Beautiful Disaster

The Burnin' is coming!  One of Missouri's finest mountain bike races will be at Council Bluff on Oct 13 2012.  I attended my first Burnin' three years ago, I wouldn't miss it for anything.  I love staying at CB.  With all the improvements they are making it will be an even awesomer place to stay next year. This 13 mile loop is one of my favorites.   I have had the opportunity to hike, run, bike, and work on that beautiful trail.  My goal is to ride a clean loop someday, ride everything and not put a foot down.  If you have ridden it before, you know that is not easy.  Keep in mind, I ride a single speed.  There are a lot of momentum killers out there.

My Big Unit

Over the weekend I flipped a coin.  Heads was doing the 6hr solo and tails the 12hr solo.  I have never done the 6 hr.  By the way, this was my very first 12hr race.  Not to keep you in suspense, it was tails.  Beautiful!  Who wouldn't want to ride a magnificent trail with the coolest folks around for 12 hours?  Count me in.  Now here comes the 'potential' for disaster.....

My Kona is ready.  I had a super fun ride at Lost Valley today. The trail was perfect and the weather did not disappoint.  My Big Unit flowed gracefully down the trail and climbed like a goat.  What more do you need?  Some guy on the trail said I was missing gears, I told him I do have a "hop off and push gear". The saddle is new to me, luckily I don't sit much.   I changed out my handlebars and grips too.  The hubby and I are headed to CB this weekend, sans kids.  I see a good time in my future.  Riding some laps and hanging in the trees, yea I will take some of that.  Plus, if there are any bugs to be worked out, now will be a good time.  I have a 32x19 set up now, but will change to a 32x20 for the race.  That gear worked well last year besides, I am not beasty enough to push the 19 for 12 hrs.

 I have not done any races this year except the DK200.  That will make nutrition tricky, so I will go with stuff I know works.  I hear there will be Ice Cold Delicious Pabst handups at the boat launch again courtesy of Team Seagal.  Liquid carbs are the best.

I do not consider myself a hipster and I drink Gatorade too.

There are no goals for this year.  I am " just going to to do the best I can".  Thanks Carrie Sona.  There are no visions of buckles dancing in my head. Which may be a good thing.  Last year I had an awful attack of the Buckle Blues.  I don't quite understand it, but I hear sometimes it comes with the territory.  No matter how things turn out,  I will be surrounded by fabulous people and doing something I love.

Hope to see you there.....

Sasha

ps... put some positive mojo out there that my kit arrives before the race.  I am going to look PAF!

IT

IT

I am familiar with rage.  We have a past.  I recall the tell-tale signs.  Recently, the signs have resurfaced. Fighting IT was not an option.  I have opened the door, invited IT inside, offered IT a seat, have told IT my plans.  How I am going to use IT.  Remembering my past turns my stomach. IT has made me make a lot of mistakes. IT has made me handle a few situations wrong, seriously wrong. IT is not an emotion I am comfortable with or proud of.  Frankly, IT scares me how out of control IT makes me feel.   I can't forget IT.  I can't get away from IT.  Everywhere I turn, there is a trigger, a reminder.  I have to deal with IT. I have begun to feel as if the smallest thing will send me  into a tizzy.  I stopped throwing tizzies seven years ago.  IT has to go.

Google is awesome

 Pretending I wasn't feeling rage didn't work for me.  In the past, unknowingly,  I became my own worst enemy.  In fact, I was growing IT, fueling IT all by myself.   I was slowly became the major cause of IT.  I ate incredible amounts of shitty food, which in turn made me hate myself.  That behavior did not help my rage.  I tried to cope by hanging out with the Marlboro Man and  Jack Daniels,  who was always there when I needed him most, however, we had to end our relationship since it really messed with the prescriptions I was taking.  I made a wise decision upon finding that out, I switched to beer.  I would only have a couple... well three..... but never more than four, hahahaha...... beers, EVERY night. The alcohol didn't heal IT.  Fast forward to the recent rage...  realizing that those things did not work for me, I have decided to take another approach while dealing with my gift of extreme displeasure.



It's important to tell you, IT has lessened.  Anger has taken its place. Anger has proved to be quite a motivator.  Anger has motivated me right into personal training sessions with my son, a few days a week.   He enjoys putting me through the ringer. Trevor is helping me improve upon my beast for Burnin'.  It's unfortunate that Burnin' at The Bluff will be the only mtb race I do this year.  Hell, Go Big or Go Home right? ( Or, do I just go to ride a bit and get drunk?) For now, I might as well use the anger to my advantage.  I have thrown anger into my workouts and the results have been good. Anger has enabled me to pedal faster, run faster, to lift more weight.  It feels incredible to take a 10lb sledge hammer to a truck tire.  It also feels good to punch the crap out of a black bag.  Minutes tick off, I start to feel better, I start to let it go.  I focus on the task at hand.  His "Twenty minutes in hell" session was delightful. I will be going back for more of those.

I have communicated with my spouse exactly what I need and how I will be dealing with IT.  " My bike will save my life, again.  Make sure I ride it often."   He may not get it, he can't fix it.  All he needs to understand is, when I say I need a bike ride or a run,  I NEED IT!  He knows I will leave with one look on my face and return with another that is way more appealing.  He said " You look like a different person" after I returned from a bike ride.  Of course I did.  I just had therapy.

Tire therapy

The circumstances for my rage will not be disclosed here.  I know I usually share everything with you but, this time it's not only about me.  There are innocent people involved that don't need their bullshit spread on the internet. It's not for me to put out there.  Thank you in advance for not asking.

Sasha

Missouri's Finest In Leadville

The Leadville 100 mountain bike race will commence in just a few days.  This ride is a grueling 100 miles throughout some beautiful Colorado trails, complete with climbs that will literally leave you gasping for air.  I will not be attending this race, several of my friends will.  I admire them for signing up and doing the required training needed to complete this challenge.  I have stalked them on FaceBook, followed their long training rides, and tried to help them maintain positive attitudes along the way.  Allow me to introduce them........

TEAM SEAGAL SOLDIER

Scott Piepert Scott joined our team of jerks last year.  He has chosen to nut up and be Team Seagal's representative. Working hard with THE Zach Brace, another seasoned endurance rider, has made him stronger inside and out.  Scooter  has logged the miles necessary and has done them in the 100 plus degree weather we have been experiencing here in the mid-west. Dennis Fickinger photo   He has also attended every secret Seagal meeting to learn the ways of Superior Attitude and State of Mind. I have absolutely ZERO doubts in his ability to bring home a shiny buckle. THE LADIES In no particular order, these are four of the toughest women I know.  They all have children, husbands, and hold down jobs.  Where did they find the time to ride???  And the answer is.... they made it a priority, they made training important and found a way.  These women have very supportive families and friends who are behind them.  I believe in you girls.....  Laura Scherff aka FAF Karen Holtmann Kerri Schewe Mia Russell Phillips

THE FELLAS

The men pictured below are super badass endurance athletes.  They all have a wealth of racing experience to draw upon.  Todd recently crushed the DK200 in Kansas.  Both Nathan and Jay are super f'in fast but, will need to hone their patience skills for this challenge.   Craig is a triathlete and this will be his first 100mile mountain bike race.  

Todd Holtmann

Jay Wright

Nathan Lafferty

Craig Bakker

When I asked Craig what he expected from the experience he said,

 "As for the race I expect it to be fun, painful, and rewarding but not sure in what order." 

Take a few pointers from Scooter.  The hard work is done.  Relax, YOU GOT THIS!

Kids Racing

The littlest trail monster's steed

 When the Alpine Shop Dirt Crits started on June 30th, there were only a handful of kids participating in the kids race.  This past Thursday, the kids race had over 25 participants!  Yes!  I believe this falls under the statement, " if you build it, they will come".





 I knew my six yr old Sydney wanted to race. She talked about it all week, checking the calendar daily, counting down the days, hours and minutes. I was worried that the temps would melt her.  Yea, I'm a mom like that. Immediately upon our arrival at the park, she wanted to hop on her bike and be just like all the adults whizzing around warming up for their race.  It was six o'clock and 102 degrees.  I was able to talk her out of it, for about 30 minutes.  Then I gave in.

Sydney 

She had the opportunity to play /ride with two other girls close to her age.  So, I let her go.  She changed into her bike shorts and her pink jersey and all I saw was her back.  The three girls took off to ride the open field area.  I stood and watched, and hoped she wouldn't overheat.  Yea, I worry too much.

Number 354 reporting for duty

Every few minutes she would yell " IS IT RACE TIME YET" or   " WHEN IS MY RACE MOM".  The kids race was the last race scheduled for the evening.  She was not the only one eager to ride the dirt.

Muscles

 Around 8pm, it was finally race time.  While the race director tells the kids the rules, mine goes for the front row.  She is just like her Daddy.  She had a game face on that I had never seen before.  She even told me " I want to win".  Both a good and a bad thing.  There were no prizes, no medals.  Just the satisfaction of putting out a good effort and hearing the crowd of parents yelling for them.  Truly awesome.

THE Peat Henry

  She was tickled that her favorite racer, Peat Henry, stayed to see her race.  Thanks Peat, that meant a lot to me too.

Twenty-five plus kids ready to pedal

Enjoy the video below.  My husband took it with his phone and he may have been a little excited.  Who can blame him?  You will hear both of us, we tend to be a bit vocal.

The kids did two laps on a flat course with a mix of grassy field and single-track.  I wanted to follow her but she informed me that I was not allowed to be with her during her race.  She said " I can do this without you mommy".  I knew she was right.  I was comforted by the fact that there were other adults following their kids and they assured me she would be fine.  She was fine and she did great.

Post race 

  When she finished she looked over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't last.  She was NOT last. Plus, she did it on a single-speed.  That's my girl!  Jim and I have already decide to upgrade her bike with.... of course, a KONA.  We will soon be a six KONA owning family.

There is one more chance to race coming up on Thursday, August 2nd.  Bring your kids. The kids race is FREE.  Get them involved in what you love.  Show them why riding a bike is so awesome. I guarantee they will sleep very well that night. My girl was out within ten minutes.  While she slept she smiled, giggled, and moaned a little.  I smiled because I know there is a little pain involved with your pleasure.

She slept in by an hour

  I wish there had been races like this when I was a kid.

Me at age 6 in 1975

Thanks for reading,
Sasha

Polk Audio UltraFit 3000's

In for review are a pair of Ultra-Fit 3000's Sport Headphones. If you are in the market for headphones, are tired of throwing money away on cheap crap that lasts about a month, read my UltraFit 1000's review, or the UltraFit 2000's review before wasting your hard earned dollars.  These headphones have been made with the active persons needs in mind. In a nutshell, they take a sweating and sound fantastic. If you like to workout to music, you know how important an awesome set of headphones is.

  I have been on a few sweaty runs with the 3000's, but do not have enough time in them yet to provide you with a full review.  Look for it soon.

The purpose of this post is to let you know that Polk Audio has a great contest going on right now, I don't want you to miss it. The Polk Audio 40 in 40 days giveaway has a couple weeks left.  If you are on FaceBook you can enter here:https://www.facebook.com/polkaudio?sk=app_143103275748075&app_data=dlt-1.  It's simple, enter your name, address, and email.   As a bonus, if your friends enter, you get two bonus entries per friend.  Polk Audio has some awesome stuff, try your luck. Let me know if you win.