Counting Down
23 Aug
Only one more weekend to go before heading to World Championships in Quebec. This coming weekend is the first UCI World Cup to be held in the USA (Windham, NY) I believe in about 5 years. We won’t be making the trip to Windham for multiple reasons (money, unpaid time off work, and training is better at home). While it might be nice to shake the cobwebs off and get out some of the big-race jitters, it won’t be happening for me! Windham was a great race and venue last year as the last stop of the Pro XCT, so I know that everyone will have a great time racing out there this weekend.
This past weekend was my last big training weekend before the big event. Even though I warned everyone I was sticking to my training program for the weekend (be that slow, fast or in between), we had some company for both days. Not oddly enough, Justin and I wound up duo for both rides anyway!
Best training partner ever
He even let me steal his Jawbones for the ride. It was my 4th ride with Jawbones and the first time I got sweat in my eyes. I did two 20-minute race simulation efforts alternating steep singletrack climbing and rocky/tech/So Cal dirt singletrack descents with some fire road traversing in the middle and the sunglasses were solid. The temps kept climbing as Justin and I did our last big ascent of the day on a long-ish singletrack steep climb with plenty of switchbacks, and about 2/3′s of the way up the hill the sweat was just too much for the Halo headband and the sunglasses and my eyes started stinging. But, a short break at the top in view of the ocean and I was good to go!
Saturday night after some errands Steph sliced and diced and Justin was the grill-master extraordinaire for another delish Saturday meal.
Sunday we were up and at ‘em trying to hit the coast for a 4 hour spin from one coffee shop to another! It’s good to have motivation…
Rockin’ it USA-style
The sturdy train (I got used to this view, and then them being entirely out of sight for most of the day)
This guy got his Jawbones back and kept me company!
Life is better with Jawbones.
I can’t tell if that’s just a wicked suntan or if the roads were pretty grimey yesterday?
Look but don’t touch
Justin got a muffin that I shared, and we split a bagel. Road fuel.
Riding for Tyler
The ride was a little longer than it had been earlier this year when we did it, but we hit a pretty solid headwind coming back north through Pendleton in the afternoon. Temps were higher, pace was a bit slower. Solid 5 steady hours, though, and I was actually feeling pretty good when we got done.
I managed to escape the fro-yo brigade both days.
Overall, another good weekend pedaling. Hope you had the same.
2012 is the year of the Dragon in Chinese astrology. For Allison, 2012 is the year of the Phoenix. After a successful 2010 that led Allison to her 1st international competition, at the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, she succumed to an injury that kept her off the bike and out of training for 2011. Missing out valuable training time, race experience, and needed results in 2011, Allison has ensured 2012 will be a year of rebirth and expanded growth and learning. She is looking forward to a solid year of training, racing, and new experiences across the country and internationally where she plans to race and promote Bikes for Boobs benefitting Mammograms in Action. She continues to ride and race with mutual support from Rock N' Road Cyclery in Orange County, as well as with her husband, Justin.
I get far too excited about baked goods.
Re: Best training partner ever… right back at ya!
sturdy train was in full effect. Another great weekend with the Mann show!
you are going to do amazing at worlds! I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back, oh and go into fro-yo coma with you!
You were smart to not hop onto the sturdy train and you exhibited much self-control on the fro-yo front. It’s all going to be worth the journey!!