Not so good!

Chillin' before the big day!






More Chillin'....

Poopie!
I did all I could, gave it my all, enjoyed the experience....and went SLOWER?? Hmm, what tha??? Postulating, postulating, excuses, excuses....

Well, all you can do is give it your all...somedays are better than others....I still love it!

I'm sure all want to know specifics so this is what I remember off the top of my head:
Neva Day is a ROCK STAR, she hit both the 500 and 2K WORLDS time standards, 33.25 for 500m, and 2:30.25..she rode a 2:29something, and I don't remember her specific 500 time.
Kelly Ben-Jammin' rode a smokin 500m...like 32.7ish
Christen King rolled a 2:33.7ish
KeleKeleBoBelly did a 2:35.shitty, and 33.6crap for 500..(both slower than the Talent Pool 2 weeks ago...new bike, better position my ass...whaaaa
Teresa rode well, and suffered through her least favorite event...time trialing...I'm not sure who hates this test more her or Becky Quinn...

So, Neva is the only qualifier!


I'm still goofy, Neva is embarressed to be next to me...

My new baby!

Look, look...isn't she BEAUTIFUL! My new track bike...all black and sexy like!






All the other girls were riding behind Colby on the 'Motor'

The rest of the day was restorama!! Not much news! Good night!

Kele could ride a barrel and she wouldnt know the difference!

That's what Colby said...referring to the fact that I am the opposite of a 'Princess of position' on my bike, which he and Jennie Reed both are totally! Which is SOO true, I ride my equipment into the ground, and never notice...

Today, we had a leisurely morning in San Diego...then cleaned up...and came back to the Holiday Inn...

Then we put our bikes together, dropped off my K2 because...my NEW TIEMEYER is here!! Yipee, I get it built up tomorrow!! I'm SOOOO excited.

Then we drove to the airport, dropped off the car, and rode back to the Hotel. It was an exiting ride...down a busy Pacific Coast Highway...but we made it!

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow, and seeing my new bike!!

Oh, I finally got to talk to Mike today...poor guy has been sick. And, I have to wait 2 extra days for him to come home...boo hooo hoo.

LA World Cup Action

Wow, that was so cool....to be able to be at the World cup but not have the stress of having to compete, therefore being able to absorb the awesomeness of talent in the house.





Full House!





The men's points race, that's Bobby Lea on the front!





Here are the boys watchin'...Friedman, girlfriend, Huffy w/ his mouth open, and the Zirbel...rootin' the Points race on!!







Hammer put her game face on, before cruisin' to a Gold in the Individual Pursuit (duh!)





Puttin' the hurt on! She is amazing!! she qualified w/ a 3:32, and won w/ a 3:37...and my dream is to hit the 3:49 standard....well, ya gotta start somewhere. And HUGE props go out to Neva Day competing in her first World Cup, on late notice...rode a PR of 3:49 for an 8th place finish...AWESOME job Neva!!!






Hammer on top!






Jennie Reed and Liz Reep prepair for the team sprint....where they took 4th!

That's all the photos I have. But other mentionables is a huge "Hell ya" to Becky Quinn for her Silver in the Scratch race!! And a big congrats to Hammer for her second gold in the Scratch!

Jennie Reed also took Bronze in the Kerin, F-ya girl...I hope you're happy w/ that! I LOVE watching you race Jennie, you are so powerful and smooth at the same time...sweetness on a bike..

Huff got 10 in the scratch the hard way. And Mike Creed pulled off an 8th in the points!

Great racing, good times...

Quarintine!

When all the other boys and girls got to go for a nice hilly road ride...not me, not feeling 100% and staying w/ your coach...means rollers only! But at least I was in the sun, and had a nice view.






And, Mike, this is Spike...he's a beautiful, great cat who shared my day with me!






Isn't this THE COOLEST french press you've ever seen...damnit, I just bought a new one two days ago...





Dude, I thought this was the biggest Aloe plan ever...but I was informed later, it is not indeed Aloe, but some California plant the puts off a huge stock once after 2 years, then the plant dies...interesting!

That's all for my Saturday afternoon...we are going to the world cup soon...I'll share photos soon!

San Diego...I think that's Latin for....

I cannot remember the line from Anchorman....but it's funny!!

Anyway, we are in San Diego now...Kenny and I came down for a few days of training prior going back to LA to prep to make the Worlds Trials next Fri and Sat.

The trip down here was very uneventful, but much more enjoyable with someone...I'm so used to being alone, time passes so much quicker with company.

We are staying with Sue Hopkins and her husband Craig (Kenny's coach). Also staying with them are two Kiwi's here shopping for a sailboat to sail around Mexico and back to New Zealand...so it's great conversation, very interesting lifestyle....way more interesting than bike racing.

Today, after sleeping 12 hrs...we had a RAIN delay on the velodrome (YEA, I know rain and cold in San Diego...it was like a normal day in Seattle....) dammit, we flew all the way down here for the SUN...HEELLOOOO.






Not what I expected. It's a 333m track, and not very steep...but it will do.












Grand Stands!






So, I'm fighting a head cold...so in addition to Emergency twice a day, Airborne, Herbs, and tons of sleep, and water...I decided this was the only other thing I could do to help.





Luckily, there is a photo to help understand how to use it. You put salt into the warm water, then suck it up your nose...SWEET!! It's very counter-intuitive...but I feel better.


I need to go to bed...Good night!

In other news...

So on my way back to reality, I had some time in an airport. So, I ate lunch...and I wanted to show how lame I really am to take a self timed self photo in a cafe in the airport... and to demonstrate how truly glamorous this lifestyle really is!!

And I don't know about you all, but I prefer the high rollin' executive style of the double platinum Super Shuttle Express for my transportation home from the airport (that would be a share ride van). And this time we had 6 people, the roads were bad, and our driver had about 2 brain cells (I swear if he hadn't had that GPS I would have NEVER got home)...the shuttle home took as long as the flight from LA to Seattle...and luckily I was the LAST off...

And when I got up the next day and headed to work...I soon learned there was a HUGE outbreak of the Nora virus (spelled not sure?)...and like 1/2 the pt are vomiting and have diarrhea...so I'm super paranoid, glove/gown/wash hands every 2 min...cause I want to do well in my next 2k test...which would include NOT getting some haneous virus...






And upon finally getting out of bed the next morning, I discovered it had snowed...no more hot California weather...but it sure is beautiful







And I have forgotten to exploit my husband ONE and only car accident AND his FIRST ticket....Here's the damage. Thank gosh for that blue trash bags, NOTHIN's getting through that barrier! Yet another example of our glamorous lifestyle here!







How awesome is that? My name spelled right on top! And it's orange...my favorite color. A friend from work, Karen Martinez, found it on some beach shop in Cali while vacationing recently...THANKS so much Karen, I absolutely LOVE it!! I want to super glue it onto my dash board...but w/ the history of my car it would get stolen!

Last note....I'm getting a Tie Meyer. Which is a track bike. I'm currently on Kenny's bike, then I had that Kona, which is now my Fixie, and I have the GT that I bought from Jennie Reed....but I need another one, hello...this will be the first bike I purchased since I bought the frame from Jennie in 2004 I think. Keeps me humble!

Ok, wow I'm full of babble...did I mention Mike's gone and I hate being by myself!! I mean I struggle w/ the opportunity to learn to be alone (right Carrie?).

Nite you crazy fools

Success!!

Yes, Yes, Yes, I did it. Hit both 500m and 2K times!!! Whew, I knew I could do it. I'm so excited. I'm looking forward to the future!

Thanks so much to Kenny Williams for all his time and energy to develop me in order to reach this goal!! He has been awesome to me, I recommend him highly!!

Thanks also to the love and support of my husband, always staying positive, and helping me do the same!

Thanks also to Carrie Cheadle, my sports psycho...
"Congratulations!!! I'm all teary now after getting off the phone with you! I'm SO happy for you and SO proud of you. You've worked really hard on every aspect of you performance. Keep up the good work ;) I can't wait to hear more details."

Mike almost made me cry w/ his excitement of the news! And Mom was happy too! Thanks Chrissy for the email, and Sima for the comment, and the Starbucks girls, and Jennifer T, and Kari, and Ode, and Abby...and Liza, and Kelly Benjamin for being so confident and encouraging to me all week, and just a great roommate all together...I don't know who else I can possibly think of!

Christen King also made the time, yipee! Nice job girl! All the others gave it there all, Kelly smoked the 500, all gained great experience and had a great time!!

OH, Kenny made the 3K mass start test for men too...Adrian barely missed, then the nutball went AGAIN, Curtis Gunn, Bobby Lee, Brad Huff also rocked it! Brad Huff also killed the 200 twice, w/ 11.1 and an 11.3. Zerbel also did well, Kit Karzen did 2:26ish for the 2K in an 86 (not bad for a 15 year old huh??).

Craziness at Track Camp..

Chad Chad Chad, steelin' the photo! These guys are nuts!






Silly Girlz, fun times!!






The little one we all LOVE so so much...Kit!! We are looking for his brain, any finders??






This is the type of spectators we draw!! What a privilege!!

More great photoooos from Fat Camp

The best Cafe in the all of our little world! Remember this from Nationals w/ Jennie and Sarah!





Kelly's had one too many!!





Sushi Night...remember?








More trackies' chowin on Sushi!






The LOVE BOAT of sushi for Brad and Colby to share, yea, smoochie poochie!


Happy Birthday to who?? Check out the Sushi chef, totally gettin' into it!! For NOTHING! but great sweet free food!



Post festive celebrating....

Photos from Camp!

Dog walking is a full time job in California!!





Surfers in January!



Cute Laura!!








We stop for a photo, on the pier here! Sima, Me, Laura, Kelly, and Kit!





This is Viggo, the worlds BESTEST sougner from Norway! He has kept us perfectly hydrated, and rubbed all week. He has done a fantastic job!






And this is how you apply a helmet. Thanks Kelly Ben-jammin.







I've slipped into the lazy athlete mode, and Bill Ron is carring my bike...after putting on my pursuit bars....that won't happen again, I just thought it was funny...But also, he has been super helpful to me because I had a mechanical on the first day keeping me from riding the bike I have been training on...Thanks Bill!



'Majic Man', Now you see him, Now you don't. (Chad Hartley in the Madison practice race).

Rest Daize, a gift from above!

Yep, Yep! Today (actually yesterday, cause I was soooo busy resting, I couldn't blog!) is a rest day....thank you sweet jesus!

It began by getting up at 10am ish, and munchin' and drinkin' coffee till about noon, when Laura suggested "Let's get out of the hotel", so we decided to get crazy and go back to Whole Paycheck, I mean Whole Foods (cause out of all the awesome places we could go in LA, we have been to Whole Foods like 8 times)...but I had a great time. I peroused the bins, and discovered Giji beans....little cranberry lookin' things that are like $18 a pound...so, I HAD to try some. They were ok, apparently they have some amazing antioxidant qualities...due to the price, I did NOT purchase any. I would have had to morph into a Super Hero in order to buy them at that price.

Anywho, we hung out at the Cafe there for a while. Then went to Comp USA to try and get me a camera...but Kelly though I could get the same cameras on Ebay for cheaper, so I just bought the cord I needed to download the ones I have...OMH, I need to add photos...

Quickly, we went to see 'The Good Shepard', way to slow and depressing and LONG! Then went to dinner w/ Jennie Reed and Liz Reap Carlson, Laura, Kelly, and I...Paradise. It was awesome to see Jennie again, of course, it was great conversation, good stories, lots of laughs....and wait, I HAVE A PICTURE...



Then home, and beddy bye...after talking to my Bugger who is doing great, as in not sick! We are trying to figure out where to go for 'Winter Training'...of like 1-2 weeks. The options are: Santa Rosa, San Diego, Phoenix, random California places...it depends on housing, and costs. Does anyone know places to sublet in Santa Rosa in February? Or any little town around there!!

That's all..

The Black Plague....

The story of today is, the Black Plague!!

Over the last week, this is how it has manifested:
John Murphy BROUGHT IT HERE, he came sick...and first he gave it to his roommate Dave McCook...then David Wiswell missed yesterday's workout due to illness...and this AM Laura reported illness, and Sima as well....then this evening I called Colby and now HE'S sick...

Run, run, run for your lives!! Take Vitamin C with you!

Today's workout was very easy...I got to sit behind super fast Wiswell for his 1K and 500m efforts...and probably the only time I'll ever hear "Five Five" on my laps (which means 15.5, the fastest I've heard is like 16.5...a full second faster in 250m is TONS)...

I spent some time working on MY bike and my position, and that feels great. Bill Ron has been awesome to me this week...he fixed my seat post bolt, then lengthened my chain, and now I'm buying some rings/cogs/a second chain from him...he has a bike shop here in the area, Bill Ron's Bike Shop...visit it if you are here...He's a great help to all of us this week!!

Then a little toddle oddle on the bicicleta...and since have been firmly placed on my ars!! Whilst on my ars, I have accomplished:
Called Carrie, talked to my sweetcheeks (who is water logged in England, and sick to death of hearing about my sunshine), watched Talladega nights, and blogged!!

Tuesday of sun...Day 6 of camp!

So, let's see...we rode at 9am this mornin'. But unfortuntely we lost Kelly and Laura to a pee stop...but we did a nice short loop where we got to ride by the beach then do a pretty, residental, tree covered rolling loop...California is so beautiful!

Then the obligatory coffee stop...then back to the Hotel for a quick snack/shammy break....then off to the track at 12:15....

Today the track was a warm up, then I attempted a 1K w/ the 500 like the mass start test...I'm still a little off...but hey, I'm on a borrowed bike, training wheels....so that's at least 1sec a lap, RIGHT???? Just kidding...I don't need a WHOLE second a lap...

So, then I got my bike back and spent pretty much the rest of the session trying to get that up and running...

Then we went to the coffee shop again...and now I'm home and it's almost 5! Long day...great day...lovin life!!

Oh, I just decided to nix the 3k....because I feel too close to making the standard...and there are so few spots open in the Talent Pool, and that's my goal. So, to be able to give my best performance, I want to save it all.

So, I'm on the resting train for the next few days!! I'll keep you posted!

"Ohh Whee, you could damn near cook and egg on the sidewalk today"

I hate to add salt to your wounds all ye Seattlites...but it was HOT HOT today like 87 degrees hot...yea, eat your hearts out....

Today was an off day...we rode on the beach (not literally, there is a sidewalk), it was so beautiful, w/ all the surfers and sand volleyball players, gawking at the beach front houses, eating up the salty sea air

...We took frequent stops at Piers for photo shoots, and lunch at Cafe Bonaparte...just another day in Paradise..

We had to hurry back from the ride for our massage's from Vicco (our Norwegian Swan-year par-excel ante)...and, guess what, I learned a new trick!!! Kelly taught the diaper maneuver...for massages...first, GET NAKED, then apply towel as if it were a diaper and mount the table, fully covered....and when it's time to flip, hold one side (front and back) then FLIP and all the jewels are kept private, yet the beautimus glutimus's are well exposed for Maximal rubbage...Thanks a million Kelly. No more embarrassing nakedness on the massage table...

And the event of the day was our return trip to Toyo Sushi restaurant...but this time we brought the whole clan...all the Team Pursuit Girls (Lauren Faranges, Kim Giest, Allison Powers, Kori Seahafer, Jim Miller, Benny, and Hammer's boyfriend)...of course, Sima, Sam Jwhatever, Tom Zirbel, Lara Kroepsh, Bobby Lee, Dave Wiswell, and Ulrich is back from Broadmark's team camp ha ha it was in Seattle, Kit Karzen (correction from the other day) in his 15 humor kept us all a smilin!...Kelly Benjamin kept up w/ the fast wit at the table, but NONE to be out done by THE Brad imasixteenyearold Huff...and Colby at his side...

I don't know what was funnier, the "Love Boat" of sushi they shared as manfriends, or the imprompt to call to Andrew (USA cycling Mechaninc) for a happy birthday call (and I really don't think it was anyone's b-day)...but this spurned the chef at the Sushi place to make a HUGE Boat of sushi dessert, complete w/ whipped cream, chocolate, and spraying of sparkling cider on Sam ...so he was offered the birthday boat of sweet sushi...it was so funny!! Because it was all NOT TRUE, and we got a bunch of free stuff because of it!

Trivia question: Does anyone know what "twelve o'clockin' it" means?, what movie is, "That just happened!" from?, or "Shake and Bake!". What is a "Weiner Cleaner?"....

Sunny and HOT Sundaize!

Sorry guys, but it was HOT today. Like 75-80 on the ride to the track at 11 am. It was perfect!

But, we were at the track for 4hrs blowing our brains out! First, we did the Bonzo, who can go the fastest warm up...and today I made it to like the 6 to go lap before I went cross-eyed...Honestly, I love it, it's so fun to have all these ppl pushing you.

Then it was 500m for time, time. And that was great, I got a chance to feel out different gears, and feel how very fast it really is...and boy it's fast. Kelly B is a rock star, she had the fastest times by a landslide (not that I was paying attention to anyone ELSE's time)...

Next we did Motorcross, I mean Motorpacing...and the boys did Madison racing...It was AWESOME, super fun, fast and furious...but great great training...

The best was yet to come, the after workout flush-orama ride...to the coffee shop...then to the book store...where Brad Huff and Chad Hartley put Colby's bike in a tree, then all hid behind the cars to laugh him while he sifted it out...It was great..

Then Toyo Sushi night...deliciouso sushi for cheap w/ lots of free stuff...It was REALLY REALLY good...Chad Hartley apparently frequents them regularly...now we will to (if you know this area, it's next to the Walmart, near the Extended stay the Nat'l team used to stay at)...

Then we had a very SERIOUS team meeting...OMG, these boys are a HOOT! Childish? Yes..but, hey so am I. And it's all Taladega Nights lines these days, so we get tons of "Shake and Bake", "You're my best friend", and "Hello, Rikky Bobby (French accsent)"...so we spent like 1.5hrs just figuring out Tues/Wed workout schedules...then a killer Core workout...and the pinnacle was Laura depantsing Brad Huff (not completely), then he returning the favor in the elevator...Maturity, none, fun...tons!!

Sunny Saterdaize!!

OMG! So, if yesterday was great, today was PERFECTION. Again all sun, warm, I was riding w/o coverage...that means no leg or arm warmers!! It was freakin' beautiful.

We did a road ride up Palos Verdes! So we got some great views! And after our ride, we stopped at a great authentic Mexican restaurant for some Tacitos...very tasty.

So, I have more info on the boys. David Wislow is here he will be riding for Navarac (something like that)...he raced a bunch of 6 days in Europe..also raced for a Belgian team, also raced in France as well...and he's at the ripe old age of 23...really nice guy!! Then there is Kit Carson...a 15 y/o sophomore racing for Spike currently...super funny, super strong lil' guy, he's a walking Googlepedia, and factosaurus...Then there is John Murphy who will be riding for Health Net next year, he's not been feeling well...Both he and McCook missed the ride this AM due to illness, that's too bad!

No track today...lot's of layin around...Very nice!!

We are now watching the Cheifs/Colts game with Kelly Ben-jammin who is an avid Chiefs fan....I"m learning tons!!

Oh, BTW Skype sucks...well, I don't think it's the Skype, it's more like the Internet connection....whatever, it's hard to have a convo when you can only hear every other word...

Day Two at Camp!

Ok, so I took some pictures...then realized that I don't have the right cord to transfer them to my computer...Maybe I can find someone who has one...

So, today we did 6x 1000m in groups of 5 w/ 1/2 lap pulls, flying in 88 in gears...it was awesome. Great hard workout, really pushed ourselves...and really worked on the exchanges...Then we went an a great bike path ride, after a nice Starbucks stop...it was sunny, and like 70 degrees, awesome!! It's been awhile since I've ridden in sunshine!

I didn't crash anyone out today, that was sweet! My legs feel better today, but tuckered...

Thanks for reading, be in touch tomorrow....I'm gonna call Mike on Skype tonight...remember he's in England and I miss him immensely.

Do you remember Carrie Cheadle, my sports psychology coach, she is so awesome, and has helped me through so much..I can't recommend her enough, she's great!!!

LA Track Camp begins!

Here we are again, in LA!! Preparing for either the Talent Pool, LA World Cup, or the Worlds Trials...

There are so many people here...I'm rooming with Kelly Ben-jammin from Cheerwine (she rode for the US in the Australian World Cup, and super nice! Sima Trapp (who rode the Moscow World Cup) is here rooming w/ Laura Kroepsh from Lipton (and super friendly), Neva Day is here as well as Kristin King both are new to me, I'm looking forward to getting to know them better...they both smoked at Elite Nats, Neva was the only person to make the 2K times!

Then for the boys there is Tom Zirbel of Priority Health, Brad Huff from Tiaa Creff, Sam Jurekovic (a mountain biker for the US team, giving it a go on the track...he flew in from Jackson Hole)..Dave McCook from the Jelly Belly team, who represented the US also at the Australian World Cup, of course there is Wiswell, Hartley, DeYoung, Murphy, Rilling, Karzen...and if I knew them better I could tell you more about them...I'll keep you posted!

THEN, there is a Team Pursuit camp going on as well...Hammer leads the charge, of course, also Kristin Armstrong, Christine Thorbun, Kim Giest, Allison Powers, Lauren Faranges, Kori Seahafer...all doing their inaugural Women's Team Pursuit camp!! Unfortunately, we don't practice together, I'll have to work hard at creating hang out time w/ them.

Oh, sorry about no pictures yet....I'll get on that.

Wanna hear the first scary story of my trip...I almost crashed out the entire Team Pursuit Camp's paceline...our camp was on the apron cooling down, and someone bumped someone..who ran into me forcing me into the black lane right as all the above girls were finishing their effort which means they were going FAST...and I got yelled at rightfully so...I felt awful...thank godness no one got hurt, but it was close!!