Long Time No Post

So long time no post. Fall 2012 wasn't an eventful athletic season for me while attempting to heal my right ankle. Recently using a dual channel TENS stimulator (mild electric stimulation) through electrode pads on my foot and ankle has seemed to help the healing process. I have now jogged up to 1 mile in walk-jog rotation without falling, tripping, or spraining.

This Fall I became more involved with weight training even trying to incorporate some power lifting techniques into sessions. It appears that I have approved my strength and power. I spent most of the past few months wearing an air-cast and practicing on single-leg cycling techniques to improve my whole pedal stroke.

I'm now able to ride outside once again and with minimal discomfort on steeper grade climbs out of the saddle. On days when I need a change of scenery I've been riding at Ray's MTB Park in Cleveland. I'll be fine at Ray's as long as I stay off the main jump lines and stay to the xc line and pump track.

A few weeks ago I got a response back Anne Marie McSweeney Scholarship. In honor of  her, Anne's family in conjunction with the UMCA (Ultra Marathon Cycling Association) created a scholarship fund has been set up in her name. The scholarship fund assist women cyclists to attend the PAC Tour in Tucson, AZ. I am grateful to be a recipient along with another female cyclist for the 2012 scholarship.

My Scholarship Application:

My interest in cycling began at age 16 after a few years of participating in high school cross country. Due to over training, I had developed stress fractures limiting my running for several months. As I began a rehabilitation program and trained in the athletic training room, I was suggested to try training on the exercise bikes available. After months on the standary bike for my sixteenth birthday I decided to purchase my first road bike. The best decision I have ever made was buying that bicycle. It has shaped me into the person I am today.

Through the next few years my interest in cycling grew from local biathlon races, MS Society’s Pedal to the Point, the Great Ohio Bike Adventure (GOBA). I then became interested in other disciplines of cycling as cyclocross, cross country mountain biking, BMX racing, and most recently track cycling. This past summer I volunteered as an intern with a Cleveland local non-profit group, Fast Track Cycling to assist in building the Cleveland Velodrome. My involvement in endurance road cycling became my focus however after participating in back-to-back Race Across America (RAAM) 4-person teams in 2011 and 2012.

Currently I am working obtaining my degree, Exercise Science (MS). I would not have found my passion for this field if it was not for cycling. I am fortunate that I found cycling at a younger age in life. It has been crucial in my development in r in Exercise Science, as an athlete, and incorporating health and wellness into life style. The Anne Marie McSweeney Scholarship would be a great opportunity to not only ride but learn from others as well in the ultra-cycling community.

Cycling is not what I do but who I am. It has taught me discipline and allows for me to challenge myself in ways I never knew possible. The past few months I have been dealing with several fractures, ankle sprains, and a muscle tear in my right foot. My time has been spent on the bike trainer hoping to be back on the road in couple weeks. I persevere for the simple enjoyment of riding of bicycle. I would be honored to be the recipient of the Anne Marie McSweeney Scholarship.

I'm excited to say the least! I wouldn't have known about the scholarship if it wasn't for Cassie, a local distance cyclist who was a recipient of the scholarship in the past. Thank you.

This year I have some big ideas. There's a crash course in what I have in mind...

February 1-3: Volunteering at Cyclocross Worlds - Louisville, Kentucky
March 23: Barry Roubaix - gravel/dirt road race in Michigan
March 23 - March 31: PAC Tour- Tucson, AZ (tentatively?)
April 6: Ride On Amish Country Roubaix Millersburg, OH
May 4: Calvin's Challenge 12 HR Springfield, OH
May 19: Cleveland Marathon bicycle escort, Cleveland, OH
June 15: National 24 Challenge Middleville, Michigan
...TBA June 16 - June 20
July 13: Saratoga 12 HR New York
August 11: 12 HR Challenge Marietta, Pennsylvania
September 1: 12 HR Midwest Port Bryon, Illinois
September 7: Ohio RAAM Challenge Dublin, Ohio

If I can perform well this year maybe I can find a way to make it out to California for Pacific Cycling Challenge 6-12-24 World Time Trials

If the Ohio races seem confusing I relocated back in Cleveland, Ohio. Every few years I've moved away to realize just how much I love this city. I will be attending Kent State University this Spring working towards my master's in Exercise Science followed by a Exercise Science doctorate degree. This year I also plan to race some local criteriums, road races, track, BMX, cross-country mountain bike, and cyclocross on the occasional off week.

Here's to 2013.

Ride On

Sara

"Injury Prone"

I've been in Boone for a few weeks now...Cool town and the riding from what I see and hear is good.

I haven't been actually doing anything. active.
I apparently have yet another fracture. this time my right talus..
So I'm hitting the books instead of the trails.

I have plans to get back on the trainer and go to the pool but it hasn't happened yet.

That's about it these days.

On the positive side I am trying to get a handicap pass..

Packing for NC

The move is right around the corner!
Boxes are packed, last day of work is today, and I pick up the Uhaul tomorrow.

I guess I should start working on my Southern accent....

Long Overdue Post

I cannot believe its been months since the past write-up. I guess part of it was due to lack of motivation as well as this account was tied to my school account. A hour later.....I finally switched the account over and I can once again easily access it! I must admit, most updates in the past came when I would be sitting either in class, between class, or procrastinating studying.

Well I'm back!

The last few months have been filled with twists and turns with so much happening. So here's the breakdown. Surprising to some I finished my undergraduate degree at Kent State University in Exercise Science, B.S. I preceded to move out of Kent back to the west side of Cleveland.

Moves are never ending with constant hiccups along the way. Mine was no different where I fractured my right foot (small cuboid fracture)...4 weeks prior to RAAM-Race Across America. I spent a few days whining complaining...Then 1 day I had enough of my competitive bird watching, puzzle building, movie watching self and started to aggressively rehab the injury. All was going well. The night before the race began in Oceanside, California I aggravated the injury while attempting to jog/run through the sand to the ocean. FAIL. I lasted about 20 feet? Internally I went into a serious "freak-out" mode. Luckily I got over it but the next morning. Sure I was sore, tender, and in some discomfort but it wasn't nearly as bad as I originally thought. (Post RAAM xrays have shown that I fractured my cuboid twice. I currently have no range of motion medially or laterally at the moment but I can clip in therefore I can ride!)

Then RAAM. Talking to friends since the race people keeping asking me to write a 'race report'. I apologize to those who want to read more in detail but I would just rather not. Personally for me, I think I am done with team relay RAAM. It can be a GREAT learning experience, there's no doubt about that. However, after my second year I have realized that I have no desire to race across the country, nor rely on eating gas station food entirely, nor feel like I am in some messed up experiment: "Let's see what happens when you put a bunch of type A personalities together, throw in a race, across the country, and GO." No thanks. If you have questions, you are more than welcome to ask away :)

I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the coolest people EVER through aid stations, organizers of the event, my fellow team racers and crew members! I am honored to say I was apart of a team with them. Sometimes you hit a point where you know its time to move on.

I've been asked would I return?
Never say never- J. Beiber is right.
At this point in my life I want to focus on my career as I study at Appalachian State this Fall.
A few years down the road, RAAM? Who knows- RAW Race Across West (California-to-Colorado), or different team formats such as the 8-person.

It's no secret I prefer to be off road though. I've had some trouble feeling comfortable off road due to head injuries in the past. However since I've moved back to Strongsville my home away from home are the new Royal view Mountain Bike Trails (they deserve to be in caps). I wish I would be able to dedicate more time to assist with the building of these trails in the past few months. I gotta thank you everyone who put in time to make these trails a possibility. Thank you Cleveland Metroparks, CAMBA, and all the awesome volunteers. Most people have visited the trails by now I assume. If you haven't, plan a trip to check them out!

Speaking of these trails....I have been told about the gnomes..hiding in the trails. After seeing the first one I thought I'd add to fun. There's a new gnome hiding under one the many bridges. Have fun trying to locate it :)

With that being said I think some long distance off road events would be a lot of fun.

Today marks 3 WEEKS LEFT in good ole Cleveland, Ohio. Most of my boxes are packed and labeled. Car shopping for a 4 wheel drive vehicle is starting to narrow down to replace POS, Piece of Shit Pontaic Sunfire. My car has been good to me. I will actually- seriously missed it. Not many cars can make you laugh as you sit behind them in an intersection- POS did. It shall leave on for a few months in Strongsville. Feel free to add to the bumper sticker collection that continues to grow.

My garden including 20+ tomato plants and 30+ other plants is coming along too! It has yielded the first round of cucumbers and peppers. Gotta add at least one random statement in here.

If you have a burning desire to meet up with me before I move- contact me!

Next Up..Boone, North Carolina.

Later

May Post

Alright I got some exciting news! To my parent's surprise I've managed to graduate Kent State University with my B.S. in Exercise Physiology!

In three short months I will be moving to North Carolina for the M.S. Exercise Science program at Appalachian State University :)

RAAM is just around the corner and I got a new toy---
The Contour Roam HD Video Camera! I'll be upload videos/clips/photos constantly during the week long race-your-ass-off-across-the-good-ole-U-S-A.

I'll load some practice videos over the next few weeks in preparation.

Later!

Recap March-April

Every semester here at Kent State goes faster than the previous. However, I think my time has come to move on. I write this as my classy neighbors are "throwin down yet another fight in the park lot" yes park lot...as they call it. Like I said, I'm ready to move out of Kent. Not sure IF I'm ready to move back in with my parents for 2 Months?!?! BUT- on the horizon my lease is official. I have a place to live in North Carolina in August not left to sleep on the streets with just my cervelo.

So there's been a lot that has taken place!
(1) I won an award from the Kent State college of Education, Health, and Human Services for my Service and Leadership work! Woohoo!
(2) I graduate from Kent State with my B.S. in Exercise Science on Cinco de MAYO
(3) RAAM, Race Across AMerica, is only TWO MONTHS away from the start on June 16.
(4) I surrender my freedom and move back to Strongsville (for 2 months) beginning in May. I hope to decrease the amount of times I am struck in my hometown this summer....seriously.
(5) My big bro has is wedding shower in July!!!
(6) After I will enlist his help to move me, the six bikes, and the rest of my life packed into cardboard boxes down to Boone, North Carolina.

I've been told I already talk too fast and NEED to slow down... This will be an interesting culture shock. Oh, Saweet Tea (spelling for the "correct pronunciation") will probably replace my obsession with Mexican Coca Cola.

After this weekends wondering weather surprise my cycling tan lines are turning out well (well is a relative term. cycling tan lines are horrible yet I'll continue to embrace it until my raccoon face syndrome is beyond help).

It doesn't look like I'll be doing a lot of racing prior to RAAM due to everything taking place. Maybe one or two thrown in. Time will tell.

Shout out to the cool dude I ran into whose a spinning instructor- small world! Good luck with your upcoming cycling adventures!

Month's Worth of Posts Summarized

Endurance road riding is going well. The Cleveland weather has allowed for some great training.
RAAM is T-minus 95 days?!?!
Set a new pump track record over the weekend up at Ray's MTB Park: 210.
I accepted an offer from Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina for a G.A. position in the Exercise Science Master's Program!
BMX Racing is coming along-another practice night tomorrow~
I'll be selling some more gently used bike parts soon and listing them on here briefly before listing them on eBay.

Life is So So So Good.

Happy Training Y'all.

Sara