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I am especially excited about this weekend because we have limited to-do events on our calendar so we can all relax some. Chris has early morning exercise activities all weekend and I do tomorrow (extra early) so we will not be able to sleep in as much as we want too but since Saturday afternoon and evening are wide-open we will definitely get a nap in!

Sunday is the Sorella summer party and I am looking forward to seeing all the girls. I talk to the MTB gals on the Sorella forum daily but do not get a chance to talk to the rest of the club as much as I would like too. Enclosed on this post is my forum avatar which I am going to print and bring w so the women can recognize who I am. :)

Chris and Norah are joining me at the Sorella summer party and so is Lesli and Bergy. I am hoping Lesli will join this club and that Bergy meets some friendly single gals who would be interested in riding w him sometime soon.

This weekend is our last non-racing weekend for a long time. We have close to a dozen events thru November and are excited about each because for most we can bring Norah and since they are back-to-back we can use the events as practice.

GA needs rain badly but Chris and I are hoping to get some riding in the weekend to get warmed up for the 8-Hour race which is <10 days away!

Okay, late lunch break is over. Cheers, Lady Dusack

missing my SIL and my nephews!

We have not been to Buffalo since last February (well Chris has not been since 12/2004) and I am missing my nephews, my sister-n-law Barbie and my Aunt Marcia badly. Of course I miss everyone, but these are people who I want to catch up w and love to spend time w the most when I am there. I also miss coffee talk w my brother Jason and my SIL Gina, I think we could have a WHOLE day of coffee talk. Gina always gives me good feedback on child related topics and more.

I am hoping to get up there for a road running event where my brother Josh can join me and may be even rent a bike and hit the trails w Jason! My nephews are playing tennis now and I think that is an incredibly wise choice for sports because it is a sport for life!

Josh and Barbie re-did their kitchen and it looks incredible in the photos. I can't wait to see it in person . I do not want to go to Buffalo in the winter but it would be nice to see the family for Christmas. The winters there are so long, if I wait for it to end it will be May! We are fortunate because my Mom and Kevin get down here to see Norah lots during the year and she looks so forward to spending time w Grammy and Grampy!

future Criterium Contender?

We finally got Norah and her Schwinn Gremlin bike over to the track at Dickerson Middle School. Chris road home from work and met us there. Before he arrived Norah and I went to dinner and did a little shopping. Then I walked the track and the surrounding trail with her for around 40 minutes.

Norah has been hesitant w this bike as it is bigger, has brakes, and she can move faster w it. The whole time we were there I hung w her and it was painfully slow although she did do three extended laps. She didn't have her helmet on so I didn't want to push her to ride harder.
We began to pack up and go, I was wiped out when her Dad rode up. Norah insisted she ride again (wanted to show Daddy what she could do.) Within minutes she was riding the track by herself (at a safe pace; she was sans helmet.) I jumped on Chris' road bike an road around with her. She did incredibly well completing 2 miles and probably all together 2.75 miles.

We plan to get over to Dickerson more for Norah to practice and for Brigette to get use to riding a road bike (I will use Chris' until I get one of my own.) We are all looking forward to the weekend! Cheers, Lady D.

Good-bye to Burley Strollers

Last week Chris purchased a trail bike from a co-worker and today we took Norah to Sope Creek for a spin. She did great! We even fell a couple times and she got up and back on like a pro. She needs to grow into it a little more before she can pedal more effectively but it is definitely helping her to learn balance and strengthen her grip, look forward, steer, and more .

We got home and with our help she took off on her little bike sans training wheels. Now that is going to take a lot more practice but we are happy she is interested and motivated! Happy Sunday and cheers to kids interested in physical activity!

PreK

This entry comes a little late but I had to mention that our daughter Norah started Pre-K last week. She was apprehensive the first two days as she was off for 3+ weeks from camp and walked back into a playground of screaming kids but warmed up as soon as her friends joined up w her. I am not sure about her teacher yet but I will give it time...

We are so proud of her progress in Pre-School and her Spanish lessons over the summer. This year she will start to learn to read!

The summer went by entirely too fast but we have exciting plans for the fall and we both have vacation time for which we plan to take Norah to plenty of fun destinations. Cheers to kids!

In the News

A few months ago Competitor Southeast Magazine interviewed via email. We didn't think much of it because we figured they had much more exciting stories than us. Well yesterday my cycling friend Allison emails me to tell me she's read about us in the rag! We were excited. I located the article online and am off to get a hard copy today. Cheers!

Night Train 12-Hour MTB Race

2008 Night Train 12-Hour MTB Event, Saturday, August 09, 2008, Fontana Village Resort, NC Chris and I competed in our first 12-hour team event. Last time we hit these trails was 5+ years ago and I remembered them messy, challenging, and a little spooky. We got to the resort on Friday, pitched our race pit, met the race crew, and then enjoyed the resorts new amenities.

Saturday morning brought blue skies, sunshine, and 125 or so friendly and fast racers. After a LeMans start we hit Turkey Shoot, a hike a bike section (for me at least) followed by 9 miles of NC single-track, fun, fast, and complete w Papa Bear switchbacks.

The organizers worked for 3 days on that course and did an excellent job. Besides ORAMM this course was the toughest I have raced on all year but it was fun and never discouraging, even for a weak rider like me.

The competition was tough, the kids from Bio Wheels and other Western NC riders were there, nough said...There were 10 DUO teams, not broken out into MM, MF, and etc. Chris and I completed 8 laps and think we placed in 8th spot. Chris came in before cut off and could have gotten in another lap but I asked him not too, I was nervous about him riding that course, in the woods, alone, so dark! I am a wimp, I know!

I am still slow as molasses but I had my best race day all year, no cramps, no soreness, only a little tingling in my left hand making me crazy. I had one fall and I slid out and hit my left arm, which did start to cramp slightly towards the end. Might need to push harder next time.

Patti and Anne, my Sorela sisters were there and they both did well, Patti placed 3rd in the women's solo 12-hour race. Norah had such a great time playing with them.

The event, the coordinators, the swag bag, the swag toss, the free Infinite drink the whole race (yum-my new drink), free beer, two awesome bands, 125+ incredibly friendly and fun athletes, beautiful weather and great location, all amazing, we will be back for it again next year!

Night Train 12 Hour Team

Fontana Village

Fontana, NC

August 9, 2008

Team with Brigette Dusack

Race # 209

8 Laps

13,000 Total Feet of Climbing

(6,500 Feet Climbing each)

76 Miles Total

(38 Miles Each)

11:07:00 Total

(6:25 Brigette, 4:42 Chris)

8/10 Race Class 2P 12 Hour

22/39 Overall 12 Hour