The atelier is every bit as tough as I had hoped. By a week into the course I already felt four days behind… Mark is a great instructor and my fellow students are talented, creative, and inspiring. I hope to be able to continue my own work during this period; I know it will improve.
Archive for September, 2007
Crack the art whip
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007Track Natz
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007I just got back from Master’s Track Nationals, and was it ever a blast!! Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown is a great facility! It felt like the big leagues indeed, from the huge grandstand to the lighted display board – now I can finally say I have had my name in lights. The competition was big league, too. I heard this was the toughest women’s field in years, and I believe it. The racing was fast and aggressive. Needless to say, I didn’t place as well as I had dreamed of – but it was good enough for my first year competing at that level, and Marymoor took away our share of the medals. I was the best sprinter of the pursuiters and the fastest pursuiter of the sprinters in my age group. This failure to specialize placed me in the top 10 pretty much everywhere, top 5 in the pursuit and sprint, and 4th in the omnium. I redeemed my points race after the FSA, and would have earned most aggressive rider if they were giving an award. I also raced the team pursuit with my teammate Christiane Rekai, Jane Chateaubriand (Starbucks), and Cynthia Corbett from Texas. We rode a beautiful pursuit if I do say so myself, and won bronze even though – or probably because – we brought sprinter Jane to a pursuit party! Huge thanks to my coach Kenny Williams, who taught me how to prepare for this level of competition – and then supported half a dozen athletes through five days on what appeared to be about two hours of sleep. And of course to my love Michael without whom etc. He provided 24/7 moral support despite a broken collarbone. The entire Marymoor contingent rocked.
Trexlertown infield set up for Natz
The track has a bridge, so racers can cross to the infield during races
Coach Kenny knows everyone, so we had trackside storage for our bikes.
Annette modeling the first of many jerseys she will win this year.
I got on the podium a few times myself
Annette and Jane both on this podium - must have been something sprinty
Teammate Christi earned a medal too
Jane and Donna: the sprinters confer
Team pursuit podium. Not bad for a pickup team!