Today was a running day. I was going to run on the grass but was running late for work, so I had to run on the roads. I did this with apprehension, but I hadn't run in two days, so I thought it would be okay. I ran in East Norman which is quite hilly. I ran for 1:20 and kept most of my miles around a comfortable 7:10/mile pace. During the last 3 miles I clipped off 6:40's which was quite pleasing to me. I couldn't help but run with a smile as they seemed to be quite effortless except that when I tried to push harder my Achilles would get "that" feeling almost like the feeling your leg gets when it's about to cramp. It's frustrating, but I'm just going with it. I can't complain about the progress I've made over the past year. It's taken a lot of patience and determination for sure. Resilience too. I'm trying not to set lofty goals, but this is where it gets hard. This where it's hard for me not to put my bike away and run everyday, but realistically I know this is not possible. I must keep the status quo because that is what's working for me. I must not push too hard, or I risk losing everything I've gained. There's that line that I want to run on, but that I don't want to fall off of... Redlands is going on this weekend. I kinda wish I was there. I did well in the criterium last year, and my good friend, Anne Samplonius, is sitting in 10th right now after the 5K prologue, so I know I'd be right in the hunt judging by how she finished to me in a TT last month. I wish her the best! On Monday I'll have worked 10 days in a row to total 60 hours. I've worked 40 hours this week right now, and then I have to work Sat. and Sun. for 6 hours a piece and then another 8 hours on Monday. Whew! Oh yeah, plus I'm training a bit here and there! P.S. I'm keeping my blogs at www.myspace.com/ratandrea Sometimes I forget to repost them here. Sorry.

Comin' round... Current mood: crazy I forgot to mention in yesterday's blog that the guy driving the lead car for the Open Women's race in Texas came up to me after the race and said that I made for an exciting race. He said that he really enjoyed it, but he was bummed out that the woman who did no work won the race. I told him that's what sprinters do, and we tried to get rid of her a couple of times, but she fought hard to stay in, and she deserved the win. I should have been stronger so that I could have held her off, so I consider it my "fault" that I didn't win. I don't look at it that some chick sat on my wheel and did no work; that happens a lot, and people are gonna race they want to race. In my mind, it's up to me to alter the race so that it's in my favor, but when I'm not strong enough to or when I make a strategic mistake then it's MY bad. I don't blame other people for my not winning UNLESS, of course, they crash me out or something. Still, though, that's part of bike racing, and it happens. You have to be willing to accept ALL of that stuff when you enter a race. I was running late for work today, so my hair is freakin' CRAZY. I mean I'm not one to spend time on my primpin', so it's really nothing new except that I used WAY too much gel, and my hair is spiked and stickin' out everywhere. I think I may have started a new trend just 'cause I got it like that. Heh, heh. The doctors and my co-workers love it, and my patients love it, so it's all good.

Went to Austin, TX. this past weekend. Lovely city. Well, it USED to be. Back when I was a kid, my momma used to take my sister and I to Zilker Park. Austin was just considered more of a "town" back then. Now, it's a full on city with big ole expressways and an international airport. Heck, Oklahoma City's airport isn't even international! Austin IS a beautiful place, but the traffic sucks, and there are just way too many people; you really can't find peace anywhere. I took a gander on the Mopac Trails where I ran a bit for a few days prior to my Motorola Austin Marathon debut back in 1995, and those trails are special to me I guess because I won that race AND set the course record (It was like 2:40 and some change). It was my first and only marathon win. When I ran my 2:34:20 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN. a few months later I placed 2nd by a mere 9 seconds. NINE seconds over 26.2 mi. Ouch. I HATED seeing that Russian finish ahead of me... I had chased her for so long but came up short. ANYway, the bike races this past weekend were on Sat. and Sun. and were about 40 miles a piece. They were kinda hilly, and there was quite a wind blowin' on Sunday. The temps. and humidity were in the where's-the-nearest-pool range. My legs were extremely fatigued after coming off a hard week leading up to my duathlon in early April. I'm doing what they call "crash" weeks right now where I'm doing some really intense training on back to back days. Plus, I'm running harder and longer each week albeit still only every other day. This on its own is tough for my legs because although they get a rest day every other day, then never really get used to the pounding, so it really takes alot out of me each time I run. So, I confided in my teammates about my dead legs because I honestly didn't know how I would be able to perform. I didn't feel good, and I was honest about that. Helene noticed that I was having trouble, but I tried to conceal it. I was already a marked woman, and I didn't need people knowing that I was feeling poopy. I managed to hang in there and get 2nd after attacking hard about 400m. from the finish. I just wasn't strong enough to hold off my chaser, though, and the finish was a little power hill which I didn't do very well on. The second day I was in a break of four, and again I felt like I had a huge target on my back. I'm getting used to that, though, so it doesn't really bother me anymore. It's a huge sign of respect, and I'm flattered by it, but it also makes it especially challenging for me to try to do anything during a race, and right now I don't have the punch that I need to get away quickly and sustain it long enough to blow everyone apart because they all work together to keep me in check. Very smart of them, I guess. Anyway, though, I lead the group out from about 300m. out, and one girl came around me at the end. She's a very good sprinter, but I still wish I could have been strong enough to hold her off and to punch it up that finishing power hill. Well, so I've been the darn bride's maid for 3 races now. I wanna be the bride, dammit! LOL!! My teammates both rode very well, and I want to congratulate them on their learning process. They are coming along... I love their desire, their passion, and their determination. THAT'S why I enjoy racing with them. It was nice seeing some people I used to race with on the pro circuit, and I encouraged the women I raced with. I hope to see them high up there in the results I read. I won't race bikes again until after Powerman Alabama. Cheers, Andrea "RAT"

LOL---some of you made comments regarding the moment shared with a woman in Australia when I was riding intervals on Mt. Cootha. I thank you for your comments. If I would have REALLY wanted to speak with this woman I would have. I believe that some moments are meant to be shared in silence. Some are meant to be shared simply in passing. The sight of this woman filled me with joy, and I was very happy with that. I didn't need to stop her, and I didn't need to stop what I was doing; although, if you recall I nearly fell off my bike once because she smelled lovely, and I lost focus momentarily (this part of the mountain was steep, and I was doing low cadence stuff). Really, though, I don't wonder what would have happened if I would have spoken to her. I am quite happy with the memory I have of her and of the days I saw her. I was in surgery today doing a back. The surgeons entered anteriorily, so there was lots of belly fat to go through. One of the surgeons does bariatric surgery, and the other one is a neurosurgeon; both are friends of mine. Anyway, they kind of laughed and said that "this" (referring to the fat) was something that I would never see. You never know, though. I run into LOTS of overweight people who tell me that they used to look like me...

The strawberry is gone from my ass. Remember how I told ya'll this dame took crashed me out that weekend in Phoenix. One strawberry is gone, but then I got these HUGE (like the size of the palm of my hand) chocolate covered strawberries delivered to me on my birthday last Saturday from a beautiful gal who lives in L.A. Last year around this time she sent me 15 tulips after I returned home from Redlands, CA. where she saw me race. She saw me in my race tent afterwards but was too shy to speak with me. Anyway, we've kept in touch via email. I think she's just lovely. I also got some other really cool gifts from some really wonderful people. Thank you all. It's weird saying "I'm 40." My body feels that way sometimes! I've been hard on it. I'm running every other day, and my Achilles is tolerating it. Today it's really sore, so I'm not going to get too excited. I'm enjoying the times that I run, though, so I'm happy about that. I have a big duathlon on April 9th that I'd like to do. It's Powerman Alabama. I'm the defending champion, and it's the only World Qualifier for pros. Yesterday it was 92 degrees here in Oklahoma City. Bizarre. Today it's 30 degrees cooler. Tis the season for crazy weather here. I know my blogs are boring right now. I just haven't felt too creative lately. I'm not getting out enough to see funny things.