Positive Attitude

This weekend I zoomed out of my second grade classroom to meet up with Reem, Anna and Natalie. We jammed ourselves in Anna's car and off to Maryland for Bike Jam. We would meet Kirsten down there. We stayed with Mo, Reem's brother. It's always nice to see Mo!!

The race at Bike Jam was...well.... well Anna broke her leg in a very stupid crash (on a straight away). The race actually stopped for a couple of minutes to get all the wounded off the course! The rest of the team continued to race while thinking of Anna. We were setting up for the sprint when yet another girl was sliding across the road! I narrowly missed running over her head and skidded to a complete stop. Kirsten almost t-boned me and Natalie flew towards the grass. Reem was able to ride around the carnage and continue. When the sprint started I was standing next to my bike trying to step over screaming girls still attached to their bikes. OK, trying to remain positive!

Anna came home from the hospital that night. She remained positive and upbeat! She never complained about pain, never complained about lost opportunities, never complained about waiting for the rest of us to race in DC the next day and then come back to get her for the long trip from Maryland...and didn't even complain when I cracked into her leg with my elbow while she had it elevated in the car! He comments were, "It's OK, don't worry about it, but we should all be careful!"

Our race at DC was nothing to write home about. Another bad crash with ambulances called. I tried to get in some moves to be in a break...my best chance of getting a good result, but nothing stuck and I probably wasted too much energy. I'm still trying to race into fitness and it's humbling but it's coming...it's coming!

Anna continues to inspire me!

Numbers Back ON!

Raced in Deleware this weekend and had a blast. Brought back all the bike love that was lacking in my hustle and bustle life. The promoter was great for this race. He made sure we were taken care of and set us up in an amazing host house. It was a huge playground for Maddie and Bill :)

We got second for the day which was pretty cool, but know that Jen would've taken first if we had a director with us to help us figure out who that Juice Plus girl was in the break. We didn't realize how fast she actually was...ooooops. It was nice to pin the numbers back on and suffer. Great weekend ended with a micro brew tour (Twin Lakes Brewery) mmmm mmmmm goood beer!

New Generation of Advil-ChapStick!

Maddie's first "REAL" race was on Saturday! It had all that a race should have. Downhills, steep uphills, single track and of course a spectacular crash. Maddie was flying down a hill and caught the side of a LOG and flipped right over her handlebars! She was wedged between the log and her bike and still managed to get up...continue racing and WIN! That's my girl! I had a blast. I might bust out the fat tires for a while. It was so much fun.

Sunday we had a 2 hr Mother's Day hike and topped it off with dinner and chocolate peanutbutter cake! What a weekend.

Podium at Sunny King

Photo by: Trish Albert/Southeasterncycling.com

I don't know what to tell you about the sox! You'll have to ask Jen about those guys. :)

CHANGE IN PLANS

My Second Grade Classroom. Maddie came in to help me get organized!!!!!

My new job! Franklin Elementary School and my number one helper...Maddie!!!!!

Lots has happened since my last post. I decided to interview for a teaching position. I got it, accepted it and started one week later! I'm teaching second grade full-time at Franklin Elementary School. I'm exhausted with the major shift in life.

I had to help my family financially. Cycling and part time preschool just weren't enough. The timing of this job was perfect and horrible at the same time. We needed it...perfect! I'm headed to China and won't be able to go now...horrible!

I'm adjusting to the new schedule:

5AM Wake and get myself a HUGE cup of JOE and shower/dress, make my lunch, Maddie's lunch and breakfast

6AM Wake sleepy Maddie and get her dressed/breakfast pack our bags and

6:45 out the door with the dog (Beans). Drop Beans the dog off at my parents...she's a spoiled Weimaranner

7AM drop Maddie off at her friends house and her BRAND new bus stop since the change!

7:30 at my school

7:55-2:30 Teach 2nd Grade

2:30-3:30 Finish up work/lessons, etc

4:00 Bus stop to pick up Maddie go pick up the dog

5:00 then homework, dinner, (Maddie's softball practice...blah bblah blah

9:00 in bed and get ready to do it again.

Please help me figure out where to train! I train on the weekends and will try to do 1 or 2 days a week through June. The summer will be different and hopefully I'll be able to find a little fitness to help the team. I'll be doing some local/regional racing here and there and then some races with the team that I can get there and back by Monday AM ready to teach again. (Maryland, Deleware, Philly, etc). I'm doing a 6 mile hill climb TT on Saturday that I might die attempting!

I'm struggling a little bit with not training. Super frustrating and I'm quite irritable once I'm home!!! Just a big transition.

I've only been on the bike a handful of times and ran a few times (horrible pain that I don't recommend) since I started my new position 3 weeks ago. I think I will get better and faster at finishing my school work/planning etc and then there may be more time to ride. We'll see. Thanks for wondering where I went and if I was OK.