can you where me now?

Its a good thing the title of our blog implicates not only where are we... but why aren't we staying in touch.

We've been doing really well . I am geting ready to drive out to California on Tuesday evening. You'd think the more I travel the less I'd take.. but given the option of taking the van and given the duration of this trip. I just keep adding stuff to my list.

I do recall when equipment used to mean running shoes and racing shoes and maybe a pair of tights/ polypro/ and jacket. If it was an xc race then a bag of spikes would be useful (remember the 18's). Well! let me tell you how much those times have changed. Add an Xterra triathlon to a mountain bike racing schedule and its getting rather ridiculous on the ol' equip front! Plus ... part of the reason I'm driving is to transport Brians bike out so.....

Its fun though and you know this is what I love to do with my life.

Our upcoming travels include for me:

Norba # 2 In Santa Barbara ( the last time I was there was with Jacko and Nelson Laux on a running/ Gin drinking trip in 1999) Loved it though... was my first run on the beach in the US. So am excited to go back ( probably san's the Gin this time). Then Norba # 3 in Fontana. Followed by the best race in the US - in my opinion - the Idyllwild challenge and the Opening race of truth - Temecula Xterra. ( wonder if I could possibly not be last pro woman out of the water this year??).

Brian is training well in Gunnison - he's getting fit, and running the Black Mesa Ascent then flying out to Cali to join me for the XT.

Life in Gunni has been rather great... we where going to a mexican potluck. Style?! B'man stylie -Always!

The other huge benefit of some time in town are the people we have to train with. I've been greedily racking up my training w/ friends time.

This picture doesn't do it justice but last Sunday the US Air force where doing fly bys on the Gunni Airport.. this happens sevetral times a year and its so trippy. The plane is HUGE and from Heartmans it comes into view and takes up alot of the sky, enough to give you a huge fright -its kinda cool.

The pic is of Jackie/ Ashley Burt and I at Heartmans.

cheers

Jenny

These times they are a changing

It seems about time that I posted some pics on the Blog again and without a fresh image to share thought I'd post a swimming one for our motivation.



After several years of puddling around in the 'ool ( theres no P in ours) I'm realising that my improvement as a swimmer isn't going to happen by Osmosis.

The harsh truth was made sweeter today when our little group grew to include, not only Jari and Kate but also Brian, Sully and Jason. So here it is for the record perhaps the first real swimming workout I've done.

5 by 150's ( first 50 hard enough to induce drowning like response and last 100 moderate)followed by little or no recovery if you're me as I'm the slowest.
5 by 50 m's where Jari ( I love her!) helps me learn to pull with my back and shoulder instead of my forearm.
5 by 100m's on the 1 min 50. ( and I do them all under 1.40... rock on as this for me is an improvement)
A blissful cooldown. total time 1 hour 03... (thats two 1 hour barriers in a week!)

Now whats better than One pro cyclist making a fool of themselves around town?? Two pro cyclists! Brian joined me today for a set of single leg drills. In towns like Boulder these may be the norm on the roads but around these them parts???? Add that it was snowing and the scene had me grinning ear to ear. How fun to pay like a fool on expensive toys while calling it training. Now if you the reader questions the legitimacy of this workout. I challenge you to try it. One legged pedalling is hard Yakka!

Finally good luck to ... Sea otter people and NZ Xterra championship athletes.

Enjoy
Jenny and Brian

Right place Right time

Its been my goal lately to break the hour barrier with my runs and swims. Running is aok it just takes commitment but 'swimming'. Swimming for an hour to me is like 3 hours on the trainer riding a pro saddle and watching March of the Penguins ( De ja vue.... Oh well they where grim times )

Luckily I have friends... and at just the right time I ran into them at the Pool. I could kiss the ground Jari walks on for the swim session today. All of a sudden the world opened up and instead of counting laps in five minute increments. I swam with Kate and Jari (well behind them) but we did a workout, it was FUN and time flew. Whats better is we are meeting on Friday, whats even better is I'm looking forward to it.

Like a bear with a sore tooth no toe

I broke a tooth last year and have known since then that its needed repairing with a crown. As I'm both scared of the dentist and wasn't keen on paying for such a thing I'd been putting it off. However looking at my next six months of travelling and racing I realised that I should do it now. I have a temp ( made out of the same stuff as nylon fingernails) tooth untill my real crown is made. Its been quite sore though and tomorrow I have to go back and get it remodelled.
Sore teeth make me 'fragile' but to add to the fun I moved a chair yesterday - (rearranging the lounge) while wearing Birkenstocks - and defrosting the freezer - in the half hour before meeting a client at the gym Why?? who knows... I managed in one clean sweep to stubb and lift up a good third of my big toenail. Oh my god... it huurrtt.... and I yelled. Max just looked at me from under the table.
In the rush of the big toe pain ... clarity came.... I should stick to doing one thing at a time.

So thats my Forest Gump mantra for the day. Life is like.... a box of chocolates best enjoyed one chocolate at a time. Or someting like that.

Jehney.

Race reporting Nova and the GT

The opening round of the NMBS ( Norba) nationals where in Fountain Hills, Phoenix this past weekend. The Nova weekend had 3 seperate events - a time trial, short track and cross country. I rode the timetrial on friday and it was great to open up and ride the course fast. I posted 5th fastest time to stand on the podium - a motivating way to open up the Nth American season.

I'd not planned on doing the short track ... as the proposed fat boy crit seemed a good one to miss . I changed my mind though when it turned out it was mainly dirt and I was super glad I did. The event was held in downtown Fountain Hills under lights and it made for an exciting venue and atmosphere. Lots of people watching that would have never ever come out to the McDowell Park venue. It was really dusty and sketchy in places plus dark in spots too. Keeping the rubber side down was a good thing! However the racing was fast, hard, it was really exciting and everyone seemed pretty stoked to be doing something different.

Sunday was the XC and my main goal was to get a good start... I was relieved to pull it off and be in around 10th in the single track. Throughout the first lap I moved up into 8th or so and stayed around here riding with a few different people. By the third lap I'd moved into 7th and was headed home when I passed Katerina of Luna running her bike. I thought awesome I'm in 6th.... Not to be though as very soon after that I flatted my rear tire and banged up the rim.... Stans everywhere and not a chance of sealing.... so I ended up running my bike a good 2 miles in.... which sucked in carbon bike shoes, plus it was 90 odd degrees and at the end of a hard race! Oh well.... this was only my second flat ever in a race the previous one being at Mt snow in 2001... Maybe I was due.

It was still a good day out there. As was it a good weekend. For the whole Trek team too. In the Super D Tomarra Mulhfield won the Womens event . In the Womens XC Sue Haywood showed a 'clean pair of heels' to wrap up 3rd place, Rie Katayama in 12th and Mical Dyck of Canada 15th. Check out this link for some good pics.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2007/mar07/NORBA_1_07/NORBA_1_074

Brian had the Grand Traverse on Friday night. Couldn't have been more black and white in contrast to the Phoenix heat. With fresh snow in Crestted butte turning into a ground Blizzard on top of Taylor pass. 60 mile an hour winds and white out conditions. He and Jesse Crandall finished the event at 10 am Saturday morning to take out 14th place overall. It was a rough day for his equipment too as the new snow on Brush creek road was fluff on top of gravel.... meaning his ski's are much worse for wear.

Enjoy

Jenny