Elite Start at Nationals

Here are some shots from the start line on Saturday December 16th. I have literally hundreds of photos to go through! It's hard to choose just a few, especially since I haven 't looked at most of them yet. And it's almost three am. I tried to get some shots of regional people over the course of the weekend, some of which I will post. Alot of the pics are not ideally framed cuz someone's head or elbow or camera was in my way....

Notice that Tristan (Trek Midwest in red) has one of the coveted front row spots. Doug (no. 12) is right behind him in the second row, wearing his Grandstay kit.



They're off!


Anticipation before the start....


The Kona dudes could almost be twins - I had a hard time telling them apart. Then, on Sunday when Ryan had the stars and stripes on (see previous post), it was no problem!


Two familiar faces....

National Tree (Farm)

Elite National Champion, Ryan Trebon, aka Tree Farm, running up the Clif steps on December 17th at the Strawberry Cup, in Providence, the day after winning Nationals.

Awards Ceremony Dec. 16th after the Elite Men's Nationals race:


Zipping up the new stars and stripes jersey!


The top five.


These guys look like they actually might be friends outside of "work"....

Happy birthday....

if my dad were alive, it would have been his birthday yesterday. I was thinking about him all day. I have not forgotten all the things he did for us, or how much he cared for his family.

Cross nationals!!

Cross Nats was lots of fun! I would say a 7 on the fun-o-meter (yep, I just made up that word), maybe an 8. Great weather, great course, great people. A few glitches in my case but nothing insurmountable, thanks to the great folks at the Mavic neutral support tent. Thank you, thank you, Mavic guys, you saved the day!!! And thanks to Chris S., Renee and Chris D. for being willing to lend a hand if needed. Had I made it to the parties Sat and Sunday night, I would have probably given the weekend a 9 or 10! Unfortunately my flight left Sunday afternoon so I missed the Crank Bros party.

The other racers in my race were way out of my league, but I knew that would be the case as soon as I saw the start list..... more on the race and course later....

Congrats to all the Midwesterners who put in a strong showing in their events!

Ran into quite a few folks I used to know ... Ex-Midwesterners I saw included Ryan O'Connor, former local fast guy in the 90's, Ron B. and his family, (including his son Drew who did very well in his junior race), and more. It does seem to me like the cast of characters has changed quite a bit since the last time I went to a cross nationals event. There was a great group of regional (and ex-regional) crossers to hang with, including Chris, Kim, Renee, Dave, Kurt and Beth.

Thanks to Renee, of Madcross fame, for organizing the Midwest dinner! 18 people made it out on Saturday night. Several of them were new faces to me. It's nice to have someone make the effort to get people together.

The flight there had a surprising number of people going to the race, considering it was only Wednesday. There were some USA cycling events people, and the head official of the race. Someone who turned out to be in my race was sitting right across the aisle from me, and we ended up chatting. Little did I know then that she would come close to winning our race! I didn't know who everyone was at that time, but they looked like they were on their way to nats, and it added to the sense that I was starting out on an adventure!

Something about seeing all the bike boxes rolling around at the airport gets the adrenalin going... it reminds me of how you feel when you drive into a town that's holding a big race and you start to get all jumpy when you first see cars with bikes on top and especially when you start to see the team cars.... it happens to me whether I am racing or spectating... that excitement that washes over you when you realize you are about to be immersed in the sights and sounds of bike racing!

Another thing that struck me as really funny, though it makes sense, is that I heard that there was a room in the host hotel that had nothing but bikes in it? Someone, a team I suppose, got a room just for their bikes! An expensive room with pristine white shiny satin-like duvets on the beds and a light colored carpet, full of potentially dirty bikes! Good thing it wasn't a muddy weekend!

I will add more on the weekend later... this is a super busy week, trying to get all my shopping done now that I am no longer trying to get ready for Nats.....T is in town and we are going to meet up several times, I might even join her and Wendy at Kettle Friday if I can swing it....and my sister and her family get here Thursday night. Also, I have to get everything done for the year's end at work, preferably before our accountant leaves town next week on vacation....and so much personal stuff has been on hold for me due to the long race season for me..... "oh, I'll do it in the winter when the season is over"..... well the winter is here!! time to get cracking!

More later, I hope...

Packing for Providence.....

Wish I had time to write about the great weekend I had! Maybe later.

Instead I am getting ready for nationals.... It has been a very long time since I have packed up a bike in a bike case. It was really slow going. I am not looking forward to the other end when I have to put it back together. That's why I wanted to pack the box myself, I figured I'd be better at putting it back together. (Getting the derailleur back on and working right is the part I am concerned about.) But now that's done and I am gathering a big pile of warm clothing for standing (and riding) outside all weekend.... things kept happening all day that should have taken two seconds and ended up taking an hour... like being on hold for an hour on the phone in one case....it will be a miracle if I get out of here on time....but it will all work out! Tthe silly part is that I am getting my bike all ready and making all this effort for a race from which I will probably get pulled halfway through the race, if not before. It will be a blast to be there, though. Fun, fun fun.

Nats, here I come!

Nose, fingers and toes....

Those were the things I could not feel during the first lap of the cross race last Sunday at Montrose Harbor.

Instead of concentrating on the race and my bike handling in the snow, all I could think about was that I could not feel four of my fingers or my nose! How long does it take to get frostbite? How would I know if I was getting it? My imagination had my fingers freezing solid and falling off, like in a bad dream. And as for the nose..... After a while they warmed up enough so that I could feel them again and I could start thinking about the race. I was wearing the gigantic gorilla sized Pearl Izumi gloves that look like they would be great for operating a ski lift, but I think I should have picked lobster gloves so those fingers would have had buddies. I actually can't complain too much about the toes. This was my first time racing in my Lake winter shoes. Along with toe warmer packets, they did much better than my regular shoes in keeping my feet warm.

What a day! 15 degree high, a record low for that day! Wind coming off the lake.... We got 6 inches of snow two days before, although the course seemed to have less than that. Some ruts had definitely formed by the time of our races, as had ice on the downhills and some of the turns.

I had thought that maybe not very many people would show, given the bitter cold and the snow. I was surprised to see that most of the regulars from this season were out there, along with maybe a new face or two. The field in the other women's race was about double what it has been at the other races! Go figure! Our field was about the same as it has been at the other races. It must be the location, and the state championship? I am a little stumped by this. I really didn't want to go to this race cuz of the weather, but there really wasn't any excuse for not finishing the series. I would have been mad at myself if I hadn't. And it was good to see everyone that was there, however briefly one ends up talking to people that are shivering....

I had a terrible start at the back - my fault. Everyone took off ahead of me and I had to play catch up. I caught the back of the pack on the pavement but things had already split up, then next thing we knew it was time to slow down for the turn onto the snow. Who goes first? You can lose a couple of seconds waiting your turn.

I talked to alot of people on Saturday about the virtues of fat vs. skinny for the snow, with the consensus coming out about half for fat and half for skinny. None of us actually knew what the snow would be like at that point. I stuck with the skinny ones, not because I was convinced they would be better but because they were already on there and I had limited time that day. Looking back, I am pretty sure fat would have been better choice for those conditions. It seemed like the mt bikes did better than the cross bikes in general. This was my second race on the skinny ones. Although the fat would have been better for me, the skinny ones had enough tread that they held their own. Those are going to stay on for next weekend.

So my goal for the race was not to go down in the snow or on the icy sections. Mission accomplished, at the expense of maybe gaining a place or two. Hard to say, though. I walked/ran in some places that I might have been able to ride. I probably lost time on the barriers and technical sections. The gap between me and the rider in front of me definitely changed at different places on the course. I didn't place well, but I got a workout. I had fun once I warmed up, I got some snow riding practice, and I still have the fingers and nose.

It seems like every week this fall I have gotten more and more out of shape, ever since the kettle race. Being sick on and off this fall has taken it's toll. The bitter cold aggravated my cough and runny nose at this last race. Yeeech. I was in much better shape at this time last year. Shoulda gone to nats last year instead of this year.

Thanks to Ed, John and Jose for being out there with a tent, bbq'ing burgers, brats, and warm cider for everyone.... and to Chris D. and the Turin crew for putting on the race under less than ideal conditions.

Safari Slide Show

My friends Wendy M. and Kristin are showing photos from their trip to Africa in October. They will be showing shots from the safaris and from their climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. This will take place at 6:30 at RaceLogix. All are welcome.

Found dead, in Oregon

I have been following the story of James Kim, the missing CNET editor, and his family, lost in Oregon for 11 days after a Thanksgiving trip to Seattle. I get regular tech emails from from CNET, which sent out an email about a week ago asking if anyone had seen their missing editor and his family.

We often think that in this age of cell phones we can always call for help, but their story shows us that that just isn't true...

This is so sad.... http://news.com.com/James+Kim+found+deceased/2100-1028_3-6141498.html?tag=nl.e498

The family search website: http://www.jamesandkati.com/

I can't stop thinking about this, and what it would be like to be James, trying to stay alive out there so he could find help for his family...and how heartbreaking it must be for his family...for his wife and kids who stayed with the car and survived...

makes me think about what all of us travelers should be carrying in our cars...I have blankets and clif bars and water, but I know there are probably other things I should have...

Is this really November?

Made it out for two little road rides in spite of my nasty cold. it was just too nice to not go! is this really November? Rode the cross bike. I got late starts both times and ended up in the dark with lights for part of each ride. It was actually really relaxing to ride in the dark with the lights. There wasn't too much traffic (relatively) and there was something peaceful about it. Except for the potholey part, and the people who wouldn't dim their brights. But even the potholey stuff didn't bother me as much as usual, I was just happy to get out and ride.

Gobble, gobble....

Yes, gobble gobble is what I did on Turkey Day! And I was not the only one. Thanks to Julie and Carlos, along with the help of CBD, for a tasty Thanksgiving meal. Their friends Nuria and Christophe (and their kids) joined all of us for a festive meal. Little Jordan was much quieter than usual, wondering, I think, why all these people were invading his kitchen! He really did seem to be looking around, taking it all in, not sure what to make of all the commotion. Adjusting to not being the center of attention.... Keeping him away from the stove earlier in the day when the turkey basting was going on was almost impossible. Nuria and Christophe were really interesting to talk to. Her job in artificial intelligence research sounds fascinating. Very cool guests.

I didn't think I'd really like the chocolate cake thing that looks like a loaf of bread, but I was wrong. It was really good and the not-quite-cooked spongy texture of it made it even better.

By then it was clear that I was catching Jordan's cold, in spite of all my efforts not to. The overwhelming urge to sleep on Tuesday and Wednesday should have been my clue.... So instead of going for a long walk like I should have to work off that huge meal I pretty much turned into a blob. I did build quite a nice little train course (not sure what else you would call it?) with the toy trains and wooden tracks. I don't think he is quite old enough to appreciate it, I think he would prefer to have my attention on him rather than on putting together train tracks at this point....but we had fun. He is such a cute kid, with a very strong will.

The weather in Seattle was pretty miserable, compared with the surprise warm up the Midwest was enjoying. One day it was really windy and they even had a rare thuderstorm! I must have brought that with me. The sun only peeked out now and then. Lots of rain. My long walks (in place of workouts) around Green Lake (nice view when it's nice) ended with me being pretty waterlogged. Rain parka, waterproof shoes, and one day Julie was kind enough to lend me her rain pants. I needed them, the day before my track pants got soaked! Me and the ducks. Lots of ducks. I did see kayakers and rowers out before it got dark. I walked mostly in the dusk/dark. Considering the yucky weather, there were alot of people out there with me. A guy in a team kit on a cross bike that I must have seen 7 or 8 times - meaning he made at least 7 laps around the lake. Hmmm, would that be a more exciting 7 times than our local road route? Yep, I think so. maybe. People with headlamps on and blinkies on their dog.... runners, walkers, a few bike commuters with panniers and/or messenger bags and blinkies.... I wanted to go check out Gregg's Greenlake bike shop and Title Nine, but it was hard to see in the rain and with my hood on, so I missed seeing where to leave the path to find the shopping area. At that time I thought we would be going to the REI sale later, so I didn't try that hard to find the stores. Interesting how some of us were all covered up and others were running in the cold rain with shorts and t-shirts. Forgot the ipod on the first walk but listened to Plans (Death Cab for Cutie) a couple of times on the second one. I lasted for about an hour and a half on each one. Feet started to ache in the new trail running shoes that were supposed to fit just like my last pair. I wish they would keep shoes the same and not change them! I missed my turnoff the first time in the dark, glad I had the map with me and that I could find a streetlamp to look at the map. I do wish I had gotten alot more exercise on this trip.

I really wanted to go to the REI sale at the huge REI flagship store. I enjoy looking at all that outdoor gear in one place. Multi-floored with all the gear goodies.... climbing wall, bike test trail, hiking test trail, and best of all, a kiosk with many flavors of chocolate covered cherries....mmmmm! I got some cherries at the airport but they seemed kinda stale. Shoulda been way chewier!! But it didn't work out so I had to content myself with staying up too late last night looking at all the stuff online. Thanks to Wendy M. for giving me a description some of the stuff I saw online from the dressing room of the store, and for trying it on, and for bringing what she bought over afterwards for me to try, too! Sorry I was such a bad influence - but you were going there to look at the same stuff yourself, I know you were!

J and C's house looks great. They really made some good choices, the first one being choosing that location and that house. If I figure out how to post pictures, I will someday put up a pic of the basement workout area. They cut part of the walls out of the basement bathroom to make room for the rowing shells. The double was a little too long to fit before that. I don't feel so bad about having bikes all over the place at home, etc. - we all make modifications for the things important to us - and it's different for everyone! C has a nice area to meet with his future coaching clients and videotape them on the erg. I think his business is going to be very popular, there seems to be a need for what he has to offer and I think he'll do a great job.

We helped J read student's papers and make corrections. I think I never learned how to write a "proper" paper! I just sat down and did it and no one ever said I should do it another way. She said the same thing- that we never learned the official way to do it, it was just sort of expected that we would write decent papers. Apparently alot of people learn a certain structure and that's what these college level papers were supposed to follow. I found it hard to concentrate on the papers - I think my brain is fried. I found it easier to correct the technical stuff - grammar, etc. than the content. One thing I did notice is that the papers seemed to be written at a high school level, not the college level that they were supposed to be. how do you tell someone their paper is seriously lacking in the content and research area? I got to see a little bit of a video of her practice teaching session before her first class. I'm glad they don't throw them to the wolves like they have done to alot of people I have known. A lot of professors I have known have said that they didn't get any training in actual teaching - they had to figure that part out when they got there. I think she will be very good at teaching. I am glad she is doing something that she is really enjoying, although juggling everything seems really stressful right now.

The flight home was good in that I had two empty seats next to me. On the other hand, It was awful in that my cold was full blown by then. On the descent, which seemed to take forever, I felt like someone was drilling holes in my head as the gunk was forced into my ears. It really hurt. really. alot. Until about two am I felt like I had earplugs in or a brick in my head or something. I couldn't hear very well and it seemed like I was underwater or something. Reminded my of how my ears felt in scuba diving class. Ugh.

At the airport the cab came within minutes of calling them. I lucked out, the guy's fare had bailed on him. This elderly couple had been waiting for an hour, so they asked if we could share a cab, which we did. The driver used to own a tavern, but standing all the time was killing him. So he is driving cabs now. Then I went and got food at the store. The one I wanted to go to was closed early for the holiday weekend. Then caught up on Gray's Anatomy and Ugly Betty from Thursday night until very late. This episode of GA was really disturbing to me. The deterioration of Cristina and Burke's realationship was painful to watch. And the end where she came home and he closed the bedroom door in her face after she betrayed him..... arrrrgh..... Wendy M. was wondering if they are going to retire Burke from the show. I hope not. I also hope that heart surgeon from the other hospital does not accept the chief's offer of a position at Seattle Grace.... she's no Addison or McSteamy....

I hope a good thanksgiving was had by all.

Congratulations, Good Luck, Happy Birthday, and Get Well!

Hello! I have been wanting to try this since I discovered this past summer that I enjoyed reading other people's bike racing blogs. I had lots of hours in the car driving to races thinking of names and such. The first name I picked out was Bloggity Blog Blog. A google search and I quickly found out it was hardly an original idea! Then I came up with some other ideas. I saw a t-shirt that caught my eye - the Singletrack Superstar t-shirt by Twin Six. That name stuck in my head. Being really terrible in the singletrack, however, I felt that in my case Singletrack and Superstar don't belong in the same sentence. I like the alliteration of the S's though. So the next obvious choice was Singletrack Slowpoke! Unfortunately that is an apt description of my mt bike skills..... as one friend said when I was saying that I had trouble in the singletrack in a particular race - "but you always have trouble in the singletrack". Ouch, and how true! Anyway, I signed up for this almost a month ago. Life has been crazy the last few weeks, but here I am at last. I think.

Before I get to the congrats, etc. I want to mention something that has been weighing heavily on me the last couple of weeks - many, many get well wishes to my friend who went into the hospital for a rather long and complex surgery and has contracted several serious post-surgical infections. He has since had to have another surgery to save his life. He should have been out of there in 3 days, but instead he is still there after three weeks, barely able to move, breathe, or eat. He just had the tube that was draining his stomach fluids removed, which is a good sign. The tube went into his nose, down into his stomach. That alone is enough to make him feel terrible. Please keep him in your thoughts or prayers (whatever works for you) for a full recovery!!!

Lots of congrats are in order - congrats to Brian for completing his 31 mile run of the DPRT last weekend. Quite an undertaking! I enjoyed being part of the support crew for part of the run, riding my bike alongside. I hope you raised lots of money for Leave No Trace. It was interesting trying to ride for several hours at a running pace, too.

Congrats to Wendy and Kristin for successfully climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in the last few days. It sounds like it was an amazing experience, climbing to the top at night and watching the sunrise from the summit! Wendy, I loved reading your emails with all the safari animal sighting details.

Congrats to Craig, Kristine, and Dan for their impressive runs in the Marathon!

Congrats to Holly on her recent cross wins, and for a getting a mention on VeloNew's web page for her win. She had a great first mt bike season, and now she's setting the cross courses on fire. And good job to Scott for also making the results in VeloNews and having a great placing despite a little air time....

Congrats to Julie and Carlos for winning the Masters National Championship in rowing in their age group this summer. I know that happened a couple of months ago, but I think it's really cool....

Congrats to my teammates for their WORS overall placings!

Good Luck to Gabi at XTerra Worlds in Hawaii this weekend! I know you haven't been able to train as much as you would like lately, but I know you have what it takes to do well! I'll be thinking about you on Sunday.

Good luck to Karrie on your presentation this week.

It was great to see Karrie, Renee, Karen, Chuck, Jeff, Marianne, Mike and Mike and many others at the reunion last weekend. What a blast that was! The pics you sent this week were great. I wish I had gotten to talk to Gail, too - by the time I went to find her she had already gone.

Happy B-day to CBD! That was a special b-day dinner. Thank you Mr. S. for taking us to such an amazing restaurant. Sparkly view. It was funny how many times we had to change elevators to get from the garage to the restaurant. We thought maybe we'd have to know the secret password somewhere along the way to get any further....

Happy B-day to Tawnya! Looks like it will be a good year for you, the way things are coming together for you in Boulder.

And something cyclists never like to hear - My condolences to the family and friends of Mike K.. He was an old bike racer friend who was killed instantly at the end of September when a driver turned left in front of him in Oregon. He was a great guy, and he will be missed.

That's is for pent-up congrats, good luck, HB's, and get wells.... g'nite.