Thanks, Olaf

This week has left me sharing a lot with Mr. Alexander. Nothing horrible has happened, but it has been the 'perfect storm' of overwhelming, events which just didn't seem to let up.

In light of this, I decided to race twice today in Santa Rosa. All I wanted was to go out there and have a kick ass time with my beloved teammates as I knew no better way to let go of the week's events.

We won the 3/4 race with Laurie's fabulous attack with 1 to go where she stayed away just enough to grab the win. Her win was no thanks to the guy on the back side yelling, "She's dying!!!" to the ensuing pack which was nipping at her heels.

And later in the afternoon, I accomplished 2 new things in just one race. I raced twice in one day for the first time AND I did my first 1-2-3 crit (which I also finished). Last week at Zamora I chickened out of attacking before the QOM on the last lap to set up our leadout. My mind kept telling me that as a new 3, I had no business off the front. But TODAY, Kristen was my little angel, and kept urging me to do it. I attacked twice, once mid-race and the second time as we crossed the line with 1 to go. I was caught within 1/2 lap (and the 2nd attack, with 1 to go, I made it to the front, but not a whole lot further), but it was a good confidence booster. Thanks, Kristin!

Oh, but there's more thanks to be had. I spent a lot longer in the 4s than many (just over 2 seasons). Commitments to teammates and a true appreciation and respect for my team's philosophy were the main reasons, but another important one stemmed from this post which has stayed with me since Olaf wrote it in March 2006. Today, mid-race in the 1-2-3s, there was a moment (during a slower lap, thank god) where my mind wandered to the zillion pieces of advice I've gotten as a racer over the last two seasons and how so much of it seems to be coming together. Although I still need some work on learning how to win, I'm realizing how far I've come. Those moments, where you get to see how much you've grown and appreciate those who pushed you to do so, are a treat. I'd name all of you personally, but the music would drown me out as the network goes to a commercial break. Instead, since Mike is at Orosi, I've got Brokeback Mountain fired up on my laptop and am curling up into bed.