Roll Up

I've been watching the temps in Minnesota drop, or stay dropped and not missing that at all. Life in CO is good, with snow days up in the mountains (check out the snow levels at Wolf Creek, 150 inch base???), warm days in the front range, but man the wind is a nasty little thing that I wasn't really warned about before I moved out here. It is viciously windy out here in the early spring as if we're getting kicked in the shorts one more time before summer roles around.

Kudos to all who are answering the call for donations, sponsorships, interviews, etc. We have an amazing thing going with Team Strong Heart and my little heart goes pitter-patter whenever I think about June.

I'm headed to California this Friday for a 10 day spring training camp for my Boulder team, Horizon Organic Cycling Team. As usual, this time of year we really put some thought into how much time we're on the bike and how much time we're digging around in the fridge. I think our bodies still want the winter poundage, but our minds are looking at that first race and wondering how the heck we'll get through.

Somehow we manage. I vividly remember those early season races in Minnesota, with the wind, the rain and sometimes the snow. One year I came in 10th place down near Rochester, MN because I was the 10th rider to finish. Half the field literally dropped out after the first lap because it was damned cold and sleeting. Yikes!

Pushing through the stress of trying to get ourselves, our sponsors, our crew and everyone in our lives across America will be worth it when we get to that last time station in Maryland and see the Atlantic inlet in the distance. What we do now will determine how we do later, whether it's our first race of the season or that pernicious little race called the Race Across America in June.

I really wouldn't want it any other way... You?

TC
---------------------

Humphrey Bogart: A man takes a drop too much once in a while, it's only human nature.
Katharine Hepburn: Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put into this world to rise above.

THE AFRICAN QUEEN, 1951

Brain Freeze

Back on the bike and into the gym I go. I'm psyched with all of the new and returning sponsors for Team Strong Heart and I'm a bit suprised that there are only about 16 weeks to go before the race!?!

It's been kind of cold out here in CO, but I really can't complain too much. I mean, I'm in pretty good shape this year and the thought of riding in one more Minnesota winter chills me to the bone. Last week I had to pull my arm warmers off because I was getting too hot. Poor ol' me!

I'm finding a returning focus to the bike and am feeling pretty good heading into the "final" swing before the race season starts out here in CO.

Keep on keepin' on, I suppose.

Hasta!

TC

Florida 15

Okay, so not literally 15 pounds, but I recently returned from a south Florida vacation (think homes that the Gotti family used to live in, turquoise water and weather so beautiful you just want to package it up and bring it home with you) and have found that I'm a bit slower on the bike than when I went out there.

Went for a 70 mile ride in CO today and man, the weather was downright perfect. 55 degrees, a bit of a head/cross-wind, and a TON of riders out there. Saw a bunch of teams but was shy to ride with my own given the poundage I just returned with (and a raging sunburn on my chest that is now peeling and itching like MAD).

Tuesday night I get to pick up my new team clothing from Horizon Organic and am psyched! That and I'll be in Cali in a couple of weeks riding and watching the Tour of California with a couple of my teammates.

Hope everyone is doing well and you know, we turned the corner with the new year, so no pressure, 130 days until RAAM. Yikes!

Who Hates Training Indoors???

An Average Day at the Chalet

Welcome to 2008!

Work it, make it, do it,
Makes us harder, better, faster, STRONGER!

Work it harder make it better,
do it faster makes us stronger,
more than ever, hour after
hour work is never over

Times Gone By

AULD LANG SYNE

Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne