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.....