Time Flies

Unbelievable how fast….
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:
1.  Racing cross
2.  MTB stage race in Costa Rica
3.  Family ski vacation in Jackson Hole
4.  Quality time spent with family
5.  Quality time spent with my dogs ( I think they will miss me the most when I go back to work)
6.  Feeling like a stay at home mom (not an easy job) reconnecting with my home
7.  Learning a new Science that is super applicable to my profession
8.  Lots of riding when the most optimal weather rather than restricted to after work
9.  Thursday Express adventures with a good friend
10.  Imba certified level 2
11.  Trips to Utah and California
12.  MTB stage race in State College
13.  Quality time with friends

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.

Pura Vida

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 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.  
As a fellow participant Chris Case 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: 

"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."

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, 

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.

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.

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.
Day 1:

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.

Day 2:

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!  

Day 3

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.  

Many thanks for getting me to the start and finish of this adventure are in oder.  NUE and Roman Urbina for the opportunity.  Gettysburg bikes for dialing my bike, Sublime Athletics for dialing my fitness, Carborocket for keeping me hydrated, Specialized for my awesome FATE, TNW crew for helping me find speed, Stages cycling for equipping me with the ability to improve my power, Bruce from Pro Gold keeping my chain happy,  and last but not least the cupcakes for keeping it real.

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!

Time Magazine's Top 10 Hardest Endurance Competitions

Long Time Gone

Not Forgotten,

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.  

To make this easy for me,  I will again do a picture blog.

Iron Cross October 2012

Wilderness 101 July 2012

PA state champs 2012

Enjoying the day

Nue Champion 2012

Yippee!

Teaberry 2012

Gran Fondo National Championship 2012

so cute

Thanksgiving 2012

OMG he's thirteen

Buds

Beautiful Fall

Gran Fondo National Champ 2012

PA state Champ 2012

Getting it Done NUE tie Breaker

2012

Transylvania Epic Stage Race Champion Open women

National Ultra Endurance Champion

PA State Champion

Michaux Endurance Series Champion

National Gran Fondo Champion

Out but not down

I may have been out of the race scene for six weeks after TSE, but I wasn’t down.  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.  It was pretty much the most pleasant summer I have had in years.  The rest did me wonders and now I am back at it fresher than ever.  Following is a short top ten list of my time back in the saddle:

          10.       Southern Michaux trail rides with cupcakes to get the skills back.

9.      My S works epic.  It helped soften the ride.

8.      TNW rides to get the top end running

7.      Curse of Dark Hollow, Michaux PA 1^st place.  Great test of how my injury would respond to the demands of technical riding.  Thank goodness for my specialized epic.  It was a grand day of riding and hanging with friends.

6.     Wilderness 101, Coburn, PA 1^st place.  Yikes, that was hard.  Again my bike was the bomb and my body responded well to the distance.

5.     Houseboats and the Allegripis Trail system.  Pure fun and enjoyment. 

4.     Rattling Creek 50, Lykens, PA 1^st place.  Super fun, fast, and techy.  Best prize swag which included Toasted Head Wine. 

3.     Bear Creek, PA 1^st place  PA state champion

      2.     New Hampshire 100.  Old School raw trail system, great venue, perfect B&B, a race weekend turned holiday.

      1.     Planning my trip to Fools Gold.  Cheryl Sornson - WINNER - Fresh for the EPIC battle

Pills

Some are small, chewable and manageable; others are sized for a horse and hard to swallow.  Injuries are similar to pills. This season I was given a horse pill injury to swallow.  The kind that takes awhile to fully accept how traumatic it really is.  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.  Ok, I am exaggerating just a bit.  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.

I was in a race and went to pass a rider, however the rider turned into me rather than giving trail.  I ended up off trail to avoid collision.  Once off trail my pedal hit something and I hit the ground harder than I ever have.  It was weird because it definitely was not high speed or anything.  My head hit first and fortunately my helmet did its job but sustained life ending damage.  Next up my shoulder, upper back and hip hit the ground as I tried to roll out the fall.  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. 

This all happened the weekend summer officially started for me.  What a disappointing welcome I initially thought.  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.  There are far worse injuries amongst our ranks that others are dealing with or have dealt with.  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.  I swallowed the pill, let go and allowed myself to heal in more ways than I knew I needed.

Fun times

Waking 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. 

photo credit TSE

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! 

photo credit TSE

Next up will be Lumberjack 100.  Until then I'll be recovering with some serious couch time!

Conquering the mind

One more day


Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 6: Rothrock Tussey Mountain

Conquering the mind

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.

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.

"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.".

I beat my mind down and stayed focused for the course. I won the stage today and continue to keep the leader's jersey. .

We missed the storms during today's ride, but will pay for it with sunshine and MUD tomorrow. Mountain biking is so much fun!.

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. .

Off to bed. Sweet dreams...



Cheryl Sornson may have the GC locked up
Photo: © AELandes Photography



Up, coffee, feed, gather, race, rinse, repeat

Up, coffee, feed, gather, race, rinse, repeat


Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 5: R.B. Winter State Park

In the groove at the Trans-Sylvania Epic

Cherries

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) extended her lead

Photo: © AELandes Photography

 

Slipping and sliding around Raystown


Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 4: Raystown Lake

Keeping the GC lead during a slick stage 4


We woke up to beaytiful skies and cool temperatures. Too bad it rained like hell last night.

Muddy girls after stage 4
Photo credit © Jennifer Smith

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.

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.

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.

Tomorrow is a short stage, but a technical one that will wear you out.

Kaitlyn (Team CF) speaks about her team and what it's like to race with cystic fibrosis

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.

The women's podium on the Raystown Lake stage

A measured approach

A measured approach

Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 3: Bald Eagle Coburn

Day 3 proves tough but there's plenty left in the tank

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.

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.

Time for some post race recovery

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.

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.

Dr. Jim Wilson celebrates his birthday

Team CF on top

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.

A wet rocks kind of day

A wet rocks kind of a day


Trans-Sylvania Epic, Stage 2: Rothrock Cooper’s Gap
Sornson races to stage win and takes over lead on day 2


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...

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.

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.

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.

                                               Good morning from the Trans-Sylvania Epic




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.






Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) is now in the lead of the women's race after a storming ride in today's stage.

Photo: © AELandes Photography

So close in the prologue

Looking forward to longer stages

Cheryl Sornson's home for the week at the Trans-Sylvania Epic

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.

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.

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.

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. [Cheryl finished second to Sue Haywood by three seconds - ed.] Lots of riding ahead of us and looking forward to a longer stage tomorrow.

Kaitlyn Broadhurst and the Team CF Epic Team

Kaitlyn Broadhurst and her Go Pro camera equipment.

Pre-race monkey brain

Sornson gears up for an epic, week-long MTB stage race

As I sit here I am unsure what to do. So what do I decide? Let us begin this thing.
The Trans-Sylvania Epic (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".
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.
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.
The racing will be hard, competitive and will bring out the best in us all.
I'll let ya know how it goes.



Cheryl Sornson's bikes get some love ahead of the Trans-Sylvania Epic

Author

Cheryl Sornson's Trans-Sylvania Epic Blog

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.
Stay tuned here on Cyclingnews to follow the adventures of Sornson as she takes on a top-notch elite women's endurance field through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania.
The Trans-Sylvania Epic runs from Sunday, May 27 to until Saturday, June 2.

A Family Outing

The Sornson’s made the trip to Iron Hill this past weekend.  I will tell this story in pictures.

 

Good times, Great Memories!