2013 - the year of the Demo

I posted in the past to help me stay motivated to train my way to the STP. Now I return with a similar purpose, to maintain motivation to train for mountain racing in the summer. I hope to kick butt in 2-3 enduro races and 1-2 DH races. I am fast when gravity is involved, but I get held back by weakness in my legs, heart and lungs, think on what I can do with increased fitness and stamina. Last season I rode pretty well in the Sport category, I must race in the expert category now. I won the title, "Queen of the Mountain" at the Tiger Mountain Enduro for being the fastest female down the main DH section of the race. I would like to maintain this title into the next year.

My plan is to utilize the stormy weather to build strength and lose weight in the gym while riding real bikes on the weekends and when I can. I plan to take spinning twice a week (Mondays and Wednesdays) and do strength for my upper body, core and legs 3-4 times a week. With my weak back and shoulder recovery, I must focus on those areas in particular increasing in strength and flexibility so I can rely on the weak parts of my body as well. My legs have always been the strongest, I hope to get the rest of my body to match.

Today is the second day of January 2013, the first day of the rest of my life. I have been sick and have an injured hamstring. I rode the stationary for 30 minutes and did the elliptical for 20. Tomorrow is circuit training for strength.

Injury update - 8 months later

I am not the most faithful and consistent blog poster, luckily not many people read or rely on this information, so no pressure right? I thought I would provide an update on the injury recovery. 8 months post scapula obliterating accident (okay maybe a bit of an exaggeration), I walk out of the doctors office with the PA, Kristen Nygard, hollering down the hallway, "She is healed!". These were the greatest words I had heard in more then 8 months. It took a long time, but I am very grateful it did not require surgery, pins or intensive drugs.

I am now in strengthening mode. I have been doing my PT assigned exercises and started riding just a bit on the road. WOW! That felt good. There is nothing like pedaling, especially after being void of it for so long. I was on the road for 2-3 weeks riding 3-4 times a week with a few 30+ miles rides. I had more strength and fitness then I expected, but still no where near where I was prior to injury or where I want to be. After a visit to the PT I decided it was time to be on the mountain bike again. He said I was pretty strong and my bone was all healed so some mtn riding would be okay.

I have included a picture of the lovely beast that I now call mine, this bike has helped me stay up and gave me something to look forward to. She did not let me down. What an amazing ride. whew!! Fast, snappy, smooth, all I could ask for. Not to mention totally hot! First trail was St. Edwards then Paradise, St. Eds a few more times. It has now seen Duthie, Grand Ridge, Tiger, Tokul East (KGB and something new without a name). Every time I take it out someone says, that is a beautiful bike or nice ride or something. All I can do is grin and giggle inside. I have pushed it a bit hard, I have a few small bruises, but I am getting stronger. Yah!

Notice the pink bars and grips!!

One week at a time

I failed last week. I came close, but not close enough. I ended up with one can of soda, coke actually. At least it wasn't Mt. Dew. I didn't bike in the gym at all, I walked a bunch, brisk walking with hills and stairs, mostly with the dogs. This week has been a bit depressing, not the worst week on record, but a hard one. This upcoming week will be better, here is my week's goal starting tomorrow:

• No soda
• Walk the dogs each day in the morning
• Bike at the gym twice this week for 45 mins each time
• Track caloric intake on myfitnesspal each day

I have a doctor's appointment on Friday morning, pray for me. I am pretty negative and am pretty sure it's not healing. It still hurts now and again. It doesn't feel like it's healing. Surgery will mean a way long recovery. Grrr.

Time to get in shape...

A biking injury has left me fat and flabby. Who would have thought you could break your scapula, well, you can. Not only do I weigh more, but all the biking muscle have wasted away to cobbly flubber.

I cannot bike, I cannot run, I cannot do a lot of things, but I can sit on a stationary at the gym and I can go for long walks on the beach. I can do crunches and lunges, so it begins. I am going to try to write once a week about the plan for the up coming week and how last week went. This week I am building motivation.

Week #1

Intake: No soda this week.

Expending: Spin at the gym at least 4 times, 45 minutes each. (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat)

First Century of the year...Flying Wheels

What a great ride. I have found a new love for riding with lots of people. The thrill of the road bike is the fast passing, the drafting, the stuff that makes you focus hard because you're a bit freaked out. I have such a hard time focusing in my real life, it's cool to do something that demands focus, not paying attention for a split second can mean road rash and broken bones.

Today's ride was fast, the fastest we have done so far. 100 miles in 6 hrs and 11 mins, about 5.5 hours of actual ride time, 17.7 ave mph. 4000 vertical feet with a brutal and long climb about mile 80. And at the end I felt great. I started with sore thighs and hamstrings from the Monday ride, but after mile 20 they loosened up and all was well. I ate plenty and drank maybe too much (if that's possible), I had to pee way too often. I feel like we could have done another 50 for sure, maybe not another 100. We will have to slow the pace down a little for the STP, but we will make it. :)

First Cascade Cycling Club group ride - MUMPS

I just showed up, no idea how far we were going to go, no idea who was going to be there, just showed up. We started with 17 people I think, the first group to get in was 4, the second group (I was in this group) was 3, we lost 1 to mechanical issues, 2 went their own way home and I have no idea what happened to the other guys. Either way, I kept up with the head group most of the way, I lost them in the last 18 miles. There was a lot of climbing, 2838 vertical, phew. Needless to say, by the end I had good energy, but my muscles were saying NO! Different then last week for sure. I could have kept riding if there were no more hills. :)

I got a sunburn too, it's finally sunny around here, has been for four days. I hope it keeps this way, but chances are...rain soon. Thanks MUMPS for letting me tag along.

Winner of the #1 ride of the year, so far.

No one passed the test...now I know how many people actually read my blog. No one said a word about the embarrassing and disgusting article that has been up for weeks now. HA! I thought it was a good idea when I posted it then forgot all about it. I came back to post some rides and thought, "yuck, what was I thinking?" Ah well, if people do actually read this blog, at least you got a small kick of yick.

Tiff and I did an awesome ride Saturday, check it out...I recommend this one to anyone and everyone, it was fantastic!

This ride took us around bright green river bottom farms one of which was a white picket fenced, fancy dressage arena thing that dreams are made of and a few other barns that I wouldn't mind inheriting form someone's rich uncle. The ride followed swelling rivers that were almost giving up their banks, past the west side of Mt. Si's steep cliffs and hidden water falls. We saw long horn cattle, lamas, cows, and full or part Friesian horses. We did 2000+ feet of climbing and mostly avoided busy roads. The weather was overcast, but mostly dry and perfect cool temps. Tiffany wins the Coolest ride prize, she was also a great ride leader, we only got lost once. :)

I did almost bonk, I was there, on the brink of complete energy depletion. By the time we hit the parking lot, my body was done. I was not smart in my calorie intake, I didn't bring enough food. The ride was actually about 75 miles, not sure what I missed when I mapped it, but our on bike computers said so. :) Anyway, we rode for about 6 hours and I had one chocolate chip cookie, one banana, two gels and half a fruit and nut bar. Not enough. We burned 3500 calories and I probably took in 1200, totally guessing on my intake calories, all I know is it wasn't enough. I need to just pack more. I did well on water, drank about 4 full bottles, three water and one gatorade. Next ride I will bring way more, more gels and more real food, maybe a pb&j.