2008

-What one word describes your 2008 season? Does it match what you said last December in anticipation of this year?

CHANGE

Last year I said:

Excited.  A new team, trying bike racing, writing my own schedule (with the coach's oversight). Should be interesting.

-What one word comes to mind when you think about your 2009 season?

REVERT or CONSISTENT

Both came to mind about the same time.

Revert back to more training. Add back running, some swimming too.

Consistency I let lapse. I'd train well for a bit, then not.

-Did you race any new distance this year or try any new type of racing

or sport?

That's ALL I did!  I did my first ever road bike racing--crits, road races, even a stage race. Then there was the track. I think I rode my tri bike about 3 times all year and the two races I did on it were individual cycling TTs, not a tri.

-What was your greatest thrill or joy this year from training or racing?

Finding my true love--the velodrome!

For actual racing? Two different occasions. The first was a Friday night in August at the track when it was the fast girls and me and I rode so hard I thought my eyeballs would pop. I got dropped, but I'd jump right back in and try to hang a little longer each time. It was a great learning experience.

The other was the last day of Track Masters Nationals when Donna and I got 3rd in the Team Sprint and taking 4 seconds off our previous time. The entire Masters experience was pretty damned fun.

-What was your biggest disappointment this year from training or racing?

Not being as fit or trained or prepared as I should have been. The first road race was a big bummer for me since I didn't have the hard miles in my legs and I didn't really know about this bike racing thing. I was ready to give it (bike racing) up right then and there. Glad I stuck it out.

I also really missed having a coach. But since the year was about trying new things, I definitely think I can say the year was a success.

-What was your favorite race in 2008?

The Wednesday and Friday night races at the track. Wednesday was more casual, but you got to race multiple times. Fridays were a bigger deal and a little more high profile with a crowd watching and food and drink. But both were very fun and almost always involved driving down and back with teammates and a trip to the taco truck afterwards. The Madera Stage Race weekend was also fun. The actual racing was maybe not so fun, but the trip was great.

So one more race in 2008 this weekend, and then it will be on to 2009. Can't wait!