People laughed when they saw me. “You’re taking the pink thing too far”, they said. Then they tried it for themselves.
Pink *IS* a superpower.
After I cajoled everyone into getting in touch with their inner pink, we raced GoKarts.
Good times!
Archive for July, 2008
People used to say I was too intense. Too passionate. Too serious.
They don’t say that too much anymore.
ACTUAL EMAIL EXCERPT:
dear uma…
… i am eating sport beans. thats right it’s 10:17 pm and i am nowhere near a bike.
I laughed at the mental image of this and said I wanted a picture of this so she hooked me up:
Poor Amy. It’s only Thursday. Further proof that Sport Beans do not actually make you faster, they just make it seem like time is going by faster.
The word arrived late yesterday: A special prime contest would occue at Short Track last night for “best summer casual non-racing attire”. I wore a flowery, strappy, short summer dress. It was fun! So much fun I’m tempted to do it all the time. I wish I’d had the helmet cam with me when JP rode up and said “Are you wearing A DRESS?!… That’s AWESOME!” It was awesome
I have no idea where I finished either in the race results or in the casual summer contest. There was one other woman, Kris Rotan, a former teammate from Sorella who showed up in a blue green short dress, with stripey knee socks. The knee socks were cool but I couldn’t help but think they were more appropriate for cyclocross. I’ll post pics when they’re available and you can decide
. . . . .
Did a really fun ride this past Saturday with the Yakima Bike Vigilantes. So fun to ride in a big group again. I had to turn back when the climbing started but still, I logged a solid 60miles before Janky Hip was over it. It’s still so disheartening to have to turn back or bail out on a hill or whatever. I wanted to cry on the way home because I was so mad, so frustrated. But then I had to remind myself at least I was riding again, and having fun. That inner coach kicked in: “Focus on what you can do and do it well. Don’t focus on what you aren’t doing.
No tears were shed on the lonely ride home. Seems that “inner coaching ” thing really does work
Sometimes.
So he’s been having a so-so season. Okay, okay, I’ve heard some argue he’s been having a so-so career. (Haters.) But he’s still a hero to me. How can you not love this guy?
Of course, his bike sponsor and team manager are probably appalled at having to procure a new bike for him after carrying doubling the weight on the wheels and bike. Oy.
Props to Heidi Swift for capturing the moment. Way cool. t
Photo caption: iPhone sucks. I love my iPhone.
. . . . .
The weekend started Friday night with the first annual Super Relax Teams of PDX Bocce Tourney in the North Park Blocks. Invited teams included Team Beer, Grundelbruisers, and Hup United. HUP failed to show so a composite “faux Hup” team was cobbled together from passersby and one representative from each team that showed up. The rules were simple… Except the secret rules that were revealed only after the games were played. I had planned to do the STP ride the next day (as a one day ride) before Janky Hip decided that might be a bit much. Had I actually chosen to do STP I would have had to skip the bocce madness. So glad I played it the way I did. It was hella fun. Those Grundelbruiser boys were too funny. And Team Beer was… well… they were Team Beer. What more do you need to know? Good Times all around. Though I could do without the Mad Dog 20/20 next time…
Despite my years of training and attempts to develop yoga superpowers, I remain pretty normal. Or, okay… well… mortal at least. But on occasion I do feel myself filled with the spirit.
This morning I was so inspired by Jeannie Longo’s performance Tuesday, and Mark Cavendish’s amazing sprint in today’s tour stage that I felt the spirit to race Mt Tabor move in me.
It could have been the spirit of Krusty the Clown for all I know and NOT Jeannie Longo, but I’m going with Jeannie.
I had prayed I’d ride like a woman possessed and not just vomit green puke with my head spinning around like a certain celebrity possessee. But no…
But whatever! I was inspired. This entire year has slipped by while I gently try to strike a bargain with my janky hip. I feel frustrated that my entire season has slipped past. So this morning, filled with the spirit I decided to get a sub for my evening class and put in an appearance at the last race of the Tabor series.
It’s so not my race. Never has been. And it wasn’t tonight. I did two warm up laps and felt okay, but two laps into the race (which was only 8 total) I was hurting. Not hurting like suffering like everyone does there. No, it was the janky hip thing. Something about road bike geometry and hips still aggravates it. So I dropped out, and dug into the bacon chocolate and Ninkasi IPA I brought with as consolation prize.
Color me sufficiently consoled.
I’m glad I went. Bummed I spent the money, but glad I made the effort, and simultaneously disappointed about my Janky Hip, but also very accepting of my limitations. When Janky Hip speaks, Uma listens.
So, what does the Janky Hip say, you ask?
Janky Hip sez: Eff that…Let’s go mountain biking.
Word.
