Nature Valley Grand Prix Diary

To follow my progress at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, click here

As of yesterday I'm 14th in GC and Best Young Rider!

The Big Summer Question

It is officially summer. The stress that comes with exams and nationals is long forgotten. I'm traveling the country and, for once, don't have to bring along my text books. Don't get me wrong, though, my life isn't completely stress free. Each morning, I wake up with a serious question to consider: should I ride and then watch TV or watch TV and then ride? haha. Yes, this is the essence of summer. Better enjoy it while it lasts.

My Apologies

Alright, alright....so I know I haven't updated in awhile, and I'm sorry. My sister has given me enough grief about it to account for everyone who has ever been upset about my infrequent blog posts - alright, maybe that's not so many people - but still. I guess it was just a surprise to me that my sister actually reads my blog enough to get upset when I haven't updated it. Maybe the problem here is I don't talk to my sister enough. Sometimes my frequent blog posts and the Team Type 1 Twitter updates are they only way she can be sure I'm still alive! How tragic! Actually, just today my mom was telling me a story that'll give you an idea of how the family copes with my constant traveling.

Before today, I hadn't called home in a few days because I was busy traveling and preparing for collegiate nationals. Wednesday morning, my parents dropped me off at the Orlando (MCO) airport, and that was the last they heard. Of course they'd asked me to call when I got here, but there was so much going on that I didn't have time! It isn't that uncommon for me to forget to call them so they didn't freak out, but I'm sure they couldn't help but imagine the wreckage of my airplane or the wreckage of my rental car or the wreckage of the airport shuttle! But as my dad always says, if they don't hear from the highway patrol men or the news guy, they just assume I made it there safely. They hadn't heard from either, and I DID get here safely, so their assumption was correct, as always.

This morning, they go on a bike ride with one of their friends who informed them that not only was I safe and sound in Colorado, but that my legs were also "feeling good." How did she know this when my parents didn't? We can all thank Sean Weide, the TT1 media superman, for keeping the fans updated on the status of my legs via our team Twitter. So yes, my parents sometimes hear about my doings from other people first, but I think of it as a blessing that they can be so laid back (or at least pretend to be) while I'm off roaming the country and potentially breaking bones.

ANYWAY...

I got 3rd today in the Division 1 road race behind Carla Swart (Lees McRae) and Anna McLoon (Harvard), both whom I race against on the professional circuit. They're both very strong riders, Carla especially, and I suppose if I have to lose to someone I guess I'm glad it's her. The three major factors we had to cope with in this race were the wind, altitude, and hills. It was windiest race I'd ever done (I found myself practically coasting on an uphill we had such a strong tail wind - of course this meant that the head wind was absolutely brutal). On the decent toward the finish, I thought it was going to pick me up and throw me over the guard rail (something that actually happened to a girl in one of the chase groups). The altitude was rough on me, but I coped better than I did last year. At the end, it came down to a group of four. Carla and Anna came in a bit ahead of Melanie and me.

Now I am "home" at the host house. We're staying with a really nice couple. I've been lucky with host families so far this year. Will post pictures from South East Crit Series when I get back!

Redlands Crit Day

Woke up today and checked the email. Went for a ride with the team at 9 to spin out the legs. Got back and relaxed. Left for the crit via bike at noon (it's all downhill into Redlands from the host house). Got set up with the radios during team the team meeting. Warmed up on the trainers next to the port-a-potties.

Mechanic, Chris, is standing next to me while I'm on the trainer. He says: "have any of you been to the bathroom yet?" Routine pre-race question. "No," I say. "Well everyone is reading about you while they're in there."

Come to find out, our media guy posted this inside the port-a-potties so people could read about us while they pooed. Not sure how I feel about that.

Then I raced. We did well as a team. Led Kori out for the first sprint and covered some attacks. Got a flat tire, went to the pit, got back in. Covered another attack. Then got swarmed and rode the last few laps at the back. Alison got top 10. Kori is doing well in the sprint competition now.

Went home, showered, stood in the freezing cold pool as an alternative to an ice bath. Saved a lady bug from drowning. Tortured an ant by encircling it in a ring of water and slowly making the ring smaller and smaller. Thought about the convection heat transfer coefficient between my legs and the water and tried to increase it my moving around.

Got a massage.

And now I'm here, about to go to dinner with the team at another host house, the one some of the staff are staying at.

All in all, a very good day.

Delicious

http://www.bonkbreaker.com/

Kept me going before, during, and after the stage today. Basically, they're awesome.

They come in three delicious flavors:
Peanut butter and dark chocolate
Peanut butter and jelly
Peanut butter and banana

and my favorite is the peanut butter and dark chocolate. To answer your question: No. Nobody is paying me to say this. They really are good!

Today's stage was awsome for the team. Kori was in a break for a good while and Alison moved up into 3rd in GC. The 30+mph sustained winds made it brutal, technical, and sketchy, especially on the 1st lap when we still had all 140 riders.

My legs were on-and-off today. I could go hard for forever, but I had trouble going up the second climb after resting on the decent from the first. I'd start pedaling and my legs wouldn't do anything until about halfway up. I think I need to do more interval training.

Tonight, looking forward to a lovely dinner with the team at the host family's place. The host father, Kevin, is grilling swordfish and salmon for us! I've never had swordfish before, and I can't wait! Also, there's rumors of a chocolate cake for desert. I love food.

I belong

a long way from here...

That's the first line of the Sheryl Crow song I play on my ipod every time I head out on another trip across the country. It's true really - I get antsy if I stay in once place for too long.

Just got back from the Prologue at Redlands - seriously, I just got back. I'm sitting here in my chamois at our host house looking at the pet lizards in their glass aquarium in front of me and the Darth Vadar figurine on the dresser next to them. I'm staying in a young boy's room.

I don't know yet what my time was in the TT, but my legs felt awesome. I was chasing Emilia Fahlin of Highroad, and I don't think she gained that much time on me. We'll see... Alison, my team mate got 4th, so she'll be our GC rider. I'm going to bust my butt tomorrow.

Alright, gotta go shower and get a massage!

Spring Break: Touring the South

First stop: Exit 62 in Georgia for a Moe's burrito only to discover that they have a new menu with smaller portions. I don't like change and I definitely don't like smaller portions of good food, especially when you have to pay more for them! I was stunned and thought about crying and begging the burrito artist to make me a good old fashioned "Moo."

Second stop: Clemson, South Carolina for a South East Collegiate Cycling Conference race and party. I won Saturday (yay!) and got to celebrate by going out Saturday night. Here's some photos that I'm going to put up here to make me feel better about myself. I can look back at them and say: See! I did do things other than ride, sleep, and recover while I was in college.

Here's one for Heather:

Team Florida: we take the party to the roof.
The moon bounce! Even better after a margarita (so I hear).

Me doing the Medusa.

Sunday's course was on a car racing track. Would have been more exciting if the turns were banked. I won again thanks to some luck and brains. I didn't have much strength to back myself up. I'm definitely going to need this week of training in the mountains to prepare for Redlands.

Bike racers like to race everything. This was the perfect opportunity:

Next stop: Highlands, North Carolina.