Altarum Cycling Team
Check it out - four of my teammates are down south racing in the USA Crit Series opener "Speed Week" - and not only are they racing great but they were also featured in the news.

Some of the team goals that Kate and Dale are referring to is some elementary school programs we are putting on in conjunction with our sponsor, The Altarum Instititute for Health Systems Research. This Friday those of us who weren't out racing at Speed Week went to Payne Elementary School in Washington, DC to show them about bike racing and what it takes to be a pro cyclist. They bought into it like we were rock stars (I'm sure we impressed them with our spandex - we wore our full cycling team kits. I think that my pregnant belly was looking especially impressive in that spandex.) and it made for eager participation as they moved around to our different stations to learn about things like bicycle safety, aerodynamic equipment, nutrition, racing tactics, and strength training. It was successful and fun - the kids gave us a lot of enthusiasm, interest, and energy - but man, kids are exhausting!!! I wrote a full report about the event on our team blog - http://www.ateamcycling.blogspot.com/.

Even though I'm missing out on the fun of racing with this great team this year, I'm enjoying staying on with them in a supporting role this year. I went out to team camp last month, and even though my doc asked me to lay off the extreme distances, it was still a blast to go out for half of the training rides with the team for a couple of days. We went out to WV, a mountain climbing cyclist's paradise. It was so rejuvenating to get away from the city, be in the midst of good friends, teammates and bike-talk, and ride up and down and all around in the clean fresh spring air. Those are the best parts about cycling anyway, even if I do miss the competition, lung-searing, and leg-breaking side of it. Since I can't race this year and am just playing a supporting role, I thought up what I always wanted most when I was training and racing hard and offered that to my teammates - post ride massages! I brought my full massage table and did my best to give them what every athlete needs. I'm such a believer in the healing power of a good massage. Plus, Michelle has this team so put together that I can hardly find other ways to be helpful besides just saying "Go Team!". I'm not sure exactly why it is so important to me to stay involved, but I guess I just think it's easy once you get pregnant to ditch everything about your old life, and I don't want to lose sight of the activities, lifestyle, and people that have added to my happiness and for so long. Yes, change is inevitable and I will embrace that, but you still have to stay true to yourself if you are going to be happy. I already have my sights on a baby carrier that converts from running stroller to bike trailer to cross country ski trailer (how cool is that??!). Hmmm....I wonder if I get a dog team of huskies if they can just pull the baby around for me during the winter while I just ski next to them? That would be awesome.

p.s. Thanks to everyone for your great advice in response to Rob's "Baby stuff" question. We need all the advice we can get right now!