Australia!

So it was decided a couple of months ago that if I was given the opportunity to train in Australia, then I should take advantage of the opportunity and warm weather and go.

After talking with the parents about concerns and questions and getting a game plan for training and my racing schedule, it was time to fly. BUT first I had to get back to the west coast from my Mississippi Christmas trip.

So after (what seemed) a long day of travel, I was in an LAX hotel, riding the stationary bike in the hotel exercise room, getting ready for my big haul to Perth.

The plane took off from LA at 10:15pm and guess who had the lucky middle seat!!!! MEEEEEEE:) hahahah! Oh well, at least I’m going to be so covered on my mileage with United! I was lucky enough to have good seat mates, a Navy Seal to my left and a college student going to visit her boyfriend to my right. We had good conversation and Lindsey (seat mate right) had stayed in Sydney for a while prior to this visit and gave us some pointers. A couple of hours in, they fed us dinner - rubber beef or rubber chicken - chicken please! Choked that down w/ a Crown and Sprite and an Ambien and I was out for about 5hrs. When I woke up and moved around for another hour, they fed us a turkey sandwich. I think this is the point they shift from US time to Auzzy time, cause our last meal before landing was breakfast - apple pancakes or egg omelet.

Once we landed and everyone had their customs cards filled out, it was time for the lines, which I thought was pretty efficient, even though it took an hour to get from immigration, bags, customs, checking in, it wasn’t that bad! So once through and in the Qantas terminal, I got a little snack, did some shopping and laid down for a nap - one more plane ride.

This one was the kicker....it was the hardest flight to deal with, my legs hurt so bad, so I was fidgeting so much! I felt sorry for the guy beside me cause I was constantly squirming:) hehehe....

And here I am! I was picked up from the airport at 4pm, got my bike put together, unloaded and settled by 8pm, had dinner and went to bed. Of course I made the mistakes of trying to get in on the driver’s side and was confused about all the driving on the opposite sides of the road but after this morning’s ride, I’m slowly getting used to it.

I’m acclimating to the time pretty well. I’ve walked to the store, enjoying the warm air and sunshine, bought the local newspaper and sorting out the difference in the coins versus ours. Their 10 cents look like our nickles and the coins are heavier. The paper money is softer but very similar to the US dollar. The following pictures are from my walk to the store. I will update in a couple of days!!! Happy New Years!

Local birds....

Today's market run....2 blocks from the house...
It's always interesting to see the differences in countries...
The road I walked..
More signage....

The view walking into the apartment complex...

Listening: interesting bird noises

Reading: maps of Perth for cycling

Watching: the road! Keep on the correct side;)

Eating: yummy oranges

Training in Tucson

I've been in Tucson for a while training and enjoying the 'warm' weather, hanging out with friends, filling time with reading, Modern Family marathons, eating good food and of course sleeping;)!!

My good friends, Dave and Alisha, have been so awesome for letting me stay with them and be their third wheel on outings. It's been nice to have a riding partner too, even though we may not have the exact training schedule, we can at least start together and then split off when time calls for it.

It's been interesting weather here, lots of rain on a couple of days but it makes for a beautiful back drop when the mountains are dusted with snow. Things are settling in for 2012 for all the teams and mornings usually bring a new e-mail for things to send back: sizes, favorite flavors of mix, filling out questionnaires. I'm looking forward to training camp, looking forward to meeting the gals and getting into race mode BUT first comes training and preparation. Now is the time to put in the LONG miles, getting the body used to efforts and waking up from winter mode and boy will that make you tired!! But it is such a gratifying feeling.

It's interesting how FB and Twitter has probably made coaches' lives a bit harder because you will see teams at training camp, you hear of women putting in extremely long miles and rides and then you see the questioning in other athletes' training. Am I doing enough? Am I riding long enough? Pushing hard enough? You can always do more...;)

I've started juicing fruits and veggies! I saw a documentary while riding the trainer one day: Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and I was sold. I started talking to my friend Ally Stacher, cause I know she has veggie juicing experience and she helped a ton - which one I needed, how to travel with it and some other handy tips - thank you Ally:)!! It is easy, tasty and good for you!! I'm trying to talk mom into trying it, so I'm taking my juicer home with me for Christmas to get her started. I have faith.....

I also found a recipe for ribs in a slow cooker! I know, quite the contrast from juicing but my roots are planted and BBQ is my all time favorite food, always will be and when I see a new recipe, I'm up for giving it a try and tasting the goodness! I've never had a slow cooker and once I used Alisha's I was sold that I need one and that everyone needs one! They are such a life saver for a cyclist. Just think, start something yummy in the morning, go for a long ride, come home, smell the goodness in the works, make lunch, shower, rest and BAM supper is ready! hahaha!!!! It's gotta be good if it's been cooking for 8hrs!!! So again, when I go home, I will be juicing fruits and veggies for mom and making ribs for dad! Can't wait....

So here are some pictures from my stay in Tucson, enjoy:

Tucson Botanical Gardens had a Christmas special one night and it was so much fun!! We saw Santa and wanted our picture taken. Who knew that when we sat on his lap he was a DIRTY SANTA!!!! He said we were on the 'naughty' list! YUCK!!! Don't ruin it old man!
Before one of our rides - Alisha and I.....she's tall? or am I short?
Smile for the camera!
I may have been killing time one day dyeing my hair.....maybe.....
The mountains right beside Tucson, so beautiful!
Stucco doesn't really work too well in some places but in the southwest, it is beautiful!!!
From my awesome friend Ally Stacher!!!!
Sunrise in Tucson...
Sunset in Tucson....

Watching: The Help(GREAT movie!!!)

Reading: Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz - very interesting....thanks Janel for the reference!

Listening: Awolnation - Sail (I'm not so sure about this video but the song is good)

Eating: FRUITS AND VEGGIES!!! (and ribs)

Feeling: excited about going home for Christmas.

Merry Christmas y'all!!

Thanksgiving 2011

What a week!! 7 days can go by so fast sometimes but I enjoyed every moment as best I could. We had Thanksgiving lunch at our house with the family, then on Saturday I went to the MSU/Ole Miss game in Starkville with some of the best people in the world-my friends from college.

I got to ride a couple of days as well but now it's time to get back to work. I fly home tomorrow morning and will focus in on next year's season. Things are in the works and I'm really excited. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Eric and P.J. pre game....
Brandi w/ her baby girl Rivers on the left, Olley(sp?) in the middle and Amy and Emerson on the right.....how cute!!!!
Stevie, Amy, Brandi, myself and Brandon...no one has changed a bit.....
Phil, Amy and myself.....
My best bud - Brandon and myself....

This was a great trip...

Reading: The Time of Our Lives by Tom Brokaw

Listening: Coldplay's - Paradise

Eating: Too much good Thanksgiving food

Watching: FOOTBALL!!!

Until next time....

Asheville trip with the family

I had been excited for this trip since track nationals! When there is a family trip, it's always full of laughs, some funny story and dad walking us all over the place to check things out. And it seems he knows exactly where he is going - all the time - and he can find the coolest things!

But this time he was a bit slowed due to an injury that required surgery this coming Thursday (yes, he put it off for 2 weeks, thinking he could tough it out). He was still a mover and shaker and could outpace any of us, EXCEPT - T3!! My nephew is such a sweetheart and clown! He is 5 and apparently already the class clown.

On the agenda (we were only there from Thursday-Monday) was Tweetsie Railroad, Linville Caverns, maybe Biltmore and building a bookshelf for Ben and Verka for all her books. The pictures below are from most of all that.

We stayed the first couple of nights at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville and it was over the top nice. I was the last to arrive to the hotel, checked into my room and was looking forward to a hot shower. So I started the water, left the bathroom, came back and there was water running over the tub onto the tile floor....oh sh-t....The shower head was pointed right off the edge of the bathtub, against the wall and creating a river that was about to flood the room!! I ended up using every towel, except one to clean it all up! hahaha! What a way to start the trip...

Other interesting things that happened: T3 choked on supper, chewed and swallowed a toy that was supposed to expand and of course a couple of folks ended up getting sick (head cold stuff). I wouldn't have changed it for the world!

Next up is Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to what that has in store:)! But for now, I'm in Tucson, riding and enjoying the company of teammates and friends.

Tweetsie Railroad was such a cold day!! We all froze our butts off but it was still a blast.
The train....
The train ride - even the hot chocolate wasn't doing the trick...
Down by the river at my brother's house, camp fire, hot dogs and T3 almost falling into the river, almost falling into the fire, falling on the rocks - perfect for him, scary for everyone else...
While my dad and brothers were building the bookshelf, I helped T3 make this his boat. He wanted to float it down the river but we ran out of time....
Brothers at work.....
Whoopsie!!! Who measured this again???? It was a bit too tall, so they had to take it back outside to cut it back a bit.....
Mike, the neighbor, supervising the cuts....
Measure twice, cut once....
YEAH!!! It fits!...
Bonfire funny men.....
Verka, Andrea and myself enjoying the sunset and fire....
Not sure what we were laughing so much about...
My favorite 5yr old EVER!

Reading: Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean

Listening: Good Feeling by Flo Rida

Watching: Football!! How bout that LSU/BAMA game!

Eating: Pomegranate

Off season

And so it has started - OFF SEASON! I've enjoyed cyclocross rides, mountain bike rides, long walks and time to do those things that need to get done and still have the energy afterwards to be social;)

I've been cooking, cleaning, loving on Miller, watching sports, making homemade things and reading. I'm headed to Asheville, N.C., back to my brothers house, for a visit and the whole family is gonna be there! I've been looking forward to this since track nationals ended.

These pictures are from a ride I usually do, towards Rico - a beautiful place. And one picture of Dolores from a hillside looking out at the mountains.

Reading: Brandwashing, Martin Lindstrom

Movie: 127 Hours

TV: Sports, 30 Rock and Modern Family

Listening: Taj Mahal and Hugh Laurie

Cooking: Pot roast ~ 4 1/2 hrs :)

Thinking about: 2012 and the good things to come....

Ride to Rico....
Ride to Rico....
Coming back from Rico....
Ride to Rico....
The view of town and the mountains in the background...

I'll post again when I get back from the family visit.

Track Nationals

WOW, what a whirlwind of the last 2 weeks. In my last post I said I had one more 'event' before the start of my off-season and it was my first ever track nationals.

We headed west to L.A. a week before nationals to get my legs and body re-acquainted with the feel of the track, spin of the pedals and just overall going in circles bit. There was also a race the weekend before that I did just to get used to the time at the track and the feel of racing(ended up winning!!).

Then nationals started on Wednesday morning and I was there everyday except Friday, racing my bike and having fun. I was entered in the omnium, scratch race, points race and the madison.

The omnium was 6 events over 2 days:

Day 1 - flying 200, miss n out race, points race

Day 2 - 3k individual pursuit, scratch race and 500TT

I had a great first day and then I concentrated a lot on the 3k for the next day, which turned out good for me but then it was like my brain left the building for the scratch race. I had a horrible race and was so mad! But in hindsight, it was great thing to experience failure and learn from the pressure and I did. I still need to work more on the 500 as well but hey, 2nd place overall I was content-not happy but content.

I skipped the scratch race because, one, I was exhausted from the omnium and two, I wanted to watch and learn what I could from the other experienced girls. AMAZING racing!!!

Also, the points race was more for experience and just to get a feel for a group that size and race my butt off:) So taking 5th there was success in my book. SMALL STEPS :)

Then the madison on Sunday.....I was REALLY tired and not motivated to be honest but I did commit and I'm not one to not show up. Which turned out to be rewarding, seeing that we won! I was completely exhausted on the last throw and when they said we won the national championship, I was overwhelmed! Again, learning experience, how to push through when you are tired, what that feels like to have been so close, take a beating and get back up to stand on top and be successful-WOW...

I met so many wonderful people at the track and enjoyed seeing the differences between trackies and roadies:) Oh boy the chamois time!! hahahaha

I look forward to seeing everyone in the future, pushing myself to get better, racing against some fantastic athletes and having some good laughs at the past.

Here are some pictures from the whole weekend and I shared a video of the madison finish on FB, check it out!!

One of the best.....John Walsh...aka Walshy, he has helped me SO MUCH!
In between races I think...I was so tired so sleeping was not a problem;)
Winding up for the flying 200....
Points race...please note the size of the crowd, apparently some of their best yet...
Going for something? Dunno what;)....
Scratch race maybe?....
This breakaway had me in the box!!! Owie!!
2 of the best!!! Walshy and Engleman!
Myself, Dana Feiss and Kate Wilson(my madison partner)....
Awards for points race.....ha! I'm standing on my tippy toes.....
Points race podium....
The best for last.....Madison National Champs.....

For all results, click on the link below:

Track Nationals