tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095413733701857902024-03-12T23:45:24.700-04:00NeimanationCycling coach; clean sport, athlete safety, and athlete voice advocate; has-been bike racer. 2x World Champion 2x ParalympianAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-57337819013459792712020-05-28T16:55:00.000-04:002020-05-28T16:56:02.663-04:00<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the past month, I have been posting stories and information about various aspects of the sport of cycling in a private Facebook group for the Navy and Invictus Games cyclists whom I coach. I thought I would start sharing those posts here for a broader audience. I won't post everything I shared with them but will post the highlights here for you all to enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Velodrome Overview: My initial foray into cycling and is still my favorite discipline. Track cycling is essentially a condensed version of road racing- it’s higher intensity because races are contested over shorter distances. There are individual time trials and mass start (bunch) races in both sprint and endurance distances. Distances range from 200m (a time trial) that at the elite level takes about 9 seconds, up to 50km (mass start) which is completed in less than an hour. The international standard length is 250m with about a 45° banking in the turns. It’s essentially a big wooden bowl, like a small NASCAR track. Centripetal force keeps riders on the track without sliding off. Again, you have to keep moving forward to be successful. The bikes have a single, fixed gear which means riders must pedal the entire time, and to slowdown or stop, they use the banking of the track or apply gentle resistance to the pedals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around the turn of the 20th century, track cycling was the most popular sport in America. Its high intensity, grueling nature- some of the races were contested over six continuous days where riders would not sleep and would eat and drink on the bike- and nightclub atmosphere appealed to high stakes betting, and it was Al Capone’s favorite sport. Track cyclists were as high or higher paid than baseball players of the era like Babe Ruth. In fact, Madison Square Garden was originally a velodrome. One of the most exciting races in all of cycling- a two-person relay race with on-the-move tag-ins called “slings”- is called “The Madison” (sometimes “la American” in Europe).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the breakout of WW2, the races stopped as the athletes were called to duty. When the war was over, track cycling never regained its previous popularity. People looking for calmer, more civilized sports like basketball and football. Around this time, the general public had much greater access to cars, and car culture and obsession took hold of the country. Today, it’s still a very popular discipline across Europe, and Oceana although there are fewer than thirty tracks in the US today. Track cycling is one of the best ways to improve your technical riding abilities. (however it is limited to only two-wheeled bikes.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For more visual learners, this video is a good synopsis of the various events on the track: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmMHEEOrzWU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmMHEEOrzWU</a></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-82458938308800009722020-03-27T16:08:00.000-04:002020-03-27T16:08:46.824-04:00What Makes You Tick?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A number of athletes that I've talked to recently have expressed self doubt about why they are training, or what the point of training is, now that so many events are being postponed or cancelled. It's tough to keep your motivation when your finish line is moved, it really is. But what I've told them is that this is the perfect time for some self reflection. Why are they training in the first place? Who are they doing their sport for? This may be the time some people have really tough conversations with themselves and or their coaches.<br />
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Ultimately, it's important to know why you compete and why you spend so much time training for those competitions. In an idyllic, sunshine and rainbows world you all train for the most wholesome intrinsic reasons- you love the rush of endorphins after a workout, you love seeing our personal progress each day/week/month and that progress is fulfilling in itself. Sometimes you may be motivated to compete because you feel like you have to- to keep up with coworkers who are doing the Friday night 5k series even though you hate running- or because you want to get revenge on someone who beat you in the last group ride town line sprint. Maybe this is the time you realize that you don't even like racing your bike, you just like beating Steve-the-dentist who gave you a bad filling that needed to be redone later on. Whatever your reasons are, they're yours. The point is to think about what makes you tick and decide if that's what you like or not.Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-57692143030409550102020-01-14T12:32:00.002-05:002020-01-14T15:46:10.564-05:00Freewheeling PodcastLast week, I got to go on the podcast Freewheeling, hosted by Abby Mickey and sponsored by Cycling Tips. Abby is a great friend and former teammate- we were both on TWENTY16 Pro Cycling in 2014.<br />
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We talked a lot about anti-doping and a little bit about concussions, retirement, identity, and you'll even get to hear a cameo from my dogs. You're welcome.<br />
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Subscribe if you like cycling and you can listen to the episode with ME <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insight-into-anti-doping/id1489507753?i=1000462425591" target="_blank">here</a>. And for those of you who don't like hyperlinks click the urls<br />
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insight-into-anti-doping/id1489507753?i=1000462425591" target="_blank">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insight-into-anti-doping/id1489507753?i=1000462425591 </a><br />
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Or if you prefer to listen online:<br />
<a href="https://cyclingtips.com/2020/01/freewheeling-podcast-insight-into-anti-doping/">https://cyclingtips.com/2020/01/freewheeling-podcast-insight-into-anti-doping/</a>Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-32627911195124794962019-12-09T16:28:00.002-05:002019-12-09T16:28:50.521-05:00A blog about not blogging.I've done a terrible job of keeping this blog updated. (I don't even know that too many people read it anymore but I guess that's besides the point.) The blog drought started after I stopped racing. That was due partly because I was depressed felt lost not training and racing anymore and didn't want to share that with anyone, and because I didn't feel like I had anything to write <i>about</i>. My new "normal" life was boring, and surely people prefer reading about crazy race trips or great accomplishments. Well, that last bit is probably true, but I've realized that I do enjoy writing, even if this post is just stream-of-consciousness word vomit and not good at all.<br />
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I appreciate that I've got awesome things happening in my life. It just took a little while to realize, years later, that non-racing life can be good too. I love spending time with my husband, I enjoy that we have a house that we've been slowly making our own, and two great dogs- even if they're demons sometimes.<br />
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It's sort of like a conversation Clark and I have had about different cities and towns- you can always find great things and places if you look for them, and you can always find shitty things and places if you look for them. Well I think the same is true for life. We all have struggles and obstacles but we also have amazing things, too.<br />
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So, maybe this ol' blog will get a bit more use in the coming weeks and months. Thanks, as always, for reading.Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-77837862551673498842019-12-09T15:28:00.000-05:002019-12-09T15:29:16.379-05:00WADA AC Statement on the Upcoming WADA ExCo Decision on Russia<div style="text-align: center;">
Statement on the upcoming WADA ExCo Decision on Russia</div>
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<i>Majority of WADA Athlete Committee members call for strongest possible sanctions</i></div>
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<i>December 7th, 2019</i></div>
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When reinstatement of RUSADA was granted in 2018, WADA's CRC Chair reassured those who questioned the decision that should the dada prove to be tampered or manipulated, they would not hesitate to "pursue the most stringent sanctions" available to them.</div>
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WADA's Intelligence and Investigations department has now released a report outlining acts of "stunning deception" in the new deletion, altering and manipulation of the LIMS data required to fulfill the conditions stout in the conditional granting of compliance. With 145 cases that cannot be sanctioned, we will never know who those athletes are, or if they continue to defraud clean athletes, the public and Major Games.</div>
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A majority of the WADA Athlete Committee strongly believe that the only appropriate response to Russia's actions is a complete ban on Russian participation in the Olympic & Paralympic Games.</div>
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To date, the Russian doping saga has dominated three Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a fourth on the horizon. Russia's ongoing and intentional acts of deception, fraud and corruption have made a mockery not only of those who play by the rules, but those who create and safeguard them.</div>
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The Russian authorities have shown a complete disregard for their athlete's rights and safety. First by implementing a state-run doping system, then by advocating that only athletes should be individually responsible for that wrongdoing, and now by manipulating the data. This entire fiasco created by Russia has cheated far too many athletes of their dreams and rightful careers, for far too long.</div>
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Russia cannot blame WADA or international sports organizations for enforcing the rules that all must abide by, when they have been caught breaking them over and over again. Athletes are tired of solutions lines with concessions and compromise- and history has proven them ineffective.</div>
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We support a complete ban of Russian participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games as the only meaningful sanction. We maintain that the fraud, manipulation and deception revealed to date will only be encourages and perpetuated with a lesser response. We believe that until these critical abuses of integrity in sport are confronted with courage and a resolute commitment to protect athletes and clean sport, they will continue, and the sports we love retail tarnished.</div>
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The time has come to stand up for athletes and clean sport.</div>
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<b><i>This statement is supported by the following members of the WADA Athlete Committee:</i></b></div>
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Beckie Scott (Canada)</div>
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Ben Sandford (New Zealand)</div>
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Vicki Aggar (Great Britain)</div>
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Adam Pengilly (Great Britain)</div>
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Chiel Warners (Netherlands)</div>
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Greta Neimanas (United States of America)</div>
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Petr Koukal (Czech Republic)</div>
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Richard Schmidt (Germany)</div>
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Hayley Wickenheiser (Canada)</div>
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<br />Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-18362145563553599532019-11-03T16:00:00.000-05:002019-11-03T16:51:55.588-05:00What is a Champion?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A friend and colleague recently
asked me “what does the word ‘champion’ mean to you?” I’ve got to be honest, it
took be by surprise because, until then, I hadn’t really thought about it.
Initially, the image that popped into my mind was of an athlete standing atop a
podium, having achieved their life’s athletic achievement. But then I thought
some more, is that the <i>only</i> type of champion? No way. The visage of an athlete
is probably the most common type of “champion” people envision but I want to
change that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I come from a sports background,
that’s not a secret. However, in recent years I’ve realized that my favorite
part of sport is the personal empowerment that goes along with working towards
a goal. Anyone can be a champion. And no, this isn’t some sort of feel-good
bullshit, I truly believe that anyone can be a champion in their chosen pursuit;
you can be a champion of human rights, a champion of musical literacy, a
champion mom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alright, alright, what does this
have to do with actually<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> a champion? Being a champion consists of two parts- being the best
version of your self you can be in your chosen arena- athlete, musician, social
worker, parent, construction worker- AND empowering other people to be the best
versions of themselves they can be too. A true champion isn’t threatened by
anyone else’s greatness, they embrace it because they know it will make everyone
better and that it will raise the bar for their arena of work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So yeah, you can win a bunch of
races, get a bunch of trophies, and <i>technically</i>, by the Oxford English
Dictionary’s definition, be a champion, but you’re not a Champion until you can
do that AND empower others to do the same. So, go out and be champions. That’s my answer to the question,
what’s yours?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-7667574624868936562018-09-27T17:12:00.000-04:002018-09-27T17:12:00.933-04:00An Unjust System<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
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Strict liability. That phrase was burned into my mind as a teenager entering the world of elite cycling. It means that an athlete is ultimately responsible for anything and everything that is absorbed by your body, intentionally or not. An outright prohibited substance or method, a contaminated substance, or even an accidental ingestion, it doesn’t matter because the fault fell upon the athlete. That was the world I was entering, and those were the rules. Full stop. </div>
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The burden of proof of innocence also falls to the athlete should they fail a test. Yes, they have the option to have their sample retested; they have the option to file appeals; they have the option to hire a team of lawyers, doctors, and scientists; they have the option to have a pharmacokinetic conducted to clear their name… all at their expense. An athlete without or with little means does not have that option. Example: Chris Froome’s adverse analytical finding of salbutamol. Other athletes have received severe sanctions for the same offense, but Froome and Sky- a rider and team with an estimated worth of <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-5942313/Chris-Froomes-net-worth-revealed-amid-2018-Tour-France.html" style="color: #954f72;">£11 million</a></span>, and <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/salary-cap-discussion-returns-cycling-team-skys-tour-de-france-2018-domination-388872" style="color: #954f72;">£30 million a year budget</a> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020;">respectively-</span>were able to all of the aforementioned steps. No sanction. The rules are not applied equitably across the board.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is indicative of a system that prioritizes money and politics over the athletes they claim to serve. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The IOC passed-the-buck before Rio allowing individual IFs to impose sanctions and only the IAAF, IWF, and IPC took a principled stand to protect the rights of their clean athletes. I was never prouder to be a Paralympian than when the IPC stood on the side of their athletes. The IOC, in contrast, shirked responsibility and wilted in the face of pressure. They had a chance to stand up for athletes and walk-the-walk yet they chose not to. Again, illustrating a disinterest in the athletes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I believed in the WADA though. They conducted the <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/mclaren_report_part_ii_2.pdf" style="color: #954f72;">original investigations</a> </span>into the <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/IOC-DC-Schmid/IOC-Disciplinary-Commission-Schmid-Report.pdf" style="color: #954f72;">state-sponsored doping program</a></span>in Russia. They seemed to have a backbone and it seemed that their leadership believed in the athletes they served. The WADA’s decision to bend their own rules to allow Russia back in is a slap in the face. At no other time in the history of anti-doping have athletes been allowed to renegotiate their applied sanctions to participate sooner. They seem to be going the way of the IOC- putting money and politics over the needs of clean athletes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last week’s decision to reinstate Russia, despite not meeting the defined terms in the roadmap, is simultaneously bewildering and predictable. The process leading up to the reinstatement was conducted behind closed doors, and in back alleys. It is yet another disservice to those who want- and believe in- an athlete-centric system. Nothing was transparent. Information was only shared after a leak and public pressure was put on the WADA. Clearly, they have no interest in transparency as their actions repeatedly illustrate. How are we to believe that they will work in our best interests again?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The WADA president, <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070345/wada-president-challenges-athletes-who-have-criticised-lifting-of-russian-ban-to-come-up-with-better-option" style="color: #954f72;">Craig Reedie, admonished athletes</a> </span>for speaking out after this reversal was confirmed. He wanted athletes to stop complaining and offer alternative options to reinstatement. This is a cheap and insulting deflection. Athletes resoundingly spoke up with the desired alternative: stick to the roadmap. Do not reinstate. Full stop. Athletes don’t get a pass or a do-over; athletes receive a sanction and cannot return until the terms are met. This is the equitable treatment athletes demanded. And yet again, it’s difficult to see anything but politics rising above athletes yet again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My personal outrage is not about the Russian athletes, many of whom, I’m sure, were put in impossible positions, but about the process and the system. This reversal is a crushing blow to clean sport and the athletes who are supposedly crucial to the system. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So what now? It certainly seems that the fight is an unrelenting one. Despite that, I truly believe that if passionate athletes and good-hearted people who cherish sport and its values continue to fight, we will eventually prevail. It has been tempting to resign from my position on the WADA AC yet as in sport, I’m not going to throw in the towel. The governance of sport must be changed; it must contain more athletes at national and international levels. Athletes, and athlete advocates, must remain strong and loud in the face of powers who wish to silence and reject them. Each person who speaks out against an unfair system and the prioritization of politics over athletes is helping. We can chip away at the mountain of injustice facing us until, eventually, it crumbles, and clean athletes will have a clear path forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-64430799413607306292018-06-12T17:25:00.002-04:002018-06-12T17:25:48.648-04:00Warrior Games 2018<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
If you’d asked me three years ago if I envisioned myself working with the military sports programs, I would have said no. Not because I wasn’t interested, per se, but I envisioned myself liking the elite and experienced realm of sport more; the part of sport where people are fighting for seconds, analyzing data, graphing progress, and crunching numbers. It’s all about performance- the athletes in that world are finely tuned machines, there are teams of analysists, nutritionists, psychologists, coaches, physios, mechanics, all working to get one person to go a half second faster. That ½ of a second can be enormous in the performance world; the difference between a gold medal and a pat on the back, the difference between a paycheck and a “better luck next time” for the people involved. This was the kingdom that I had lived in for a decade. </div>
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Sport and performance are almost two different beings, two different cultures within the same world. The performance aspect is incredible, it’s a choreography of many moving parts that are all dependent on one another for success; a science. Sport, on the other hand, is free flowing, raw, organic, and exciting. Sport changes people and has the power to make a real impact on lives. And I’m not just talking about the participant but the lives of those around them too. There are athletes in the program that have been able to stop taking all medications in the last five months, have shed dozens of pounds of extra weight, have started riding bikes with their kids or spouses, and they have something new to look forward to. That makes a difference. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Working with the military sports program has opened my eyes and reminded me what sport is about, the power that it has to change. In a sense, I can identify with what many of these athletes are going through- a loss of identity. Three years ago, I lost my identity of “elite cyclist” and many of them are rediscovering their identities after being sailors. Some have told me that I was one of the first people to not treat them like they’re broken. Some of them have spent months in the hospital, and nobody addressed them as a person, only a patient. That’s not what sport is about. As Bill Bowerman said, “If you have a body, you’re an athlete.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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June 6<sup>th</sup>2015 was the last day that I raced a bike. On June 6<sup>th</sup>2018 and I was on the other side of the sport- coaching the Navy’s cycling team at the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs. The men and women of the Navy’s cycling team left it all out there on competition day. For most of them, it was their first ever bike race, the first team kit they’ve received, first number pinned on- most of them pinned through the holes, but they’ll get it- the first time some of them rode hard enough they puked after finishing. Some of them will continue on to the performance side of sport, but most probably won’t. I’m happy knowing that there are now twenty-two more cyclists in the world because of this sports program. Twenty-two more people who enjoy going out and riding bikes at whatever speed they like because it’s fun, and it’s something they <i>can</i>do. They might be in the scratch-and-dent bin but nobody is broken.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you asked me today if I can envision myself not working with development athletes in sport, I’d say no. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-76503143112019564852016-08-31T20:03:00.000-04:002016-08-31T20:03:05.525-04:00Hanging up the SkinsuitDeciding to retire was difficult yet easy at the same time. I talked with the great folks at <a href="https://www.likeapro.com/athletes/greta-neimanas" target="_blank">Like a Pro</a> about it and you can watch the video <a href="https://www.likeapro.com/stories/it-s-time-for-greta-neimanas-to-chain-up-the-bike" target="_blank">here</a>.Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-82661976446225817892016-06-06T18:11:00.001-04:002016-06-06T18:11:27.316-04:00The Crash<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a part
of a larger piece that I have been working on regarding my crash last year, the
days following, and then the recovery and healing process. It is still on
going, one year after the crash that ended my career. This isn’t something that
I had previously talked about much, or made very public and maybe I should
have. Maybe I should have had a very public documentation of my recovery
process but that was just too egocentric for me. My problems are not
necessarily other people’s problems and it’s not my personality to share that
much with the public. I’m sharing this now– perhaps it’s irrelevant at this
point- to put into words my experiences through this whole process. If my story
can bring some light to the issue of head injuries in sports, that will be
fantastic. Maybe it will help someone going through what I did, maybe not. It
has been helpful to me to write about what happened, and what is still
happening to me as a result of this accident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">... Knowing
that any day on the bike could be my last, I didn't recognize it when it came.
It was the first World Cup of the season, I'd had an okay race the day before,
and we were setting up for that day's road race. What was different about it
was the course was easy- a flat triangle with no "selections" or
places to shed weaker riders from the bunch, theoretically making it safer for
the faster riders to navigate the course. This, coupled with the organizers
starting all classifications together (think pro-1-5 domestic race) due to low
race attendance was a recipe for trouble. The combination made for weaker
riders hanging in, due to the lack of course selections, and being in over
their head, unable to think or react at their best. Every rider has been there-
clinging in the bunch by a miracle, just hoping to make it a bit further before
being dropped- it's a part of the growing process. One thing I did wrong that
day was being near riders who were in over their heads. What should have been a
micro adjustment from a rider turned into a swerve by another, which turned
into locked bars with me and a crash. Fortunately for the bunch, it was only
myself and one other rider who went down. Unfortunately for me, I wound up
doing a quasi Fosburry flop onto the pavement, burning the skin off my upper
back, and my head whipping back onto the pavement. Maybe I briefly lost
consciousness, many be I didn't, but recall doing a mental check of my systems.
The wind was knocked out of me; I could move my feet, legs, and arms; my teeth
and tongue were intact; and my head felt like it'd been run over by the follow
vehicle. A string of profanities flowed from my intact mouth as I struggled to
sit up and orient myself. I knew I'd crashed in a race. I knew I was in the
road. I knew the race's medical staff was trying to help me. I knew I needed to
find my bike- it had landed over the guard rail in the bean field. A volunteer
had it and was walking away with it. Weird. Didn't they know I had a race to
get back to? They were trying to help me, trying to talk to me and I yelled at them.
I shouted at them and took my bike back. Who were they to try to stop me from
racing? I took my bike back and was going to finish the stupid race and prove
to them that I was fine. I started riding again and a wave of nausea washed
over me; and it was hard to keep the bike upright. I continued on. After only a
kilometer or two I came through the feed zone and shook my head and said
"no" to our coach who was holding a bottle out for me. I didn't want
it and was just going to keep going. He didn't move the bottle and it hit me in
the head, this time the front of my head. I don't know how I didn't fall again
with another crushing wave of pain and nausea encompassing me. Luck? Sure,
let's go with that. It went on like that for the remaining 40kms of the race,
fortunately without any further hits to my head. Eating and drinking calories
were a priority because I knew my body would shut down with out them. It felt
like my shoulder blades and ribs were broken from the impact; like my skin had
been burned from my body from the road friction. This was the first time
wearing our new road race kit and I destroyed mine, damn. Spraying water on my
back in an attempt to rinse the grit out and prevent the remaining shreds of
fabric from drying in the blood brought tears to my eyes. And still, I
continued riding. Team coaches and staff were relaying splits to the closest
riders in an attempt to motivate me to catch them, and potentially help my
teammates further up the road. Like the robot I'd been trained to be, I tried. I
gave it everything I had to catch my teammate and help her and couldn't get
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">I crossed the
finish alone. I stopped, alone. It was a Canadian coach who came to me first. I
knew him, he was nice. He helped me get off my bike and gave me water before
helping me out of my shredded skin suit top, then over to the medical tent.
There, alone with the medics, they cleaned my road rash with liquid fire.
Dizziness filled my head as the blood rushed out of it. Repeating "my
head, I hit my head, my head hurts, you need to look at my head" but not
clearly or loudly enough. They sent me on my way. Unable to navigate across an
open town square, a teammate came out to meet me, the one I'd been trying to
help. She guided me back to the team area and helped me find my bag. Before
helping me change into civilian clothes, I sat with a friend who was talking to
me about something, I don’t know, but I remember him having pizza, and he
offered me a bite. Unable to sit up properly on my own, or speak coherently, or
do any number of things myself, these two friends insisted I go back to the
medical tent and get checked out again, more thoroughly, and demanded I go to
the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the med
tent was the other rider who crashed- a teammate- and she was being sent to the
hospital for stitches. She went on the gurney and I sat in a seat on the side
of the ambulance. Once there, the other rider was immediately taken in for
treatment and I was shown to the waiting room where a team swanny found me and
helped translate- into Italian- to the receptionist what happened. We waited
for what seemed like a long time before going back into an exam room. My road
rash was cleaned, again, x-rays were shot of my back and arm, and I reiterated
to the doctor and nurses that it was my head that was hurting, that my head was
what needed the attention- the road rash could wait, it had already been
cleaned multiple times. They finally agreed that I had a concussion and that I
was displaying very common/classic signs of a head injury- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly what I had been mumbling!</i> From there, they kind of just
wanted me to leave; no CT, MRI, or other scan. I remember having to ask for a
CT scan, and insisting that it was worth waiting the hour they said it would
take to get the on-call tech to come in on a Sunday afternoon. I wasn’t going
to leave the hospital without one. I’d find my own way back to the hotel if
need be- I wasn’t going back without getting my head scanned and cleared of a
bleed. This stands out as something, now, that seems like such an obvious thing
to do and I still don’t fully understand why there would have been any
contention of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once cleared
and released from the hospital, the three of us made our way back to the hotel
where things were definitely a blur. My roommate was the same teammate who
helped me back to the tent and I will be forever grateful for her help, not
only after the crash but in the days immediately following the crash. The team
had no trained medical staff on the trip. There were two swannies but their
expertise was massage, not actual medical treatment. I don’t fault the swannies
at all, they did the best they could to help me. I did not get the medical
treatment or support that I needed in those days following the crash because we
didn’t have anyone with the team. Without my roommate in Italy, and my
boyfriend and coach in the States who worked to get in contact with former team
contracted medical staff, I would have been so much worse off. They gave advice
on treatment and concussion protocol, then helped figure out how to get my
hospital test results sent stateside to be reviewed, and then, when cleared, to
get me home. The day following my crash, I was told to take the next few days
easy before going on to Switzerland for the next World Cup that weekend; that
results wouldn’t be as important had I not crashed. Even in my altered state, I
remember thinking that that was ridiculous. I could barely walk for dizziness,
was unable to eat for nausea, and could hardly open my eyes because the light
caused searing pain in my eyes and brain. My first priority was being able to
walk to the bathroom on my own let alone racing my bike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">After a few
days of people working on my behalf, I was cleared for travel and could go
home. A teammate- who had only been slated to race the first world cup- would
travel most of the way home with me before I took the last leg to Maryland on
my own. Clark and his family met me at the airport to help me with my bikes and
luggage and take me home...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is where
I will stop my story for the time being. There is so much more to be shared and
it is the start of the recovery process from the crash itself. Thanks for
reading, there is more to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-56786761717297167612016-01-19T18:23:00.000-05:002016-01-19T18:23:42.411-05:00Retirement<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2015 was a year of high highs and low lows; a year that brought a victory at the World Championships and a season-ending crash paired with my sixth diagnosed concussion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sport of cycling has brought me so much joy- and pain, blood, sweat, and tears- over the past eleven years and is a sport that I hope to participate in for my entire life. My best friends have been made through the sport and it has afforded me the opportunity to travel the world. However, it is a sport with very high risks and the rewards no longer outweigh those risks for me- the chance of further brain injuries is too great. After careful consideration and a lot of reflection, I have decided to retire from the US Paracycling and TWENTY16 professional cycling teams. While my career may have been shorter than I would have liked, it is one I am completely satisfied with and, at 27, I still have a lifetime ahead of me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not the end of my involvement in sport, but simply the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I look forward to finishing college, potential coaching opportunities, and pursuing other aspects of the sports world that I could not while actively competing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yours, forever in sport,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Greta</span></div>
Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-79580722517252672622014-08-07T00:52:00.000-04:002014-08-07T00:52:54.949-04:00Six Years On<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf;">Today marks the six-year anniversary of my dad's death. A lot has happened
in those six years and I can't help but think how different things would be if
he were still around. With that said, I know I wouldn't be the person I am
without his passing- thinking about it all is a dangerous game of
"what-if?" that I don't usually play. The anger I had towards
him has passed and I'm able to focus on the good memories, and all the fun that
we had like playing in the yard, making teepees and torches, eating
(daily) cheez-whiz sandwiches and salami, spray painting things, and
driving around in his work truck.</span><b><span style="color: #bfbfbf;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf;">My dad took me to my very first bike race- the Monster's of the Midway
crit- and I like to think he had a good time. Sure, he had his concerns
about the inherent dangers of the sport but was one of the few people
who was really on board with me cycling- he could see how happy it made me to
ride, race, and progress through the sport. In his own way, he was with me from
the very beginning. He died just before I competed in the Beijing Games. Six
years ago, getting on the bike was the only thing I could think to do, to try
to escape it all. Now, when I ride, my mind is free to think about how great
this wild life is! I miss him, what was, and what might have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf;">I love you, Dad!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf;">The post below is from two years ago, four years on from his death, and I
thought I'd re-share it for you all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf;">_________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Friday, August 17, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;">Then and Now<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Four years ago,
during the lead up to the Beijing Paralympic Games, my family and I sat in a
hospital watching my father die. Waiting. After weeks in the hospital with his
health fluctuating, he took a turn for the worse. It was simply a matter of
time until the end. It was a situation nobody would want to be in at any point
in their lives, especially while gearing up for the largest sporting event in
the world.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">My father was an
alcoholic for most of my life, and he was someone I struggled to get along
with. We rarely saw eye to eye and had little in common. Nevertheless, he was
my father. And at only twenty, I was about to lose a parent. That’s
not supposed to happen until you’re old, and it's certainly not the type of
thing that is supposed to happen while you’re preparing for one of the biggest
moments of your athletic career. But it did happen. It was real and I had to
deal with it.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The day following
my father’s death, I returned home to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs. With the Games rapidly approaching, I needed to finish my preparation.
Cycling, a sport that had been my mental escape since the beginning, no longer
provided that respite. My head was going 1000 miles an hour and in what seemed
like 1000 different directions. My father was dead. I’d left my family to play
bikes and chase a dream of riding in circles (on the velodrome) on the other
side of the planet. It felt selfish. It felt like I was running away from what
was important. I was running away from my family who needed me. I was running
away from responsibility to do what? Dress like a super hero, travel around the
world, live the life of a rock star for a few weeks and pretend nothing
happened? Some super hero I was.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In retrospect,
everything I did is all a blur. The training, the travel to China, the village;
even the racing is blurred. There are two very clear memories from those Games.
First, walking into the stadium for the Opening Ceremonies. I remember looking
out over a sea of white caps and navy blazers and listening to the U-S-A chant
build as we walked through the tunnel into the Olympic Stadium. The second is
not nearly as picturesque. I remember lying on the ground which was covered in
a blue, plastic mat (like a plastic carpet) that spanned the entire length of
the dam where nations staged for the races. It was after the time trial, my
final event, and I was lying on the ground. On this nasty, hot, plastic carpet
behind our team’s tent, physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Those
two moments are what stand out the most when I think back to the Beijing Games.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Fast-forward four
years to today and you’ll see a very different picture. Since Beijing, I’ve
grown tremendously as a person- and athlete- and approach the London
Paralympics with a healthier mindset. For one, nobody has died in the recent
past, which is a plus. But seriously, I’m more focused and mentally prepared.
I’m happy! Some of that is from having a better, less stressful preparation,
and some is from maturing. I approach these games with a love of the sport,
with a love of life, and a level of confidence that I didn’t have four years
ago. I’ve learned a lot about myself and am able to employ those lessons and
information on and off the bike. (Every sports psychologist will tell you how
important life balance is. Being in top form on and off the bike is important
to me as well.)</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I’ve learned that
there is more courage and strength inside than I thought. That I’m
capable of more compassion and caring than I knew; that I have a good idea of
what I’m doing when it comes to riding a bike, and that I’m a total (not so)
hopeless romantic. I’m completely in love, I feel invincible and everything is
coming up, Greta! As I said, you would see a different picture.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Now, I’m one of
the veterans on the team having been to the ‘Big Show’ before. Four years ago,
I made the team by the skin of my teeth. This time around, results from track
World Championships meant automatic qualification. Results over the quad have
come and given me the confidence as an athlete to know how to handle myself.
They certainly weren’t all good but you need to lose to learn how to win- there
were plenty of losses, and in turn, were plenty of wins.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The stress that
existed four years ago no longer bites at my heel. My family is much closer now
and while it’s still difficult being away from them all the time, they know
what I’m doing. They will make the trip to London to watch every race and maybe
I can be that super hero after all.</span><span style="color: #bfbfbf; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-44314067642486872462014-04-22T00:40:00.002-04:002014-04-28T22:44:07.995-04:002014 Para-cycling Track World Championships<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">T</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;">he UCI’s Para-cycling Track World Championships took place in Aguascalientes, Mexico last week, 4/10-13. The track in Aguascalientes is currently the world’s fastest track, and was host to an able-bodied world cup earlier in the season. With a roster of 16 athletes- some veterans and some rookies- Team USA was ready to rock and roll at the first major track competition since the London Paralympic games in 2012. </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My focus going into these world championships was the 3km Individual Pursuit. It compliments the road time trial well and is, masochistically, an event that I enjoy. It had been several years- 2009 track worlds in Manchester, ENG- since I’d ridden what I considered a “good” pursuit. After a solid block of track training in Colorado Springs, CO and at the Velo Sports Center in Carson, CA, the times were steadily coming down and I was feeling more and more comfortable on the track. By the time we got to Mexico and rode the track in training, I knew conditions would be ripe for fast racing and lots of records to be broken. First up on my competition schedule was the 500m TT, a race that I don’t train specifically for and have had mixed results with in the past. Since it was the first day of competition, we decided it would be a good opportunity to take the line with no pressure, to get the feel of the start gate, and to open up the legs before the pursuit. I rode a full second faster than my previous best and finished up 6th against some very fast girls- the world record was broken for the first time since 2007!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1718764538" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday</span>- pursuit day- rolled around and I was feeling great. The hot, dry air and altitude of Aguascalientes, and the blistering temperatures inside the velodrome hardly phased me. After a good warm up, I took the start against a rider from New Zealand who is a very good pursuiter. Things went exactly as planned and I was able to ride to a 3:46.1 and qualified 3rd to ride for bronze that afternoon against the same rider from New Zealand. Being able to set a new PR and American record was a huge monkey off my back as it was something I’d been working at but had fallen short many, many times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That afternoon, I had an abbreviated warm up due to the heat of the track- afternoon sessions regularly were 105°F or more- and the morning’s ride. I wanted a medal so, so badly and knew it was within reach. All I had to do was exactly what I did in the morning- ride steadily and try to build into the race, mentally breaking my opponent in the process. On the start line, my coach Andy said to me “You want this medal more than she does, go take it” and hearing those words was the extra fire I needed to ride even faster than the morning. I couldn’t hear a single split, the crowd blended together, the lap counter was blurred, but I knew I was riding well. My legs felt great and mind was laser focused on winning a medal. Each lap I chipped away at the time, gaining on my opponent until I was close enough to see her on the same straightaway. That was all I needed to get the last bit out of my body to make the catch with one lap to go, winning the match and the bronze medal. When the catch happened, the gun went off and I instinctively sat up knowing the race was over. Now though, I wish that I’d kept going as Andy told me afterwards that I was on pace for a 3:41.0 and only had one lap to go! Knowing that I have that type of ride in me is a huge confidence boost and now, going into the road season, will help me to suffer even more knowing that that effort is there. And hey, soon enough I’ll get that 41 for myself. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="image" src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/1ad5bf998430803a1ccad1cbf10a7571/tumblr_inline_n45h0t73CO1r0wp0o.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 500px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">WC5 Pursuit Podium (Credit: Eamonn Deane)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am always so proud to represent the US in competition. Being able to contribute to the medal count is a special opportunity. In total, Team USA came home with nine medals, the most of any American track world championship team, with two gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="image" src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/340a45f08cd36783ec2678b0e7183ab7/tumblr_inline_n45gzw9iUi1r0wp0o.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 500px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Myself, Jamie W., and Allison J. after our pursuit podiums.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Huge thanks to <span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA.aspx" target="_blank">Felt bikes</a>, <a href="http://www.catlike.es/us/en/" target="_blank">Catlike helmets</a>, <a href="http://www.speedplay.com/" target="_blank">Speedplay</a>, <a href="http://www.oakley.com/" target="_blank">Oakley</a>, <a href="http://www.sram.com/" target="_blank">SRAM</a>, <a href="http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics.aspx" target="_blank">US Paralympics</a> and <a href="http://teamtwenty16.com/" target="_blank">Twenty16 Pro Cycling</a></span> for the support and making this medal possible!</span></div>
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Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-46864367091226726402014-04-10T12:29:00.000-04:002014-04-10T12:29:43.648-04:00Where to Begin?<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been about five months since I last wrote, mainly, because I didn't feel there was anything to write. Looking back now, there was a lot to write about- renewing my contract with TWENTY16 Pro Cycling, competing in multiple races, several training camps, moving back to the Colorado Springs OTC, and generally re-dedicating myself to the sport of cycling.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last summer, the (then) new head coach of the paracycling national team asked if I would be interested in moving back to the OTC to be part of a developing resident program. At first, I was extremely hesitant to even consider it- the previous experience with the resident program left me overtrained, burned out, disliking the sport, and an angry individual. After carefully examining the situation I had left, I realized it wasn't the OTC that was the problem; it was the people I had surrounded myself with, and the decisions I made during my residency that tainted the experience, not the location itself. The more thought I gave it, the more it made sense to move back. The training center offers fantastic opportunities to capitalize on, the track is nearby, and living at altitude is a nice training bonus. This time, I've approached residency differently than the last time- it no longer has the "Disneyland effect" and the sense of "wow, this is the OTC, wahoo!" is replaced by "I have specific goals that I will accomplish by utilizing the resources available to me." mindset. That's not to say that it isn't cool to live there, it absolutely is, but there are things that I want and need to accomplish in my career that can be done through residency at the OTC. It's a privilege to live there and I want to make the most of it. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This change in attitude didn't come overnight, and wasn't spurred only by the program restarting, it took many months to work it out. Living on my own, working a bit, training on my own taught me how to be more responsible and value things that I took for granted before. I learned how to maximize training efficiency, how to get a little bit of balance in my life, how to be a semi-normal person, and, really, just grew up. It's cliché but true, and gave me a better appreciation of things.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January, I moved back into the dorms, only one room over from where I'd lived for the better part of five years. It's strange, in ways, being back and in others not at all. Each day of training is dedicated to a specific goal, all working towards larger projects and races in the future. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first big project of the year is Track World Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico. As I'm sitting here, in the Mexican resort/oasis/paradise preparing for my first race of the weekend, I'm thinking back to where I was both physically and mentally just a year ago and how much has changed in that time. I feel as fit, relaxed, and prepared as I've ever been. I'm confident in my own abilities and those of my teammates that we'll perform as well as we're capable. In the end, it doesn't matter what anyone else can- or will- do in a race because all you can do is give all you can. That's it. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like each day of training, I'm approaching today's 500m TT carefully, relaxed, and with the confidence of knowing that I can do well.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading.</span></div>
Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-21878622167812968102013-11-02T01:20:00.001-04:002013-11-11T18:12:43.817-05:00The Vagrant Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNEqcfUEP4rV0SChlQUaMVplW-V6L41zNBxpW8V9HEdLCs26QakdMMkMSGwoIcaD4_phWSMYjLTfHbQQN3RcLnb1B7HqkDlfaBw4RM82LHGydeJZr7Mf_YmAqRRGFrKF5FqKTG_gedHgt/s640/blogger-image-338395537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNEqcfUEP4rV0SChlQUaMVplW-V6L41zNBxpW8V9HEdLCs26QakdMMkMSGwoIcaD4_phWSMYjLTfHbQQN3RcLnb1B7HqkDlfaBw4RM82LHGydeJZr7Mf_YmAqRRGFrKF5FqKTG_gedHgt/s640/blogger-image-338395537.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I left<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> North Carolina six weeks ago with an unconfirmed plan for housing. As it turns out, it's best to have </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">confirmed</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> housing plans before moving. (Who would've thought?) Because that was not the case, I've been that friend who couch surfs and moves from friend's house to friend's house. Everyone has been super welcoming and helpful, whether it's by offering a bed, couch space, dinner, or even a place to leave my car (which is packed to the brim with my worldly possessions.) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now, don't get me wrong, living out of a suitcase, sleeping in guest rooms and cashing in friendship chips has been a great adventure but it isn't the most glamorous or stress-free life. I have learned some lessons along the way, some more poignant than others but lessons nonetheless. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In no particular order:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. Clothes doesn't need to be washed as often as you think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2. Contradictory to point #1, do laundry whenever possible because you don't know when you'll have a chance later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3. You can't be poop shy. If you gotta go, you gotta go. You don't really have a "home" toilet to go to anymore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4. You really only need a few pieces of clothes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5. Building and packing a bike has become way, way easy- 12 minutes for the last pack up. Boom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">6. Dressing as a hobo for Halloween, using clothes you've been wearing on a regular basis, is both excellent and sad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">7. As Clark has told me before, being on the road isn't so much about what's different, but what's the same- you always get up and eat breakfast, brush your teeth, get dressed, r<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ide bikes, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">do your work- no matter where you are.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">8. Thank the universe for direct deposit, online banking, and online bill pay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">9. Each place I've stayed has shown me something new, taught me lessons, and helped me grow as a person. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">10. I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">have one tremendous network of friends around the country. Everyone- and it's been a LOT of people- has offered to help in any way they can. For that, I am appreciative beyond words.</span></div>Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-66936624409443063902013-09-08T23:45:00.003-04:002013-09-08T23:45:57.095-04:00Striking Gold<div class="MsoNormal">
One week prior to World Championships, we competed at the
final stop of the UCI’s World Cup circuit in Matane, Quebec, three hours south
of Baie-Comeau. The two time trial courses were similar to each other and would
serve as the final dress rehearsal before Worlds a week later. Perfect
execution was the goal for the World Cup.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Lajqzl2IsLPs2PVwH2u3wydqF6YhHyvL2CL4GMqTP__7_FO4fiOwvcJEHlK8GlS0G3-ECem0hI_XqKHl5I3ox1v6VI2_RePzlJ1mrKPdYmrw_Dny89QS7ERYuFi6owpMsmrhGtGrtjo/s1600/1150810_10151807436324154_1720882381_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Lajqzl2IsLPs2PVwH2u3wydqF6YhHyvL2CL4GMqTP__7_FO4fiOwvcJEHlK8GlS0G3-ECem0hI_XqKHl5I3ox1v6VI2_RePzlJ1mrKPdYmrw_Dny89QS7ERYuFi6owpMsmrhGtGrtjo/s320/1150810_10151807436324154_1720882381_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Matane TT medalists</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Matane’s 8km circuit was open for training before the day’s
racing began. I’ve always liked pre-riding the course as much as possible; it’s
one more opportunity to learn about the course, and to get a read on the day’s
conditions. The wind changes directions often in northeastern Canada, changing
the difficulty of the circuit so having the most up to date weather conditions
is helpful. Pre-riding the course followed by a standard warm up on the rollers
had me primed and ready to race.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The team’s head coach, Andy, was in my follow car. After
some technical problems with the race radio, we decided not to use it. Rather,
he would use a bullhorn to relay information to me. Having nearly constant
feedback and encouragement throughout the race in Matane was incredibly
helpful. From the start, I knew it was going to be a good day. Staying in
control and going relatively slowly for the first three minutes had me raring
to open things up. After that, everything felt great. Mentally, things were sharper
than ever; leg speed was excellent; every opportunity to straight-line turns
was maximized; speed and power increased throughout the race; position on the
bike stayed the same from beginning to end despite fatigue. I crossed the line
with a comfortable margin of victory. It was as close to a perfect ride* as
I’ve ever been.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSyLAsnvBY2nETtajx7ti4Jb_7Igao1XcIkgutRVcsutjuj4RkWr9vr6uGW7RA5bbm6o-5GpknOZOYQtJlRk2nOC0AYTtQevua5n-H2DDgPB6hzwvLJ36O8yJxI2QN0kGZ9TKJsB4fRU/s1600/1265476_10201800090829791_2023577750_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSyLAsnvBY2nETtajx7ti4Jb_7Igao1XcIkgutRVcsutjuj4RkWr9vr6uGW7RA5bbm6o-5GpknOZOYQtJlRk2nOC0AYTtQevua5n-H2DDgPB6hzwvLJ36O8yJxI2QN0kGZ9TKJsB4fRU/s320/1265476_10201800090829791_2023577750_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming up in Baie-Comeau.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fast forward one week to World Championships in Baie-Comeau.
The plan was the same- to execute perfectly. Andy was in my follow car with his
bullhorn again and we decided to use a race radio as well. This was to get more
specific information directly in my ear while racing. A morning pre-ride of the
course and a final warm up on rollers started the morning of perfect execution.
The weather was drizzly and cold on race morning: only 49°F when going to the
start house. It went unnoticed once the clock ticked down and I rolled down the
start ramp. The course was hillier than Matane which meant slightly more
shifting and required slightly more focus on cadence. Still, I wanted to keep
the cadence comfortable, stay focused, maximize speed, and keep the aero
position. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When finishing the first of two laps on the circuit, Andy
relayed that I was 37 seconds up on second place. By this point, Andy was going
crazy yelling into the bullhorn, giving encouragement, and feedback. Hearing
“you’re riding for a World Championship” was chilling, even in a semi-delirious
state. Hearing teammates stationed around the course watching and cheering gave
an added boost of energy. It was fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu_6Jpmgl19a4boeMCUk9_GuG8v8LQXILL7HvtBl1P1YXkBo4WHfwcR2WuqbQl3Wz5f1d9wj-17AYHkhuylkWUrNTovwQgzZEqtuY_TTjMHHevoCwNWbw7vzXj5BC7yBAtvTXgTMptas/s1600/1094014_10201801182057071_229210542_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu_6Jpmgl19a4boeMCUk9_GuG8v8LQXILL7HvtBl1P1YXkBo4WHfwcR2WuqbQl3Wz5f1d9wj-17AYHkhuylkWUrNTovwQgzZEqtuY_TTjMHHevoCwNWbw7vzXj5BC7yBAtvTXgTMptas/s320/1094014_10201801182057071_229210542_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the podium with teammate Sam H.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After crossing the line and rolling back to the pits, the
results came in. I won. It was another perfectly executed ride. This individual
title is far from an individual victory. It’s taken years of work; years of
falling short; trying and failing again, and again; being the bridesmaid but
never the bride; years of being helped back up by teammates, friends, and
family. It has taken unyielding support. The easy part was riding as fast as I
could. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jersey, medal, bib.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Listening to the Star Spangled Banner and finally getting
one of those striped shirts is a moment I won’t soon forget. The most amazing
part of winning a world title though, has been the outpouring of support.
Dozens of emails, texts, and social media posts waited for me when I returned
to the hotel and they’re still streaming in, over a week later. It’s a
testament to how many people it takes to win a medal, and how deeply the roots
of my support system run. It’s impossible to thank everyone who has helped on
this eight-year journey to the top but know that everything you do and have
done is appreciated. Thank you.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first time in years, I didn’t go into Worlds
counting the days until racing was over just to have a break from the bike;
counting the days left before packing up the bikes and not looking at them for
as long as possible. Rather, I arrived in Baie-Comeau energized and excited to
race, excited to go out and play bikes because that’s all it is- playing bikes.
I left with the same excitement and motivation to get better. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbnP7-SXRgaiizG0DPRd_6KlJkxEzKb_umYemkj4vxpCOeEqIVdNA5njMZg6dyehDdkuaa611L5xVkSWjaZPjWFw1E6SLKvOzUEDcqBMWeSwo-E_O9n9c-RgtdigNKzQFiFcj7xKO94Y/s1600/1291896_535288776540147_742179619_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbnP7-SXRgaiizG0DPRd_6KlJkxEzKb_umYemkj4vxpCOeEqIVdNA5njMZg6dyehDdkuaa611L5xVkSWjaZPjWFw1E6SLKvOzUEDcqBMWeSwo-E_O9n9c-RgtdigNKzQFiFcj7xKO94Y/s320/1291896_535288776540147_742179619_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team USA's World Champions</td></tr>
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* A <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">truly</i> perfect
time trial results in the rider’s death as they cross the finish line, having
exhausted every ounce of energy and life from their body. I, obviously, am not dead
yet.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-38077216030571138092013-08-14T20:29:00.000-04:002013-08-14T20:29:04.795-04:0040 Things I Love About CyclingThe Para-cycling team just wrapped up a prep camp before our
World Championships at the end of August. During that camp, a sports
psychologist talked with the group about many things but one especially stuck
out. She said that if you can’t come up with 25 reasons why you love the sport
of cycling, you should do something else. So, I decided to sit down and write down
some of the things I love about cycling. Here they are, in no particular order:<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Freedom<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. The friends I’ve made along the way<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Going fast<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Being outside<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Being fit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Traveling<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. Going on adventures<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. Constant new challenges<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9 Trying new things<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. Meeting people I wouldn’t meet otherwise<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. Sunshine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12. Drinking a Coke after a hard ride<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13. Being tan (in places)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
14. Setting goals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15. Having something to work towards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
16. The peacefulness of solo rides<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
17. Racing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
18. The organized chaos of races<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
19. Dropping in from the rail of the track<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
20. Cornering really, really hard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
21. Pinning on a number<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
22. The sound of carbon wheels in a race<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
23. Being in the zone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
24. The feeling of wind on my face<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
25. The feeling of wind at my back <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
26. Taking frustrations out on the bike<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
27. Competing with myself<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
28. Trying to hit the moving target that is “The Top”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
29. Feeling the G-forces in the corners of the track<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
30. Descending<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
31. Following wheels<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
32. Motorpacing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
33. Having friends around the world<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
34. Learning how to travel<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
35. Learning how to be resourceful<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
36. Getting to sleep a lot as part of my “job”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
37. Having a lifelong hobby<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
38. Café rides<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
39. The accessibility of the sport<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
40. Being given opportunities I couldn’t have dreamed of
before I started cycling<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do you love about cycling? The list is endless, really.
What would you add?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-83759734456002244552013-08-04T18:02:00.002-04:002013-08-04T18:02:59.087-04:00See You Soon, Colorado!<div class="MsoNormal">
Once something goes on the blog, it’s official, right? Well,
let’s make this official- I’m moving back to Colorado. While the experiment of
moving to a completely unknown place- Asheville- was a fun and exciting thing
to try, I’m only putting it in the “mildly successful” category. It just isn’t
the right place for me at this time in my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The 2013 cycling season has been relaxed in terms of both
training and racing which has helped clear out the post Games fog. Taking a
step back from it all reminded me that cycling really is pretty amazing and
allows me to live a lifestyle I enjoy; traveling the world, meeting incredible
people and being in great shape are all things I value. Adding in getting to do
all of those things with my best friends makes it something I don’t plan to
walk away from anytime soon. I’m ready to refocus and rededicate myself to the
highest level of training and competition.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After spending a while being unhappy in Asheville, working
in a bike shop, training without a lot of purpose, it was time for another
change. The opportunity to move back to Colorado came up and I want to take
advantage of it while I can. I’ve decided to move back as soon as possible
which will be shortly after the <a href="http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTU3NDI&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=ODYyMjY&LangId=1">UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships</a> in
Baie-Comeau, Quebec, CAN in early September.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to get fast again, finish school, and make a go of
Rio in 2016. When the offer was first made, my reaction was “whoa, no thanks.”
After thinking about it, it made more and more sense to do it. A big reason for
leaving in 2011 was due to burnout and a lack of life balance. Having had some
time away, living and training on my own, growing up a bit, I’ve learned skills
to avoid burnout, or at lease recognize the early stages and take steps to
avoid it. It gives me confidence that this time around will be better.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My time at the training center was when I was the fastest
and I‘d like to get back to that point. There are a growing number of pros and
elite cyclists in or moving to the area to make it a cycling hub with a highly
motivated training group and resources to make that level of training possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, there you have it. It’s official now. See you soon,
Colorado!<o:p></o:p></div>
Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-48524866495387107752013-07-10T10:09:00.002-04:002013-07-10T10:09:42.558-04:00Nationals TT<div class="MsoNormal">
A win at time trial at nationals has been on my list for a
while now. After two years of less than ideal circumstances- a broken
collarbone in 2011 and international travel the day before racing in 2012- 2013
was shaping up to be a year for a good result. With positive results in
international races earlier in the season, I went into nationals with
confidence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The course in Madison was more technically challenging than
we saw in Augusta and Bend. Both of those previous courses were straight out
and back courses with little terrain variation. While Madison’s course was
simple from a driving perspective, it was technical from a gearing standpoint
with each section of the course offering a different challenge. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of my goals for the day was to build into the ride. It’s
a habit I’m working on fixing but I have the tendency to start way too hot and
fade (more like blow up) well before the finish line.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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To start, riders left the start tent, made a quick right and
headed out the longest single section of the course. With a bit of a headwind
but slight downhill, it was a fast section to get things started. From there,
we turned around the head of the lollipop shaped course and got into the
rollers. They were punchy and required an effort out of the saddle. Mixed into
this part were a few quick S bends and chicanes that left me spun out of gear
and tucked up trying to be as small and aero as possible. We made the turn back
onto the stick of the lollipop and headed home. It was a slight uphill for the
return with a few easy rollers and a long line of sight. At around the 3k to go
point, there was a speed sensor to tell cars- or riders- they were exceeding
the 25mph speed limit heading into town. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After crossing the finish line, I knew the win was wrapped
up. On the whole it was a good effort- there are still pacing aspects that
could’ve been better and some lines that could’ve been taking more
aggressively. It was a satisfying race after it was over and those can be hard
to come by at times. That said, there is still a lot more to be had. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Madison’s time trial was the para-cycling team’s selection
event for this year’s World Championships in Quebec, Canada in August. 26
athletes were selected to represent the US at the year’s pinnacle of racing. It’s
safe to say this is the strongest- and largest- team we’ve had in years with a good
mix of rookies and veteran riders filling the roster. It’s always an honor to
make that selection list. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank you to Kaitie Antonneau for giving the skinny on the
course conditions after ripping earlier in the day; to Exergy TWENTY16 and U.S.
Paralympics for the support; Felt, Zipp, Sram, Oakley, Speedplay, Fi’zi:k, SRM
and Catlike for the top of the line equipment; and of course friends, family,
and everyone of you for the support over the course of this season- I couldn’t
do it alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKROLhDm822g_QH8L8lIiZT0zQoAFYdIEbOFCXfyyl9jH1C3uXKPwrqcRxNcx2uokeEBxGJd6HXaXim1naeUIZd-miEaj2krg1flhZIy1ubBfxJ_LlOczrKrrnzipRx2ypa_jfTFaUgTy/s1600/1483_10151512423798596_770006490_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKROLhDm822g_QH8L8lIiZT0zQoAFYdIEbOFCXfyyl9jH1C3uXKPwrqcRxNcx2uokeEBxGJd6HXaXim1naeUIZd-miEaj2krg1flhZIy1ubBfxJ_LlOczrKrrnzipRx2ypa_jfTFaUgTy/s400/1483_10151512423798596_770006490_n.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Kaitie Antonneau, U23 champ.<br />Credit: N. Cranmer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
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Gretahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05492001151037443788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-61238688241841053452013-04-22T11:36:00.000-04:002013-04-22T11:36:12.093-04:00Pinning on a Number
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<br />
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The highlight of my weekend was pinning on numbers. Let me
explain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the London Games I was at a crossroads. The years
leading up to the Games were laden with stress. They were packed with
international travel, dozens of intense training camps, seemingly endless
training at home, and the underlying stress of <i>what if? </i>What if I do all this work and don’t make the team? What
if I get sick or injured and can’t compete? It felt like it was building and
building and would eventually erupt like a volcano. This isn’t to mention all
the same stress that an athlete puts on their family and friends. There are
missed birthdays, graduations, summer barbeques and the more mundane movies
with friends or nights on the town because of training. It’s tough on everyone
involved. Riding and racing stopped being fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After the Games, the bikes went home on the freighter knowing
it would take 2-3 weeks to arrive which meant forced time off and mental
recovery. It would be time to sort things out. Bikes showed up and I didn’t
want to ride- at all. They stayed boxed in the living room collecting dust. I
took time to visit the friends and family I’d essentially ignored for the past
three to eight years and do the things I missed out on while training- things
like having fun. Fun is fun, after all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was three months before I had any interest in throwing a
leg over a bike again not to mention <i>training</i>.
In that time off, I contemplated retiring- at 24, was I done?- and what else would
I do in that case? I came back to the mindset of enjoying the sport again, and
wanted to continue riding and racing but didn’t want to deal with the stress-
self-imposed and that put on my family and friends. Having another season like
2011 or 2012 was out of the question; international travel every month and
being on planes two-three times a month wasn’t much fun by the time the Games
rolled around, I hated the bike. There had to be a happy medium and that’s what
I wanted. I wanted to race but on my terms and not finish the season wanting to
light my bikes on fire.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past weekend was the Greenville Para-cycling open in
South Carolina. It was the first UCI Para race to be held in the states in over
a decade and was my first race back after the Games. The event doubled as the
kick off to the season and as the selection event for the American World Cup
squad that will compete in Europe this summer. It was the perfect race to get
back into the swing of things- it was close to home and there was something
motivating on the line. That said, I went in with the mindset of “It is what it
is” and if I’m selected, great, if not, that’s fine too. No stress. Having fun
racing again was the goal. While pinning on a number for the time trial, it hit
me: this was going to be fun, no matter what happened.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The simple act of pinning on a number is so much more than
that. It’s symbolic of showing up with whatever game you’ve got- maybe it’s not
your A game but you bring the best you can. You’re there to put your hard work
to the test, to take to the start house, start line or start gate and give your
best effort on that day. To say “yes I can!” to the effort because it’s
something that’s fun. Pinning a number is symbolic of the hard work, the sweat,
the taste of blood in your mouth, the hideous tan lines we wear proudly
acquired from hours on the bike, that it took to get to that point. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This weekend’s racing went well. I rode a good, solid time
trial- not great but good- especially after three months off and being the
first race in seven months. It tested the legs and the mind and showed me that
this is something I enjoy doing. This can be fun and doesn’t have to be
stressful. I’m ready to pin on the next number.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-9453263562551849622013-03-25T12:23:00.000-04:002013-03-25T12:23:16.363-04:00Travel Sightings
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fly a lot. That is not meant to sound like bragging at
all. It’s cool for a little bit and then it becomes routine and sometimes a bit
of chore. It is something that gets easier with practice. When preparing for a
trip (read: around midnight the night before a red eye flight the next morning)
I get my kit ready and think about what to wear. I pack as little as possible
to try to utilize only carry-on luggage. (When traveling with a bike, I’m
likely to check a bag as I’ll be waiting at the carousel for a bike anyway.)
Getting through security quickly is key and indicative of the level and type of
traveler a person is. There is also an airport etiquette that should be
observed. It makes your life easier and is courteous for everyone else that has
to travel with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are some of the ridiculous things I’ve seen while
flying or in airports.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The screaming baby</i>:
This is not a ridiculous thing but is a prerequisite for any flight longer than
two hours. There is always a kid with a boogered up face that screams the whole
time. No amount of shushing, treats, or toys will satiate this scream machine.
Somehow, despite its compact size, it has the lung capacity of free diver and a
siren’s howl. Expect not to sleep or accomplish any work without noise
cancelling headphones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The clown bag at
security</i>: This is another less ridiculous thing and an unfortunate
semi-common occurrence. People bring a lot of sh*t with them when the travel-
not stuff, sh*t- and it all comes out at security. The idea of being a
minimalist escapes owners of a clown bag. Somehow they’ve managed to cram a
gallon of shampoo into their bag along with a DVD player, PS3, and tool kit and
forget to take any of it out before they’re at the scanner. These items are
then removed painstakingly slowly while they argue about the size of their pump
bottle of body wash. Rules often should not apply to owners of a clown bag, or
so they think. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A man drinking
M&Ms</i>: This specimen on a human was spotted in the wild of the Denver
International Airport. With a generally disheveled, stressed and dejected air
about him, this man was walking through the terminal while drinking peanut
M&Ms from a 2lb. bag. If you’re familiar with the character Kevin from <i>The Office</i>, you can picture this better.
I wanted to shout <i>Pull yourself together,
man!</i> because that’s no way to live or to travel. Don’t let the travel man
get you down. Keep your head up and out of a family sized bag of candy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Public toenail
clipping</i>: This is downright dirty. Everyone has to clip their nails but the
gate at the airport is not the place or time to do such a thing. And, AND, it
is not appropriate to <i>leave the nail
clippings on the floor.</i> This violates all rules of airport etiquette and
courtesy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A guy walking through
the airport barefoot</i>: This is also dirty although not as much as leaving
toenail clippings at the gate. You’re required to remove your shoes at the
security check but it’s understood that you’ll retrieve them once passing
through the scanner. Maybe he forgot? Apparently the airport doesn’t require
shoes for service…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are just a few things that I’ve seen that are
humorous. There are certainly more to come from future travels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are some of your crazy or noteworthy travel sightings? <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-16638874516625822422013-03-17T22:41:00.001-04:002013-03-17T22:41:32.095-04:00Perpetuating a Cliché
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<br />
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Job hunting- or is it pronounced <i>yob</i>? It may be a soft J. Anyway- job-hunting sucks. Let’s be real.
Lots of people probably know exactly what I mean. Unfortunately being a pro
cyclist doesn’t come with a multi-million dollar contract like a basketball
player and many of us need to <i>work</i>
work as well. Dozens and dozens of filled out applications brought nothing more
than two and a half months of daily rejection. What started out as somewhat fun
and mysterious- who is going to hire a pro cyclist?!- became a desperate and
depressing activity. So much so that this cyclist nearly became a traveling
knife salesman… more on this later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Say it’s aristocratic but electricity and running water are
both at the top of my want list- so needy, blah, blah, blah. Rent and bills
need to be paid and only added to the feeling of desperation. Finally, luck
fell in my favor with a job. As of last Monday, I’m perpetuating a cliché. I
became a cyclist that works in a bike shop. It’s a good fit, really, what with
knowing a few things about bikes, interacting with people, being organized and
social media. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This came at a perfect time, just 12 hours after being hired
to be a traveling knife salesman. Yes, you read that correctly. Desperate times
call for desperate measures, and they were the only ones interested in hiring
at the time. Fortunately the bike shop interview panned out and I won’t have to
study up on Billy Mays videos. While it surely would’ve provided humorous and
terrifying content for future blogs or a book, it would’ve been an awful job
for me. A one-armed knife salesman could either make a killing or, honestly, be
killed hawking knives to strangers. I digress.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not only am I able to pay for water- hooray!- I am more
productive. Having nothing to do but ride and all day to do it can be difficult
and it gets old. It really does. Now, I get up, do a morning workout, eat
lunch, go to work, come home, make a snack if I have an evening workout, do an
evening workout or recovery session, make dinner, then catch up on emails,
phone calls, and house chores. It’s helped me get back in the habit of managing
and budgeting my time and using it more efficiently. As addicting as Pinterest
is, it’s hardly a productive use of time. In a bike shop, everyone else who
works there loves to ride and understands the requirements of training and
racing and are willing to accommodate them. More so than an office or even a
traveling knife salesman gig. It seems to be the best of both worlds. To anyone
else out there looking for a <i>yob,</i>
keep your head up, it’ll pan out soon enough. While it’s cliché, it’s another
addition to the ever growing list of things to be thankful for.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-14639294373297440022013-03-10T22:38:00.001-04:002013-03-10T22:38:18.916-04:00Choices
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<br />
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It's
Saturday night- a time typically reserved for going out to restaurants, bars,
the movies, and generally letting loose- and I am at home watching a Harry
Potter movie. For clarification, by “night” it’s more like evening and the
movie should be over in time to go to bed before many people leave to go out
for the night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This may
not be the glamorous lifestyle people associate with professional athletes-
certainly not the life for a typical 24 year-old- but it’s one that I’ve picked
for myself. It’s a choice, not a sacrifice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An <i>Outside</i> magazine article was written
about the nutrition lab at one of the Olympic Training Centers. The article
gave insight into the neat analysis they do for each athlete there but also
about the personal nutritional choices athletes make on a daily basis. An
athlete who was interviewed described her weakness as sweets. She said, “<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wasn’t that I didn’t want an Oreo. I just wanted a gold
medal more.” Only an athlete can make the choice between needs and wants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are days that I
don’t want to get on the bike and would rather lay around watching movies or
eating some candy. Will that make me faster? No. Your coach or nutritionist can
tell you what to do till their voice is hoarse or have the most scientific,
state of the art plan to follow but it doesn’t mean you’ll actually do any of
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In last week’s post
about head injuries, I wrote that an athlete is the only one who can ultimately
make the call to stop competing when the time comes. That’s a choice, granted,
a big one. Nobody is <i>making</i> anyone
race a bike or play a game just like nobody is going to make you train or make
you eat a salad instead of fettuccine alfredo. It’s your choice and at the end
of the day you’re accountable for your actions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This brings me back to
the beginning of this post about being a hermit on a Saturday night. How? It’s
a choice. Is staying out late and drinking going to make me faster? Nope. So
for the time being I’ll choose to be a hermit.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-77856107677242492592013-03-03T18:04:00.001-05:002013-03-03T18:04:32.459-05:00Head Games<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earlier this week, I watched a documentary about brain
injuries in sports called <i>Head Games.</i>
If you haven’t seen it, watch it. It’s very interesting and sheds light on a
common, although under-researched and recognized, problem in sports-
concussions. <i>Mom, if you’re reading this,
stop here.</i> As someone with first hand experience with concussions, some of
which I remember myself and some that people have relayed, several times, to
me, it scared the shit out of me. Please pardon the language. The documentary
reports research currently being done at Boston University and is focused on
contact sports like football and hockey but concussions can happen to anyone,
in any sport. Research indicates that multiple head injuries can lead to
dementia and a slew of mental health issues not to mention regular forgetfulness
and irritability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Two years after pile-driving my head into the asphalt there
are still lasting effects of the concussion(s) and yet I’m still pedaling. I started
a race then woke up lying in the street unsure of what exactly happened. A
smashed helmet did its job and saved my life. The biggest concerns at the time
were my torn favorite knee warmers, scuffed brand new shoes, torn favorite knee
warmers, scuffed brand new shoes, torn favorite knee warmers and finally my
scuffed brand new shoes. Both were lamented the entire afternoon after the
crash. Later, in the drug store- after leaving the E.R. due to a ridiculously long
wait- I professed my undying love of Easter candy, which is obviously the best
candy, then shared with the store how I hated that nutritionists said never to
eat candy. Seriously. Add in several phone calls and conversations with people
at the race that I have no recollection of and it’s not a pretty picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Is something like that enough to make an athlete stop? Well,
that seems to be the million-dollar question that everyone has a different
answer to. I don’t exactly know what mine is or when the time would be right to
pull the plug. Most athletes could be certified insane and playing through
injuries is routine. A brain injury isn’t a simple rolled ankle or blister on
your pitching hand though, it’s a serious, complicated thing. Sure, I should’ve
done things differently, and hope the decision-making people would’ve made
different decisions in the above example but hindsight is 20/20.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just this morning there was an article online about some of
the most gruesome sports injuries. The list included a football player who exploded
a pinky in a collision between players’ helmets, allegedly cut the mangled
digit off in the locker room, and kept playing; a hockey player whose jugular
was sliced open by a skate, used his goalie glove to stanch the bleeding before
skating off the ice himself, then was at practice four days later with 300
stitches in his neck; and a soccer player with a genetic heart condition who
had a heart attack, died on the field, was resuscitate by his implanted
defibrillator then tried to keep playing. None of these athletes stopped after
their injuries and went on to continue successful careers. Insane? Maybe, maybe
not. There’s a love of sport that is indescribable. It often transcends logic
and reason and drives us to do the things we do whether they’re smart or
stupid. It’s a completely different type of head game that we play with
ourselves that only we know the rules to, and we have the final vote.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07919702564312616837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909541373370185790.post-53504567847634640892013-02-03T22:32:00.003-05:002013-02-03T22:32:39.322-05:00Risk vs. Reward
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A few weeks ago, I wrote about how fear is imaginary. It’s a
concept conceived in our heads. Let’s expand on that this week.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite quotes is “Be wise enough not to be
reckless but brave enough to take great risks.”* This has become a quasi-motto
for me and can be applied in so many different ways to so many different
situations. Sometimes the risk vs. recklessness line is more of a gray area and
other times the line is as sharp as a razor’s edge. It is perfect for cycling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many times have you been in a race in a do or die-
hopefully not literally, obviously- situation? Maybe it’s something like having
to either commit to going solo out of a break or getting gobbled up by the
group and fighting in a field sprint. That’s more of a gray area than railing a
technical descent in the sleet. That would fall into the razor’s edge category-
it <i>could</i> pay off but it could result
in you paying a lot of medical bills.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike fear, danger and injury are very real and often
serious things. The consequences can be high when mistakes are made- like
railing on decent in bad conditions. This, however, needs to be weighted
against the spoils of victory and decisions should be made accordingly. Choices
made in a local race versus those made at the world championships are
different. Taking more risks at a world championship is absolutely warranted- a
world title is on the line! But at a local race? Mmm, not so much. Sorry, it’s
just not going to happen, the stakes aren’t high enough.**</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMykBDq2R2ZfzS-svbHyF3m3uNNiNk0idoeIBolQaq4-n28uo7B1s8W8DVCAvRnz6DjiOcpR-ajrqWkJjzW2vhMJMOQ9LyuPw0ga8PKCE8-KXyfGxXBqv9Q-f3m5njbdsLoDfeg3XJGN4/s1600/Risk+v.+Reward+chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMykBDq2R2ZfzS-svbHyF3m3uNNiNk0idoeIBolQaq4-n28uo7B1s8W8DVCAvRnz6DjiOcpR-ajrqWkJjzW2vhMJMOQ9LyuPw0ga8PKCE8-KXyfGxXBqv9Q-f3m5njbdsLoDfeg3XJGN4/s400/Risk+v.+Reward+chart.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here’s a sweet graph illustrating the risk vs. reward relationship***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That being said, the sweet spot, so to say, is typically
along that razor’s edge. It’s a fine line between recklessness and bravery and
in order to succeed you need to push that line, test that limit. Use the lower
key races on your calendar to experiment with things- how fast can you corner?
How long is your sprint? How long can you ride in the break and can you go
solo? These are all things you can work on where the risk to failure ratio is
relatively low. Move from being a sissy to being a martyr or idiot depending on
the risk you take. It’s most common for people to move from being a martyr to
the winner’s spot on the podium. Don’t be a sandbagger, they don’t win and
develop poor reputations amongst the peloton.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*This quote was posted anonymously as a secret to the
PostSectret blog.<o:p></o:p></div>
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** No, I don’t spend time in Vegas, nor do I gamble in the
traditional sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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*** The colors on this chart are specifically picked to go
with each category. Can you guess why they were selected?<o:p></o:p></div>
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