Are You Living It?

Yep, that’s right… I’m still trying to get over it… and by doing so I finally got back to riding again after hanging out at the ToC this past Feb… wow, that’s one awesome race… too bad the TdG couldn’t represent like they do on the west coast.  I decided to start riding a bit more after that, once my Crohn’s disease (CD) started to stabilize a bit more from the initial flare-up attack in August.  Nothing like starting your first year of Grad school in a new state not knowing a single person and then to have your body attack itself (after just healing from a serious race crash)… lovely… talk about strength training.  I had to look at all these trials as stepping stones that will soon lead me to greatness… if not, I probably would have given up a long time ago.

I didn’t go into full on training, I kept up my running and basically rode like once a week until March when I finally had a nice long break.  My mom and sis came to visit which was heaven and that brought my k2 spirits up just enough to really appreciate being somewhat healthier and happier with my new path in life… I miss them so much (you too dad).  After my mom/sis left I had a week to soak up the CA sunshine and hit up some bike action on my fav li’l mountain… Mt. Diablo aka my mt. d… I got some advice from a new bike buddy that if I was considering trying to get some ‘quick’ fitness I should go and do Mt. D repeats.  At first I thought this dude was on something but actually he was on to something… he was Right on!  I did a week of climbing and even enjoying putting myself into the ‘pain cave’ for the first time really since I broke my pelvis the year before, it was exhilarating.  Slowly, ride by ride my passion for the sport and for simply just pushing the pedals began to overcome me again, bliss.  I then tried to keep this routine up (not all climbing) and started a mini ST program… (secret training, shhh).  As I’ve posted before, I did end up starting my 1st race back with my super cool team Wells Fargo and have been able to help our Pro 1/2 women’s team score some top 5’s and finally a W this past Saturday… mission accomplished.

So, yeah… I’m enjoying my journey so far over this new rainbow.  Outside of racing I’m crazy busy with my MA Sport Psychology program at JFKU.  I can’t even begin to explain how much I love my studies and how motivated I am to soak up as much knowledge as humanly possible for me to one day help my fellow athletes… and all people for that matter.  If you didn’t know, I was accepted into the PsyD program and will start working on my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology so in about 4-5yrs I’ll be a Sport Psychologist… Dr. Keim.  I would like to do some research and work with athletes coping with injuries, cancer, and other disease like Crohn’s… I’ve always been passionate about helping others and now I’ve found my true path in life.  It’s going to be a long, challenging, and stretching experience… and I’m ready to tackle the adventure head on… bring it.  I’m blessed to have met some wonderful people out here that not only inspire me but have opened my eyes to the vast possibilities that my life path can take… roads I am eager to explore.

I guess that pretty much sums it up… I know I haven’t really done an update in months so here’s one to last for a couple more. Check in from time to time… the other people who post on here are worth reading… probably more than my rambles.  Oh, and there’s been some inquiry of my status… yes, I’m in love… with California.

“I’ve always taken ‘The Wizard of Oz’ very seriously, you know. I believe in the idea of the rainbow. And I’ve spent my entire life trying to get over it.” ~ Judy Garland

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