Reset Button

Sometimes in life, you just to push it. Take a deep breath, step away, and start over.

This was my experience this week. After the wedding, I was tired. Family time, travel time, questionable eating, etc... left me in the tank for a couple days.

The reset button has been pushed and things have changed.

For athletes, it is essential to not let a couple bad workouts send the head in a downward spiral. I am sure it is the same for parents who have a couple bad days with the kids or for married couples or for managers in the business world or, really, for anyone. Negative feelings can snowball and the only person who can reverse that attitude is the owner of that attitude. (the legs will come around... the head is the controllable part)

So, find your reset button! (mine came in the fashion of a sleeping aid, a couple really big meals, and some friends)

Family

Last time I wrote I had just gotten home from LA Track Camp. Since then, I have been back to LA for some individual training, back home, to Florida, and now I am back in LA for Track Camp II.

Travel took it's toll but I am here this week to concentrate on fully giving it my best on the track and then fully recovering in the hotel at night.

Some pictures from this past weekend in Florida for my brother's wedding. I am so lucky to have such a cool new sister-in-law! I joked that I was afraid she would call off the wedding and, although, I wasn't fully serious, I kept thinking "this is too good to be true." And, you know the saying. :) No, really, my brother deserves Amy and they will provide each other a lifetime of happiness... and laughs.

The setting was perfect. The beaches in the panhandle of Florida rival those of the most beautiful beaches in the world. White sand and crystal clear water.

In a rare photo together... in the same state!

Mom's side of the family minus the cousins.
Surfing with my cousin Sam.
My dad and best-man.
A very beautiful couple... in the swamps of Florida.
Coolest groom's cake ever! Beattles theme.

Ok, off to the velodrome for some fast riding. Race simulation today!!

Nice Surprise

I received a surprise email telling me I won the National Championship Series for the American Track Racing Association. Cool! I love that they have pulled together the series with all the major US races. Nice to see my team come out on top too :)

Since my last blog I have been to LA for a week of Team Pursuit Camp and then home a week... now I leave again tomorrow for more training in LA.

No pretty pictures of the beach since it rained every single day we were there. Seriously! SoCal rain for 6 days in a row. Thank goodness for the indoor velodrome!

Getting front door service from Sarah... it was POURING out!

We did manage to ride outside some but notice all the clothes... I think this was the only day I didn't wear leg warmers. Oh, and, this is a picture of us changing a flat. Oh many girls.... oh, that is not funny joke.

Camp was great and I am really looking forward to see what our team can do this winter! With a solid group and more focus, the sky is the limit!

More soon...

Armstrong is back!

From directing the team to racing with the team... she's back!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/olympic-champion-armstrong-to-return

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=5715822

Old news... but good news

My poor family... still have not seen photos from Nationals. Here you go!

Boulder's Higgins Finishes US Track Cycling National Championship with Four National Titles

October 3, 2010

Carson, CA-Boulder's Cari Higgins (Peanut Butter & Co/2012 Professional Cycling Team) completed her competition at the 2010 US Elite Track Cycling National Championships on Sunday with the addition of two more national titles. With teammate and former World Champion Jennie Reed (Kirkland, WA), Higgins won the first ever US National Championship in the Women's Madison. Her final Stars and Stripes jersey came in the Women's Team Sprint with teammate Liz Reap (Jim Thorpe, PA). Earlier in the week, Higgins also won National titles in the Women's Team Pursuit and Points Race. She has eleven career National Championships and four Pan American Cycling Championship medals.

Higgins commented "I am really inspired by starting my track cycling season off with a strong Nationals. I am looking forward to a great winter of racing internationally with the US National Team as we work towards our goal, the London 2012 Olympics".

Cari is coached by Neal Henderson of Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. She is also the founder of the Boulder-based Flatiron Flyers Junior Cycling Project, a junior cycling team with twenty local riders. She also serves an athlete representatives to the USA Cycling Board in Colorado Springs, CO.

Recovery

I didn't even have a chance to post ONE THING from Nationals. You would think that this week would allow me the opportunity to get caught up on all things blog. Not really.

What have I done this recovery week? Goes something like this...

Monday- travel, sleep, eat lots

Tuesday- sleep, celebrate birthday, drive to Denver to pick up bikes and Katie/Mark's dog, doctor, birthday dinner with friends, sleep

Wednesday- SLEEP, yoga, finally make it to the grocery so I can stop eating Clif bars, SLEEP BIG TIME

Thursday- SLEEP more then I thought was possible, decide that laundry was a must, SLEEP, and SLEEP again

Friday- sunrise hike, nap, lunch with a friend, fight the nap.... and maybe some more yoga

I think I am starting to feel normal again. This is all just in time to start the hard training again. It's all a crazy cycle!

Ok... race reports and pictures from Nationals are on their way. This weekend, it will all be posted!

Really?

If a sprinter sits out the Scratch race and signs up for the Individual Pursuit instead, is she still a sprinter?

Do not disturb: Therapy in session.