I flew back to California a couple days ago with Elladee and we've been pretty busy since getting here. The night we got here we dropped off our things and then went straight over to a friends house for her birthday. I definitely want to catch up with my friends whenever a get the chance. Then starting Monday I was at Project Walk so they could teach Els and I a home program. Basically so she can learn how to properly stretch me and do the exercises that they do there. 

Yesterday seemed like we mostly did stretching, but today was no joke. Michelle my trainer worked me over, but I loved every minute of it! In between my therapy it seems like I've got doctors appointments every hour on the hour, but that's just life.

What else...what else?? Ohhh...the new Mountain Bike Magazine is out on newsstands and I'm happy with how it came out. It's called Social Distortion Article and it focuses mainly on the relationship between my coach James Herrera Pushyourlimit.com and I, but as a whole it is about relationships/friendships when something like this happens. Jasen Thorpe (editor) had a very extensive interview process and it shows. So I hope you like what you read. Oh and if you pick up one on newsstands and there isn't a small picture of me on the cover then my story isn't in that one. It's weird because 10% of the magazines out do not have my article in them. Jasen tried to explain to me why, but I can't remember why but then you just have to find one that does have the article. Or just click on the link I gave you. HAHA!! Damn...I'm tired right now!!!

So I'm in training right now because the US Road Nationals the week of July 28th-August 2nd in Bend, Oregon and I've decided to race it. The race is a time trial so I'm changing up my training a bit. So that should be interesting. This will be my first race since I got hurt so I'm gonna pin it and see what happens. 

Oh speaking of riding. Els and I were up in Whistler a couple weekends ago and did a ride around the lake. It was about 7pm, but it was super hot out and we planned on jumping in the lake afterward. It was RAD! Everyone was out at the lake hanging out and there is even a nudest dock. Obviously where all the nude people hangout. I stayed away from there! Yikes! Anyway, Els and did a loop that us about an hour and then on our way back we came across a single track trail called Tin Pants. She stopped looked at me and said with a shit eating grin, "well, whadya think?" It took me all but 5 seconds to say..."Hell yeah!" I was a little concerned that the trail would get too narrow and I wouldn't be able to fit AND since I was on a road handcycle I obviously had road tires on the bike and on hard packed dirt let's just say it's like riding with ice skates on. The trail was SICK!! I could climb all the climbs and made it around just about every corner by myself. There were a few that were pretty tight and Els had to pick up the front end and pull me around, but no biggie. Once we got to the top there was an amazing lookout that we took pictures from. As Els was taking some snapshots I took off. She wasn't letting me ride in front. I think cuz' she knew I wanted to pin it. :) So as I pedaled away I said, "Let me lead! Let me lead!" I started downhill and I heard her say, "Don't go too fast!!" I was just cruising down, but then gained a bit of speed here and there. I just can't tell you how awesome it felt to be off-road again. I mean I was on the polar opposite of the type of bike I should have been on, but I knew what I was doing. So I came hauling around one of the corners and it was a bit of an S-turn. I did a bit of a fishtail out to the right and was starting to bring it back around to the left when my back right wheel hit something and it popped me up so hard I was riding it out on 2 wheels!! I can only imagine what Elladee was thinking right at that moment! I must have had that thing on 2 wheels for like 10 feet and the whole time I'm thinking, "I got it...I got it...I got it!!!!" In that second of the last, "I got it"...I totally didn't have it. LOL! I ate it pretty hard on a bunch of rocks and I'm just thinkin', "oh man...now Els is gonna be mad at me. Haha. Well, she ran over and turned me back up right and we made sure I was okay. I had a bit of a hematoma on my right thigh, but that was about it. Suweet!! My first crash after my crash.

We made it back to the car after about 2 1/2 hours of riding and it was still warm out. As soon as we made it to the Pharmacy to get a first-aid kit to clean it out I started thinking about how I was gonna get back on that trail with a better bike that is meant for off road. Any suggestions??! :)

K, well we're off to meet some friends for dinner. I hope everyone is out riding there bikes and enjoying the rad weather we're having!

Cheers!

tara