Favorite Products: pt 1

I'm going to start doing posts, sorta reviews, about my favorite products every few weeks.

For my first one I wanted to do a product that is very special to me and my parents, the ICEdot Crash Sensor! 

The Crash Sensor is more than a little yellow dot on the back of my helmet, its a product that puts ease on my parents mind while I'm out riding by myself.  You first register your Crash Sensor on the ICEdot website (link below) by putting in the code your Crash Sensor came with, along with a few emergency contacts. Then attach the Crash Sensor to any helmet, find the app, and it will connect to your iPhone(4S or later generation), Android(4.3 or later), or Samsung(4.4.2) phone. The Crash Sensor feels any motion, changes in force or impact. If the impact is critical it sends a signal to set off an an alarm on your phone and triggers a countdown, if the countdown isn't shut off in the amount of time, a message is sent out to your emergency contacts with GPS coordinates of the incident so the appropriate measures can be taken.  

Without the crash sensor I would not be able to complete my rides alone, it gives my parents a sense of relief knowing that if something were to go wrong that they would know.  It also gives me some peace of mind, if anything were to happen to me out on my rides, my ICEdot Crash Sensor has me covered.  

Check it out at:
https://icedot.org/site/
Video Clip about the Crash Sensor:
http://www.fox23.com/videos/news/new-technology-protects-cyclists/vCZ4WT/

Adventure Responsibly.

On my helmet.

Racing.

Also racing.

Wrapping up road season...

This past year, leading up to Jr. Road Nationals in Madison, WI, definitely had its ups and downs.  I had some good results and some terrible ones, my training this year didn’t go as planned due to being in a boot and the few times I decided to kiss the asphalt. June and July were my biggest months and I had to cram a few months of training into about 2.

Nationals started off early with races at the Tour of Americas Dairyland. I did 4 races there, a road race on Wednesday, and criteriums Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We drove up the night before the race on Wednesday, which was a 24-mile circuit race, with a lot of curvy downhills, and a grueling hill right before the finish that made your legs scream.  It was really cold that morning and the field was at about 50 women.  I was in a little break with 4 other girls on the first lap, we were caught about half-way throughout the 2^nd lap.  After that I realized that my legs were still frozen, I tried my best to stay up front, with one to go as always the pace picked up.  As we approached the finishing hill for the last time I gave it everything I had and ended up 19th.  I felt really good about my results considering that I sat in a car the whole day before and didn’t get a good enough warm-up.  The next day was a recovery ride with the amazing (on and off the bike) Laurel Rathbun from Twenty16, who I miss dearly!! I was feeling really good about my race on Friday where I was reunited with one of my best friends (practically my little sister), Katie Clouse from Colesport cycling team. Last time we raced together, at Tulsa tough, we torn it up and went 1 and 3.  I knew we had some tough competition in this race, such as Ashley Weaver from MSU cycling and Mollie Brewer from Vanderkitten VIP.  The course was totally flat and a square, it was perfect!! The race started off fast and stayed that way, with an early break from the Vanderkitten VIP team that stayed away for quite some time.  Eventually the break was caught and I knew it was going to end in a field sprint, with three to go I started to make my way up front, on one to go I was 5^th wheel behind Katie, Mollie, and 2 other Vanderkittens.  As we made the last turn Katie started her sprint from about 250meters out, after she went I went on the outside passing 2 of the Vanderkittens and landing a podium spot with Katie in 1^st and Mollie in 2^nd  (the Vanderkitten VIPs did some of the best teamwork I have even seen btw)! I was honored to be on the podium with two of the strongest racers I know, and I got a $50 preme that I didn’t even know about! The Saturday race didn’t go as well, the course was super sketchy, 4 corners and flat like Fridays but the roads were pretty bad.  I never cracked top 5 wheels and I honestly don’t even know what place I finished, but one of my friends Maddy Boutet from Twenty16 got in a solo break and won, which was awesome!!   I was feeling better Sunday morning and knew I had to give it everything considering it was my last chance to get a super cool cow jersey.  It was another 4-corner course, but this time with a fairly hurtful hill on the finish.  Half way into the race I knew I was feeling good and I had a chance to win this race with the uphill sprint.  I had good positioning for the whole race and was sitting perfectly when we got the bell; unfortunately there was a wreck on the start line that lap that I had to work my way around.  I fought my way back into the pack right as we reached the last turn and sprinted from the back of the pack for 5^th place which I was extremely proud of!!

Tour of Americas Dairyland went very well for me and I was ready to take on Nationals.

            The first day we got in Madison I went and pre-rode the road race course from Hell with two of my now really good friends, Alyia Traficante and Ashyln Woods.  I had a better feeling about the race then I did last year.  We started at 7:05 am…. early starts are never fun, and it was drizzling pretty cold rain.  We had a few km of neutral start on the downhill then the race started, surprising after we got the go no one wanted to race and it slowed down to about 14mph which I thought was ridiculous so I made the first move and picked up the pace. Without knowing it I rode away from the group and was by myself for a little while, until the pack decided they were ready to race.  The first lap was pretty rough for me; I was feeling really bad on the hill and did my best to stay in the 2^nd group. After we hit the flat section I was feeling much better.  My group had a good paceline going but when it came to the hill I went upfront and was pushing the pace.  On the last lap going up the hill I ended up dropping a few girls, but there was still a few really strong girls with me.  We made the turn onto the finishing hill and I went too early and got passed by 3 girls which put me in 19^th place, and for my 2^nd National road race I was super happy about!! The Time Trial was next, and all I wanted to do was beat my time from last year.  I was feeling good for the first few Km, as I made my turn onto the lollipop and got out of my saddle to hit the first climb my foot came unclipped, all I could think about was having to pick my pace up after I got back on my bike.  It was a total sufferfest to the line and I made the time of 34:30ish, beating my time from last year by 3 minutes!! I was super proud of myself.  The last day of nationals was the crit, my favorite event.  I was feeling really good and I got a call up, that was pretty cool to be standing on the line with 10 of the best cyclists in the nation.  When the whistle blew I sorta freaked out and forgot how to clip in, due to my mistake I spent the next 2 laps playing catch up, I was sitting in the back for most of the race, another mistake on my part.  I had one thought running through my mind and it was survival, I did NOT want to get dropped.  There was an attack up the hill on the side of the course for the last 5 laps.  One 2 to go there was a break away, we chased but she stayed away. I was know fighting for 2^nd place, the last time up the hill was brutal. We made the last turn and I was sprinting as hard as I could but gave up right before the line and got passed up 9^th place, which put me in 10^th.  I was shocked, I had just placed 10^th out of 30+ girls in the National criterium. We averaged over 25mph in the race, that’s the fastest crit I had ever done!!

For me I considered Nationals as a success, I had gotten good results and made some new friends that pretty badass! After Nationals I made my way up to Canada for the Tour of Rimouski, last year I didn’t finish the race due to a wreck in the first 8k in the 2^nd stage and dislocating my hip.  This year I made it over 10k but ended up getting really sick and puking my guts out, I had to pull out of the race once again. So I’m pretty sure I have a curse on me about racing the Tour of Rimouski. I did get to guest ride on the coolest team ever, CCB/Ultime Velo Trek!

All I can say now is that it’s good to be home! (:

Thank you to the BEST coach EVER, Mark TeRuki, for getting me ready and reminding me that I can do this! Also a HUGE thanks my mom, daddy and grandparents for always supporting me no matter what!! You guys inspire me to be a better person every day and I will never be able to thank you enough! (and for being my biggest sponsor, I love you guys!)

Trails in Illinois

Waterfall I found in Illinois

Podium with Katie and Mollie!!

Results from the last day at ToAD

THE Katie Clouse and Laurel Rathbun :)

Of course I was going to have pictures of Michael 

Before the start of the 17-18 guys road race

Fireworks with friends after the time trial

Prologue in Rimouski 

Sunset and the lighthouse we rode by

The things you find  in Maine.

Saint Francis Tulsa Tough

Day 1: 

Day one of Tulsa Tough was a very stressful day to say the least. I had been waiting for this day all year long. I had 2 teammates in my race, Karen Brocket and Katie Clouse. Being a CAT3 women I never really know what to expect, we have some super strong ladies and we have others who have just upgraded. With about 1 hour until the start I started to get ready, I made my bottles and hopped on the trainer. As I started pedaling and shifting through my gears I noticed my chain wasn't going into my big ring so by this time I was totally freaking out, luckily I had my pretty awesome boyfriend there to calm me down and start fixing my bike. Within 5 minutes I was back on the trainer warming up. 5 minutes before the start we were in staging getting ready for the race to the line, we had perfect positing. We listened to the final announcements and before I knew it we were racing. The race started off quick, it was a 6 corner, fast course with a small incline on the back it was amazing for me. About half way through the race I was starting to feel tired, but I kept telling myself to trust in my training and that I'm stronger than I think! With 3 to go I thought to myself I wasn't going to make it, there's no way I was going to be on the podium if I don't give it everything I have. By this time we had dropped quite a few women, but the ones left were very very strong. The lap counter kept going down and I was getting more and more nervous about the finish, I only had one teammate left in the race so I rode up next to her. Next thing I hear is "1 to go 1 to go 1 to go" and my heart rate shot up!! I knew exactly where I had to be by the 6th turn, 3rd wheel and surprisingly that's exactly where I was. My teammate Katie was on the front followed by Kim Pettit who is extremely strong. We took the last turn and saw the 200 meter mark and it was on. I was sprinting I saw 3rd place starting to pass me and that's when I used my last match, I crossed the line in 3rd.... I couldn't be anymore happier with how I placed!! My teammate, Katie, won (who is like a little sister to me), Kim Pettit from Soundpony (who is one of my biggest role models and a 2nd mom to me) in 2nd place, and I was in 3rd rounding off the podium!! I finally knew I could race again! That was one of the hardest races I have ever competed in and I was estactic to me on the podium with 2 awesome ladies!! Right after the podium picture it was time to recover.

Day 2: 

The legendary Cry Baby Hill.. when we woke up that morning it was pouring rain outside. The forecast didn't see it stopping anytime soon either. We got to the race while it was still pouring rain so I finally accepted the fact that Cry Baby Hill this year would be more like "Wet" Baby Hill. There's not much I have to say about this race other than pain. We dropped about half the group by 10 minutes into the race. I was so happy when I saw 5 to go, I just had to finish with the pack. With 3 to go my teammate Katie went on the break with 2 other girls, I was so relieved to have an excuse to go to the front and slow down! As we made the last climb up Cry Baby Hill I knew I had made it, just a little but longer. My teammate Katie won, and Kim got second! I came in 3rd in the group sprint putting me in 6th overall. I was so happy to just finish the race in the lead group!! 

Tulsa Tough this year couldn't have gone any better. I want to thank my coach Mark TeRuki for getting me where I am today!! I also want to thank Shawn Brett for everything he does that weekend the race wouldn't be possible without him!! And last but not least my parents and the SFTT DIVAS for the everlasting support! I can't wait until next year!! 

Faith

I do this sport for me. Not for my parents, coach or friends, for me.  Cycling has brought me up from my deepest, lowest points in my life and made me into who I am today.  It gave me back my confidence and hope that I never thought would come back to me.  This year has definitely had its ups and downs, considering my multiple injuries I just haven't had the best of luck.  I've been working through the pain, its not as easy but I'm getting the job done.  I know I have a ton of support behind me and I couldn't be any more grateful.  Without my friends and family I wouldn't have gotten through the beginning of this roller coaster year.  One thing that I really depend on is my faith, I know I'm not mentally strong enough to make it in this sport yet, but I do have more than enough faith in myself.  Sometimes I have to take a step back and remember the big picture, I get caught up in the moment at times.  Like any teenage girl I have a big head, and I apologize for the way I act when things don't go my way. I constantly have to remember that it doesn't matter what others think of me, or the way I race, what matters is that overtime my results pay off and there slowly starting too. With school coming to an end and my big "A" races quickly sneaking up upon me, I'm starting to stress more! Luckily ill have a week between my goal race and my finals to wind back down.  I can't wait to step on the podium again!!

Breakthrough

 So this season has definitely started off rough as some may say, between sickness, and injuries I just can't get a break! I recently had a wreck and messed up my elbow pretty bad, I've been in a splint and icing my elbow whenever I can.  April was actually a pretty good month other than my little spill, lots of good milage and racing with some good company!!  I had one of my biggest races, Joe Martin Stage Race.  It was a two day stage race with three races, time trail and road race on Saturday and criterium on Sunday.    The time trail is a pretty challenging course, 2.5 miles with a 6.8% grade, after the time trail I was sitting 21st out of 34... I wasn't to happy with my time but I still had two more races to move up.  A short  3 hours after my TT I was off in my 40 mile road race, as most of you know Joe Martin is known for its hills, luckily I only had one lap.  After the first hill you could tell who the climbers were, surprisingly that day I was a climber.  The field totally blew up, and I was in the lead group for a while.  I ended up getting dropped after an attack and got swept up into the chase group.  I won the sprint of my group putting me in 8th place for the road race and 13th in GC, jumping up 8 places! I was 3 seconds out of the top 10, I had to make that up in my 20 minute criterium that had a pretty hurtful hill in it.  My race began at 7:30am, you could tell everyone was a little sore after yesterdays grueling road race.  The field split pretty quickly, I was in the lead group with about 13 riders.  It was probably one of the most painful races I have done so far but I kept in the lead group and ended up 8th in the crit also. After starting in 21st I jumped up to 10th overall in GC which was my goal! Thankfully I had my amazing boyfriend at the race with me to keep me from losing my mind, I wouldn't have gotten though the weekend without him! I was super happy with the way I raced, there was an amazing field with some tough competition out there which was good!! Joe Martin Stage Race was definitely a turning point in my season, I couldn't be any happier with my results considering I was racing on a bum elbow, but there were no excuses in this race!! I'm super excited for these next few months, all my big races that I have been training for are coming up sooner than I had thought!! I'm ready to step on the podium here real soon!

Start of the time trial

One of my mentors, Kim Petit, and me in the criterium

Going through corner #2

3k from the finish of the road race

The real reason I brought Michael was so he could do everything for me ;)

The Walking Dead

So last week anyone and everyone I encountered told me that I look like the walking dead... I responded with thanks, I feel like it too.  If you live in Tulsa and saw me, you know what I mean.  Sunday, March 30th I had a race in the morning, I woke up with a small fever but I decided to race anyway.  I mean it was only 50 miles, what could go wrong? Well everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.  The p123 women went out with the Mens Masters, I stayed with them for the first 10 miles or so, until we hit the first real climb.  When I got dropped it hit me hard.  I was only half way through the first lap and I felt absolutely horrible.  I tried eating a few blocks, but everything I ate came right back up. So after emptying my stomach three times I was done.  I finished the whole 48 miles, still placing in the money.  My body has never felt so dead, or ached so so so much. Throughout the whole race I had friends come up behind me and try to help me through but I was in so much pain they couldn't really do much. I want to say thanks to Justin Davis and Esther Thais for giving me a few words of encouragement and pulling me until I had to stop again! One thing I learned from this horrible experience is you should never race or train unless your body and mind are feeling 100%, if you do it'll just hurt you in the long run.  I had to take the whole week off, all I did that week was lay in bed and sleep. I tried going to school on Tuesday, I survived 45 min and had to go home. Turns out I had some sort of flu virus, strep throat, AND a mild concussion from hitting my head on my bike stand (yes,  my bike stand, feel free to laugh at that). I would definitely recommend staying away from your bike when your sick and recover!! Sadly I had to learn the hard way!

Spring Break of an athlete

Being an elite athlete, school breaks aren’t really breaks at all, they’re just opportunities for more training. As a teenage girl I still want to enjoy my breaks a little.  This year I went to Florida to visit some family, friends and of course for some time in the sun. Florida weather may have been a little better than Oklahoma’s, but in no way did I escape the wind.  So with all my kits, swim suits and tanning oil, we loaded up my bike and drove down to FL for the week.  We stayed on the shores of Daytona Beach; it was beautiful waking up to the sunset on the waves.  The riding weather was close to perfect everyday; I only got sprinkled on once during a training ride and got poured on during my first race Saturday morning.  I had some amazing friends that I got to get closer with and ride with, which is always my favorite part. Some of the bonds you make in this sport are close to unbreakable. One of my favorite days was Wednesday; I got to race in a practice circuit race in Clermont, Fl.  It was a smooth course with a bunch of good competition; one thing I loved seeing is the amount of junior racers that were out there! I love seeing this sport grow in a good way; they were also pretty fast too. Of course most of my trip was spent riding, but I did have some time for a little fun!  My free time was spent at the beach, watching movies, eating ice cream and mini golfing with my favorite people.  To round off the amazing break I raced Saturday in the Delray Twilight festival criterium.  I race the W123 in the morning and got 5^th racing in the pouring rain! Later that day I did the WP123 and got my butt kicked, it was a great experience to be racing with such talented and knowledgeable women.  I also loved watching some of my closest friends race the mens pro race, 2 hours of crit racing is rough! I was so lucky to get the opportunity to go to Florida and make some new friends and get some more miles in! I definitely want to come back next year and get under the lights at Delray again!