TranslateTraining has been going very well and I’m excited for Las Vegas to cool off a bit as fall begins. Making sure you keep yourself warm, especially in parts of your body you can’t feel, is very important. You don’t want to have issues with frostbite or hypothermia because it can set you back in both racing and in life. As the year winds down, I have my eyes on what the next year has in store for me...
Handcycles and cycling equipment can be expensive. I was fortunate to be the recipient of a handcycle from Team PossAbilities and it took my cycling to the next level. Without the generosity and support of Team PossAbilities, I would not have been able to purchase the bike myself. After a few seasons of racing and thousands of road miles on my Carbonbike, it was due for some major work. New chain, new chainrings, new derailleur, new chain guard, more...
While I didn’t make the 2020 Paralympic Team, I’m am excited to see so many familiar faces representing our sport. I have been on my trainer as of late so I can watch the events while still riding as the successes of our Paralympic athletes continue to motivate me to work harder and be better. I am especially excited to support fellow Team PossAbilities members Ryan Pinney and Shawn Morelli. Shawn won the first medal for the United States...
This year’s road race was a 32km course that started with a controlled start on a very steep, 8%, downgrade that we would have to climb to the finish line. It was a large rectangular course that was mostly up on two sides and down on two sides. The weather was warm but good for racing and the roads were fast and well maintained. I started off strong and managed to work with others to stay towards the front. ...
The criterium was held in downtown Boise on a great, rectangle shaped, course. Road conditions were perfect and the weather was hot and slightly humid. The race time was pushed back a bit which made everyone try and find a shaded place to stay cool before the event. My plan was to go out hard and paceline with the lead or second group. The plan worked well for a few laps then I fell off the back. I ended...
The Road Nationals time trial was a 15km, out and back, course that was mostly an incline on the way out and a decline on the way back. The road was in good condition, but a bit bumpy, and the weather was overcast with a tailwind headed out. Having been my first race in over a year and a half, I was cautious about going out too hard and blowing up, hurting myself, or damaging the bike. I had...
If you show up to a race with equipment that is not working properly, then it is very hard to be successful. In many instances, you have lost the race even before you started. Even when I do my best to keep my handcycle in tip top condition, things don’t always work out the way you want. I ran one race with a tire that kept leaking air and my spares kept puncturing as well. ...
Training continues as I ramp up to Road Nationals in Boise, Idaho, in July. My power is at an all-time high and my cardio continues to improve as Road Nationals gets closer. The biggest challenge has been the heat in Las Vegas as temperatures are over 100 degrees with higher than normal humidity. The humidity really has an effect on power and overall endurance. In cooler temperatures, the body performs great but in high heat...
Whatever part of the country you live in, the climate presents certain challenges as well as opportunities. While I don’t have the opportunity to train at elevation in Las Vegas, I also don’t have to worry much about rain or snow. In 2020, we had 240 days without rain which gave me a lot of time to get out on the road. With that, however; comes the heat. It can get up to 120 in...
As this year seems to be flying by, my cycling, weightlifting, and nutrition are all coming together nicely. I feel strong and fit and the excitement of a season where races actually occur is infectious. I entered 2021 with optimism and trepidation. I was hopeful that things would get back to normal but was waiting to hear another strain of COVID was discovered and 2021 will look like 2020. Knock on wood…that doesn’t seem to be the case. Races...
