Toughin' it in Tulsa

(Anne taking the win for NOW and Novartis for MS)

We had 3 days of crit racing this weekend at the Tulsa Tough. It was an exciting weekend for the team because it was our first time racing with the full squad, and some of our awesome sponsors were down at the races to watch us. Tulsa is always a welcoming venue with an amazing set up and great crowds. But the temps in the 90s sure add to the tough factor!!

Day 1 played out pretty close to plan. The team went out hard with attacks, counter attacks, and more attacks. The race was fast and fun! Eventually we got a break of 4 to go off with our sprinter in the break. Unfortunately another sprinter also got in the break and when it came down to the end she just eeked our rider out for the win. Back in the main field we had a bit of chaos -- with one teamie breaking a wheel and another sprinting a lap early, but Anne was able to pull out a top 10 along with our 2nd place. All in all a good day for our first time racing all together.

Day 2 we set our hopes higher and had a similar game plan -- make the race hard, try to get a break, and if that fails set up the sprint. We went out hard but the course did not suit a breakaway. We ended up wearing ourselves out a bit and instead of moving up the podium, we missed out on it all together. We took the race as a learning experience -- and I think the experience made us all fired up and hungry for a better race on Sunday.

Day 3 ups the "tough" factor with a brutal course. Every lap included a steep little kicker known as "crybaby" hill and the sun came out with sizzling rays. Our team was fired up and ready to go. The fans were also on top of their game with costumes and hoses and lots of energy on top of the hill! The race is one of attrition with people constantly falling off the back... but our team stayed up front and strong throughout the race. We nabbed the first prime... and then the second... and also the third and the fourth. I think we got them all. But with three and a half laps to go, Anne put the icing on the cake with a late race breakaway. She powered away from the field and nobody could follow. She secured us the win and Gokey pulled out a sprint to get a top 5 and take the omnium win for the series! It was a great team effort and a fantastic finish to the weekend.

To top things off, our awesome hosts set up a delicious and relaxing dinner for us after the race. It was the perfect ending to a great weekend.

Off to NVGP!

Phast Philly

(ready to go!)

Made a quick trip to Philly this weekend for the women's Liberty Classic. I was excited to finally race Philly for the first time, as it is a race I've been wanting to compete in for a while now. But what was even more exciting was to be racing for the first time with my new team, NOW and Novartis for MS!

Everything about Philly left me with a smile on my face. The race course and atmosphere are epic. The course starts downtown near the art museum, runs along the river, past boat house row, through old tunnels, down the main street of Manayunk before hitting "the wall" and heading back along the river with detours for Strawberry Hill and Lemon Hill and ending on a fast loop around Logan Circle before a long finish straight. But the best part is that the town comes out in full force to watch and cheer (and drink beer...). They actually know a bike race is going on and crowds are cheering all along the course (this is unusual in the US). There is a roar as you climb up the wall and lemon hill... and it only gets louder every lap. It's awesome!

The race is typically a sprinter's finish and this year was no exception. There was a 1 person break early on, but nothing threatening and everything came back together on the last lap. The final climbs were fast and the finish was even faster. Our team raced well for our first time together and we finished with our sprinter in 7th -- a top ten at a big UCI race! I'm sure things will only go up from here -- we have a strong and cohesive team and one of the best support crews out there!

My favorite part of the day was riding home to our awesome host house. The house is situated right on "the wall" so the only way home was to follow the course. Robin and I made one last trip down main street and started up the wall... since the men's race was still in action, the crowds were out in full force and we got some of the best cheers of the day, including high-fives up the wall! Robin even got a post-race recovery drink from one friendly spectator. Then a motor crew came by to take our picture... then the motos kept on coming... and we realized the men's race was upon us... we had to hammer up the wall and make a jump over the fences to get out of the way fast -- ouch -- that was a hard cooldown ride! But so much fun to be cheered like a champion on a cool down... I almost wanted to go back down the hill and do it again... but pie and ice cream awaited at the host house!!

Next up for the team -- Tulsa!!!

(heading up the wall... don't know where I'm looking)

Goodbye

The call was early. 7am on a Sunday. Sometimes mom forgets I'm on the west coast now. But I was awake and on my way to a race.

The day was calm, cool and sunny -- perfect weather for racing up a mountain. I was excited to try out the new bike, to bury myself up the climb, to hear Aspen cheer me on at the top, and to know I gave it my all at the finish. I love a good, hard race.

Once I heard the news, all I wanted more than anything in the world was to hug my puppy. My 13 year old, sweet, soft-as-can be puppy. The one thing that could make me feel better, I can no longer have.

Tears rolled for half the warm up. I held them back for the start. Perhaps a hard climb could clear the mind. And hard it was... there was no delay in setting a hard pace... even with almost 20 miles of climbing ahead... and 40 more miles to follow. It wasn't long before our big group became a small group.

And the mind wandered -- to my best running buddy ever. Shiloh would know it was play time as soon as I started to think about going for a run. It was hard to get my shoes on with a 50 pound lab jumping in my lap ready to go. Then there were days I couldn't take her running... I had to close the door on sad puppy eyes and see her sit in the window wishing she could be outside. But, she was forgiving and stood ready to kiss the sweat off when I came home. She never held a grudge. Even when I left for school and beyond and would stay away for months at a time... she was still my best friend when I returned home. You really can't get a better welcome home than a Shiloh greeting.

The race was not for me today. Breathing becomes a challenge when your chest wells up with emotions. I kind of knew at the start that it would be hard to put my focus into racing... but I would second guess myself if I didn't try. It was a beautiful ride for reminiscing though.

Shiloh was the puppy I always wanted. We had a dog when I was young, but I never got to raise her. Or teach her tricks. Shiloh was my puppy. I picked her out when I was in high school. I taught her how to shake, rollover, and even recycle. She loved the biscuit guessing game and could usually tell you which hand the biscuit was in. She didn't love the balance the biscuit on the nose game, but she would put up with it for the tasty reward she got when I said "ok" and she flicked her nose to catch the biscuit in the air. She was a smart girl.

It was good to be outside... pedaling smoothly up the meandering road, covered with the dancing shadows of trees above. Wispy clouds moving along the horizon. A big dose of sunshine spreading down rays.

I love soft things. Always have since I was little. Soft covers, soft pajamas, soft stuffed animals. Soft puppies! Shiloh was a soft puppy for sure. Most labs grow out of their puppy fur. Shiloh didn't. She remained puppy soft throughout her life. She may have gotten softer with old age. Maybe from all the pets.

Tears started rolling as I climbed away.

I knew her time was close. I thought I had at least one more visit... one more shiloh greeting... one more shiloh hug. She had a good life. She was loved... maybe as much as she gave back. Shiloh was ready. I don't need to cry for her. Most of my tears are selfish tears... sad that I can't go home and give my Shiloh one more hug.

I was no longer racing to the finish, or the top for that matter. Just racing to somewhere near the top to find Aspen so I could get an Aspen hug. It would have to do.

The tears will stop. The good memories will replace them. And I will always carry a big hug for Shiloh in my heart.

World MS Day

Here is some good viewing for World MS Day:

From this morning:

'Amazing Race' Host Raising Money To Combat Multiple Sclerosis: "'Amazing Race' host Phil Keoghan is getting on his bike once again to help raise money to combat multiple sclerosis. Rick Garcia reports."

And from yesterday:

Check our team page to find out more about MS: nowcyclingteam.com.

Back to Blogging

Sorry Mom and Dad (and Seth) for my lack of blogging. It is hard to blog when you are excited about your team, but can't share the details. Fortunately, our team was announced today!! I will be riding for NOW and Novartis for MS. It is an exciting opportunity for me to race my bike while at the same time spreading awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. To learn a little more about our team, MS, and our sponsors, NOW and Novartis, visit nowcyclingteam.com. First race -- Philly!!

Bike Break

Took a little time off the bike over the holidays. Hard to imagine with no cycling, but I did have a good little holiday break...

Ventured out to Joshua Tree National Park...

(good morning!)

Saw some cool rock piles...

And nifty looking plants (dad what is this??)...

I became a tree hugger...

Aspen became a rock climber!

Then we headed west to meet up with our friend Mickey! I had never been to Mickey's hometown before!!! (devon=deprived child)

We hung out with Mickey a bit...

Took a roller coaster ride with Dumbo...

And then I showed off my muscles to Mr. Incredible (you can see he is looking jealous)!

Cross Nats!

This was the first year I got to race two races at Cross Nationals since I'm now really really old in cyclocross age (and soon to be really really old in real age). Even though I look young, and was even announced as "an up and coming junior" in a road race earlier this year... I'm actually now old enough to be a master.

Racing started off Thursday with a time trial??? This was a first in the sport of cyclocross -- a time trial to determine start position in a race. It was fun though -- it's always fun to get out and ride the cross bike and the TT served as a nice little pre-race ride for the real thing. Despite crashing myself on a slick section and getting caught up with traffic, I finished high enough to get a front row start - yay!

I cooled down with a lap of the real course and then watched Wayne race his masters race. He looked strong, but wasn't feeling strong and didn't have the finish he wanted. Sometimes that's the way racing goes and usually you can say -- "oh well, one bad day." But, it is a lot harder when your bad day falls on nationals, which is the race most people gear their season for.

Friday came around and I was hoping for a good day in the masters race. Going into the race, I knew there was strong competition and that holding the top step might be attainable, but getting on any step would be a hard battle.

The gun went BANG and I was off to a good start leading the way into the first lap with a lot of riders right on my tail. By the end of the lap it was down to three of us up front... I went back and forth into 1st and 2nd spot and before I knew it, it was down to just me and Amanda, in what would prove to be a tough battle. . We had a good gap on third, but neither of us wanted 2nd and we were both fighting hard for the win. Coming into the last lap I could no longer feel my hands, my feet, my legs and I was tired... but i had opened a small gap and just kept telling myself to go! I knew I had to minimize mistakes (which is hard for me) and keep the pressure on. Then I got to the barriers the last time around, tripped over the board, and went to the ground... I was devastated on the inside (and had two more bloody knees on the outside - doah!)... I thought I blew it... but scrambled up and was able to get going again fast enough to stay out front. It wasn't until I made it to the final run up though that I thought I really could pull this win off and when I crossed the line first I could only let out a tired smile... i had left it all on the course and it felt really good to win that way.

(awesome photos by Tim Gasperak)

Saturday was Cypress' big day and he fought a tough battle -- which was a blast to watch and even more exciting to see him finish on the podium in 4th as a young guy in the 17-18 class -- way to go Cypress!!!

Sunday's race came around and I was hoping for better luck than last year when I came off being sick, had a couple spills, and ended up running twice to the pit from quite a ways out. I couldn't envision it going any worse. Unfortunately it didn't go much better. I had a good start... stayed calm and relaxed through a thick field and a number of crashes. Came through lap 1 sitting top 10 but my rear wheel was feeling funny. Thought it looked ok and kept going, but it just wasn't feeling right and I decided to pit to my much less preferred B bike (it's hard to pit when you love your A bike). The wheels felt better but I was feeling drained and struggling to hold my position. I lost some spots by the last lap, but was still hanging in the teens among some tough competition. Then I came around a corner and slid out right in front of the pit. I thought this was ideal timing and ran into the pit to change back to my A bike -- happy to be back on the SuperX despite something off with the tire. But as soon as I exited the pit and hopped on the bike, the tire went "PSssssssss" and ALL the air was gone. Ended up the race with a long, long run in the mud... the mud was so thick that i was hoping running wouldn't be much worse than riding. But it was. Way worse. The only upside was that I had a ton of cheers from a HUGE crowd! So, ended on a rough note but that is cyclocross sometimes... ideally, the bad luck would hold off for nationals, but at least I had some luck on 1 of the 2 days.

Overall it was a great weekend and a fun year of cross. Can't send enough thanks out to all the people who helped contribute to a fun season and the stars and stripes!

Hit Crater Lake on the way home with Aspen...

(it was cold and windy)

(and here was our view... I hear it is even better without fog :)