Embarressment and coffee shops...in LA

This AM started early...6:30am, Alex was nice to wake me gently! We chatted over coffee...then headed to the track...

As I'm putting my bikes together...up rolls Ms. Uhl...yea!! Friends!! And the TIAA Crefft?, Creff...whatever, the boys in blue!

So, by the time I get in the 'blue boys' are already mid way thru their warm up...as I'm getting ready, I figured since I didn't let the air OUT of the front, it should be fine (last time I rode it was Alpenrose, late AUG....smart, I know)...so, I roll onto the track and w/in the first corner....SLIDE, crash, and burn....EMBARRESSING...the bike's fine, my arm is missing a little sking, and my ego was bruised...oh and I landed on the same hip that has a tegaderm on it from last weekend....

So, the next attempt I basically did a standing start to ensure I wouldn't fall again...I forgot how different this track is...and my tires suck for it....oh, I put more air in the front....

Ok...today was a Moderate day..just feeling out the track (kinda literally for me there)...so a couple jumps, a 500, and feel the position...all went well




Then I headed over to where Sarah is staying and Jennie Reed was there....Sarah had prepared a wonderful lunch of mixed veggies and brown rice...next we found a coffee shop...and here we are...2hrs later....




These two are "THE Coffee Connoisseur's Extraordinaire"...I'm slowly learning how to be a 'coffee snob'...and Starbucks is a NO (says Sarah, because she's not from Seattle) rule number one....then there are rules about foam, temp, bitterness, ambiance...and here I just thought it was about free Internet and stories with friends!! I have so much to learn!

Las Angeles...catastrophe

So, in my preparation to come here....I had printed all the mapquest directions from airport to host, host to track, track to airport, airport to new host, etc, etc....

So, on the plane, I re-organized my directions, consoladated everything, then paper clipped it all, w/ a map of LA....PERFECT..

As I'm waiting for the shuttle to take me to my rental car....I realize I've lost that great packet...so now all I have is my host family's phone number and it's 10:30PM...I call and she's obviously asleep...I couldn't bring myslef to bother her w/ directions. So, I called Mike...no answer...called again, nothing....called again left a 'Colorful' message, something like, "Gee, these cell phones work better in emergencies, if the second person ANSWERS"...

So, I decided to search for internet access in LA at 11:30...get the address from my email, then mapquest it...and after some driving around the LAX airport....I stumbled upon a Travelodge..'oh, I bet they have internet for their guest'...and they did, the kind you pay $5.00 for 5min...and it's so slow you want to shoot yourself...but I got what I needed...and finally at ~1AM I arrived at Alex Trabata (?)'s house...

Last Day of Camp...Koom-Bye-Ya

Let's see, it was almost a week ago now. The last day of camp was busy.

We did the 2k and 3k TTs...Allison Powers came the closest to meeting the times....I was able to get a reminder of the pain involved in a 3k, especially w/ some good fatigue on board!

In the PM, we had this motor race. The motor sits on the blue line at some pre-arranged speed (doable fast)...then if you WANT you can dive down to the black and 'take a lap'...then whomever has done that the most WINS.

Yea, so my goal was to hang on the motor....stay out of the wind, and be there for the duration. At my last track camp experience...I attempted to take a lap, unsuccessfully and then got dropped, and really struggled to recover...lesson learned....conserve and survive...was the plan...

It worked until (oh, the person behind the motor couldn't stay there longer than 2 laps) I ended up on the motor, and I swear to God he was going faster...so after my 2 laps at mock speed, I couldn't get back in...so had to rest...then I realized I had to jet, in order to make the shuttle to the airport. Good hard work!

Then Shuttle w/ Liza...flight to Denver was easy (15min)...then home...My bike bag now only has ONE wheel, so it's a HUGE pain to carry...w/ 2 bikes in it....whatever, I made it!

Saturday Sunshine! Day 5 of camp...

The morning today was beautiful....the mountains were 1/2 white with new snow...it was clear and sunny, and crisp!

Today we did 200m TTs in groups of 3....in a tiny gear, flying...then we put on our TT bars and did 1K TTs in groups of 3...

Colby suggested I use a negative stem to get my arms lower, so we swapped it out...he also noticed how squished I am and suggested I buy a set back seat post for my mass start position...and so I'm off to Colorado Cyclist to buy a seat post...

The workout was great...hard efforts. My legs are struggling to keep up. I don't know if I've ever done this many consecutive days on the track bike...my brain wants to go more and more, but my legs are protesting...so I got a rub at the Sports Medicine clinic...very nice...

In the afternoon we went for a road ride, and stopped by a park where Ben Jacques-Maniac and Brad Pitt, I mean Brian Smith were racing cross...we cheered them on...then I rode to the bike shop...

Ate dinner, and now I'm blogging. Man, I'm tired...I'm ready for bed but it's only 7pm. I have to pack up and go home tomorrow....YUCK, I hate packing my bike..especially when I have 2 bikes in a case for one, which means squeeze-o-rama...

One more day...tomorrow is 3K in the AM....I want to do well, as always..but am feeling a little hamburgeresque...I'll give it all I've got, that's all I can do!!

Sorry no photos today...my batteries are exhausted...like me!

Rainy Daize...

So today was supposed to be a rest day anyway...and seeing as it rained all day...that worked out well. The temp had dropped like 30 degrees since yesterday...and the rain cancelled the 'easy' track wkt, so we started a road ride, but the rain got worse, so we turned back..

At 11:30 we watched some Worlds, Olympic, World Cup racing....Jennie Reed sprinting, Sarah Ulmer's 3K in 3:24..., men's Madison, and the Men's Team Pursuit (Huff, Meatball, Creed, and Pate) at Worlds...it was super cool to see all those races...inspiring...4 sure

Then at 2 we had testing...on some stationary bike w/ a SRM...first one is 10 sec and the second is 30....so we all met in the mechanics room, warmed up then tested...and that was it...sounds easy huh? Yea, that's what I thought...

Before...

During...and I didn't end w/ a 'good' result comparative to my fellow campers...Speedy Sarah Uhl won the women AND Girled ALL the men...she had the highest power/wt for 5 sec of EVERYONE, hells yea...go girl! Sarah Carabella won the 30sec one for the women, and Ben Jacques-Maniacs won both the 5 and 30 sec for the boys..

Here are more warm up/cool down shots...of roadie on rollers..

Sima Strap...cheezin' 4 the cam...

Phil Z-eye-check rockin' the bibs...you can't see in this shot, but THESE bibs have hole so his belly can hang out...if he had one..but luckily he doesn't...

Katherine learns to ride rollers!!!! YEAY! Nice job Katherine, welcome to the club of those who can BARELY ride rollers...I fell off my rollers prob 13times trying to go no handed, then looking from over my L to over my R shoulder...Katherine Carroll helped me count the number of times I fell off....

Luckily here Sarah T and I are still upright...

Allison Powers seriously can ride the rollers DUDE!...

Kat is so pro, never even wobbled...and she took 3rd in BOTH tests..now if she can make it through the warm up, she's gonna tear some legs off on the track very soon!!

Also on this day Allison took me through one of the best core workouts ever! And now I'm so sore, I can hardly laugh!

Day 3

So after that OH SO great night of sleep...Oh, I forgot to mention Sarah Sickerton, I mean Tillitson has joined camp...she's been under da weader, but is on the mend...Also, new we have Sterling I ride for Toyota United, I don't know why he just came today...Then also Phil Z-eye-check...he's been ill since Parker.

Ok, so we arouse to rain, wind, and cold so the AM wkt was postponed to 1PM...so I went to the coffee shop enjoyed the velvity foam of Raven's nest...and got some 'work' done...tried spinning on the rollers for ~25min...Sarah Uhl does it everyday...and since we only had one ride, and my leg speed is a weakness...I thought I'd try...it was fun

Today's wkt was 4x 500m..in groups of 2...and that was hard, but greatly needed. Then we had 4 standing starts...individually, and in groups...and I got lots of shots...

Ben JacquesMaynes get's started

Sterling shines on his start

Tom Zerbel zipps away...

Let's see, head up, arms straight, weight back...go go go

Sima Trapp bolts out of the gate..

Laura Krepsh speeds away

Liza Rachetto...blasts off

Sam the mad Mtn biker...

Look at Liza trying to put her foot over her head, but falling over instead...

Laura and Sima duke it out w/ flexability...and behind them Katherine attempts the splits...

That's a V for Victory from Laura...

The boys are so cool...but not nearly as flexable

Group flying one laps....Here Sarah is about to school these lame-oh boys...Friedman, Huff, and Sterling...I wont mention names by 2 of them were girled (Toyota, and Chops...)

Girls on Girls...competing...

Sima and Laura take it to the line...

More Girl power...

That's all folks...

Day 2 at track Camp

The workout today consisted of 4x 2K efforts in groups of 3...after 2x warm up pacelines (second one in groups of 3 on differeing parts of the track)...Today's workout was Muy difficil!!

Here is Sarah Uhl striking a pose between efforts...

Here is one group (Sarah, Kat Carroll, Katherine ESPN, and Allison Powerhouse), the efforts start from the rail...as seen in this photo

And here they are w/ maybe 2 laps to go...

And here we have Liza Rachetto, Me, and Sima Trapp in the midst of one of our efforts...

On the last one he switched up our groups....so here is Me, Sarah, and Sima...fun fun fun

BTW, the news that 'they' have added Team Pursuit, and Team Sprint to Women's Olympic Track events hit us today...I'm still a little bruised....but it's great news! More track events for Women, since they took away the 500m and Kilo (I think) recently....


Then in the PM we went for a REAL recovery ride...there was much silliness, lead, as always, but Brad Huff and Mike Freedman, Colby pulling a close 2nd though! Brad Huff demonstrated the superman move, and the Superman spread eagle move (the first one is WAY better), we dropped Sarah on a pee break (where she disturbed ~5 kids smokin' the 'Gone-ja'...whatever, WEED!), played a little football (one catch from kids we were passing), recieved tants of "Whoa boys in spandex that's SO sexy"....your average recovery ride!

Our 'module' of the night was our fearless leader telling us how we can race 8years of cyclocross, track, mtn, road, bmx....full on all the time, and never take more than 5 days off the bike...cause, "Variety is the Spice of Life"...and if you just keep changing it up you don't get burnt out....yea, all the totally fried road girls ate that up like Chocolate! Then we heard how to make 15K from the USOC...pretty much be faster than Sarah Hammer...

Well, with that...I went to bed....well laid in bed wishing I was sleeping...I tried counting my breaths backward from 400, but got pissed when I wasn't falling asleep at all by 300...I just get so anxious that I'm NOT gonna fall asleep I don't, then it's a battle to shut my brain up and just calm down so I CAN fall asleep...So I took a melatonin....then woke up at 1AM and it all started over again...GREAT!!

And we're off....

Today began w/ breakfast, then rode to the velodrome, and began our first of 2 warm-up pacelines...reconviened then did it again...then broke into groups of 3 and did 4 200m jumps...

I still need to learn the right line to come off the rail and into the first corner most efficiently...I'm so focused on going fast, I just can't think...or be smooth...I wonder when or if that will ever change.

Here's everyone chillin' after the wkt

After practice I went to the Sports Medicine Clinic to get my head screwed on right...I mean my ncck worked on...and on my way I took some shots of the 'campus'....quicklty as not to look like a tourist...

This is where get food and internet...

Cool statue like thing...

These are the funny metal statues of ppl doing different sports...we should do our own interpretations in front of them...that would be fun

Sports Med Clinic inside for head screwing on'ing...

Interesting...

So back to my medical problems...My hands fall asleep easily on the bike, and I have tons of tension on the R side of my neck, so they did Ultrasound/Electrical Stim combonation to my upper traps/leavator area...and as she's (the trainer) is setting it up she says, "I want to turn it up until it's uncomfortable", which means "Don't say stop" to me...so at some point she goes, "Ok, I'll just leave it there"...my shoulder's jerking...but it wasn't uncomfortable, just tight...but when she would go over the bone..now that was uncomfortable...but I must say it feels SO much better...good thing I'm super competitive in ALL I do!! Makes like so much more fun!! (or annoying, some would say!)

Next we went for a ride..

Smile ladies, it's a recovery ride....

Tom, Sarah Uhl are enjoying the ride...

So is Sima, Brad...

But Katherine is enjoying it the most!

Garden of the Gods...which Sarah Uhl said is Haunted, scary Mary..

I finally conned everyone into a 'photo stop'...which doubles for a Kele needs to get her lungs back stop...I get the award for most heaving up the like 1K riser today....not a good sign...but it was good to work hard...

Colby complained of major gas pains for most of the ride...

Then we had dinner, and a talk by USADA...and the take home message was if you take ANY supplements it's your ass if they are contaminated....thank god I can't afford them...that eliminates that problem...

Now it's beddy bye time...

"Clean your NIPPLES!" said Colby

That was Colby's basic message tonight in our first camp meeting, after dinner, and a ride....


Along w/ about 1hr of other stuff...but one thing he mentioned was how infrequently cyclists clean their water bottles on their bikes...they just ride the same bottles, and keep refiling them...but you should 'Clean your nipples', to remove all those toxins.

FYI, a little roll call on Little Campers...Kat Carroll, Liza Rachetto, Laura Kropsh (help?), Sarah Carabello (again not sure? Chrissy?), Katherine the Triathelete who works for ESPN.com, Allison Powers, Sima Trapp, Sarah Tillitson is sick and will be joining us once not contageous, Sarah Uhl, and KELEKELEBOBELLYBANANAFANNAFOFELLYMEMYMOMEELY-KELE whoo who

Back to lunch...so I ate like 2 bites of beans...and Sarah suggested we go check in and eat lunch at the OTC...Whew, I almost had to eat my nasty food...I'm leaning towards El Tosserinski on the 'ol beans...sorry Mother Nature, you can put it on my Tab

BTW...don't tell anyone...but I think I'm the only person w/ NO ROOMATES...everyone else is 3 to a room...hells yea...who needs friends when I can BLOG!! (I think I've said that before)

Call me 'Betty Homemaker'....or NOT

Again, I'm attempting a new feat in the kitchen...this time... whole wheat bread (that's basically whole wheat bread w/ added sprouted wheat berries, rolled oats, seasame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seed...)....

Here's the batter...waiting for the yeast to 'bubble'

Now I've added the flower and it's time to let it rise...

It has RISEN...

Unfortunatley...my first solo attempt at bread SUCKED!! That's normal though...I hear...for the first time...it takes time to create excellence...and I have only one way to go w/ this stuff!! Next time I'm adding more HONEY and SALT...cause BLAND is a understatement...w/ some funny aftertaste...

I did eat it w/ my eggs this AM...and w/ 4T Olive Oil, and eggs on top it wasn't too bad!!

Oh, an the sprouted beans SUCKED too...but I'm refusing to throw them out too...I can't bring myself to throw out this food that I spent so much time on...damnit! It's now 1:30 and I haven't eaten lunch because I know it's gonna be those nasty beans w/ nasty bread...but I can hardly type cause I've had 1/2 pot coffee, and two Cappucino's and min food....I'll let you know

Maximus Cutie-us

Ok, I know...I'm smitten! This puppy has stole my heart....here I am w/ him Mom (and my host mother) Mercedes...saying goodbye

But Max hasn't learned how to hold still for the camera....


Thanks Mercedes Hickey (and husband Ryan, not pictured because he was at work) for putting up w/ us!