Double Down at the Dog

Last Saturday, we dug out the time trial bikes and helmets for the first TT of the year down at the Farmdog Time Trial in Eureka Township.  Not only had the bikes withstood the big shop move, but had to wake them up from being apart so long... pretty sure the last time I'd been on El Gato was last July or August.  So, needless to say, we not only needed to put some air in the tires, but I actually had to dust her off before hoping on the trainer.

Once I got out on the road, I remembered how much I love time trials... how much I love El Gato.  She's steady, responsive, light, and sneaky quiet.  

My March legs didn't really enjoy me trying to pull off a May legs cadence, but I asked them too anyway.  It was a struggle against the wind and my out-of-season body, but I pulled it off.  My time was about a minute slower than I would like it to be, at 0:23:02.9, but I had to remind myself that I haven't even spent 150 miles in the saddle yet this spring... it'll come.  

Jay looked and rode great, as always.  Working like a dog at all hours of the day and night hasn't kept Jay from riding when he can and nothing can keep him from his pain cave.  Awesome job Hollywood!

Then, on this past Wednesday, we hit the Farmdog TT to tackle the course again.  The winds were almost non-existant, but the real question was if it was going to be a help, or a hinderance.  Yeah, no headwind to fight, but no tailwind to push you on.  Either way, we took the challenge and fought it out again.  I was able to shave off some time, finishing in 0:23:00.2, with a goal yet this summer to take off another 30-60 seconds.. I've got some work to do.

But, when it comes down to it, I'm still doing something I love with my best friend & hubby, and hanging out with my friends while exercising.  Add in a couple beers after the race and a warm, summer sunset with my puppy in my lap, and you have all the wonderful things that make life great.  Only thing we're missing is family and the Scamp.  :oD

Loving Life,
Kristy Kreme

Scamp-venture 15.5: Mommy & Me Weekend

Hwood and the Chucker took the Scamp up to the Cayuna trails for Vegas's 'dirty' bachelor party of mountain bikes, boats, and camping. The Scamp was all perdy in her finished splendor but since Rosco and I weren't there to help tell the story, it only counts as 0.5 of a Scamp-venture. Jay had a great time, though, annoying poison ivy and all.

Me and Rosco had a wonderfully fun and clean weekend at home together just hanging out. We kicked it off with a ridiculously lazy Friday night, cuddling on the couch and watching documentaries about dogs... perfect way to relax after the work-weeks I've been having..

Saturday I got to spend some time solo, getting up early for the All Women's TT to get my ride on. The course was AWESOME! Even though the heat was climbing as the start creeped up and the air was thick with moisture, I was excited to get El Gato on the road and push the legs to the limit. Once the race began, I was surging with energy and fire, cornering faster than I ever have and bombing the downhills.

It was fabulous! With the hills, heat, and wind, I wasn't surprised that I was slower than my goal average speed. I was, however, ridiculously surprised to find that I'd had a killer time, taking third overall and winning my age group, against some really fast women! Wow! Thanks to Endurance Promotions for an awesome event! I hope to see it on the calendar again next year.

So, exhausted but happy as can be, I returned home to clean up with Rosco and hit the town. I had fun introducing them to our friends having a garage sale, hanging in the sun, and running errands. We returned home for more relaxing and vegging out. Sure, I thought about cleaning the house or doing laundry while my hubby was away, but skipped it this time. How fun is it for me to clean all weekend while he's out having fun? He can help me when he gets home. So that's exactly what I did - Rosco and I laid low all Saturday night!

Puppy was so sleepy, he forgot to tuck in his tongue!

Come Sunday, we were relaxed and ready to roll up to the Hillside Mtn Bike race. I'd only ridden there once before, but had a fabulous time riding the trails and pushing my bike to the limits. Hwood met us at the course, covered in poison ivy and more exhausted than I'd ever seen him. He still rode hard and knocked out a top 15 finish.

Although the relaxing, quiet time with the puppy was cozy and sweet, we missed Hwood terribly and were happy to all return home together Sunday night for dinner and time spent veggin' out as a family. :o)

Wishin' every day was the weekend,

Kristy Kreme

Tour vs. Blog

During the three weeks of the Tour de France, it's hard to find time to blog... or wash dishes... or laundry... or clean up the house. Heck, we take a break from chores all together when the Tour's on.

It is especially prevalent this year since we got the online "all access" package so we can watch the entire stage from Start to Finish without commercials and on-demand! No having to watch only 2 hours of the 5, no crappy adds, and no having to get up crazy early or stay up super late to watch it. Love it! But, it's online so the laptop has been spoken for each day. Lucky for me, Hwood has company and we've already watched the day's stage twice today, so I can get a quick wrap up in!

Where did I leave off? Early July marked my 5th appearance at the Spam Jam in Austin, MN - a 25-mi. citizen road race that kicks a$$! Not only do I get to ride w/ Hwood, but my whole team of awesome men and women. And this year was another fabulous year. Hot, sunny, and fast! Desta and I were the only gals to make the break early in the race and hung on for dear life at 25 mph average speeds. There were a number of attacks off the front early in the race and Hwood got away with TP and a mixed batch of competitors.

Desta and I rode hard in the chase group all the way to the finish. As we neared the end, silence overtook the group and the speed increased. I was feeling awesome and my heart race was chillin' and legs were ready to go. Rather than sprint against my own teammate for the finish, I was happy to ride her wheel across the line, proudly pointing to her like a Tour teammate as she won her first ever race - AWESOME!!! Hwood had been hauling arse, but was out-teammed and finished at an extremely fast third place. Way to go baby!!

Me - 2nd, Desta - 1st time SPAM Champ!

What else have I missed?

When I haven't been working my knuckles to the bone, or racin' bikes, I've been playing with this lil man - Rosco P Coltrane! We've had him for a whole month now, and we're definitely starting to feel like a family. He's been so chill at the races and loves being held by all the people at the shop or our friends at every event we drag him to, it's rad! And he's crazy confident and fearless - sweet! Can't wait for Jay to take him out for a bike ride, a la Smokey's harness.

I really wish the photo hadn't cut off the top of his head cuz I love this photo of him by the puppy pool in the back yard!

This weekend, with heat indexes over 100 degrees, I haven't wanted to do anything but sleep. Jay on the otherhand, never stops. So much so that he raced a killa State Crit championships yesterday, taking 4th in the race and 3rd in the State competition (one guy was from CA). Way to go, Love!

And if that wasn't enough, we were both crazy enough to race a 40k Time Trial today. Even at our 10:30 start time, the temps and humidity were unbearable. I tried freezing a camel-back full of water and stuffing it into my skinsuit to keep me cool, but the water was HOT by the time I hit the half way point. I was flying for the first 8 miles, but then the heat took over and my gaskets blew. On the headwind section, I was so overheated and out of it that I had to ride out on my bullhorns to maintain control with the 10-15 mph winds. At mile 12 I started dry-heaving. By mile 15, all of my water was Hot, but I tried to choke it down anyway.

I lost count of how many times I thought about quitting.

I finally came to terms with myself that I wasn't going to be setting any new land speed records. Maybe instead of a time-based PR, I would get a PR for 'most weight lost in a race under 100 miles long'. ?? Worked for me. So I just kept pedaling away, keeping myself in control rather than pushing the envelope harder than I was. Although I knew I was slower than last year's ragin' time, I still finished in 4th place, only 2 min. behind last year! Hot-damn! I really don't know how that works... but of course now I keep thinking 'if only I hadn't ridden 5 miles in my bullhorns...'. Oh well, I finished and lost a lil extra water weight in the meantime. Whoohoo!

Rosco had the best seat in the house, happily snoozing in the car that was parked in the shade. To ensure his health and well-being, we through caution to the wind and left the car on to keep him cool as we did our hour long race... thank heavens we were right! ;o)

Anyways, back to chillin' and off to prep for another LONG week of work. Yowza. Hopefully the rain will stay away this week so I can at least get some good commutin' time in. Until next time, I'll be workin', racin' or watchin' the Tour..

Go BMC!

Kristy Kreme