Fri 11/01 - Cold N Cough Day 1 - Nasal drip. Yum.
Sat 11/02 - Ignore, ride MTB
Sun 11/03 - Complete Denial. Race Ed Sanders. See former blog.
Mon 11/04 - Sick. Raspy.
Tue 11/05 - Knucklehead goes MTB with fast boy crew. I bail at 45 min. Lungs are singed.
Wed 11/06, Thursday 11/07, and Friday 11/08 - SICK, finally resting. I give up. Dammit, my cold "competitor" took down the Tillmanator. I fought. I tried. It won.
Sat 11/09 - I ride easy in woods. Goal = therapy.
Sun 11/10 - repeat.
I am still not feeling well but I'm inching back to normal health. Man, this cold sucks.
Mon 11/11 - Rest
Tue 11/12 - Easy rollers in the AM
So, many think I'm insane. Why would I push this hard especially when I'm not feeling well?
Some understand my motives.
I'd love to think I would be feeling super well by weekend and ready to race Rockburn.
Maybe I will be. Maybe I'll be at 80-85%.
Regardless, this damn cold competitor taught me a few lessons the last few weeks.
I have some great friends and colleagues who look after me. They mirror what I find hard to see.
I do need to chill more. Somehow. Ideally without a cold bug "putting me down."
I need to ride for fun more. Play dates and no goals make things fun.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Ed Sanders 11-03-13
Hmm. What I learned this week:
- racing with a chest cold is probably not the best decision but I missed racing after my Cancun long wkd trip
- racing with a cold freaking hurts even more
- racing with a cold guaranteed that I would sound like a Kathleen Turner on Monday morning. A Kathleen Turner who smoked a few packs of cigarettes and boozed it up all Weekend. Yeah seriously raspy husky voice.
Oh well. After racing with my cold, I took it easy this week....and it looks like I'm choosing to bail on this weekend's racing so that I can pursue and maybe realize some r&r. Although I foresee some mellow woods time... ;-)
Your hard headed CX racer Tillmanator!
Pix from Ed Sanders:
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Cancun
Crazy week leading up to Cancun.
Wednesday 10/23
After doing my 6A before sunrise road ride, Tracy told me my passport expired. Thankfully she had a whisper in her mind that AM telling her to pull the passports out in preparation for our trip. Emergency trip to DC in lieu of work that day. Got my passport. Sigh. Could have been much worse had I discovered that boo-boo Friday morning at the airport.
Thursday
Back to work one more day before our trip. 2:30P during a project team meeting. I fell out. From totally ok to feeling like I was going to pass out. Lightheaded. Slurred speech. Hot flashes. Cold Chills. Emergency trip to Patient First. After a few hours, I was released and cleared to go to mexico. Doc even told me to extra chill with the help of a few adult bevys. What a day? What a week? I have a habit of ignoring early warning signs from my body. T now says my body goes to extreme measures to get my effin attention.
Friday
Left house at 6:30A for our AM flight. Beltway was jammed clogged so this time it was an emergency get off the flippin' highway and take the backroads. Added an extra 30 min but made it in time to check in and relax a quick second.
Flight left and we arrived Cancun 12-1p their time. We expected a private car to have a Tillman/Pafel sign at the airport exit based on our trip last year. No sign. Tons of taxi drivers. Tons of other locals with signs for other travelers.
Emergency cell phone call (thanks to a local) to the hotel. They were showing our reservation for the trip was cancelled. ***SIGH***
At this point, we told local cell buddy to hook us up with ride to the hotel so we could speak to our Mexican friends in person and try to figure out what the @#*%^ was going on.
Told T I must stay chill or my arse was going to end up in a Mexican hospital. :-/
We arrived and the hotel was "already on the case" for us. 4 STAR mega service. 2 hand massages for each of us and 2 margaritas and we started to relax.
Just a bumpy start, wouldn't you say? Just a tad.
Friday - Saturday - Sunday - Monday AM
Cancun. While the weather was not perfect with intermittent rain and mega storms and partly cloudy skies in between, we made the most of it. The food was amazing. I had dessert with EVERY meal. I had cocktails starting very early in the day *wink*.
I made the decision early to try to do things I normally don't do. Chill. Eat. Drink. Repeat. Then Repeat again. It was nice. No more emergencies during this part of our trip.
Monday
We left the hotel around 1030A. Our quick trip quickly came to an end. At the airport about 30 min prior to boarding time, Air Tran announced that the flight was cancelled. Hydraulic hose broke. No more flights back to Baltimore (or the U.S.) that day. Emergency hose was called in and was expected tomorrow. 103 passengers. It took a little while but Air Tran did ok. They arranged buses back to Cancun and a hotel, the RIU.
While we really expected to be back in our cozy home with our furballs, we made the most of it.
We bonded with our 103 new friends at the hotel and drank Dirty Bananas while cheering the Cardinals in the World Series game.
Tuesday - extra morning
We were on the 2nd flight for Baltimore that day (1 of 2) at 2:00P. That meant we could enjoy most of the morning out in the sun. We suited up and enjoyed the first amazingly sunny day of the trip. :-)
Back to the airport by noon and this time, our flight took off. No emergencies. Thank God.
We got home around 10P. Finally! And we got Air Tran to comp us 2 more round trip air tickets.
Next Trip.
LONGER, maybe 5 nights...
And we're thinking Dominican Republic in February.
Wednesday 10/23
After doing my 6A before sunrise road ride, Tracy told me my passport expired. Thankfully she had a whisper in her mind that AM telling her to pull the passports out in preparation for our trip. Emergency trip to DC in lieu of work that day. Got my passport. Sigh. Could have been much worse had I discovered that boo-boo Friday morning at the airport.
Thursday
Back to work one more day before our trip. 2:30P during a project team meeting. I fell out. From totally ok to feeling like I was going to pass out. Lightheaded. Slurred speech. Hot flashes. Cold Chills. Emergency trip to Patient First. After a few hours, I was released and cleared to go to mexico. Doc even told me to extra chill with the help of a few adult bevys. What a day? What a week? I have a habit of ignoring early warning signs from my body. T now says my body goes to extreme measures to get my effin attention.
Friday
Left house at 6:30A for our AM flight. Beltway was jammed clogged so this time it was an emergency get off the flippin' highway and take the backroads. Added an extra 30 min but made it in time to check in and relax a quick second.
Flight left and we arrived Cancun 12-1p their time. We expected a private car to have a Tillman/Pafel sign at the airport exit based on our trip last year. No sign. Tons of taxi drivers. Tons of other locals with signs for other travelers.
Emergency cell phone call (thanks to a local) to the hotel. They were showing our reservation for the trip was cancelled. ***SIGH***
At this point, we told local cell buddy to hook us up with ride to the hotel so we could speak to our Mexican friends in person and try to figure out what the @#*%^ was going on.
Told T I must stay chill or my arse was going to end up in a Mexican hospital. :-/
We arrived and the hotel was "already on the case" for us. 4 STAR mega service. 2 hand massages for each of us and 2 margaritas and we started to relax.
Just a bumpy start, wouldn't you say? Just a tad.
Friday - Saturday - Sunday - Monday AM
 |
| View from our Room |
 |
| Skies were a tad threatening but dammit we enjoyed our beach time |
I made the decision early to try to do things I normally don't do. Chill. Eat. Drink. Repeat. Then Repeat again. It was nice. No more emergencies during this part of our trip.
Monday
We left the hotel around 1030A. Our quick trip quickly came to an end. At the airport about 30 min prior to boarding time, Air Tran announced that the flight was cancelled. Hydraulic hose broke. No more flights back to Baltimore (or the U.S.) that day. Emergency hose was called in and was expected tomorrow. 103 passengers. It took a little while but Air Tran did ok. They arranged buses back to Cancun and a hotel, the RIU.
While we really expected to be back in our cozy home with our furballs, we made the most of it.
We bonded with our 103 new friends at the hotel and drank Dirty Bananas while cheering the Cardinals in the World Series game.
Tuesday - extra morning
We were on the 2nd flight for Baltimore that day (1 of 2) at 2:00P. That meant we could enjoy most of the morning out in the sun. We suited up and enjoyed the first amazingly sunny day of the trip. :-)
Back to the airport by noon and this time, our flight took off. No emergencies. Thank God.
We got home around 10P. Finally! And we got Air Tran to comp us 2 more round trip air tickets.
Next Trip.
LONGER, maybe 5 nights...
And we're thinking Dominican Republic in February.
Monday, October 21, 2013
DCCX
I was looking forward to racing DCCX all week.
Saturday, I did my race openers in my favorite place, the woods. I head out on my geared mountain bike with the boys and played. It was so much fun. No real goals, just not to over-push myself....which in and of itself can be tough.
90 minutes of woods time was perfect. It was exactly what I needed.
On to Sunday...Mom, aka Mominator, met me at my place and we were out the door by 815A. The women elite race was at noon. I arrived with plenty of time to pre ride the course a few times. The course was typical DCCX-awesomeness. Dry. Fast. Tons of turns and some nice technical turns. Plenty of off cambers. Punchy climbs. And some hard false flat and road power sections.
Saw Heather H before the race and talked her into racing the Singlespeed race at 2p. Why not double up? I had a "buy" weekend coming up :-).
Women's race had some solid competitors in the mix. It was wicked start off the whistle, as usual. I did ok (still need to work on my starts....ah) off the start. I was able to hold on and claim a few positions before finding 10th place. For the remainder of the race, I had 9th in my sights, close. And 11th was yo-yoing off my rear wheel and holding on. We were a solid trio. Great race action within the race.
On the final lap, I knew i wanted to blow out my matchbook and make moves that would stick and get me 9th. I made a move after the start/finish area and took 9th. Our lady friend in front did not like that idea too much and clawed right back in this cat and mouse game to reclaim her spot. I was right there holding strong thinking about the next move.
After the barriers on the far side there is a long sidewalk drag. At the end of that drag you drop off a small curb and fly into a grassy descent. That must have been the place where my race went south. Onward I went still feeling ok. Passed the pit and on the long drag I knew something was wrong...flat. Bah. Right there in that moment, I said goodbye to 10th place and settled into 11th. There was no way I could hold that pace and take turns aggressively when my rear tubular was slopping along. Nothing like riding road or bumpy sections on a rear wheel with zero pounds of pressure. Luckily Webber built me a solid race wheel and it was still spinning true after... on to the story.
The double foul of the day was my idiot self didn't realize the pit was double sided. Yeah, um things to just freaking know, really? yes, really really. Luckily for me I kept 11th to the finish line.
I ended that race super frustrated to say the least. I had a small little vent and moved right along to the idea and emptying my frustration energy in the Singlespeed race. And all in all, an 11th place finish despite that issue was pretty damn good.
Meanwhile - post-frustration in between races, I hung with fellow team mates recapping the race and hanging with my super cool awesome "running" Tillmanator sister, Amy. So cool to have her there cheering me on. She ended up hanging most of the day and took in the cycling sites -- DCCX was def a mix of "hipsters meet punk rockers" scene. (well said Amy)
Rolled up to the line at 2p for the SS race and ended up in 4th row next to the three other women in the all 30-35 man soaked field. Pretty cool?
The goal - spend all my matches. Play as hard as I could. Race my geared bike as a one gear and have a freaking blast. 42-22! It was simple. It was fun. I had a blast. And the beer hand up mid-race was a nice add to the mix.
After the singlespeed race, Mom, Amy and I hung out for awhile and enjoyed the amazingly beautiful Fall day.
Sunshine, good friend, family and solid racing. Life is sweet. And in the end, it is just a race.
Special thanks to my favorite PB, Djordje. My crew and I love him!
Saturday, I did my race openers in my favorite place, the woods. I head out on my geared mountain bike with the boys and played. It was so much fun. No real goals, just not to over-push myself....which in and of itself can be tough.
90 minutes of woods time was perfect. It was exactly what I needed.
On to Sunday...Mom, aka Mominator, met me at my place and we were out the door by 815A. The women elite race was at noon. I arrived with plenty of time to pre ride the course a few times. The course was typical DCCX-awesomeness. Dry. Fast. Tons of turns and some nice technical turns. Plenty of off cambers. Punchy climbs. And some hard false flat and road power sections.
Saw Heather H before the race and talked her into racing the Singlespeed race at 2p. Why not double up? I had a "buy" weekend coming up :-).
Women's race had some solid competitors in the mix. It was wicked start off the whistle, as usual. I did ok (still need to work on my starts....ah) off the start. I was able to hold on and claim a few positions before finding 10th place. For the remainder of the race, I had 9th in my sights, close. And 11th was yo-yoing off my rear wheel and holding on. We were a solid trio. Great race action within the race.
On the final lap, I knew i wanted to blow out my matchbook and make moves that would stick and get me 9th. I made a move after the start/finish area and took 9th. Our lady friend in front did not like that idea too much and clawed right back in this cat and mouse game to reclaim her spot. I was right there holding strong thinking about the next move.
After the barriers on the far side there is a long sidewalk drag. At the end of that drag you drop off a small curb and fly into a grassy descent. That must have been the place where my race went south. Onward I went still feeling ok. Passed the pit and on the long drag I knew something was wrong...flat. Bah. Right there in that moment, I said goodbye to 10th place and settled into 11th. There was no way I could hold that pace and take turns aggressively when my rear tubular was slopping along. Nothing like riding road or bumpy sections on a rear wheel with zero pounds of pressure. Luckily Webber built me a solid race wheel and it was still spinning true after... on to the story.
The double foul of the day was my idiot self didn't realize the pit was double sided. Yeah, um things to just freaking know, really? yes, really really. Luckily for me I kept 11th to the finish line.
 |
| My Tillmanator Sister, Amy |
Meanwhile - post-frustration in between races, I hung with fellow team mates recapping the race and hanging with my super cool awesome "running" Tillmanator sister, Amy. So cool to have her there cheering me on. She ended up hanging most of the day and took in the cycling sites -- DCCX was def a mix of "hipsters meet punk rockers" scene. (well said Amy)
 |
| Photo Credit ~ Carla Williams |
 |
| Photo Credit ~ Bruce Lindsay (Singlespeed Race) |
 |
| Mominator, Tillmanator x 2 |
After the singlespeed race, Mom, Amy and I hung out for awhile and enjoyed the amazingly beautiful Fall day.
Sunshine, good friend, family and solid racing. Life is sweet. And in the end, it is just a race.
Special thanks to my favorite PB, Djordje. My crew and I love him!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Pre DCCX thoughts
Work has been busy and getting busier. Life in general has been hectic. It has been a daily practice to stay Zen, in the moment, and prioritize renew time.
I just signed up for DCCX and I am looking forward to this wicked fun race before jet-setting to the beautiful, tropical and super calming Live Aqua (all inclusive) resort in Cancun.
7 weekends in a row of 'cross racing + busy day job = time to check out.
Cancun....
I just signed up for DCCX and I am looking forward to this wicked fun race before jet-setting to the beautiful, tropical and super calming Live Aqua (all inclusive) resort in Cancun.
7 weekends in a row of 'cross racing + busy day job = time to check out.
Cancun....
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Tacchino Cyclocross
Stressful week felt mega spent and drained
Bailed on racing Saturday
slept till 10a instead...
Saturday with Tracy was a nice way to renew.
Weather this week brought many inches and inches of rain
Mega wet
Lots of rain makes for lots of wet grass and mud
Serious 'cross conditions
Bringing low key low expectations to 'cross means more fun
ZenJen
Being Heckled while you race
Smile and stick out my tongue!
Laugh.
Riding in the mud
I'm squirreling
and grinning
Rewarding one self post race
sharing Belgium ales
and stories
sharing good times
Sipping my beer, I hear "Tillman" on the announcer's speaker...
Turns out I took 5th today
I'll take it!
:)
 |
| The Orange C3 Crew! |
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Local Weekend of hotter than hell racing in October
Saturday: PsychoCX in Sykesville Md
90 degree temps and a punchy course left most of our race field with chills (heatstroke) during the race.
The race takes place on the Springfield institution property -- a bit creepy having vacant brick institutional buildings throughout the race course.
A small fumble wreck early in the race put me in 4th place and gaps grew from there. I finished in a sprint to the finish against the young, 18 yr old Glamour Hammer, Ginny Jeppi, hot on my heels. I took 3rd place.
Sunday: Hyattsville CX
Tillmanator support, Djordje (George) and Mom, came out to support me. It wasn't quite as hot as yesterday but still warm especially for October.
I got to preride a few times with Cheryl Sorensen, 100 mile NUE champion -- and damn good CXer too! It was fun following her lines, super smooth in all those turns.
Race was fast from the whistle with some major hustle to build gaps right away. I held on to the lead group into the first half but just didn't have the rocket fuel to hold their speeds. I was 5th into the technical woods section and wanted to ride the hairpin off cambers and punch the short climb over the roots. While I executed this well, the faster move was to run the inside line, hustle up the hill, and remount. Carla showed me this first hand takin my 5th spot. She, and her rocket powered legs, took me to school on those fast flat sections. Ouch! It hurt as I "tried" to catch. Well done Carla!!
The woods, thanks for the pix Tammi!
I took a bottle for this race after ehat stroking yesterday. I held 6th for the rest of the race.
It was a super fun day & it was a good day to be outside and taking in all the cyclocross community fun. I love this sport and I am truly in awe of my fellow racers. Really cool, fun and diversely interesting people.
But really, can we please have just a little cold....
:-)
Grateful tidbits from the day:
- mom mega spectator
- awesome pit crew
- cheers from so many, especially training partner Tammi!
- cheers from Jenn Maxwell and Libbey while racing, how cool?!
- prerides with amazing humble cool athletes
- drinking a beer and cheering the Bs, esp those 2 crazy women in that race
- post race brain fail shared moments w Traci from WV
- and my best love waiting @ home with dinner for me and my Tillmanator Mom
Yeah, life is sweet
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