crying, I told Bill that I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it I was that unnerved by the conditions. I sat in the truck for a while then JS showed up,told me that I just needed to take it easy and that I would be fine. I needed to just do my own race and not worry about anyone else. Thank you for not going easy on me, you just stated that you can do it and that was that.
I had been practicing at Maytag park in Newton, I was thinking hills and turns, this trail was not so many turns and hills for that matter it was more like a mt bike trail I think. After last week I was kind of gun shy on the whole mt biking thing. I did learn that bruises are a "Badge of Honor". Well by golly I am full of honor then. :). Ok I am getting off track here.
JS, gruncle Kurt and I did another practice lap and this one went better for me. I was starting to calm down. By the time the race started I just wanted it over I was so cold. I started in the back so I could just go my own pace, I was surprised at how tight and tired my legs were. They just did not want to move. It is kind of disheartening when a little boy about 10 on a mt bike passes you, but hey I was doing my own race. I made it thru the mud and over the bridge, up the first hill just fine. The next part I knew that I would be walking some and i did but that was ok. It actually went better than I thought. I got in two laps, I was coming up on the finish, Bill had just passed the start/finish and they flipped the lap counter to 0. I asked if I was done and they said "Yes". Thank goodness I could have done another lap but it would have been a very long lap. So I became a cheerleader for those out on their last laps.
Overall I came in 18 out of 20 finishers. How would I rate my first cyclocross race? I guess that I am disappointed in myself, I thought that I would have an easier time of it, I had been doing fine at Maytag park. I was disappointed in myself that I wanted to not even try. I am usually out there trying and if I mess up ok that is life. I do not know what was going on today.
Bill did great he was having alot of fun, he is a good bike handler and has done alot of mt biking not lately but he still has the skills. I am proud that he wanted to do it with me. Julie S. did awesome. She is a very good bike handler, a determined individual, and a great friend. I am very proud of you JS. Thank you for not letting me quit.
We had a great cheer leading crew. Thank you Kyle, especially for the push up the hill and the push after the bridge. Is that cheating? :). Thank you Mindy, Alexa, Taylor and Bruce for all of your encouragement. Sorry Taylor I will never yell at you again that you are having the time of your life when you are riding the last lap of a race...bad JG..Bad JG...:)
This is the last "race" of the year for me. There are a couple of rides coming up that JS and I are doing. Cranksgiving and Tour De Lights but no more races. I plan on being a cheerleader for The Iowa cyclocross championship and Jingle Cross. Then until January 1st just rest and relaxation. After the 1st the Tri training starts.
I will reflect more on the year when January gets closer.
SELF-DISCOVERY IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT THAT FUELS DARING- Grace Lichtenstein
PEACE
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Fall Update
Time sure does fly. I was reading the old posts and realized I have not posted since Cy-Man. Bad me bad bad me.
Once Cy-man was done it was OFF season for me. Well I soon came to find out that I am addicted to exercise. I guess that you can have worse addictions. So I have been trying different stuff. Instead of road riding I have been doing some cyclocross type riding. I have cut back to one day a week swimming laps and the other day I am doing the aqua jogger. The aqua jogger what a hoot. It is a belt that keeps you floating and you basically run in the water, it takes all of the pounding out of running and lets you keep training. When I bought the jogger I got the ankle "weights" and arm "weights". I use the term weights lightly. it is not the actual weight of them that makes you work it is trying to keep your arms and legs from floating to the top of the water. The first time I uses the ankle "weights" I had a real difficult time keeping my butt and ankles in the water...Jan the aquatics director had a great time laughing at me. It is a workout.
This past saturday JS, Mindy and myself went and took the Women's only mt bike clinic, or as Mindy likes to call it the "Free" clinic. :). It was held down by the old science center. Cam Kilpatrick was the coach and he had help from Kyle Sedore, Taylor Webb, John, Dave and Matt. I am bad I do not know all of the last names. Well anyway we were taugh how to corner, do front weelies , back weelies. The front and back weelies were to help go over logs, how to climb and go back down.
The cornering went ok, it takes practice. I had the most troube with the front weelie. No trouble with the back weelie. Now let me back up a bit, when Cam was giving us instructions at the beginning he said, "When you go over logs we will be there to catch you so you dont fall". I think he forgot to let Kyle and Taylor know this. Here I am putting my life in their hands..I ride up to the log pop the front tire up...then the back...the next thing I know my butt is higher than my head and BAM! I hit the ground...first thing out of my mouth was "YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO CATCH ME!". I got up brushed myself off and got back on the bike. Cam, Dave, Kyle and Taylor kept asking "are you ok!". Matt tracked me down asked if I was ok then watched as I went over the log again. I gave them a hard time but They were really concerned, it was nice to know they cared.
It was a good day however a long tiring day. I hit the ground 3 times in all. Come to find out the peddles that I was using are called "Widow Makers" because you can clip in them but cannot get your foot out...I think Bill is trying to kill me.
Julie and Mindy left early so they gave me their raffle tickets and we cleaned up....2 pairs of oakleys, a bike computer, pair of socks and bar grips...woo hoo. I never win anything I was happy for all of us.
I will say that today I am bruised and sore. Instead of a "Butt topper" tatoo, I have a "Butt topper" bruise...I think the seat hit me in the back when I was doing my bike flip.
ok enough about my mt biking adventures. Next Sunday JS, Bill and I are doing Spooky Cross...our very 1st cyclocross race. At Living History Farms. I am excited. I plan on just taking it easy and doing what I can.
oh oh oh ...I am now a member with JS of the All9Yards Cycling team. It should be alot of fun.
Well until next time...PEACE.
Once Cy-man was done it was OFF season for me. Well I soon came to find out that I am addicted to exercise. I guess that you can have worse addictions. So I have been trying different stuff. Instead of road riding I have been doing some cyclocross type riding. I have cut back to one day a week swimming laps and the other day I am doing the aqua jogger. The aqua jogger what a hoot. It is a belt that keeps you floating and you basically run in the water, it takes all of the pounding out of running and lets you keep training. When I bought the jogger I got the ankle "weights" and arm "weights". I use the term weights lightly. it is not the actual weight of them that makes you work it is trying to keep your arms and legs from floating to the top of the water. The first time I uses the ankle "weights" I had a real difficult time keeping my butt and ankles in the water...Jan the aquatics director had a great time laughing at me. It is a workout.
This past saturday JS, Mindy and myself went and took the Women's only mt bike clinic, or as Mindy likes to call it the "Free" clinic. :). It was held down by the old science center. Cam Kilpatrick was the coach and he had help from Kyle Sedore, Taylor Webb, John, Dave and Matt. I am bad I do not know all of the last names. Well anyway we were taugh how to corner, do front weelies , back weelies. The front and back weelies were to help go over logs, how to climb and go back down.
The cornering went ok, it takes practice. I had the most troube with the front weelie. No trouble with the back weelie. Now let me back up a bit, when Cam was giving us instructions at the beginning he said, "When you go over logs we will be there to catch you so you dont fall". I think he forgot to let Kyle and Taylor know this. Here I am putting my life in their hands..I ride up to the log pop the front tire up...then the back...the next thing I know my butt is higher than my head and BAM! I hit the ground...first thing out of my mouth was "YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO CATCH ME!". I got up brushed myself off and got back on the bike. Cam, Dave, Kyle and Taylor kept asking "are you ok!". Matt tracked me down asked if I was ok then watched as I went over the log again. I gave them a hard time but They were really concerned, it was nice to know they cared.
It was a good day however a long tiring day. I hit the ground 3 times in all. Come to find out the peddles that I was using are called "Widow Makers" because you can clip in them but cannot get your foot out...I think Bill is trying to kill me.
Julie and Mindy left early so they gave me their raffle tickets and we cleaned up....2 pairs of oakleys, a bike computer, pair of socks and bar grips...woo hoo. I never win anything I was happy for all of us.
I will say that today I am bruised and sore. Instead of a "Butt topper" tatoo, I have a "Butt topper" bruise...I think the seat hit me in the back when I was doing my bike flip.
ok enough about my mt biking adventures. Next Sunday JS, Bill and I are doing Spooky Cross...our very 1st cyclocross race. At Living History Farms. I am excited. I plan on just taking it easy and doing what I can.
oh oh oh ...I am now a member with JS of the All9Yards Cycling team. It should be alot of fun.
Well until next time...PEACE.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Fall is here...Winter is near!
What have I been doing since Cy-Man? LOTS of relaxing!
Finally the end of Sept. I got back off my butt and started exercising more frequently. It was good to take some time off and spend it with Alexa and Kyle.
What have I started?
Monday nights - abs/back strength class into a Yoga class! I LOVE it. I wish there was another good time during the week for me to add one more yoga class. I think it would really help with my strength, flexibility, and my IT band issues!
Lunch Hour - I have 3 different loops that I have "created" to power walk on my lunch hour. I will do this through the winter, weather pending. It won't hurt to put on some hat and mittens and get out of the office! I love all 3 routes. I have a 1.8m route, a 2.1m route, and a 2.4m route to choose from.
Thursday - my variety night. I haven't done much with this one yet as Alexa was sick one week and Kyle wanted to ride another. Oh well, he's doing cross right now...let him ride! I plan on taking some classes at the Y, running, and swimming this night. Mix it up!
My other plans are:
Tuesday - run outside when Kyle is done riding, go to the Y after Alexa goes to bed, or sit on the trainer after bedtime.
Wednesday is waterbabies night.
Friday - night off, unless something comes up!
weekend - whatever I can fit in! Between candle parties and cross races, we'll see what can get done!
Go Out...Enjoy the Fall weather...I know I have!!!
Finally the end of Sept. I got back off my butt and started exercising more frequently. It was good to take some time off and spend it with Alexa and Kyle.
What have I started?
Monday nights - abs/back strength class into a Yoga class! I LOVE it. I wish there was another good time during the week for me to add one more yoga class. I think it would really help with my strength, flexibility, and my IT band issues!
Lunch Hour - I have 3 different loops that I have "created" to power walk on my lunch hour. I will do this through the winter, weather pending. It won't hurt to put on some hat and mittens and get out of the office! I love all 3 routes. I have a 1.8m route, a 2.1m route, and a 2.4m route to choose from.
Thursday - my variety night. I haven't done much with this one yet as Alexa was sick one week and Kyle wanted to ride another. Oh well, he's doing cross right now...let him ride! I plan on taking some classes at the Y, running, and swimming this night. Mix it up!
My other plans are:
Tuesday - run outside when Kyle is done riding, go to the Y after Alexa goes to bed, or sit on the trainer after bedtime.
Wednesday is waterbabies night.
Friday - night off, unless something comes up!
weekend - whatever I can fit in! Between candle parties and cross races, we'll see what can get done!
Go Out...Enjoy the Fall weather...I know I have!!!
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