I haven’t finished my “roll call” for Thanksgiving for a very important reason. I am thankful for home.
Enjoy the time at home. Take no moment for granted.
Nothing like the foothills of Lassen and the Trinity Alps...
Enough said.
Photo by my SISTER, Jennifer Tetrick
In my summary of things I am thankful for, I was contemplating what the theme of my next post would be. I thought about everything I love. Food. Coffee. Kittens. Post-It Notes. The list goes on and on. Then it hit me. I get to ride an amazing bicycle for a living.
I will never take my equipment for granted. If it weren’t for some generous sponsors, well, I guess I would be walking. I have some pretty sweet bicycle swag that I get to use and call my own.
I am thankful for my equipment. Thank you to each of Team Exergy TWENTY12′s sponsors that make this possible! I love to ride my bike, and I love trusting my equipment!
Here is the equipment “roll call”.
Bicycle: Felt F-1. Sweet. Sassy. Freaking fast.
Wheels: Zipp Speed Weaponry. Hot. Very hot. My favorite? The 808 Firecrest Carbon Tubular. They are weapons all right. And I am not afraid to use them. I train on the Zipp 101 Clinchers. Amazing.
Components: SRAM Is there anything else besides SRAM? Double-click. RTC Shifters. Frogs. My name is Alison Starnes, and I chose SRAM.
Nice...bike.... Photo by Jim Fryer, BrakeThrough Media
Powermeter: SRM. Enough said. SRAM compact SRM for road bike, and regular crankset for TT Bike. SRM is the gold standard in powermeters. I am a data junkie, and I love, love, love my SRM. We are best friends.
Food: Clif. I like food. I need food. My Favorite? Peanut Butter Crunch Mojo Bars.
Clothing/Shoes: Pearl Izumi. Where they make you a custom speedsuit. The very best. I wear the OCTANE SL II RD shoes.
Pedals: Speedplay. Their name says it all. Speed.
Glasses: Oakley. I am so thankful to be working with Steve Blick and Oakely. A great product. Good looks. Excellent mission.
Oakleys. Photo by PodiumInsight.com
Helmet: Catlike. I like cats, and I love my helmet.
A yellow Catlike Helmet to match a yellow jersey!? Absolutely.
Family often extends blood relations and obligatory birthday cards. Sometimes family can be created from times of need, disaster, challenge and humility. When you realize that you cannot conquer the mission alone, and you need someone there. You need a shoulder to cry on, or a ecstatic hug for a minor accomplishment. You need understanding. You need a leadout. You need a bottle in a long hot road race. You need a reminder that you do need a bottle. You need coffee in the morning, and a dinner at night. You need a massage, or just a time to process. You need a therapist. You need direction. You need support. You need laughter. You need a team, and your team is your family.
My team is my family on the road and off of it. We are there for each other.
The personal nature of TT numbers...Me and Nicola. Photo by Jack Apple
I am so grateful for a tremendous year on Team TWENTY12, and excited to begin a new year on Team Exergy TWENTY12 for 2012. This team began with a vision from Nicola Cranmer and she has poured her heart and soul into growing and developing this family. A family of women and believers in a dream. A family that is willing to sacrifice and to build. A family that is there for you when you exceed their expectations, and do not give up on you when you fail. It is about building strength, integrity, and focus. It is an incredible team. It is a family.
Thank you, Nicola and Kristin Armstrong for allowing me to become a part of this family. Thank you for each of my teammates that have suffered through tears of frustration and tears of happiness. For allowing my bag to “explode” in the host housing, and lending me a pair of forgotten socks. For giving me a feed or taking one for me. For showing me your perfect recipe for an authentic street taco, and providing me with a sandwich after the race. Thank you for developing a synchronized dance with me when we were delirious in Europe. Thank you for offering words of encouragement, which sometimes was saying nothing at all. Thank you for invading my space when I needed the invasion and giving me space when I required solitude. Thank you for loving me even if I did blow up too soon, and letting me throw a brief tantrum when needed if only to laugh at me later.
Thank you, team.
Have you seen the video introducing the team? Team Exergy Twenty12?
Thank you.
I might say this every year, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Who needs Christmas when you have Thanksgiving. Maybe it is because I love my mom’s rotisserie turkey. Maybe it is because Thanksgiving has always been simple with my family. Just family. Just food. Just a bike ride before the meal. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, and it is a little early in the morning to be thinking of a roasted turkey, dressing, gravy and mashed potatoes. Or is it that I think whip cream should be in its own exclusive food group of deliciousness and pumpkin is one of my favorite foods.
Pumpkin everything. Yes. Everything.
There is no expectations of gifts or fake festivities. Thanksgiving is just for food, family, and warmth. I am craving that now. One more week to go. It couldn’t come soon enough, yet I want to relish it. Cherish it. Not let these moments slip away.
In honor of Thanksgiving. I am going to begin my 2011 wrap-up with a Thanksgiving “Roll Call”. To thank those who have been a part of the year. For those who have picked me up when I was down (literally), and for those that have provided me the support and framework to pursue my dreams.
First things first.
Sister & parents on the Ranch. Fearsome Threesome. Then I showed up...
My family. My family is simple incredible.
Yes, my parents really are that gorgeous.
This year my grandfather won 2 National titles at USAC Master’s Nationals and has not only inspired me, but many others. My parents have loved me no matter what. They love me in spite of my failures, and regardless of my successes. They may have recently replaced me with the cat and the hummingbird feeder outside of the kitchen window, but I know they are there for me. Their example is impeccable and their love is resilient.
Grandparents, Dave Towle, and my dad!
My sister has talked to me at all hours to bolster my confidence and lift my spirit. She is beautiful inside and out, and I love her. My grandma has filled my heart with laughter and smiles. Thank you, family. I would not be here without you.
I love my sister.
That completes the Thanksgiving Roll Call, Day 1. My family. If they are still “subscribed” to my blog they will get this. If not, they are already sick of me. But thank you!
If someone tells you not to touch something, what do you do? Well, you want to reach out and touch. If it is a red button with a “do not push” warning sign, or an immaculate Ferrari in a show room with a big sign that says “kindly refrain from touching”, it takes far more than just sheer will power for me to resist the urge to touch.
It is the off-season. I am healing. I am not supposed to be riding. I am supposed to be enjoying other activities, like pumpkin carving and trail runs. I am healing, or that’s what I am trying to convince myself is taking place. I was told to not ride my bike for safety reasons. Fine. I don’t need to ride my bike. There are so many other things I want to do. Hikes, brunch, beach, and tennis. Wait. You said I wasn’t allowed to ride my bike? So, I cannot ride my bike? Everything else blurs around me, and suddenly, I can only think about one thing and one thing only. That is all I can see. Bikes. Bikes. Bikes. I must ride my bike. I have to ride my bike. My bike is calling me. Do you see that view? No. I see a multitude of cyclists enjoying the view. Wow. Am I really that one-dimensional? No. Not at all, but I am happy riding my bike. Am I happiest? Sometimes I think so.
I should apologize in advance, if you waved at me on an 80 degree October day in West Marin as you pedaled on by, and all I could summon was a glare. Just be glad I didn’t through a temper tantrum. Or throw rocks. Healing requires rest. Rest and safety. Not bikes. Darn.
I am happy in some other places too, but in times like these, I think I am happiest on my bike.
It is time for me to come back to the land of the living. It is now November 2011. A rare day, actually, it is a palindrome, 11-02-2011. That date in itself should be enough reason to come back to life.
In order to clear the air, we can address a couple of facts and fictions.
The Pan Am Games have come and gone, and albeit it was a dissapointing end of the season, you can only move onward. Or once again, so I am told.
Fact: I did have a mishap before the TT at the PAG and ended up with a concussion. Concussions should not be taken lightly. No amount of road rash can equal the damage that can be done to the brain. A storm grate on a dark morning in Mexico and an impressive face plant may have left me with a couple of weeks of letting that brain rest and regenerate. Black eye? Sure. Broken heart? Absolutely. Resolve? I will have to find it.
Positive: I can learn from my preparation and experience, and I did not lose any teeth in the fall.
Fiction: After this I decided to stay in Mexico and live off of street tacos and rice pudding.
Fact: My sister did point out that my bruised face and body did resemble the fall colors of deep purples and reds. What are sisters for.
Positive: I think she hit that one on the head, pardon the pun.
Fiction: I intended to make my face look like the season.
Fact: I have so many people to thank for an incredible, challenging year, and I am bery humbled and looking to keep my priorites right, and my goals focused.
Positive: I am very blessed.
Fiction: I am going to give up.
Entering November. Time to reevaluate. Renew. Reset.
I continue to be humbled by the support, by the patience, and the sacrifice. Thank you for joining the mission.
When unfortunate events occur, you are supposed to then think of the positives.
Positives. Right. Positives. What are those again? I will let you know when I think of them.
Did you prepare? Did you do all that you could do? Did you train right, eat right, and plan right? Yes, yes, and yes.
Well, then you know how to do it. You did it. And that is positive. Or so I am told. I was also told that plenty of other people can think of the negatives. Well, so can I.
You can only control your “controllables”. The rest is left to itself.
I learned how to prepare. I learned focus, specificity, and chance. I also learned that sometimes, in a blink of an eye, it all can come crashing down. Literally. It is back to the process. The reset button. The vision into the future. Take what you learn and build upon it. But I am not ready to do that quite yet.
I am in need of some recovery, some healing, and maybe a bit of wallowing.
I will ponder upon the notion of the positives, and maybe let you know if I come up with anything.
Bonnie Ford, a fabulous journalist for ESPN wrote a blog about the my goals at the Pan American Games and Ted King’s Krempels King of the Road Challenge.
The Pan American Games Time Trial takes place tomorrow, and Ted King’s ride is happening today. Although we may all have a dream, whether it be in sport, work, or life, sometimes we need a reality check. Between the this event and the Livestrong in Austin, cycling is making a difference this weekend.
Me and Edward Wimmer (founder of Road ID, which are life savers) Photo by Bob Cullinan
The Krempels King of the Road Challenge benefits Krempels Center, onprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with brain injury from trauma, tumor, or stroke. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is serious. Point taken.
Be safe out there, and please wear a Road ID.
Read the BLOG HERE!
There is incredible support here at the Pan American Games Village Guadalajara 2011 and they are welcoming all the athletes with open arms.
Although they said it “never” rains here in October, it rained here for 2 weeks solid until today. Yesterday we rode the trainers in the basement garage of our building. It was good to flush the legs and the Policia Federal were entertained with the cyclists riding and going nowhere. The USA Women’s Softball team was practicing in the basement as well, and I was slightly concerned about a stray ball flying over to our area. What was more dangerous? The great outdoors or the softballs?
It was so fun to see all the different athletes mulling around the village looking for their training of choice. Did you see any sweet racquetball courts around? Where is the nearest beach or shooting range? Suddenly you aren’t so different after all. It is completely normal to use a lightpole to stretch your quads or spontaneously do a yoga position in the grass, and it is appropriate to blow your nose somewhat discreetly if necessary yet no one judges if it wasn’t discreet at all.
Hello, athletes of all kinds. Or should I say, Hola?
The lines at the dining hall were massive, but it was still incredible to take it all in. Where World Champions and Olympic medalists all come together to eat. Who was that guy? Only the best in the world. Oh, that’s it?
We decided to try to venture outside the Village today to flush our legs a bit, and were adopted by the Brazilian men’s cycling team, which then morphed into a group ride of about 40 riders from the Pan Americas. I had to laugh at the crazy roads these people were used to navigating, and how we just took the on-ramp onto the freeway and proceeded to do a supported ride taking up most of the freeway towards Tequila, Mexico. I guess I always wanted to go for a ride on the freeway, and that is one thing I can check off the list now. Freeway group ride. Done. Thank you to the Venezuelan coaches for driving the support vehicles, and thanks you for my Zipp101s for not flatting on the treacherous roads that were taking no prisoners.
I made it out of the Village and made it back in, with some new friends, new appreciation for bunny hopping large holes, and of course the reality that there were in fact donkeys on the freeway. Donkeys and bikes. Yes.
What’s next?
What does it look like shuttling 6000 athletes plus 6000 coaches, massage therapists, mechanics, etc., to Guadalajara? Crazy. That’s what.
I was shuttled from a plane in Houston to join the most recent arrivals for team processing. All the athletes arrive to Mexico at different times depending on when their competition is, however all must go through Houston to be “processed” by the USOC. I was the “lone cyclist” for a couple of hours; and could watch the other teams arriving. Some are easy to indentify, and others are more obscure. When two striking 6’4” tall blonde women entered, I could easily put together the height, sun lightened hair, freckled noses, and Mizuno sponsorship to recognize them as USA Beach Volleyball. A rowdy group consisting of fun heckling, raw strength and thick headbands was obviously USA softball, but the quieter pairs of the archery squad and their hard shell cases that looked like violins were opposite of the cheery, sparkly synchronized swimming crew carrying what appeared to be hula hoops. What a wide variety of athletes, backgrounds, bodies, and personality, all coming together with the same focus, the same drive, and the same mission—to medal at the Pan American Games 2011. Wow. I am one of them.
Upon getting to the hotel in Houston, we were then escorted to our clothing fitting session which was a complete new Nike wardrobe. Khakis, warm-ups, tracksuits, running shoes, flip flops, sports bras, luggage, capris, shirts, and everything else you could want in Nike and more. Oakley made a special addition of sunglasses for us as well! It was a warm welcome to the Pan American Games as a USA Cycling athlete indeed! With the newly acquired duffle bag full of team issued apparel, we then went for photos, USADA, and medical before dinner. There was an early departure for Guadalajara as the teams were shuttled to the airport in charter buses to then do a painless process of group check-in, group security, and then onto a plane full of only USA athletes. There were signs in the airport, the hotel, and the plane congratulating us and wishing us well in our endeavors. Wow.
I am just trying to take this all in, and learn a few things along the way.
What have I learned so far?
The USOC knows that athletes are always hungry, and they do their very best to ensure we are always well fed with very little stress.
Cyclists by far have the most luggage. I came with 2 bike boxes. 1 wheel case. 1 check-in. 1 carry-on. 2 helmets. 1 backpack. The volleyball girls? Well, they didn’t even have to bring their own volleyball. Swimsuit and a visor and they are done. They giggled at my luggage as they explained to me all they needed could be brought in a 1 quart Ziploc bag. Well, played, ladies.
I was so happy to see my “team”. I have come to know USA Cycling as my family, and when they arrived, I was “home” amidst the chaos of the Pan Am Games.
