Shameless Plugs

Today I am here to put in plugs for 2 guys that saved the day for me:

Elden "Fatty" Nelson and Brad "Biggest Stud I"ve ever met" Keyes
First off, I've been rather sick the last several weeks and my stomach has not been able to handle a whole lot. Not exactly conducive to racing bicycles, where food seems to be a necessity as far as providing energy for riding. (I've tried other substances such as Boonen's "Cocaine Diet", Tommy Simpson's "Speed Diet" and even Racer Gibson's "Candy Diet", but my tummy doesn't seem to like to take anything in lately.

So you can imagine it was with some hesitation that I drove the hour to Soldier Hollow (or let Mark drive me there, anyway), paid an entrance fee, and signed up to race, having not eaten anything solid in a few days. However, to my rescue came CarboRocket, the ultimate drink created by Brad Keyes. I'd been on the CarboRocket diet for a few days preceding the race as it seemed to be the only thing my tummy liked.

I was a bit nervous on the start line as I wondered if my tummy would cooperate for at least the 2 hours I needed it to for the race. Well, needless to say, everything went just fine, thanks to the wonderful, sweet, fulfilling, (not to mention delicious) concoction known as CarboRocket. I made it the whole race with zero tummy aches, plenty of energy to hold a good pace the whole race, and a sweet taste in my mouth. Thanks, Brad! Best stuff ever invented.

Next shamless plug goes to Elden. After the race we thought it would be a good idea to go ride around Lambert Park in Alpine. However, to our dismay we discovered I had a bit of a mechanical issue going on with my bike. As we sat there trying to figure out what to do, Mark remembered that Elden lives only a few blocks away.

So we ventured over and asked for a hand. He was more than helpful in gettting us back on the trail and I tip my hat to him for being the super ride saver of the day. An absolute gem of kindness. Thanks, Elden! Nicest guy ever.

Well, now that that's done, I'll go back to riding my bike....

5 Mile Pics

A face not even many mothers could love
Joy

Secret Training

The first year I raced bicycles, Kyle and I had an ongoing battle for who could ride up Squaw "Puke" the fastest. I held my own for a few weeks until he threw down a 23 minute climb time. Nothing I could even come close to without a V6. Since that year (2006) I haven't really tried very hard to best my Squaw time...until now. My new secret training ride is just that...Squaw.

(Now that it's not a secret anymore, I'm fully aware everyone in Utah county will start kicking my trash at the ICUP's...)

Either way, I forgot just how pretty it is up there...

(Really the entire purpose of this post was to post a picture of my bike...you could maybe say I am slightly infatuated with it)

Rain and sick

It rained this weekend. I have been sick for the last week and a half, so I secretly hoped the rain would cancel the race. No dice.

However, to my advantage, the race was re-routed from 11 mile loop down to a 3.5 mile loop. I managed to fake it for 45 minutes and not come in dead last.

It was super muddy, super wet, and super fun. I'll post some pics as soon as I get them from Kyle. Kyle, on the other hand, double flatted, bringing his total "mechanical" count to 8, I think. That's a fairly high number, when you take into account that there have only been 3 races. I am 97% confident that as soon as Kyle gets through a whole race without some kind of bad luck he's gonna kick everyone's trash. THE Kyle I met so many years ago is back. THE Kyle that knows how to lay down the hurt, push it further, and make it hurt even more. I am definitely excited for him.

As for me, I just gotta get healthy so the 16 year olds quit beating me up the hills....

And, Racer, sorry for making you flat on the muddy part. Joel paid me to clip your front tire with a "Ben Hur" style wheel spike I have installed on my rear hub...

PS Is it weird that for some reason this weekend got me just a bit excited for 'cross season to start already when its only May?