Just a quick post as I am leaving this morning for Portland for the Madison 6 Day this week…
Had a excellent weekend in San Jose. Although the temps were record highs (103 on Friday, 99 on Saturday) I really enjoyed feeling overly warm to the bone. The nice thing about the heat is that the joints and muscles are already warmed up and good to go. Plus it makes the track faster.
Starting today, posts from my blog will syndicate not only to the Amazon page for my book, but also to Are You Living It, a beautifully designed site partnered with the Live Your Passion gear. Live Your Passion offers ecofriendly t-shirts with cool designs; it’s a green, up-and-coming company based in Northern California. Check them out!
We received the following report from Dean Karnazes yesterday, an amazing summary of his race across the Gobi Desert. It’s incredible to even finish this odyssey, but out of 190 entries, Dean finished fourth. Check it out:
NOTES FROM MY TNF CHINA VISIT
JUNE 4-17, 2008
I would venture to say that most of you reading this column are like me, you’re drawn to extremes. Moderation bores you. You seek challenges and adventures that dwell on the outer edges. The path of least resistance is not a route much traveled.
June and July are busy months for racing/traveling. I head this weekend to San Jose for the AVC and fly home Sunday. Only to leave Monday morning for Portland for the 6 Day to partner up with Miranda Moon. I practiced some hand slings with Bilko last night and think the slings will be the easiest part - weaving through the traffic will be more challenging.
Should be fun though! Ah track racing - my love.
On Saturday, to honor the summer solstice, I’ll follow along as my colleague Allison Dennis leads a yoga mala, or series of 108 sun salutations. It’s a yoga endurance event! Broken into four sets of 27 salutations, the practice takes between two and two and a half hours. I’m showing up with PowerBar products to share, and I’ll post an “event report” afterward.
We’re thrilled to publish the following essay by guest contributor Kris Keim, Marketing Director for U.S. Women’s Cycling Development Program. Great stuff:
Life is full of many roads which will lead us onto happy and sad trails throughout our lives. I’ve compiled a group of personal essays from amazing women whom I’m honored to call not only dear friends but women I look up to for guidance and support. I asked each of them to explain what living life with passion meant for them and how they go about this great task on a daily basis… enjoy.
Check out the video of our columnist Matt Shrivers huge UCI top three finish in Stage 6 of the Tour de Beauce. Nice one, Matt! Thats bigtime!
Two days of straight sun - it’s been a while. And my pasty white body was ready to soak up the rays - deepening my embarrassing biker tan lines. Rough life, eh?
I think I have a weekend hangover. It’s Monday - and I’m exhausted. I would think most people have a normal, relaxing weekend of chilling out, recovering from the long work week and preparing for Monday. But mine is usually the exact opposite. Thankfully my job is perfect for the bike racer/ weekend warrior lifestyle. It rocks. Today will be filled with catching up on what happened this weekend in the world wide web. I know, I suck.
Since my little abrasive episode last week, I have been healing up pretty well. I am now free of those pesky bandages that bind every movement and can finally stretch out my sore muscles. A few days into the healing process, I developed a low grade fever and and the inguinal lymph nodes were swollen and sore on my injured side. I had to decide whether to take antibiotics, or let my immune system chip away at the infection. If the infection gets worse, I take a 10 day course of broad spectrum antibiotics and kill the infection along with my normal intestinal flora. If I continue to fight it off, I don’t have the energy to ride until the infection is gone.
We were inspired by Lera Haines’ story a few months ago. Here, in her own words, she tells us about surmounting a huge challenge for a greater cause. Way to go, Lera!
About five years ago I told myself I’d never do a marathon again. I had run cross country and track in both high school and at the college level. However, the physical pain and hallucinations I experienced in my first four marathons were not all they were cut out to be.
