First Race of the Year

It's been almost a week since my first mountain bike race and I haven't been able to blog about it.  I think it's because the 'story' didn't end the way I though it should have.

In my world, the MFPrincess wins first, second, or even third place and bounds up the podium in her fancy electric blue tutu to collect her medal.  The crowd goes completely wild and she not only gets kudos for winning a medal, but she also receives multiple compliments on her sense of fashion and fun.

In the real world, the race went something like this:  The MFPrincess thought she was in third place (for her catagory, not over-all) for most of the race.  She could see second place just ahead of her and during the last lap of the race really pushed and gave it every thing she had.  The Princess was riding faster then ever before and just knew she would be able to pass the girl in second place.  As she was speeding down the trail, she took a sharp, uphill, left turn that her bike didn't agree with.  The Princess slammed down to the earth and severely twisted her ankle.  She got up, brushed herself off, and refused to cry (or give up).  Very carefully she got back on her bike.  She took slow and painful pedals.  Even though she knew her chances for second place were gone, she wanted to finish the race.  While climbing the last hill, The Princess was passed by a girl in a neon pink top and neon blue stretch pants.  She did not yell at this girl, "What do you think this is, 1987?"  Instead she said, "Finish strong!"

Later at home, while I was counting my bruises and icing my ankle, I found out that I did not finish in fourth place like I thought.  I was seventh, which makes me feel a little sad.  Not sad enough to quit, but I am just a bit sad.

 *The MFPrincess was complemented several times for her fancy tutu.

The Perfect Bubble Bath

After a long weekend of mountain bike racing (which included: Me being 115th out of 131 people in my race over all and *the biggest wipe out* I have ever had in the three years I have been trail riding), barbecuing, and resting, I decided to draw myself a nice hot bubble bath.

My recipe for the "Perfect Bath" is as follows:

Plenty of Hot Water
Large Glass of Wine
Good Book
Candle
Bubbles
Razor (just in case I decide to shave)

While I was in the mood for a "Perfect Bath",  I knew I was already short a few key ingredients:  wine, candle, good book (I only had a mediocre book available), and bubbles.  But I am resourceful and remembered I had some shower gel stashed away for camping.  I grabbed a travel sized bottle of pink colored gel and squeezed out a generous amount for bubbles.  I stepped into the hot water, sat down, grabbed the book, and started to relax.

I was about ten minutes into my bath and I started to notice a grainy sort of feel.  Great, I'm bathing in sand.  All I can think about is how nasty it is to bath in someone's dirt...gross.  I decided to stay in the tub long enough to shave my legs, then I could take a shower *after* my bath to get rid of the sand.  I push the button on the shaving cream, only to find out it was empty.  No problem.  I'll just use the shower gel I used earlier to make bubbles:

Caress Tahitian Renewal SILKENING BODY WASH Exfoliating Pomegranate Seeds & Tahitian Palm Milk

Did you see that small print at the end?  Exfoliating Pomegranate Seeds & Tahitian Palm Milk

I guess I wasn't bathing in someone's dirt.  I was bathing in fruit seeds...I still showered after my bath.

Really?!?!

Our first mountain bike race is this Saturday (AGH!) and we have a few things to do before the race.  One of the things I want to try is being 'clipped' into my bike.  It's kinda scary and exciting at the same time.  My bike and I will be *one*...unless I get into trouble and I un-clip myself or...while I'm in trouble, I momentarily forget how to un-clip and continue being *one* with my bike all the way down the side of the hill...

Anyway, we went to a local bike shop (Erik's Bike Shop) yesterday to get a few last minute things I decided I needed before the race.  Our first stop was the Erik's Bike Shop in Burnsville.  Our whole family walked through the doors and headed straight for the shoe section.  A nice young gal came up to us and asked us if we needed help.  I said, "Yes, I'm going to buy some shoes."  Nathan had already picked out a pair of shoes for me to try on.  She grabbed the size we requested and we talked about shoes.  Nathan mentioned the words "mountain shoes" several times during the conversation.  I finally found a pair I liked and she says, "Are these for spin class?  Do you need cleats?"


NO, I DO NOT NEED THEM FOR SPIN CLASS!  I MOUNTAIN BIKE!  HENCE THE WORDS "MOUNTAIN SHOES" SEVERAL TIMES IN OUR CONVERSATION!  (I did not actually yell this out loud, but it's what I felt like inside.)

Our next destination was the Erik's bike shop in Bloomington.  Here, Nathan and I were perusing the glove section of the store.  As we're looking through the women's gloves another nice young lady comes up to us to see if we needed any help.  I continue to look through the gloves and Nathan asks her if they have any gloves with the loop on them to help you get them off your hands?  She finds a pair with webbing that does the same kind of thing and then says to us, "But these are woman's gloves."

NO KIDDING!  I AM A WOMAN AND I AM LOOKING AT GLOVES AND I FREAKING MOUNTAIN BIKE...BIATCH!  (Ok, I didn't say this either, but it's what I felt like inside.)

Maybe because Nathan was doing most of the talking these women thought the mountain shoes and the gloves were for him?  Maybe because I showed up in the store wearing a skirt and ballet slippers (and the fact that I am still flirting with the 200 pound mark) makes these women think I couldn't possibly be out on the mountain bike course...well I am.  And this Saturday I will be out there with my new shoes, my new gloves, and my mother freaking tutu.

Crafty Bitch

I am in a bit of a pickle.  I like to make things.  Like these:

Chakra Bracelet:

Bird Bath:

Soap:

And I would like to learn how to make things like these:

Abstract Tree with Flowers

Copper and Recycled Sterling Silver Stack:

Rustic Garden: Riveted Earrings:

But I don't collect things, wear much jewelry, nor have the desire to sell items at craft fairs/Etsy Shops...although I do use soap.  And I am asking myself, "Is it a waste of time and money to learn how to make these things (not only learn, but actually make them too)?"

Dietary Issues?

I have some friends who are very 'in-tune' with how their bodies respond to what they eat and drink.  They prefer organic veggies, and meat without nitrates.  They can have lengthy conversations on the glysmic index, candida, and gluten.  They buy coconut oil in bulk, and tote their drinking water around in mason jars.  In all honesty...it kind of annoys me.  I mean come on, I grew up on bologna and American cheese sandwiches on white bread, McDonalds, and Taco Bell.  I am just fine.

Or am I?  I've been eating what I would consider a more 'clean' diet over the last few months.  I buy very little junk food and consume mostly lean proteins, fresh veggies, and super smoothies (which do include some of that bulk coconut oil).  I've been losing weight, getting faster and stronger, and I have more energy. 

A friend of mine was in town over the weekend.  We got together at my sister's house on Saturday night.  It was a long day and I didn't eat much.  We stopped at Super Target to grab some food to bring.  What did I pick out?  Party food, of course!  We bought two types of chicken wings: Asian inspired, breaded, boneless wings and some sweet and spicy habanero wings.  The habanero wings turned out too spicy for my liking, so I stuck with the boneless Asian wings.  They tasted pretty good and I ate way too many of them.  I ended up with a slight stomach ache, feeling bloated, and just plain 'blah'.  When I got home for the evening I hopped on the the scale (because I'm a scale hopper) and I had gained four and a half pounds that evening...what the fuck?  FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS IN ONE EVENING?!?! 

I guess I am sensitive to the food I eat and you'll be seeing me and my mason jar of water hanging out all summer long together :)

May Goals

As I've said before, I like to track things.  In April I had set a goal to walk/run 100 miles.  I ended up at 114.4 miles of walk/running, YAY!  I ran two miles straight for the first time in over a year, YAY!  I biked 58.3 miles this month, YAY!  I cut 2.32 minutes per mile off my mountain bike time, YAY!  And I lost about 6 pounds, YAY!

This month I decided to separate my walk/run goal.  I will walk 80 miles, run 30 miles, and bike 100 miles in May.  I also have some un-trackable goals, like keeping my house a bit more clean, making more time for socializing, and adding some meditation time to my schedule....although I probably *could* make an excel sheet for those too ;)