Injuries again & Bakersfield

So I got hurt last saturday pretty bad...Decided that I could still race the national in Bakersfield, more on that in a second. Decided to hit up Roseville for some practice before the US Nationals..fine tune the gates, race, and see if I've improved at all. About 6-7 gates in I'm discussing with my boy Sutter his chain breaking earlier in the day. I tell know how it feels, havent broke one in awhile, but had the chain pop off bout a month ago. Get up on the gate, got a lil jon song on the ipod, snap...and then just before the roller my chain snaps and I'm told I face plant the roller. Few seconds later I hear people saying my name, think my eyes are open but see nobody. After I catch my wind *knocked it out of me of course* things are blurry, I'm dizzy, and feeling like dinner was about to reappear. They get me off the track...Time to access the damage...everything on the left side hurts along with some ribs and chest. Stick around to watch motos with my vision still fuzzy and still feeling really dizzy. Me and dad make the drive home and then I get taken to the ER. Not sure how many thousands that's going to cost me, worry bout that later. After 5 hours in there the outcome was...Seperated Left shoulder, Concussion-obviously, bruised ribs, bruised sternum, left elbow *previously broken* is swollen and hurts to move, hip is swollen, knee is jacked-walking normally wasn't an option, and yet again the ankle is jacked up along with my right shoulder *11 years ago tore it up pretty bad havne't had the surgery to fix it yet* Just my luck that I once again get hurt....2009 is tearing me up...

Got to Bakersfield late friday night, feeling sore, little sleepy, and hoping it was going to work out. Got a little bit of practice, it was pretty extreme pain the whole time. 1st round it was feeling semi decent for about half a straight then I hit a jump and it was over. Shoulder is pretty trashed and it was all that i could do to hold on to the bars and make around the track the other 2 laps. It was a pretty rough day for me and I'm feeling a lil defeated, but what can you expect with a separated shoulder? Made the smart choice to stick to spectating tomorrow. Gotta get healed long enough to actually get some riding time in and training. The next national for me is two months from now which leaves me with ample amounts of time to get stuff handled.

Here I am 3 full weeks after the incident and I'm still having shoulder pain, knee issues, and my ankle is probably permanently screwed up. I've been able to stay off my bike for 2 full weeks, no training, and basically been relaxing and finally trying to heal up. Figured that Monday I would get back to training slowly, work back to riding and just take it day by day. Roseville is my next national since I had to skip fresno this weekend. I'm pretty bummed to have missed this one because I really wanted to hit up that track. But being 100% for once this year will payoff in the end. Gonna start working on getting my skills back now that the bike is pretty dialed in thanks to my legit team manager. Bout time randall (yes i named my bike) starts riding smooth and quits tearing me up

shout out...

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nickdawgs latest ramblings lol...you know i love ya buddy!!

new outlook

So for the past few months I've been stuck in negative land with thoughts of all the bad that is currently going on with me right now. But the past few days I've decided to just let it go. Things will happen how they are supposed to and when they are supposed to. The more I try to fix it the worse it's going to get...so now I'm putting my energy towards riding. I've got some big races coming up that I really need to improve some scores on. Gotta get to the track more, get to training, and focus. Get my mental game straight. Bakersfield *or as we call it bakerstucky* is the first weekend in May..going to have some tough competition going on there for me again. Right now I'm sitting pretty at NAG 3 on both bikes...but I know bethany will be creepin up on me at any moment lol. Gotta get some wins or 4 is as high as I'll get this year! Photo below complements of photo man dan mooney from redmond oregon...least he didn't get a shot of me getting smoked!!

The Power of 3

With a last minute effort I got myself a ride up to the Great NW Nationals in Redmond, Oregon. I've been off my bike for nearly a month and have done pretty much no training...not exactly the best combination for heading to a national. In any case I needed some track time and needed to see how the knee and ankle were holding up. 09 seems to be the year of the injury for me, or maybe it's just the year of obstacles.

Friday practice went horrible for me. Wasn't feeling comfortable on my twenty, cruiser felt really off....Track was pretty basic with only the first jump being an issue. I seemed to lose any momentum that I had going for me as soon as I hit it. The crew and me went to a movie, got some dinner, then mellowed out and got some rest for Saturday.

Saturday morning was a hurry up pit stop with my master mechanic Sean to get my cruiser fixed up. I had found out my bars were crooked due to my crash a few weeks ago. So I had to get them straight and then take the gear down a tooth for the Lil track, but the only gear I had was bent. So the entire time I raced in the back of my head I had the feeling I would lose my chain yet again and then add that to my obvious lack of riding abilities and I was one frustrated girl. Ended up with total points on both of my bikes...so put me down for 2-3rds...Adam Finch pulled down a 3rd on his cruiser...and we decided Nick had to keep the 3's going and pull out the 3rd in 19x....had to keep our Lil grands crew on point...With some newly redesigned gates that actually puts him in the mix early on he dodges a ball up in turn one and pulls it out. Cato had some rough luck in 41x and had to watch from the sidelines. Pete was not feeling Oregon's gate and kept hitting it. Saturday's main he got a good snap was was going in hot into turn 1 and hit a wall by the name of Tory Nyhaug...Put him down for a crash.

Sunday was pretty much the same for me. Pain was pretty intense and had to even sit out one round. Adam and myself got 3rds yet again...Cato was in the main and went flying over turn 1 while sitting top 3, Pete tapped the gate in the main and ended up 5th, and nick was in the middle of the ball up and ended up on the ground. Napa Valley (my team) was on fire Sunday with the team pulling down some good main event finishes left and right.

Pro ranks saw the return of Robert Pierce who made both mains and will figure out how things work again and be in the front of the pack. Justin Mclintock was looking like his old self and was on top of the box Saturday and pulled down the 3rd on Sunday. My Lil bro Jesse Langland figured out that training works and was riding like he had something to prove. Put him down for a 4th and a 2nd. Matt Baisley was flying also this weekend 3rd and 1st for him.

Amateur Shout Outs...Sut Dog with the big win in 14x Sunday...he was on the gas and took full advantage of the 1st turn craziness. 12x team mate Donnie Gomez pulled down a big win. Keep your eyes on this kid he's been racing for just 2 short years and has a ton of speed and talent. My girl Meghan Matthews with a 1st on Sunday in class and 2nd in cruiser despite a flat tire...If she keeps putting in the hard work she will be unstoppable. Patty Rich, a Roseville local nailed her first national win on Saturday in 11girls and wanna send her a big congrats.

If you never been to Oregon for this national you should check it out. 200 motos at a non pro event is awesome. Despite the cold weather outside the arena was plenty hot inside...Will be at this one again next year! Next national on the schedule is in Bakersfield, CA. I have a lot of work to do in those 3 weeks to make up for the last month of not training.

Chains.....

So last week I made the last minute decision to hit up practice at the local track. All day I did the dance in my head "should I, shouldn't I?" Well I sure shouldn't have! I got up there feeling a little burnt from the phoenix trip still, but I knew that I had to put in some work so that I could be better for Oregon in April. The night didn't start off well at all either. First I kept hitting the gate, not just a little tap, but full on hitting it. Now I've probably hit the gate less than 10 times the entire 20+ years I've been racing, so this was frustrating me. I take one more and try to slow my timing up even more and hit it again, this time I jammed my wrist. My frustrations were growing so I decide to take a break, then I notice it's not just me, everyone is hitting the gate. So they they finally realize there is an issue...take off the ram to work on it and I decide I'll wait for the gate to be repaired before I ride. After what had to be at least 45 minutes they get going, right after I say to someone " five more minutes and I'm just going home." I go back up, get a decent snap finally, push it at about 70% to the first turn and start to pedal out of the turn when next thing you know I'm laying on the ground....

I was there for awhile, unable to unclip my left foot (which happens to be the side of the ankle I keep reinjuring), my right leg is numb and I can't move it, my shoulder is twitching, and my visor is in my face. Finally with the assistance of 3 other people, I get up and can't put pressure on my right leg....As I roll off the track I realize that my chain is off. I asses the damage to the bike and then myself...Road rash on my knee and shoulder, a dislocated knee cap, and my shoulder is killing me. This seems to be the year of obstacles for me. But I'm going to keep pushing through.

Watched the USAC championships today on go211.com. My boy nick did it up right getting on the podium for his class!!! next stop for him is another podium in Australia when he gets that World 1. I'm calling it out now!!!!! I'm going to do all I can to get myself there as well!!! Oregon in two weeks...gotta do some training

2nd x's three

Last weekend I headed down to sunny Arizona for the ABA Winternationals. I was a little worried that I wouldn't have a class, the track would be longer than my out of shape self could handle, and that there was a chance for rain! We headed out of NorCal Thursday around noon to get on the road. This would have to go down as one of the better road trips I have taken to a national in recent years. It was a lot of fun.

We got in really early in the morning, checked in and got some sleep. Headed out early to check out the track....as always in excellent condition. Was feeling really good in practice and as I looked around saw nobody else in my class =[ Come Saturday morning I was finally able to take a lap on the new 20" and it felt good....except that I needed to tighten up the clips since they were new. So after 1 lap of coasting and 1 actual gate attempt I went and grabbed the cuiser to get some more warm up laps in. We didn't have a 20" class till sunday, but I ended up with total points on my cruiser. I had Miss Shanda from Canada there to compete with....Each race I'm getting a little bit closer and feeling a little more confident. I ended up with a 2nd.

Sunday total points on both bikes....yikes 6 laps....I'm pretty lacking on my enduranace and was worried this was going to kill me, literally LOL. But I rode really well, well by my standards at least. To some I still need lots of work, but I continue to try and improve at each race.

Unfortunately the very 1st practice back from phoenix I crashed pretty hard at the local track practicing and injured myself pretty good. If I could just keep myself healthy well maybe I could do some quality training and get better! Next national is looking to be in Redmond Oregon-I hope!! Hopefully tomorrow I'm feeling better and can finally train again!!

Phoenix....tihs weekend

Phoenix is just a few short days away and I can't wait. Rain is falling here in California snd I'm ready for some sunshine. Hoping that we will have clear skies, no winds, and some warmth. It's looking to be my first attempt at racing both bikeS! I have yet to get used to my class bike, but if I have my own class I'm going for it. Should have a lot of good racing action with black mountain always being a fast track. It's a little long so I better remember to pack some oxygen and endurance. Good Luck everyone who is going....