The Final Taming of the Tetons

I kept debating back and forth whether or not to go to Jackson.  I couldn't spend any time if I went, the cost of going by myself, going really far to race a race, I know I don't have a chance to place well.  Here comes Jessika and Wendy to the rescue--they were willing to car pool and share a room!  With cost significatly cut and people to ride with the not placing didn't matter.  I guess this means I don't just race to win.

We left Friday morning for Jackson.  The ride up was great, it is so much fun to have a girls trip, especially these girls--they know how to have fun.  When we got to Jackson we went up and pre-rode the course.  It was here we discovered this is going to be the last Jackson race.  They are going to turn the trails to downhill trails.  It's too bad, because I love the trails, but it is what it is.

Jessika and I had a lot of fun riding the trail.  The one thing about riding the trails for fun, you see things you never see while racing.  Very beautiful scenery.

Jessika on the pre-ride

Me on the trail.

What a view.

Race day was great.  The temperature was perfect and the little bit of rain we received that morning made most of the course perfect conditions.  I was a little nervous about doing 2 laps for this course.  I knew I could do one, and doing a half was doable, but 2 seemed daunting.  I started off good, but couldn't keep up my division on the hill climb.  After about a mile I lost the gals in my division and was riding with various men in different divisions.  This is good, because it is hard for me to push when no one is around, at least with someone I have enough pride to not back down--at least on the first lap.

The first lap went well, except I rode like a little girl on the down hill.  It was a bit frustrating, but I decided it really didn't matter too much.  We came off the down hill and there in front of me was "the hill".  I took a deep breath and rode until my heart said stop.  Lucky for me it was about 3/4 of the way up the hill.  After the hill there is one mile left of down hill, and then you circle back around for the 2nd lap. 

There was not rush for me to as I went through the 2nd lap, because I was tired!  From here out it was no longer a race, but a ride I needed to complete.  Thank goodness for all the people cheering as I rode.  Lucy's husband was awesome.  I heard him a couple of times cheering which totally helped me pedal my bike and keep going.

My 2nd lap I ended up stopping several times to let people pass, and in general was pretty beat.  By the time I got to the down hill something happened and I was able to ride much better on the down than my first lap.  I rode about the same on "the hill", and was sooo glad when I finished.

I finished my 2nd lap tired and trashed, but happy I finished.  It turns out I took 6th out of 8th, which I feel pretty good about.  I also had a faster 1st lap this year than last, so I am getting stronger.  Now if I can just get the strength down to do 2 laps strong. :-)

Thanks for taking the pic' Jess.

Best One Yet

I woke Saturday morning not sure if I was going to go to the race or not.  I wasn't sure if it would hurt me or not to race.  I had tried to find someone to car pool with that way I could blame going to the race on car pooling, but that didn't pan out.  So early Saturday morning I was riding around the neighborhood in my pjs determining if I hurt too much to ride.  Riding around the neighborhood was easy, so I made  the decision to go, and I am so glad I did.

Conditions for the race were great--nice weather, tacky trail, what more cold you ask for.  My laps went great.  I felt good the whole time, I kept hydrated like I needed to, I kept my nutrition up, and I made it through the race.  Yes, my legs got tired, but near the end where you would expect them to.  Yes, my heart rate did it's normal thing, but near the end not during the entire race.  Best of all I out did my time from last year!  I was faster on both my laps versus the one lap I did last year.  I finally am making improvement.  I have a long ways to go before I really get up to the Sport Division level, but this race showed me I am headed in the right direction.

Deer Valley Icup - The Tree

I love the Deer Valley race, but I am beginning to think it does not like me.  Last year was the incident with Mandy, and now this year.

The race was postponed to Wednesday, which I thought was going to work out fine for me until Tuesday night when I received a reminder call I had to see the doctor and needed to fast for the visit.  Fasting is never good for me.  With my Vasovagal Syncope I get dehyrdrated rather quickly.  When I fast the dehyrdration gets pretty bad, I get very dizzy and light headed and the vasovagal gets worse--meaning I am more likely to pass out and my blood pressure gets dangerously low.

I fasted Wednesday for my doctor visit, but did not get to eat until noon.  By the time I got home I was feeling sick, dizzy and dehydrated.  I ate when I got home drank 2 bottles of G2 Gatorade, and then ended up going to sleep until 3 pm, just because I didn't feel well.

When I woke up I felt okay, but still dehydrated.  I drank up until about an hour before the race, but was still dehyrdrated when we started the race.  I wasn't too worried, but hoped it would not affect me during the race.

The race started out in the wind and a light rain.  Standing on the start line was not so great, but as soon we got started I didn't notice the rain or the wind.  The initial climb up the road was brutually hard.  My legs were hurting, I kept hoping it would stop, but they didn't, and then as we were curving around the bend in the road my right quad cramped.  I didn't want to get off my bike and walk, but it hurt so bad I finally decided my pride would have to deal with me walking the bike.

I walked my bike to where the road levels out, and then got back on and rode up the hill.  I lost a lot of space from my division here, so I was hoping I would make it up on the down hill.  The trail was in great condition, so I was able to ride fast on the down hill and a lot of riders were very gracious and pulled over so I could pass them.  I appreciate this.

I eventually came upon 2 beginner riders that would not let me pass.  One tried, but my pass put me into a tree, so I couldn't get by.  After that they just would not let me pass.  I had to keep braking on the switchbacks, and more than once swore.  I let them know I wasn't swearing at them, but at my frustration.  However, my frustration was being slowed down and not being able to get closer to my group.

There were a few downed trees and branches on the trail.  One you had to duck under while you were riding.  One you actually had to get off your bike and go over or under whatever you chose to do.  I was hoping here the two riders would let me pass, but no go.  By this time I was getting pretty frustrated, as was the rider behind me.  Both of us could have gone a lot faster, and it is always frustrating when you can go faster than someone and they will not let you by. *Note to other riders, typically when someone asks to pass this means they can go faster than you and you are holding them up.

After the downed tree we continued to ride, and I kept looking for a place to pass.  I don't know if I was busy concentrating on trying to pass, or what, but all of the sudden I hit a turn and there was a tree partially slanted down into the trail.  I saw the tree and then bam I hit it!  All I remember is my back whipping back into an arc, and ending off by bike--I am really surprised I didn't break my back with the way I hit the tree.  Brayden (UMB) was behind me, and I am sure he could give a much better description of what happened.  I heard him gasp when I hit, and I remember him asking if I was okay.  I told him I was okay grabbed by bike and took off.

I continued to ride, and as I rode I noticed blood coming down both my legs.  Since I am on Plavix and Asprin, I figured I would bleed the whole time,and I did.  I continued to ride and caught back up to my two riders.  We were almost to the bottom, so I just decided to be patient and wait.  We hit the open switchback and I crashed.  I ended up going face forward.  Brayden was not far behind and asked if I was okay.  I waved him on and just sat there very frustrated.  Aaron (Racers) rode by and gave me some good words of wisdom, and I got back on my bike and started to ride.

Unfortunately I discovered my back was really hurting from my crash as well as the rest of my body.  I have ridden injured before, and I have done other sports injured, and I have never quit because of an injury.  On this race I actually wanted to quit I was hurting so bad.  I was thinking about taking the 12 and under and getting a DNF.  I never would have thought of doing this before, but my body hurt, and riding uphill made my back hurt pretty bad.  I kept telling my self it did not hurt, but it didn't help.

I mulled over my options and then decided not to quit.  There was only one other Mad Dog rider in Sport Women, which meant I could earn us team points, so I went forward and rode.  Eventually the race ended, and I missed out on an oppurtunity to get some cash.  I was so busy looking for a place to ride around the mud I missed the cash handout....bummer.

Today I am at home resting my back and my wounds--I feel like I was in a car accident, but nothing too serious.  Although Deer Valley race course seems to bring about some bad karma I still love this course and this race--there's always next year.

i

1st pic of the wounds.

A view of some of the wounds.

Right leg-I am guessing the front cartridge did this.

What you can't see are 3 small puncture wounds--I think they caused the most bleeding.

Those of us who stuck it out for podium.

Fun Filled Days

Saturday June 12 - Deer Valley I-Cup

Went to the race in the pouring rain.  On the way up we saw the tail end of the Provo 1/2 marathoners (Heather was too fast, so I didn't see her), and the Provo full marathoners.  I kept talking about how miserable they must be running in the cold and I couldn't believe they were racing in such miserable weather.  Then lI realized we were going up to ride in the same miserable weather.  Oh the irony.

Random pics of people I don't know running in the rain.

The race was cancelled and resheduled for Wednesday.  On the way back the rain stopped, and the view was beautiful.

Midway mountain scenery.

Once I got home.  I went with the family to movies to see A-Team.  The show was fun worth going to. 

Then I decided to ride Squaw Peak.  For some reason this ride was especially painful, and I mean that in every sense of the word.  I actually had to stop where it says 3 3/4 on the road for a minute to let the pain leave my legs.  This is the first time I have had to stop because I hurt riding Squaw Peak.  By the time I got to the top I felt like I was pushing with everything I had.  Somehow I don't remember the end of climb being so steep.  I think pain has a lot to do with the perception of steepness.

In some ways it was a little discouraging because I had to ride in my small gears to get to the top and because it was such a struggle.  In other ways it was great, because now I have a guage and new goal to accomplish by the end of the summer.  Sometimes reality can be harsh, but at least you know what to prepare for.

Pic I took while riding up.

Love the view.

The ride down was very cold.  Another storm had crept up while I was going up, so I went up with a head wind, and down with a head wind.  I was shivering cold by the time I got to the bottom.  Just as I got to the bottom I heard a clinking noise.  I crossed the road, and discovered I had a flat tire!  I am sure hoping I was climbing with low tire pressure, then maybe the next ride won't be so painful.  I didn't want to change a skinny tire while I was so cold, so I called my husband and he met me at Timpanogous Park.  What a great guy to come and rescue me from the cold and changing a tire.

Sunday June 13 - My Birthday

Had a great birthday.  The family surprised me with great gifts, we had pizza and cheese cake and lots of fun.

My cake topper my husband didn't dare put on the cake.  Isn't it cool.  It played Happy Birthday.

Cute Octapus balloon bouquet.

Monday June 14th - AF Canyon

I finally got to ride AF Canyon.  I met up with Steve and we went to see how far we could ride before the trails were unrideable.  The trails were great except for Pine Hollow, so we only rode up to the look out and back.  I love this trail--hopefully next week the trails will be in good condition and I will have time to do the entire loop.

This view never gets old.

The patch spot below is where Pine Hollow & Salamander Flats intersect.  I can't believe how high up we are.

On the way down the canyon I came upon a rider on a road bike.  Not unusual when you ride in this canyon, what was unusual the rider was riding right by the double yellow line.  I could not pass--granted it was a double yellow, but if he had moved over to the side I could have slowly gone around him.  But he didn't. 

When we got to Timp Cave parking lot I thought for sure he would pull over.  Lots of room, but no he stayed right by the yellow line!  I had to ride behind him almost to the guard shack because he would not ease over.  I have to say I was a bit frustrated by this.

The other unusual thing--jeans.  I cannot imagine how painful it must be to ride up AF Canyon and down in jeans, but that's what he did.

Right by the yellow lines.

Proof of the jeans--I wasn't making it up.

Tuesday June 15th - Recovery Ride

Went for an easy ride today with my husband up to the Provo Trail.  On the way I got a flat tire, fixed it and we continued on our way up.  On the way back I got another flat tire, tried to pump it up, but it didn't work.  I did not have another tube, so my husband rode home while I waited for him come back with the car.  The entire time I waited riders went by, but only one asked if I needed help.  I always ask if someone needs help.  One guy actually went so far as to look the other direction like he didn't see me with my flat.  Glad my husband could come to the rescue again, otherwise I would have been stranded for quite some time.  Three flat tires in less than a week.  I think I may need to get new tires.

I believe this is the universal sign for a flat.

3 Month Check Up

I went to the cardiologist today for my 3 month check up (I have regular visits scheduled for the upcoming year).  This visit I had a transdoppler test and an echo cardiagram with bubbles.  The transdoppler test shows how many bubbles are passing through my heart to my brain.  They do a scale of 0 (being none) to 5+ (more than 300 passing through).  They run 3 different scenario's - 1. bubbles at rest, 2. bubbles tightening the stomach muscles, 3. bubbles blowing into a very small tube.  They also do  the same scenario's with the echo cardiagram with bubbles.

The results:
Scenario 1 - no bubbles, score 0
Scenario 2 - no bubbles, score 0
Scenario 3 - bubbles, score 5+

So what does this mean.  It means I am healing.  There are no expectations of being completely healed for up to 1 year.  Because I exercise, and because of the particular device used the healing time is 6 months to 1 year. 

I am very excited I am getting better.  I no longer have exercise induced asthma, mostly because it wasn't.  Instead it was blood being thrown to my lungs.  My heart rate it high, but I was told to expect this for a while (good to know, because I was wondering).  My blood pressure is doing well, and I do not need to have as much salt.  My chest pains are not as painful, and I have significantly decreased my chances of having a stroke.  Best of all the every day fatigue is going away and I am able to hang out with my family and ride my bike a lot more.

Deer Valley Pre-Ride

Went and rode Deer Valley yesterday. The trail conditions were great, and as you can see by all of the smiles we had a great time.

Happy 50th Birthday

My cute guy had his 50th birthday this week. We have had a lot of fun teasing him about hitting the big 5 0.

I tried to make the icing black...oh well.

He got to drive all over town with this on his car.

He didn't see this tell he took Mandy to soccer.

I think the black balloons were a nice touch.

After the Race

Had a great time at Karl's and Dot's after the race, eating yummy chicken, watermelon, creamsicles and other good stuff.  The kids did a pasture race--and had a lot of fun riding.  Great times.

Future team riders ready to go!

Mandy clearing the hill.

Stan Cran - Icup #6

*This  is very, very long.  I thought about breaking it up, into parts, but couldn't seem to find the appropriate place.


I was nervous the morning of the race, which was kind of funny, because going to these races I have no expectations of placing. I think perhaps my nerves have to do with my expectations. I want to stay close to the group, I want to climb faster, I want to make it around. Perhaps this is what caused my nervousness.


The start line for the race was crowded, and I counted 15 women in our division, however there were only 14 that finished, so I must have counted someone twice. I knew most of the gals in the race, but there were a couple of new faces. With new faces there is always wonderment of their abilities.

One of the things I like about start line is visiting with the gals and catching up—funny how we use this time for socializing, it’s a good way to calm the nerves. One of the gals I was standing next to told me about how last year she was overweight and smoked, this year she is riding and doesn’t smoke—how cool is that.

The start of the race started pretty good. My plan was to stay back in about the middle of the pack. I didn’t want to be up front pushing, but I didn’t want to be in the very back and have to do a lot of catching up. I got in a good spot and felt good about how we were starting off—a long train line. But the first “oh no” came in less than a ½ a mile into the race course.

The very first of the race you go up the parking lot, onto single track with a quick up. If you have good speed this quick up is a piece of cake. Unfortunately someone did not get the memo and the girl on rider ahead of me, decided to brake just before the hill! I couldn’t believe it. Colleen (UMB), in front of me, had to brake, I had to brake, and you could hear brakes all the way back on the line—did I mention Clydesdale started 30 seconds behind us, so they may have been braking too.

It concerned me she broke on such an easy spot. As I watched her through the single track towards the pond, I decided it would be best if I went around her. When the single track opened up I looked for a way to get around Colleen, but the loose gravel, downed riders and other conditions made it not possible, so I ended up staying in the exact same place. The nice part was our entire division was a train and riding smoothly, and I was in feeling good about my place in the pack.

I guess the good feelings were not meant to last. Right after the tunnel on the quick left hand up, the same girl who broke got off her bike to walk (if I remember correctly, or slipped). Either way Colleen went to go around her on the right, and slipped off her bike. I went on the inside of both of them, but Colleen was not done slipping and ended up falling on my bike….ouch for her. Very frustrating for her and for me, as well as everyone behind us, because basically it caused a large domino affect. I quickly grabbed my bike and went up the hill to get back on, but it was done. Our train was no longer, and a gap had been made.

I hoped I could catch up, but today’s ride was not in the stars. Right now closing a gap is not something that I can do—at least not this race. However, I was very impressed with Gayle (Mad Dog) she was behind me when all of this occurred (I am not sure how far back), when we hit the service road, she sailed by working on closing the gap. She ended up in 7th place—how cool is that, imagine if all the other stuff hadn’t happened. I was so impressed with how she came back, what an awesome rider.

Hitting the service road and the single track I soon discovered my heart was not into the ride for the day. I wear a heart monitor when I ride and race, to see improvement, and to see what is going on when I feel certain symptoms. Well, I started to notice some symptoms as I was climbing on the single track to the second service road; I looked down and say my hr was at 177. This is not bad thing if it is short lived, but if it is long it is not so good. I decided I would just keep going and hopefully the hr would go down and I would be okay.

I hit the service road down and the hr dropped down. Here I had a lot of fun riding down, minus the incident with a beginner UMB rider-someone may want to tell him when he passes he needs to let people know. He almost took me out twice, he obviously did not realize how close he came by his comments, but had I not moved he would have hit me….ugh.

Eventually I hit the up on the service road and felt good. I rode faster than I had on Fridays pre-ride, and felt the pace was perfect for me. The hr was still way too high, but I felt good, so I kept up the pace—I am sure this was a mistake, but I guess you go until you can’t go anymore.

I felt good most of the lap, and then I hit the silica pit. I looked, and then I rode. I felt good enough to go up, and this lap it was better than walking. Once I got to the steep hill portion though I got off and walked—good thing too, because it was loose and torn up. At the top the rider behind me gave me a good push to ride off—thanks much it was appreciated.

I loved going down. It was fun and smooth. I had a kid in front of me, and I am guessing he was 12 or 13, but not too sure. Anyway, as we hit the final down I encouraged him to pedal fast so we could use our momentum to get up the hill. He did and we went down flying fast. I stayed a little bit back, which turned out to be a good thing. I hit the final turn just before the tunnel, and the kid that had been in front of me was on the ground crying saying he couldn’t breathe.

I locked my brakes, and assessed the situation. He was hurt, I was not in contention for anything, and he was hurt. I took a deep breath; I know how lame that is, but some decisions can be tough, and stayed to help. He said he couldn’t breathe, and I let him know he could because he was talking. His mouth was bleeding, his arm was bleeding, and he was definitely shook up. I yelled several times at the people by the tunnel to get a medic and eventually got a response. I moved the kid’s bike off the trail, and then someone else jumped in to help.

At this point I looked around and saw the people who had stepped in to assist were in the beginner rider category. I asked them if they would mind staying with him since I still had another lap to go and they said they would. I left, but some of the race had been taken out of me. I had been there for what felt like 3 to 4 minutes, but looking at my time later learned it was more like 2 minutes and 30 second. On my climb out of the tunnel I saw the kid on oxygen, glad the medics finally got to him.

I rode knowing now there was no way I would catch anyone. I don’t know if this was a defeatist or realistic attitude, but it was what it was. So I rode determined to try and finish hard. Once again, this was not in the stars. On the single track climb towards the service road down my hr continued to escalate, but this time my body started to feel the symptoms and I was becoming very fatigued. From here on out every hill climb was a struggle and my hr continued to jump way too high.

Riding up the service road I began to reflect on my decision of stopping to help the hurt kid. Was it a good decision, should I have helped him, or should I have moved his bike and just gone on. I decided it was good. If my child was hurt I would want to know someone thought it was more important to stop, than to race. I also worried maybe I should not have left until the medics came. Granted I made sure someone was with him, but maybe I should have stayed. As I was thinking about this and the race, the guy who helped create the race course rode up by me. We had a good conversation and I was reminded of how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing.

You see this guy knew about ASD’s. He was familiar with the device that was put in my heart, he knew all about my cardiologist, and he also knew about the healing process. In fact he knew with my particular device it would take longer to heal, but it was the better device. I needed this talk. As much as I know I am coming back and it is 6 months to 1 year of recovery, many times I see this as an excuse not a reason.

I often feel like I should be so much further than I am. I feel like I should be losing weight more quickly. I feel like I should be able to climb and pound up the hill like I used to, and I feel like 18 miles should be no big deal. And most of all I feel like the heart thing should not have changed anything, but it has, and sometimes I need to be reminded that it is real and not an excuse. I tell myself this often so as not to become discouraged with all of my “I could do that only a couple of months ago, why not now” attitude. So it was nice to talk with someone who had knowledge of an ASD and then let me know he was surprised they let me ride a bike so soon. Ah yes, I am reminded, I get to ride my bike how cool is that.

We rode a little further and then parted ways. For the race he was my gift and my reminder which helped me continue on my way. The rest of the race was a struggle, but I did it, and boy was I grateful when the downhill came, and even more so for the end of the race.

The end of this race was quite the struggle for me, I was tired and fatigued, but determined to finish. I think I could have gone 14 miles, but almost 18 miles did me in. However, one lap would have been too short, so I am making little improvements.

I missed awards and cheering for lady Mad Dogs who took 1st, 2nd & 3rd in Sport. Way to go ladies!!! I was busy looking for Mandy who I eventually found in the pond—should have known.