Saturday 27 February 2010

One week into my last rotation

Yippeeee...almost done. Unfortunately I think I might have to find some part-time work at home when I'm done here...so if you have any athlete friendly ideas I'd love to know !!!!! Please, please!!!!!

Found out recently that I have been invited to Continental Championships (Pan Ams) in ..... wait for it....Guatemala!!!! at the beginning of April. Really excited about that, I've always wanted to go to Cenral America. On the flip side, I also found out that I'm still an unfunded athlete as far as the CCA is concerned. Ya, a little bitter about that one, not carded, not tiered for funding....ugggh. I don't like to complain too much, because it can't be easy to make those decisions, and maybe I'm truely not good enough to deserve any support, I don't believe that, but maybe I think more of myself then I should....hehe. It just seems that I'm being knocked down every step of the way....sorry, a little self pitty moment, I'm done. "Stay Positive"!!!!!

Getting lots of trainer time up north here, great for keeping in cycling shape, really, really tough on the rear:) Had some 5 min intervals today, and although I had troubles motivating myself to actually do anything this morning (recovering from an all nighter the previous night), I felt great during the intervals. I rather surprised myself, love it when that happens!! Olympics is always motivating to watch while working out. Uber excited to get back outside, hopefully soon.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

For all you beet lovers out there

This one is actually pretty good. I didn't have honey or agave nectar, or anything nice like that, so I had to just use sugar, but it still turned out pretty good.....definitely wait till it cools cause it tastes completely different when cold.

Recipe : Beet Oat Squares
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup whole rolled oats
2 small beets
1/2 teaspoon baking powder(alum-free)
1/2 cup fruit juice
1 Organic egg(Vegan substitute : 1 teaspoon Ener-G Egg Replacer mixed with 2 tablespoon of water)
1/4 cup Agave nectar or Honey or other natural sweeteners
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon canola oil

Method
Roast the beets as in the recipe.Peel and puree in a food processor.
Coarsely grind the oats in a food processor or grinder.Transfer in a large mixing bowl.Combine with baking powder and salt.
Whip the egg or the egg substitute with the beet puree ,Agave nectar,oil and fruit juice until well combined.Stir this beet mixture in the oat mixture.
Line the baking pan(8x8) with parchment paper or lightly spray with oil.Spread the mixture evenly on the prepared pan.Bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes until firm to touch.Let cool slightly,score and separate.Cool completely before storing in air tight container.Can store up to a month in a refrigerator.




For other really cool different ideas for recipes, I love this site (I already gave my mom heck for letting out the secret..hehe)
http://yasmeen-healthnut.blogspot.com/


I am back up north in Fort McMurray for my last rotation. Not too sure how long I'll be up here, there's only 5 more wells and I'm up here till they are done. It's really tough coming back up here to -20's when it felt like a chilly summer day all week in Victoria...I'm totally on summer mode now.

Just finished a good interval workout on the trainer...OUCH!!!! I don't have my skiies up here anymore, so it'll be a lot of trainer time...oh well :)

Friday 19 February 2010

New Rigs and Fun Rides




What to do when the day is sunny and dry and...and...and....ya, you betcha, 4 plus hour mtb ride...the last one on the 29er too. We just happened...hehe...to swing by the shop on the ride home and found 3 bikes waiting for me...hehehe....just like Christmas!!!!!

My highly trained mechanic quickly put my road bike together.....



Uber hot ride...and he even gave me the gentle nudge to head out on the 6am Triple Shot ride. Pretty neat to have almost 30 people meet at 6 am with lights to do hill intervals.....OUCH!!!! Haven't pushed that hard in a long time....but it was really nice to have breakfast waiting for me when I got home just after 8am :)




Really nice kit too!!! Skinsuits this year!!!!!! Really excited about that, good motivation to keeping the camp pounds off this winter.



Last night Regan finished putting together my 8500 and I got out for an awesome MTB ride this morning with fellow former Calgarian Megan (I don't want to rub it in too much, okay maybe I do, +13....too hot in the sun...hehe). The bike is awesome, I was a little nervous getting back on small wheels after a winter of getting used to the 29er, but I'm finding that the smaller wheels are a lot more responsivem, especially in the tight technical stuff. Squishing in as much riding as possible before I go back to work on Monday, so just heading out the door to pick Regan up for a night ride.

Monday 15 February 2010

Sunnnnnny Days

Sooo, spent a couple days in Calgary on my way home to Victoria, and of course, need to ride. The only bike I have left in Calgary is my 10 year old green machine, the Brodie Quantum, and a very eclectic mix of bike gear....but hey, gotta ride :)




The weather has been awesome since I got home. 2 1/2 hour mtb ride with Calgarian Caeli Barron (thanks for the ride) on sat. Hard 2 1/2 hour hammer mtb ride with Regan at the Tzou (love the riding there), super busy day out there. And awesome 4 hour mtb / road on mtb ride at the Dump with Regan (awesome day....knackered now)





Annnnnnnnd, today a couple of my bike arrived and lots of kit and tires....yippeeeee!!!!!! I'm cracking the whip tonight and Regan is building my road bike for me so I can do a long road ride tomorrow...hehe. I am such a slave driver....thanks my dear.



Nope, no pics of the new rig/kit yet....but sooon

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Off again

Skate skiing with no poles, on a frozen ski-doo tracks on a river, with flat light, in -21 with windchill, with less then one hour of sleep in 2 days.....not on my list of things to do again....crazy what you'll try to do just to get some training in...hehe. Jealous of everyone in Tuscon this week :(

Hehe, oh well, done my 2 week rotation, spending a couple days in Calgary and flying back to Victoria on friday....soooooo excited, and going to do my own training camp, hopefully the rain holds out.

I have 2 weeks off and then I go back up to Fort Mac for one more rotation, both happy and sad about that.....well I'm sad but my bank account is happy. Then it's traininer crunch time, get ready for the summer :) It's coming up fast!!

Friday 5 February 2010

Dreaming of warmer times

My week and a half off was awesome. I had great weather the entire time home in Victoria, and did an amazing ride with Regan, 5 hours with sun :) Pics from the ride are keeping me sane during my frosty 2 weeks back up north.





Currently I am recovering for a 28 hour work day, which started at 8:30 at night...yikes, gonna take a couple days. Not to mention due to my infinite wisdom I had started the day off at 7:00 (can't miss breaky) to do a 2 hour xc ski followed by a 2 hour trainer ride.....serves me right for being so exhausted I guess..hehe.

I brought my trainer up here this rotation, but in my excitment to pack up my bike and trainer, I completely forgot to pack all the parts for the trainer...haha. Thank goodness for my great parents for sending out the pieces :)

First couple trainer rides of the season...and although it's great to get bike miles in, I had forgotten a little how much I really dislike the trainer...oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...or at least gives you a good bum rash...hehe.





Under 2 months till the first race of the season...WOW