Long Time

So it's been awhile, and it probably will be a little while again before I post. This past weekend I got my longest ride ever in- 82 miles! I was happy staying in the back, sucking wheels behind Jordan and John, and they were kind enough to go a bit slower so I could keep up. My BIG news though is that last night I got a super nice new (used) Felt bike.... thanks to Jordan! Jordan helped me get it all set up, which is super nice of him. I am looking forward to a quick ride tonight and tomorrow a.m. before we leave for the Brookings Art's Festival, which is the best weekend to visit my hometown. Madison is riding up with us in the car which should be a slobbery mess, but incredibly enjoyable nonetheless. Also, in two weeks we head to Toronto Canada for my yearly conference. It should be tons of fun! Happy riding to all of you!

Tuff Chicks and Other Stuff

Thanks to Sydney for including me in the yahoogroup for the local "tuff chicks on bikes." I totally dig the conversations and when work slows down, I will have to contribute more.

So I've been a bad blogger lately... I was in Colorado 15-19 and needless to say I was crazy busy at work when I got back. This weekend was good for the soul, I road twice in the early a.m to beat the heat. We rode to Dorchester on Sunday and that was a lot of fun. We are heading for Chicago this Thursday evening through Sunday for my first Bat Mitzvah. I am really looking forward to it! I hope to get a ride in tomorrow night. I'd love to get out this evening, but my spinning classes beckon me inside. Well hope everyone is riding well and with their lid!

Monster Norfolk Races

1st in TT.
2nd in Road Race.
3rd in Crit.
1st in overall points.

Not to bad, more work to come... Now I just need to get at least one ride in before we are off to Colorado.

72 is COOL

72 Miles to Seward and back to Lincoln. WOW! This past Sunday I shattered my previous 47 miles and I didn't even know I had 72 miles in me. Luckily, Jordan kept telling me Seward was just up that hill, or the next hill, or the maybe in about the next six miles. We started out with the group and then I lost them on the big hill about six miles out on 34 and then we rejoined the group in Seward, and while I am sure they were going slow on the way back and I was getting a little help up those hills from Jordan. I was able to stick with the group all the way back to Lincoln. 72 miles! I am looking forward to Norfolk!

3rd In Road Race Beatrice Monumental Memorial Day Event

Well, they always say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I am hopefully stronger after the races this weekend in Odell and Beatrice. I was happy with my road race, even though I left the pack after the third turn (they speed up around those stinkin' corners, who knew, yeah, yeah, yeah...). I was happy with my 3rd place finish and I was close to two minutes ahead of the fourth place finisher. My time trial and first crit were not my best. The time trial went really well until I had my turn around and came unclipped and lost about 30 seconds. In the Crit the pack was already up the hill before I was in my clip. I know I need to work on corners, hills, and reving up my engine for some more explosive power. Hey, I road most of this weekend alone, so I've got to become a better time trialist, right??!

Busy Week/Rides

Well I've slacked this week with my blog. I was gone from work on Monday, so Tuesday and Wednesday I had to catch-up and prepare for this HUGE case we had here on Thursday and I am now finished with another hearing. I got a small 20 mile ride in on Wednesday in the rain. Brakes, tires, and water are a decidely new experience. I can say though even though I thought I was going to die (going sideways and all) I somehow managed to stay on my bike. Phew! I got a ride into Cortland yesterday evening and it was beautiful out. I am racing in Beatrice this weekend and I am going to enjoy my three day weekend, woo hoo!

Cute Otters

Yeah, I admit... I'm a sucker for cute otter videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

Sprague and Wine Club

I had a nice hour ride last night with an hour run over noon and today a 40 minute run over noon. I've decided to try and work on improving my endurance for the races next weekend. Running is a chore but it is lovely to be outside over the noon hour. Tonight is women's wine club, hopefully I won't imbibe in TOO much fun. Say, if any of you ladies out there that are interested for the upcoming wine club (in Julyish), let me know. Kevin Meier is coming tonight, so this might be one of those wine clubs where I actually learn something about wine. Funny how that works.

Team FIRE was HOT

I had a great ride with Team FIRE last night. Thanks to Conrad for the picture. I totally dig people that do things for the enjoyment of them. We went down Hwy 2 towards Bennett and then through Roca on the "roca rollers." Now I've just gotta work on those hills, hmm. Props out to Team FIRE for a great attitude. Loved it.

To Crete and back

Wow. Riding a bike is so rewarding. I rode to Crete with a friend from spinning class and we met up with Jordan and Ron for the ride back through Denton. I did 47 miles and I even broke 39 miles an hour downhill. I am feeling like my legs are finally starting to get some power and my upstroke seems way more solid. I am so excited to race again soon, to see how much I've improved. Beatrice perhaps???

Another great ride

Went to Bluestem and back last night with Jordan and a group of eight others I'd never met before, so another 37 miles on the bike. It actually turns out that a guy name Jase on our ride came to one of my spinning classes over at Prairie Life for a long time, but I totally didn't recognize him with the helmet and glasses and road bike. Small world, eh?

I wonder when I become a roadie exactly :) I'm planning on getting another ride in on Sat on Sun.

To Cortland and Back

Well, I almost killed myself (bonked when I got home), but I road to Cortland and back all by my lonesome last night. Cortland is about 35 miles from home and back again, and the evening was phenomenal, with only about a 7 mile an hour wind and a gorgeous 70 degree temp. I road it in a little over an hour and 45 minutes. I am so excited, I can't wait to try a longer ride soon, Saturday or Sunday perhaps?? Tonight, I'm out with the tuff chicks on bikes group at 5:30 from Hwy 2. I should have gotten up for the early morning ride this morning, but the bed was so comfy!

Law Firm Ads

I always knew my profession was sleazy, but this certainly takes the cake.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/09/divorce.billboard.ap/index.html

The billboard reminds me of a trimspa ad. Can you imagine the outrage in conservative Nebraska. Maybe, I should lease a billboard for some great laughs...

The myth about lactic acid

Coaches and personal trainers tell athletes and exercisers that they have to
learn to work out at just below their "lactic threshold," that point of
diminishing returns when lactic acid starts to accumulate. But that, it turns
out, is all wrong. Lactic acid is actually a fuel, not a caustic waste product.
Muscles make it deliberately, producing it from glucose, and they burn it to
obtain energy. The reason trained athletes can perform so hard and so long is
because their intense training causes their muscles to adapt so they more
readily and efficiently absorb lactic acid.

I read this article about a year ago and everytime I go to the gym, I hear how evil lactic acid is... Geez people: lesson numero uno, you must read the ny times!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/health/nutrition/16run.html?ex=1178769600&en=1de60252983bbf6e&ei=5070

Blogging my new beginnings

Well, I guess here it goes... I'm making inroads into becoming a blogger. I've always been a writer at heart and I hope this allows me to express that outlet. As far as interests go, I love St. Bernards, teaching spinning class, my new foray into outside road biking, good microbrewed beer (not that watered down cheap stuff-yuck), reading, learning everything out there about nearly everything, and having great friends to share in life experiences. Now, I just need a readership.... hmmm how do I do that?!?
P.S. These are my doggies, Madison is 4 (she's the one on the bed above) and Trummee (he's in the tub), God rest is soul left the world for doggie heaven, April 7,2007. I truly miss him.