One becomes bored really fast when recovering from an injury. My feeling is that I’m ultra bored because I had to take the first week off work and I’ve now crawled at a glacial pace through my Spring Break.
I was overly excited about attending the Merco Cycling Classic in Merced the first weekend of the month. I was unable to contain myself as I drove into work on March 3 and passed two teams driving south and countless cars with beautiful bikes on racks. Unfortunately, my bad decision to not get off the bike and walk down that damn hill in San Francisco on Friday night ended my hopes of attending the race to cheer on Burke Swindlehurst in his first race as Bissell’s assistant director. (Seriously, I even wanted to chalk up the road for him. Burke, be prepared for the Tour of California, but I know you can’t read the road while driving so I’ll send you photos of my handy chalk work.) My disappointment in missing the race is amplified by the fact that Bissell did very well and I missed one of my favorite domestic pros, Ben Jacques-Maynes, take the win.
March is when racing in Northern California gets into full swing. Sure, the Snelling Road Race (link is to my photos from this year's event) is a very well attended event in February, but Merco is when the fun really begins and top domestic riders attend. Nearly every weekend there are races. I held out hope that this weekend I’d feel up to driving east to Sonora to catch the Ward’s Ferry Road Race, which I’ve never been to before, but poor weather this last week and in particular on Friday put a swift and painful end to that hope. The race ended up being canceled due to snow on the course. Yes, I said snow. Can you imagine?
There is still hope that I’ll feel up to attending Warnerville tomorrow. We’ll see how the weather holds out and if I know anybody racing.
On top of the disappointment of not being able to photograph races I was looking forward to, I’ve found myself absolutely itching to ride and missing the bike. That’s another thing I’d planned to do a lot of over my break. Although weather most likely would have prevented me from riding much, being stuck inside has prevented me from seeing how yucky the weather actually is. At least when I know it’s raining because I have to be out in it, I come to terms with the fact that I can’t ride.
This is different though. It’s like telling a teenager that it’s absolutely forbidden they drink. It often only makes them want to do it more. Being told that it’s absolutely forbidden that I ride only makes me want to do it more. I can’t even use the excuse that I don’t have a bike because I have two mountain bikes staring at me right now. Mocking me. Pleased in the fact that they don’t have to face flat tires because I can’t ride them no matter how much I want to.
Ironically, one of the funniest pieces of advice I’ve gotten after my accident was from Garmin-Cervélo’s Jonathan Vaughters. He told me to drink. So there you have it, I’m encouraged to drink and forbidden to ride. Quite the opposite of my preference, really.
Not much to update on my condition except that my head wound isn’t quite healing properly due to a lost staple and therefore it still hurts. I got in to see a neurologist after taking twenty minutes to convince my primary care physician that I needed to see one. The neurologist was useful in helping me to understand what’s going with my brain because of the injury. Although, he wasn’t convinced that there was ever any bleeding on my brain despite the fact that the Chief of Neurology and his team of a babillion doctors in San Francisco said there was. Regardless, the questionable areas didn’t show up on my most recent CT scan so I’m more than thrilled with that news.
Physical therapy started yesterday. He didn’t seem helpful, but he gave me some exercises to do in order to retrain my brain to handle different positions. My favorite part was when he made me turn my head to the left and lay on my back. I very nearly fell off the table due to the intense vertigo, and after sitting up, I almost threw up on him. Certainly, I wouldn’t have been the first. I’m supposed to continue the torture at home for the next couple of weeks and return for a follow up.
Up next? Since I can’t ride my bike, I might as well listen to a person who does ride a bike (and a fellow traumatic brain injury survivor) tell stories about people who are living the dream. Former pro, Scott Nydam of BMC (still works for the team) is giving a presentation about his time last fall working with Team Rwanda. As a photographer and cycling nut, I’m looking forward to seeing his photography and hearing his tales while at the same time supporting a team with such amazing and inspiring stories.
In the meantime, I've joined Raisin Hope Foundation in order to connect with others who have more experience in regards to what I should except as I recover. Granted my injuries aren't nearly as traumatic as most of theirs because I was very lucky, but it still helps to have people tell me that what I'm going through is to be expected. There is so much about the recovery process that doctors just don't tell you and I've felt lost in knowing what's "normal" and what I should be worried about. I just want to get back to my own normal routine and it helps to have people to lean on for support (sometimes literally because I have a nasty case of vertigo).
I've also started shopping online for new bikes. I'm not optimistic about the condition of my Trek 1.5 and I'm using this as a time for a possible upgrade (it'll cost me almost as much as it's worth to fix it if it can be fixed). I'm currently eyeing the Cervélo RS, Pinarello FPQuattro or more realistically the Pinarello FP3. I'm also planning on checking out Orbea and Specialized. Sorry, Sean, BMC is way out of my price range unless I win the lottery. If anybody has any input, please let me know.
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Greetings from Belgium!
Well, not really. I’m still in Northern California, but with the rain we’ve been getting, it might as well be Belgium. As a result, very little riding has taken place since Levi’s GranFondo in October. The weather isn’t the only reason, but it would qualify as the main reason.
Fortunately, it’s also cyclocross season. Rain would normally put a damper on riding, but if you race cyclocross or enjoying watching it, rain increases the enjoyment (maybe just from a spectator’s viewpoint). Since Levi’s GranFondo, I’ve photographed four cyclocross races (three were part of the Sacramento Cyclocross series and the Halloween Surf City Cyclocross in Santa Cruz). Some of the work resulted in photos that I’m quite pleased with, but keep in mind that I can easily take 800 shots at one race over the course of a couple of hours. You’ll find a few of my favorites below.
Aside from photography and not riding, life has been consumed with work and dealing with the loss of a dear family member after a long battle with cancer. She was one of my first supporters for the LIVESTRONG Challenge in 2009 and I rode in her honor in 2010. I’ll be riding in her memory in 2011 when the LIVESTRONG Challenge moves to Davis, California. I’m looking forward to challenging myself with my first metric century (65 miles). However, I know that this challenge is nothing compared to what those fighting cancer are going through, like my friend Connie and her husband James who are both fighting for their lives and inspiring me every single day to try to make a difference, one pedal stroke at a time.
As the year comes to an end and I’m forced to look back at the goals I set for myself I have a crashing sense of failure because I feel like I’ve made very little progress. Then I tell myself that everything I listed in this blog as a goal for 2010 actually happened, with the exception of riding the Delta Century, which I forgot about due to very little training time in April and May.
So what have I accomplished?
• I photographed something around 12 difference races including, but not limited to, two stages of the Amgen Tour of California, the Merco Cycling Classic, Copperopolis Road Race, and the Nevada City Classic.
• I photographed George Hincapie at the Breakaway Ride and had the photos used on Bike Radar.
• I had a photo of Burke Swindlehurst from the Nevada City Classic published in the Bend Bulletin.
• I photographed and rode with Chris Horner… I also found out that he lives up to his reputation of being a really nice guy.
• I commuted by bike to a summer job, 9 miles one way. I commuted once to my full time teaching job during a teacher prep day, 17 miles one way. Yes, it was only once, but at least I tried it.
• I completed my longest ride ever, just over 50 miles at the LIVESTRONG Challenge.
• I had another go at Levi’s GranFondo and didn’t die, though Levi told me I looked like crap afterward and once again, Dylan Casey dropped me.
• And the best of my accomplishments… I made new friends, including a riding buddy that lives close enough for frequent rides.
Maybe 2010 wasn’t so bad after all, even if I am going out with a fizzle.
Now I’m looking forward to 2011 and starting to set new goals. I’m reminded of an interview about weight loss that I recently caught on TV. The expert being interviewed suggested that a person train for something. Don’t just decide to start jogging, but actually train for an event because it gives you a sense of purpose. I like to consider myself as being a fairly intelligent woman, but it was still good to hear that I’m already doing what the experts suggest. Last year my main goal was to train for the LIVESTRONG Challenge and Levi’s GranFondo. Those are still part of my goals for next year, but I’m upping the stakes a little bit.
Riding goals:
• July – LIVESTRONG Challenge, Davis, 65-mile route.
• August – Ride for a Reason, Folsom, ride until I’m tired. (For the Davis Phinney Foundation)
• October – Levi’s GranFondo… MEDIO route. Yes, that’s right, I’m upping the ante a bit and attempting to double my distance and get over my fear of Coleman Valley Road.
I’m saving the best for last. This is something that I’ve put a lot of thought into over the last few weeks. I’ve never thought it was something I was interested in trying, but as I’m starting to conquer longer distance riding, I think I might be ready to conquer higher intensity riding. Is my logic sound here or am I just dreaming?
• By January of 2012… join the LBS club, purchase a USA Cycling license and be ready to race… first up, Snelling Road Race (assuming it’s still around in 2012).
Photography goals:
• Continue photographing local races with hopes of being published.
• Photograph several stages of the Amgen Tour of California.
• Photograph USPros in Greenville, South Carolina in May.
I think I’m looking forward to 2011.
Fortunately, it’s also cyclocross season. Rain would normally put a damper on riding, but if you race cyclocross or enjoying watching it, rain increases the enjoyment (maybe just from a spectator’s viewpoint). Since Levi’s GranFondo, I’ve photographed four cyclocross races (three were part of the Sacramento Cyclocross series and the Halloween Surf City Cyclocross in Santa Cruz). Some of the work resulted in photos that I’m quite pleased with, but keep in mind that I can easily take 800 shots at one race over the course of a couple of hours. You’ll find a few of my favorites below.
Sacramento Cyclocross in Ione on October 24, 2010
Cody Kaiser of Cal Giant tackles the barriers at Surf City Cyclocross #1 on October 31, 2010.
Alex Candelario of Kelly Benefit/World Bicycle Relief powers up a levee at Sacramento Cyclocross in Acampo on November 21, 2010
Max Jenkins of United Healthcare got a little muddy at Sacramento Cyclocross #6 in Acampo on December 18, 2010.
Aside from photography and not riding, life has been consumed with work and dealing with the loss of a dear family member after a long battle with cancer. She was one of my first supporters for the LIVESTRONG Challenge in 2009 and I rode in her honor in 2010. I’ll be riding in her memory in 2011 when the LIVESTRONG Challenge moves to Davis, California. I’m looking forward to challenging myself with my first metric century (65 miles). However, I know that this challenge is nothing compared to what those fighting cancer are going through, like my friend Connie and her husband James who are both fighting for their lives and inspiring me every single day to try to make a difference, one pedal stroke at a time.
As the year comes to an end and I’m forced to look back at the goals I set for myself I have a crashing sense of failure because I feel like I’ve made very little progress. Then I tell myself that everything I listed in this blog as a goal for 2010 actually happened, with the exception of riding the Delta Century, which I forgot about due to very little training time in April and May.
So what have I accomplished?
• I photographed something around 12 difference races including, but not limited to, two stages of the Amgen Tour of California, the Merco Cycling Classic, Copperopolis Road Race, and the Nevada City Classic.
• I photographed George Hincapie at the Breakaway Ride and had the photos used on Bike Radar.
• I had a photo of Burke Swindlehurst from the Nevada City Classic published in the Bend Bulletin.
• I photographed and rode with Chris Horner… I also found out that he lives up to his reputation of being a really nice guy.
• I commuted by bike to a summer job, 9 miles one way. I commuted once to my full time teaching job during a teacher prep day, 17 miles one way. Yes, it was only once, but at least I tried it.
• I completed my longest ride ever, just over 50 miles at the LIVESTRONG Challenge.
• I had another go at Levi’s GranFondo and didn’t die, though Levi told me I looked like crap afterward and once again, Dylan Casey dropped me.
• And the best of my accomplishments… I made new friends, including a riding buddy that lives close enough for frequent rides.
Maybe 2010 wasn’t so bad after all, even if I am going out with a fizzle.
Now I’m looking forward to 2011 and starting to set new goals. I’m reminded of an interview about weight loss that I recently caught on TV. The expert being interviewed suggested that a person train for something. Don’t just decide to start jogging, but actually train for an event because it gives you a sense of purpose. I like to consider myself as being a fairly intelligent woman, but it was still good to hear that I’m already doing what the experts suggest. Last year my main goal was to train for the LIVESTRONG Challenge and Levi’s GranFondo. Those are still part of my goals for next year, but I’m upping the stakes a little bit.
Riding goals:
• July – LIVESTRONG Challenge, Davis, 65-mile route.
• August – Ride for a Reason, Folsom, ride until I’m tired. (For the Davis Phinney Foundation)
• October – Levi’s GranFondo… MEDIO route. Yes, that’s right, I’m upping the ante a bit and attempting to double my distance and get over my fear of Coleman Valley Road.
I’m saving the best for last. This is something that I’ve put a lot of thought into over the last few weeks. I’ve never thought it was something I was interested in trying, but as I’m starting to conquer longer distance riding, I think I might be ready to conquer higher intensity riding. Is my logic sound here or am I just dreaming?
• By January of 2012… join the LBS club, purchase a USA Cycling license and be ready to race… first up, Snelling Road Race (assuming it’s still around in 2012).
Photography goals:
• Continue photographing local races with hopes of being published.
• Photograph several stages of the Amgen Tour of California.
• Photograph USPros in Greenville, South Carolina in May.
I think I’m looking forward to 2011.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New Year, New Attitude
I'm not 100% sure why I've decided to start a new blog. I already have another one that's kept very private. This one won't be. Here is where you’ll find modest tales from my life. Not that it’s an exciting one, but I can be enthusiastic about it.
I’ve already decided to dedicate this blog to a couple of my favorite obsessions – photography and cycling – generally not two activities that I do simultaneously, but I have been known to.
Odds are that you’ll read anecdotes of my feeble attempts to photograph cycling as well. This endeavor stems from a trip to the 2009 Tour of California. I was fortunate enough to have a cold, rainy week off in February of last year and decided to watch the local stage in an attempt to get photos of Lance Armstrong.
Results? Crappy photos of professional cyclists (holy cow they’re fast!) and a rekindled passion for the sport.
This is when the downward spiral began. Before I knew it I had purchased two new bikes, both road and mountain, had begun participating in charity rides, and was traveling out of town to photograph races. Thousands of dollars and hundreds of sluggishly pedaled miles later, I think it’s safe to say that I’m addicted.
In fact, I was informed just the other day that I’m a #cyclingdiva. At first, I denied it, but all of the symptoms are there:
• Traveling out of town to go to races
•Stalking Following pro cyclists on twitter
• Speculating on rider transfers
• Noticing names missing from team rosters (in my defense, it would have been last alphabetically, how could I not miss it?)
• Thinking up stupid pet names based on pro cyclists (e.g. “Dave Zabarkskie,” “David Meowllar,” and “Levi Hopheimer.”)
• Learning to knit argyle for the sole purpose of creating a Garmin messenger bag
• Signing up for and riding in Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo (Okay, only the Piccolo, but Graton Road kicked my butt!)
The signs were there 15 years ago as well; I just didn’t see them as warning signs. I should have known there was a problem when I purchased as my very first brand new car, a Saturn. Yes, the fact that they sponsored a cycling team did have something to do with my decision. Should I be surprised that the actual cycling team outlasted the car? Probably not.
Anyhow, back to the topic of my very first blog entry (not that I was ever on topic anyhow…). Despite some ups and downs for 2009, I feel that I had a pretty good year. I’m usually very cynical and I complain. A lot. However, cycling is quite literally changing my life. I’m healthier, happier, and more positive about life than I probably have been in decades, I’m in love with my bikes, and I did finally get a good photo of Lance Armstrong.
Now I don’t make “resolutions” because I associate those with broken promises. Instead, I set goals. My goals build on what I’ve already started so as long as I continue what I’m doing, I should continue see progress. No new routines. No impossible expectations. Just me continuing with a lifestyle change that I know is working out for me.
Velo related goals for 2010:
• April – photographing the Copperopolis Road Race
• May – Delta Century (metric)
• May – photographing the Tour of California with some level of success
• July – LIVESTRONG Challenge, San Jose, 50 mile course
• October – Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo, Piccolo route and this time I’m kicking Graton Road’s butt
• In general, drop some more pounds because when you’re climbing a hill, the extra weight is so not your friend!
Stay tuned to see how I do.
I’ve already decided to dedicate this blog to a couple of my favorite obsessions – photography and cycling – generally not two activities that I do simultaneously, but I have been known to.
Odds are that you’ll read anecdotes of my feeble attempts to photograph cycling as well. This endeavor stems from a trip to the 2009 Tour of California. I was fortunate enough to have a cold, rainy week off in February of last year and decided to watch the local stage in an attempt to get photos of Lance Armstrong.
Results? Crappy photos of professional cyclists (holy cow they’re fast!) and a rekindled passion for the sport.
This is when the downward spiral began. Before I knew it I had purchased two new bikes, both road and mountain, had begun participating in charity rides, and was traveling out of town to photograph races. Thousands of dollars and hundreds of sluggishly pedaled miles later, I think it’s safe to say that I’m addicted.
In fact, I was informed just the other day that I’m a #cyclingdiva. At first, I denied it, but all of the symptoms are there:
• Traveling out of town to go to races
•
• Speculating on rider transfers
• Noticing names missing from team rosters (in my defense, it would have been last alphabetically, how could I not miss it?)
• Thinking up stupid pet names based on pro cyclists (e.g. “Dave Zabarkskie,” “David Meowllar,” and “Levi Hopheimer.”)
• Learning to knit argyle for the sole purpose of creating a Garmin messenger bag
• Signing up for and riding in Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo (Okay, only the Piccolo, but Graton Road kicked my butt!)
The signs were there 15 years ago as well; I just didn’t see them as warning signs. I should have known there was a problem when I purchased as my very first brand new car, a Saturn. Yes, the fact that they sponsored a cycling team did have something to do with my decision. Should I be surprised that the actual cycling team outlasted the car? Probably not.
Anyhow, back to the topic of my very first blog entry (not that I was ever on topic anyhow…). Despite some ups and downs for 2009, I feel that I had a pretty good year. I’m usually very cynical and I complain. A lot. However, cycling is quite literally changing my life. I’m healthier, happier, and more positive about life than I probably have been in decades, I’m in love with my bikes, and I did finally get a good photo of Lance Armstrong.
Now I don’t make “resolutions” because I associate those with broken promises. Instead, I set goals. My goals build on what I’ve already started so as long as I continue what I’m doing, I should continue see progress. No new routines. No impossible expectations. Just me continuing with a lifestyle change that I know is working out for me.
Velo related goals for 2010:
• April – photographing the Copperopolis Road Race
• May – Delta Century (metric)
• May – photographing the Tour of California with some level of success
• July – LIVESTRONG Challenge, San Jose, 50 mile course
• October – Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo, Piccolo route and this time I’m kicking Graton Road’s butt
• In general, drop some more pounds because when you’re climbing a hill, the extra weight is so not your friend!
Stay tuned to see how I do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
