Dropping In on a New Year

Well, we are 4 weeks in to 2013.  I made a few resolutions this year and so far have stuck with them, except for the one to write in my blog every Monday.  Oops.

Better late than never!

Suffering through Cranksgiving Weekend.  Enduro Racing is Hard!  

I am so psyched for 2013!  I was a bit lazy after Cranksgiving weekend and kind of sat around for 6 weeks with just a few short bike rides thrown in for "exercise".   And I didn't eat very cleanly--blek.

So, starting the week of Jan 1, (Dec 31 actually since that was Monday), I started in on a new fitbook and started planning out my meals and exercise for each week.  (If you've never seen a fitbook and are the type who likes to track things, definitely check them out--they are so cute and convenient to carry with you.)  I feel a lot better when I do this, because if it is written down I tend to actually do it.  I had plumped up a bit, which usually isn't too noticeable until I try to ride some shuttle runs in my moto pants and can't breath when I try to zip the fly.  Can't afford new moto pants...must lose a few pounds!  I'll never understand how people gain so much weight...who wants to keep going out and buying bigger pants?

I have been pretty dedicated to my planning, cooking meals for dinner and eating the leftovers for lunch (and dinner at work when I have to close).  I also haven't had a Chai Latte at work (Starbucks) in the past 4 weeks, which is amazing.  I have been drinking plain lattes with cinnamon on top (no sugar or flavor)  and have really come to enjoy them.  And if I have something sweet it tastes pretty gross.  Like Cadbury Eggs, which used to be my Achilles heel of sweets.  I had some yesterday and they did not taste good at all.  I find the loss of the sweet tooth quite interesting and wish more people would try going no added sugar (and no sweetener!!) for a few weeks and see what happens.

Going off a never before attempted drop and hoping I don't split my too tight pants.

I have stuck to my exercise plan too, for the most part.  Doing some "Flow" workouts with light weights and weight lifting once or twice a week.  I kind of had to ease back into a routine, so as not to hurt myself.  I tend to push too hard sometimes.   I also try to get one run or interval run in each week, and some yoga.  And foam rolling, which was painful at first, but the skin on my thighs is looking awesome and I think it is from that!  And the bike!! I try to ride 2-3 days a week.  The weather is so iffy that there is not a lot of trail riding to be done, but pedaling the dirt greenway or the neighborhood streets still feels good, and I ride the pumptrack in my backyard when it is frozen.  Though it often takes a lot of willpower to get going out into the cold!  My boyfriend and I also have been doing some fun street riding on our dirtjump bikes.  That is always a good workout and a fun break from routine.

So, January has seen some good progress.  I try to remember that doing all of this will make riding and racing a whole hell of a lot more fun.  I won't be as tired or sore and I'll be more flexible and strong and hopefully faster!  My whole goal is to have as much fun as possible when I can get out for the awesome bike rides, and my planning is meant to help achieve that goal.

February is going to be tough, and awesome.  I've signed up for an ab challenge on Facebook that anyone can join.  I encourage all you Dirt Vixens to join me.  And no girl push-ups, either.  We are talking "man" pushups here (but ease into them if you have to!).   I am hoping it will give me a super strong core base to start off the Downhill Season this year.  I am also doing a local Short Track XC race series to keep me accountable for my cardio on the bike.  Any ladies local to Greensboro, come out and give me some competition!!

And then there is Ray's Women's Weekend, which is going to be the raddest Valentine's Day weekend ever!  I have put together a group of awesome Dirty South Dirt Vixens to drive up to Cleveland and have fun in a land of bike nirvana.  I am so looking forward to it and really want to be in great shape for that, because Ray's Indoor Bike Park will WEAR YOU OUT!  It is like a giant indoor bike playground and like a little kid, you just never want to stop playing.  We need one of these in every state.

I am going to vow right here and now to keep up with my blog a little better.  I need some of you to help me be accountable!  Shoot me a message on FB or email, or here on the blog if you really enjoy it and yell at me when I am slacking.  I really would like to help inspire some more ladies to delve into Freeriding and Downhilling, and to come enter some races.  They are scary at first, I won't lie, but the more you do, the more you love it!  Come to the dark side with me.