Cleveland rocks...

so, now that i am in cleveland... it is really not all that bad! i swear!

it actually has really been great. i am getting in SUCH good training! i can ride 5+ hours and hardly stop at all! once i get into amish country, it is just buggies that i have to contend with. the surrounding areas are gorgeous and all rolling hills.

it feels really good to get into a good training block again. it has been a LONG time! after europe, i was pretty fried and had to deal with my graduation and such. and then with all my racing and traveling, it was hard to get in a solid block. now, training is my whole focus. i am missing nats so that i can just train... sorry mara! i wish that i could deliver you the best apple-basket ever! but sadly, i have to work on building my base and getting that sprint back on form!

ps... mara did awesome in the TT! (i am a member of the mara abbott fan club: member since 2005. it is an exclusive club and i only wear the “i love mara” shirt in the privacy of my own home while google-stalking her results). stacy and marisa did it too, but they did not have their best showings. stacy has been busting her butt with her school work (i know that one!) and so she is not on her peak form. there is a bit of an inverse relationship there... and marisa had a good personal effort and i know that she will really develop into a great time trialist!

anyway, so i digress. cleveland... i had been dreading coming here. in all honesty. i was mostly in denial and refused to think about it. but now that i am here and settling in a bit- it really has been good so far. like i said, the riding is great. no big climbs, but lots of rollers and lots of flats to drill it at your LT on. i am very excited and very motivated!

right now- i have to run. i have THE BEST salad on earth to eat (i have a new “brookesalad” that i am indulging in for the moment) and then i am going to run downtown to catch the second half of the indians game. should be fun. bye!