Long Awaited Update from California

Hi from sunny Monterey, California! I am here with my Ford-Basis teamates, hanging out at our host house in Camel Valley. We're staying in a beautiful house on a small farm... with donkeys (yes, donkeys!) and cats and dogs... complete with a mini bike shop shed (our mechanics are in heaven).

So I haven't really written an update since umm... yeah, my first race in California which was San Dimas. I'll keep this short and sweet.

San Dimas was unusually wet and cold... much like the weather in North Carolina this past winter. I froze on the time trial, and then in the road race my teammate, Chrissy, got a flat and I stopped to pace her back on. I ended up completely wasting myself, sacrificing my race in the process, to get her back in the group. I didn't finish the race. It's the first time that I didn't finish a race. I was upset and disappointed... but I put on a smile and played a big support role the day of the crit. I had fun helping the team even though I wasn't in the race.

Redlands was also difficult. This is one of the hardest stage races of the year, and coming into this race not in the best physical race shape is NOT fun. I felt more prepared for this race than San Dimas since I had a week to train with my 'mates in Redlands in between the races. However, luck didn't shine on me for this race. I faced horrible cramping (it being the first hot weather I faced this year) and two crashes two days in a row. I managed to finish, but it was definitely rough around the edges.

I'm happy to say that I came out the other end of my first two California races more fit and closer to my teammates. I'm so excited to be with this team... as Chrissy would say "I can't even tell you." ;o)

I loved being at home the short time I was (a week). I spent the evenings with my husband walking our dog to the park, training my butt off, and hanging out with my friend Gina in the North Carolina mountains for a short while.

Now I'm in California again. This time the northern part. Unfortunately I have come down with strep throat... BUT fortunately we have an AWESOME team doctor who called in some antibiotics for me and I started them this morning (the day of the time trial). I'm hoping they'll kick in and I'll feel better, but for now I am going to be realistic about the race (in that it probably won't be my best race, but I can give all I have to the team).

I gotta run now because it's dinner time! Our amazing hosts cooked us dinner... :o) Miss everyone and I promise I'll write more again soon. :o)