11 weekends 12 races

The Utah Cyclocross season has wrapped up and I still can't believe that I raced 12 times in the past 11 weekends.  That's a whole lot of racing and it brings me up to 35 races in 2012.  Simply crazy!

Some highlights from cross season:

Getting to line up and spend the weekend with some of the coolest girls I know

Nothing like a 45 minute full throttle effort to make you feel ALIVE

Flying through singletrack on skinny tires is exhilirating

37-year old dressing up as a zombie schoolgirl for Halloween and racing a bike.  Awesome!

Killing the Cross out Cancer relay race was a definite highlight! 

Cross is so much fun that I smile even when I'm pegged!

Okay.  Maybe I won't miss the barriers!

Pretty amazing scenery too

Worked hard for my fair share of podiums

And finally, my secret weapon-the loudest cheerleader (or maybe he was heckling me)!  

A few of my favorite things

Some may consider me a little nuts.  I like to consider myself 'proactive'.  Like I've said before I can't control everything that my body is exposed to.  However since this is the body that I get to spend the rest of my life with, and despite the breast cancer I'm still rather fond of it, I try to be kind to it when I can.  I think I've blogged to death about my plant-based diet but my 'pro-activeness' with my health doesn't stop there.  I really do believe that many diseases are becoming more prevalent because of the standard american diet as well as the environmental toxins we are increasingly exposed to.  Thus, being the 'proactive' person I am, instead of throwing in the towel and giving up on all the crap I'm exposed to, I try to do what I can.   As the saying goes, I get to "vote" every single day for a less toxic environment by the choices and purchases I make.  Here are some of my favorite resources and a few things that (post-cancer) I can not live without.

(Note: This is not a comprehensive list and I reserve the right to add to it as I'm sure I am forgetting my absolute favorite thing and I find new favorite products/resources all the time)!

Environmental Working Group (EWG)

EWG is a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.  Their home page states that their team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers, and computer programmers pore over government data, legal documents, scientific studies, and their own laboratory tests to expose threats to health, the environment, and to find solutions.  They provide all sorts of useful resources such as the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database that rates the safety of thousands of personal products.  Did you know that most personal products (lotion, sunscreen, deodorant, shampoo, etc) contain parabens which is a  hormone disrupter that has been linked to breast cancer?  EWG also has a National Drinking Water Database that reveals safety concerns found in public drinking water.  EWG is the source of many of my "informative" facebook shares.  Seriously, check this stuff out!

The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook

Interestingly, my favorite cookbook is not vegan nor does it have any food porn photos, however the Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook has hundreds of whole food, plant-based recipes that are loaded with nutrition and relatively simple to prepare.  I give the recipes in this cookbook credit for my love of quinoa as well as my newfound confidence in no longer needing to follow a recipe to make a killer meal!

Thrive

This book helped me figure out how to maintain a plant-based diet and get the  nutrition I need as a competitive athlete.  It also introduced me to foods like goji berries, chia seed, hemp seed, kombucha, dates, sea vegetables, etc, etc.  Following the Thrive guidelines, it is possible to be a competitive athlete AND eat a plant-based diet.  I have raced over 35 times this year, spent over 500 hours on the bike, not had a single bite of meat, and still feel great.

Vega Sport Performance Protein

As an athlete eating a plant-based diet I am frequently asked where I get my protein.  The answer is: mostly in my food. Depending on the day, I easily get 65-75 grams of protein in my food alone, however in order to ensure recovery from an intense training program, I do take a protein supplement.  Vega Sport is an all-natural, dairy free, gluten free, and soy free plant-based protein supplement.    It goes down just as easily as any (non-plant based) protein drink I've had in the past.

Hammer Nutrition Bars

I try to pack home-made or whole-food nutrition while riding, but when in a bind I grab a Hammer Bar.  100% raw, non-GMO, vegan certified, organic, kosher, gluten-free, no trans fats, no preservatives, soy free (although it is manufactured in a facility that uses soy) no additives, no refined sugars.  Perhaps as good as home-made/whole-food?  Tastes good too.  Need I say more?

Hammer Seat Saver

Typical cyclists (read: folks who have not recently undergone chemotherapy) may experience a few saddle sores a year.  The post-chemo cyclist-more like once a month!  Chemo wrecks havic on your skin making it more sensitive and as I have found, more susceptible to saddle sores.  A chamois cream is a must!  Hammer Seat Saver surprised even me when I discovered it fit my criteria of being toxin free.  Ingredients are natural and the label points out that it does not contain petroleum byproducts, mineral oil, parabens, propylene glycol, aluminum, lanolin, artificial colors, or any other toxic ingredients.  Kudos to Hammer for providing high quality products!

Coconut oil

I already mentioned the post-chemo skin changes.  Not only is my skin now more sensitive, it is also dry.  When not properly moisturized, my skin is so dry that it feels like it will split when I stretch.    I lather on coconut oil up to twice daily.  Makes my skin silky smooth and reduces the dry skin itchies that plague me.  Totally natural too!

Stainless steel water bottles and glass food storage containers

You will find no BPA infested plastic in our cupboards.  All plastics, with the exception of cycling water bottles, have been replaced with glass or stainless steel.   I honestly cringe at the thought of our pre-cancer habits of heating food in plastic containers and putting our water bottles in the dishwasher.

You can never have enough stainless steel bottles or glass containers!

Vinegar

Household cleaning products are full of chemicals and since we're trying to reduce the chemicals in our home we've found that white vinegar is a cost-effective and healthier substitute.  We use diluted vinegar for just about everything including cleaning windows, floors, and counters.

Acupuncture

For all those environmental toxins I can not control, I turn to acupuncture.  I truly believe in acupuncture's ability to detoxify the body.  Additionally, along with exercise and a healthy diet, I feel that acupuncture helps combat some of the unwanted side effects of my current cancer treatment-Tamoxifen.

So that is it for now, but like I said, I reserve the right to add to my list!

Eating healthy and reducing my body's exposure to toxins is how I am kind to my body.  I am not living life scared of a recurrence, I am living life empowered by the choices I make.

Thanks for reading!

A little reflection

The holiday season is upon us and 2012 is coming to a close.  This means shorter days, colder weather, and that the two-year mark from my diagnosis is quickly approaching.  Although I am not planning any particular celebration, it is worthy of a little reflection.

Two years ago, on January 25, 2011, at 35 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Like most young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, it was shocking and unexpected.  My exact staging didn't come until a few weeks later when the tumor was removed and the pathology report revealed Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  2 cm in size, ER/PR+, Her2-, Grade 3 to be precise.  2011 was spent undergoing cancer treatment including 4 surgeries (2 lumpectomies followed by a mastectomy and reconstruction and four months of chemotherapy (Taxotere, Cytoxin).  I am currently 1  year 4 months into a 5-year Tamoxifen regimen-not that I'm counting or anything.  

Cancer treatment is already a distant memory, and while my cancer related posts have dwindled, cancer is still a huge part of my life and who I have become.  I continue to be under the close supervision of multiple oncologists as well as undergoing diagnostic testing every four months alternating between mammogram, MRI, and Sonocine (whole breast ultrasound).  Additionally, my current medication, Tamoxifen, is not without side effects.

Cancer has probably affected me most in the decisions I make every day.  While striving to keep this body of mine healthy and cancer free, I pass on that piece of cake that is sky high on the glycemic index.  I've replaced cow's milk with almond milk.  I make a conscious effort when riding my bike on the road to not suck in car fumes.  I use glass tupperware instead of plastic.  I pay attention to the ingredients in my personal products.  I have converted to a plant-based diet.  I eat organic.  The list goes on.... And while it may seem sad to some that I don't get that piece of cake, I don't find it sad, I find it empowering.   Even though my primary medical treatment (chemo) has ended I feel like I am actively treating my body every single day by making healthy choices.  I do have some control over what my body is exposed to!

The reason I rarely blog about cancer, despite the inevitability of cancer being entwined into my daily life, is because I still consider myself first and foremost an athlete.  An athlete who happened to undergo treatment for breast cancer.  Two years ago, there was a lot of uncertainty.  I remember being scared that I would no longer be the athlete I wanted to be.  I remember being scared for my life.  My story is about taking control of my body, not giving up, and returning to pre-cancer passions.  Sure those fears still sometimes linger.  Sure there are bumps in the road.  And yes, cancer has changed me.  But if there is anything the past two years have taught me, is that it is possible.   Whether it is returning to racing as a pro mountain biker or participating in a weekly group ride or whatever your passion may be-IT IS POSSIBLE!

So for now, this blog is about living a life full of pursing passions after breast cancer.  I can't predict the future, and we all know there are no guarantees, but I hope that this theme lasts a very, very long time.

On a lighter note, in addition to racing cross every weekend, I am back to BMX racing.  Last weekend was the first of a few races I plan to dabble in this winter.   Nothing makes you feel more like a kid than hopping on a BMX bike and throwing elbows with other women over a 35 second effort.  Check out the video.  (I have the red helmet).  I was giddy with excitement all day!

Cross Out Cancer

Last weekend was the 3rd annual Utah Cyclocross Cross Out Cancer race.  The race serves as a fundraiser for Huntsman Cancer Foundation and Livestrong Foundation.  Utahns don't mess around when fundraising for a good cause.  I believe over $10,000 was raised prior to the silent auction.

Turnout for this race is always HUGE and this year was no different.  Over 50 women lined up to race on what was a typical beautiful fall day in Utah.

The course that was set up at Wheeler Farm was fast and tight with very little room for passing.  A good position off the start would be key to a good race.  Because of my consistency throughout the UTCX series I had a front row call up and my start was actually pretty good.  I was sitting in 3rd or 4th position going into the first S-turn and then what I call the perfect storm of bad luck/poor decisions cost me 6-7 positions in just a few short seconds.  Basically I think one of the girls in front of me went into the corner hot and got stopped.  I remember grabbing the brakes and coming to a stop thinking that we'd get going right away.  I was too close to the girl in front of me to easily swing wide so I hung tight.  Well, we didn't get going and I got knocked off my bike while the entire field rode around me.

Off my bike while everyone rode away

I was now sitting in 10th or 11th position and spent the next few laps burning lots of matches to make risky passes.  By halfway through the race I had moved into 4th and could see 2nd and 3rd not far ahead but unfortunately for me I just couldn't close the gap.

I ended up finishing a respectable 4th although I admittedly was a bit disappointed because I wasted good legs and a course that suited me with a silly mistake at the start.

Moving on....I had a second race to focus on- The inaugural Matt Bronco Bradley team relay, which also served as a fundraiser for Huntsman Cancer Foundation.  The team relay was modeled after the Little 500-think the movie Breaking Away.   Okay, if you're not a bike nut you may have no idea what I'm talking about, but anyhow, the rules called for a 4-5 person team with at least two girls.  What made it interesting was that only one bike per team could be used.   We put together a killer fast team (Mark A, Mark F, Ryan A, Jenelle K, and me).  The trick was to figure out whose bike would be the overall best fit for everyone on the team.   In the end, my bike was chosen, with the seat moved down as low as possible so that Jenelle could reach the pedals.  We ensured everyone had compatible cleats to work with my pedals and even practiced our transitions prior to the race.  We were in it to win it and that is exactly what we did.

 I believe there was a little good natured smack talking going on here!

Ryan A. and I had a slick transition

 Mark F. (our anchor) celebrating victory

Podium shot

This format of relay racing was so much fun.  Thanks team for the good times.  My throat was coarse for days from all the yelling and cheering!

Cross

Mountain bike race season ended for me seven short weeks ago.  Since then, I've kept myself busy by racing cyclocross, exactly seven times.  So much for a break from racing!

Cyclocross racing is a completely different cycling discipline than mountain biking.  A cyclocross bike is built more similar to a road bike in geometry.  What makes the bike especially foreign to me is the drop bars as opposed to flat bars that I am used too, however the fatter tires make cyclocross bikes great on dirt and grass.  The races consist of many laps on a short course (1.5-2miles) featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, and steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to dismount and carry the bike.

I know.  It sounds completely ridiculous, but it is ridiculously fun.

So far, I have been very consistent placing either 3rd or 4th at all of the races.

Notice the drop bars and fat (er) tires.  

More importantly, notice the green bar tape matches my jersey!  

 For Halloween I dressed up as a zombie schoolgirl

A double barrier followed by a running bike mount.  

So silly, but oh so fun!  

Dizzy the hound sporting team colors

A butterfly, a bumblebee, and a zombie + 2 dogs

Me and my biggest fan.  Seriously.  Dizzy cheers (howls) louder than anyone!  

2012 Mountain Bike season in numbers

-25 Mountain Bike Races

-25 Top 5 Pro finishes

-Utah State Championship Series Overall Pro women winner

-Midweek MTB Series Overall Pro/Expert women winner

-5 wins

-5 Marathons (50+ mile races)

-428 hours on the bike

-100 hours of cross training

-Lots of good times

August 2011:

October 2012:

One super psyched racer girl!

Interbike 2012

Interbike, held annually in Vegas, is the largest gathering of bike industry products in the country.   2012 was my first year at the event.  Shannon has attended the past four years, however I have never been able to get away.  This year, I decided to make it happen.  It made for an incredibly busy week that went like this:  Work Monday, fly to Vegas Tuesday morning, attend Dirt Demo (where you can ride new bikes on actual trails) all day Tuesday, attend Interbike trade show at Sand's Expo Center all day Wednesday and Thursday.  Fly home Thursday evening.  Work Friday.

Phew.

Running around Vegas doing all things bike with Shannon was totally worth it!

Here is a sampling of some interesting new bike products:

 Focus Raven carbon 29er is a sweet ride

 Stan's NoTubes has all wheel sizes covered including the increasingly popular 650b

 Speed Sleeve makes all sorts of light-weight straps to attach tubes, air, pumps, gels, etc to bike.  

You can even get them custom made with sponsors logo.  

 Okay.  This may only be interesting to me but I rode a bike with a Silverado at Dirt Demo.  

Super comfy, super light.  Perhaps the remedy for my year-long lingering saddle sores?  

 Vittoria makes a super stiff full carbon shoe.  

All shoe models come in 1/2 sizes, women specific, and different sizes for mismatched feet.  

 The Pivot 429 Carbon wins the most fun to ride on the Bootleg Canyon trails. 

 Rock ledges?  Big drops?  No problem!  It goes uphill fast too!

 I think I'm in love with the new SRAM 1x11 drivetrain.  

Crazy since I just converted to a 2x10 last month!

 Magura's front shock has a stowaway wrench in the front axle 

that fits all Magura shock and brake bolts.  Cool!

 The front end of the Look carbon hardtail gets the award for being the most funky.  

 DT Swiss carbon rear shock with lockout!

 Topeak/Ergon Olympian Irina Kalentieva's custom stem/handlebar.  

For a mere $15,000 you can shave 1/2 pound off your bike!  

 Sweetest new helmet: Kali.  

 The Kali helmet comes with a video camera/light mount.  

Perhaps even more importantly, there is enough space to slide a ponytail through the back buckle.

 FiveTen has a sweet lineup of BMX/dirt jumping/casual shoes.

 Barry Bonds stopped by the FiveTen booth and went home with a pair.

The FitWet gets the award for oddest product.  This exercise bike in a tub is reportedly a favorite lunchtime workout in Europe.  Perhaps the next big thing in the States?