Quick Bike Update

It's two weeks until the end of a crazy semester. This weekend should have been 2.5 days of hitting the books. Instead, JR, Oliver, and I spent Saturday in the saddle. We had an amazing ride from SF up the Northern Peninsula and back down the Pacific Coast Highway. The views (and the climbs) were breathtaking. Today was rough academically, but yesterday was bliss. No regrets! In fact, we'll be back out next weekend.

Oh, and I bought the wheelset...

JR and Oliver at Mile 1

Stinson Beach

My crotch hurts, but otherwise it feels great to be back.

One year ago, I was preparing for my first half ironman. Class was an afterthought, and I was putting in serious miles in Athens and Winder, GA. It's hard for me to admit, but my first year of grad school has crippled my cycling. After the MS150 in September, I hit the road only twice. I'm unsure whether school got in the way or Louie's absence caused it, but regardless, I shouldn't make excuses.

However, that has all changed! For the past three weeks, I have tackled some of the Bay Area's best hills and views. I have been riding Mt. Diablo and Berkeley's Three Bears with two other guys, JR and Oliver. JR, a fellow PhD student in the school of education, and Oliver, a Microsoft man who works in the city and boasts a killer British accent, are both incredibly enjoyable people with intimidating athletic resumes. Our rides have been a thrilling reprieve from academia and a much-needed return to saddle. And I've never been more proud to sit awkwardly in class because my butt hurts from the weekend ride.

For better or for worse, this rekindled love has also stoked my spending bug. On deck, I am upgrading my wheelset!

Not to be out done, Tc, Mom, and Newt have been logging serious miles of their own lately. And Lou and Naomi are racing in Birmingham this weekend... So until later, here's to the joy of cycling!

J.R. and Oliver on Mt. Diablo

"Yeah, like, I don't know, like..."

My father always gets on to me for saying the word "like". Our conversations typically proceed as so:

Tracy: "Okay, so I was riding my bike to class, and, like, I passed this like animal-thing in the road? [Question mark serves to denote inflection] I stopped and this, like, guy came over and, like, started screaming"

Dad: "Stop saying like"

T: "UHHH. Fine. Okay. I. was. riding. my. bike. to. class. and. I. passed this. animal. A. guy. came. over. and....[giggle giggle giggle giggle]"

I preface my attempt at "blogging" with that anecdote because it goes without mentioning all the positive opportunities "blogging" gives those who write and read them (or so I hear). I thought I would add a *NEW* pro: NO MORE "LIKES"! 

Obviously, I can't guarantee any insightfully complex and beautifully flowing pieces of art. I can't even guarantee grammor free postsies.  

In just a few weeks, I will detox myself of many material possessions and transport over to San Francisco. I will finally be geographically nea

r to Leo, after a long long long time on opposite coasts. New school, new friends, new neighborhood, new markets, new weather, new...doorknobs. Who knows. 

However, I AM SO EXCITED!  I would not be so ready for this life change if it wasn't for the support of many people in my life - each has (and is) helping me grow, be strong, learn to love and forgive. There will be "good" and "bad" times in SF, no doubt. What great practice for all the life lessons I have conjured up, and what great opportunity to gain more! When it gets really, bad, I can always call Leo:

Tracy: "Leo, like, I'm having, like a hard time..."

Leo: "I'll be right over!"

Dad in Tracy's head: DON'T SAY LIKE!!