It has been a quiet last couple weeks as I have been recovering from a pretty bad lung infection that has tempered my training from extreme intensity to a much more moderate intensity with a lot of rest and recovery. I am feeling like I am on the mend, but have lost a little bit of training. Good thing it is early on in the Land Speed Record training so that I have time to make up for the fitness.

Since one of the key components to my training is continuing my bicycle racing, I competed in my first race of the season on February 2nd at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego in an event called the Red Trolley Criterium. As the name implies, it was a Criterium. It was the first race of the year for me. I raced in the Women’s Category Pro/1/2/3. It was a fast paced race that finished with a group sprint. Since I have been doing a lot of strength and sprint training during the off season, I was pleased to find myself right at the line with the top ladies. In fact it was such a close race, that the officials had to look at the photo finish to determine the winner. Since I was giving it all right till the end, I didn’t know that I had actually won by probably less than an inch or two.

It was sweet to win, but it was also a reminder that training pays off, no matter your age. When I looked at the ages of 2nd & 3rd place, they were both 24 years old … here I was competing with ladies that were young enough to be my children. After all, my children are 21, 20 & 15 years old. It was great inspiration and reinforcement that age is just a number. 🙂

Unfortunately within a few days, I got sick, so I haven’t been racing the last few weeks. I will be racing in the Tour de Murrieta later this month, so I will see how much I have been able to rebuild for that 3 day race. I will do my best, but I have to keep things in perspective.