STAGE 3: Race to Tombstone

Tired legs, full heart...I set out today to finish this race (this third day of racing). The field entered the mule pass tunnel with a 6% grade for 1/2 mile just after neutral - and 10 of us dropped off the back (self included). The balance of the race there were five of us who worked together to stay about 1/4 mile behind the lead pack...working harder, longer than the leaders. Wow, I was wiped by the time we reached the base of the 3,000 foot climb with 8 miles to go to the finish at the top of Mule pass. It had warmed to 87 degrees, yet feeling warmer in full sun. I made it. This is the first time I've ever seen my name on the web site left for professional cycling results (cyclingnews.com). You can see the report here. So, for my first stage race ever AND having a horrible week, exhausted before getting on a bike for the prologue...I'm ecstatic! I look forward to a start of a great season!

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STAGE 2: Warren TT

Can you say ROCKET. Wow, I felt like a rocket on my Cervelo P3 carbon. WOW! I was the third one out of the shoot (given my GC standing with all these pro riders) and I felt like Dave Z in the tour last year. This was an 8 mile TT with a horrid side wind...and although I don't have a full disc wheel for the back, I felt that wind try to break my rhythm. At the turn around I could see that I had gained time on the two ahead of me and I had put good space between those gals following the ROCKET. What fun!

I just took a shower and am going to mellow out the rest of the day (its now 5:35pm) and mentally prepare myself for the conclusion of the race tomorrow (65 mile road race with nasty climbing).

STAGE 1: Sulpher Springs Road Race

Today was the first stage of a four staged race in Bisbee over three days. I've posted my journal entry after today's stage.

WHOAH! Today was a complete rush of energy. WOW!

Waking at 5am (well I went to bed at 6pm) we started the neutral rollout at 7:30am. The race was 45 miles of pure anxiety, jet fuel and jockeying for position. Tmobile seemed to control the race as a breakaway pack took off about 10 miles into the race with a Tmobile rider. Most of the women weren't really key on working that hard this early in the race and with a Tmobile rider blocking the pace line we just peddled softly (being in front was especially hard with the head wind and no body was wanting to work...too much energy expended before that 7 mile climb back into Bisbee for the finish). I hung onto the Peleton and it accelerated, decelerated, accelerated...unnecessarily exhausting me (I'm a rookie so I've got to learn how to moderate myself - as I wanted to take off with the breakaway - but I don't have the leg yet this season to battle with pro riders).

Because this race has Cat 1-4 riders (including the national pros) I did a little web search on who were the top 4 riders from the Prologue. Mind you...one was a five (5) time national champion in women's road racing, another was 2nd in the WORLD in time trialing...yadda, yadda...get the picture. My goal today was to hang onto the Peleton (and these phenomenal women) at least through 30 miles and to the climb. AND I DID IT! It was so crazy, so hard, but I DID IT!!!! I fell off the pack just about 5 miles to go on the big climb into Bisbee as my legs couldn't answer another MASSIVE acceleration. HOWEVER, there were several, okay quite a few that had fallen off well before the feed zone (where my team car was no where to be found for my bottles, food, etc....so I just carried a little more weight on my bike - which could be why I fell off the pack on the climb).

Today was a great morning and such a victory for me at this juncture in my life. I feel really good, WOW! (can you tell I'm still under the influence of endorphines?).

Okay...I have the second stage today at 3pm. ItÂ’s a 8 mile time trial (me against the clock). This will largely be practice for me with my new bike...and I hope to move up a few places in the GC (that is the General Classification or my place overall for those of you loyal blog readers and unfamiliar with bike racing).

Oh...one other funny fact...which never happened to me before in a bike race, according to the race bible, the GC leader can call a potty break (neutral zone) in the race (men's races - the guys just wiz off their bikes). You should have seen this event...OMG!!! Imagine this...a wide open road (a few tumble weeds here an there) and about 15 women dropping their bikes, then their pants in front of GOD and everyone (no running behind a bush - none existed). At this exact moment an old couple had pulled aside the road (given our police pace car causes everyone to pull over). The old couple's mouths were wide open and their eyes bugged out. I think I looked the same in my own amazement. Funny what racing does to your common sense...when its all about winning. Come to think of it...I was carrying a few extra ounces of liguid in my bladder too given I didn't drop my pants.

Vuelta - Prologue

The Prologue. It was a 3 mile race...straight up hill (climbing 800 feet - 5% grade). I was the third to start in the gate (in downtown Bisbee). My heart rate shot up and broke the mercury as my excitement got the better of me. It hurt. I got passed by three other riders who started 30 seconds behind me. It hurt bad. I got track hack with my throat so dry from breathing so hard I could taste blood When it was all done. After it was all over in 17 minutes (best time was 12 minutes today)...I realized the women that passed me were all professional riders (like they have NO day job...riding a bike is it). Now I didn't feel so bad except for the pain of going 17 minutes at 175 heart rate (gotta get the body use to feeling lactic acid). Oh..and I wasn't last in the field.

I came back to my spacious room in Bisbee (around 5:30pm) at a sweet potato, egg, some other random items and went to bed at 6pm. Wow...I slept good.

Lark we went there...

Yesterday I landed back in Seattle...took a bike ride, ate at whole foods, then had dinner with some stellar people (susan and her husband marco) at this restaurant Lark on capital hill - check it out here. I must say that susan and marco are amazing urbanists...raising two phenomenal kids in dowtown Seattle. Both are fullbright scholars and amazing people to share dinner. Marco told me of the unique differences between urban and suburban kids. Here is the story...
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Dominica (their daughter) who is 4 years old, was playing house with her cousin Beth (who lives in the burbs at the ripe ol age of 5). Beth insisted she be mommy. Dominica then said she will be mommy too. Beth said, there can't be two mommys! Dominica said...what are you talking about? You can have two mommys!
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Closer to Fine

I was flying from Seattle to New York city yesterday. With my IPOD's ear buds firmly plugged into my ears, full of emotion and cuddling into the edge of my seat...I pulled the shade and heard the words of Indigo Girls. Good lyrics indeed...and they pulled me up and brought me beyond the "being" of so much closer to (and really beyond) fine. The lyrics:

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I’m trying to tell you something about my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you’ve ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously
It’s only life after all
Yeah

Well darkness has a hunger that’s insatiable
And lightness has a call that’s hard to hear
I wrap my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
I’m crawling on your shores

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There’s more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

TST or Hell?

I did this bike race on Saturday called TST. I guess I could also call it hell. After spending nearly 20 days in 80-90 degree weather (glorious) in Tucson, AZ...I was up in Seattle and thought I'd join my team mates for a race called Tahuya Seaback Tahuya (TST to some, hell to me that day).

Let me paint the picture...
Non stop POURING rain for 3 hours, 39 degree weather, bone chilling wind, frozen hands, shivering body, lost faculties, bailout after 30 miles, looking for the short ride home, ending on a logging road (think deliverance), lots of prayers, shivering, lost, 2.5 hours now in the rain, 7 miles on muddy logging road, no human in sight for 2 hours, lots of prayers...prayers ANSWERED!

Unbelievable! I decided to go for the Vuelta de Bisbee in two weeks. Can you way warm? What I can say is that I should be able to feel my hands, my wrists and my elbows enough to shift and brake on my bike.

Very Funny Guys!

Our marketing department had a little too much fun with the Miami Sales team image. You can see the original here.

New Sibling Arivee

My family has just grown (again) as this sweet little beauty has just been added to my dear, dear friends occupying space in my house..., thus awaiting its chance to fly, fly, fly away...

Lance vs. Lisa

I just completed my complete fitness lab analysis with one of our best physiologist at Canyon Ranch. There is this swanky cool, high-tech, European equipment I strap, bike and all the data is recorded wirelessless (post environment calibrations) for all my detailed data. Here is how I compare with Lance (keep in mind that women have a bit of deviation from men - say 20ml in just VO2 or oxygen consumption because we have less muscle).

VO2Max
Lance = 60 (off season), 85 (during tour de france)
Lisa = 45 (off season)
Average Female = 28

Resting HR
Lance = 34
Lisa = 43
Average = 60

Max HR
Lance = 210 (est)
Lisa = 199 (est)
Average Female (at my age) = 182

Lung Capacity (max)
Lance = 4.5 liters
Lisa = 3.0 liters
Average Female = 2.5 liters

I will be tested again just prior to my big race on June 1st to see how much mitochondria I have built during the base period and if I can improve my numbers.