Last weekend, I raced the third and final Banana Belt of the season. I spent the day before the race bemoaning the fact that I couldn't ski. It was the biggest powder day of the year and while that's not saying much, given the season we have had, it is saying something. I came THIIIIISSS close to throwing on my ski gear and heading straight for the mountain, rotator cuff be damned.
But I didn't. I chilled with my illustrious family instead. We managed to have coffee, visit the playground and hop on the bikes for a 14-mile excursion. We also obtained a pink raincoat for Hazel. Seriously, can someone please make clothes for toddler girls that AREN'T pink?
Then, on Sunday, I raced. It was fairly uneventful. It was cold and sunny and, funny thing, there were just as many hills as there were in the first and second races. My heart rate hit 187, but I hung in there.
For the third time this year, a fellow racing chick yelled at me to get out of my big chainring on the hills. I think I may have a problem.
In the final sprint to the finish line, I had no sprint. That's okay- my training lately has been Banana Belt #1 and Banana Belt #2. There has been a distinct lack of intervals in my "training". I'm cool with that. It's a long season and I have plenty of time. I did well and I'm proud of myself, despite my stubborn nature which causes me to use the big chain ring on hills.
Check out my sweet new Specialized Amira Expert. It's one super sweet bike with not a drop of pink on it. LOVE. IT.
That's it for bike racing until mid-April. My PT cleared me to ski at Whistler this coming week (I swear I did not pay him extra to do that), provided I continue to rehab the shoulder on my own. Then, I plan to get in some sunny spring skiing on the Hood and some sunny spring climbing in Central Washington. See you again in April, beautiful bike.
