Antarctica Current mood: chipper Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, it's cold here!! I guess there was a major ice storm that hit OKC this past weekend. Actually, I knew that because I kept up with it via The Weather Channel while I was sunning my bum in Phoenix. Speaking of my bum, it's pretty much all better. There's a strawberry still on it but not too bad. I'm a little sore in my shoulders and ribs kinda like going into the gym after a 6 month layoff. I haven't ridden my bike or ran since Sunday, so I'm getting antsy to do that. The hospital called me in today, and I have to work a long shift there tomorrow, so training now is a bit tough. I'll squeeze it in, though. This past weekend is kind of gone now as I shift my focus to Powerman Alabama on April 9th. I will concentrate more on my running now if my Achilles allows for it. Cycling will have to take a back seat. Sorry you bike lovers. It's just the way it is with me. I want to start swimming too. I'm gonna do that soon. It's so hard for me to jump in a pool of water at 6am when it's so cold outside. The water ain't THAT warm! Well, I guess that's all for now. If any of you are around, come to my party on 2-25. It's sure to be a blast as all of my parties are. They are few and far between (the last one was Mardi Gras 2005), but they are the star on life's Christmas tree!

VAlley of the Sun Criterium Current mood: accomplished Okay okay, I DID finally find where the race bible indicated that there was a time bonus at the end of the road race. There was also one at the end of today's criterium. My teammate, Helene, actually found where it said that in the race bible, so my bad. Either way it didn't matter because of bad luck before the finish yesterday and today. Erin Mirabella had 2 seconds on me today, and Anne Samplonius was 22 seconds behind me. There were time bonuses at the finish. I HAD to win the race to win the jersey back, and Erin had to get 3rd or not place in the top 3. My only hope was catching her off guard which would be hard to do since I knew she would be marking me like a Sharpie! Every time I turned around I saw Erin, but still I tried to get away several times. The course was technical in that the roads were rough. In one corner there were actually those little turtle bump thingys. There was also a chicane, and it was windy again. There were some attacks, and most people I let go unless Erin or Anne were in the breaks. The race was SUPPOSE to be 40 minutes long, but I don't think it was because all of a sudden I heard "4 laps to go." I had just drifted back a few spots and was next to Jen of Bicycle John's (Erin's teammate), Erin, and Anne when all of a sudden I hear this girl zipping to my inside trying to ride in the curb. Well guess what? She didn't take a good line, and she ended up crashing me. I hit hard on my right buttcheek and also hurt my right humerus and wrist. I jumped up quickly while yelling, "I can't believe you just did this to me!" I mean you don't try something THAT risky around the top GC riders when there are no more free laps. In criteriums there are no more free laps after 5 laps to go, so no matter what happens to you, you just have to ride it in. If the crash would have occured with 6 laps to go, then I would have been able to go to the pit and get put back in the race when the pack came back around. As it was I had to time trial for 4 laps just dangling off the pack all the while watching my 2nd place and a chance for the win ride away from me. It was SO frustrating for me. I had to keep riding hard to stay within 22 seconds of the pack. I finished behind the pack, but I didn't know how far back. I ended up holding on to my 2nd place, but it was only by about 1 or 2 seconds. Whew! I was more disappointed with not having the opportunity to go for the win because that's what I planned on doing. I was going to work some magic and try to take it all, but I didn't get the chance to. It is really hard to swallow knowing that I only lost the whole stage race by 2 seconds because I think back to all of the times I stopped pedaling during the time trial to shift positions on my bike. I think back to anywhere possible I could have gained 3 seconds, and there are lots of places. I should have ridden faster... I won the jersey, and I lost it. That's a tough one. I felt bad for my teammates because they were really excited to be in the leader's jersey, you know? Although they remained very positive the whole time, I felt like I disappointed them a little bit. I wanted the jersey as much for them as I did for myself and for the people in my club back home. BUT, I'm not banged up too badly. My pelvis is jacked up, though, because I tried to run and couldn't. I'm hoping that will get better quickly. AND I DID win the jersey one day, so that was cool. My teammates also rode very very well; they are coming along nicely, and I'm so proud of them. They overcame some personal hurdles which is wonderful. Helene stayed in the crit. and helped block the wind for me in the road race. She rode beautifully both days. Angie never gave up in the road race and finished just off the first pack. She was riding a great crit. unitil she flatted with only 3 laps to go. She went for all of the primes which showed her aggressiveness. I'm happy for them both. It was fun seeing old teammates and other riders. Everyone was sweet to me, and lots of women asked if I was Andrea and introduced themselves to me. That's interesting... I'm taking it as complimentary. Thanks for your encouragement.

Valley of the Sun RR Current mood: hopeful Well, I'm not in the Leader's jersey anymore. Evidently there were time bonuses at the finish which were not mentioned anywhere in the race bible. The only time bonus mentioned was a QOM which wasn't really a QOM since it was downhill, but regardless it would be nice if ALL time bonuses were mentioned in the race bible so that you could plan out a strategy. It's my fault that I lost the jersey because I lead my two toughtest rivals right to the line, and they came around me there scoring valuable time. If I would have one that one time bonus I would still be in the lead. I jumped too early into a headwind; I should have waited a few seconds longer, and I could have powered my way ahead in first place for that QOM. I misjudged my power, and that's all on me. I didn't find it difficult staying out in front all day, and I spent some time behind my teammate, Helene, for a bit when she would block the wind for me. But I'm sure it zapped my legs a little, and I didn't realize it until I had to use them! I felt it wiser to remain safe because there were lots of crashes (one girl had to be helicoptered out), and I haven't raced with people since last year at Redlands. I don't know how people are riding. The criterium is today, and I'll do whatever I can to get the jersey back. I'm hoping there are more "mystery" time bonuses that aren't mentioned anywhere in the race bible. Criteriums are tough in that many people can ride them, but they are dangerous in that many people's physical capabilities outdo their bike handling capabilities. This criterium is also clockwise which is unusual. I'll probably have to go anaerobic today which will be an unpleasant experience---LOL!! The teams and individuals close to me today will hit me hard as they know I'm exposed. But, if I were them, I would do the same thing. I'm just gonna have to fight all day and stay upright too. This will be my first real criterium since Redlands of last year. After the race I'm going for a run. It will be nice and relaxing. The only way I can go down is if I trip...

Valley of the Sun (bike race) Current mood: amused It's cooler here in Phoenix than I thought it was going to be. It's also very dry which burns the faaaahhhhr outta my lungs when I ride hard! Today was the time trial. It was cloudy and cool. It was fun getting on the ole time trial bike again. I've missed her. I think of my beautiful friend, John Cobb, every time I ride her. John Cobb is a master of design and aerodynamics, and he did a one-of-a-kind paint job to my Javelin bike. It's insane! John gives me a lot of strength because I trust him implicitly. He fitted me with SystemOne. More information on that can be found at www.bicyclesports.com. My TT bike has been hanging in my garage since last June. My mechanic, Carl Irwin of BikeOne in Norman, OK., put her together for me right before this race. I glued on tires a couple of days before the race and put on a cassette on to my disc wheel. Then I called my buddy Aaron and picked up his front wheel (which is a tri spoke) the night before I left for Phoenix. Nothing like waiting for the last minute on things! LOL! Live life by the seat of my britches I say! I didn't get on my time trial bike until the day before the race, and I rode it for an hour and a half making the necessary adjustments here and there. I've changed my seat position over the last year due to a nagging hamstring injury which is probably due to my nagging Achilles injury! ANYway, I rode around for about 20 minutes before the race and then hopped on the trainer for another 10 minutes. I felt pretty good except that my legs were a little tight in some areas due to being on my time trial bike. It has a different setup than my road bike. I chatted with some gals I know right before the start, climbed on to the ramp, chatted some more with the official who was counting down the seconds until I started. All of a sudden I heard, "3--2--1." Off I went! I passed some people and kept chasing my minute girl who's name is Gabby for short. She's a very strong rider, and I knew we'd be in our own little race. She saw me at the turn around and new that I was closing in on her. She put the hammer down. I put the hammer down. She gained ground. She lost ground. When it was all said an done I came out ahead and ended up winning the whole time trial. Yep, you heard me. I'm shocked. I know there are lots of people who are in better shape than I am right now. Of course I'm probably in better shape than some people as well. I just didn't expect to win. I didn't think I'd get last, but I didn't think... Well, gosh darn I'm happy about this!! I went for a run after the time trial and found out about my win later on. There are two more days to go with the road race tomorrow and the criterium on Sunday. I'm very relaxed about races these days as I stated in my previous blog. I'm just goin' with the flow and makin' waves... Cheers! Andrea