Chula Vista, CA-OTC

This event had a lot of hype late in the year after it got added to the schedule. Most expected a large turnout and moto counts topping the high 200's. Running in conjunction with the ABA national was the UCI SX race on the big kids track. Rolled down with Patty Metzger and Alyssa Canervari Thursday and stopped for the night in Los Angeles to stay at Ellie house and then continue the last 2.5 hours down down to Chula Vista. Was a quick trip on the first leg..no traffic, didn't get lost, and it was good company. Got to roll through part of Hollywood, never seen so many billboards for movies, tv shows, and products as I did here. Crossed by a few popular streets, saw the Kodiak Theater, apparently missed seeing a few other things cuz I had no idea what I was looking at or for. Didn't get much sleep but up early to roll down to the OTC. Hit almost no traffic in a very un socal way and got there just in time for Alyssa to roll down to her practice. Patty and I were just behind here for 20" and I must say, I loved this track!! It was fast, fun, technical, and had a larger starting hill than typical nationals.

I left the cruiser at home this weekend to try and focusing on getting the last few points I could to hold onto my top 5 nag. We were shaping up to have 5-6 riders in 28&over, a nice change from out total points. Friday night went over and watched time trials on the SX track. What an experience. The track is huge, pictures do not do it justice at all. Made some new friends =) left early to go get some rest since Saturday races were starting so early. Saturday had 167 motos, lite for sure. I had 5 riders and no hope after 2nd turn. The rhythm was killing me and I was getting passed like I was just stopping to let them by...Frustrated and took 4th. Was not psyched. Patty doubled, Ellie won, Alyssa was in the mains and rode well,Ashely Cohen & Porter made mains, Robo made the main, nick got moto'd-how I still don't know what he did that!. Dinner, rest, and then back for the SX race. Lots of action, lots of crashing, and lots of fun. Best way I can describe it. Skipped the after party for sleep, odd for me I know...But had another early day and a long drive home after.

Sunday went quick with only 155 motos I belive. Robo in the main again, Nick in the main, and I made the main and got 3rd-2nd slipped through my fingers again, Cohen & Porter in the mains again, Patty doubled, Ellie won, and Alyssa did awesome. Brendon crashed and was beat up and pissed off all at once...he'll be back and ready to win at lancaster I'm sure! Good weekend, lots of sun, and lots of memories!

Next up is Atwater for the Redline Cup Finals this weekend. Let's try to get the plate for once!! No more 2nd's~!

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go211.com

So I am coming off a pretty lame weekend. Been feeling burnt since Reno and just haven't been up to par...All weekend was spent with power outage after power outage because of some freak out of nowhwere lightening storm that hit saturday. A total of about 5 outages for a total of 10 hours. Was not psyched either about the rain that crept in last night, however the sun is shining right now.

Well this morning I wake up check out the emails and there is a little message telling me that I just won a GT from the go211.com Q&A with Arielle Martin. My question was in regards to being injured...for actually question and answer go check out the site and read!! I'm pretty psyched that I just won. It's the 2nd bike I've won this year and I never win anything!!!

Chula Vista this weekend. The boss told me to only race twenty and so that's what I will do. Cruiser can only be helped with a win..and I know the competition will be rough down there because I have a sneaky feeling that I will be combined with the younger/faster girls. I'm just happy to be going and to have the chance to see the SX race up close and personal. Going to make sure I actually take the camera out for this race and get some memories!!

Reno..Reno..Reno

Rolled into Reno Friday around 1pm...Was feeling the psych of being back at a national. It had been 4 months since the last one and well that one sure didn't go well as I was injured! Was anxious to get over and take a look at the track and see if they had changed things up for once...they did. Typical layout, some of the usual jumps, but there were a few surprises. Mainly on the 2nd straight the lip to step double *or at least that's how i would explain it* looked to be causing problems for many.

Hit up my practice on my twenty took one lap and had to quit. My bars moved, seat messed up, and was not about to ride like that. Took it back grabbed the cruiser and got back in line. Was having a little bit of an issue with the gate, my timing was off, but quickly figured it out and got back to a solid practice. Headed back to the hotel, dinner, and then some people watching at the trusty corner bar. Those who have been to Reno know that this is the spot at the Grand Sierra to see pretty much anything. Headed off to bed to try and get some sleep, no luck. Got about 4 hours of sleep before it was time to go hit up practice.

Day 2...Practice was going alright on twenty but realized there was a small chance that after first round there would be a few modifications done to the bike. Cruiser practice went well, was getting good gates and down the first straight better. Motos were posted, total points on twenty and 5 riders on cruiser. Got combined with the younger class-no hope of that win I wanted. First round on twenty went horrible...gear was too easy, bike felt too big, and just had nothing. Cruiser went just as badly. Did a gear change and bought a smaller stem for the twenty, got 2nd in the next round and finished the day with the 2nd overall. Cruiser I wond 2nd round and then had a photo finish at the line that went my way and ended up with another 2nd. Still not sure how I pulled that off as I had nothing left down the last straight and just felt pretty garbage. Early night.....

Day 3...Woke up feeling like I was completely drained, no energy, and just all around not feeling well. Was trying every thing I could to wake up, gain energey, and pray I could make it around the track 6 times again. Twenty went well I went 2,2,2...Tried to conserve for my cruiser race as I knew I'd be in for a battle for 2nd again. Behind the gate I was feeling stomach pain and lil dizziness but tried to focus on whatever song was playing on the ipod at the time. Gate drops I'm in 2nd pretty much till the last turn then I get passed and try with every ounce of energy to get her back but couldn't. I don't really recall passing the finish line though.

Came off and collapsed. Something was not right. My heart was racing, I couldn't see, I was dizzy, nauseous and all around feeling like I was about to fully pass out. My arms and legs were shaking and I began to panic on top of everything. The paramedics run over and begin to check me over...Next thing you know I'm sitting at the finish line with oxygen, a heart rate & blood pressure through the rough and being told I needed to be moved to check me over more in depth and possibly call an ambulance. Once inside their van I was having vitals checked over every 5 min, on oxygen, told I was feverish and that the ambulance was on the way. I spent the entire mains in the ambulance on oxygen, ekg maching, heart monitor, getting blood sugar checked, etc. In the end they established that I was severly dehydrated. On the way out my heart rate was still at 125-130, which is were my heart should be while exercising not sitting there. Pretty scary experience.

Reno turned out better than I coulda hoped with all the time I've had off the bike. Used this past week to recover and just get the must neeed rest. Tomorrow I go back to the grind and get ready for the Chula Vista national at the Olympic Training Center. This will be rough, longer track, more technical, and the possibility of not even having my own class. I'm up for it though. Finally moved back into NAG 5 challenge territory on the twenty and want to hold onto that no matter what!! Two weeks following Chula Vista will be the Redline Cup West in Atwater, CA and two weeks later the nationals in Lancaster, CA.

Time to start getting serious. Grands will be here before I know it and I really want to go win. It's going to take a miracle, hard work, and me being committed. And that's just to get there!!!