And I'm off... NMBS#1: Fontana, CA, March 29-30, 2007

Yes, it is true! The mountain bike race season has begun. And the great news is that I have landed on a new team. MonaVie/Cannondale. Check it out at MonavieCannondale.com. I am super excited to be a part of such a great team and a great product. MonaVie is a delicious, energizing blend of the Brazilian acai berry, an amazing superfood, along with a blend of 18 other fruits. All natural and very tasty.

I had my first weekend of mountain bike racing this past weekend in Fontana! We arrived in Phoneix on Monday night and rode a few days with our amazing host, Paul Gundlach, getting used to riding singletrack again and to see the sun. It was amazing. But then we had to remember the 'real' reason we were down here.

Our amazing host, Paul Gundlach, and me in my new kit. The lucky tortoise that was supposed to bring me good luck.

Emily and I headed to FONTANA on Thursday for NMBS#1. I knew it was going to hurt, but I really did not think it would hurt as bad as it did. Despite my every effort to pedal faster, I did not have the best XC race of my life. In fact, it was pretty much my worst result ever, but there is only one way to go from here. I finished 27th and although not particularly thrilled with that result, Sunday was another day and a bit shorter of a suffer fest with Short Track. I didn't get pulled which was an accomplishment in itself, but my placing was still a bit short of my goal. 25th. Ouch! A rough start.

The Oregon girls after the XC race, Emily VanMeter, ME, Patty Buerkle.

The start of short track surrounded by a sea of blue.
Suffering, but enjoying it. Short Track.

At least I ended the weekend on a very positive note. Of all things, I made it to my first national podium ever in the Super D! The mass chaotic start was pretty funny, running downhill on pavement to our bikes, then starting the climb. As someone said, there was a lot of 'super' in this Super D and not a lot of 'D'. But I hung on with the leaders until the last power section on the flat where I got dropped. On a positive note, though, I watched both of them walk up the last little climb and I rode it. It may have not been faster, but I had a little bit of pride that I rode it. And finished 3rd!

Super D podium

And with that, the first weekend of suffering was over! And back to Arizona to ride a bit more before doing it all again next weekend. Wish me luck!

Oh, and not to forgot the Tim update. Tim got a flat in his XC race and almost swore off racing nationally, but with 2 first place podiums on Sunday for Short Track and Super D, he is convinced to at least come to Arizona this next weekend. And why not? The weather is nice.

Tim's Super D podium. He missed the short track one b/c he was doing Super D. Oops.