Monday, July 21, 2008

All good things come to an end.


In 1997, 11 years ago, I started racing and devoted all my time and passion to it. When I first started racing I hid this picture because I was too self-conscious and thought I looked like a dork in it. I grew a lot in cycling. It gave me confidence and taught me a lot through my travels to over a dozen different countries and through various different cultures. It gave my a hard work ethic, goals, and discipline, as well as confidence to be who I am.

Unfortunately I've come head to head with an injury that's more stubborn than I am and I've decided it's time to discover some of the things I've abstained from ( like learning to down hill ski) as I focused entirely on racing.

As well as learning a lot and lots of travels I've met tons of great people through cycling, including my husband ;-)) A part of me is sad to give up cycling but I know that what I've learned through it can be applied to most anything in life. There are lots more goals ahead of me as well as tons of places to travel and new people to meet.

When I was on the airplane flying back to Zürich the girls sitting next to me said "Dumb people attract dumb things". I think that can be said in a more positive way that we attract and get out of life what we put in to it and look for. Motivated and interesting people reap the benefits of their output no matter what walk of life they take and I'm interested to see where life takes me next!!

I thank all those who have helped and encouraged me along the way. Not only could I have not done it without you, you're what made it fun and interesting!!!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

A Picture Diary: The USA

A little girl time, with lots of shopping, was in order.


It wouldn't be America without a little baseball.

Me and my dad at the Portland waterfront blues festival.


Roger and I at the Oregon coast.




BBQing at the beach, with combined Swiss-American ingenuity.


4th of July St. Paul Rodeo



Camping in Washington along the Columbia River Gorge


S'mors Yumm... An all-American treat.


Time to relax.




Monday, June 23, 2008

American Velodrome Challenge

Letzte Woche war ich im San Jose Kalifornien wo es 42 Grad warst. Ich bin mit 2 Velo Freundins über 1000km dort hin gefahren. Es hat lang gedauert aber wir hatten es auch lustig also es war I.O.

Am Freitag Abend fang die rennen am mit Keirin Qualifikation. Ich habe mich direkt für das Keirin Final qualifiziert. Bei das Keirin Final habe ich mich ein super Position geschafft in die erste 2 runden und habe 2te gemacht in diese Final. Ich war sehr positive überraschend. Naschte kam das Punktefahren, mit über 20 Frauen am Start. Ich habe den falsche Taktik gepokert und bin ein ziemlich schlechte Rennen gefahren. Shelly Odds, von die US National Team hat gewonnen. Die Rennen am Freitag waren erste gegen 00:00Uhr fertig und wir waren erste am etwas 1:00Uhr im Bett.

Samstag morgen am 6:45 waren wir schon wieder wach und es war schon wieder über heiss. Am Morgen gab es Sprint. Mein erste Sprint war zu dritt. Ich war 2te hintern Becky Lang und dürfte nochmal sprinten. Ich habe mein 2te Sprint gewonnen und dürfte nochmal Sprinten. Die 3te mal müsste ich leider weder gegen Becky Lang sprinten. Sie hat mich wieder geschlagen. Dann war ich in das 5-8 Final. Ich hab attackiert 1 1/4 Runde vor dem Ziel. Die andere haben mich gesehen und sind auch unter gefahren ganz scharf bis ich kein Platz mehr hat. Ich war dann nicht mehr auf der Bahn und bin fast in ein Kommissar gafahren. Ich war dann ganz fast versteckt und müsste bremsen hinter die andere 3 und hatte keine Chanzen wieder vorbei zum fahren. Es war schade das es so ging aber ich habe die Sprints nur für spass gemacht also ich war nicht zu enttäuschte. Die ganz morgen es war so heiss war so froh wenn die Rennen fertig waren. Die Freundin von meinen Brüder ist zuschauen gekommen und wir haben zwischen die morgen und Abend rennen ein lange Mittag pause gemacht. Es war so schön ein gute Mittag zum essen und vorallen bei kühle Luft im Restaurant zum sitzen. Nacher fühlte ich mich wie ein neue Person.

Am Abend kam das Ausscheidung und Scratch rennen. Ich bin die erste 7-9 Runden von vorne gefahren. Ich habe gewartet bis die richtig Person kam dann habe ich mich in 2te position rechts verstecht. Es war perfekt. Ich habe es geschafft bis wir waren nur zu 3te. Dann hatten wir alle 2 statt 1 Runde bis zum Schluss Sprint. Am Schluss Sprint war ich dritte und zufrieden mit wie dir rennen gegangen ist.

Das Scratch Rennen warst 30 runden mit ein Sprint für Wein geden 5te Runde. und mit 14 Runden zum Schluss gab es auch $75. Ich habe gewusste das die mittle Punkt im Rennen wirt wichtig und ich war bereit. Nach 5 Runden hat eine attackiert und ziemlich schnell ein halb runde gemacht. Noch ein paar Runden warten habe ich das volgung begonnen aber nur ein halbe runden dann habe die andere Frauen sie gefolgt und ich habe in die erste 5 Position gewartet. Wir haben sie ein geholt und dann ging alles los für die Wein und $$. Shelly Odds greift an. Ich war bereit und war dabei. Wir waren weg und allein. Während die naschte 10 Runden haben wir das Feld über rundet zusammen. Sie hat das Rennen gewonnen und ich war 2te.

Ich war sehr glücklich diese Bahn Rennen zum fahren. Es war wie Urlaub, kein Stress, einfach Spass am Radfahren und Radrennen. Sonntag habe ich dann ein Freundin im Kalifionia besuched, und bin wieder zu mein Eltern in Portland geflogen. Fliegen ist viel besser. Es hat nur ein Stunder gedaurt statt 10!!!

bis zum Näschtes mal.





Hier sind ein paar Fotos von Schluss Sprint im Keirin. Mehr Fotos sind auf www.wheelsinfocus.com

Monday, June 9, 2008

From the New York Airport

So I’ve promised several people in Switzerland updates during my Trip to Portland. People in Switzerland are all about ‘Wellness’. They take wellness vacations, make wellness weekends, and days. I would call it enjoyment and luxury and people there just happen to be able to afford it and have the high quality of life that allows then to say it’s an investment in the future. I’m not all about the spas and all the thermal baths they have there because I always end up more tired leaving then I was beforehand. However in theory I they’re correct because everybody needs some wellness, but my wellness trip for the year happens to look a little bit different. Mine is a trip home (where I haven’t been for over two years); A.) to get therapy on my leg from Schizeng Yang (the best therapist I know and a top contender on the list of people who’ve been crazy enough to still believe in me after the last 4 years of crazyness) B.) to do all the night racing that I’ve missed over the last years while racing with the ‘big girls’. C.) To see my family and all my girlfriends that I miss. and D.) Home cooked meals from my mom.

Anyway what I wanted to say is that since I’m in the US now, I’m going to write in German. My mother-in-law told me not to forget my German while in the US for so long so I figured I could one up it and work on it. When I went over to Switzerland I learned German pretty much like a baby and never really made it to a school to learn how to write and spell properly and my grammar is pretty poor… So maybe concentrating on writing something down, slightly more formal than shooting emails to teammates and friend… though only slightly as blogging is so overused it can’t be considered much more formal than email…

Also, los gehts. Ich bin in Amerika. Ich habe ein ganz lange list von was ich, wahrend mein Ries, machen möchte. Ich weiss fast nicht wo ich anfangen soll, aber ich glaube mit etwas schlaf komt alles gut. Ich habe versücht leicht zum packen aber alle meine Taschen waren trozdem ganzvoll gepacht! Ich weiss gar nicht was so viel platz braucht und was alles so schwer ist viellicht zu viele geschanke. Ich habe gar nicht so viel kleider mit gebracht weil ich planne alles von mein schwester zum klauen;-) und shopping zum gehenJ Ich habe mein Leightweights als handgepackmitgebracht. Durch Security habe ich stau hintern mich gemacht weil etwas 8 security leute haben mein räder gesehen und müsste schauen kommen zum ‚inspektieren’. Ich glaube ich werde langsome alt wenn die teamräder sind schöner als ich. Aber die sind hald schöne also mann kann nichts sagen. Aber das security wenn mann nach Amerika fliege ist wirklich ein Witz! So viel fragen mit keine bedoitung, was bringt es eigentlich? Es helft der US doller nicht wenn niemand willst nach Amerika reisen weil es so musam ist.

Viellicht fahre ich morgen abend mein erste Trainings Rennen... bin schon gespannt, aber ich müss schauen weil ich habe al Flüg gar nicht geschlafen.

Bis zum näschtes mal.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Vacation

So I the last two weeks I finished up my first year of school. Have been doing lots of therapy on my injured leg, and enjoying not having a job before I make a summer visit to Portland. Last weekend Roger and I hoped on a plane and an hour later were in Rome. We had a really great trip and it was even more interesting because last fall I studied Ancient Rome pretty intensely and it was awesome to put everything in perspective.

Here are some pics.

Take care

Monday, May 26, 2008

Team Building (w/o bikes)

I sent the past weekend with my team on a surprise adventure. The previous weekend at the race we got a letter telling us what to pack but not what we would be doing.

This past Saturday morning we met at the usual spot and headed toward the alps. The adventure began around 10:00 when we were all suited up head to toe in neoprene suits to go river rafting on the Rhein. The weather wasn't exactly perfect getting wet as I'm not sure it was even 60F, but it wasn't raining so it wasn't a problem. The team was split into two different boats and the competition started quickly with, who was going to get to the BBQ spot in the middle first and with a lot of splashing with the paddles. By the lunch stop we were thoroughly soaked and cold. About a half hour before the lunch stop I asked our guide if we could paddle a bit more and go a bit faster cuz Kirsten and I were getting really cold. So she'd tell us all to paddle but then after about 3 strokes we'd have to stop again. Despite the time it takes, rafting is for sure not an endurance sport, it's all about hurry up and wait.

After about an hour and a half in the water we made it to the lunch spot, my boat first. After waiting for the fire to get hot enough to grill, and having finally eaten we were back in the boats about 2hrs later not much warmer or drier than before despite huddling up to the fire, the only difference being that we completely smelt like smoke.

The second half of the rafting trip went by faster. the rapids weren't so big, and we enjoyed the scenery. Despite thoroughly enjoying the rafting I was super happy to get back to our starting point and my warn clothes!!! I told Roger we'll have to go on a week long rafting trip sometime in Colorado, that's my kind of a vacation!! I would just prefer it to be in the height of summer and not May.

After the rafting we got underway to our "5-Star Hotel" as was written in the letter we'd received.... We highly doubted this and were excited to find out the actual sleeping arrangements. We parked at the bottom of a mountain and took the gondolas several miles up. We arrived at a nice restaurant, and we're then led to our quarters... in the barn. A night as Heidi sleeping in the hay awaited us. The second the owner opened the door there was no question as to how many stars the place had, it smelt like nothing other than the barn it was.

Despite our long day no one was ready to snuggle into bed for an afternoon nap so we roamed around admiring the view and then sat down to a very long dinner, until we were absolutely sure we'd fall right asleep when our heads hit the pillow... or hay I should say as there were no pillows, except pillow cases filled with hay, some thin mattresses and wool blankets.

We thought we'd though we'd frozen enough while rafting but we were in for it again that night. I woke up multiple times completely shivering as the wind blew through the cracks... but it was an adventure and not something you do every day and I was in the Swiss alps sleeping in hey and how many people can saw they've done that?

The next morning we tried to stretch out all the creaks in our necks and backs and hurried to the warm restaurant for breakfast of alpen cheese and bread, and lots of hot coffee!! Then we went solo bob sledding down the first half of the hill in a metal half pipe. Which was sweet I could have done it all day but the cost of every trip back up in the gondola would add up. The second half of the descent we took scooter type things that handled super weird in the switchbacks but were also fun, but it took me a while to adjust to haw they handled as opposed to my bike. I can lean my bike a lot more into the corners!! We made it to the bottom of the hill too quick. just like on the bike it takes way to long to ascend compared to the short lived excitement of the downhill!

This weekend there was so much packed into two days I felt like I'd been gone from home forever and was so happy to lounge with Roger on our soft couch and have a warm bed to sleep in with blankets that don't itch my face!!!

Here are some pics of the week. Unfortunately I don't have pics from rafting. I was afraid my camera would end up in the water and even if it hadn't it was wet enough in the boat. Though I hope to get some pics from our press guy who I think damaged to take some.


The gondola ride.



The "5-Star Hotel"

The king size bed.

The playground for the kids

The breath taking view that my camera (or I) couldn't completely capture.






An anonymous teammate, unsuccessfully trying to stay warm.
The bobsled pipe.
Worn-out.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

one step after another

So it's been nearly a month since I actually wrote a race report. Today I had a national category race here in Switzerland. I didn't know what to expect from myself in the race because I have been racing really poorly in the last month or two. I've been dealing with an injury in my left quad and have been stressed out with that as well as finishing up my first year of University, and life in general.

Anyway the race was 8 laps on a rolling course, with one hill in particular but not a big enough one that a sprinter couldn't get over it. I was happy that the overall tempo of the race wasn't consistently high. When the races are too fast for longer than a few minutes without a break my left quad shuts down and I need a long time to recover before I can activate the muscle again. I could make it over the hill, or cover an attack or two but that was it and then I was done for a lap and on the verge of getting dropped for the next two laps before my leg could recover to do anything worth while again. After two laps I wanted to drop out because my left leg was blocked but I made a deal with myself that I needed to finish four laps. On the third lap I was really on the verge of being dropped for good but I convinced myself I couldn't give up. Once I made it through four laps I told myself I had to finish six laps, and once I'd finished the six laps the race was practically over and I realized I wasn't going to get dropped so then I actually started to race and felt much better about how things were going. Sometimes it helps to have smaller goals and go one step at a time... which is sometimes... or most of the time a problem for me.

I finished 21st which isn't a super result for a National category race but for me it was just important to finish a road race, and to finish it in the main field because I haven't finished one since the beginning of March. I've been getting therapy for my leg and and slowly seeing signs of improvement. I'll continue my therapy in Portland and and hope to quickly get the problem solved so that I can trust my body again and screw my head back on tight for race action, because when your body is sending you signs to stop it's really hard to turn your head on to endure a hard race and much harder to do a good job in the team and be aggressive! Luckily I had a team mate on the podium, so at least somebody is fit :-))

By the way track racing started two weeks ago. I love my new Specialized Langster!! I don't have any pics but you can check some out at www.333meter.ch there's even some video there.

I am counting the days till I get to Portland, having races every night does wonders for my form:-)) and it's time to find my legs again!