Friday, June 6, 2008

Alcatraz this weekend and a bit of catch up...

This post comes after perhaps the longest delay to date. I promise to be better, just have had a lot going on and a bit on my mind.

It has been an interesting 2 weeks since Madrid. I took a day or two easy, as per my last post, and then tried to resume regular training. That proved difficult. I just got more and more frustrated as the days passed and the swelling and bruising remained. It was a constant reminder of the crash that I just wanted to move on from. Now, things are better. There is still some swelling and bruising but the cuts have almost completely healed over. The worst areas are on my left elbow and my right hip near my hip flexor. Apparently it is supposed to take roughly 5 weeks before all signs of the crash disappear and that cannot come soon enough!

Training, though rocky, has still had some really solid sessions. I don't know how well prepared I am for Alcatraz as a result of the forced 2 week taper of sorts, but I am excited to experience the race for the first time.

I arrived in San Francisco this morning and checked into the Hyatt at the Fisherman's Wharf. It is gorgeous! A beautiful hotel with amazing service and in walking distance to all of the pier attractions, including the boat to Alcatraz Island.

I spent the morning taking a walk to one of the bike shops in town in order to get tires glued on my new red spoked Spinergy Carbon race wheels. I'm very excited to ride them on Sunday but I had to get them in so that the glue would have time to set before the race Sunday morning.

I'm really excited for the race but don't have very much in the way of expectations. I don't know how my body will react but I also know that rest generally favors me. I am just looking to go have a great time and hopefully the pieces of a very solid race will fall into place for me!

Skirt Sports Photo Shoot:
Last week I did a photo shoot for Skirt Sports. Since my current "homestay" Meg works for them, she asked me to help them out by doing the shoot. I think they will use some of the photos in their catalogs and perhaps other marketing. It was a great time and a lot of fun working with Nicole, the owneer of the company.

I had no idea this photo was even taken!

Candid Bike Photo

In other news:
I have recently renewed my partnership with BNRG, the makers of Power Crunch, and will be one of their athlete ambassadors for the rest of this year and beyond. I am really excited to work with them again, as I love their Whey protein products, and hope that you too will check them out at Bio Nutritional Research Group!!