The first road race of the year for us was last Saturday, and I'm not sure my legs were quite ready for it. I'm not really disappointed or surprised because it's so early, and almost everyone else has more racing already in their legs. I know I just need to get some race efforts under my belt and then I'll start to come around pretty fast. Ted fared slightly better than I did, but he still feels the same way. Good thing we have back-to-back road races this weekend!
The Cougars did so well against Notre Dame Saturday. After not having a great race, at least I got to listen to them win! I was working in a lab on campus today and overheard someone saying that people were lining the street outside. Sure enough, a crowd of people had formed, many with Cougar signs. Word had spread that the Cougar bus would be driving by shortly to take the team to the Lewiston airport. So, of course I had to go out and join the crowd, despite Ted's comments that I was a "dork." It's cool to see how excited Pullman is for this team.
Mom and Dad have become quite the fans too, and they headed to the Lewiston airport to see the team off today. Even Dad asked Kyle Weaver for an autograph! The next game is Thursday afternoon against North Carolina, which is arguably the "best" team in the country. It will be fun, but stressful, to watch.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
One race down
The 2008 racing season is officially underway for Ted and me, having done our first race in Boise last Sunday. It was a long trip to make for a 10 mile time trial, but it was also an opportunity to get to meet all of my teammates and the great sponsors at Bob's Bicycles.
Sure enough, Kristin Armstrong, the former world time trial champion, was slotted to start just behind me, raising the questions of just how quickly she would catch me, and how much total time she would put into me. Pretty quickly, I could tell I wasn't having my best time trial, so I was a bit confused when I reached the turnaround and Kristin had not caught me. No, I had not put down a world championship-worthy first half; Kristin had decided to sit up because she did not want to risk crashing in the horrible cross winds.
Ted and I both ended up winning our categories, so it was a pretty cheery drive home. With any luck, these first results were just foreshadowing of what is to come in the season ahead. It was awesome to have the Bob's women's team capture the top 4 slots in the results, and I'm excited to have this great group to race with.
For those who haven't heard about Rusty's proposal, he flew over to Japan to surprise his girlfriend, who was flying back from New Guinea. She had been out of the country for a few weeks and they had barely had any communication, so he totally shocked her when he showed up at her hotel room with flowers and a ring.
Hitcher's super antsy and my tummy's growling, so that's it for now. Time to walk him up to campus to meet Ted, so we can come home and have some homemade Pozole. My Cougars play their first game in the NCAA Tournament tomorrow afternoon, so send good karma their way.
Sure enough, Kristin Armstrong, the former world time trial champion, was slotted to start just behind me, raising the questions of just how quickly she would catch me, and how much total time she would put into me. Pretty quickly, I could tell I wasn't having my best time trial, so I was a bit confused when I reached the turnaround and Kristin had not caught me. No, I had not put down a world championship-worthy first half; Kristin had decided to sit up because she did not want to risk crashing in the horrible cross winds.
Ted and I both ended up winning our categories, so it was a pretty cheery drive home. With any luck, these first results were just foreshadowing of what is to come in the season ahead. It was awesome to have the Bob's women's team capture the top 4 slots in the results, and I'm excited to have this great group to race with.
For those who haven't heard about Rusty's proposal, he flew over to Japan to surprise his girlfriend, who was flying back from New Guinea. She had been out of the country for a few weeks and they had barely had any communication, so he totally shocked her when he showed up at her hotel room with flowers and a ring.
Hitcher's super antsy and my tummy's growling, so that's it for now. Time to walk him up to campus to meet Ted, so we can come home and have some homemade Pozole. My Cougars play their first game in the NCAA Tournament tomorrow afternoon, so send good karma their way.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Ready to Race
My new Bob's team kit.
A typical beautiful view we see on our Palouse training rides.
It took a while for me to get adjusted after my return from Paris. I immediately hopped back on the bike after taking quite a few days off, and it has felt great to be back in the swing of things. Most people have already begun their racing seasons, but Ted and I have yet to race. I think we're both getting antsy now, which is good since we'll be racing the next 8 or 9 weekends in a row.
Our season will begin this Sunday with a time trial in Boise. A five hour drive is a long way to go for a time trial, but it'll be good to visit with the team, especially since I missed the team training camp to get ready for France.
Ted told me last night that there is "no way" I'll win Sunday's time trial. I was slightly offended until I realized why he had made such a comment... none other than Kristin Armstrong (the former world time trial champion) is registered. At least I'll get to see how I compare against the best!
Half time is almost over in the Cougar vs. Ducks game, so I'm off to root on my boys. All of the home games are now over and I already miss them! I think we'll have to get season tickets again next year.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Paris Recap
Rusty and I flew home Monday from Paris. From the time we left the hotel in Paris to the time I walked in my front door in Pullman, I traveled for 24 straight hours, so I was pretty much useless yesterday. We saw a lot, including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the Musee D'Orsay. We also had some fabulous eats...crepes, onion soup, foie gras, sandwiches, pastries, etc. Here are some photos...
My first crepe (of several) with Nutella and bananas. Good stuff.
We went to the Louvre our first day in Paris, which was perfect since it was rainy and grey. Here's Rusty with our lovely morning coffee.
Rusty and me with the famous Mona Lisa.
Louis XIV's coronation crown. Crazy to think that this sat on his head!
This is a photo of the Pyramid from inside the Louvre.
Having a couple drinks at a sidewalk cafe just off the Champs Elysees.
Rusty by the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees.
This oddly painted building near the Champs Elysees made for a neat black and white photo.
Pastries like these could be found on almost every street.
Your standard grocery store bakery in Paris.
A variety of pates in the Grande Epicerie, a huge French grocery store.
We went all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower, which has 3 floors to visit. I have to admit that it was a little too high above the ground for my taste, but it did have amazing views of the city.
Rusty in front of Notre Dame, which is the most amazing cathedral I have ever been in. It was packed with people, but well worth the trip.
We took a boat tour on the Seine, which took us past the Eiffel Tower, among many other major Paris landmarks.
We could not resist taking a picture of this French bum. It just seemed so French for a bum to be passed out with a bottle of wine, rather than some unnamed alcohol in a paper bag.
Street food in Paris is amazing. We often got sandwiches from carts along the streets, and they were fantastic. Here I am with my salami sandwich and Rusty's pizza.
We visited the Musee D'Orsay on the final day of our trip. The museum used to be a train depot and this is a view of the inside. It houses mostly impressionist works, including Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, and others.
The Eiffel Tower is fabulous at night.
Me with the famous Paris landmark.
,
Black and white shot of the Eiffel Tower. At 10 pm each evening, strobe lights flash along the tower, from top to bottom, for 10 minutes. We had no idea this would occur and just happened to be there our final night.
A night view of the Seine near Notre Dame cathedral - our final night in Paris.
An alley shot close to our hotel.
My first crepe (of several) with Nutella and bananas. Good stuff.
We went to the Louvre our first day in Paris, which was perfect since it was rainy and grey. Here's Rusty with our lovely morning coffee.
Rusty and me with the famous Mona Lisa.
Louis XIV's coronation crown. Crazy to think that this sat on his head!
This is a photo of the Pyramid from inside the Louvre.
Having a couple drinks at a sidewalk cafe just off the Champs Elysees.
Rusty by the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees.
This oddly painted building near the Champs Elysees made for a neat black and white photo.
Pastries like these could be found on almost every street.
Your standard grocery store bakery in Paris.
A variety of pates in the Grande Epicerie, a huge French grocery store.
We went all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower, which has 3 floors to visit. I have to admit that it was a little too high above the ground for my taste, but it did have amazing views of the city.
Rusty in front of Notre Dame, which is the most amazing cathedral I have ever been in. It was packed with people, but well worth the trip.
We took a boat tour on the Seine, which took us past the Eiffel Tower, among many other major Paris landmarks.
We could not resist taking a picture of this French bum. It just seemed so French for a bum to be passed out with a bottle of wine, rather than some unnamed alcohol in a paper bag.
Street food in Paris is amazing. We often got sandwiches from carts along the streets, and they were fantastic. Here I am with my salami sandwich and Rusty's pizza.
We visited the Musee D'Orsay on the final day of our trip. The museum used to be a train depot and this is a view of the inside. It houses mostly impressionist works, including Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, and others.
The Eiffel Tower is fabulous at night.
Me with the famous Paris landmark.
,Black and white shot of the Eiffel Tower. At 10 pm each evening, strobe lights flash along the tower, from top to bottom, for 10 minutes. We had no idea this would occur and just happened to be there our final night.
A night view of the Seine near Notre Dame cathedral - our final night in Paris.
An alley shot close to our hotel.
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