Easy Does It...Easy....

I've really started enjoying my mornings that involve coffee on the couch. 

Getting my crap together in time to sit for an undetermined amount of time, while drinking a cup of hot coffee, gives me the pseudo rush of climbing on top of the podium (not that I've spent alot of time up there...but...this one time...when I did...rush!).

During one of these euphoric episodes, I came across this blog about this cyclists adventures up north, Cycling Into The Dark.  The next time you caress the top of the podium with your coffee in hand, I recommend checking it out...it's really quite an adventure he's having...!

Now...I'm not traveling through the north by bike, but I am becoming quite involved with ice...wait for it...packs and glucosamine these days.  These two items are treating me better then chocolates and champange.  With their helping hand I've been on the bike for some short rides and a few commuting adventures to work.

The only downfall is that I haven't spent alot of time swapping out parts from my summer bike to my winter beater and because of this, my summer girl is spending alot of time in the shower these days!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their February!  It's bringing us one step closer to summer!!!

Off The Grid...

Where did February come from?  It snuck up on me...bad February...


After experiencing some strange sensations in my knee this past November, I decided to take some time off the bike and instead enjoyed family time, food and fun for the holidays.  Eight weeks later, back up on the bike and there is screaming from my baby cow and a puzzling "Not right" feeling from my knee.

After a careful examination, it was determined that somewhere between the squats and the long rides of my fall, I picked up a little tear in my meniscus. 

For the moment, I'm doing a little sitting and spinning, trying to figure out what I want to do with this development. 
 
Fortunately, it's beautiful out today, sunny and forties with no snow.  Perfect opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors, distracted and far away from the concentrated spinning I've been performing on the trainer...even if they're playing a Law & Order marathon on tv. 

During my absence from the trail, it appears someone was making me a labeled parking spot :)

Craving the taste of dirt, I cut through Bloomer for an appetizer.  While I was performing the worlds slowest descent, I ran into some guys working on trail construction and they informed me that I was probably the last one to ever ride down that section of trail as they were rerouting it today (good thing I made it out of the house!).

It was nice to be treated to a slice of bike today...it's a helmeted and happy Zuul!



It's Christmas Time!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Burn: The Detroit Firefighter Documentary

If, by Rudyard Kipling

One of my favorites:

If
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son

Cycling With A Side Of Crossfit

There's something sweet about the tenderness of muscles when they see their first day back to a workout.

Last week on Gobble Gobble Eve, I made my return to the box after a six week hiatus.  My greatest fear was not being able to do a pull-up, but fortunately for me I have not lost my ability to kip. 

Fast forward to the middle of the WOD and that blessing was dust in the wind...I was angry at my body for not retaining the benefits of the past year and resorted to laughing at myself after each pitiful set of push-ups, pull-ups and squats.

Of course, the best thing about Crossfit is the people you workout with...and I was very thankful to chat with everyone again...I've missed those sick WOD killing mofo's.

First Blood...Back From Hiatus...

When I woke Gobble Gobble morning, before my eyes even opened, it was apparent I was paying for the price of admission to the Gobble Gobble Eve WOD.  I couldn't move.  My legs, arms, back, hands and ears were all screaming!!! 

Inciting a "3, 2, 1 MOVE" chant...I was able to make a pitiful roll off of my bed.  From there I used a strategic shuffle to prepare for the day. 

Now...I'm not sure what my neighbors think about my sometimes akward decents and ascents from my porch...but I was a mess getting down them that morning and for the next three days.  I had absolutely no control over the lower half of my body...

It was hilarious.

That being said, there was no possible way that I was going to pass up the opportunity to ride my bike while we've been having a November heat wave this past weekend.  So, I forced myself to climb up on my bike and spin around to a few destinations.

In the end.  It was a great Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for my family, friends and freedom and I'm looking forward to a great holiday season!  Aaaaand...incidentally, now that Thanksgiving is behind me...there are only 5,009 hours until my 2012 focus race...

Last Race, Last Place, Big Ass Smiling Face

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I wouldn't be participating in this years Iceman race. 

Then, by the grace of Miss Beth Brandavin, I had a transfer and was on my way to my third Iceman Cometh.  Last year I moved up from beginner to my age group and things went pretty well for me.  This year, since it was such a late decision and since it's the year I turned thirty.  I decided to go for the main event and roll in the Pro/Cat 1 category (Happy Belated Birthday to ME!).

There were big names coming to town for the ladies.  I'll admit I looked up each and every registered rider in the group, twenty three names to be exact (including but not limited to Catharine Pendrel from Luna Chix, Amanda Carey from Kenda-Felt and Mackenzie Woodring from Priority Health) .  It was very exciting to know that I'd be at the starting line with them and a part of the roll out.

Last weekend was my epic ride from Shelby Twp to Greenville, so most of the week was spent recovering and cleaning Miss Berlin.  Friday morning, I had good luck pancakes with my niece Miss Kaitlyn and my mom before meeting up with my transportation specialist, Chris from the D2 Team (aka one of "The Patterson Boys").

Overall, the weekend passed faster then a fart.  One minute I was trying to coax myself into getting a decent amount of sleep on Friday night, the next I was at Williamsburg road screaming as I saw my east side and west side boys coming down the trail.  Finkel, Rayster, Kroske, The Rodd, The Robb, Ben...

As my start time crept up, I started feeling like stale chips.  Too much time out in the elements, unable to ignore the sleek kits of the Pros as they warmed up.  By the time the call up started for the men, I was all but ready for a nap, I felt like all emotion had been drained from my body.

What can I say about the race portion of my day?  I hammered like crazy to chase after the pack.  I reeled in and was reeled out by a few different riders.  Lungs were heaving, eyes were bleeding...

That's totally me on the right!!!

I knew early on that I was likely to be the one to bring up the rear of the race.  It terrified me to know that I would be coming in to the finish alone.  How awkward to be showing up to the party so late...label it "Call ahead seating"...or "Leave the light on for me".

I can only speculate what it meant to others when I came in to the chutes.  I heard Ben, Chris, Eric and the other counterparts of the D2 team screaming at me.  When I rounded the last corner, I heard my Wolverine friends yelling out my name.  The announcer gave me a shout out.  And I had the worlds largest grin plastered to my face.

There's no medal or check for coming in twentieth place, but there was the worlds most delicious Pumpkin Ale Beer delivered to me by Rayster when I came over the line.

Getting My Beer From Rayster

I finished six minutes faster then my time last year (2 hours and 22 minutes).

Eric of "The Patterson Boys" and I had discussed the many different meanings of racing on the Eve of Iceman.  I still won't admit he's right about our tubeless debate, but I will say he hit the urinal cake about what I will remember about this years Iceman. 

It will go down in the books as the Iceman where I smiled so much my cheeks were sore (Squirrel!).  I hugged so many good friends my arms were sore.  I hammered so hard on the pedals my legs were sore.  And I drank so much...

Well, we'll leave that open ended.

Big thanks to the Patterson and Vanhoose families for all of their help this weekend!  It was great to spend time with you!  Thank you Mr. Finkel for collaborating on the upcoming 12 season...let the training begin!