It's Just the Way We're Wired...

Back from training camp and I have another little cold... again! What's HOT and what's NOT? Vanderkitten is hot... this cold I have is not! My body could use another visit to Dr. Thomas Kano at All About Health. He came to visit the team during our stay in the Bay Area and he really fixed me up. I've had chronic hip rotation troubles for eons. What a little crack can do for you!

The first NRC race of the season has come and gone. The inaugural Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium held on President's Day was fantabulous. It was exciting to be included in the TOC and I want to thank AEG and the race director, Laura Charameda, for supporting women's cycling. To kick off the start of a new season, the team rode awesome, placing 3 riders in the top 20 and taking 2 field primes. As a sprinter with a good jump, I am still working out the kinks in my training and getting to the head of the race. I keep telling myself it's still only February. But, next time, I am just going to go to the very front, find my team, and giv'er. It's the only way - Leontien van Moorsel style. Like any goal, if I tell ya'll then I'll have to be held to my word, right?

I've been doing things you don't normally get to do when you work full time and train, like watch a lot of TV, sleep, and bake. I'm all caught up on Lost, L-Word, and American Idol, and I baked some chocolate chip oatmeal banana bread last night. I opened my Valentine's Day present from KW which was a new webcam and Katrine had Christmas again and scored some new clothes for her American Girl Doll from Aunt Janet.

It's a nice day, which is a rarity around here, so I am going to head out for a short spin to stretch my sore legs and try out my new Specialized shoes and Look Keo pedals. They look fast! My girlfriend keeps telling me everything is going to be okay.

Update...

This summer I have been training, taking classes, coaching, and gardening mostly. I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel and registered myself for 26 credits over one term at Portland State. I am in the midst of a 2-week break and head into the last major hurdle next week to complete my BS in Psychology at the end of fall term.

I have been pretty busy with the learning and not so much time for the racing. In late July, at Boise Twilight, I was 3rd but flying to crit nationals and other races back east proved to be too expensive on a chance I might do well. Even though I had good end-of-season form, I had to shift gears and focus on Las Vegas at the end of this month and transitioning to cyclocross in the fall. I am beginning to feel I may be too busy again to pack in fulltime classes, working, and training to be competitive. Still, questions remain about grad school and what to do in the winter and beyond. I am leaning toward giving racing fulltime another shot. Feeling like a smarter and more relaxed racer, I missed the competition this year and see myself doing well again.

I am excited about the crit championship series finale in Las Vegas. Fuji is letting me demo one of their new ’08 women’s road bikes. I’ve always loved the way their carbon bikes feel and look forward to trying out a frame tailored to fit women! Looking toward ‘cross season as well, I will be racing on a new ’08 Fuji cross frame. So, needless to say, I am very stoked about that! At the same time, our Wenzel Coaching Summit will draw our coaches to one venue and all the sponsors will be on hand for InterBike. I look forward to a good show.