Diabeetus

So since I have returned from camp I have been without the FreeStyle Navigator. If you are unaware the Navigator is a continuous glucose monitor that lasts for 5 days. It measures your glucose levels constantly and sends the reading to a little monitor that you can easily carry with you on training rides or doing whatever you do. For me, it has been one of the most helpful training tools that we have been allowed to use with being on Team Type 1. But because of technically difficulties with insurance companies I have been left without sensors. Most do not cover such lavish diabetes management tools which is truly stupid in my opinion. In the long run it can help prevent complications!!! So when they are chopping off my foot & paying to get me a really nice seeing eye dog I'm totally pulling the, "I told you so" card! Well honestly, by that time they will probably have dropped me as a customer & then I'll just be without insurance and really bitter...

Any how hopefully Abbott, the makers of the FreeStlye Navigator hook us up soon with sensors. With all the training I have been doing and spending all last night not being able to sleep because I kept having to eat Dex 4 glucose after spending yesterday in the mountains, I realize without it what a great training tool it is on and off the bike!

Training Time!

So just returned from the 2009 Team Type 1 training camp out in Santa Barbara & Buellton, CA area. It was a blast. The first photo is the view from our hotel balcony. We were really spoiled!

Next is a picture by Team Sports photographer Marco Quezada.
The first 3 days of camp were full on with sponsor commitments. We did a whole day of media training followed by a few days of video & photo shoots. It was exhausting! If only shammy time really was training time.. because I would seriously have three 9 hr days in a row! It was a lot of riding back & forth, stop & go. The next photo is a view of the beach where we had our last photo shoot... I love that view.


The next photo is a bit blurry. (I forgot my digital camera and was left with my blackberry to document the trip) It is of the 2009 kit. Personally, I think they make us look like Buzz Lightyear which is pretty rad. To infinity & beyond!
After the first few days of camp that consisted of all the meetings & what not it was actually time to start training. I was absolutely creaking the first few rides with the team. I guess long days of standing around, being not well rested & eating lots of food that tasted good but not good for you was not the best way to prepare. It was so great to meet all the girls finally & get to see everyone in action. It was pretty impressive to see how strong everyone is. I really think it's going to be a great year of racing. I know that I am going to be learning heaps with all the experience of the girls on the team.

After the 2nd day of training a few of the riders were invited to a school in Solvang, CA to speak to students about the team & what it is like being a bicycle racer. The host cities of the TOC are doing a program where they teach the children in school about bicycle safety and invite some of the teams to come visit. It was really fun. I love hanging around kids. They always say the funniest things & are so creative. After our presentation we signed Amgen Tour of California pamphlets for all the kids. I loved Solvang! You can really tell everyone in the community is very excited about having an event like the tour coming through. A family even invited the womens team to there home one night during camp where we had a traditional danish dinner of ableskivers. They are basically pancake puff balls that tasted like sugary goodness! I know it's hard to spot me because the lack of height difference, but here is a photo...


So after a few hard days of riding we were all lucky enough get massages by our new soigneur Avery May. She is awesome! This winter she went to Thailand & learned Thai massage. It's real crazy.. she uses her feet a lot. At first I was like, "whoa nelly!" but it works really well & felt great.
So I am back in Athens where it's a bit chilly & rainy... tad bit of a change from the beautiful weather in CA.. but I am focused & ready to start buckling down & preparing for the season. It's going to be a long year of learning lots!!