GO! GO! GO!

Speed is the theme for the week here.  7 races in 9 days and quite a bit of traveling in between.  It's pretty much been go, go, go since Whitney and I arrived in Atlanta almost a week ago.  The Walterboro race was a good one and there was quite the large group of kids cheering.  Thank you to Forest Hills Elementary School for the encouragement!  Had a fun time racing, each day feeling more and more comfortable moving around the pack, taking corners, and sticking my nose out in the wind, and bridging and following some moves.  The Walterboro course has a very long and wide section that parallels the start/finish straight and this is where the race is won.  The second to last, and last corners are tight and it's a short distance to the line after you pop out of the last turn.  Unfortunately, I did not win the race to position on the backside of the course and was way too far back to be anywhere close to contesting the field sprint.  Finished 19th for the day which was disappointing, but managed to remain in 10th place overall.  The Pro Women were very fortunate to be treated to a delicious and fun post-race reception following our race by the McLeod, Fraser and Cone Law Firm.  They've been putting on this special event for the women for many years now, and we hope they know how much we appreciate their thoughtfulness!

Sara, Carrie, Kat & Chris enjoy the lake view

Yesterday was an off day for us as we traveled to Anderson, SC.  We had a fun caravan going with Carrie Cash Wootten and Chris Roettger, and we enjoyed a nice spin around a lake (although somewhat anxiety provoking as Sara got a flat on the highway, Carrie sliced her finger open on the glass as she was helping to fix the flat, and then Chris was chased and nipped at by two dogs, and I kept wondering what lay in store for me.)  We made it back to the cars for lunch and Sara and I hopped some fences to get down to a beach.  The water was perfect and we enjoyed a very nice recovery swim!  After arriving in Anderson, our home away from home for a couple days, we went downtown to enjoy some live music and a tasty birthday dinner at a new joint in town, Summa Joe's, serving local produce and homemade pizzas.  Great food, some vino, live band playing the good stuff, a little cake, and merry company made for a great birthday.  Thank you guys!

Summa Joe's Birthday Dinner

Tonight we are off to Spartanburg, SC about an hour's drive from our hotel for the 5th race of the series.  This course will be challenging with a bit of a hill in it and will definitely be missing Whitney for this one.  We spoke just a bit ago and her healing is coming along nicely- thankful to Arnicare for Calendula and Arnica Montana to help my teammate feel better!

 

Gimpin'

So as Kat mentioned, I took a pretty good spill Sunday. Seeming how I'm stuck with only one hand, I'll keep things extra brief. After a jaw-chattering and foot-tapping ER visit (my two, odd reactions to pain), and Kat helping me get some drugs, pack, and rewrap my wounds, I found a flight home the next morning. I guess being covered in road rash with a sling and a splint, you warrant attention, wanted or not. Some of the Southwest crew were awesome and helped me get my luggage checked in. TSA originally wanted to pat me down, road rash and all, since i couldn't lift my arm for the body scanner.  Luckily I dodged that too. By the time I got to my gate, I was the last to board and stuck in the middle seat with my oozing wounds nearly touching two dudes, neither of who thought to offer up their more prized seats so I could not ooze on them. Either way, my pain meds kicked in and I passed out...my mom picked me up and I promptly passed out for the ride home and then took a three hour nap until Zack got home. The next day was an Orthopedic doctor appt my mom shuttled me too. While my bruised and swollen hand is okay, my fractured shoulder is not. It's fractured where the rotator cuff muscles meet the shoulder bone. They are hoping after a month of a sling and no shoulder movements, the fracture will have healed enough to start PT and eventually riding. Assuming I heal, it's looking like my racing season is on pause until August, which leaves me with Tour of Elk Grove, Gateway Cup, and Mayor's Cup. It's definitely a bummer as I was really looking forward to racing with Kat all year, not to mention our awesome schedule, but I'm going to make the best of it. I can ride the trainer without hands, walk, hike, and do non-arm activities. I'm focusing on what I can do and hope to come back to race with Kat with a POW!