My trip to vegas was a complete disaster. Well not, complete, I guess. Nothing is broken, nothing is dislocated. But it was just such a difficult time. I'm not a big fan of bright lights and whatever psychoticness you would define the Vegas strip as.... But it was a little overwhelming to THIS girl who has spent her summer in the mtns, climbing up dirt trails, and contemplating her spirituality, or something more esoteric than strippers... whether they be the girl variety or the chippendale variety. I don't know which is the more mindlessly sexist. It seemed every few feet, there was an advertisement for a strip club, and another billboard for an overpriced theatrical event. I haven't been feeling great for the past few days, but I chalked it up to a cold from riding in the recent rainstorm, which seemed worth it, or to majorly bad pms...of which I wouldn't give into the theory. I should've, because then I could've taken an ibuprofin and solved my problem. But I suffered through my cramps, cranky additude, and lethargy without help. I got stuck at the start, although I had a great starting spot. The whistle blew, and the girls ahead of me didn't move. I thought, fine, I'll just start ticking riders off one by one, as I passed them. No big deal. But I wasn't feeling good, and moped around the course like never before. I have never been lapped at a UCI race, before. But, yesterday was my day. Lynn Bassette came flying by with one to go, and I was releaved of my misery. I was happy, actually, because all I wanted to do was chill out, and just wasn't into it. It's not fun to keep trying, but not feel good. I drank some water and immediatly puked it back up. Lovely. Watched the men's race. Interesting. Then, it was back to the airport at 3 am for my flight leaving at 6 am. This is early to get up. Too early. Not a wise decision, but one I made due to work commitments. Can't beat those! They're real, and can't be avoided, sometimes. It seems like a stupid thing to do, and probably was. Why race at 7:30 pm, if you have to be up and functionble at 3 am. Everyone needs time to recover from racing. Or why did I not beg my boss for Thursday off? Knowing that would be a lot smarter? After a race we all need at least a good night's sleep. As I sit here, I have actually made it through they day's required 4 hrs of cold calling. My boss took pity on me, and gave me an hour off. I took power naps through some of the calls, in the last hour, honestly. Finally, having taken some ibuprofin for my extreme cramps is nice, too. It's definitely time for a nap, before I head out to train at the Res Park on my cross bike, for the race this Saturday. I just can't stop riding. It's the way I function.

Another cross race today at the Research Park! Yippie! The Boulder race series is the best! The course was a nice mix betw. mtn biking and road racing. The start was on the road. I did not fare as well at that as I did on the mtn biking part. I think I ended up in the top ten. My legs were a little sore from Wednesday, but whatever. The course tightened up my technical skills. I rode my new Specialized tri-cross expert. This is one rad bike. It's got SRAM shifters, carbon parts built with plastic thingies to absorb shock. I raced it although it was it's fith ride, total. I think this is the way to break in a bike. I am now functional on the shifters, when I was a total moron about it, before. The Res park requires a fair amount of gear changing, so I am proud of my gutsy move. There are a lot more mtn bikers racing cross this year. It's nice to have more women racing cyclocross. It makes the races a little harder, and fuels my competative personality. I enjoyed some nice berms that we usually only get to ride in short track. There was very little sign of riders who went to cross vegas. Melissa Thomas and Kerry Barnholt were both in attendance, though. They now line us up at the start according to a local race standing, too. There's a grid section, and everything. It's very classy. I am eating vegan pizza, and thinking about my race tomorrow.