Coughs, Codeine, and Not-So-Soft Landings *SSUSA 2019 - Ch. 1*

We left Minneapolis last Monday night at 7:00pm as the radio reported on snow falling in southern MN and throughout Iowa.  Although the morning started with me at the office Dr's clinic with a cough that had kept both of us awake for the last few nights, we still loaded up the van with a bag full of codeine, Mucinex, cough drops, tissues and a crap load of positive thoughts.  Add to that three bikes, a bin full of snacks, riding gear for all weather, and one bitching ass Champions Belt...  Texas here we come!

  

We drove through the night on a mission set on breakfast and ridin' dirt with Coach and Mary in Bentonville, AR by 8:00am Tuesday.  Jay did almost ALL of the driving with his amazing night driving superpowers as I faded in and out of a codeine-fueled slumber.   [Nothing beats opioid warning labels to scare you back into #SoberOctober after Homie Fest, just sayin']

After a couple stops in the dimly lit outer rims of roadside gas stations to both sleep and burn some time as we stayed ahead of schedule, we found ourselves bellied up in a booth at the Village Inn in Bentonville, AR.  Coffee, eggs, and a strawberry crepe later we were off to meet Coach and Mary at the Southern Trailhead of the Coler Trails in town.

The sky was grey and the cool air was full of moisture after multiple rainy days preceded our arrival.  I should have taken heed when I saw this as we entered the trails...


Within a minute, I lost my front wheel as I exited a slick wooden bridge smattered with wet leaves that broke loose as I leaned in for the upcoming turn, crashing full speed and with all of my weight into the unforgiving surface of the stoney ground all on my left kneed camp.  It instantly sucked all of the air from my chest and I struggled to get out of my pedals with my bike on top of me.  I writhed in pain on the muddy trail as I made every effort to slow my breathing while dry-heaving over the creek below.



After a few minutes (Garmin says it was 7 min), Jay helped me up and I walked along the trail in an attempt to 'limp it off'.  I finished out the next 7.5 miles jostling between pure admiration of the nature surrounding us to the searing pain in my left knee every time I stomped down on a climb or riding a goofy-footed ready position.  The rocky trail was slow and slippery, but the pace and pausing a few times along the ride were quite peaceful and pretty.

{turn on audio!}

... the hauntingly beautiful song that emitted from the bridge was captivating for so many of my senses.  My knee ached and the cold cut straight to my core, but the sounds flooded me with a flood of peace.

Enchanted, I reluctantly left the bridge as the rain started back up and we loaded up the muddy steeds to find a tasty, warm lunch in the lil town square where the original five n dime still stood.  In a mild food coma, we left the cozy Italian restaurant, Tavola Trattoria, said "see ya later" to our friends and headed south again, Dallas-bound, as I searched Hotwire for a steal of a deal on a 4-star hotel on a quiet Tuesday night.

We pulled into town and found the Velvet Taco, a counter-service taco joint with an upscale twist on the street taco.  After dinner, we retreated to an amazing deal on a suite at the Wyndham where we snuggled on the couch for Game 6 of the World Series as I iced my knee.  Thank heavens for the king size bed to keep me from bumping my knee into Jay during the night!

We were back on the road by 9:00 am to finish the sub 4 hour drive to our final destination of Smithville, TX just outside of Austin.  We stopped in Carls Corner for gas and coffee where I wandered around the store gathering dorky souvenirs and Jay awkwardly waited for the Dunkin Donuts gals making the breakfast sandwiches to figure out how to make each one... she asked the cashier for step my step ingredients for each one she made (even if she was making a repeat of the previous order), as she lazily grazed from the ingredient bins, popping them in her mouth as if she were just making breakfast at home.  :oP

Bewildered, we grabbed our coffee and his breakfast and returned to the road.  We saw a longhorn steer somewhere outside of Waco but nothing I'd seen yet has made me think "they're right, everything IS bigger in Texas".  But then again, the adventure is just beginning....

Limpin' in TX,
Kristy Kreme

It's about which direction you look...

Last week put me through the ringer and left me feeling lost as I tried to embrace the weekend.  Stress at work twisted my brain into knots and I took every action I could to ward off another weekend of migraines, nausea and fatigue.  Then a ghost from Kristy's past surfaced before our Friday night ride, bringing back harsh memories of days when I let people walk all over me.  I shook the whispers that bounced between my ears by tearing it up on my new Specialized Crux CX bike with Jay, Peterson, and Zack down by Fort Snelling before we headed to dinner that evening.

Back at home with doggo at my feet and merlot in my paw, Jay and I settled in on the couch and tuned into a podcast I found that two of our friends put on to help promote, hype, and corral all the single speed miscreants for this year's edition of SSUSA.  The guest interviewed was 2012 W's Champ Kerry W. who made it quickly apparent through the fast termination of any discussion of my current responsibility over the Champion's Belt that dark waters ran deep within her in relation to me.  It was funny at first, but the vehemence behind her sharp words soon got to me and I turned it off 1/2 way through.  The same dark wave washed over me... I was warmed by the kind things my friends would say about me early in the podcast, but shocked at the way each statement was so violently shut down.

The murky waters lingered come morning as I tried to prepare for our local CX race.  I know I beat her for the belt in 2013 and have seen her at a few events since, but I had no idea what created such depth of hatred to fester.  Jay tried to talk me out of my sullen mood and, when he left to grab breakfast, I knew I had to change the direction I was letting my mind go and look for the better path.  I plugged in my headphones and turned on my race playlist... first up "How You Like Me Now?" by The Heavy.  I put on mascara (cuz I have blonde eye lashes and never leave home without it), packed my bags, and readied myself to push that new bike to every limit I could find.

It's odd and something I am grateful for every time it happens... but sometimes the universe reaches out and turns your head in the right direction... that's if you're willing to look there.

We got to The Loppet Trailhead for the open pre-ride, kitted up in my pink camo Podiumwear skin suit, pink helmet, pink shoes, and hot f'in pink Crux ready to see what we had in store. Jay and I tore through three super fast and fun laps to check out the course and I was confident that today was going to be a good day.  I laid my bike against a wall to collect my thoughts and plan for the next hour and a half before my race, standing on the back patio of the chalet.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye a young boy in blue (maybe 5 years old) slowly walking towards me who slowed as he neared, making eye contact with an inquisitive look on his face.  I squatted down to his eye level and asked how he was doing.  "I'm going to cheer for you today!  I want you to win because that's my sister's favorite color!".  I'd never met the boy, the family didn't have anyone in the race; they only came to check it all out.  His younger sister approached in an Elsa dress, holding a pink cycling water bottle that matched mine.  I thanked him for his kindness and grabbed my bike in which he responded "Your bike is pink, too?! You ARE going to win!".  I thanked him again and returned to my pre-race preparations.

At race time, I rolled back up to the Chalet to see my new favorite family leaving and I stopped to tell them how much my day was truly brightened thanks to meeting them.  The young boy came back to me and held out his small pinky.. "I pinky swear you are going to win today".  I twisted my pinky with his and said "I'm definitely winning today, thanks to you!".  

When it came to the race, I felt amazing.  I have learned so much this year that I am proud to say I am a more technical rider than I have ever been.  Me and the Crux (aka "Lightning") were flying through the twists and turns, catching air and holding a great position in 4th place lap after lap.  It was a feverous rush in my veins to be flying through the course after battling injuries in the last few years, feeling as if I'm finally on my path back.  And when I burped my tubeless front tire on a rock midway through the race, my friend Charlie who was in the pit for Megan, kindly put air back in my tire as I took my single speed out for a hot lap to retain my position until I could return to the pit for Lightning again.

Photo: Carlos Sabillón

I didn't win the race but I held my 4th place position for the entire race in a field of some awesomely talented women!  Sharing great conversation with the gals in my field was the perfect way to wrap up the day before loading up the bikes and heading back home with an exhausted body and cleansed soul.

I made a choice that day... I could have stared down the dark hallway in anguish and loathing, or could turn my back and walk into the light and choose to live my joy, share encouragement with others, and high five new friends.  I hope others know that, too.. sometimes you just have to choose to look in the other direction to find the life that's inviting you to live it.

Focused on the light,
Kristy Kreme


PSS... What else is on my playlist?
"Bleed it Out" - Linkin Park
"Bad Girls" - M.I.A.
"Happy Go Sucky Fucky" - Die Antwoord   \m/

For the Love of Mountain Biking

There's an interesting moment that settles in on Sunday nights after a race weekend that I've become accustomed to...  what did the weekend's adventures do to influence tomorrow's wardrobe?  After the Cuyuna Crusher in Ironton, MN this weekend, the answer was it's own unique combination.

The bee sting I suffered on my left bicep 3 miles into my race on Sunday left a heart-shaped welt that still throbs and itches to this moment... sleeveless blouse, it was.  Oh yeah, and pack the Benadryl.   The poison ivy on my knee kept me from shaving my legs for fear of spreading the infection so a couple strategically placed Wonder Woman band-aides to cover the calamine lotion and stretchy work pants paired nicely with my top.  Complete with tennis shoes to accommodate tired legs... Monday's workwear was complete!

But that's only one of the odd reminders of how much I love mountain biking.

Jay and I headed up to #ShredTheRed on Saturday morning with our race bikes and a bitchin' Yeti SB100 demo bike from One On One Bike Studio to play and get ready for Sunday's race.  The only bummer was the migraine that settled in as I kitted up for the ride, swallowing a handful of Exedrine and Advil as the blind spots in my right eye made it hard to unpack my gear but I tried to press on.  We headed out with P-Max and I tried to keep up as I begged the adrenaline to chase away the pain.  The kaleidoscope halo's in my vision slowly crept to the sides and the meds kept the pain at bay but did nothing for the migraine fatigue.  Jay and Peter were so kind to wait for me when I faltered and follow me at times so I could push my pace. Me and the Yeti played hard and I had a blast flying through the trail in new ways I'd never done before although every climb zapped my energy more than it should have.

After the ride, we grabbed some food and made our way to the top of True North Base Camp where Bruce offered us a spot to camp with him on top of the world.  Jay, Rosco and I wandered to a shady spot with a breathtaking lookout and I stood silently as the winds whipped up the side of the bluff and cascaded around us in a crescendo of cotton and birch leaves.  It's these moments of still silence that remind me the true depth of calm I find in nature and can sit with peacefully for time unknown.

The evening came and went with new friends, laughter, fires, and a lightning show off in the distance.  We all retreated to bed early due to the impending rain and slumbered lightly when it came in gently as a constant shower to lull us back to sleep.  It was the morning, however, that woke me but I chose not to fall back to sleep.

Chasing the storm was a strong wind which crashed like waves all around us.  It reminded me of the ocean in Mexico, breaking along the shore as I listened with eyes half-closed and soaked in the amazing strength of the sound.  I did everything I could to stay awake and memorize it.

It wasn't long until everyone was awake and headed toward the race.  The next few hours passed in a slight blur as they usually do and then we found ourselves lining up, ready for the start.  It was amazing to be the first woman called up once again, leading the series into the 7th race as the series nears the end.  The migraine hangover lingered so I dropped a few ibuprofen before the race and wore my darkest sunglasses to try to combat the light sensitivity that hung on.

Climbing up the start road made it obvious that I was going to have to fight for every inch as I watched rider after rider pass me and ride away.  I tired to keep it out of my head and press on, celebrating once I crested the top and started the rippin' decent back down to the start/finish to begin our first full lap.  Somewhere before we hit Roly Poly, I was stung in the bicep on my left arm, flailing awkwardly as I swatted away the aggressive bee, then blindly trying to work the stinger out of my arm as I descended with one hand on the bars.  Every time I flexed it was like lightning, so I kept working on it until I felt relief.

I was sitting in 11th place when I came through to start our first lap and settled in to do whatever damage I could in the 21 miles to go.  I fought hard, practiced everything I taught and learned this summer to the nth degree, and chased down rider after rider until I found myself in 6th.  In the final lap, I could see 5th at times some 15-30 seconds ahead of me, but she was a stronger climber than I was and rode away from me in the critical moments.  I rode as hard as I could all the way to the finish and collapsed exhausted in 6th with pride yet fought back tears as my resolve melted away.

Although I severely wanted a top 5 finish, 6th place still moved me farther into 1st place and I couldn't be happier.  I set out this year to finish top 5 overall, so this was the most amazing result to end my mountain bike season with!  Sure, I still have one MAJOR FUCKING SHOW to get to in Austin this year, but the lessons I learned this year will make it a whole other experience.  Me and the ole LaMere hard tail are gonna #SendIt!

I try to explain it at times... there's something about mountain bike racing that fulfills me no matter what place I'm in (yet sometimes I feel like I let myself down, yes)... but most of the time, if I'm off learning to hit something I was once afraid of, pumping through a rhythm section, catching air or just doing something for the first time, I can't deny the pure joy of it all.  It fills my chest with light and makes me feel alive!

Lovin' this dirt under my nails,
Kristy Kreme