Over due

Yes I know I promised a season recap. I've been busy with school and have been putting it off. This season was long, but fun. I did a ton of traveling with the team, which is good because I love to travel. I went to Colorado for a week 1/2 and did some awesome riding out there. Unbelievable. It was icing on the cake in choosing a school. I also went on RAGBRAI. Quite the experience, I must say. I think it would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't worked. If I go on it next year, I am not going to work. Instead I'm just going to have fun. I also went to Superweek in Wisconsin. I was only able to do four of the days, but next year I plan on doing the entire week (maybe even two weeks!). Talk about stiff competition. If you want to know how you compare to other people in your category rather than just Iowa, try going to Superweek. It's a completely different story. Racing there itself talked me out of upgrading, at least for another year. I also went to Downer's Grove. Awesome race I must say! Of course there was the local Memorial Day weekend races and Labor Day Gateway Cup races in St. Louis. All of these races were awesome! In the early season, I went to Columbia, MO and Hillsboro, IL for some fun races. So that was really pretty random.

I upgraded to a category 3 on the road over Memorial Day weekend. Before renewing my license for this year I upgraded my CX category to a 3 as well. Still debating on trying Expert next year. I haven't done a race out of state so have no idea what my competition is like. Especially if I'm moving to Colorado. I won the Iowa Cup Championship, Rider of the Year, Iowa Cyclocross Championship, and IMBCS Women's Sport. Not a bad season. I guess we will see how I do in Colorado. It's going to be a completely different story.

So now it's time to give thanks. First I want to thank my mom and dad for putting up with this cycling stuff. My first year they really weren't enthused about it. Now they fully support the addiction. I also want to thank my job for letting me have so much time off for races and other trips. Of course I want to thank the team. They are a great bunch of guys (yes guys, I'm the only girl, so far anyway...). I appreciate them letting me tag along to races. Thanks to Dominic, Tracy, Dennis, and Scott for a little while early on for putting up with me while training. Burlington consists of 3 people who race every weekend during the season and train on a regular basis: Myself, Dominic, and Tracy (Dennis is about 45 min. away, but still travels a few times a week to train with us). These guys have let me carpool with them to practically every race. It's saved us all a ton of money and has made us great friends. They have all helped me push myself and kept me riding. On those days I say "I don't feel like riding," I always get reminded by one of the guys..."So what are your goals again." Another thanks goes out to Mark G. and Rick P. (and others, I just don't know their names) for being awesome officials. I also want to thank my non-cycling friends for also supporting my hobby/addiction/whatever you want to call it. They are a little hesitant to let me ride when they want to hang out, but they deal with it haha. I'm sure I'm forgetting people, but I'm in a hurry. Class starts in a few minutes. I've met a ton of new people who are awesome. That's one of the things I love about cycling: the atmosphere and the people you meet. Well that's all I have to say for now. If this whole Colorado thing works out, I'll miss you all. I'm sure I'll be back to visit and do a few races. Have a good day!
-A