tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48707948867082198822024-02-02T11:13:34.935-08:00ChurtleLe TurtleChurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-87348952198782091602014-06-05T06:40:00.000-07:002014-06-05T06:40:04.732-07:00Time FliesUnbelievable how fast….<br />
I have been off the blogosphere. Not because I don't think about catching up but more so because my life has been so full of activity that it has found its way to the bottom of list over and over again. Since September 2013 till now I have been on an adventure that has proven to be one of the best decisions in my life. My day job as a School Counselor was put on hold and I was afforded the oppotunity to take a sabbatical. I chose to study Applied Behavior Analysis and earn a post master's certificate. I am currently still taking classes, which will end the first week of August. This opportunity allowed me to expereince a year in which I got to work from home and be in control of my own schedule. With this new freedom I enjoyed the time spent at home as well as the adventures I was able to undertake. I won't bore you with too many details but a quick list follows:<br />
1. Racing cross<br />
2. MTB stage race in Costa Rica<br />
3. Family ski vacation in Jackson Hole<br />
4. Quality time spent with family<br />
5. Quality time spent with my dogs ( I think they will miss me the most when I go back to work)<br />
6. Feeling like a stay at home mom (not an easy job) reconnecting with my home<br />
7. Learning a new Science that is super applicable to my profession<br />
8. Lots of riding when the most optimal weather rather than restricted to after work<br />
9. Thursday Express adventures with a good friend<br />
10. Imba certified level 2<br />
11. Trips to Utah and California<br />
12. MTB stage race in State College<br />
13. Quality time with friends<br />
<br />
I can go on and on but I'll restrict it to these 12. My only regret is that I did not keep a journal. Oh well. <br />
<br />Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-34981030168311688032013-11-02T13:11:00.000-07:002013-11-04T07:06:55.498-08:00Pura Vida<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTyolTu1P4DeNkq_F8_Tb8G_cm3k_zNC5TqzRTgy4q9VvBPo7gIPnYw9RsOuAS6IyWRw8LZQ9O_f9JZcIWRAHCZdE5J-5FWqNdBEJzs4lY_HZ38hBtddmAoFZiavoHXBEWrzZmSHvXAg/s1600/la+ruta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTyolTu1P4DeNkq_F8_Tb8G_cm3k_zNC5TqzRTgy4q9VvBPo7gIPnYw9RsOuAS6IyWRw8LZQ9O_f9JZcIWRAHCZdE5J-5FWqNdBEJzs4lY_HZ38hBtddmAoFZiavoHXBEWrzZmSHvXAg/s200/la+ruta.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My most recent adventure took me to Costa Rica to participate in La Ruta de Los Conquistadores. A three day stage race riding across CR from the Pacific to the Caribbean. I say participate because as the promoter, Roman Urbina </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">declares it is more of an adventure than a race. And what an adventure it was. Having done two stage races in the US and one in South Africa I do have to say that this one was an adventure that is unmatched. Yes South Africa was super tough and long, but La Ruta, it offered a new level of suffering and being alive. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a fellow participant <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/11/mtb/a-case-for-suffering-welcome-to-the-jungle-of-la-ruta_306676">Chris Case</a> so eloquently stated in his write up, their are many things La Ruta is not, but it is not just any mountain bike stage race. I have to agree with Chris and share with you his most accurate description: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What is La Ruta? A soul-sappingly hard, exotically wild, singular journey across laughably steep inclines, hysterically steeper descents, through jungles, plantations, villages, across ecosystems and temperate zones, over volcanoes and beaches and terrain that you never quite imagined you could ride on a bike."</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After about 23,000+ feet of climbing over about 180 miles in three days, I am in awe of the ability to go within oneself and find will, determination and strength. It took a balance of moments in time. Some of triumph, such as pedaling a painful climb without stopping and some of death when time stood still and going forward seemed like the stupidest idea ever. However, forward I did go. The first two days were super tough for me and I felt as though I was more in a survival mode than a race mode. I attribute it to the unknown and not necessarily having a plan of attack since it was nothing like I had ridden before. I was also weary of the mud and railroad crossings plus I was tired. I had not planned La Ruta in my long scheme of goals this year. I felt pretty wiped out and was not so sure I could take more "suffering". In fact I have relegated my suffering to 40 minutes nowadays with Cross taking a front row. Despite all my fears I was not letting an opportunity slip by. As Jim Meyer so kindly advised me, </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When shit gets weird, just tell yourself: "Show some fucking adaptability!" Put that on your top tube as a reminder. Gotta roll with the punches. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And weird it did get. Not only did I never ride there before, but the Race Bible was not so exact and after the first day you learned that all distances were futher, climbs longer steeper, and you need to just go with the flow, as they say keep it tranquilo. Its the only way to go. There is much more out of your control than in. Look at your top tube.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
It is hard for me to process all that happened while I was there, but what stands out the most is really how incredibly well, regardless of all skeptisim, the race organization, workers and volunteers get you pre race breakfast, shuttle to race start, through the days stage, gather and keep track of your belongings, post race showers, post race meals, massages, bike maintenance and a shuttle to an overnight accommodation. And shabby it is not. Each meal was delicious and offered great nutrition even for us gluten free folks. All accommodations were more than adequate and it was never "hard" to figure it all out. I do believe that all the behind the scene people might just be even more wiped out than any of us racers. Especially the race's ammbassador Erika. Her energy is amazing and she truly was there for any of our questions or concerns with the biggest smile ever on her face. She was the true model of Costa Rica's most commonly used phrase: Pura Vida. It literally means "Pure Life", but it is more about a way of life in Costa Rica. It is the way of simply enjoying life and being happy. It is hard to not catch this vibe while in Costa Rica. As you ride you are constantly encouraged with shouts of Vamanos, Vamanos and cheers from all directions. It helped you get thru all the "dark" moments and kept smiles on all faces. The encouragement of the people and the kindness that seeped from them help fill your soul after each stage sucked a bit of it out. Regardless of how sore or tired I was, I was never miserable, there was just too much good all around.<br />
Day 1:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5JreyiViZwOvMdzqI5ztbIZ5o2MstlKa9H6WCu8HShfW3FXqHLiVcsMn4NHXEAL1olpMNFJSWWRppIyjMrN5mpH7mANtlzF5flF8kISnIyqTWtTl_11NZjMHc-dKxvy5matagZhucGU/s1600/day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5JreyiViZwOvMdzqI5ztbIZ5o2MstlKa9H6WCu8HShfW3FXqHLiVcsMn4NHXEAL1olpMNFJSWWRppIyjMrN5mpH7mANtlzF5flF8kISnIyqTWtTl_11NZjMHc-dKxvy5matagZhucGU/s200/day1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">This day is the day I "sort of" knew the most about. I was able to drive the first climb and at least knew where it ended. The unknown was the jungle portion. I have to admit I was a bit frightened of it. The horror stories of the mud and who knows what lurking behind the huge green foliage. I was not sure how much I could put out without falling apart. I kept it reined in a bit, but one could not help needing to put energy into the steep climbs and concentration it took to navigate the jungle terrain. I was able to keep the second place woman in sight until after the second aid station. Not having support at aid stations I had to rely on filling up and loading up at each station. I was determined to catch back on after each fill, but needing to fill my camel back at aid 2, it just took too much time. My rabbit was gone. Don't get the wrong idea though. Each aid station had the best volunteers. They did their absolute best to serve me as quickly as possible and take care of what ever I needed. I am so thankful to them. There is only so fast a gatorade water cooler can fill a water bottle or hydra pak. It was a little disappointing to have this situation, but it was what I had to do and I accepted it. I got thru this stage thinking that it was not as bad as predicted. Most likely due to the mud not being very significant in depth, only slippery. However, I never imagined just how much it would take to get thru the day. The climbing is relentless and made the length of the stage seem to take forever. I dug deep to not be discouraged and forge forward to that far reaching finish line.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0V23-oXyS7i2V80QUtId2lcFm90GBrBQuwSiM763jnYP14hvf3FuRhQO9-7POX2xfkgNFLu5ioNLWv6_EYB18ZKS8_9W7qVc9gKxfBV8nfv-Q1Ut83XE73aVGLrrv5raTfHabCsae7U/s1600/1395830_728536077161690_323309472_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0V23-oXyS7i2V80QUtId2lcFm90GBrBQuwSiM763jnYP14hvf3FuRhQO9-7POX2xfkgNFLu5ioNLWv6_EYB18ZKS8_9W7qVc9gKxfBV8nfv-Q1Ut83XE73aVGLrrv5raTfHabCsae7U/s400/1395830_728536077161690_323309472_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx531oFIU4XKckO68JawTtI5mN5GVcLadjnkVGfEnuGX_u9kv09h_b7FuNoAaU7BtcAjvIYXhMFb5ht-IfKRycNuR2VW_MH5bGe4VxcUII3jLFKaEGjdNTum_tU8kfFsHSBQp7OypjLfs/s1600/1391895_509779075785422_747366596_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx531oFIU4XKckO68JawTtI5mN5GVcLadjnkVGfEnuGX_u9kv09h_b7FuNoAaU7BtcAjvIYXhMFb5ht-IfKRycNuR2VW_MH5bGe4VxcUII3jLFKaEGjdNTum_tU8kfFsHSBQp7OypjLfs/s400/1391895_509779075785422_747366596_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Day 2:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z9a5c6ZeY6wE3SDYlMgTfNIv9hgrjOZAJFI83tjNhZpsrQgz4ow5ZB1cztnNK0bnUPQFc1f1Wa0wOZTESFWtUcCo-MjD1cNht41DUD55ry9uNShBVejnw1TF0UJa117w2ibJI21H4o0/s1600/day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z9a5c6ZeY6wE3SDYlMgTfNIv9hgrjOZAJFI83tjNhZpsrQgz4ow5ZB1cztnNK0bnUPQFc1f1Wa0wOZTESFWtUcCo-MjD1cNht41DUD55ry9uNShBVejnw1TF0UJa117w2ibJI21H4o0/s200/day2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">My apprehension built this day. Not only were we late due to the unbelievable traffic jam at the start line, I was facing a huge climb of 2 plus hours into elevation that I have not reached in years plus there was a possibility of it being super cold on top. Not something I get to do in my training. All it took was a deep breath and a knuckle whitening ride thru the city towards the volcano to settle my nerves. Then climbing began and kept going and kept going. Again, I was able to keep second place in my sights until the need for supplies arrived. I had a steady stream of positive thoughts in my head, but every once in awhile negativity did arrive. I believe I died a thousand deaths this day only to shake it off and go forward. Once at the top I was quite relieved to start the downhill. Fortunately it was not too cold, but I did put a jacket on. The downhill part lasted for a bit, but there was a bit of traversing up and down to do before it really got down to business. At one point I stopped to take off my jacket and watched a women blow past me with tons of spunk. Just what I needed to get riled up and back in race mode. I hurried to catch up and met Jane from CTS, a fellow american. She and I rode the rest of the stage together and got to chat a bit. It was just what I needed to get me back in the game and help me outrun my demons from that deathly climb. Forturnately she also knew the course as it was her 3rd time there and she had pre-rode it at a training camp a few months prior. This knowlegdge was key to allow us to rip the downhill at very high speed! What fun. Thanks to you Jane! At this finish line I felt an overwhelming sense of uplifting. The worse was over and I survived! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOAMWkkHTaJ-a54fTBrh9tJbCMJVJd-VZZeDnRCKFUkWpp9aAJzn6gbXebncsRTzgu69R-lzkrmCFasCUl1DYFHz5nkMKQgrbO_jEpPH7u5HNPdoynRstD1hCFtbauhXrPGSqAzG5Au0/s1600/1380704_729525027062795_207865790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOAMWkkHTaJ-a54fTBrh9tJbCMJVJd-VZZeDnRCKFUkWpp9aAJzn6gbXebncsRTzgu69R-lzkrmCFasCUl1DYFHz5nkMKQgrbO_jEpPH7u5HNPdoynRstD1hCFtbauhXrPGSqAzG5Au0/s400/1380704_729525027062795_207865790_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Day 3</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D8DlsWaskfX5RFoVPVhWmBNq0ewsSJ1ZzF34ZcoesXYGkufHUqQmSBh0NE5ZQE-BjOpgvaIo36YRqmu4GhYo_ofTfvH4K_a-5yM3CkehSxth6C2ML2I3zyxadeDAwLXPr_iVI7K2WAo/s1600/day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D8DlsWaskfX5RFoVPVhWmBNq0ewsSJ1ZzF34ZcoesXYGkufHUqQmSBh0NE5ZQE-BjOpgvaIo36YRqmu4GhYo_ofTfvH4K_a-5yM3CkehSxth6C2ML2I3zyxadeDAwLXPr_iVI7K2WAo/s200/day3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">I can do this! Sure the first climbs will be tough, and steep, but more punchy and short. Just what I like. At the start I got the sense from body language and close talk that the Costa Rican women in front of me and behind me in GC were plotting. I knew I would have to be on guard to protect my third place in GC. As the race got underway, I was amazed at how good I felt. The two previous days cleansed my body to be at its best today. The second place women, Adriana, and I stuck together for the first half of the day. As with the first two days aid stations is what separated us. After the first one I dug super deep and caught up to her. It was aid two that I had to fill a hydra pak and it took time, however I was climbing well and I knew I could catch her. I flew out of the aid station and started my chase. I spied the kit and caught on but to my surprise it was not adriana, it was the women in fourth place GC. It was bewildering to me how she caught up and was ahead since I had not seen her for hours. Whatever, this is really where I need to be and hang onto her so she can not get away and make time on me. For awhile it was bit of a fight as she had some "ticos" working with her and doing what they could do to work against me. The worst was going into a railroad crossing and having one of the men jump to get between us and then proceed to walk super slow across as the women got a gap. I had to take a chance and pass him so that I could catch back up stay on. After that I believe they let up a bit and understood that I would hold my ground. Being my first time on the railbed crossings they thought I would be scared, as did I. I found them to not be bad at all. I have had to cross much scarier. I just stayed focused and steadfast and was able to cross them rather quickly and as quick as those with experience. Eventually our pack of riders caught up with adrianna and about 8 of us continued to pace line and stay together for the remaining of the flat roads, rail roads and crossings and beach front to the lovely end. Tension to oust me also settled and the two ladies and the other ticos in our group welcomed me and made peace offerings. They began to share food water to drink and water to pour over us as temperatures soared in the hundreds. At one point towards the end the men in the group tried to get us women to slow down. He mentioned that our placings would not change and we should let up. However in my mind and I think theirs as well, it was more about wanting to finish and jump into the carribean sea. It was so hot and the finish line so close yet so far. As long as we could keep going we were going to go and at a good clip. The finish line at the carribean was super thrilling. I accomplished a huge feat and I am super lucky for the opportunity to do so. I could not get in the ocean fast enough. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbXfytjsb61L-Ob01sANjsDxgRCeRYckw5eNHnfYyMgQvV90mEGPCifYetD_AiolFVJDCl3OewPyj00g6dcesk4E_sJthT6Mv9hyXsZBqRZTbjn_LPEq8kDGbqrJufdalq3NA-PEtPAQ/s1600/1381426_510803082349688_1884233421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbXfytjsb61L-Ob01sANjsDxgRCeRYckw5eNHnfYyMgQvV90mEGPCifYetD_AiolFVJDCl3OewPyj00g6dcesk4E_sJthT6Mv9hyXsZBqRZTbjn_LPEq8kDGbqrJufdalq3NA-PEtPAQ/s320/1381426_510803082349688_1884233421_n.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Many thanks for getting me to the start and finish of this adventure are in oder. NUE and Roman Urbina for the opportunity. <a href="http://www.gettysburgbicycle.com/">Gettysburg</a> bikes for dialing my bike, <a href="http://sublimeathletics.com/">Sublime Athletics</a> for dialing my fitness, <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/1-kilo-package">Carborocket </a>for keeping me hydrated, Specialized for my awesome FATE, TNW crew for helping me find speed, <a href="http://www.stagescycling.com/">Stages cycling </a>for equipping me with the ability to improve my power, Bruce from <a href="http://www.progoldmfr.com/">Pro Gold</a> keeping my chain happy, and last but not least the cupcakes for keeping it real.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Huge congrats to Pua for a superb win and also to Adrianna for a great performance. Most of all Congrats to all finishers of the 2013 La Ruta. A special shout out to Heidi for accomplishing more than you ever imagined! It is more about the adventure than the race. No matter where we finished we all shared in the amazing experience and all should be proud and filled with Pura Vida!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1869820,00.html">Time Magazine's Top 10 Hardest Endurance Competitions</a></span></span>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-64730201106147888622012-11-29T17:23:00.004-08:002012-11-29T17:32:03.388-08:00Long Time GoneNot Forgotten,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Many things written in my head, however the AI is not with me to put my thoughts directly into this blog. There is still the requirement that I turn the computer on and type the words. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To make this easy for me, I will again do a picture blog.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTml_4n1JSYGEkX4NkXaHTFu5LPD5ulWwiV4pEV_L1vhhjuXpBPdGu6rneDEsb1oDD2rpoaQmOLpEfzN_NxYFuX2gCNUK1O7-NS5KM158q9y4QaJohPOQN6xJZjbrITbNLSZM_fRZrro/s1600/35505_10151209192213620_1378904582_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTml_4n1JSYGEkX4NkXaHTFu5LPD5ulWwiV4pEV_L1vhhjuXpBPdGu6rneDEsb1oDD2rpoaQmOLpEfzN_NxYFuX2gCNUK1O7-NS5KM158q9y4QaJohPOQN6xJZjbrITbNLSZM_fRZrro/s320/35505_10151209192213620_1378904582_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron Cross October 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fd0l7rdM-9VrTbpNHdKZj_g2VYrsFhBe9QNu4gH2VV-EJKKegSoDgjTRF2zVyRZpkw2j5sJy8RJFz-gIJMQ77tgwwcupcbkLFVXeAuVNGZFvTyS4ng7VzMDxX0OR5e8EQouzSCMoapM/s1600/425046_4549448501001_1883830925_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fd0l7rdM-9VrTbpNHdKZj_g2VYrsFhBe9QNu4gH2VV-EJKKegSoDgjTRF2zVyRZpkw2j5sJy8RJFz-gIJMQ77tgwwcupcbkLFVXeAuVNGZFvTyS4ng7VzMDxX0OR5e8EQouzSCMoapM/s320/425046_4549448501001_1883830925_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilderness 101 July 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcNrmOdONF0kzvqSSKxyu2vCmljLSPa3OOcfoNyhkJhryXcjuwjuTkV7Il6a3muzoRfMZyESo3w0lgR-RoQJAHZqOTp8fDHdj1keU0nTe_rQ-3u2dnlavK7HS4I4XI39mpGPQMDKYTiY/s1600/576209_10151158467873674_1907960530_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcNrmOdONF0kzvqSSKxyu2vCmljLSPa3OOcfoNyhkJhryXcjuwjuTkV7Il6a3muzoRfMZyESo3w0lgR-RoQJAHZqOTp8fDHdj1keU0nTe_rQ-3u2dnlavK7HS4I4XI39mpGPQMDKYTiY/s320/576209_10151158467873674_1907960530_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PA state champs 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9982yS_XoHEWjMD7HZNjcooh4h_kGVZsg8HcihAFjvr12JUsAFQ4rO6gXCBB3Tz_CfZK9Eeg9clbF1vC65REejzF7_TxfKlwR4CFx05LpgyR_XVWnSob2emALFsXG6BsCLctSz2ghQpM/s1600/0929121243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9982yS_XoHEWjMD7HZNjcooh4h_kGVZsg8HcihAFjvr12JUsAFQ4rO6gXCBB3Tz_CfZK9Eeg9clbF1vC65REejzF7_TxfKlwR4CFx05LpgyR_XVWnSob2emALFsXG6BsCLctSz2ghQpM/s320/0929121243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsKqLozueK0ZXPj0Ys3-T9FUj0wRhNHy6PqPWsyplD6gw2gU9IO7WYBTbu7VSLJwACEPt3B-qLnTIfPDNbggLVlXAegodadw3DcqOSVx2-HbqGszXVnhA4H_0p5FxCoHgceFuFKomtqs/s1600/578612_10152075214290405_808480357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsKqLozueK0ZXPj0Ys3-T9FUj0wRhNHy6PqPWsyplD6gw2gU9IO7WYBTbu7VSLJwACEPt3B-qLnTIfPDNbggLVlXAegodadw3DcqOSVx2-HbqGszXVnhA4H_0p5FxCoHgceFuFKomtqs/s320/578612_10152075214290405_808480357_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nue Champion 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO-PTvq-4zChdz8_RDB67DQ5mb-G4hqc3hBdmxfPpZFvVOA-oAIUeRsctHGtQOccUPPg_qGqqdl-ZOO5k0t3P0idIQiwvLZD-GZ-R7QC8NVQ45gh-bzUJobhYKTu-gW52tmDBfVgLwqs/s1600/552042_457362767620266_1238611223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO-PTvq-4zChdz8_RDB67DQ5mb-G4hqc3hBdmxfPpZFvVOA-oAIUeRsctHGtQOccUPPg_qGqqdl-ZOO5k0t3P0idIQiwvLZD-GZ-R7QC8NVQ45gh-bzUJobhYKTu-gW52tmDBfVgLwqs/s320/552042_457362767620266_1238611223_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yippee!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2oJ-qpA3VJjOa0JkJ2w4aFwzFXmxmEpU0w4eP_VNDER5A9VjE7jJpgo_W43QojNRvyEHZxeT16yvezrMJN6P21YiVp88XLJ6Zc8VjLhobfwWPbeT52avINtTBbaPz3OmzcvLz9Tk4xU/s1600/196600_10151119887448434_1130543497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2oJ-qpA3VJjOa0JkJ2w4aFwzFXmxmEpU0w4eP_VNDER5A9VjE7jJpgo_W43QojNRvyEHZxeT16yvezrMJN6P21YiVp88XLJ6Zc8VjLhobfwWPbeT52avINtTBbaPz3OmzcvLz9Tk4xU/s320/196600_10151119887448434_1130543497_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaberry 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwB4KZfm1LBUFvYEZ__hkz2xdazJWmzHMC4eMBYFb8oLgGB4tn7ErCQorS5iAe6AMif5nIixPUrWeC0p0NtEOSLpujwqWYQjoy3QoWUMNMFFk3xNpQb1eiZzKb10IchWSl8-84e4oIf4/s1600/404316_164193737037852_1409624261_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwB4KZfm1LBUFvYEZ__hkz2xdazJWmzHMC4eMBYFb8oLgGB4tn7ErCQorS5iAe6AMif5nIixPUrWeC0p0NtEOSLpujwqWYQjoy3QoWUMNMFFk3xNpQb1eiZzKb10IchWSl8-84e4oIf4/s320/404316_164193737037852_1409624261_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gran Fondo National Championship 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdhyfVt6NsKNjg1hF4OdZeDDp_RoFOJr1-R__xGOOAo291O1EwWwaC79O9dQbw1SlZlWjSWmxOjfvY1E-nQOFaCfyA4_tipuiTkvvy1cMefHYV7TAvb0264iocPNtV_1yo-UWYjeY_D4/s1600/431590_10151118608108068_536249691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdhyfVt6NsKNjg1hF4OdZeDDp_RoFOJr1-R__xGOOAo291O1EwWwaC79O9dQbw1SlZlWjSWmxOjfvY1E-nQOFaCfyA4_tipuiTkvvy1cMefHYV7TAvb0264iocPNtV_1yo-UWYjeY_D4/s320/431590_10151118608108068_536249691_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVSzVXDVd5VPeyRqr5vUCPgLliL3Dxrh60q4SGwJuqaUmPhdHG1XddDt55bWFGZNAvLlclwGpeud7ed8bpyO-nYRmtpsHt76BGv0VYcRBIlpg-lfitW5IiKXN6p5TBrNWq_zNTV8qOF4/s1600/1085_10200117296401124_990971733_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVSzVXDVd5VPeyRqr5vUCPgLliL3Dxrh60q4SGwJuqaUmPhdHG1XddDt55bWFGZNAvLlclwGpeud7ed8bpyO-nYRmtpsHt76BGv0VYcRBIlpg-lfitW5IiKXN6p5TBrNWq_zNTV8qOF4/s320/1085_10200117296401124_990971733_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8iRUa-fq1OV93AMo_W1ztzs3BTJGKKg-Kli5q7kipkhYdsF0jQ1AcWFjC8GQjVQPHb6vVCJrGmHgPqjlPK9IkT0MfPTQPDDp0LgG1LlXjzNvZ5av_Wg77sMuAaFMeL94LOxxAdXc9YA/s1600/32371_10151257173144250_676010458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8iRUa-fq1OV93AMo_W1ztzs3BTJGKKg-Kli5q7kipkhYdsF0jQ1AcWFjC8GQjVQPHb6vVCJrGmHgPqjlPK9IkT0MfPTQPDDp0LgG1LlXjzNvZ5av_Wg77sMuAaFMeL94LOxxAdXc9YA/s320/32371_10151257173144250_676010458_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG he's thirteen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhejxxWl7-Fzk3NuNdVGt4uYxSNSZRuj99GKo7vk-Y8fQE7Za4Akb4MVj6h2qt4b1la_pcpooPMMXY-3iq5UaHrF8STMiRLyvSNtDYmDhqGYamrc6SSKcTb7gND46n9jHG3AQXhA5UFuQ/s1600/1024122051a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhejxxWl7-Fzk3NuNdVGt4uYxSNSZRuj99GKo7vk-Y8fQE7Za4Akb4MVj6h2qt4b1la_pcpooPMMXY-3iq5UaHrF8STMiRLyvSNtDYmDhqGYamrc6SSKcTb7gND46n9jHG3AQXhA5UFuQ/s320/1024122051a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53WVLf2CxBvX-0Pa-oVUUzFEuFBkI1xG_2pJjhtIcAXPJl4YF8f4i7eVRpb60PZsqLsTE6_aMv0fw_e3zCvLFb1cv4JuIREvzoARHT8QYJgxodIpTGRMSKyMT8L7t87keMzbJtU9I1H4/s1600/1020121349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53WVLf2CxBvX-0Pa-oVUUzFEuFBkI1xG_2pJjhtIcAXPJl4YF8f4i7eVRpb60PZsqLsTE6_aMv0fw_e3zCvLFb1cv4JuIREvzoARHT8QYJgxodIpTGRMSKyMT8L7t87keMzbJtU9I1H4/s320/1020121349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Fall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GIa7fwYmkEwSSRGoxsAGMXzmjfeORnmsdAy3B3nNFpmYLvJjXVJfloydRfGXyRBHKbKAiVVNcSSsaORiXLPpYCPZrAKA4b1rINBzDomYWjiZy8h8DQoXYshvqtQpLGWCjCHuL_8ACbI/s1600/1017121559a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GIa7fwYmkEwSSRGoxsAGMXzmjfeORnmsdAy3B3nNFpmYLvJjXVJfloydRfGXyRBHKbKAiVVNcSSsaORiXLPpYCPZrAKA4b1rINBzDomYWjiZy8h8DQoXYshvqtQpLGWCjCHuL_8ACbI/s320/1017121559a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gran Fondo National Champ 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic15SNBZwCtnRtFFDBNZCZuBeiUF6ay_Qwdxmc-xzq9RvevdrXdGYXMUzlDmrOZkri-taAwfHKwUyVV2DJV3_nOfu8fOIJ7VqqmBZyE_QpOZO5fsxJCQRvLtjg1vq7sQrnNLq6CKVTda4/s1600/418423_514803075212773_1637687967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic15SNBZwCtnRtFFDBNZCZuBeiUF6ay_Qwdxmc-xzq9RvevdrXdGYXMUzlDmrOZkri-taAwfHKwUyVV2DJV3_nOfu8fOIJ7VqqmBZyE_QpOZO5fsxJCQRvLtjg1vq7sQrnNLq6CKVTda4/s320/418423_514803075212773_1637687967_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PA state Champ 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYtgMLt3-Lo31wObJ1vMt9m5k0ix5QQluZQX3_6_ET2JqPbViDnaikHojVz7E32WSk1zyzA61k9VUVeMwxMcKZiKoA6H_pPFQIb0dDuNec-YDhRimw5OSR5-jMyQ5JdW_krmkH538ctY/s1600/546205_428793193824383_1381196798_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYtgMLt3-Lo31wObJ1vMt9m5k0ix5QQluZQX3_6_ET2JqPbViDnaikHojVz7E32WSk1zyzA61k9VUVeMwxMcKZiKoA6H_pPFQIb0dDuNec-YDhRimw5OSR5-jMyQ5JdW_krmkH538ctY/s320/546205_428793193824383_1381196798_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting it Done NUE tie Breaker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
2012</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Transylvania Epic Stage Race Champion Open women</div>
<div>
National Ultra Endurance Champion</div>
<div>
PA State Champion</div>
<div>
Michaux Endurance Series Champion</div>
<div>
National Gran Fondo Champion</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-25132978639876413542012-08-23T18:57:00.000-07:002012-08-24T02:41:36.141-07:00Out but not down<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>191</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1092</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>9</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1341</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1280</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I may have been out of the race scene for six weeks after
TSE, but I wasn’t down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well to be
honest my initial reactions to being out of action were filled with why me’s
and why now’s. Well it turned out not to be dreadful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was pretty much the most pleasant summer I have had in
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest did me wonders and
now I am back at it fresher than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Following is a short top ten list of my time back in the saddle:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoList2" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Southern Michaux
trail rides with cupcakes to get the skills back.</div>
<div class="MsoList3" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My S works
epic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helped soften the ride.</div>
<div class="MsoList3" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">
8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TNW rides to get
the top end running</div>
<div class="MsoList5" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Curse of Dark Hollow</span>, Michaux PA 1<sup>st</sup> place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great test of how my injury would respond to the demands of
technical riding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank goodness
for my specialized epic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
grand day of riding and hanging with friends.</div>
<div class="MsoList5" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Wilderness 101, Coburn, PA 1<sup>st</sup> place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yikes, that was hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again my bike was the bomb and my body
responded well to the distance.</div>
<div class="MsoList5" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Houseboats and the Allegripis Trail system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pure fun and enjoyment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoList5" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Rattling Creek 50, Lykens, PA 1<sup>st</sup> place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Super fun, fast, and techy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best prize swag which included Toasted
Head Wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoList5" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><!--[endif]-->Bear Creek, PA 1<sup>st</sup> place<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PA state champion</div>
<div class="MsoListContinue5" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->New
Hampshire 100.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old School raw
trail system, great venue, perfect B&B, a race weekend turned holiday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListContinue5" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list 39.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Planning
my trip to Fools Gold. <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249677-2012-Hampshire-100-NUE-Series-Race-9/video/653932-Cheryl-Sornson-WINNER-Fresh-for-the-EPIC-battle">Cheryl Sornson - WINNER - Fresh for the EPIC battle</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DxPIDXRsOdcEX5wHibrEbcLRxOJ8PVVLCRHFUGd7kPkowgPDElBCtHjVzPMK2xD7BKbePNyrNSmV1w7_7-KIgC8GpPSngBXLCnEJWaghXFH7mZ9fxupS7m0jeIvLinhMMYlZ-44s2-s/s1600/405399_10151158467598674_1895279429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DxPIDXRsOdcEX5wHibrEbcLRxOJ8PVVLCRHFUGd7kPkowgPDElBCtHjVzPMK2xD7BKbePNyrNSmV1w7_7-KIgC8GpPSngBXLCnEJWaghXFH7mZ9fxupS7m0jeIvLinhMMYlZ-44s2-s/s320/405399_10151158467598674_1895279429_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListContinue5" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list 39.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-41816282279965201422012-08-13T15:51:00.001-07:002012-08-13T16:26:39.050-07:00Pills<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Some are small, chewable and
manageable; others are sized for a horse and hard to swallow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Injuries are similar to pills. This
season I was given a horse pill injury to swallow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind that takes awhile to fully accept how traumatic it
really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind that hurts so
deeply it reminds you how old you are and leaves you wondering if you’ll have
to live with the pain forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok,
I am exaggerating just a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
did not need surgery and I wasn’t immobilized with a cast or anything, however
when movement, breathing, sleeping, and a beating heart hurt it sucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVtZ0SEGMxrEOsU2FdjNqssktoqUqf1T97OghyPgtCx45gq44v-8FiDfh1qz1CkpseVw5sN3foSsHO8JqYWtjVZaU3qWZQo9YYJxy1-8lRZWatozxmuT_ZpAq03R0fpQ8CrDOVbZu2Kg/s1600/0813121904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVtZ0SEGMxrEOsU2FdjNqssktoqUqf1T97OghyPgtCx45gq44v-8FiDfh1qz1CkpseVw5sN3foSsHO8JqYWtjVZaU3qWZQo9YYJxy1-8lRZWatozxmuT_ZpAq03R0fpQ8CrDOVbZu2Kg/s200/0813121904.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I was in a race and went to
pass a rider, however the rider turned into me rather
than giving trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up off
trail to avoid collision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once off
trail my pedal hit something and I hit the ground harder than I ever have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was weird because it definitely was
not high speed or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
head hit first and fortunately my helmet did its job but sustained life ending
damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next up my shoulder, upper
back and hip hit the ground as I tried to roll out the fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I hit all my body weight compressed
and I heard this horrible CRACK. All the oxygen left my body and could not be
replaced for what seemed liked forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This all happened the weekend
summer officially started for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What a disappointing welcome I initially thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that it wasn’t such an
unwelcome entrance. Despite my pain and worry that it wouldn’t go away, I began
to feel thankful things weren’t worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are far worse injuries amongst our ranks that others are dealing
with or have dealt with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes I
would miss some key races, but it gave me the freedom to relax and enjoy the
beauty of my home along with the pleasant company of my family and friends
without any expectations or pressures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I swallowed the pill, let go and allowed myself to heal in more ways
than I knew I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEikupintJy2MajeNkH6ccWZnq9Y7xofRXKQ2CDRugnuaKHDmRBjaZOLUm9STV-flELD-Y9OTx4rlfHkEMczfxJ2cPxJhv2frOF4Ua_G9RAhYfukyYQ7LSobf5pLtCuUzw-H4pJ2_6n0/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEikupintJy2MajeNkH6ccWZnq9Y7xofRXKQ2CDRugnuaKHDmRBjaZOLUm9STV-flELD-Y9OTx4rlfHkEMczfxJ2cPxJhv2frOF4Ua_G9RAhYfukyYQ7LSobf5pLtCuUzw-H4pJ2_6n0/s320/mail.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-7031901146391896342012-06-05T08:16:00.000-07:002012-06-05T08:16:14.134-07:00Fun timesWaking up for work this morning was pretty rough. I guess the dream I had about riding in the TSE epic, winning three stages and taking the overall wasn't just a dream after all. It is a strange feeling when 7 days of racing your mountain bike are over and you return to the normal routine of life. My normal routine does involve bike riding, but not to the extent of last week. I am now back to being a mother, back to being a wife, back to caring for my two dogs, back to work, and back to all the other details of life off the bike. As hard as the racing was it was a treat to only focus on one thing. I treasure the time I spent at the TSE meeting new people, pushing my limits, and enjoying an extremely well run event. Big kudos to Ray Adams and Mike Kuhn. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzaS4oP9wkC8RccLl3ugAM8pcP6q7Ff4tXqJmBk8uk62yHuekKZUpjFxAS1Y7fr2II1uzMoRujBGw4LyCG3empZXpmeQVMvxH64kdFbEgmVzNXFgE7K8v3KIIgEcg9t-wJHL1HoW59D4/s1600/550815_10150990345036285_923426698_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzaS4oP9wkC8RccLl3ugAM8pcP6q7Ff4tXqJmBk8uk62yHuekKZUpjFxAS1Y7fr2II1uzMoRujBGw4LyCG3empZXpmeQVMvxH64kdFbEgmVzNXFgE7K8v3KIIgEcg9t-wJHL1HoW59D4/s320/550815_10150990345036285_923426698_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit TSE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We all won last week. Congrats to all and a big congrats to my teammate Kaitlyn Broadhurst. You are a huge inspiration to us all. Keep rocking sister! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4XxbGb-XB-di4NgWC_UoEFjim97Q1ol-h8wV_bSdfiUQfsrvEudJXan9w08al38GFiQDiklS2xxS7WcaiMeM1TwK_C388lJuLqxz24UFv0Egciub3jGN8J2f9DWRBr6t_bowa059kdI/s1600/kaitlyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4XxbGb-XB-di4NgWC_UoEFjim97Q1ol-h8wV_bSdfiUQfsrvEudJXan9w08al38GFiQDiklS2xxS7WcaiMeM1TwK_C388lJuLqxz24UFv0Egciub3jGN8J2f9DWRBr6t_bowa059kdI/s1600/kaitlyn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit TSE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next up will be Lumberjack 100. Until then I'll be recovering with some serious couch time!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXlnegAcxhJN9OnPdXhaLNwsc_2LhO6Nv1f1lGM8G5dmEqh9e1OcaXSRHznAYygiYVnlKY8o8_3F7loqPIojjxPsNPUudMi80Df1v1A8i_BgrVAsEID6gvt9vJivRuO93eYWHHHTEy_U/s1600/mail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXlnegAcxhJN9OnPdXhaLNwsc_2LhO6Nv1f1lGM8G5dmEqh9e1OcaXSRHznAYygiYVnlKY8o8_3F7loqPIojjxPsNPUudMi80Df1v1A8i_BgrVAsEID6gvt9vJivRuO93eYWHHHTEy_U/s1600/mail.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-34764793134269622402012-06-05T06:58:00.001-07:002012-06-05T06:58:25.848-07:00Conquering the mindOne more day<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012/stage-6-rothrock-tussey-mountain/results">Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 6: Rothrock Tussey Mountain</a><br />
<br />
Conquering the mind<br />
<br />
Well its down to one more day. I can definitely say I am ready for it. It has been a tough week. Probably more mentally than physically.<br />
<br />
My body is sore and tired, but my mind is extremely tired. It is such a battle to put yourself in the mindset to crush yourself each day. It could be so easy to let the sensibility of the mind allow you to slow down.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
"Yo, ya know you really don't have to ride that fast. It hurts you fool, slow down. No, No don't you dare go after that wheel.".</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I beat my mind down and stayed focused for the course. I won the stage today and continue to keep the leader's jersey. .</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/one-more-day/225433" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jeb and Molly have been the local mascots all week" height="320" src="http://cdn4.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/06/02/1/dogs_1_600.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
We missed the storms during today's ride, but will pay for it with sunshine and MUD tomorrow. Mountain biking is so much fun!.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Our camp has had two mascots all week: Jeb and Molly. So calming to reach down to pet them and allow them to remind you how simple and fun life can be. .</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Off to bed. Sweet dreams...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cheryl Sornson may have the GC locked up" height="212" src="http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/06/02/1/cheryl_sornson_may_have_the_gc_locked_up_600.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheryl Sornson may have the GC locked up <br />
Photo: © AELandes Photography<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-90376539331644406162012-06-05T06:48:00.001-07:002012-06-05T06:48:30.182-07:00Up, coffee, feed, gather, race, rinse, repeatUp, coffee, feed, gather, race, rinse, repeat<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012/stage-5-r-b-winter-state-park/results">Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 5: R.B. Winter State Park</a><br />
<br />
In the groove at the Trans-Sylvania Epic<br />
<br />
Cherries<br />
<br />
That was the subject line of an e-mail from my husband, Lee. HMMM, wonder what that is about. Well it turns out that the cherry trees on our property are booming with lovely yummy cherries. I miss home.<br />
<br />
Hump day is over, and I am excited about the last few days of this race. It has been a tough one. I know that I am a strong rider, but it is hard to accept that I am elite enough to be where I am right now. I truly have to fight back thoughts of not belonging and only being lucky. Some of the other ladies have some pretty impressive backgrounds that give them a fighting edge. I hope to be aggressive and competitive enough to pull this through.<br />
<br />
However, I bet no other rider got a phone call and an e-mail from their 12-year-old son to discuss the pros and cons joining band or chorus next year in school. He is not feeling it and this Mom believes it to be important. Recently he has gotten the mountain bike bug and is all about it. It could be easy to let riding and competing take over your life. I like balance.<br />
<br />
Yesterday's stage took some fight out of all of us. It was supposed to be a little lighter, but it took a lot of energy. People are tired and sore. It was also a lot of mud to deal with. Sorry bike and mechanics.<br />
<br />
The routine of stage racing is taking over and draining as well. Up, coffee, feed, gather, sign in, race your heart out, rinse, repeat. It's the rinsing and repeating that is the toughest. Although we here at the CF compound have some luxuries there are some that are missing like a laundry. Should have spent that extra dime on the service. Fortunately the sting of the race is soothed with the summer camp atmosphere and attitude of all involved. Especially that Ray Adams character, all you have to do is look at his shirt and your reminded that this is vacation. The venues always offer a lake or pond to cool the stress of the race and tell war stories with your comrades. It truly is a summer camp for mountain bikers. Definitely worth the week off of work.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/up-coffee-feed-gather-race-rinse-repeat/225376" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=" Mechanics Shane and Matt stay up late to take care of Team CF's bikes during the Trans-Sylvania Epic " src="http://cdn3.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/06/01/2/mechanics_2_150.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I again have to give kudos to our mechanics. They have been dealing with a lot of bikes. There has been broken wheels, broken bikes, tires to change and everything else thrown in between. While I'm tucked in for the night they are still working. They always wake up with a smile and never complain of their chores. We are very lucky to have Shane and Matt taking care of us.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br />Well today I broke the curse and took the stage win and added five minutes on my overall GC lead. I hooted and hollered when I crossed the line. Thankfully Zach Adams was there to share in my short lived glory. Oh and our sweet Kaitlyn again finished a stage. Truly inspirational.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn0.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/06/01/2/cheryl_sornson_extended_her_lead_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) extended her lead" border="0" height="212" src="http://cdn0.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/06/01/2/cheryl_sornson_extended_her_lead_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) extended her lead <br />
<br />
Photo: © AELandes Photography<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /> </div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-73775075564130246452012-06-05T06:21:00.000-07:002012-06-05T06:21:46.393-07:00Slipping and sliding around Raystown<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012/stage-4-raystown-lake/results">Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 4: Raystown Lake </a><br />
<br />
Keeping the GC lead during a slick stage 4<br />
<br />
<br />
We woke up to beaytiful skies and cool temperatures. Too bad it rained like hell last night.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/slipping-and-sliding-around-raystown/225244" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Muddy girls after stage 4" src="http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/31/2/muddy_girls_photo_credit_jennifer_smith_150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy girls after stage 4 <br />
Photo credit © Jennifer Smith<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Raystown was slick today. I never equated those trails with mud, but now I know. It made for more resistance, lots of slippy sliding, and a total mud bath for body and bike.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Regardless of the mess, the trials at Raystown provide lots of fun twisty pump track style terrain that puts a smile on your face. Well that is until the momentum ends and the course sends you up a grassy climb.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
I continue to hold the leaders jersey, but lost about 15 seconds to Sue Haywood. She won the stage by pulling a great super D finish. It is sort of a repeating story. I hope to make it different tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow is a short stage, but a technical one that will wear you out.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/slipping-and-sliding-around-raystown/225240" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kaitlyn (Team CF) speaks about her team and what it's like to race with cystic fibrosis" height="151" src="http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/05/31/2/kaitlyn_600.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlyn (Team CF) speaks about her team and what it's like to race with cystic fibrosis <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Our Epic team, Team CF, continues in first place with key rider Kaitlyn finishing yet another stage. Her rides are much more exciting than ours. Today our team mechanics teamed up with her for her last lap around Raystown. They had a blast. She has been absolutely amazing. She is so full of life and keeps us all smiling. At awards tonight she talked to the crowd about how our team was created and why. Most importantly she discussed how important it is for those with CF to exercise in order to keep their lungs functioning properly. She thanked the bicycling community for their support and she is proud to be a part of it.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/slipping-and-sliding-around-raystown/225240" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The women's podium on the Raystown Lake stage" src="http://cdn3.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/31/2/women_s_podium_150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The women's podium on the Raystown Lake stage <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="row">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-62049865220505694692012-06-05T06:03:00.001-07:002012-06-05T06:07:55.047-07:00A measured approachA measured approach<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012/stage-3-bald-eagle-coburn/results">Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 3: Bald Eagle Coburn </a><br />
<br />
Day 3 proves tough but there's plenty left in the tank<br />
<br />
Spin, Spin, Spin… Today involved a lot of pedaling. It was a road stage for sure. It involved scenic country gravel, pavement and some singletrack mixed in. A dry day, but the sun was out in full force turning the heat on us.<br />
<br />
I woke up feeling a bit uneasy. I wasn’t sure what the day would have in store. Fortunately, I got a good start and settled out with only Sue Haywood. Another day of us working it out together was in store. We were able to work with a group and then in the last five miles we took off together and wished for the finish to be soon. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/a-measured-approach/225136" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Time for some post race recovery" src="http://cdn4.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/30/1/recovery_150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for some post race recovery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The finish included a bit of downhill singletrack where Sue was able to put the hammer down on me. I stayed close and finished a few seconds back. Would have been nice to win the stage, but I did defend the leaders jersey. I hope to be able to do the same tomorrow. I’m getting tired as I am sure we all are. Today, although we raced I do believe I was able to conserve a bit to put out later in the week. Each day left includes some technical, skilled riding. I’ll need to be focused and recover well.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Lots of cool happenings around Camp CF. Today is Dr. Jim Wilson’s birthday (he is the founder of team CF). We helped him celebrate with Little Debbie’s shortcake rollups. He celebrated his birthday with a third place finish today in the Men’s 50+ category. Our Epic Team is also in first place.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/a-measured-approach/225135" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dr. Jim Wilson celebrates his birthday" src="http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/30/1/jim_150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Jim Wilson celebrates his birthday <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<li class="row"><br /></li>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/a-measured-approach/225134" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Team CF on top" src="http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/30/1/epic_team_150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team CF on top <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Kaitlyn has finished each stage so far and our mechanics continue to do an awesome job keeping up with all the bikes and working the feed zones each day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-77925811774552145012012-06-05T05:52:00.000-07:002012-06-05T06:06:54.842-07:00A wet rocks kind of dayA wet rocks kind of a day<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012/stage-2-rothrock-coopers-gap/results">Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 2: Rothrock Cooper’s Gap </a><br />
Sornson races to stage win and takes over lead on day 2<br />
<br />
<br />
It rained hard last night. I tried not to think about it. My teammate got a message from her coach this morning: "Have fun in the mud." Oh boy here we go...<br />
<br />
And wet it was. Every rock was slick with rain and its own sweat. Yes, it was steamy hot today as well. Stage 2 treated us to a 42-mile jaunt through rocky lushness with some road thrown in. At the start, I was able to get a jump, but as soon as we got into the singletrack, Sue Haywood came up on me.<br />
<br />
We rode together for most of the day until I was able to shake her at around mile 28. I wasn't sure I had it in me. She is riding really strong these days and her wet rock riding skills are amazing. I guess mine aren't that bad either.<br />
<br />
I'm really stoked to have won the stage and take over the leader's jersey. I will do my best to keep riding strong, but each day holds something different, and we all have different strengths. There is still so much left, and these ladies have sweet smiles attached to very strong legs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/a-wet-rocks-kind-of-a-day/225106" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Good morning from the Trans-Sylvania Epic" height="200" src="http://cdn4.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/29/2/img_20120528_074045_1_150.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Good morning from the Trans-Sylvania Epic<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My Specialized Epic was the perfect choice for today. Thanks to team CF's mechanics Shane and Matt, it ran flawlessly. They are our lifeline this week. Even kids in the campground are leaving their bikes for tune-ups from these guys. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) is now in the lead of the women's race after a storming ride in today's stage." height="213" src="http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/05/29/2/sorenson_600.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) is now in the lead of the women's race after a storming ride in today's stage.<br />
<br />
Photo: © AELandes Photography<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-9822872642122187652012-06-05T05:04:00.000-07:002012-06-05T05:04:19.511-07:00So close in the prologue<h1>
So close in the prologue</h1>
<dl class="meta">
<dt>Looking forward to longer stages</dt>
</dl>
<div id="content_main">
<div class="gallerybox">
<img alt="Cheryl Sornson's home for the week at the Trans-Sylvania Epic" src="http://cdn4.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/28/2/img_20120527_183155_220.jpg" /></div>
<div class="gallerybox">
Cheryl Sornson's home for the week at the Trans-Sylvania Epic</div>
<div class="gallerybox">
<br /></div>
TSE has lots of options. Not only are there different categories to race depending on the experience you want, there are also many different lodging options. They range from home-sweet-home for those that are local, cozy little cabins, not so cozy littler cabins, rustic cabins, bunk lodges, RVs, and then there is the hardcore in tents. Team CF finds itself in a cozy little cabin.<br />
<br />
One of your team members, Kaitlyn Broadhurst, who lives with CF, is riding on an Epic Team. This week is a great challenge for Kaitlyn, and she is stoked to take it on. A documentary is being made about her journey. Some footage was taken while she trained with Kristen Gavin (Team CF Elite) back home in Philadelphia. The remainder of the footage will be taken here at the race. The camera man is only able to film on Wednesday, so until then, Kaitlyn is outfitted with Go Pro cameras and will film some footage directly from her perspective. Pretty cool.<br />
<br />
Today was the first stage, which was a 11+ mile time trial. It was pretty darn hard to say the least. It had all kinds of things thrown in: road, singletrack climbs, rocky twisty singletrack, fast descents, wet muck, and even a bit of a trials course. I skipped out on the tricks. I saw Sue Haywood ride the big tire mound. Sweet. <br />
<br />
I rode as well as I could, but it is hard to keep the 'I should have ridden harder here or there' out of my head. As I write this I do not know the results. I believe it will be close. [<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012/stage-1-bald-eagle-prologue/results">Cheryl finished second to Sue Haywood by three seconds</a> - ed.] Lots of riding ahead of us and looking forward to a longer stage tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/photos/so-close-in-the-prologue/224884"><img alt="Kaitlyn Broadhurst and the Team CF Epic Team" height="149" src="http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/05/28/2/537601_10150992290333760_501273759_12224120_438447700_n_600.jpg" width="200" /></a>Kaitlyn Broadhurst and the Team CF Epic Team<br />
<br />
<img alt="Kaitlyn Broadhurst and her Go Pro camera equipment." height="200" src="http://cdn0.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/05/28/2/img_20120527_135539_600.jpg" width="149" />Kaitlyn Broadhurst and her Go Pro camera equipment.</div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-68449348334893238292012-06-05T04:53:00.001-07:002012-06-05T04:55:31.169-07:00Pre-Race monkey brain<h1>
Pre-race monkey brain</h1>
<dl class="meta">
<dt>Sornson gears up for an epic, week-long MTB stage race</dt>
</dl>
<div id="content_main">
<div class="gallerybox">
</div>
As I sit here I am unsure what to do. So what do I decide? Let us begin this thing.<br />
The <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trans-sylvania-epic-2012">Trans-Sylvania Epic</a> (TSE) is consuming much of my brain right now. Mostly with things such as "I have to remember this or that"; "I have this to do before..."; "I can't forget to do this when I get back..."; "I also agreed to blog, what was I thinking!"; "I'm never this much of wreck prior to 100s"; "Am I just freaking out due to my poor luck last weekend, duh that's only part of it...Top notch women's field to line up for Trans-Sylvania Epic is the main part".<br />
All will be so much better once work is behind me, I'm on the road, and the race begins. It will be such an exciting week.<br />
Of course, someone will win and the others will appear to have lost, but I don't think that will be the case at TSE. There will be no losers and only great memorable times shared.<br />
The racing will be hard, competitive and will bring out the best in us all.<br />
I'll let ya know how it goes.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Cheryl Sornson's bikes get some love ahead of the Trans-Sylvania Epic" src="http://cdn3.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/05/26/2/img_20120526_091139_220.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Cheryl Sornson's bikes get some love ahead of the Trans-Sylvania Epic<br />
<div class="blog">
<dl id="author">
<dt>Author</dt>
<dd class="author">Cheryl Sornson's Trans-Sylvania Epic Blog</dd></dl>
Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) is racing the 2012 Trans-Sylvania Epic in and around State College, Pennsylvania. Seven days of racing will change things up for her usual 100-miler and other one-day endurance events.<br />
Stay tuned here on <em>Cyclingnews </em>to follow the adventures of Sornson as she takes on a top-notch elite women's endurance field through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania.<br />
The Trans-Sylvania Epic runs from Sunday, May 27 to until Saturday, June 2.</div>
</div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-91518232154172102582012-05-09T18:59:00.005-07:002012-05-09T19:04:13.628-07:00A Family Outing<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Sornson’s made the trip to Iron Hill this past weekend. I will tell this story in pictures.</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/37709326-IMG_5598.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1320" height="300" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/37709326-IMG_5598-199x300.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; float: left; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="199" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1324" height="168" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/546400_3872276243162_1166330337_33700107_569827418_n-300x168.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1319" height="300" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/37709325-IMG_5489-199x300.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="199" /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1323" height="224" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/photo-2-300x224.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/37709327-IMG_5662-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1321" height="300" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/37709327-IMG_5662-199x300.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="199" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/photo-1-300x224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1322" height="224" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/photo-1-300x224.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Good times, Great Memories!</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</span>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-84763303613697229202012-05-02T17:24:00.003-07:002012-05-02T17:24:30.131-07:00Drive, Cohutta, Drive, Maximus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<h1 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></h1>
<img alt="DSC_8426" class="attachment-single-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" height="265" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/34-400x265.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" title="DSC_8426" width="400" /><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This past weekend proved to be glorious. I know that I have a winner’s high, but I do believe that even without a double win I’d still be singing its praises. The weather, the long yet painless drive, the beautiful scenery in the Cherokee National Forest, the flow of buff and rocky single track trails, and all of the truly amazing people tipped the scale and put me in awe of life itself.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It was slated to be a long weekend and I knew I needed to concentrate on one moment at a time. It was ambitious, maybe warped, but totally doable. For the second year in a row my dear friend Roger, my husband Lee and myself would drive to TN on Thursday, Pre-ride on Friday, Race Cohutta 100 on Saturday, drive back to Pa Saturday thru Sunday, then race the Michaux Maximus on Sunday. Fortunately, my husband was only joy riding all weekend and not racing so we could count on him for the most evil driving shifts. He is a saint!</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I was nervous about what was to come on Saturday due to the distance and climbing. I had yet to do any such numbers this year. Having prepared with a lot of hard work, all that was left was to let go and believe. I had to trust that my body would respond.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The start of the race was very fast and sketchy up the paved road. There were hand bumps and tires rubbing. Fortunately we all stayed upright. There was a bit of a match to get into the single track, but after some elbowing I was able to place myself directly where I wanted to be. I felt very comfortable and not at all fatigued from the effort of the sprint to the trail. Pushing back the urge to go too fast I hung back a bit and rode conservatively until the first fire road climb. Once on the fire road I notched up my speed and got into a good climbing rhythm. It was enough to form a gap between myself and the other women.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I continued on and used other competitors as gauges to how I was holding up. As long as I was passing and not being passed I was good. Getting encouragement and giving encouragement from and to the other riders helped along the way as well. I did my best to stay motivated by staying in the moment. Using the course description and elevation profile, I chunked the course off by sections and as each section was complete I gave myself a pat on the back. I knew that not one section could crush me. They were temporary and would eventually end. Once I crossed the last bridge of the last single track and headed towards the road I looked over my shoulder and then knew it was mine. A crushing sense of relief engulfed me. All the bottled up emotions I did my best to squelch over the last 8.5 hours came rushing up. Staying motivated and positive and not allowing dark gremlin thoughts to enter my mind took its toll. But I conquered it and now I could let it go.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It was now time to consider the next moment. Be there for awards, clean up, pack up and head back to PA. We were able to leave TN around 6pm. Arriving home in PA about 3:30 am, we did some quick gear shuffle and then napped for about 2 hours. When we woke from our naps we were pleasantly greeted with sunshine, a true rarity for the Maximus. Despite the lack of good sleep and the tired feeling in my legs my spirits could not be brighter at the start of Sundays race. It was so good to see all the smiles on the racers faces. We all knew deep down that this was going to be a great day and we were in for a truly special Michaux treat. The trails were in spectacular condition and the race promoters strung together a sweet loop that included some old school routes. It was dreamy. I felt a little sluggish at first, but soon found a groove. I could not believe how much fun I was having. Once finished I was gushing with good vibe and smiling huger than ever. I was not alone in my feelings. People in every direction were in good spirits and loving the day.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A huge thanks goes out to all who rooted for me and sent positive things my way. I am also extremely humbled by all the wishes of congrats. You are all so awesome.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A congrats goes out to my two teammates Kristen and Nikki for completing their firs 100 miler and for coming in 3rd and 5th place. Additional congrats goes to Christian for his second place ride and Cary for his 6th place finish. Team CF rocks!</div>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_1279" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dsc_0655.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1279" height="200" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dsc_0655-300x200.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-17315676838764511502012-04-19T07:08:00.005-07:002012-04-19T07:16:26.052-07:00Michaux Trail Cup<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JNKepA4XRKsDpwTj7pBZtgG9CfBV4084UfTxeAkfRXQg09he75mnfWNcSWAA2shyBqa-7pknwlJbyut5v01e-nODtYPDs2mHWhccJgVaxgDRFm7tivrPAuTg_Phhu7sNfvnfb4pjQGk/s1600/540302_2952805420822_1282001596_32149224_988372977_n+michaux+trail+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JNKepA4XRKsDpwTj7pBZtgG9CfBV4084UfTxeAkfRXQg09he75mnfWNcSWAA2shyBqa-7pknwlJbyut5v01e-nODtYPDs2mHWhccJgVaxgDRFm7tivrPAuTg_Phhu7sNfvnfb4pjQGk/s200/540302_2952805420822_1282001596_32149224_988372977_n+michaux+trail+cup.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp trail near finish<br />
photo credit: Chris Heershap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow! What a weekend. I went into it with no definite plans
or expectations. The weather looked good so there were many options. It was a
nice slow day on Saturday. Got lots of loose ends tied and completed a run and
ride according to plan. All was done with no time restrictions or with any sense
of urgency. This doesn't happen often for me, so I was enjoying it immensely.
Later in the day I was expecting <a href="http://karenpotterbikeracing.blogspot.com/">Karen Potter </a>who was traveling from Mass. to
race in the Michaux Trail Cup near my home. I was playing host, but had yet
decided if I was going to play along on race day with her. I knew it would be a
good tune up for what's to come, but I was really enjoying no pre-race thoughts
or pressure. Ok, I thought, I'll race, but I'm not going to get worked up over
it. I will just let my body do what it does best and not force it. I never felt
so calm before a race. It was strange. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyjXh6kZzcdJ3H-7VesV_-umjtQs8n01yFNLvvVB14zqD_RgM4OYvUGUdYDKoRWLd3ug811i9ZCd1QGlMVAshIyMQ0tchJXMEuQFgp4y1dCVtHJDUCJhYAJwlzwAe1QK52u47OIMIYUA/s1600/37236860-MichauxTrailCup_096-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyjXh6kZzcdJ3H-7VesV_-umjtQs8n01yFNLvvVB14zqD_RgM4OYvUGUdYDKoRWLd3ug811i9ZCd1QGlMVAshIyMQ0tchJXMEuQFgp4y1dCVtHJDUCJhYAJwlzwAe1QK52u47OIMIYUA/s200/37236860-MichauxTrailCup_096-150x150.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">powerline climb<br />
photo credit: Tori Sulewski</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know the area, but I had not done a Michaux race promoted
by <a href="http://www.fastforwardracingproductions.com/">Zach Adams</a>. Not knowing which trails or what direction he planned to torture
us had my curiosity peaked. It turned out to be a good course and very
different from the summer race of the Michaux Endurance Series, which is held
in the same area. Zach had us riding trails I normally don't ride, trails I
ride in a different direction and he also added in some fire roads that I had
not ridden in a long time or probably never before. It was refreshing and fun
to do something totally different in an area I ride often. Endless
possibilities of mountain bike bliss, is what makes Michaux, well Michaux. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Michaux Trail Cup offered up lots of rocky singletrack
that required focus, climbs that challenged your guts, and descents that made
it all worthwhile. For not expecting much out of the weekend, I ended up with
more than I could have ever conjured up to expect. I felt amazing riding my
bike during the race. It all clicked. I was so psyched to be pushing the pace
without feeling turned inside out. After a 2 minute separation from the open
men, the ladies started together. On the first descent I caught up to some men
and started passing. Soon <a href="http://pfunwithpflug.blogspot.com/">Gerry Pflug</a> came by me and I thought to myself, “I'm
gonna hang with him as long as I can”. My grit to hang continued for most of
the race. What fun. Another highlight was passing by my son and husband while
they were out riding. Lee exclaimed, "Your 4th overall, you’re killing it
baby!" Then Levi gave me a fist bump. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYSfNeHho0NBE9vbNWsAxq-EzZzs4bHl11NxyW-Kc9TdRer9TXqsb9fjAgpvVvNJeBI5BwsOW9OyyjMYpsycstoDdEuJ07LKiCRVRsjNrLwhq8-mKgbbYY-VUOD2Y4A7amFWuP1swVpw/s1600/522165_2918327846133_1498873784_32183023_325608536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYSfNeHho0NBE9vbNWsAxq-EzZzs4bHl11NxyW-Kc9TdRer9TXqsb9fjAgpvVvNJeBI5BwsOW9OyyjMYpsycstoDdEuJ07LKiCRVRsjNrLwhq8-mKgbbYY-VUOD2Y4A7amFWuP1swVpw/s200/522165_2918327846133_1498873784_32183023_325608536_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">creative podium<br />
photo credit: karen Potter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had no idea I was that far ahead. I didn't really remember
passing that many people. Eventually, I faded a little behind Gerry but he and
I had managed to pass one more to come in 2nd and 3rd overall. Gerry was first
SS and I was first female. A very exhilarating day for the memory bank!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I encourage everyone to come and enjoy the trails at Michaux
state forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are three more
mountain bike events scheduled this year that, from experience, will not disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out <a href="http://www.gettysburgbicycle.com/michaux/">Race Michaux</a> to learn more about
the Michaux Endurance Series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is held
in the spring (northern michaux), summer (central michaux), and fall (southern
michaux).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each race is unique and is
held in a different area of the forest and does not repeat any trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope to see you out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> T</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ill next time.... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz1S6lWBiBP4s9esZofSDhyphenhyphenY0RtV931hal507lez5pjtSe2EEoJSLk-PE4jq2IlKxt7LHCzdqyG1BulySF-zSmY3yNn5egSo8bv-ueawKwV5gfWJD4tobCeCqsxTTyC1axmNehRl63_M/s1600/37236856-MichauxTrailCup_099-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz1S6lWBiBP4s9esZofSDhyphenhyphenY0RtV931hal507lez5pjtSe2EEoJSLk-PE4jq2IlKxt7LHCzdqyG1BulySF-zSmY3yNn5egSo8bv-ueawKwV5gfWJD4tobCeCqsxTTyC1axmNehRl63_M/s200/37236856-MichauxTrailCup_099-150x150.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-4840595630645992222012-04-10T11:36:00.001-07:002012-04-13T05:30:26.909-07:00A Tale of the Dragon that got crushedHaving opted out of the 4 hour mudfest the weekend prior, I was left with an edginess that needed to be calmed. Not a day later a received a text enticing me to race the Dragons Tale in NewCastle Va. I had been there before in 2010. I remembered that although not too long mileage wise the course made up for it by offering lots of steep climbing and hiking. However, what I remembered most was the awesome tight, narrow, mossy, off-camber Appalachian sidehill singletrack that run’s a tight and rocky spine like ridgeline. Perfect, I love to ride stuff like that!<br />
<br />
And love it I did. I loved it enough to crush it a whole 26 minutes faster this time around! ”Hey Churtle”, shouted Sue, “You did it in 4:20.” That time earned me 1st place female, 15th overall, and lots of laughs. I felt amazing. Now I need to harness it all back in and prepare to unleash again at the NUE opener Cohutta 100.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahKAjxdjB1RX08hyXyTnKI6rHhWBEVxOnheWb20umBNFzYr8stuuBI52hGWDPU0dRp2HnxeWEAuUkUJF8unP4DsvlNvH1t5oguivwWVkAz4w0pl-iLI2nKAMoKW_wkgo0QOPW_BBSvIc/s1600/557418_2958137467806_1092594165_32177844_1842298866_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahKAjxdjB1RX08hyXyTnKI6rHhWBEVxOnheWb20umBNFzYr8stuuBI52hGWDPU0dRp2HnxeWEAuUkUJF8unP4DsvlNvH1t5oguivwWVkAz4w0pl-iLI2nKAMoKW_wkgo0QOPW_BBSvIc/s320/557418_2958137467806_1092594165_32177844_1842298866_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
A big shout out to <a href="http://www.mtntouring.com/">Shenandoah Mountain Touring</a> for putting on a great race. They are always first class. Check out their website for more race recap, pictures and video.Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-42701372136985393772012-02-29T11:49:00.004-08:002012-02-29T19:00:43.543-08:00Southern CrossAnd so it begins, as it practically ended. Six months later I found myself in Dahlonega, GA again, but not on a moutain bike. I was ultra cross racing! Wasn't so sure I would embrace the vibe, but I did. It was so refreshing to be competing in something kinda like moutainbiking, but not, kinda like 100's but not. It was exciting. Exactly what I needed to fuel my motivation and determination for the 2012 season. Anybody got any water? <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247861-Southern-X-2012/video/612786-Southern-X-Cheryl-Sornson-1st">http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247861-Southern-X-2012/video/612786-Southern-X-Cheryl-Sornson-1st</a> (Fortunately my first two bottles were filled with <a href="http://CarboRocket.com/">CarboRocket</a> which got me thru just fine, thanks Brad.)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uF2VGkSk-ihX_y2NhXgicncLsP0OHKNTolRnWcVb_8EhWpaCDwdTMPljDgiXtrT278NUrdyXl18VrcVL7qjXenDnPinjepdlMfyYSDuJxmt0pT9DuqaM-UiUTdZXu2jpc3gyr4EFPuc/s1600/1202Weaver-110-1447-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uF2VGkSk-ihX_y2NhXgicncLsP0OHKNTolRnWcVb_8EhWpaCDwdTMPljDgiXtrT278NUrdyXl18VrcVL7qjXenDnPinjepdlMfyYSDuJxmt0pT9DuqaM-UiUTdZXu2jpc3gyr4EFPuc/s200/1202Weaver-110-1447-M.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
I left for GA knowing that I felt good and I was prepared. My preparedness had to do with the wonderful resources I have surrounding me. This winter I began working with a new coach, <a href="http://www.sublimeathletics.com/Home_Page.html">Chris Newell</a>, from Sublime Athletics. He has been wonderful in helping me change things up and set new goals. Along with adding intensity to my riding, he is helping me add in swimming and running to prepare me for my introduction to Exterra racing. To add intensity to my riding, I have been working very hard a couple of nights a week at <a href="http://www.kelleyacres.net/">Kelly Acres Speed Shop</a>. The speed shop is definitely intense. I am also thankful to my wonderful teammate, <a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/">Selene</a>, who offered up a cross bike for me to race. Without it I don't believe I would have been as fast. Further thanks go out to<a href="http://www.gettysburgbicycle.com/"> Gettysburg Bike Shop</a> for their complete patience with all my needs. They helped me get a great fit on the bike and set up my wheels to be tubeless. Their work helped me race with a bike that was perfectly suited for the day. <br />
At the Southern Cross I placed 1st open women and 28th overall. I believed I could do it and I did. I will continue to believe. As I have said before, it may seem like the same thing each year, I ride my bike. However it is so much more. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-75447404605109439952011-12-01T12:21:00.000-08:002011-12-01T12:21:20.130-08:00SpiceSpice is nice. <br />
<br />
Letting go of competition as the leaves changed, I changed my routine by spending my days with middle school students helping them find their way as they sometimes somehow also help me find mine, spending early mornings doing master swim workouts, 5 to 7 mile runs, yoga, lifting. I then come home and spend time with family. Most fun of all has been riding with Lee and Levi. Levi is growing up so fast and now loves to ride road bikes. It has been a blast. He is no slacker and our latest adventure was a 35 mile charity ride. His first group ride. He did great. with him getting older he is also getting taller. I was able to outfit him on my 26'r carbon full suspension era the other day to tackle Michaux. Lee and I were a bit worried about the technical level, but did our best to find the tamest route. We ended up riding up the blue, skipped sting, but then went down little bastard to the waterfall, around loon, up the fire road to yellow hill. Up to the top and then down one of the best downhills in the forest. He shredded it!! All in all it was 10 miles and two hours. Besides a couple of steeps down little bastard and up yellow hill, he rode a clean ride. Well, once the laurel took him out and sent him over the bars, but it was all in fun. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9voKNWfVHgfADqyVE66GeUwudbHTcFhIiWQ8ZXaJsVSchHQ51lDafRMuhWq3mw7RY65R8axidjsudM39GH7exSA2VtkNa1lvR2SFWiryeVmmXs1Ha2t2w0xJrINpoxBtmI9jZJ6X5Oc/s1600/270089_10150224561769250_556049249_7096736_7223012_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9voKNWfVHgfADqyVE66GeUwudbHTcFhIiWQ8ZXaJsVSchHQ51lDafRMuhWq3mw7RY65R8axidjsudM39GH7exSA2VtkNa1lvR2SFWiryeVmmXs1Ha2t2w0xJrINpoxBtmI9jZJ6X5Oc/s640/270089_10150224561769250_556049249_7096736_7223012_n.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_981656354"></span><span id="goog_981656355"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAvVAe2qGnxFqS47YqmzuBUq2ZVE-a6hPTRgVfHSJpewDqBvMXhq8tT7F5iNoLs2LoQH1zNMMslBp6dhCYqkDwOERP_e09W3fmFLMNbaSUZeCqkkc6Mlg70B8WVACp7edPkRw1GALhcQ/s1600/304051_10150367615669250_556049249_8104953_451200064_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAvVAe2qGnxFqS47YqmzuBUq2ZVE-a6hPTRgVfHSJpewDqBvMXhq8tT7F5iNoLs2LoQH1zNMMslBp6dhCYqkDwOERP_e09W3fmFLMNbaSUZeCqkkc6Mlg70B8WVACp7edPkRw1GALhcQ/s400/304051_10150367615669250_556049249_8104953_451200064_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-74799549803152365672011-08-24T14:36:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:36:31.744-07:00Fooling aroundFools Gold 100 is a hard race to commit to. Racing 100 miles in Ga in late August just doesn't sound right. It even sounds worse when it takes an 11 hour drive to get there. I had reasons to go. I was still off work for the summer and could take the time. It is a beautiful area to visit. My son wanted to take a road trip with me. I had some inner demons daring me to race against them. Never had a win at the Fools and would like to go for it. And lastly, to chase NUE series points for second place overall. It has been a tough fight this year against the very talented Amanda Carey who has the number one spot in the NUE series. I did not want to waste all that work by giving up on second place. <br />
<br />
I had some reservations about traveling 11 hours with a 11 year old. I was also worried how I would deal with an 11 year old while also dealing with my pre-race preparations and nerves. I decided to put all the angst aside and roll with it. It was a great time for both of us. Levi volunteered to help the race promoters at registration and then again on race day. This kept him busy and entertained while I dealt with the race. The pool at the race venue was also a plus on his fun meter for the weekend. As for the driving, he couldn't assist with that, but he did keep me entertained enough to make the time go by easily. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vbguLVMiNmnkOqThGW2BxjZrLVRvi1iHr-woyVWFHZ-ZMTrKl9MXaNxTCXgq0rk2FkP3jq8LyzfytEd89LVStIEw25HKmRCO6RCaomogPIUogg1PMJSn8c7FL0P6l7UXIvW53yKvXao/s1600/300877_10150288873289250_556049249_7593070_2363645_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vbguLVMiNmnkOqThGW2BxjZrLVRvi1iHr-woyVWFHZ-ZMTrKl9MXaNxTCXgq0rk2FkP3jq8LyzfytEd89LVStIEw25HKmRCO6RCaomogPIUogg1PMJSn8c7FL0P6l7UXIvW53yKvXao/s320/300877_10150288873289250_556049249_7593070_2363645_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I went into the Fools race feeling rested, hydrated and determined. Determined to put in a strong race start to finish. Determined to let it hurt, welcome the hurt, laugh at the hurt. My determination paid off with a win and a new inspiration to be proud and grateful that I have the talent, ability, and willpower to ride strong. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwgTotSaAFnACyCiwbp9r3ghnX7px5SHRP69Ft0Hg1LKnYzvxRCoIDfEupRNouQtxuWP1DQhLAV0jSNcTc1fYoDVITFm8kfJhjZIhg6YnBvkCnyp5wDHa013IRTJ_BOcShr6kIu_4rEI/s1600/IMG_20110820_182258-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwgTotSaAFnACyCiwbp9r3ghnX7px5SHRP69Ft0Hg1LKnYzvxRCoIDfEupRNouQtxuWP1DQhLAV0jSNcTc1fYoDVITFm8kfJhjZIhg6YnBvkCnyp5wDHa013IRTJ_BOcShr6kIu_4rEI/s1600/IMG_20110820_182258-300x225.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
It was a great weekend to catch up with great people and meet new great people. We shared our experience and tales of riding dreadful fire road climbs and fast rolling singletrack in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Good times!<br />
<br />
Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-43931622110379190762011-06-23T10:19:00.000-07:002011-06-23T10:19:31.939-07:00Good Times, Bad Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You know I have my share…. Not only was this the song in my head during the Lumberjack 100, but it also sums up the last three weeks.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It all started with the Mohican 100. It would be the 4th time I have competed in this race. Each race I have moved up on the podium. Finally, Churtle got the winning Turtle award!</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0357.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-796" height="225" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0357-300x225.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>The race itself was non-eventful. I felt great for the first half of the race and then the heat set in and my body slowed down. Fortunately I had a good enough lead that afforded me a gap that prevented any others from sneaking up on me. That happens another day.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Next up the Stoopid 50. This race has been on my radar for a long time. It just has not fit in my schedule. It is in State College PA and races along some great ridges. I love to rock crawl and swoop along those ridges. The day was perfect for me. Not too hot, a little rain to cool things off when it did get hot, and best of all a perfectly cold creek to soak my body right at the finish line.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I had a great start at this race. Being in front helped me stay ahead of the bumblers on the ridge and I got to ride it smoothly. Just look at me smile.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/249677_10150210339770749_747590748_7300731_3771129_n.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-802" height="300" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/249677_10150210339770749_747590748_7300731_3771129_n-225x300.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="225" /></a></div><div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_804" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"><a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/261956_112315265525258_100002403544367_118665_8190122_n.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-804" height="200" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/261956_112315265525258_100002403544367_118665_8190122_n-300x200.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Hiding in the front of the pack at start</div></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I finished the race 1st place for women and 23rd overall. My time was well better than what I expected. 4:44. I was hoping for 5. Rounding out the podium in 2nd and 3rd were my awesome teammates, Carolyn and Nikki. Go team CF.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/247891_112320295524755_100002403544367_118839_589178_n.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-805" height="200" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/247891_112320295524755_100002403544367_118839_589178_n-300x200.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; float: left; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some friends were concerned that I have been digging myself into a hole. Maybe I shouldn’t do three long races in a row. Haven’t I been expending myself since March with not much rest and going big. Yes, however I am like a kid in a candy shop and just want to do it all. Well until I can’t. Lumberjack put the brakes on for me.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Traveling to Manistee MI for the third time was a mix of charm and not so charming. It was a charm to spend time with some of my favorite peeps and it would be the last adventure for the threesome of Jeff, Roger and Cheryl. It wasn’t a charm in that I became confronted with having to admit that I am fatigued. Oh well, it happens the best of us.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leading up to the race I did get some quality rest in and all my preparations leading to race day were dialed. Morning of I felt relaxed and ready to put it out there. That I did indeed do on the first lap of the 33 mile lap course that was done 3 times. It was smooth sailing. I felt as though I was chainless for the first time in a long time. I cruised into the feed zone with Amanda after our smoking first lap and left with Amanda into the second lap. Not five minutes into the lap I began to feel wrong. My legs and HR were just not responding. It was the weirdest thing. Next dread entered my head. I wasn’t sure if I could even finish the lap. I willed myself around. Got into the feed the second time around and was relieved to hear that she was about 10 minutes up and the rest were maybe 10 back. Ok, I can do this I told myself. Just hold on pull yourself together and have fun on the last lap around. This lap proved better than the previous. Maybe it was my head space. There was no giving up now. It would all be over soon and I would finish. It seemed like forever to get to the aid station at mile 17. Once there I stopped to pour water on my head. I was getting really hot. As I did Karen Potter blazed by. I was her rabbit. I was chicked. Her energy left a mark on the trail. I half heartedly attempted to chase, but soon gave up. It was her day!</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/womens_podium_img_0741_600.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(36, 65, 97); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #244161; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-807" height="300" src="http://teamcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/womens_podium_img_0741_600-200x300.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cec4a9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Congrats to all that finished that beast of a race and to Amanda for the win. It can be so underestimated. Don’t let it fool you. Thank you to Karen for allowing me to drain her water and ice cubes at the finish line to cool me down. And another thanks to Carey for sharing her stash of cold coke. I usually don’t ever drink coke, but I needed it that day.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">The future holds a rest week and some. After that I am again loading up on adventures to spread awareness of the Team CF cause and cross items off my bucket list. I’ll let ya know how it goes.</div></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-78402107968535034732011-05-18T10:48:00.000-07:002011-05-18T15:59:52.947-07:00Silly Moe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Again it was one of those moments of "What was I thinking" as I prepared to make the journey to Mountain View Arkansas. My initial thoughts months ago were how awesome to ride a new 100 mile venue that has 50+ miles of singletrack designated as "epic" by the International Mountain Bike Association.. It also has the backing of Outside Magazine as being one of the "Top 20 Outdoor Destinations". I'm in baby! Fast forward to May 11th as trip details were being hashed out. It takes 17 hours. Oops, did not think about that long of a drive. Probably should have done it by plane. Although a totally doable drive, it would not be a leisurely trip considering family and work restraints required a quick swoop in and an even quicker swoop out. Fortunately I had <a href="http://trekmountain.typepad.com/king/the-schalk-diaries/">Jeff</a> along to share the burden of the journey. Unfortunately during our travels, Jeff suffered a family loss and was unable to share the burden on the way home. OUCH. My last NUE turned into a mini stage race and now this NUE was going to be one as well. Granted I would not be racing my bike on Sunday, but I would be pushing my physical limits to get myself back to PA by Sunday evening. All said and done it wasn't all that bad. All is good and I am back safe and sound happy with reflections of the weekend. Mountain view, Arkansas is a beautiful place and the trails are epic. It reminded me much of my home trails in Michaux. </div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxqyehO9SuyCniZLqKqjazQIiGqhDfVu5njJ7GvpuyqIK-6MeqUCcEqoZDFI0kWR9y0dqjEtC47PGDZKxjO-DNNpJCFavunNcxNtVrsrMIJGI7Sm3gtSz8Of0hPm34ECKBGGFwVKny_Q/s1600/1166911620-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxqyehO9SuyCniZLqKqjazQIiGqhDfVu5njJ7GvpuyqIK-6MeqUCcEqoZDFI0kWR9y0dqjEtC47PGDZKxjO-DNNpJCFavunNcxNtVrsrMIJGI7Sm3gtSz8Of0hPm34ECKBGGFwVKny_Q/s200/1166911620-thumb.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">syllamo trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The only real difference was the limestone that was super slippery when wet. In Michaux you often find traction on the rocks. That being said I did have high hopes for a great day out on the trails. It was definitely a "good" day, but not a great day. I had a very conservative start and did not seem to have the legs to redline it off the bat. Once I got going in the single track everything came together and I started feeling more like myself. It was fun to flow on the trails. There was lots of momentum to find out there. Yes, the first 13 miles were a bit slick, but if you played it smart you could get through it with no troubles. I felt good and I was even smiling. Then I came across Amanda who had gotten ahead however was now fixing a flat. One would think to attack. I'm not sure where my thought process was, but it wasn't on winning at all costs. The doubt that began to creep into my head couldn't be quieted. I wanted to stay smooth and smart to avoid blowing up. I knew that she would definitely be chomping at the bit to catch back up to me. I wanted to believe that I could stay away. Sometimes believing in yourself is quite exhausting, my doubt and confidence battled it out. I decided it was time to stop believing and to start doing. I just turned off my brain and found joy in riding the trail efficiently and smoothly. Sure enough, she caught up. We rode for a bit together then I let her pass. I was enjoying my ride and having fun regardless of who was in front or behind. After mile 50 I did get a bit tired while again riding the first section of singletrack we had previously rode at the beginning of the race. Luckily, it was a bit drier and not as slippery and I was more able to clear some of the tricky sections. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XzATCHd6LE3fI6YzKj-O9MYilPREUcD5ipnTvPs30g1ahWJYZtZcU2Dpm1ilpoUjX5MvxT6NEoj9Pyy2PD_hZ7WwocYtp_MFkWFjHhq98OZ8Mvd_ECsZNXofyesIABJmSc1j2-ChwpA/s1600/syllamoprivate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XzATCHd6LE3fI6YzKj-O9MYilPREUcD5ipnTvPs30g1ahWJYZtZcU2Dpm1ilpoUjX5MvxT6NEoj9Pyy2PD_hZ7WwocYtp_MFkWFjHhq98OZ8Mvd_ECsZNXofyesIABJmSc1j2-ChwpA/s320/syllamoprivate2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Then once I got to the final 13 mile singletrack loop, I found more energy knowing that it was a mainly smooth sail to the finish. In the end I placed second in a time of 7:50. The trails of the Syllamo 125K can be classified as punishing, however I found them to be enjoyable and if you can find a balance of finesse and efficiency you and your bike can survive it. I was definitely tired at the end and my hands hurt a little, but that was about it. My bike handled perfectly. I usually race "technical" races with full suspension. This race I instead rode the stumpjumper 29'r hardtail. I expected to experience pain all over my body the next day. My expectations were gladly not met and my bike smoothly rode over the bumpiest of sections. My only gear issue was some chainsuck as my chain and cogs got covered in mud and water. Lubing the chain at the aid stations relieved that hassle and allowed me to have a clean race. <br />
<br />
Reading my above words of not being completly spent after the race has led me to many "What ifs" Such as, "Am I again stuck in my comfort zone. Could I have pushed harder?" I do not have answers to those questions. I am not sure they even need answers. Gremlins that is what they are. The past two NUE's had been book ended with many other responsibilities in my life. Soon I will have a break in my work schedule for about 10 weeks. Times are a changing and being able to let one part of my brain and physical energy have a break will be extremely welcome.<br />
<br />
I will be regrettably missing the most hotly contested women's race at the TSE later this month due to work responsibilities. Tear it up ladies!! Next on my ballot is the Mohican 100. I have always wanted one of those trophies! No more wanting, it is time to take. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-75192445114160857952011-05-05T10:47:00.000-07:002011-05-05T10:47:55.276-07:00You are doing what?Yes, I am and yes I did. Luckily I wasn't alone. My friend <a href="http://rogeremasse.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/double-header/">Roger Masse</a> from 29r crew joined in the insanity. I just had my mind set on doing both events and it was a bummer the way they fell on the calendar. If there is a will there is a way. And away we went. <br />
<br />
First up was the Cohutta 100, the NUE series opening race. I was very excited to compete in this race. I finally felt that my part time gig as a bike racer could match up to the Pro ranks. I had put in many more miles than prior years and I had more than just some racing under my belt. Usually I am worried if I can even ride the 100 miles Cohutta has to offer. I was stoked. I gave it my all and came in a personal PR of 8:03. But it wasn't enough to overstep the ever powerful Amanda Carey. She is smoking. I did ride with her for awhile and felt great, but she turned up the heat after mile 30 and got away. There is a lot of should of's could of's that I am fighting off, but the bottom line is she is fast. I need to get out of a survival individual time trail mode and start being a little more aggressive. I was also surprised that I wasn't getting that "flying" feeling like I was hoping for. A lot of people asked if I was recovered from the Cape Epic. It was something I had not even considered. Maybe, Maybe not. Working on my mind games this year. My own mind that is! The season is long and I'm all in. Stay away <a href="http://susanhaywood.blogspot.com/2011/04/if-you-want-to-be-goodkeep-creeps-out.html#links">"CREEPS"!</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGDKO1MAOm3eGStJiK5tP3142gVYh1q4cbYIpEcj2p_7uPLRr9aE1Aiys3Vb-Up45P7c5EThizgWGy5MeMJU6WUKJM-GFu0idUKME1m6mjOAoJIwN3dpzlLkgqRbrty1WA2nIEC9D_vQ/s1600/cohutta.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGDKO1MAOm3eGStJiK5tP3142gVYh1q4cbYIpEcj2p_7uPLRr9aE1Aiys3Vb-Up45P7c5EThizgWGy5MeMJU6WUKJM-GFu0idUKME1m6mjOAoJIwN3dpzlLkgqRbrty1WA2nIEC9D_vQ/s1600/cohutta.bmp" /></a></div><br />
Next up <a href="http://www.gettysburgbicycle.com/michaux/">Michaux Maximus</a>. A 40 mile race held in Michaux State Forest. And not just any 40 mile race. It is 90% or more technical, rocky single track. So even on a good day I was looking at close to a 5 hour day. The Maximus is the first race of the Michaux Endurance Series. Michaux hosts my favorite trails I just could not pass up this first race since I planned on completing the series. <br />
<br />
It all seemed so simple. It is just like a two day stage race. No problem. I kept trying to ignore the fact that it took 10 hours to get to TN and then it would take another 10 hours to get back to PA. Sometimes the travel takes more of a toll than the racing. Fortunately, my husband Lee voluteered to help us out by tagging along to help divy up the driving. I am so grateful he came along. It was comforting to have him around and he was a trooper to take the witching hours of the drive from 2:00pm until 4:30 pm. We left TN after 6 pm and rolled into PA at 4:30 am. Roger and I rested for another hour and 1/2 and then took off for the start of the Maximus. We were feeling a little run over, but neither of us would call uncle. I think if we did not have each other it would have been very easy to stay home. Thank you Roger. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJtOiSJbYF2YYzA-965BBxeC2ZFuXvu_Zl5ibmvxFmiuNNSo5NnUVylLWRILDcyEaABds8haSOmbmgQ4aU5kh3bg_h_WQFx-7IZc7SF_Dy90jy-Uqz_wNX5DTXjU53xpUaVeZa3lCeQ8/s1600/maximus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJtOiSJbYF2YYzA-965BBxeC2ZFuXvu_Zl5ibmvxFmiuNNSo5NnUVylLWRILDcyEaABds8haSOmbmgQ4aU5kh3bg_h_WQFx-7IZc7SF_Dy90jy-Uqz_wNX5DTXjU53xpUaVeZa3lCeQ8/s320/maximus.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just as I tried to ignore the drive I also tried to ignore the weather. It ended up being a wet sloppy affair, but well worth all the effort. I love Michaux. Although I was tired and sore and the trails are unforgiving, I love to solve the puzzles the terrain throws at you. It also ended up being a special day because I spent it with a friend. That does not always happen. Usually you can find yourself all alone for most of the day. There were moments when we would have distance between us, but for the most part we were content with each others pace. However, we did agree that the finish was up for grabs. So toward the end of the race there was a long slog up a rooty "creek" That is where Sue tried to take it. I was matching her effort, but right at the top I went to change gears and got some chain suck. I stopped to make it right and she got away down the road towards the finish. I put my head down and sprinted at my target. Much to my surprise I caught her and then passed her right before we were to turn left into the finish chute. I took the inside line into the chute and came across some diagnol slippy roots. I could not stay in line and bobbled. Sure enough Sue took the outside and snuck by me. Oh well. Never did look at the finish chute prior to race start. Lesson learned. Regardless, I was stoked to battle it out and the day was a blast. I had visions of it being a horror show and it wasn't. Most of all I did not miss out on seeing all the good peeps, new and old, that find their way to Michaux. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzgEf244IAOZ-sQjPA_CCs8mf2U9w3Fg2xppZ4p4wLWoAcOcxmI82Sr9tuLFmfaH1vEOBUTEPGrRkGXYvh_k_8kjE5ufQdHvcQsToTqNmB4sZuZellIQ7IcYIxS_GAIfLPPvytK9eIgg/s1600/222146_18513michaux+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzgEf244IAOZ-sQjPA_CCs8mf2U9w3Fg2xppZ4p4wLWoAcOcxmI82Sr9tuLFmfaH1vEOBUTEPGrRkGXYvh_k_8kjE5ufQdHvcQsToTqNmB4sZuZellIQ7IcYIxS_GAIfLPPvytK9eIgg/s400/222146_18513michaux+rock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A big shout out to Specialized for making awesome bikes. For the Cohutta I opted to use the super light and quick s works 29'r hard tail. Super Sweet. For the Maximus I switched out to 26 inch wheel s works Era. That bike is fun, just as quick and a welcome squish for post 100 mile soreness.</div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-71097696601430747152011-04-23T11:12:00.000-07:002011-04-23T11:13:24.005-07:00SMILEyou know you love it!<br />
<br />
I do love it. However, after sorting through race photos from the cape adventure I often don't smile. I look so damn serious. I need to lighten up.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjY9SF51oWP5oLIFkxfBF439f9yvSMqyOFVqwmlLlk4Cqc5PkvlSebfwULXoWgw_6Ud70Ep5Ft9tPe37WMQA5Idq2WMFnA765mU6J-KCc-L_kWQ1gb7oSrSQQAkyoG4e_7OQMLbpdf9k/s1600/sportograf-14351029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjY9SF51oWP5oLIFkxfBF439f9yvSMqyOFVqwmlLlk4Cqc5PkvlSebfwULXoWgw_6Ud70Ep5Ft9tPe37WMQA5Idq2WMFnA765mU6J-KCc-L_kWQ1gb7oSrSQQAkyoG4e_7OQMLbpdf9k/s320/sportograf-14351029.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like fun. Why not smile?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While racing I remember the spectators and children bringing a smile to my face. I remember Selene bringing a smile to my face when she told knock, knock jokes when the going was rough. I remember smiling when we looked up and the views were majestic. During those moments of smiles all pain, dread, and effort seemed to disappear. Energy was restored and I felt empowered. <br />
<br />
I'm going to use this technique a lot this season. I already started it while doing my intervals yesterday. It wasn't too hard when a friend drove by me 4 minutes in to a 12 minute effort. It must look ridiculous when you are by yourself and you are killing it to get nowhere. It made me smile and it made things easier. As I continued my training I found myself riding through the Gettysburg Battlefield. I forgot that tis' the season for the tourists. I looked extra ridiculous flying through the battlefield. I did my best to say hello to those I passed and offered a smile. Before I knew it I was done and it felt good. Regardless of what anyone thinks I love it and I'm gonna smile. It is empowering. <br />
<br />
Next week I will be racing the Cohutta 100. I am the most prepared I have ever been for this race. My training has been so different this year from any other year. Some times I have to wonder what in the world I was thinking the other years going into the 100's with half of the fitness I have today. That doesn't matter now and I can't wait to get out there and kill it. I may not be number one, but I will be stronger, faster and feel great trying to be. <br />
<br />
Oh, and it will be hard not to smile while I am riding this super awesome bike. Thanks team CF and Specialized. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduIANS3UC_xy7jaRaU0ZCTcslxH-G_2tX-9ncR36kYRiruxdnwuQJWZ0brVPU8efZ7upZYan6Q50HF6cYXj-YXwJVZV87iAhFwuGtPORoAaCI-UbH1AtMi8VNxwufS6eeCALHIaW1MMc/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduIANS3UC_xy7jaRaU0ZCTcslxH-G_2tX-9ncR36kYRiruxdnwuQJWZ0brVPU8efZ7upZYan6Q50HF6cYXj-YXwJVZV87iAhFwuGtPORoAaCI-UbH1AtMi8VNxwufS6eeCALHIaW1MMc/s400/mail.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870794886708219882.post-33469561115498278492011-04-13T18:57:00.000-07:002011-04-13T18:57:00.559-07:00I had a dream....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUH8ZrMpaj9ksa6eTpVjlGa9jDBBbAxo4RZnH4bSTXts2-iMXcJd-CcARJ_XgXXGI6kUSFLT8meIYD4tIAaHhXqyrGL4qMrBOCIA57R22GH7Rr__UFY0m9h6rwmC20sx1i-JrFTygJeQ/s1600/sportograf-14375471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUH8ZrMpaj9ksa6eTpVjlGa9jDBBbAxo4RZnH4bSTXts2-iMXcJd-CcARJ_XgXXGI6kUSFLT8meIYD4tIAaHhXqyrGL4qMrBOCIA57R22GH7Rr__UFY0m9h6rwmC20sx1i-JrFTygJeQ/s320/sportograf-14375471.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>that I rode my bike in South Africa for a week. It has been about a week since the race finished and it is really hard to believe that it all happened.<br />
<br />
And happened it did. It was the single most amazing event I have ever completed. The enormity was hard to not get lost in. I listened to those I trusted that I would be humbled and that everything done to prepare may not be enough, but I can only truly know what they meant now that it is over. The experience as a whole has changed me as a mountain bike racer. <br />
<br />
As I told my cupcake friends, I have a whole new appreciation for the phrase "Harden the "f" up!"<br />
<br />
To race with the best of the world was humbling yet inspiring. Each day was a physical as well as mental challenge. Selene and I raced well together and we met each day with all we had to give. <span id="goog_1338158492"></span><a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/2011/03/31/out-of-africa/">Selene</a><span id="goog_1338158493"></span><br />
outlines our lessons learned in her blog. Check it out.<br />
<br />
Since my dear friend and partner is also a professional writer, I can't help but borrow some of her words. This is the best description of what each day had in store for us....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, San-serifs; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"Though there are some fast roads and a few breathtakingly speedy descents, much of it is Bataan Death March slow. Imagine an army of ants with watermelons on their backs painstakingly weaving their way over jagged cloud-kissing mountain ranges as far as the eye can see and you get a pretty good feel for a few hours of the day."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMaiy-0BXrQAOvk_3YJCR0LY5ClcVqFQAh9vKdBfToQDBZG3UBHafsQeup5uy8M8Dgb4Vgeolj_GbFLbqrxskWIGMhe1oVmChd68ys7VONqEsyHY836P_epG3xJd_-eXcZbThkuxMM5k/s1600/sportograf-14316033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMaiy-0BXrQAOvk_3YJCR0LY5ClcVqFQAh9vKdBfToQDBZG3UBHafsQeup5uy8M8Dgb4Vgeolj_GbFLbqrxskWIGMhe1oVmChd68ys7VONqEsyHY836P_epG3xJd_-eXcZbThkuxMM5k/s320/sportograf-14316033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, San-serifs; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The other hours were spent twisting thru fun single tracks, winding our way between orchards of apples and grapes, running ridges heavily scented of curry and spice, rolling on village roads lined with children cheering us on, and being amusement for spectators at wineries.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It was great fun. Now I am back in the grind and working on recovery. Coach <a href="http://www.chriseatough.com/">Chris</a> has me resting and riding easy for a couple of weeks. It should help let all the efforts and training sink in and allow for a great fitness boost to begin the NUE season. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 27px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The song Firework by Katy Perry </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">was played each morning while we were waiting for the gun. I can't help but feel like that firework. It has ignited and it is brighter than the moon. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFuiSLwuEvziFpiKEN2o5lD6RO3Q_oXC6dmPjJynBkukb8ClyOIrW93g5guwI2S14bjJg3yfo68m7QMEPrAMajbTybey5fkMFj_BO5ybTj9ge7hslB5F9vRCqxAoRS3JMZULjIoTkSp4/s1600/sportograf-14307958_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFuiSLwuEvziFpiKEN2o5lD6RO3Q_oXC6dmPjJynBkukb8ClyOIrW93g5guwI2S14bjJg3yfo68m7QMEPrAMajbTybey5fkMFj_BO5ybTj9ge7hslB5F9vRCqxAoRS3JMZULjIoTkSp4/s320/sportograf-14307958_lowres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, San-serifs; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, San-serifs; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span>Churtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13906194593014504784noreply@blogger.com3