Lately....

Seems I forgot I actually had a blog... or I just didn't want to write anything.

Perhaps more the later then the first!

So many great thing, so many 'tough' things.  So many new hurdles I never thought I'd need to jump!  And that just got me to August!! 

As usual, cycling becomes my salvation and simutaneously, a source of frustration.  However, this 1/2 half of our 7th year overseas, cycling was a gift from God that got me through some major lows.  The beauty is you can take it all our on those pedals.  Guys just think you are getting into shape, you can cry your eyes out, sunglasses hide your pain, and the sweat, salt, and dirt are validation that you've done SOMETHING... if only piece of mind!

Tour of Bintan came on the 11th of November.  To say my results were unimpressive, would be really not nice... but my  heart couldn't have been further form Bintan Island if I tried.


I trained correctly for the race, but life as a mom and PTA President seemed to be more then I could handle at times. 

I arrived from the US in early August.  I was nearly at a nervous breakdown at that point.  I didn't realize it, but perhaps I did.  I had too much on my shoulders and seemed to have to deal with so much on my own. 

I can't really say and/or give details, but it was a HORRIBLE Fall, especially the first few weeks.  Then on August 26th,  thing really got turned upside down.  I never spoke out loud about it and won't....

I think I exhaled about mid October! 

At that point, my training was on track, but I was just going through the motions.  I wasn't trying and actually detested getting up so early.

Mui Ne

After a quick 8 hour drive (200km - think I could RIDE it faster!)... we arrived to Miu Ne about 11pm.  Gotta remember, holiday weekends, everyone is out, so are the police ticketing and making trouble EVERYWHERE.  It took over 1 hour just to get Gj from work...

Packed our bikes, looking forward to some good riding.  The day before on bridge repeats, it was very windy.  Alex said, "Oh, yeah, it will be windy up there!"...

Sure enough..... nuclear winds.... windsurfers delight, cyclists nightmare.  I was really looking forward to one of the great facebook posts, "Rode 110km, 33kph average, blah, blah, blah"... Nope...

no such luck.

Friday's ride I wanted easy and short, recovery from bridge intervals... its in the training plan, but Gj wanted to ride longer.  So, humor him....  considering the garbage we ride in in HCMC and the amazing scenery, open roads, its hard to say no.  Even if I risk overtraining....  my legs are a little achy from Thursday's bridge repeats.  Alex met me about the 7th trip and I though he'd visit, nope, he drafted behind an oil truck and I had to move it!  Set a PR on that climb, 7th climb no less... so pleased.  Ended up doing 8 climbs that day.

So, Friday, we head to the end of the beach road and back.  60km for Gj, 57 for me.  Our bike computers are 'off'.  Well, at least I feel better about that!

Saturday, my long day.  The day I build my endurance about 10km per week.  I was slated for 110km and really looking forward to it.  I got out on the road at 6:45 and knew I could get in at least 50km before I saw Gj.  If we road to the end of the beach and back, I'd have between 105 and 115 depending on where I saw him.

He didn't feel that hot.... we turn around 12km early making the day's ride 25km short.  I was pissed all day.  Trying to console myself in the fact that I did work hard in those 85km, climbed only 70% probably, but tried to keep the heart rate up and cadence up.  Also, doing some intervals that are part of my Saturday routine. 

And today... we go back to HCMC....

The Nguyen Van Linh boys....

finally found this YouTube link.  Park took this video with a helmet camera about a year ago...  especially watch about 4:34 and again at 9:15....

Flats, Falling out, Fat and Feelings of Failure

Yes, I am hard on myself.  But I am beyond frustrated!

For the last month, I have flatted nearly every ride.  I have gone through two tubulars, and several tubes and two bike remain 'unrideable'.  today was NO different!

Oh....  so pissed!  Saturday mornings are humilating enough.  I get a GOOD warm up before I meet the boys at the bridge.  The Dane & Dutch seem to come regularily now.  They seem to push the speed a little higher then Alex and I have yet to 'stick' for a reasonable amount of time.  Today's strategy was to get in the front 1/3 of the pack before it speeds up.  This way I can speed gradually rather then have them come from behind me and fail to get on.  They ride super slow out past the red bridge intersection.  We pick up Saigon Velo and Tu Probike clubs.  Once they join and we go to the main road, the attacks start.  I gain speed with the pack, but there isn't a pack, it is a very long line... I try and try to catch a wheel, but continuously fail.  I manage to hold onto the back for a bit, and through scarey intersection.  A group of6 or 7 start to fall out.  I am already going 49 and solo... no wheel, but try to get on to the group of riders that didn't give up.  I catch the back of their wheel and after the red bridge and through the toll booth,

POP!

I was SO mad!  SO SO SO MAD!  The boys were out of my reach by then, but I never stop trying!

Well, because I have high rimmed wheels, I have to have either a tube extender OR extra long nozzled tubes.  I have NEITHER with me as we have NO extra long nozzles (wonder how many times I ask for these but reassurred we don't need them) and of course, our extender is broken....

I am SCREWED!

Its a long walk home, a solid 10km.  I guess the beauty of our small riding area is I am at most 15km from home.  I cross the Nguyen Van Linh and have banked a whopping 19km!  Hey!

Thanks to the awesome guys, many stopped to see if I was okay.  I shoo'd them away as I know the riding is bad and, I knew this could happen, just get a taxi, go home.

Eventually, one guy stopped.  He INSISTED to try...  he flagged down several others... between the efforts of three, and someone who had the correct tube, I got my flat changed!

THANK YOU!  I proceed to finish my 90km ride.

Average speed was quite slow as it accounted for 15 minutes of walking my bike.  When I took that out of the equation, it wasn't horrible, but all of a sudden Gjermund got faster.  Great for him, but being an expat wife...  he's got the life... I am the wife!  My career is...  well, NOT flourishing... cycling was the ONE thing I had.... 

I have to figure out how to stay int eh group (or the scattered line when it speeds beyond 50).... 

Coming home from break, I stepped ont he scale, a whopping 135pounds!  OMG, I haven't been this heavy for YEARS...  (62kg).  Those damn pills I have to take to keep my period under control seem to want to keep me plump!

So, I am really frustrated.  I need some encouragement... and liquid isn't the kind I am after.

Cycling in the US...

I now have two bikes here with me... the MASI

and the OPERA w/ Easton EC 90's. One at our Canal House, the other at our Beaverton house.

 Of course, my two Cervelos at home in Vietnam w/ my Colnago upstairs for 'indoor' training....

It been amazing riding.... yesterday 80km down the 101 into Shelton.  There are plenty of places to let it out and do some intervals, catch you breath... and on the MASI  - the heaviest bike of the fleet.... thrilled to lug it around... hoping some strength is building.

Riding in ORegon is also just amazing.  Though still riding alone, occasionally I do find a ride and try to out climb (thus far.... 100% success) or suck some wheel, but the really 'good' riders seem to be going in the other direction.  Perhaps I should turn around and try to catch?  Maybe tomorrow..... 

Its been an upsetting/busy homeleave. 

I return to Vietnam next week....PTA waits for me... president again... and I am EXHAUSTED and we haven't started... I have no idea how I will pull it together for next year.

Nepal

There are things you do in life that become defining moments.... some activities... some events... some things.

Our 13 day trek through the Himalayas was probably one of the most defining things I ever did.  Our family had to band together...when the going got tough, the tough got going... and I know who the tough are... they are my kids.

Single handedly, my kids impressed me more then I EVER imagined.  I am so in love wiht my kids and so impressed with anything they do, but the 13 days we trekked up the Himalayas were single handedly, the most impressive things we have done!  They did not complain one time.  Both got altitude sickness, both were exhausted out of their minds, but both had a 'can do' attitude that even surprised our guides!

 The plane we flew from Kathmandu to Lukla.

 The world's highest and most scarey airport!  Yup, miss the runway...crash!  glad I didn't know about that BEFORE!

 Emily

 Everest National Park entrance..

 My boy.

 So cold.... so hard to breath!  We were abut 4,000m at the time.

 Namche Bazaar...  all the building materials are brought up by porters, on their backs!

 Eirik and the son at one of the guest houses we stopped at for lunch.  Same kid stole the potatoes off of Emily's plate.

 me and Emily

 World's highest airport, supplies only....

 Not sure where we are... but at least 10 days without a shower....

 Base camp, an emotional day.  The boy puked several times already... it was about 5300m and air was a wee bit thin.  I was exhausted.  I cried when I got to the top. I was the last... of course.

 YAK.

 Everest....  need I say more... completely humbled.

 the boy with the Yaks.

Gj and I w/ the guides..  This is about 6am for a quick up the mountain look at the surrounding mountains.  The ONLY day we had clear skies... we were so lucky to have clear skies on the one and only day we were at Gorek Shep (as close to Base Camp as we could be)

Everest or BUST

Its been a life long dream of my husband to take his family to Mt. Everest.  Well, beginning tomorrow morning at 8:00am, that dream will come true.

I am a wee bit nervous.  I don't know how I will do with the  high altitude.  We have medication, but....  how will I do with the 14 days of hiking? Well, if I can survive the Tour of Friendship, I am not really THAT worried.  People say you loose weight with the hiking, loss of appitite, and vegetarian cuisine (they don't haul meat up the mountain)...really looking forward to that!  Gaining weight from the hormones is NOT settling w/ me.

we'll see.....

Tour de Vung Tau

Thanks Long for the above picture... a little coffee before the return ferry.   Can't wait to come back!!!!


So, when I went to Vung Tau on the ferry the night before the Tour, I was pleasantly surprised how nice Vung Tau was.  Our first trip left us with an unfavorable impression, and I can't exactly say why.  Perhaps it was becasue we went by car, the roads were busy as it was a Saturday mid morning.  We couldn't find the great beach everyone talked about.... it started to rain...  and of course, not knowing where to eat, we ended up at a "Good Morning Vietnam", which is good, but its foreign food, and really..... whats the point?!?

November 21st (day before my 41st birthday)... not a hot day.

Sand...10 year old boy... need I say more?

Pooch not so sure.... 

But, a good meal.

So, we left with an unfavorable impression....  its a real pity too!  We missed a lot of good opportunities to do fun things....

So.... back to my story....  after sitting in the taxi from the ferry to the hotel back in March, I thought, "was this the Vung Tau from November of 2009?"...  After riding only one day w/ the boys for the 'tour', I wanted to ride in Vung Tau again...

"So...Long, I am thinking of coming down to ride your hills and a look see tour?"

"Sure, let me know when"

"How about next Thursday?"

Well, it wasn't exactly like that, but close enough.  Told Alex what I was doing.... and gives Gjermund some ease when I don't do things solo.  Gjermund had met Long on the tour and knew I was in good hands.... these ARE good guys! 

Long says, "We'll do our two hills = 45km, then ride to Long Hai and back, thats 90km, so we are looking at 135km"...  "oh....hmm.... I think....that's kinda a long way..."

We arrive to the ferry at 6:00am by taxi.  We have to bag up our bikes (why??? - kinda defeats the purpose of public transport, doesn't it??).. anyhow, the porter insisted we needed to pay him $10 more because the size of the bags....  anyhow, we didn't pay!

We get to Vung Tau about 8:30, across the street is a coffee shop where more then 10 fellow cylists are waiting....  two or three WOMEN!  NO KIDDING! and lots of guys... most I had met either on the tour, or they ride our lustrious Nguyen Van Linh with us...

After crossing the street to the coffee shop, the guys swarm us and pull our bikes out of the bags and put them together immediately!  It was awesome.... like a princess!

Alex who is clearly more coordinated on a bike then me (sorry, not much of a compliment!) took these photos....I just stole them.

Yeah...thunder thighs here.... we take an out and back warm up for about 12km.  Then we climb the 'hill'.....oh...la..la... the 'hill'.....  aauugghh.... we start to climb (some sidewalk looking approach) 2.5km, 140m...  oohhh....yeah... my PHU MY BRIDGE.... well, I'll just stop there.  Oh... the heart  is pumping, I feel sick (because I am in NO climbing shape) but manage to be the third to the top, behind Duy and Alex.  Neither of which tried their hardest.  We come down and skip the 2nd hill.  The sun was super hot.

We head out on the ocean front....  and ride towards the ocean and north.

Long looks at me and says, "Is this better then the Nguyen Van Linh?"...  I thought I was going to choke when he asked....

"uh...yes!"

You know when you are stuck in an airplane for a 10 hour flight... or you are on an airplane for about 2 hours longer then your threshhold, then you get out of the airplane and and walk, stretch your legs, breath fresh air?  that's how this felt.... like we'd been locked in an airplane for tooo long and we finally got to RUN AND PLAY!

We had a BLAST!  I enjoyed the ride so much, I didn't want it to end... the ocean was so blue and beautiful, the sand, the air, the open roads....  good company.... OMG, I felt like I died and went to heaven.

We take a break at the turn around point. 

The guy is 64 years old....  his girlfriend  followed us on the motorcycle. 

Long bought us lunch.... and at a proper Vietnamese restaurant.... steel tables, steel chairs and food that was amazing!  Now.... that's good food!  None of this 'import' stuff....  this was fresh, healthy, hearty, and sooooo tasty....  we mentioned how good the lunch was several times!  Thankfully I have my Garmin, and can find again.

Long, and boys of Vung Tau (and lovely ladies that rode the first 15km and the woman who followed us)... thank you for a blessed day! 

You have NO IDEA how bad.... I needed that!  I feel recharged.

We'll be back... hopefully soon!

Tour of Friendship 2011, Ladies Day 4 - Diggin' Deep!

*** T hanks to Thai Airways team's facebook page for the following pictures!! 

 Waiting for literally 1 hour to start.  Useful information say.... the night before!

 Digging deep....the last 200m of the last climb of the last day!  Not enough....Franzia girl is just ahead of me, and I can't get her....Michele not far in front of her...what when wrong?  My climbing....where is it....  Looking at the photo, I really think I got it all wrong...

 End of day two..... 135km, 1560m of climbing, the smile should be obvious.

 I can't imagine what is going through Christina's head.  I have NOTHING to loose this stage (well, I do, if I crash, flat, or get super dropped) so trying to stratigize w/ Christina on how to get her a win....

Serene....could be my daughter... but what a sweet girl!  

Its over.... the relief is monumental and I don't know why.  I really questioned whether I would race again or not.  The nerves just got to me.... gagging on peanut butter in the morning....  So happy to get the GC #3.

Tour of Friendship, Ladies Day 3 - Complete Disaster!

This was MY stage....My stage to shine.  The one I waited for, the one I trained for.  This was the stage last year that gave me the time back I lost on the flat with a bike issue.  This is a Tina Taiwan made for me stage!

I wasn't nervous at all.

But, I was a bit tired.  It took quite some time to sort out our room situation.  We ordered massages (actually hired about 8 girls from Bangkok to follow us around to get massages) and it took a considerable amount of time to get it situated.  I didn't get my massage until 9:30pm...  my legs were quite tired.  I am not confident I had enough water to drink, nor the right 'recovery' stuff. 

We were told we'd ride out with the Juniors and Masters.  Someone must have complained because we were originally to ride out with the M40's again.  I was looking forward to this as I knew the pack would be stable and slightly more conservative as they had 90km more then we did.  There was a lot of wheel sucking to be done on the climb.

So, we take off with the Juniors and Masters.  The Juniors surge....  fast/slow..... on/off... it just goes on and on and on... finally a good surge that lasts a respectible amount of time and a couple drop, two of the women and a couple of the old guys.

Thud....thud...thud... I look back....oh... my tire looks a bit ... 'fat'.  NOT GOOD!

Its flat alright!

"Where's the neutral wheel guy?"  AAUUGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, he stops.  Change out the wheel, and off I go.  We were told the rules were that you get a push back to the group  you fell out of, if you were in a group.  I was.... but no push.  He sped off before I could protest, but yelled quite loudly.

So, I try to overtake the riders who had fallen, maybe a group will form?

A few of the old guys are just hangin on....  one holds my wheel for quite some time.... then I say, "hey, we need to rotate here!"  we do, he falls back for my turn and then he simply falls back.

I come up to one of my teammates.  I thought she was waiting for me.  But, as it was, she was just taking it her own pace and wished me luck.

I just bear down....hoping to catch a few on the hill.

I see the very back of the peloton, but guess what.....  my wheel.... so I stop to look really quickly... (as it turned out, I eventually loose the break pad, so... )  The peloton is gone and up the hill.  thinking we only had 6km to go, it was more lik 12km.  Again...not entirely clear information!

My climb was pathetically slow.

The heat was unbearable.  I was having pains in my chest and really wondered if I would be getting heat stroke.  The water support was amazing, there was just nothing in me and I never, EVER felt so sick on a climb.

I climbed a full 4kph SLOWER then the year prior. 

Finally making it to the top, I do pass one rider, and see the next.  Thinking if I catch her, maybe a 5th place....I never do, but see her cross the finish line.

Her time:  2:22,
My time:  2:27,
The girl that I passed and watched her cross a few minutes after I finished:  2:27,
My Polar/Garmin time:  2:24...

hmmm......official times weren't even released until late that night.

Whatever....

I lost about 14 minutes on my GC, but still had a large enough time gap to keep 3rd if I didn't drop, flat, or crash tomorrow.

By this time, I was so upset with the flat, no push, no pull, bad timing, and having learned others were going to request MORE time be added to my time.... I felt really alone.

It was not a good race day.

Tour of Friendship 2011, Ladies Day 2

The profiles of the race seem to be a guarded secret.  So, luckily (after taking several hours to find a room) we are roomed with Locky and Laurus.  Locky seems to have been enlightened on the course.  He informs us:

"The course will start immediately outside the resort, no neutral/warm up area.  There will be a hill at the 20km mark that will be about 1.5km long, maybe 5% grade.  Not sure.  Then rollers and a few hills later in the stage".

Okay... if I can keep to the front, I have a chance.

I start on the front... after yesterday, no way am I getting dropped for being an idiot.  I know better!  So, I hang in the front for a while, the speed is good, moderate, and 'warm upable'.... if that makes any sense.

We get to the first hill, the undisclosed, surprise hill....  I climb, and actually, climb well.  I study the climbing of the girls ahead of me and think.... I can hang with them... I am not off from them.  I study Christina's climbing and Serene's, Gabi's and what I thought was Coleen's.  What I didn't realize was that many of the women dropped at that first 5km hill.  All but, Christina, Serene, Gabi, Zarrah, Michelle and myself got dropped.  I didn't know.  I thought we were all together, but thought Molly and Julie dropped.

Now, our group is going quite slow.  I ask Laurus what's going on...."we are letting the guys get away"...  our M40 teammates....

Watching the clock and knowing the 'unknown details of the 20km climb' were upon us.... it is getting HOT.  Christina is drinking, I better drink.

As advertised, 20.0km....we start our climb....our little 2.5km, 150m climb....  I hang in as best as I can....my position should have been at the top of the peloton to survive the climb.  I know realize my gears are not all there for me.....  aauugghh....crap!  don't have my easiest two gears.

I pass Zarrah (the Pico girl).
I pass Michele
I pass Gabi

Colin is in the van yelling, "Tina get in there..... hang on!"
I try...
I try...
I try...

I bomb down the hill pedaling as fast as I can.....

they are GONE!

(again, insert your favorite swear word)....  Hmph!  25km down, only 115 to go!  alone....

(again, insert your favorite swear word)....

I am not angry... I just get pedalling... something will happen.

Eventually, it does, Gabi is in a group that catches me...."Get in Tina" she yells, and I do.  We work together for some time.  After turning off on the "magical mystery tour" sort of diversions of a road, there's a huge pot hole..... Gabi hit it dead on..., "are you okay?"  she gave me the thumbs up...good!  At this point, I think there are about 5 ahead of us.  Gabi said, "no, only Christina and Serene".  I don't believe her because I couldn't account for the other PICO girls, Stacey, and Coleen.

Gabi flatted.  After fixing her flat, she never caught back up.

Our group disbanded and we dropped a few, some more aggressive riders tried to catch the next group up the road..  I yelled at the front, lets go catch them... I'd take off, I figured whoever came great, but I am not going to putz around waiting.  Good decision.

I caught up with #450, Phillipe.  He had a techincal... he was 3rd in the prologue and he was trying hard to catch the peloton.  My kinda guy.

"Wow, I am very impressed with your riding".

We work together for quite a while taking in those who could work and dropping those who couldn't...

Unfortunately.... for whatever reason, my own stupidity.... muckin' around w/ my water bottle or something, I dropped.

(again, insert your favorite swear word).

Hoping to catch up or get caught, I don't.  I finish the last 45km alone.

I know I will pay dearly for that.  I also didn't know a group wasn't far behind me. Even though they'd cost me 2 or 3 minutes, it would have saved me ooooooodles of energy for the next two days.

Live and Learn....

I cross the finish line and see Alex..... humilated.... I just say, "so where's Coleen?".... "I haven't seen her?"  WHAT? come on!  surely the group of 5 or 6 stronger girls finished with the pack.

People kept telling me.... they only saw Christina and Serene in the M40 group.  I didn't believe them.

Not until about 10 minutes before the ceremony was it confirmed that I infact got 3rd place.  If I could stay upright, and with the pack...3rd in the GC was likely mine.  The spread was soooo vast amoung the women.  Remember, some got dropped at the 5km mark, and with 135 to go with or without a group, the lagging groups are never faster then the front groups.

I was 22 minutes behind the 1st group.
I was nearly 30 minutes ahead of #4.

Fair, unfair?  All women had the same conditions.... if we were only women what would it have been like?  would we have waited for those that dropped?  Or, rode off without mercy so early?  Would I still be alone?  So much decided on one stage...well, it happened last year as well.  Its Thailand, there are mountains...

 I never drink the night before a race, but didn't see any problem with a few sips....  gave1/2 the bottle to Colin.

Its racing in Thailand.

Tour of Friendship 2011, Ladies Day 1

On our way to the start line, I looked over to Paul (I think) and said, "Hmmm....looks like there could be a rain cloud or two, think it will rain?"

By the time we got to the start line, it was raining.  First, a few sprinkles, then some big drops...then came the thunder and lightning.  I asked the organizer if we continue in the thunder and lightning and she said, "sure, no problem".  O....K....  Thunder and lightning scares the crap out of me, so I wasn't excited to say the least.

We start with the Men 40's.  Our ANZA Mavs had been training like gangbusters and seeing their speeds on STRAVA made me a wee nervous.  Our peloton in Vietnam is not stable, and I struggle... and sit in the back.  I know the M40 guys are strong, fast, but stable and have etiquette.  If I can hang in, I'll get the speed by default.  The whole point of group riding, right?

Takes me a bit to get comfortable in this group.  Keeping an eye on the ladies, everyone knows everyone except  me and the Franzia woman.  All the other women are from Singapore.  The ladies cluster and I stay to the back of the cluster, keeping the wheel of Coleen or some of the others.

It starts to rain a bit, but nothing terrible.

The motorcycle guys start to pass out water bottles, the rain and nerves seems to hamper the ability for folks to hold onto them.... they start flying, my teammates start calling out all the dips, etc in the road.

We go through a puddle,
we enter a construction zone
we are slightly diverted to the right,
the peloton passes through a narrow lane between two parked cars....

I, along with all but 5, girls got dropped.

(Insert your favorite exclamatory swear word, I probably said it....)

I hauled as fast as I could.
The narrow bit was too long....
I pass several on my way to catching up...

I never catch, but game on..... go, go, go, go....

Eventually, I catch up with number 711, a girl named Michelle (#5 in the GC).  I say, "Hey, lets work together...  to the end". so we do.  then it rains, and pours, then the thunder and lightning.

We don't know if we are on the right road....
maybe we are lost....
the trucks are passing through knee deep pedals splashing water up and over us...
the thunder and lightning is getting louder and closer.  I count in my head.

I am miserable.

At one point, the water was so high we had to walk our bike around a huge puddle.

Finally, about 90km into it, the weather was tolerable again.  Light rain, we were off the main highway and on an only wet road.  I can do this!  I will go steady to the hill and just climb... surely someone has dropped....right?  maybe I can pick them up, maybe I am not completely out of the GC.  You only give up after you crossed the line.

My teammate is in a van and comes to my side and asks me to stop.  "Locky called (team manager) and ordered women in the van".  What?????  She said she argued but he was insistent.  The thunder and lightning was in the mountains and the conditions were very dangerous.

What do I do?  I feel I have to obey.  We offer Michelle a ride, but she says she will continue.  I don't have a choice.  Well, of course I have free will, but we have two vans for 25 riders.  If I opt to go on my own, if we are in fact on the wrong road....  I don't know WHERE I am suppose to go.... and there is NO guarantee anyone will come find me.  What if I have a flat, what if I crash....  its all at my own risk.

I text Gjermund, "DNF"....

We look for our other teammate, Julie.

We don't actually find her, and she has managed to ride to the hotel.  The storm cleared the mountain and we would have been fine.  Now I am beyond pissed, and know I have no GC.  I am angry....  I feel I should have continued, but in the heat of the moment felt what Molly was telling me, I had no choice.

As it turned out, they cancelled the race.  In the Open category, a lightning strike was within 20 meters of the peloton and the guys could feel the electricity through their bikes and handlebars (even taped and rubber tires).  When the group tried to climb the hill, they couldn't get traction.  Imagine an entire peloton of less experienced riders...  there'd be crashes for sure.

The organizers made the right decision for our safety, but did it in an awkward way.  That said, it had never been done before, so surely there will be neutralizing rules in the future.

Many riders were scooped up by the sweeper van....  we all go the same time except the girls who made the break.  They got 8 minutes less.  I felt it was fair for them.  I had doubts about what I had done if it was fair, but at the time I got in the van (at the managers orders), the race was neutralized.  I discussed endlessly with some of the guys and our acting managers, etc.  They all agreed, I got in the van after or about the time the race was neutralized... if a bus came along and picked up the peloton, it would have all been the same.  Later in the week, I would learn that some would protest that more time should be added since I didn't finish.  Quite hurt by the sentiment, to be honest.  I was the only one in GC who got picked up, but I wasn't the only one picked up and given the time, but my time was the only one being protested.

That's racing.

If we protest everything in the Tour of Friendship, then just don't go.  Last year, no one was there to mark a turn.... I rode 5km further then I needed, it cost me the podium and one place in the GC....

On Ladies day 3, they added 3 minutes to my time...but to protest.....

It's racing in Thailand.  

Tour of Friendship, 2011

4 days racing,
Thunder and lightening, torential rains, slippery roads
Hot, hot, HOT Thailand weather....
2500m climbing
Only 395km riding
14,000 calories burned
new max heart rate:  191
Oldest woman in the peloton,
Malaysian pro team there...

3rd in the General Classification!

More later....

Living Gluten-Free

is like living in a candy store and you can't eat a thing!

It is so hard and frustrating.  Just when you think you have something you can fix, you try, and then in the morning your daughter wakes up and tells you she had a horrible night!  So... you check the ingredients on the canned soup:  sure enough!  DAMN IT!

My daughter has been struggling for nearly 18 months.  Finally, a few months ago, the pain and suffering got to the point she had to miss school.... and lots of it.  We have been workign with Dr. Suresh at Victoria Health Clinic here in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hoping at first it was parasites, it wasn't.  Then, it leads to looking at other things in her digestive track.  We go gluten free.....  wheat free... whatever that means.  She had a full colonoscopy to check for any other diseases.... and/or it just may be irritable bowel.

The frustrating part is you think you are feeding your daughter somethign she can eat, but only to learn that there was wheat in it after all! 

So.... we are back to basics.... basic cooking.  I was already much more basic then most American families as I live in Asia.  But, there's nothing packaged she can eat.  Try being an American kid goign to an American school and she can't have a box of crackers!  Its not so easy.

The food companies (to which I now .... don't like) have wheat in EVERYTHING.... but luckily, instead of just taking it out.... of everything .... they take it out of just a FEW things, label it "Gluten Free" and charge about 200% more.  Well, when you live in Vietnam, try 500% more!  So, gross scones I made last night cost me about $8.00.

She did get sick from them.... so I suppose it is worth it.

HELP!   

Jimmy Jazz

Who can't be proud when your 12 year old is jammin at the Middle School Concert!

The police walked in for Jimmy Jazz

I said, he ain't here, but he sure went past
Oh, you're looking for Jimmy Jazz

Sattamassagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and chop off his head
Police came looking for Jimmy Jazz

So if you're gonna take a message 'cross this town
Maybe put it down somewhere over the other side
See it gets to Jimmy Jazz

Don't you bother me, not anymore
I can't take this tale, oh, no more
It's all around, Jimmy Jazz

J-a-zee zee J-a-zed zed
J-a-zed zed Jimmy Jazz
And then it sucks, he said, suck that!

So go look all around, you can try your luck, brother
ANd see what you found
But I guarantee that it ain't your day
Chop! Chop!

It's JUST a bike race, RIGHT?

So....why does it feel like the weight of the world?  It is JUST a BIKE race.  I am a 42 year old mother of two kids.  My life consists of hours of algebra help, leaning 6th grade science, social studies, cooking dinner somewhat 'home style' in an Asian country.  I am the PTA President and I have a job....

I ride a bike because it is fun.

I ride a bike because it is healthy, and after the third turn of the pedals.... I am near nirvana....  Its just THAT good!  Its hard to explain unless you understand the 'high'.

So.... its JUST a bike race, right?

No... its justification, it's a race, and I am very competitive....  I analyze, study, learn, work...  totally changed my training to training with a  purpose.  I have acheived levels thought impossible at my age and the complete suckiness of Ho Chi Minh City riding.

Getting really down about my climbing (or lack of) today I actually came home in tears from my ride.  I intended to do 8 bridge laps with an average speed of 22.5kph for all 16 climbs together.  I think it is very doable.  Tuesdays 6 laps were 21.5kph and without too much intensity.  Well, nine sets of intervals, so averages are not a good indicator. 

Today's wind was NUCLEAR!  It was depressing.... I could see it from the window.  I knew there was no place on the bridge to hide.  Its open over the Saigon River and today was the windiest day, EVER.

Completely demoralized after the ride..... came home in tears!  Its been a long time.  Didn't even want to look at the averages, because I didn't think there was any point. 

Alex came with me....  he's quite the friend to ride with me (there is NO ONE HERE...and those that do ride... they don't seem to invite me....whatever... i give up!  My schedule is pretty predictable...)

I was quite humiliated after the hills..... he told me where I was lacking strength (he's brutally honest - but if something is deserved, I get it)... but the damn wind.

I can't seem to stand the entire climb... I was quite shocked by this....  that's a back pocket trick... 

The wind took a LOT out of me...

That said... I finally got up the nerve to download the data....

Guess what?  Not the 22.5kph I wanted, but 21.6kph...  much better then I thought.  The average on the windy side was 19.9, the not windy side 23.3 (take that too thank you very much!)...  the winds were not head/tail, but cross....  so the 'tail wind side' not as much of a struggle, but it was no tail wind.

So.... maybe I am not as weak as I thought....

Only 8 more days before I get on the plane, 9 before Stage 1 for the girls.

Laps for Love - Fundraiser

The High School National Honor Society conducted a fund raiser for their Senior students "Habitat for Humanity" trip.  Every year, the Honor Society seniors go along with Vietnam's Habitat for Humanity and build houses for one week.

This year, they will go to Long An. 

They had a fund raiser to help pay for the trip and the money is used for donation of materials, etc.  So, they had their 'Laps for Love'.  Each kid who wanted to participate ran laps in the gym for one hour.  There were teachers who chaperoned and counted for 4 to 5 students.  Prior to the event, students got friends, teachers, and parents to pledge either a  'per lap' donation, OR total donation.

Eirik managed to get nearly 66,000vnd per lap.

We were all a LITTLE surprised when we learned he ran 103 laps....

But, you know what?  He had the 2nd highest number of laps.  Only a high school kid out ran him.  It wasn't a competition, of course!

The kids were all so genuinly happy, cooperative, and the mood was great.  There was music, a DJ, food, drink, and lots of parents there to support.

If Eirik can collect all the $$ he was pledged, he will have enough to build one house!  Habitat for Humanity needs $250 in materials for one house.

Amazing little dude, he gave up an hour.... someone gets a home....