I thought I would give an official Superweek update today and sum up how things have been going. 

I believed I have raced five races so far all of which have been fun and fast and for the most part hot.  I have yet to win a race or for that matter be on the podium but that is okay because these races are hard and the competition is good.  There are still four more races left that I will be doing so I will have to see what happens.

Last night I took part in the Waukesha crit and it was a touch humid and warm.  I don’t mind racing in the heat but I think I was dehydrated before the race even started because I had been sweating for an entire day.  

The previous evening I was the odd man out when it came to getting a fan for sleeping.  There were only three fans and four guys in the house and I was the fourth guy!  I guess I could have slept with Hartman in his single bed but that might bring about some bad rumors.  It was a rough evening and after much swearing, pillow throwing and pondering if lamb was red meat or not (more on that later) I was able to get a few hours of sleep.  I did have to ditch my sleeping shorts halfway through the evening after they became saturated with sweat.

Then before the race last night I had to use the porta-shitter/sauna and I almost died in that thing!  I think for health concerns they should have some sort of air condititioned porta-shitter.  I must have lost a gallon of fluid in the two minutes I was in there but I did come out looking really lean!

I was fine for the race though since Andy Smith did an awesome job of handing me bottles and I was actually able to rehydrate while racing which was fun because it gave me something to do.  Greg was my only teamate there and he made the break and almost lapped the field which was awesome.

After the race I went out to dinner with mom and dad before they drove back up north.  It is great going out to dinner with my parents because I can order steak and not have to pay!  It was great catching up with then after not seeing them since December and they should be back down to watch the races next weekend.

Aside from racing Allison gave me the tour of Bastille Days in downtown Milwaukee the other night.  I was an excellent time and I was able to see the Eiffel tower……I don’t think it was the real one though because it seemed to be a bit small.  I even got to eat a Gyro while I was there which I believe is the first time I had ever eaten one and it was good.  I still don’t know if lamb is considered a red meat…….I am assuming it is? 

Okay, I am getting some looks from the manager here at Panera so I should probably go and buy something.  A diet soda sounds sort of good……but I don’t need it…….right?  I have decided I am never going to quit anything again per say diet soda!  Quit is too definite I simply like to temperarily deviate from the crisp refreshing goodness.

later,g.

Thought I would do a quick update since I finally found some internet.  It is actually rather convient because I am at a little internet cafe while I am washing clothes at the laundry place across the street.  There is even a/c at the interent cafe which is awesome.  Otherwise I do not think I would have stopped sweating after getting out of the shower this morning since it is soo humid!

Speaking of showering I had to do a shave this morning and that includes my arms and legs.  For years I had been shaving my chest hair but I have decided to let it grow out……..until today.  I ended up cracking  in the shower this morning nd shaved my chest again.  I could not take how itchy the shit was and I had to constantly scratch it.  I feel much better now and am more aero so I should race well this evening.

Mom and Dad made it down the race last night and it was great to see them.  Mom always brings me food which is great execpt for the fact that I eat it all.  I also gave mom my digital camera so she can take pictures at the race tonight and tomorrow so hopefully I will have some pictures to post in the upcoming days.

Well, my clothes should be dry by now and I have to get ready to race.

later,g.   

Just when I thought things were starting to settle down a bit I found out today that my credit card has been used fraudulently!  Argh!

I guess I cannot expect too many things to go right at once.  I was on a roll for a bit though.  I completed two Superweek races and had okay legs which was a good sign.  Then yesterday I bought some batteries for the deflated air mattress I was sleeping on and now it is inflated.  The mismatched couch cushions that I had on the hard wood floor were not quite cutting it but the air mattress is wonderful.

Then while checking my bank info at Panera today or actually a few minutes ago I found that there was a $1700 charge on my credit card……..awesome!  I had to cancel my card and now have to fill out some legal forms to get my money back.  To put a postive spin on the situation I do get to cut up my old credit card which will be sort of fun.

Mom and dad are coming down tomorrow to watch me race the next few days.  It will be nice to see them since I have been gone since December. 

It is also Becca’s 24th birthday today so I wanted to wish her a very happy birthday!

I had better get back to the “Tosa TearDown” I think Frank is missing me?

later,g. 

Things have completely gone downhill for me the past few days.  I had been in Madison, Wisconsin staying at the residence of four cool ladies (Steph, Casey, Kim, and April) along with one of the lady’s so-so boyfriend Frank Pipp.  Those were some good days.  There was canned frosting in the fridge (I am not sure whose it was but for future reference I owe Steph, Casey, Kim, or April one can of vanilla frosting) wireless internet, cable televsion, air conditioning, and the apartment was clean.  Oh I also forgot to mention that the apartment smelled girly (a great thing)…….which I think means the apartment did not stink compared to a guys place.

Yesterday that all came to a halt when I made the journey back to Wauwatosa, WI (a suburb of Milwaukee) with Frank to the “Tosa TearDown.”  The “Tosa TearDown” is not a bad place and I actually lived there this past autumn.  However, since I left the wireless internet and cable televsion has been turned off which is terrible.  On top of that I slept on the living room floor compared to my friend’s girlfriend’s bed and there is no a/c.  With no a/c I had the good idea of leaving the door open and I ended up being eating alive by mosquito’s.  Those arn’t zits on my face……just mosquito bites. 

Then to top that off I am no longer staying with four girls instead they have been replace with three guys! Ouch!  I will admit there was a physioball and a foam roller so I was able to do my abs and roll my IT bands this morning.  That at least made the situation bareable.

This evening I got a little respite from the “Tosa TearDown” as Steph and Frank had Wes and I over to her parents house in Delafield for dinner.  The dinner was very delicious by the way guys…..thank you!  The best part is that Wes and I get to sleep in the dark cold but very nice basement tonight here in Delafield….. but of course on opposite ends fo the basement!

Tomorrow is my first Superweek race of the series and here is quick schedule of the races I am doing as Darin had requested: 

July 9: Manitowac, July 10: Alpine Valley, July 13: Shorewood, July 14: Schitz Park, July 16: Bensonville, July 17: Holy Hill, July 21: Kenosha, July 22: Downers Avenue, and July 23: WhitefishBay.

I am going to go and absorb as much cable televsion as I can because I am not sure when the next time I am going to have access to it.

later,g.

I am back in the midwest for the first time since December and it is nice.  I left Sacramento on Tuesday morning……….actually it was more like Monday evening since I had to leave at such a miserable early time.

The first leg of my flight from Sacramento to Denver went smooth except for the fact that my nalgene started to leak in the overhead compartment of the plane.  I must have forgot to close it tightly when I threw my bag up there.

I was half asleep and half awake when I noticed that the “large” lady next to me was holding a magazine above her head.  At first, I simply thought she was nutz but then I realized she was deflecting water that was leaking from the overhead compartment to prevent her head from getting wet. Immediately I knew it was my Nalgene…….Shit!  I opened up the overhead copartment and water was everywhere.  I had to quickly tighten the lid on my water bottle and stash it in my bag and try to pretend like it was not my bottle that was leaking without actually lying about it!  I did not want to deal with the fact that I had gotten everyone’s stuff wet.  In the end it worked out and no one got angry and the leak stopped.

The next leg of my fligth from Denver to Milwaukee went much smoother.  I pretty much slept the entire time which was great.  Frank “the tank” Pipp picked me up at the airport and we headed to Madison for some fourth of July festivities which were fun.  I don’t know if it is just me but for some reason I think fireworks are sort of overrated.  I know they are appropriate for Independence Day but I think I would rather go and watch a “festive” movie at the theater and eat Junior Mints instead of dealing with hoards of loud kids and biting mosquitos.

Here in Madison I am staying at the Steph/Casey/Kim/April/and once upon a time Allison(thanks for letting me stay guys) residence until tomorrow when Frank and I will be heading to the Milwaukee area. The best part about staying here with Steph/Case/Kim/April is that that I am sleeping in my friend’s girlfriends bed!  The only downside is that…….well……..she is not in it!  Seriosly though, Kim has been nice enough to let me stay in her room while she is gone and even turn on the a/c…..thanks Kim and good luck at your triathalon!

Other than that I have been riding a bit and was even fortunate enough to ride with my old training partner El-Joppa yesterday.  It reminded me of the gold old days when I used to beat him to the top of every hill in the area and the only difference now is that I have to wait longer at the top of the hill for him to catch up.  El-Joppa and his lovely wife Jamie (wink, wink) left this morning for North Carolina and I wish them luck in their move.  

The riding around here is awesome but the best part is that all of the gas stations in Wisconsin have cheese. Seriously there is nothing better than cheese curds halfway through a ride.

I wonder what Hollywood is doing in Michigan?

later,g.