Awesome Race - Desert Rampage

Just a few from the team.

Desert Rampage is one of my favorite races, although I will admit I do have a few.  The fun thing about this race is seeing everyone again, starting off on a fun course that doesn't kill you, good passing, and ending on the downhill.  This year held true.

The race was great fun.  We had a large group of women in the sport category about 17/18 (when I counted I can't remember if I counted myself or not).  Great to see so many women on the start line!  My start was a little rough.  My stomach was too full from liquid, so I ended up making myself throw up what was in my stomach.  No, I didn't stick my finger down my throat, it was easy as bending over and what shouldn't have been there came out.  I felt better, but my tummy was still pretty full. 

As we took off the start line I was up near the front, but held my speed not getting much faster.  Little by little people came by me and were passing, until finally somewhere along the first hill climb I ended up being in dead last.  This was not where I wanted to be.  At first I was a little discouraged, but I told my mental bad talk to take a hike and rode as well as I could, while figuring out what I was going to do so this would not happen again.  I have to add although I was in last place, I could still see my division and was very much in the race.

On my first lap, in the wash I passed a gal in my division.  Her sidewall had ripped.  I was so bummed, because it never feels good to pass someone due to a mechanical.  I continued to pound along, and by the end of my first lap I was feeling really good, and started to pull in on others in my division.  My nex pass was right in the lap/finish area.  We almost ended up crashing into each other, because she thought I was going for my water bottle and I was actually on the opposite side.  I didn't go for my bottle, because my tummy had been too full to take in any water.

I had now passed 2 gals, and I could see more in the distance.  Little by little I began to pass women on the trail.  Two on the first climb, one on the first downhill, one at the first of the second wash, another one with a mechanical towards the end of the 2nd wash.  There were still more women ahead and I soooo wanted to catch them.  I kept pounding determined I was going to get them.  I finally caught my last rider at the beginning of the second down.  We were coming off the single track at the same time and heading down our final descent.  She took the the single track and I took off the course for the pass.  It worked!  I took off hoping I could keep her from catching me and hoping I might see someone else on the down I could pass.  I made it to the finish not passing anyone else from my division and without being passed.   Whew, it was over and I felt good, tired, but good.

The results.....I believe I took 9th and I took over 3 minutes off my time from last year!!!  This is great since last year this race was just before my heart surgery.   I am getting stronger and getting more fit.  I can't wait to see the direction my health will take me.

Goregous St. George Views.

  

Fun with friends on the pre-ride.

What is My Fitness Level?

As the first ICup race of the season approaches I have been asking this question over and over again.  What is my fitness level?  How am I going to do at the race?  Have I improved any?  Have I done enough that I feel like I made progress from last year to this year?  These and many other questions have been going through my mind.  As I have been calling friends and making plans for the upcoming trip to the race I have discovered I am not the only one with this question.  Apparently everyone else is wondering the same thing!
How nice it is to discover I am not the only one wondering where my fitness level is.  I guess we all have the same or similar questions as we head towards the first ICup race. 

So how do you determine your fitness level?  This is the question I am trying to answer.  For me I don't think it is going to be about winning the race.  Of course I would love to win, but realistically speaking I know I am not there yet.  Last time I was on a mountain bike was in November!  Since then it has been the trainer, and I have done my best on the trainer, but there is nothing that compares to the actual ride.  My weight--well, I am lighter, but still not even close to where I need to be.  So I go into this with not the expectation of winning, but of doing well.  Am I settling?  I don't think so, I think I am being realistic, but I am not counting myself out.

What is "doing well", as I contemplate this I think it is coming in where I came in last year or better.  I feel as if my heart is doing great, so I want to be where I was last year at this time or better.  Big dreams--well we all need to dream big.  Also, I do not want to take last, or 2nd to last.  To some this may not be a big deal, but really after all of the struggles from last year, watching everyone take off ahead of me was so frustrating and discouraging I need something different.  Yes, I get it my heart was healing and I couldn't go faster, but I want it to be be different this year.  With that said if I end up taking last or close to last I guarantee it will only motivate me more.

So how do you determine your fitness level?  What will you be satisfied, or will you be satisfied?

How to Pass

Last year by the end of the season I was pretty much fed up with all of the different passing scenarios that had occurred.  I have been in the thick of it where I have been passed and I do the passing, and nothing is more frustrating to a rider than a pass gone bad.  After putting some thought in to it I decided to share my perspective on how to pass, prior to the ICup race season beginning.  Some of you may read this entire blog, some may not, so I am going to give my conclusion at the very first.

When asked to pass let the person pass, if you are faster then you will get the opportunity to pass them back.  It doesn't matter what division they are in, expect at the very end of the race, then if needs be sprint it out to the end.  Do you really want to be on the podium knowing you hogged the trail and prevented 3 other people from passing you--were you really faster?

PASSING

1. Let the rider know you are coming. One of the best ways is holler “rider back” This gives the rider in front an opportunity to determine a good place to let you pass.

Last year during the Draper race, a rider behind me called “rider back” I looked ahead and found the perfect place to pull over – made my move, and he sailed right by. I was able to keep accelerate as soon as he went by. Both of us ended up in a good situation. Same thing happened at The Canyons race. Both parties are happy and very little if any time is lost.

2. Clearly state your intention to pass i.e. “on your left”, “on your right” “pass please”,. This lets the rider ahead know what you want to do.

Two years ago at Deer Valley race I had a rider approach behind me and due to my ear warmers that were on (it was about 25 degrees that race), all I heard was a mumbled “meer”. Not knowing what he said my reply was “what???”. He repeated himself with a little more clarity “pro”. My thoughts, “oh I think he wants to pass.” I let him by. As he went by I called out “I am racing too.” I get you are a pro and another fast guy is probably going to be coming up soon, but telling me what division you are in does not help.

A similar incident happened again last year at the Draper race. On my last lap heading up the little hill to the parking lot, where the lap and finish split is, a rider came behind me and said “expert”. At this point in the race I really could have cared less—I was sick, tired and just wanted to finish. My reply to his declaration of his division, “how’s that working for you?” Funny thing he never replied.

3. When passing wait until the rider ahead gives you the go ahead. This is for the safety of you and for the rider you are passing.

Last year at the Sundance race while I was riding Archie’s I had a rider pull up and tell me he wanted to pass. I looked ahead and told him just a moment, right up here. He yelled “no, now!” and then shoved right by me. I ended in into the side of the mountain and luckily he did not end off the edge of Archie’s. Not 2 seconds later another rider came up, he waited and we both had a safe pass. Really is it worth it?!?

GETTING PASSED

1. If someone behind you asks to pass let them pass! This is by far most the most important rule. If they are asking they are faster than you, LET THEM BY! Who cares if they are in the same division as you, who cares if it is a chick and you ego feels a little bruised, if you are faster then you will pass them back. Do you really want to win a race by hogging the trail and preventing the other three people behind you from passing!

Last year at The Canyons race I was doing pretty good, but eventually on the uphill I got passed. We hit some downhill and I passed people back. Then uphill again and I was passed. Final descent I passed a lot of people, one was in my division (who by the way I had let pass me on the up). She let me pass and I was able to fly downhill. Had she not let me pass it would have been dangerous for both of us, because I was riding right on her tail. She actually ended up beating me across the finish line, but we passed each other back and forth the entire race—now that is a race!

2. When riding narrow singletrack on a mountain side pull over toward the mountainside (hill/steep) and let the rider go around you.  If you go inside they have to deal with bushes and trees and may not get around.

These are a few of my thoughts or suggestions on passing.  Anyone care to add to the list???

In the Deep of It

Sally and I were supposed to go cross country skiing yesterday at the Sundance Ladies Day.  We drove up to the nordic center only to find it had been cancelled due to snow conditions.  Luckily we had a back up plan and decided to go snow shoeing.  So we kept going up the road and headed up to Aspen Grove.

The snow was powder and deep.  At one point I ended up in waist high snow!  I can't believe how hard it is to cut a path in deep snow--whew! 

Good Morning?!?

(Old pic) My puppies trying to convince me to get up.

I am not a morning person, and early mornings are my least favorite part of the day.  But if I want to workout I must get up early in the morning.  Why you ask???  Well mostly, because I have a full-time job that keeps me away from home until 4:30 pm and a family I need to take care of when I get home.  Of course I am pretty sure my family would be okay with me not being home until later and they would be totally supportive of me coming home late, but my conscience does not.  So this means I must workout in the morning and I am NOT a morning person--in fact, it is best to give me about an hour before you talk to me if it is early morning.

So this morning my alarm clock went off at 4:35 am and I began to have the typical morning conversation between the "it's okay to stay in bed" and the "get out of bed and workout" angel/devil.  The first voice "you know your tired, just sleep in for a couple of more hours and you can workout when you get home"  Then comes the second voice "get up and workout, you know you need to".  Back comes the first voice with pretty much the same thought of sleeping in and workout later.  The second voice "get up and workout, you know you won't work out when you get home".  First voice the same.  Second voice "get up and workout, you are fat and out of shape and there is no way you will get fast  if you don't work out."  The second voice is a bit more cruel and ends up winning.

I drag my body out of bed and gloomily get ready to ride the spin bike or something like that.  Eventually about 30 minutes into the workout I start to feel pretty good and by the end I am completely awake and ready to take on the day. And although I feel really good by the end of the workout, it still does not change the fact I am not a morning person and I wish there was a different time of day to workout.

So what do I need to do.  I need to find a way to make me a morning person (not likely this will change), or find another solution.  Any suggestions???

First Ski Day

The last time I went skiing was 16 years ago.  I was new to skiing then and only had the opportunity to go twice.  So when a friend told me about the great program they had at Park City I jumped at the chance for Mandy and I to go and learn to ski.

The instructors were great and I felt soooooo comfortable skiing.  I couldn't believe how quickly I learned to go down the hill.  Last time I remember skiing I distintcly remember the hills being very, very scare.  I can't wait to go back and learn more and get better so I can ski other slopes.

Best part of the day.  As I was practicing turns behind my instructor, a little girl in a bright pink coat whizzed right past me.  So cool to see my daughter burning down the hill with no fear.

Getting ready to go out for lessons.

 Posing as she comes down the run.

Unplugged

I have been so busy I haven't had much time to blog or even be online.  Here are just a few of the things that have kept me busy.

Painting Christmas Decorations

 Bringing in the New Year!

 New Years Day Snow Shoeing in 9 degree weather!

 Ladies Day Cross Country Skiing at Sundance.

 Snow Shoeing, Snow Shoeing and Snow Shoeing.

 Ooops with some sledding thrown in too.

 And a little bit of cross country skiing thrown into the mix.

It has been a fun busy time.  So no promises that I will keep current on the blogging, but I will sure try.

Ride after ride after ride

I twisted my knee Wednesday as I was heading onto the trail to ride my bike.  It was kind of a silly thing.  I was riding to go on the trail and did not pay attention to the smashed pumpkin in the road--I probably should have.  Apparently I road over a tiny bit of it, and before I knew it I was on the hard cement.  Somehow while going down I twisted my knee.  I sat there, about 5 feet from my car, for a good 5 minutes not sure if I would be able to ride or not.  It actually hurt pretty bad.  Finally the pain subsided enough for me to stand up, so I decided to try and ride.  Much to my good luck it did not hurt to ride, so I rode.  However later that night I could hardly get up the stairs. 

The next day it was still hurting, but I really wanted to ride.  Can you blame me, the weather has been amazing.  Not wanting to put too much stress on my knee I went for a very flat and level road ride--at least as flat as you can get considering we live near mountains.  Knee seemed okay, but it was definitely irratated.
I decided to take pictures while I rode on my bike without stopping, but I did take one stopped.  Can you guess which one it is?

 

The next day I woke up and my knee was still bothering me.  I was having kind of a down in the dumps day.  Basically I was feeling sorry for myself.  I felt bad about not having a job and not having any responses yet to my apps.  I was discouraged with the knee hurting, because now I am finally getting better and low and behold one more thing.  Basically it was one of those days.  So my plans, despite the weather, was to take a couple of keyboarding tests, and sit around with ice on my knee all day long.  Oh I should mention it is not the top of the knee that is hurt, but underneath.  Which I know is technically not your knee, but it serves as my knee for me.  Anyway while I was sitting preparing my application and getting ready to go take a test, when I get a phone call from Heather.  She wants to know if I want to go for a mountain bike ride this afternoon.  I wanted to say no, because that was how miserable I was feeling, but I didn't, I said yes.  Boy am I glad I did. 

Heather and I met up about 1 pm and headed to Corner Canyon.  I don't think you could have asked for a more beautiful day to ride.  The temperature was nice and trail conditions were perfect.  We did have a few mishapes on the way.  One of the gals we were going to meet got in a car accident and couldn't make it.  I feel so bad for her, what an awful thing to happen on your way to having fun--actually what an awful thing to happen.  We met Gayle on Clarks and it turns out she was having brake problems and her back wheel wouldn't turn.  She ended up having to bail and not getting to ride.  With all of those things that happened we still had a great ride, and  b the time we finished I felt a bazillion times better.  I am so glad I have friends that like to ride otherwise I would have sat moping all day long.

Saturday the plan was for Sally and me to ride AF Canyon.  We met in the morning and headed up the canyon.  Since the gate is closed we decided to ride up the road to get on the trail.  About the time we came to the road at Timpanoke campground we noticed snow!  We became a little concerned about how the conditions of the trial were going to be, but decided to continue up the road to see.  Once we got to the trail it looked pretty muddy.  Knowing how the rest of the trail takes up the water we decided to turn around and ride corner canyon. 

Sally took me to Hogs Hollow to start the ride.  I have always wanted to ride there, but did not know where it was or the way to go.  Thanks Sally so much for showing me.  I loved the ride up and I loved the ride back.  We had a great time riding and since Sally knows those trails so well, I learned some new ways the trails connect up--way cool.  I had such a great time riding that I forgot to take pictures both days.  So you'll just have to believe me about how great it was.

Halloween

Halloween was a lot of fun, and we got to dress up 2 days in a row--Friday and Saturday.  I know on the calendar Halloween was on Sunday, but we went trick or treating on Saturday.  I have lived outside of the state of Utah and did the same thing there when Halloween  was on Sunday, it just works out that way.
Mandy is Frankie from Monster High--can you guess which one that is?

Royce is a witch doctor and me just a witch.

We had a great time.  I love going out all dressed up.

Yes, It's True, I am a City Girl

This may or may not be a surprise, but I am a city girl. If it wasn’t for mountain biking I would still be in my sheltered city girl life. But thanks to mountain biking there are many things I have learned to do.


I have learned to set up a tent. My first and only tent set up was last year at 24 hours of Moab. I had never set a tent up before, but with the help of team mates I learned and set one up. Can I do it again? I think so, but have not had the chance to find out, and if I am lucky will not have to.

I can use an outhouse. Now this is not my bathroom set up of choice, but before mountain biking I would just hold it until I found a bathroom. Now I can go in an outhouse. Oh, and I have learned to keep a roll of toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the car thanks to those outhouse visits! Mountain biking has still not gotten me comfortable with going to the bathroom in the woods. I have to be to the point of floating before dropping the drawers in the woods! There is something so wrong about your butt hanging out in the air for all of nature to see. It definitely can give you stage fright and make it impossible to go.

I spit. Yes, that’s right, I spit. I spit during my ride, I spit after my ride. And as horrible and disgusting as it may seem, if I don’t I am going to end up choking on my own mucous…yuck!

On of the newest things I have learned to do, is probably the most disgusting thing I have observed. When I first started riding I watched as people would lean over their bike and blow snot right out their nose. In one word….gross! I didn’t understand how they could do this, it was gross for one thing and for the other how do you get enough mucous built up in your nose to be able to blow without it getting on you?!? So for two and a half years I watched as others took on this feat. Then it happened. I broke my nose, had nose surgery and I am out riding and all of the sudden I have a nose filled with mucous and no where for it to go. What should I do??? Well, I did the unthinkable, I leaned over to the right plugged the left nostril and blew! Out it came…icky. However, I no longer had a stuffed up nose. Since that time I have learned the fine art of launching snot rockets while riding a bike. It still seems gross, but it is better than having snot run down my face.

So yes, mountain biking has added a little bit of variety to this city girl. It hasn’t taken the city out of me, but it has definitely broadened my horizons.