Poem-A-Day, April 3rd

Today's prompt: "...take the phrase 'Partly (blank),' replace the blank with a word or phrase, make that the title of your poem, and then write the poem."

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Partly Toast

Man, my legs are
toast today
after a week's worth
of hard training.
Although,
we sure got
toasted last night -
maybe that
has something to do
with it.
But at least
my feet
are pretty toasty
in these booties.
And I sure do like
that multi-grain toast
I had for breakfast.

Poem-A-Day, April 2nd

At the suggestion of my poet friend Joannie, I've decided to attempt to participate in Robert Lee Brewer's Poem-A-Day challenge. Of course, I'm starting a day late (April is National Poetry Month), and I have no expectations whatsoever, but I think it will be a fun exercise nonetheless. Maybe I'll attempt to keep all the poems related to cycling, in addition to adhering to the daily prompt. Maybe not. I guess we'll just have to see how it goes...

Today's prompt: Write a water poem.

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The rain cascades down rooftops,
And pounds the sides of cars;
The gusts predicted heavy,
By our forecaster Lars.

"I won't be riding bikes today,
Nor swimming in the Sound.
The weather's just too nasty out,"
She muttered as she frowned.

So hopefully tomorrow
The sun will dry the streets.
This lion is not welcome here,
The lamb brings better treats.

I Can't Sleep

I can't sleep because I keep playing this weekend's mistakes over and over in my head. I can't sleep because I keep thinking about what I have to do to get stronger. To get smarter. To podium. To win. To do my teammates proud.

I can't sleep because my boyfriend gets home from Redlands in 24 hours or less. I can't sleep because my room is a mess but I don't have the energy to clean it. I can't sleep because I keep getting hungry again every hour. I can't sleep because I'm constantly thirsty.

I can't sleep because I keep thinking about life. About change. About living life to its fullest. About setting new goals. About setting real goals. About setting scary goals.

I can't sleep. But I have to try. Eventually, I'll get there. And then morning will come, too soon.

Ravenous

Each race so far this season has taught me a valuable lesson, whether it be about pack positioning, endurance, hesitation or technical skills. But most of all, each race I become more ravenous for a better performance. A higher finish in the standings. A better podium spot for the team.

I can feel my strength. But more than that, I can feel my hunger.

Mixed Bag

This weekend was quite the mixed bag.

Yesterday: Mixed team feelings about race performance, but pulled off 2 payout spots in the end, including a place in the break and first in the pack sprint.

Today: Mixed it up with the Cat 3 Men. Mix of rain and sun all day long. Mixed feelings going into the race (should we even DO this? why don't we just go ride instead?).

But I can feel my legs getting back under me, and my engine regaining its strength, and more. Promises of good things to come.

Early Season Ready

Finally feeling recovered from the lingering cold virus.

Finally really itching to get some more good training in.

Finally ready to find out where I stand among my peers.

Finally ready to stop the traveling for a while.

Let's DO this, 2010!

Sickness and Schedule

Two things that have thrown me off my training lately.

I've been traveling a ton for the last month or so, and as anyone knows, that really throws a wrench in training plans. Some of the travel was actually for training, but some of it has been pure vacation - and thus not as productive for the legs or lungs.

Then, the day I left to go catch some Olympics in Vancouver, I came down with a nasty cold. And now it's just lingering, with this annoying cough that won't give up, which likes to emerge most when I'm trying to sleep or exercise. And intervals? Don't even think about it.

So I'm feeling like a fat, lazy blob, and have no idea what this is doing to the great training I thought I was getting earlier in the winter. At least I've got over a month before the bigger races get started.