FSA Marymoor Challenge (a track race at my HOME track!)

Yea, track racing!

Geez, it seems like forever since I've raced...oh wait, no it's just that this is TRACK racing....

I'm so stoked to ride my sweet ass Kona custom track bike...it's so beautiful (like my Queen Zing too, and TT Queen Zing...and more to come!!)...I love it oh so much....

Back to racing...it was a 2 day race...kicked off w/ the Pursuit...YEA!! Now I love the individual pursuit...mostly because of just that...INDIVIDUAL, I don't have to react to other sketch-a-saurousus around me (seeing as I'm the Biggest one of all)...It's just ME and 'THE PAIN'....who's gonna win???

So, it was a gorgeous northwest afternoon, a mild wind....whatever..it's a 3k race, go as hard as you can! I had Alyinda Borsaw telling me my splits on corner 3 (basically telling me to go faster or slower depending on if I was on pace for my projected time)....that help TONS, thanks Alynda (yea, spelling...it's ALWAYS a problem)...Annette Hanson smoked my by 1.something seconds...but I was pleased w/ a second place finish...and going faster than I had anticipated...it was my literal FIRST time on these bars/stem, I hadn't practiced a pursuit since Feb at track camp...and my time was better! That's what you want!!


Ok, so that was pretty much the highlight, it was all downhill from there...not literally, the track is flat (thank Alah)...Next was Kerin (where you ride behind the motor for 3 laps, then it pulls off for 2 laps). I got the spot right behind the motor...then when ape-shie-sters as soon as it pulled off (hoping to catch everyone off guard)...and hung on for 2nd...but that was just a heat...In the final, I again had the motor but 2 laps in Annette rolled up and asked for the motor and for me to sweep for her...I hesitated, but complied (seeing as I didn't quite understand what sweeping was, or how this was MY best move...)...after the motor pulled of coming out of turn 2 Jenny Reed (multi-time World Cup medalist) comes flying up on my INSIDE (yea, was NOT expecting that) and I had another girl on my opposite shoulder (a position I am not yet comfortable w/) and I hesitated...and what do you know, pretty much EVERYONE passed me...I was last! Great learning opportunity....DONT FREAKIN HESITATE...always move FORWARD, if you feel fear go FASTER...and race MY race!

Then was the Points race. 25 laps, w/ sprints every five laps. I did a lot of surging (can't really call them attacks, I didn't get separation on many...but it was all my little legs were givin' up)...but was only able to pull of 4th...disappointed. Lesson? Either off the front, sprint, or IN the pack...don't pull the pack around, the only person that hurts is KELEKELEBOBELLY!

Sat AM racing started w/ the 200m tt...yea...whatever...I ended up mid pack finishing...which is appropriate for my gear choice, mental attitude, and preparation for such a short race...but that event sets up the order in which they pair the match sprints...and I got to race a smart/strong sprinter Heather Van ValIhavenoidea...but I had been coached on how to get around her, and it worked...she still beat me but hey, baby steps...

The next event was a 500m tt...and someone put me last (last is usually reserved for the STRONG people, yea, I think it was a computer glitch...rather embarrassing to finish pretty much were you started)...this one starts from a dead stop...and I haven't practiced ANY parts of it...tried to muscle through it and well, THAT didn't work...oh well!

Sat night I had co-workers, and my boss watching (no pressure)...it started w/ the Miss n out...where every lap the last person to cross the line get's booted...I tried to ride in the pack, but got sketched out by something...and went on my own...and stayed there for a while...once I rejoined the others ther were only about 5 girls left...a much more manageable number...and I just sat on Jenny Reed's hip, guarding the front...and what do ya know I got 2nd...another podium....yipee, and I was gonna pull out of that race....good thing I didn't


Next, and final race...the scratch..a basic..whoever get to the finish line first wins...w/ multiple primes, and $3 and $2 per lap for the 1st and 2nd place rider as they cross the line each lap...I tried in vain to attack and counter attack...but I think the word is out, and I couldn't get away...and kept getting beat for all the primes...then had nothing in the final sprint...but I raced hard...Lesson? SURPRIZE...I was WAY too predictable, and my attacks were more and more LAME, be patient, save up for few but GOOD attacks, instead of multiple lame ones!

Great racing, good fun, lots of learning. Jennifer Tripplet is racing great, she's such a great girl, it's fun to watch her do so well! Annette is smooth and consistent as ever...I can learn a lot from her. It was an honor to race w/ Jenny Reed, a world class athlete here w/ us...it was awesome!

Vancouver had the food, Bellingham had the Party

So next we went to the Bellngham offices...Mark took us around, again showing us the latest and greatest Kona swag (I'm sworn to secrecey here..sorry)...Dan was shining his own commuter bike when we arrived (keepin' it real)...then we had another PHAT meal...this time the best Mexican ever...I don't want to say Tacos, or Burritos...cause it was Oh So much more...plus we had home made Nachos, guac (yea, don't really know how to spell the whole word), rice, salad...Latte's for dessert...priceless!


Don't be shy boyz, we all know you're dyin' to get that grub ON!


Ah HA!! That's REALLY what they do here in the WHERE-house...try to beat Dan at Foos-ball...


uhhh, stick to bike racing ladies....


Did someone say RECOVERY...pretty much the same thing as Vodka, Tequila, Cheetos, and Cheesecake...RIGHT?? Hells yea!!


Oh look!! Ryan Tree-bone, our Kona Cross Country National Champ stopped by to chat..."Yea Ryan, I agree Kona bikes ARE the Bees Knees!!"


Next Mark and Nicole took us on a fabulous ride around Bellingham, WA. If you've never ridden there (like me) it's awesome...great quite roads, awesome views, perfect NW temps! Mark told us about how one day he 1)went cross country/downhill skiing 2)2+hr Mtn bike ride 3)Waterskiing on the lake 4)Sea ki-yack-ing....all in one day in Bellingham...man what a great day that must have been...I would'nt be able to walk for like a week if I tried all that!

Here we are at the local college...Western Washington...a beatuiful campus!

Mark is telling Hiroko how to ride a paceline...."No Hiroko, slow down at the front"...

Jane didn't get enough miles in on the ride, so she decided to ride around the hotel for a while!

Next was dinner at Cherribin! Paddy, Scott, Cory, I'm an ass who can't remember trans rocky's name...Mark, Nicole, Kevin's wife, Trans Rockies wife (who knows Jen Tripplett), and the VB-Kona girls all enjoyed an evening of food, beer, kari-o-ke, jokes, stories, shots, more jokes, more cruder jokes, more personal stories, too much information stories...

Jen C and Jane, lettin their hair down....at least for a while...Jen soon put her sunglasses on and laid her head down for a short nap! It WAS 11pm!!

The rest of us kept the party alive and kickin!! Here Paddy is givin' Scott the ol' "you know better" eye!!

We had a PERFECT day...started w/ a late breakfast, then Kona tour, and awesome lunch, foosball, awesome ride, dinner/drinks...and GOOD TIMES! I can't think of any better way to end the season w/ these girls!!

Kona is the Koolest Kompany Kele's ever seen!! K

Gosh, I'm so Klever (nudge, nudge)

Anywho, so we had the privledge of touring BOTH the Kona offices...that would be the Vancouver, BC one, as well as the Bellingham, WA one...

We were treated like queens (not the gay kind!)in Vancouver, BC...

On the rooftop deck, we were served what they called a 'Barbeque', but I called 'the best meal I've had in months'....stuffed pepper, grilled aspargus (Ryan's favorite veggie, BTW)(That's Ryan Trebone...the Kona National Cross Country CHAMP!!), swordfish wrapped in proshuteoh (yea, Pro-shoot-O, whatever, MEAT...and it was DAMN good)..w/ brie and crackers...It was Gormet all the way!!

We also got a tour of the where-house...and got to sneek a peek at the '07 bikes...drool-a-saur-ous....man I want a Paddy Wadgon, and Jake the Snake like NOW!! The Kula Lisa's are SICK! It was SOO cool to be able to talk to the people who design, create, and love these bikes...I've never had that experience...I just love to race, it was great to feel that same level of passion for creating what I ride...makes me never want to ride any other bike!! That's what it's all about DUDE!!


The cute photographer took this one! Notice my HAT due to the Carrot top colored hair at the time!!

We had a great time, learned tons about the company that has done so much for us...thanks to everyone for your time! Hope to see you soon!

Sincerest thanks!!

So, that was the last race for us as a team. It's been a great year. Full of excitement, beautiful bikes, great kits, long road trips, hard racing, long team meetings, millions of emails, blood/sweat/tears, but mostly laughter!

I have 5 new awesome friends now that I never would have met w/o my Velo Bella-Kona experiece! It was awesome to be a part of thier experience this year, they are great people, and super teammates. I have had the honor of being a part of a very unique and fabulous movement (Velo Bella) that helps encourage female riders to live life to the fullest on their bikes...a moto (hmm, not the one w/ an engine, the Maw-toe one) I now LIVE by!!

I have been showered w/ so much generosity, time, and hard work from the Velo Bella-Kona Bored (Brent Chapman, Alex Burgess, Sabine Dukes, Laura Sanchez, Julie Starling, and Cathy Boland)
... staff (all the mechanics along the way, Santa Cruz Simon who help put our road bikes together, massage therapists on the road, host families, Brent Chapman always filling in in his 'spare' time in more ways than I'll ever know, Myke Byra, etc)
...sponsors (KONA bikes rule the universe!!but I've got love for..Easton, Schwalbe, Sele San Marco, Team Estrogen, Hincapie Sportwear, Zeal Optics, Giro, Cateye, Sidie/Veltec, UC Davis Medical center, Ultimate support stands, Chris King, FSA, Whipperman Chains, Pedros, Velo City Bikes, Jed Peters, the Hendriicks...as well....I had steller support this year from this remarkable group of companies, and individuals...it take an army to keep this girl on the road!! Thanks to each of you!
...and extraneous lovers of the sport (all our families, mostly MINE;Mom/Ab/Issac/Sam/Dad/Grandmother/Grandfather/Gunnel/John/Kristina/Daniel...my awesome friends (wait I don't have any...I'll pretend)...Annette/Jen T/Kari/Emily/Heather Albert/Beth and Keck/ Sarah Uhl/Chrissy/Kat/Alisha/Nicole/Lisa Goetz/the Garage boys/co-workers and boss/Ryan Miller (coach)...but none more than my better half, my swedish ROCK that keeps me inline w/ a smile on my heart wherever I go, my lil' buggins...Michael Murdin!!

I cannot begin to thank you ALL enough! I LOVE racing my bike, and all of you make it possible for me to live my dream..so from the bottom of my pedaling soul, THANK YOU!!

OKAY, enough SAP....it's not like the season's over....come on Kele snap out of it...

Sorry, ok...so next we have Track, Crit Nats, Track, Track...sweet!!

Tour of White Rock, Gastown, and Tour of the Delta

First of all, you should all know, I GOT MY HAIR FIXED...thanks Jen Tripplet for the info..on friday Pete Grobowlski (whatever) got married, so I HAD to get it fixed for the wedding (I don't think baseball hats are acceptable)...

The Tour of White Rock Crit was our first race in Canada...and it had a HILL!! We were pretty whipped from the 7+4hr drive post Cascade...but we were all excited to race in such a beautiful place, w/ some legendary Canadian riders. And boy oh boy they are fast...it was a tough race...we all suffered through, Leisolot was our best finisher, I attacked some, but never able to get any serious seperation, so not too affective as a teamate today...stupid hills! But, I love crits, and racing!!

Next race was Gastown...what a party! Gastown looks like a mini Philly but cleaner....and the people are nicer. The race had a great feel to it, great crowds, festival, great racers, super course...and great prizes! I wasn't feel well (progressively getting a head cold w/ constant racing) and didn't race very well, but LOVED the race, and sure hope I can come back when I'm feeling better, the course was awesome, the crowds, and announcer made it so much fun...I highly recommend it to anyone!

Next task was a wedding... Pete's (a teamate of Mikes, and good friend of many years here in Seattle). Several old and current teammates showed up in Quincey, WA for the festivities...unfortunately it was VERY hot...and the poor bride got heat stroke after the ceremony...but she recovered and was able to make it through the dinner and dancing...nice job Kate! It was fun, I love weddings, I love love...I love celebrating love...love love....love everyone....smoochy poochy...

What is wrong w/ me....maybe Kate's not the only one w/ heat stroke...

Anyway, so I drove down from BC for the wedding Fri, then drove back Sat for the crit of Tour of Delta, BC. This time I felt much better (maybe it was all the LOVE)...raced much better, got a couple primes, and made some strong moves...then put it all out for a $300 prime 3 laps to go, and missed it...then died. But really enjoyed the race. The girls raced hard!

Last team race was the RR of Tour de Delta...yipee 11 times up a hill (5mi loops)...Early on Jazz Apple and Symmetrics were dishin' out the attacks...I felt we needed to be conservative seeing as we were on lap 4...the break formed like lap 7...the girls worked hard to pull it back...and gave it 100%...but Jazz apple and Symmetrics were able to stay away...sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't!

"Hey Guys I've got a great idea...let's color my hair!"

BAD BAD BAD idea!!


What was I thinking, nothing wrong w/ that natural brown!!

Phase one!

It takes a turn for the worse!

Real funny guys!

Not quite like it looks on the box....

So, yea...what if we try a different color...and get the roots...

NOT HAPPY!

Let's try adding BROWN....NOPE, that didn't work!!

AGGGGGGGHHH, what was I thinking!!!
HORROR!

Canadia, Oh Canadia!!

After Archiee Briggs (I really don't know the name..but whatever!)...we headed up to Seattle (my house) for the evening (actually arrived about 11:30pm...Mike did a great job of scrounging up 4 air mattresses, and sheets, and pillows to boot for 7 guests!! So we crashed, got up the next morning, ate breakfast...Hiroko's passport came..and off we went to the Tour of White Rock crit...




Brent instantly got on his computer...work on the road, what a pisser!!

We found Jane's day job!!

This might be a problem!

Archie Briggs RR!! Last stage of Cascade!

This AM I felt WORKED, very tired...bad cough...head cold coming on...so I told the team I wanted to be conservative...We expected Lipton to go for the QOMs, w/ Victory and Webcore vy-ing for a break...

So, on the second QOM the field shattered (well at least from MY vantage point)...worker-bee Chrissy had done work keeping things fast on the previous lap...a chase group formed as we passed the QOM line...the group had me and Hiroko, in the first group was Jande and Liesolot..so I was happy! I told Hiroko via the radio not to do any work because our climbers were up the road...I even went so far as saying, "Our race is over, sit in"....but the other riders in our group worked and on a long decent we saw the caravan, then soon caught back on...and I sensed the 'Whew' factor of the newly formed peloton...and again seized the moment for an attack (what I didn't know was Amber was up the road..the girl I'd been in breaks w/ on the first 2 days)...

Away I went, no one chased...then a Maguire rider bridged...and once we hit the Feed zone...we joined Amber Rais (webcore)...and now we had one lap to go...our gap was hovering around 1:30...we worked well together...and going into the last feed zone climb we had 2min...and I came off on the climb...but kept driving hard after the climb because I knew it was downhill/flatish to the finish..I was able to stay away pulling off a 3rd place finish...w/ 45sec to spare to the peloton, and 9sec to the 2 leaders...Amber won, and Martina 2nd!

A great finish for us...we definately 'rose above' all our challenges this week, and left feeling like this was our most 'positive' team experience so far this season! Yea!!

Cascade TT and Crit

This year they changed the TT course...to a flat, rectangular, 6.something course....Nicole would say, "Kele this is your DREAM course"...I was tired from the day before's work...but no more than Amber Rais (Webcore)...

Jen Ruiter (Chrissy's sister) drove a follow car behind me w/ a radio...something I've never done before....I gave it a good effort, and mentally felt strong the entire ride...was dead across the line, and felt I left it all out there...but later found it was only enough for a 20th place finish...WHERE HAS MY TT FORM GONE?? Disappointing, an understatement.....ok, now accept it, learn what you can, and focus on tonight's crit...

Twilight crit....45min, flat, a less technical course than last year...again several attacks went off early...then at some point...as I remember it it was Laura Van Gilder (Lipton) I followed as she attacked for a prime (I think)...then formed a gap, Kathrine Kuri (Webcore), Marissa Asplund (CPT), Chrissy Ruiter (you better know), and later Martina (Maguire)...formed a group off the front...we worked ok together, then came money primes (which I had said I wasn't going for, NOR was I gonna try to get in a break...the plan was to sit in and try for a sprint...oops, I forgot...I love to race, no matter how bad I feel)...so I attack before the last corner on the prime lap..and take it...again, and again, and again..same plan every time...making over $500 in primes...Laura Van Gilder sits on for the entire race UNTIL a $500 prime is offered 3 laps to go...and she jumped, I couldn't stay w/ her...so I sat up, kind of knowing I was racing for 2nd anyway...then last lap attacked a LITTLE earlier than I had before...and Chrissy was tight on my wheel, and she was coming around me in the last 10m but I edged her out for a 2nd and 3rd place finish!!


What a bad then good day...thank god I have Carrie helping NOT take my losses, too seriously, or else I wouldn't have gone w/ the move in the crit..that lead to my best finish ever!!

Oh yea, we have fans!! The sign says "Velo Bella-Kona girls have the best legs!" Thanks Adam Becker the second...we love having local support from young, good-looking men!! I LOVE this sport!!

Wonder Woman wanted all my tips!! He/She rode like the wind...NICE!!

Cascade Lakes RR

So this race was 73miles. Fist QOM at 6.3mi...that Chrissy drilled it up to...so it started fast... Jane Ziegler got her first QOM point ever on that first climb (meaning we were 5th)...I got popped about 1.5k to the top of the QOM, but lucky for me I have LOTS of practice in catching back on...and got back on fairly quickly...

A flurry of attacks came as we made our way to the first Feed Zone...but nothing stuck...after the feed, as soon as everyone was feed (of course), I noticed that the tone had shifted (from ATTACK, to ahhh relief)...so I seized the moment and attacked (and dropped my bottle in my pocket)...

I was given a gap, which grew quickly as no one chased....then Amber Rais joined me..and we set to work....we brought the gap up to 2:40min...then approaching the second feed zone Lipton gave chase, bringing the gap down to 1:15...Amber and I decided to fight as long as we could, and increased the tempo...at next check we had the gap back at over 2min...but now we hit some big rollers, coming into the last climb...and I was fading...Amber is by far a better climber, and I was less able to pull through w/ the rollers..and about 10mi to the finish I lost her wheel on a roller...as I hit the final climb, I was quickly passed by Kristin Armstrong and the front group of climbers...my race was over, but Jane and Liesolot were in there...that's all I cared about...Lipton had lead the chase, PERFECT...

So, there I am (all alone, after Chrissy tired to help me...thanks!, but I didn't have anything left for the final climb)...SLOWLY climbing..and WHAMO, cramp-o-rama....wow, that has never happened before...BOTH lower/medial quads cramp....but I was too scared to get off my bike..I've seen those poor soles on the side of the road screaming in pain w/ cramps, I didn't want to be one of them...I'd rather suffer on my bike...so I focused on my hamstring/gluts to take pressure off my quads, and tried to relax and NOT fight the pain...a car slowed to make sure I was ok...it was enough of a distraction to help me break my fear...and I remembered Nicole always saying "If you ever cramp, drink all you have and eat a GU"...so I did , and gave up any pressure to climb...and rode super easy...and the cramps faded....then soon I heard Jen Joynt's voice on the radio.."Kele I'm coming up behind you"...what a wonderful sentence...she helped me into the finish...got me more water, and gave me a wheel to follow...It's awesome having teammates willing to help!!

At the finish, I got day 2 of IV fluids!! The BEST way to recover!! Thanks so much to the volunteers that made it possible for me to have that!!

This and that from Cascade

Wow, Tom Danielson is SOO famous here at Sunny Side bike shop in Bend!

Sunny Side mechanics generously gave up their time to get the Velo Bella-Kona girls ready to race! Thanks guys!!

Here we are at dinner at Barb and Lew Becker's house, and great son Adam Becker!

Here HERO-ko and I are celebrating pre-riding up to the NON finish of Thursdays road stage (yea, we THOUGHT it was the finish...a painful mistake to realize IN the race!!) But look at the cool lava fields!!

On my own....is this foreshadowing?? Pretty much YES! It's a 8mi climb...

Jen Joynt and HERO-ko celebrate the NON finish too!! Don't we wish...but those lava fields are so cool...and BTW they came from the near by Crater!

A little dip in the Canal...great for tired legs...and a close walk from the house...Bend is so awesome!

Chrissy invited me to dinner at her parent's house...and for dessert we had a whip cream party...but just she and Phil partook...Phil started it, then Chrissy ran into her parents bedroom and locked the door...and as Phil was 'jimmy-ing' the lock, Chrissy snuck out the WINDOW, came around the house, through the Kitchen (grabbed more whip cream) and got Phil...then they took it outside...it was funny!!

And this is how she decided to clean up...a shower for Chrissy, I guess!!

More leg dippin' in the canal. Today we got yelled at by a local who said we were on private property and had to move...then told us it was illegal to 'dip our legs'...but we are REBELS and did it anyway!! So there!!

Dinner at El Corporale...courtesy of Barb and Lew...Adam was there too....oh he is a Pilot, and got his first Airline job...Yea, Adam...maybe he'll fly us next year!! Congrats Adam!

HERO-ko pumps up my car tire...I had no idea you could use a bike pump on a car tire!

Barb Becker has THE coolest tatoo...a chain ring on her calf...Sweet...Chrissy has that too!

Cascade Stage One: Mckenzie Pass RR

Beautiful Bend...god this place is awesome...I see why the entire country is moving here!!

The race...let's see...started WAY too slow so you know what that means...ATTACK!! So that's what I did (on my rental bike, Trek 1500..due to my bike being in shipment from Fitchburg)...and Savvy Amber Rais of Webcore was tightly glued to my wheel...and away we went! It went from a good break to a GREAT break...because it was joined by Kristen Lassaso (Lipton), Kirsten (Victory), and HERO-ko (My teamate!!)...so now we were 2 of 6 riders!

Then my sensor of my computer that HAD been attached to my fork was now loose and clacking against my spokes...and the vision of it getting lodged between my fork and wheel scared me enough for me to stop to try and adjust it...which didn't work...so I tried to rip it off the fork...finally the zip ties gave...and off it came...as well as the break (off in the distance)...I jumped back on my bike and gave it all I had...was closing the gap, then we hit a short climb...and that was it...they totally pulled away...and Hiroko was on her own!

That break stuck the rest of the race....all but 2 riders made it up the climb...Hiroko fought like a champ all the way up...and Jane and Leisolot climb awesome all 3 finished in the top 20!

Even w/ the tripple (standard issue on the rental bikes) front ring, I still lost plenty of time...I felt awful up that climb...and mentally wasn't into it...but I still get embarressed at how much time I loose on climbs! I want so desperately to be a better climber...one thing at a time, I guess!!

Jen Chapman rode an awesome race today, at the front covering tons of moves...really BEING a major part of the race...Nice work Jen! Jen Joynt also rode strong at the front....always a savvy rider! We are really starting to come together as a team!

Let's talk track Smack!!

Alpenrose track, in Portland...can you say, Cha-Ching! It was GREAT! Well run, great weather, awesome host housing, fantastic people helping me learn...all in all a fun-tastic experience.

This is how trackies warm up...rollers!! Annette and Jen show me how it's done!!

Oh my goodness...I got 3rd in the Miss and Out...by going hard from the gun...doin' my way...I hate those races usually...but not when I get 3rd.





One thing I learned, there is a LOT of sittin' around time at the track...they call it 'Recovery'..


The boys podium...well, Master Men...whatever!! On the left is Woody Cox (multi National and World titles to his name)...he was a HUGE help for me this weekend, really went out of his way to help me understand the races, and tactics...thanks so much Woody, it really help me get into the races!



Oh boy, I got second in the Points race. Yea, that was tough...note to self, don't 'GO' at the gun on a 75 lap race...and even when you lap the field, you still need to go for the points...Woody Cox and Nathen Hobson(my host, Elkhorn organizer, great guy)had to yell to me "It's a points race, you HAVE to go for the points"...



After racing, we we're served dinner by Nathen Hobson...SAWEETT


Day 2: Warm up for Sprints (one lap, from speed determines who races who)

Yea, I pretty much lost EVERY sprint race...as in I did..


But luckily, there was one more race. A scratch race...No Chrissy that doesn't mean we scratch each other...it's just like a Crit...first across the line wins...Plus there was $3 and $2 every lap for 1st and 2nd...

So after a few laps, I just gave it a little gas...

Ahh, that's better...all by myself...no crashing for me!! Luckily, I have friends in the peloton NOT chasing me...and w/ 3 laps to go I caught on the group (gaining a lap)...so I got to get on the one podium spot I hadn't been to yet ...the TOP!


And, to make the day even more special...Mike (my better half, who has been in England/Sweden working/visiting family for 5weeks) suprized me by showing up at the track on Sunday evening...in time to see my last race, which became my best race! It was a WONDERFUL surprize, I was so happy to see him! I love him so much, and I love surprizes too...thanks bugger!

Ok, I want to thank Becky Quinn who also took a lot of her time to explain the racing to me...she was gracious, kind, patient, helpful, and fun to have around...we were lucky to have a world class athlete to use as a sounding board! Best of luck to you Becky!!

Also, Annette Hansen was super helpful, doing the same...answering all my petty questions...and offering encouragement...It meant a lot to have such high level athletes listen and help me!! Thank you all so much!!

Now, on to Cascade in Bend...