Air Force Cycling Classic

Had an awesome opportunity to race for Mellow Mushroom p/b Shady Grove Fertility Clinic at the Air Force Cycling Classic this past weekend!  Definitely an honor to guest-ride with Laura Van Gilder, Kristen LaSasso, Laura Jorgensen, and Meaghan Bryan and sport the specially-made Pactimo kit!  I really enjoyed being back in a team atmosphere. 

Clarendon Cup was awesome, loved the course, and it didn't hurt that I felt fairly good despite the full-on allergy attack I was experiencing since my arrival in Virginia.  Covered attacks, enjoyed the fun corners, and was psyched to help with a lead out for Laura in the final laps. 

However, my intention and my execution were two different things.  Kristen drilled it on the front with 2 to go and being on her wheel is no easy task.   Looking back at one point and seeing Tina on my wheel instead of Laura left me hesitating.  In the last lap or two of a crit, there's really no place for hesitation.  That combined with my screaming legs meant bad news bears for my contribution to the lead out.  Definitely made some mistakes, but took away a lot from the experience.  Laura finished 4th for the day and earned the Most Courageous Rider jersey. 

We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon with our awesome hosts the Robb family!  Their son Lawrence was pretty excited about my name- cats and cars being his two favorite things in the world.  It was pretty adorable. 



Thanks to Scott Kingsley for the photo!  Check out his other work at https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingsleyscott/

Sunday, we rode over to the race in Crystal City via bike path.  Sunday's race was a tough one, rough pavement, hard racing, and I was not feeling well and not able to contribute much.  I got popped in the last laps, but still enjoyed racing with those awesome women and was excited to see Laura up on the podium with 3rd for the day and 3rd overall. 

 

 

Huge thanks to the Air Force Cycling Classic, LVG, Kristen, Laura J, Meagan, the Robb Family and Julie Kuliecza and her folks for a great weekend of racing in VA! 

SKINourish Spa

I'm thrilled to have SKINourishment, Inc. back as my title sponsor for this 2014 season and very excited to try some of the new goods!  SKINourishment is committed to using food grade products and educating consumers about the benefits of using quality ingredients to promote your body's health.  Have I mentioned they are transitioning to biodegradable and compostable packaging?  Love it.  



Lots of sun and high altitude riding- have to protect the skin.  This racer doesn't like tan lines.   

While I'll continually rave about Climb On! sunscreen, which like all SKINourishment products contains only food grade ingredients (no synthetics!), I've been introduced to a few other items this year I want to share.  First, SKINourish Spa line.  Makes my face feel happy.  This is my AM & PM routine:

1. I have very sensitive skin and absolutely love the Soothe & Cleanse facial cleanser. I rinse my face with warm water, apply the cleanser to a very soft exfoliating brush and wash my face using gentle circular motion.

2. Rinse with cool water.

3. Spritz my face with Clean & Tone, facial toner for sensitive skin. 

4. Apply Rose & Cucumber Beautifying Face Crème.

5. Feel happy. 

 

 

If I'm heading out in the sun, I make sure to protect my skin with the mineral sunscreen. Every week, I will also incorporate the Rose & Cucumber Soothing Masque into my routine to further nourish my skin.  If you are interested in checking out these products, the Essential 5 Face Line is on sale and you get free shipping on orders over 50 dollars!  Just sayin.... :)

Glencoe Grand Prix



Made my way to Chicago last Thursday to take part in the Glencoe Grand Prix- an amazing event in a great community.  Went straight from the airport with Vanessa Drigo to South School to spend the rest of the school day with the kids!  We did several presentations with the little ones and 2nd graders.  Lots of silliness!  The little ones insisted on smelling my cycling shoes despite my many warnings.  One little boy declared they smelled like cupcakes... I wish!

 

 

 

Friday morning I met up with pepper Julie Kuliecza to roll.  We spun over to Glencoe Coffee located on the last turn of the course and enjoyed a nice relaxing morning.  Then it was go time.  Lights, camera, action.  Literally.  I joined Rahsaan Bahati and Andres Alzate to star in the Glencoe Educational Foundation's commercial.  Every year, the Foundation raises money to enhance the quality of our youth's education.  They are doing great work in Glencoe and in surrounding Chicago schools.  Glencoe Grand Prix is one of several ways they raise funds and it's a privilege to be part of the great work they are doing. 

 

 



 

 

Went for a nice quick spin with Michael before I was off to the WCA Pro Rider Meet & Greet Dinner.  Met a lot of nice folks, including a number of young women planning on racing for the first time the next day, and autographed trading cards for a lot of excited kids.

 



 

 

 

 

Saturday the Pro Women raced early.  The weather was perfect, the crowds great.  I did a little pre-race check-in with Kenny Labbe who announces for GGP and then got a surprise call-up.  So, the start of the race was great.  It was only as we hit mid-way through that I started to feel it.  This technical course features an up-hill portion that shelled about half the field.  With two laps to go, I was caught behind a crash as we started to descend into a technical right corner before punching it up-hill. I got going again and tried to re-connect, but it wasn't happening.  My legs were done and the group that got through ahead was going full-speed.  While this was a bummer, it also meant I avoided the nastier crash before the final turn. My Pepper Palace friends won the race, so that was exciting to see especially after they did such great work as a team organizing and executing their lead out.  I finished 24th. 



One of my favorite things about GGP is spending time with the Chiang Family.  They are just wonderful.  Everyone had a busy day, racing, volunteering, starring in a musical, so we all spent a good amount of the evening relaxing.  Elise picked out this lucky clover for me and Amelia made my jersey lucky for Sunday's race at Cobb park.  While I didn't make the break of four, despite my best effort of trying to bridge solo and making it within 7 seconds but unable to get any closer, I won the field sprint to secure a 5th place for SKINourishment p/b Paceline Projects.  That felt great!  I owe it to the girls good luck and Regina's blueberry muffins!

 

 

A very big thank you goes out to everyone involved in putting on such a great event:  John, Matt, Nikki, Catherine, Kenny, the Glencoe schools and their awesome teachers who marshaled the course, and last, but certainly not least, Michael, Regina, Amelia and Elise for being the absolute best!   

Closing the gap

I've fallen behind.  Now for some catching up! 

Enjoyed a fun weekend in DC for my brother's graduation.  Tried biking, drafted this guy...decided it was better to take some time off the bike while in the city.  Instead enjoyed a great weekend with my family on foot. 

After graduation, headed north to beautiful New England!  Really happy to be home with my family and see some friends too, including Steve Weller...my favorite coach!    (http://belllapcoaching.com/)  As always, my bike and I stopped by Joe's Garage (my favorite shop!) to visit with Joe and give the bike some attention before I was off to race Tour of Somerville in NJ with Debony.  Our weekend of riding and racing was a blast. 



Race was good and I felt good.  I was also more aggressive than I usually am in the last laps when the going got crazy.  I was pleased with that improvement and that I kept some composure when I was getting pushed around.  Wasn't enough through the last two turns after avoiding a crash and a VERY long finish straight.  Finished 19th for SKINourishment p/b Paceline Projects.

 The perfect post-race treat in NJ...

That's it for now... the Glencoe Grand Prix up next!