11-19-08: interestingly enough, returning to work has
caused me more "injury" than riding and racing full time did. My back
and right hip have been giving me some serious
trouble since I started commuting and working -it's gone from bad to
worse. My coach said she sees this often with clients who return to
work after racing full time because we transition from constantly on
the move and active to sedentary/same position for hours on end. I met
with a new massage therapist on Monday night and we discussed a whole
host of possible causes (ie 2 hours of driving, 8 hours of desk time,
lack of stretching, more caffeine to help me stay awake, etc) and also
possible solutions-- or at least ways to decrease the pain. I thought
I'd pass this along in case any of you spend a great deal of your time
at a desk, in a car, and/or on a bike.
-replace chair at work with fitball (done-it does
help!) - using unsteady surfaces to sit on as well as during weight
training routines greatly increases the recruitment of core and other
stabilizing muscles which helps with overall balance in the body
-implement more stretching and/or yoga- either through
classes or just adding in 5 minute segments during the day where I lay
on the ball and use small handweights or just do balance exercises.
-during weight training segments, break down into
individual limbs (ie unilateral leg press, curl, ext, etc) to work out
muscle imbalances
-focus on sitting up straight in the car and at work (set up car seat and work setting to accomodate appropriate posture)
I also stopped into an apothecary located near my
office where they custom-made me a tea out of 3-4 different
"anti-inflammatory herbs" (skullcap, chamomile, calendula and
spearmine) so I sip on that instead of popping ibuprofen. I hope you
find this information helpful if you're suffering from aches and pains!
11-16-08: our team party on Friday night went really
well and we enjoyed a great turnout from team members and sponsors.
Thanks to all that attended! Pics are on the home page of this site.
11-10-08: to say that I've been super busy lately would
be a giant understatement. I am back to full time employment as an
attorney and the job came with an 80-mile round trip commute. It's a
great gig for me though so I can't complain about the drive. But the
contrast between September when I had all the time in the world to
ride, rest, hang out --versus now when I don't have a spare second -
well - it's taking some getting used to. We've also been donating a
good chunk of our weekends to house hunting - it's amazing how time
consuming it can be!
Big things are happening with the team as you can see
from our website and our HUGE 2009 team and sponsor launch party is
this Friday - I'll post pics next weekend!
11-3-08: new website record! 1124 people have viewed
the team website so far today, most of which tuned in to read about our
new road team!
11-2-08: we enjoyed fantastic weather here in Denver
this weekend. We took advantage of it and had a great team ride
yesterday (much warmer than last weekend!) Sorry - no photos, I forgot
my camera. I know I always say this, but it really is fun getting to
know our team members and I am constantly amazed at how nice everyone
is - the wide variety of backgrounds and interests always make for
interesting conversations and I learn something new each time! After
the ride, Rob and I met with our realtor and spent the remainder of the
day looking at houses.
Today I enjoyed a nice long hike with Phoenix, which
became a bit of a social experiment; 1/2 of the people we encountered
oohed and aahed over her and made a point to pet her and ask about
her. The other 1/2 took their kids' hands and avoided us like the
plague. Though Phoenix is not a pit bull she can look like one
depending on who you ask. One little girl that walked by us asked her
dad, "is that a pit bull?" and he said "yes" and she replied "good, I'm
glad I didn't pet it then." It broke my heart.
Our 2009 teams are still in the process of coming
together but I thought it was time to reveal our rosters as they
currently stand. Check here for more info.
10-26-08: mom and dad were in town this weekend for
veloswap -the event did not disappoint = they got what they came for,
which was great! Today we did a team ride which included my dad; it
was a nice opportunity for him to meet some of the CO gang. The
weather did not really cooperate, as the ride got colder and
colder thanks to that whipping north wind. We decided to cut out the
last portion to minimize any descending we had to do. Here we are at
the top of Deer Creek canyon:
from left: Hillery, Jennie (sp?), Holly, Joan, John, me, Bill, Amy, dad (Donavon) and Mike. What a cool bunch!
10-18-08: busy, busy times here in the household. I've
been a post slacker lately. Today we had a nice turnout for a DFT team
ride - the weather was fantastic, getting close to 80 for a high and
nice and sunny. It's fun to get out and spin with folks on the team
and to have the chance to get to know them a bit better. There were SO
many cyclists out on the roads today! No CX racing for me lately, I'm
still trying to get my back healed from the last one!
10-11-08: it is cold and wet and dreary here in Denver today. So we got up early and did spin class
and then hit the weights and came back in time to watch some football.
This part of the year is kind of nice, when the weather cuts you some
slack so you don't feel you NEED to be out putting in the miles (well,
I should say, we don't). I'm really into the book I'm reading right
now so I'm glad it's yucky indoor reading weather. The book is
Papillon (true story) and it's absolutely engrossing. I pity the poor
souls out mucking it in the mud at the CX race but then again I
think they kinda like it.
For your viewing pleasure, this is my dog working out on the fitball (she craves exercise):
10-8-08: I am such a sucker for dogs that need homes.
I'd adopt 10 more if I didn't think Rob would immediately divorce me
;) I received an email today with these doggies listed, I'm hoping the
list pastes here so that you can open the links.
10-5-08: I am looking to hire a Pilates instructor to
teach some classes here in Denver. If you are an instructor and are
interested in applying please email me at meghottman@hotmail.com
10-4-08: Another team ride today - this time it
included Deer Creek Canyon and Parmalee Gulch. It was a great ride but
for the first time in a long while, I was cold on the bike. For the
past month or so we've enjoyed temps in the 70-80s and sun and it seems
that winter is really on its way now. Snow is expected in the
mountains tonight which means it won't be long before it's falling here
in Denver.
Not only did I learn what my current wattage at LT is
(which varies depending on what part of the season you're in), I got
glucose readings and I found out what my hematocrit is (insanely low, I
might add, which isn't a good thing). The Spin Scan revealed that my
pedal efficiency has major room for improvement (something I intend to
work hard on this winter) and photos taken during my LT test revealed
my bike setup/fit has gotten REALLY far-removed from what it should be:
Yikes - who knew I was toe down with an almost straight
knee while I ride!?!? Seeing myself on the bike opened my eyes
immediately to the reasons I've been struggling with lower back issues
this season.
From the LT test and spin scan, we moved to the VO2 max
test. Whereas the LT test involves having your fingers pricked for
small blood samples, the VO2 test involves having your nose
plugged with a large breathing apparatus inserted into your mouth,
which analyzes the O2/CO2 exchange as you breathe. During this
test, Jason also took video of my riding form to show me post-test. I
was SHOCKED to see my form and the amount of movement in my hips, back
and shoulders. What a revelation.
The entire session was so informative and educational -
I left knowing specific things I can do to improve my cycling
performance and also left determined to get a bike fit! The entire
process took about 3 hours but only because I asked so many questions,
and Jason and his assistant Nick were kind enough to oblige me and
answer them. The session finished with them reviewing all of my test
results with me and they also sent me home with the results as well as
a DVD with photos/videos of my form for me to review at home.
The ALTA/BPL facility is very clean and organized and
Jason and Nick were really professional. I highly recommend BPL to
anyone, whether they are a beginner cyclist (or runner or triathlete)
or a professional. The information these tests provide give any
athlete a base from which to plan their training approach. Without
this data, an athlete risks wasting their money on fancy equipment or a
coach. Anytime you can remove speculation from your training - ie
estimating your max HR or your LT wattage -you ensure that your
training program is spot-on to YOUR individual needs.
10-1-08: I returned to yoga class today after having
been away since May. Even after my rib injury healed I just never got
back. I was quickly reminded of how fast we lose our flexibility.
Monday, the day after the CX race last weekend, featured a spasming
lower back and very sore neck - both reminders that I am out of shape
for anything besides just sitting on a bicycle. The bumpy terrain,
off/on combo and lifting the bike off the ground all combined to really
mess my back up this week. Once I got to yoga today, I understood why
- I am back to square 1 on my flexibility!
9-29-08: today Phoenix met her first worthy adversary:
a sprinkler. It actually scared the heck out of her and then she
regained her bravado and attempted to attack it over and over. When it
went off, it left a mud puddle in its wake. Pheonix is not usually the
digging kind of dog but today she went nuts in the mud. The end
result? She got herself an exfoliating mud mask promptly followed by a
dog bath.
9-28-08: I actually raced today! I know, you're all
shocked. I thought the race was off 470 on Quincy - as in, just a few
miles up the roar near Morrison. So thinking it was really close I
convinced myself it'd be silly NOT to race, especially in the gorgeous
weather. So in that mindset, I check the flyer again and realize it's
off 470 on the EAST side of town - as in, just across the road from the
Aurora res. Ugh. But, having already made up my mind to race, I
journeyed across town for the event.
As it turned out, it was a perfect course for my riding
style - a nice long uphill (on gravel) and a couple other small uphills
(gravel/dirt) which should've given me an advantage despite my TERRIBLE
handling skills. However, I came with my 11-23 cassette on, meaning my
smallest gear was a 39-23 -- not good for those kinds of inclines. My
3 goals for the day, in this order, were: (1)don't crash anyone out
(2)don't crash myself out (3) don't get hurt (4)don't look like a TOTAL
idiot on the re-mounts. I was successful in the first 3. I still look
like an idiot remounting on the go. But as the laps wore on, I found
myself getting more and more aggressive and comfortable with the course
and remounts. I still have a lot of technical work I need to do but I
really enjoyed myself today and think I'll do it again. I should've
been 5th but Susannah G (who was schooling me at the time) flatted, so
I came in 4th.
Things I learned today: (1) you can pre-ride the course
during the races before yours, just stay out of the way of the people
racing AND don't ride through the S/F because the officials don't like
to worry about nonracers (oops). (2) Chains fall off a lot during CX
(I got lucky today, mine stayed on). (3) I need more upper body
strength for this sport. Those barriers got harder and harder to clear
while hoisting my bike off the ground. (4) I need stronger thumbs -
they were aching by the end of the race from riding in the hoods. (5)
It was good for me to go back to being a newbie at something because it
made me more sensitive to how the beginner road women feel when I am
trying to teach them new things. It was a good reminder that being out
of one's comfort zone is really uncomfortable. From the rules to the
wheel pit to the women (almost all new faces to me), it was all foreign
and I realize that's how it feels for women getting into road racing.
As the gal parked next to me said, "when's the last time you did
something for the first time?"
I have been a bit of a slow learner in road cycling,
taking every bit of the 5 years people told me it would take, to really
learn the sport and to "get it." A lot of women pick up road cycling
much faster than I did, moving up the ranks quickly and becoming pros
within a few short years. Knowing this about myself, I'm not sure I
will invest 5 years in CX to really learn the sport, but I do see how
it can benefit handling skills and leg strength. Thanks to everyone
that cheered for me today and to Scott Ellis for saving me with a
bottle towards the end of the race (you don't race CX with a bottle on
your bike like you do in road races so you rely on feeds). (Pics
courtesy of Scott Ellis).
9-27-08: ahhhh . . .back on the bike. I welcomed my
legs back with a nice easy 3-hour ride today and man did it feel good.
The best part about being sick is the getting better part - you feel
superhuman almost, even though you just feel normal. Being sick really
made me appreciate being healthy. The resounding theme of today's ride
was "cough cough hack hack" as I still have a bit of a runny nose and
small cough, both of which made for more heavy breathing than I
expected but all in all, it was a great ride. I was joined by fellow
DFT-er Holly B and her friend Wendy, two Triple Bypass veterans. We 3
enjoyed simply riding to ride, racking up the miles on a bright sunny
Saturday morning.
I *may* try to race the CX race tomorrow since it's
just a few short miles from home. Between now and then, I am SURE I
can find a good excuse not to ;)
9-25-08: day #4 of no riding. We went on another hike,
this time to Matthew Winters near Morrison. We found that hiking
really wipes us out and we decided that we enjoyed Tuesday's hike at
Lair o'the Bear much better because of all of the colors, flowers,
character there.
An interesting story: I had to sub for a fellow
instructor today because, as she was walking on the path in Wash
Park, she was hit from behind by a cyclist going around 30mph! He just
ran right into her full speed and mowed her down. She landed on her
face, broke her nose, suffered a concussion, hurt her neck, has all
kinds of road rash, and is generally in really bad shape. I really
hate to hear of cyclists doing stupid things like this because it gives
us all a bad name. Please do not use bike paths and trails to practice
your sprints, pacelines or top speeds. Definitely please do not text
while riding your bike.
9-24-08: being sick sort of morphed into the requisite
week-off-the-bike that every road cyclist must endure at the end of the
season before the base miles begin. So I am on day #3 of being off the
bike. What have I been doing instead of riding? A bit of extra hiking
and weight lifting and . . . well, twidling my thumbs. It's amazing
how much of my life is occupied by sitting on a skinny saddle riding on
skinny tires. Someone asked me today if my appetite changes when I'm
not riding and the answer is "no sir, it does not," which means I'm in
big trouble if I ever have to go more than one week without riding.
9-22-08: I was bragging to someone the other day that I
haven't been sick one day since leaving my job last December (drawing a
positive correlation between interactions with the public eliminated
and sickness eliminated). So of course, I got sick last Monday and
have been down and out with this bug all week (during which Colorado
has enjoyed 7 of the top 10 days of weather, how patently unfair). It
has resulted in pathetic bike rides followed by unbelievably-long naps
to recover from said pathetic rides. I believe I am starting to pull
out of the funk though and should be recovered by week's end. I was
actually planning to race my first CX race of the season yesterday in
Golden but decided I needed to rest instead.
(let the CX excuses begin . . . )
9-19-08: that's right folks, this little corner of our
condo is where all the magic happens . . . but working at a desk that's
too small has gotten old, so it was time for an overhaul.
After (ahhhh . . . mucho better):
Not to worry though, I found a new job for Mr. Red Desk
so that we could keep him. He has been entrusted with the task of
holding my Colorado Statute books and keeping the red chair company:
Though we've been watching our fair share of DVDs this
summer I've also had some luck moving through some good books. I
enjoyed Water for Elephants, She's Come Undone and Second Glance (the
summer reading group picks) and then I switched things up by
alternating between "Grapes of Wrath" and "The Reading Group." But
then I finished them both and bought a new one the bookstore man told
me was "fun to read." Not. I am not even mentioning its title because
you might go out and buy it even though I'm telling you it was terrible
and the author does not deserve another cent. It was a bad book yet I
can't quit on a book 1/2 way through so I finished the stupid thing as
quickly as possible. So now I'm looking for a new book.
9-15-08: We went up to Steamboat Springs for the weekend to see Rob's good friend, Abe, and to watch the Rally Car races.
We got a great bike ride in on Saturday- I had no idea there were so
many well-paved, rarely traveled roads in and around Steamboat. It was
really nice to ride without traffic whizzing by all of the time.
After our ride we went downtown to check out the rally
cars up close. This sport makes cycling look CHEAP! They did a
serious overhaul on these cars since they really get the heck beat out
of them during the race. As in cycling, you could tell the "haves"
(big sponsors) from the "have-nots" (small sponsors).
Rob also did a bit of car shopping while we were there. It was a Ferrari show but the Ford stole the spotlight.
Then on Sunday we got up really early and drove way out
into the middle of the country to get a good viewing spot for day #2 of
the races.
They won't let you get very close to the road but for
good reason - these guys are hauling (at up to 120mph) on gravel
roads. It was really cool to watch and interesting to compare the
culture that follows Rally Car racing to the cycling culture. Here's the video I took of one of the cars near our spot:
