Misc Happenings

I acquired this ridiculous looking 'ball chair' from a client the other day, and I'm totally loving it. I don't care how ludicrous it looks, it's super comfy and will hopefully eliminate my horrible slouching habits!

New bikes are starting to roll in, yay!!! My 2013 L1R road frame arrived last week and I cannot wait to build it up. The new Shimano 11 speed components may take a bit longer to get here but I know it will be worth the wait. Stay tuned for a complete build pic and a full review later this spring/summer.

Our annual snowy March is in full effect. After getting at least 6 inches on Friday and Saturday, we decided to stay indoors and begin the fireplace project we (okay I) have been wanting to get after for a while now.

Above is the beginning of the madness. TV is off the wall and the hideous faux brick has been ripped off. We still have a lot of structural work to do in order for the eco-fuel fireplace to fit and some serious drywall cutting to hide all the television wires. As soon as the weather gets better, we'll be outside and riding so hopefully this 'slightly simple' project doesn't get pushed out too long :)

Let the Run Trainer 2.0 Clinics Begin!!!

Although the Timex Run Trainer 2.0 hasn’t officially hit stores yet, there is a lot of buzz around the new product! I know several shops in the Boulder/Denver area that are itching to carry the new watch and many run groups eager to have our demo fleet available at one of their weekly runs. To kick off the 2013 ‘Clinic Season’, Tim Hola and I did a short Timex clinic for the employees of the Sports Authority Elite shop in Boulder yesterday morning. We talked about the various watches the store carries but we spent most our time educating them on the new Run Trainer and allowed them to touch/feel/play with the ones we received at camp. The response was extremely positive and we plan on having a demo day sometime this spring/summer. Thanks for organizing Mr. Hola!

The Gear Movement

I've recently taken on another new accounting client. Ben and Jordan, good friends and owners of the The Gear Movement, contacted me several weeks ago and we've recently developed a great working relationship. If you haven't checked out their site, click on the logo above and read all about how they can help you move that old gear in your garage and make you some extra cash!

Getting Healthy

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I've updated! Things have been crazy busy with recent work changes (which I will update on later) and all the other random items in my life :) On the cooking side of my world, I've been really in to soup making these days after the purchase of a new immersion blender. Check out this site for 3 really tasty soups I've recently made and loved! Detox Soup Recipes

I also recently acquired a new toy to play with on the mountain! I have yet to build up my new Litespeed race machine, but this will serve as my fun bike to take trail riding when I'm sick of getting beat up by the hardtail! I've been riding my CX bike quite a bit and my strength and fitness is getting better each day. Really excited for the actual 'training' to begin on April 1!!!

Have I mentioned that Melanie is 18 weeks pregnant?!? Well she is and what I call 'Little Miss Huang' is due right around my birthday (Aug 22). She rocked through the first trimester and is doing great and riding strong. Love hanging out with that girl!

Help, I'm addicted to interior design!!!

Maybe I should stop watching HGTV all the time then, huh? I do have to admit though, we haven't bought/remodeled anything just because...every dime spent has gone towards enhancing the overall space so that it flows better and is convenient for everyone who lives here :)

Our newest table/rug addition was something that was much needed. After rearranging to actually have a dining space in the house, we realized that a welcoming table that fit more than 4 people was much needed. Since the space between the kitchen and living room is a bit tight, we knew that a bench seat would be the key to keeping the congestion down. We pieced together this set from IKEA (of course) and really couldn't be happier. Much better than what we had before (pictured below)!

We miss CHEESE!!!!

Luckily there are a few good alternatives :) We've recently discovered the vegan Parmesan (pictured above) at Whole Foods. It's a great way to give salads and GF pasta dishes a little extra flavor.

We've been using the cheddar and mozzarella Daiya shreds for a while now but just started using them on GF pizza crusts to make delicious homemade pizzas. As bad as it sounds, living gluten and dairy free isn't all THAT terrible!

Bring on the humidity!

In all honesty, I never thought I would be excited to add humidity into my house! However, the dry Colorado winters are really taking a toll on us. For several years now, we wake up extremely parched and congested during the winter months - I guess the combination of constantly running heat and a dry environment will do that to ya. At any rate, we spoke with Bryce's parents who have been very happy with their humidifier purchase so we decided to get the same one. I would have much rather splurged on a $300 kitchen accessory, but I know this will be a great investment for us in the long run! To fresh, and happy breathing :)

2013 Timex Team Camp

As always, our annual Team Camp at the Timex Performance Center in New York was off to a banging start this past Thursday evening! I honestly cannot believe this is my seventh season on the team and still get that butterfly excitement sensation each year. It was so exciting to see all my returning teammates as well as meet all the newbies. There are 11 new athletes this year and it's been really fun getting to know each and every one of them!

I'll be a little scattered giving updates but I wanted to share the above pic of the new Run Trainer 2.0 as quick as possible. This is Timex's newest GPS watch that I truly believe will the be hottest time/distance/HR wrist piece for 2013. Not only does it incorporate a sleek look that is extremely lightweight, it is also one of the easiest watches I have ever used. The Colorado crew is beyond excited to add it to our demo fleet and get out to the stores to show it off :)

After some great round round robins revolving around new products and another phenomenal TPC lunch, we were welcomed into the NY Giants' locker room where we received a bunch of new swag!

Last year we received bright red Thule backpacks that I bring EVERYWHERE with me and this year we were even more spoiled...custom embroidered carry-on Thule luggage filled to the brim with all sorts of gear, swag, you name it. We are seriously the most spoiled group of athletes on the planet and I know for a fact that every single one of us is beyond grateful for all of it.

After another set of sponsor meetings/clinics, we got dressed up for our 80's themed 5K run/walk. Thanks to my roommie, Flora Duffy, I was well prepared with a stellar outfit.

I've been rockin' the Timex 80 watches for a while but super stoked to add these new ones to the collection. The run might have been one of the most comical things I've witnessed to date in my 7 team Timex camps :)

 
Our awards dinner was over the top and the guest speakers were outstanding. I was also very honored to present the Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award to my good friend Cindi Bannick. The microphone was having a bit of trouble staying put during my speech so a few inappropriate comments were thrown out making for some good laughs.

Keeping with the old school theme, we all received really cool sweatshirts with the vintage logo. Ya have to admit, we're definitely one good looking group of athletes :)

Saturday's agenda involved more sponsor/media presentations. Throughout the entire camp, we were able to sign up to have our Lactate Threshold tested on the bicycle or the treadmill. The Korey Stringer Institute from UCONN was back at the TPC with a full crew and ready to give us some informative training information. Unlike the usual LT tests I get back at BCSM, I actually had an IV in my arm with a little spout where you could pull my blood out then turn the nozzle to stop the flow. I'm used to the painful finger pricking but not quite sure this was better. Either way, the plan went as expected and my LT was sadly low. I have to remember that it is okay since I haven't done one hard workout since July and I don't need to be fit until September! However, it's always easier to acknowledge when you don't have physical numbers as proof to how unfit you are.

One of the stops on Saturday's schedule was receiving our new collection of watches. I have to say that this new Expedition 2 watch is my absolute favorite Timex piece, EVER!

Sunday is always a very chill day where we get our head shots and team photos taken. It's crazy how fast the 4 days fly by. Huge thanks to Keith and Tristan for putting on yet another incredible camp!

2012 RMEC Series Wrap Up

It was unfortunate, but we somehow scheduled our vacation to DR on the same weekend as the Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit 2012 Banquet. We saw our good friend Clint this past weekend who gave us our awards - 1st Overall Women's Series and 2013 AA/Pro Rider (18A). I think my overall series win was particularly due to how many races I did but nonetheless, the boys are still making me move up to the Men's C Division this year! Guess we'll see how that goes considering how little I've been riding. Bryce, on the other hand, beyond deserved his AA status for 2013. After a very unlucky 2011, he is now back in the Pro ranks where he belongs! First race is a 2 day-er in Texas on Feb 23 and 24...crazy how fast time flies.

Team Timex Through the Years

In just 2 short weeks, I'll be attending my 7th annual Team Timex camp! As I thought about it, I honestly couldn't believe it's already been seven years since I was asked to join the team. So then I really started thinking...what have I done during those years? Below are six highlights from my 2007-2012 experience with Team Timex!

2007

This was my first season on the team. Our camp was at the end of March in Carlsbad, CA. I was only 22years old and pretty new to the sport of triathlon so I was totally honored to have been accepted to be on such a prestigious team. Funny to think that seven years ago Timex was on the forefront of technology with the Speed and Distance GPS Watch that included a large transmitter, a data recorder and a watch! Oh how times have changed :)

2008

And we're ORANGE! Timex went from sporting black and yellow (before my time) to red and white, and then in 2008 we changed to the vibrant orange and white. Trek even made custom painted TT bikes for us! This was my first year racing XTERRA and it turned out to be a great change from competing on the road. I had a fantastic season wining almost every race in my age group and finished with an overall amateur win at Nationals and a World Champ jersey in Maui!

2009

Unfortunately 2009 was the start of my health issues as an athlete. However, I had great support from the team which helped my mindset tremendously. After a fantastic 2008 season, I was awarded Timex Athlete of the year. It just reiterated how important this team was to me and how I simply couldn't imagine my world without it. While the team continued to get stronger and pull in great new sponsors, Timex was starting to release new and exciting products. After a few knee surgeries and hobbling through several XTERRA's, I decided to give cycling a go while I let my knee heal. After a few road and cyclocross races, I was hooked!

2010

We're back in red and have a new home for team camp! Timex's partnership with the NY Giants led to the building of an amazing training facility right next to the Giants' stadium. We are so fortunate to be welcomed there each year to utilize their upscale facilities and have home cooked meals three times a day! This year marked a big bike sponsor change to Orbea and Shimano and the introduction of the Global Trainer GPS Watch. Unfortunately I was sidelined with a fractured hip and torn labrum during the beginning of the year then plagued with the dreaded Epstein Barr Virus from July on. 

2011

This marked our first year doing demo's with Timex watches. Since we needed to spread the word about the Global Trainer, we brought a fleet of watches to various shops around Colorado and allowed people to try them out during a club or shop run. It was a huge hit and I believe the brand and product got a lot of positive recognition. In my personal world and after several long months of sleeping and resting, I was finally back to form and out racing. I completed a full mountain bike season with a 3rd overall finish in the WP MTB series and was on a roll racing CX. That was until the Epstein Barr Virus came back to haunt me once again. Sadly, I was sidelined from early October until the following March.

2012

 

Where to begin?!? 2012 camp far outdid any prior camp to date! With a new bike and clothing sponsor, everyone was super excited to see and learn about the new products. Also, Timex released their Run Trainer, Cycle Trainer and Marathon GPS watches which meant goodies were flying left and right :) This was great for our demo fleet as we now had a full line of product to bring to our clinics and demos. I wasn't fully back in action at camp but I was completely surprised and honored to have been inducted into the Timex Hall of Fame. Keith's speech was so kind that I couldn't stop shaking when I had to give my own. Up until that point, I had been through a lot and it means so much to be that my second family (Team Timex) will always stand behind me, no matter what. Once I was back training in mid March, I knew I was going to have a great year. I felt stronger than ever and was super pumped on my new bike setup. As predicted, the season began great but unfortunately took the same dive it had the past 2 years. I was again diagnosed with EBV and forced to the sidelines without even racing a single cyclocross race.  On the bright side, my series of health issues has tought me a lot about how to be a good Timex ambassador away from the racecourse!

2013

I know I've been saying it annually now, but 2013 is MY YEAR! With some recent food allergy findings with my Naturopath, I am on the road to recovery and will hopefully never have to deal with the EBV bug again. I've currently got great energy but waiting until April 1 to begin training. Until then, I'll exercise for fun, build up my new toys and race some dirt bikes with my hunny. I have had an ear to ear grin the past few days knowing that my four favorite days of the year (Team Camp) are just around the corner.

A 99% Complete Bathroom!

I wish my photography skills were better but at least you can get an idea of what our almost finished bathroom remodel looks like. We just need a little drywall touch up and we can officially be done with our first winter house project!

The above picture is what the bathroom looked like when we purchased the house back in January 2010.

This picture shows our first attempt at making it better. Not sure what kind of crack I was on when I picked the colors but thank goodness that's something easy to change :)

It's definitely not perfect but we are super happy with how everything turned out and how it flows with the rest of the house.

Bryce's parents printed off some cool artwork that really add a great finishing touch to the whole room. Coupled with some modern IKEA furnishings, this might just be our new favorite room in the house.

My favorite part is the large raincan shower head! I haven't actually taken a shower in it yet but it looks really cool :) On to project #2 - THE FIREPLACE!!!!

A much needed vacay!

Round 2 of SUP-ing went much smoother than our first attempt. Not only did we have less wind and smoother waters, our skills were starting to improve as well.

We both really enjoyed this activity and would love to give it a go back home at the Boulder Rez. It's a great workout if you want to get after it, but also extremely relaxing and enjoyable if you just want to cruise around.

Finding options for meals hasn't been too difficult as milk products are hard to come by and beans/rice is a staple food in the area. One of our favorite discoveries was the 100% Organic Dominican Cocoa. We've made hot chocolate with Almond milk and LOVE sprinkling it over fresh mango and bananas bought right in town.

We were told that if there is one thing we cannot miss on this trip, it's the 27 Waterfall Tour. We weren't interested in taking a full blown tour so we decided to drive ourselves to the destination. As we mentioned before, there are no rules in terms of driving and we were on the edge of our seat the entire time. We almost hit a chicken, a dog and even a cow! Needless to say, we made it there in one piece.

The above video is a great clip of various waterfalls you get to jump off of during the 3hr tour. You get a personal guide and hike about 45min through the jungle to the start. From there, you climb, swim, jump and maneuver your way through 27 different waterfalls. Unfortunately, we didn't have a waterproof camera but pictures just wouldn't do justice on this adventure :)

We didn't know what to expect since we didn't see any of the videos prior but it was one hell of an experience. Papito was a great guide and we're so glad we made our way out there to check it out!

More Cabarete Fun!

 

One of the first things we planned for our trip was a little Stand Up Paddle Boarding. It's something both of us have wanted to try for a long time so we made it our number one activity. Walking down to the section of the beach where the water is a bit more calm takes about a half hour. We've done this walk several times and have frequently seen horses in full gallop along the beach.

It's hard to get pictures on the SUP as we did about as much swimming as we did paddling on our first try. We learned that the sport is nowhere near as easy as it looks but a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. After all that hard work, we were ready for another couple hours of lounging in the sun and playing on the beach.

The ocean water is exceptionally warm and the sand is smooth so it's very enjoyable just wading around in the surf. After another good sun absorption session, we went to an afternoon yoga class at the resort next door. The studio was in an awesome ocean front cabana and we were the only two in the class. The sound of the ocean and the whole experience was really cool.

After finding out that Iguana Mama (one of DR's top tour guide companies) had a 'Max Endurance' mountain bike adventure through the jungle, we simply couldn't pass it up.

 

Neither one of us had our own bike equipment or clothing attire so we were in full tourist mode. I used some yoga clothes while Bryce rocked board shorts and a tank top. We both had to use flat pedals with tennis shoes. It really makes you appreciate the amazing equipment and comfy apparel we ride in at home.

Above was my sweet Fuji bike that got me through our 4hr adventure ride. Bryce was on the same ride, just 3 sizes larger :)

Our trip began right from the main road in town. The driving style that scared us while we were in a car was 100% more terrifying on a bike. Luckily we made it off the pavement and onto the dirt fairly quick. We rode alongside the ocean for a bit then turned inland and began heading up into the Dominican mountains. Go figure, I'm the one that flats before we even hit the trails!

 

After a rather large climb, we made it to the Monkey Jungle facility where they have zip line tours. It was an absolutely gorgeous view.

Max, our tour guide, was an extremely fit local who has been riding mountain bikes for 15 years in the DR. He was a blast ride and hang out with for our 60km experience. 

 Instead of bringing energy bars and sandwiches on rides, Max eats fruit off the trees for energy. We stopped and had some delicious and sweet grapefruit that was knocked down straight from the tree!

Despite a lot of recent rain and some seriously slick clay type mud, we had a great time. Thanks again Max, we cannot wait to come back for more!!!