Who Needs Sleep?

3,500 SF House for sale in New Braunfels, Texas

2011-07-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

HOUSE FOR SALE
1311 MARYS COVE
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130
3,500 SQ FT

GATED COMMUNITY
ACCESS TO LAKE DUNLAP
BOAT DOCK
UPDATED LANDSCAPING FRONT AND BACK
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
LARGE PATIO IN BACK
LARGE UNDERGROUND SWIMMING POOL
LARGE FENCED BACKYARD
LARGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH VAULTED CEILINGS
REINFORCED CONCRETE STORM ROOM
MASTER BATH HAS WHIRLPOOL TUB
STUDY OR GUEST BEDROOM HAS A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE SHOWER/TOILET
FIREPLACE IN LIVING AREA
SEPARATE TV ROOM
LARGE KITCHEN WITH ISLAND
LARGE DINING ROOM WITH SITTING AREA
CROWN MOLDING
NEWLY FINISHED HARD WOOD FLOORS
CEILING FANS
CHANDELIER IN ENTRY WAY
SPEAKER SYSTEM THROUGHOUT HOUSE FOR COMMUNICATION AND MUSIC
OVERSIZED 2 CAR GARAGE WITH REMOTE CONTROL
LARGE GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS CAN BE USED AS EXTRA BEDROOM
ATTIC
UTILITY BUILDING OR POOL HOUSE IN BACK YARD
POOL HAS NIGHT LIGHTS
NIGHT LIGHTS THROUGHOUT FRONT YARD

2,000 Sq Ft House for Sale in New Braunfels, TX

2011-07-21T07:57:00.001-07:00

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER
1311 OLEANDER DR.
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130

$174,900
3 BEDROOMS/ 2 BATHS
2000 SQ FT
0.25 ACRES
BUILT 1983

RECENTLY UPDATED HOME -- HAS EVERYTHING!

UPDATED LANDSCAPING FRONT YARD
SPRINKLER SYSTEM (FRONT AND BACK) WITH 1" TUBING FROM IRRIGATION METER 2009
LARGE DECK IN BACK 2008
LARGE FENCED BACKYARD FOR CHILDREN AND/OR PETS WITH UPDATED LANDSCAPING
SUNROOM
EXPANDED MASTER BEDROOM CLOSET
CUSTOM MASTER BEDROOM BATH
CUSTOM GUEST BATH
CUSTOM MANTLE IN LIVING ROOM
GRANITE COUNTERTOPS IN KITCHEN
UPDATED KITCHEN CABINETS
STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES
NEW KITCHEN FAUCET AND SINK
BEAD BOARD IN KITCHEN
LAMINATE, TILE AND CARPET
CROWN MOLDING IN ALL ROOMS
RECESSED LIGHTING
CEILING FANS IN ALL ROOMS
BASEBOARDS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT AC COMPRESSOR 2009
NEW INSULATION 2009 ($5,000 ENERGY PACKAGE)
1)RADIANT HEAT BARRIER
2)SOLAR TURBINES
3)36" DEEP INSULATION IN ATTIC
ALL ROOMS HAVE CUSTOM FAUX WOOD BLINDS
ELECTRIC FIREPLACE INSERT
LARGE 2 CAR SHELVED GARAGE WITH WORK AREA WITH STORAGE REFRIGERATOR
OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR OPENER WITH 3 REMOTES
NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT WALL THERMOSTAT
WHIRLPOOL TUB IN MASTER
NEW DOORS THROUGHOUT HOUSE
FRENCH DOORS BETWEEN LIVING ROOM AND SUNROOM
CUSTOM BUILT CABINET IN DINING ROOM
UTILITY BUILDING IN BACKYARD

Natural Bridge Caverns Off Road Duathlon

2010-11-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Jay holding my award because I had to get home to Sofia.

I registered for the NBC Duathlon so that I could force myself to practice running. So one week before the race I started training. Not much time to train but as long as I could get my legs into the run groove, then I would be fine for a slow 4 mile jog.

A bunch of my friends got together to race the various route choices they offered. Of course I opted for the off-road run and mountain bike. It was a 2 mile run, 12 mile mountain bike and 2 mile run.

The race started deep at the bottom of the caverns. It was a steep hike up to the top before I started running. This was definitely the steepest hike I've done since I left California one year ago. (I'm not proud of that.)

Anyhow, Jay and I stayed together through the run and then we started biking. I wouldn't call the path that we rode a "trail." I would call it a cleared path with a bunch of large stickes, roots and rocks. It was the kind of super extreme technical riding that I don't really like. But I did it and I ended up passing quite a few people who had to walk their bikes. I must have made up a bunch of distance on folks because towards the end of the ride the race volunteers were telling me I was the second female going through. Not bad for someone who hardly trained for the run.

I had originally planned to coast the second run but since I was in contention, I decided I needed to give it my all. I ran as fast as I could and ended up finishing first in my age group and second female overall.

I was stoked with the workout and stoked to get a decent result. Guess I should work on my running again.

Mellow Johnny's 6 Hour Mountain Bike Race

2010-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

Lance Armstrong opened up his Juan Pelota Ranch for a 6 hour mountain bike race.

I hadn't really trained much but I decided that the race itself would be some good training so I packed up the bike and headed to Dripping Springs to ride a few laps.

To my surprise, it was 40 degrees when I got there. I had only been paying attention to the chance for rain and hadn't paid any attention to the temperatures. Luckily I had packed my leg/arm warmers, a buff and my full fingered gloves just in case.

The racers started in waves so I was able to watch the pro men take off and Lance was right there. I snapped a cool pic with my brand new Android phone.

It had been a year since I had ridden those trails and they had changed a little so I didn't know how long each lap would take. Turned out it took me a little more than an hour to ride each lap so then I was able to set myself a goal of 6 laps. I had that number in my head and I wanted to reach it.

However, after the third lap I was already feeling tired. I could have easily talked myself into doing 4 or 5 laps since my training had been minimal to say the least. But I toughed it out and kept going. I told myself that as long as I had time, I would keep riding no matter how slowly.

At one point I knew that Lance was going to lap me for the second time so I was watching out for him. I had just hiked my bike up some large rocks and was going to hop back on the bike when I saw him coming. I said, "Hey, thanks for having the race here." He said, "Yup, sure thing." So that was cool. I was glad I got to thank him for opening his ranch to us.

Another cool thing was that I beat Lance! Yup, that's right. How many ladies can say they beat Lance Armstrong in a bike race? So what if he did 4 laps in the time it took me to do 2. He stopped at 4 and I kept going. I completed my goal of 6 laps, I was super happy with my workout and I was super happy with the climbing and technicality of those trails.

Rocky Hill 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race

2010-10-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

Rocky Hill 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race, Smithville, Texas Oct 23-24

Since I hadn't had much time to train, I decided to ride a few laps and also support my friend Ross Willis. I rode laps 1, 3 & 5 with him. Then I supported him through the night. When his wife and sister-in-law returned in the morning, I hopped on the bike and rode laps 14, 15 & 16 with him to finish out the 24 hours.

It was a good workout for me and I was able to give Ross the experienced support he needed to be successful. He rode an excellent race and finished in 3rd place at his very first 24 Solo!

Next up for me is a 6 hour solo mountain bike race and then an off-road duathlon.

Out of the loop...

2010-10-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

I've been out of the loop when it comes to writing my blog. I'm currently doing relatively short races and lots of short training sessions.

I got busy working on building a golf driving range in the San Marcos, Texas area so I've taken all my time to do that.

I plan to get back to more frequent updates sooner rather than later.

Bernice

San Gabriel 12 Hour Adventure Race

2010-04-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Shayne was laid up with a broken thumb and Sebas was busy with work so Ross and I did the San Gabriel 12 hour race together. We started with a paddle on really flat water but about an hour into the race the winds picked up and we felt like we were paddling on an ocean. It was a tough few hours on the boat but we did well together. We had a couple of little nav issues, but only lost a few minutes.
After the paddle, we mountain biked on the gnarliest, rockiest trail I've ever ridden. It was so rocky and technical that we could never relax on the bike. After a couple of hours and a couple of falls, we made it to the Georgetown park. We went on a 6 mile trek around town taking photos of a list of things on our race rules. Unfortunately we didn't bring our trekking shoes so it was tough on my feet to run around in my bike shoes.
We got back on the bikes and had to ride all the way back that gnarly trail. That was tough.
We then went on the final trek and did well until the second to the last checkpoint. It had gotten dark and we failed to find the CP even though we were literally right on top of it. It was hidden under some overhanging rocks below the trail.
All in all we got in a really great workout and had fun racing with each other.

Fiest Wildflower 40 mile Road Ride

2010-04-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ross, his buddy Dave and I decided to ride the Fiesta Wildflower 40 mile road ride. I'm still learning the area so I thought it would be a good idea to join some organized rides. I originally wanted to register for the 100 mile ride but Ross had registered for the 40 mile so I did too. To make it a little more challenging, we rode our mountain bikes. I'm pretty sure we were the only ones there on MTB's but I didn't care. In fact, I was pretty stoked when I passed some roadies on their sleek, light, fast bikes. :)

Ross immediately took off and rode really well. I spent the entire ride trying to catch him. It was a nice day and really nice back country roads with little traffic.

Over all I had a great ride and a great workout.

Eco Lone Star 12 Hour Adventure Race

2010-03-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

We started the race with a 20 minute run that turned into an all out sprint. Of course I'm not quite a sprinter so it sucked for me, but at least was jumped right onto the bikes after that.

Unfortunately within the first 10 minutes, Ross got a flat. Sebas and Shane took to it quickly and got it fixed. We tought that we had gotten our bad luck out of the way...

...But all races don't go smoothly; especially adventure races. Adventure racing is full of the unknown. This time a simple numeral, a digit, a freakin' miscalled/misread/miswritten number is what held us up.

We weren't really supposed to cross this river but we did. We don't know if Sebastian called out the UTM wrong or if Ross wrote it down wrong but either way, it was wrong. So we spent at least an extra hour in the place we had plotted our point only to find that the point was plotted wrong.

The funny thing is that there was another team crossing the river right in front of us which made us feel that we were going the right way. Turned out they had misplotted their point as well. Anyhow, that tiny mistake took lots of time and we ended up racing just to finish instead of racing to place. That really shows how much the navigation means to a race.

Miles of Discomfort 50 mile MTB Race

2010-01-31T16:50:00.001-08:00

I was really looking forward to this mountain bike race. I was finally at full health and getting fitter so I was looking forward to a great long workout where I could really push myself and get in some good training.

I also had my nutrition plan pretty well charted. I was stocked up on all my Hammer goodies and they were planned out to give me everything I needed for a 6-7 hour ride.

Unfortunately things didn't turn out as I had hoped.

It had rained for the past few days and it was also pretty cold. Luckily there was no rain in the forecast for race day but the temps were to start in the high 20s and not get above the mid 40s. I must admit that I have gotten "soft" by living in SoCal. I'm used to riding in sunny & 60-70 degree weather so the cold has been an issue for me in Texas. However, after surviving the 14 degree trail run race I did a few weeks ago, I was able to wrap my brain around the 20-40 degree temps for this bike race and I was ready.

I carpooled with my AR teammate Shayne and his buddy Kyle. When we arrived to the trail head it was 29 degrees. But the feed station was set up and completely dry so all looked good. UNTIL, I realized I forgot to bring my entire food/supplement/water bag!!! I had absolutely no food and water. I was so bummed! I had my nutrition and hydration all planned out and I was ready to go hard on the course because I knew my Hammer supplements would give me all the strength I needed.

So I did what any desperate MTB chick would do, I whined until Shayne and Kyle gave up some of their extra gels, bars and bottles and then I went to the mobile taco stand and bought 2 meat & potato tacos and a gallon of water and then I whined some more until a kind bystander gave me one of his bananas. Well, it wasn't Hammer but it was gonna have to do! It was a minor set back but I knew I could still pull it off.

The Open Men category started 30 minutes early. Rumor has it that the start was moved up so that Lance Armstrong could finish in time to charter a helicopter to pick him up from the race so he could make it to his son's basketball game in Austin. That's cool. I mean, come on, it's Lance Armstong. Yes, he's just a person, but certainly a person unlike the rest of us. He's an incredible bike champion and he's loaded! So why not?

Lance Armstrong's bike at the finish. He said it weighed 22 pounds at the start and 32 pounds at the finish.

The rest of us mere mortals started a 9am. This was my first time to ride these trails and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was super fun single track. A bit rocky, but I like to see the rocks as challenges. After I dodged a few folks who thought they were doing a 12 mile XC race and tried to pass me at inopportune moments, I had a very nice first hour of riding. The trails were a little muddy, but nothing I couldn't handle. I kept thinking that the trail must be absolutely incredible when it's dry. I got into my grove and took a little extra time to be careful through the mud.

I caught up to Shayne and we started riding together. Then the trail started getting really, really muddy! I mean, I hadn't seen this much mud on a trail since we did a 5 day adventure race in Brazil and it rained the entire time! Of course I hadn't ever seen such muddy trails! It hardly rains in SoCal. And if it did, then we would wait a day or two until it dried out so we wouldn't ruin the trails.

The usual mud related problems that I've always heard of arose. I couldn't shift, my wheels wouldn't turn freely, the bike got chain suck and worst of all I couldn't get out of my pedals! I fell off my bike when I rode over a muddy slick rock. I fell when the wheels stopped and I couldn't get out of my pedals. I fell when the chain sucked and my bike was suspended mid muddy rock. And then I fell again. I hadn't fallen off my bike this many times since 2001 when I was learning to ride a 39 pound "mountain bike" with a kickstand that I bought for $300! Seriously, I haven't had this many bruises on my legs since 2002 when I joined a San Diego "senior citizen" mountain bike club so I could learn to ride. It became apparent to me that I really hadn't had much experience riding in mud and I was not doing very well.

According to many of the locals, they had never seen the trail in this poor of conditions. They said the rain usually drains right through. However this situation was unique because the rain they had received the past few days froze with the cold temperatures and wasn't able to drain. Consequently, when 150 riders went through and melted the ice everything turned to mush and as the temperatures warmed up to the 40s, everything turned to "crunchy peanut butter" type mud.

Anyhow, after two hours of playing in the mud I decided I was done for the day. My thought process was this: It was a "training ride" for me. There was no reason for me to potentially hurt myself or hurt my bike. I was out there to ride hard, get in a good workout and have fun. Well, I was not riding and not having fun so I decided two hours of a workout was all I wanted out of this event.

Chris Eatough posing for me

So I cleaned up, packed up and settled for watching Lance Armstong and Chris Eatough finish the race. It was funny to see Lance finish, stop for a quick photo with the RD, ride to the helicopter, hop on and fly away. Then a few minutes later I got to chat with Eatough.

Unfortunately I didn't get the race or the workout I wanted but I just had to remind myself; it's January! It's still Winter! I have plenty of time to get in lots of races and lots of training in the milder temps and conditions yet to come.

I must give kudos to my AR teammate Shayne and his buddy Kyle who finished the 26 miles they set out to do! It was tough but they roughed it and finished with bodies and bikes still in one piece.

Big Chill 12 hour Adventure Race

2010-01-26T08:08:00.000-08:00

It had been 3 years since my last adventure race. Probably 4 years since my last 12 hour adventure race so needless to say, I was out of practice. But that's okay because one of the things I love about adventure racing is that it is very mental. One really has to get her mind in order even just to pack for such a race! The crazy/scary thing is that it came back to me so naturally, just like riding a bike. No problem.

I even packed lighter and better than I ever have for a 12 hour race. Is it because I'm now a Mommy? Now I really understand the concept of packing only the things you know you will need and use? That very well could be it! They say women come back stronger after having a baby. I always thought that just meant physically stronger, but I think it's also mentally stronger.

It was my first adventure race in Texas and my first time racing with Shayne, Ross and Sebastian (Cbass). Over all I think it went very well. They are all pretty laid back guys with very good senses of humor and the perfect amount of competitiveness. We worked well together and made a great team. I feel really lucky to have jumped on to this team right away with this group of guys.

We started the race with a 30 minute orienteering run that took us around the campground area in order to spread out the teams. It was a little congested and we had to wait in line to punch our passport a couple of times so we ended up leaving for the next leg behind a bunch of teams.

We returned to the TA where we found out what we would be doing next and we got the maps. Ross and Cbass plotted the points and devised our plan. We were allowed to get the check points in any order so it was always hard to tell what our placing was throughout the race.

We took off on the bikes and rode a very wide trail through the trees and through several water crossings and muddy areas. I felt like we were really moving well because we passed several teams and just kept on truckin'! There was only one little mishap when Cbass didn't make it though the water crossing and fell in. But other than that, all was great! We rode for a while with the Houston AR Team until we went down one path, decided we didn't like it, turned back and took a different path and that's when we lost them.

After about 2.5 hours we returned to the TA to find that we were to paddle next. Shayne and I were in one boat and Cbass and Ross in the other. Luckily we hit the water before the wind picked up too much. Ross did a great job leading us directly to the furthest check points then back towards the TA. But about 20 minutes before we exited the water, the winds started howling and we could see the white caps in the water. We felt badly for those teams that were just headed out.

At the TA again we found out we were in 4th place overall and 1st in the 4 person co-ed division. Our transitions were really fast and we ended up catching and passing some teams because of those fast transitions. We all stayed focused and helped each other.

The run was a little tough. We were all starting to get a little tired so we walked/ran this section. We ran on some nice wide foot trails, found the check points and returned. I got a little help from Ross with the tow rope but over all I felt pretty good.

We went back to the bikes and rode on the streets through the town. We picked up the points and moved quickly. We kept seeing the teams that were 20-45 minutes ahead of us and the teams that were just behind us as well.

The last leg was the orienteering trek through the forest. Unfortunately we had a little trouble with the first check point and we spent a little too much time looking for it. We finally left to find the other points only to return to look for that one on our way back to the TA. It was dark by the time we returned but we found it and ran back to the finish.

I guess we must have lost more time than we thought on that check point because we ended up getting passed by a team that we never ever saw the entire race. So we finished 2nd place in the 4 person co-ed division. But we were super happy with our performance and encouraged to keep racing together to get even stronger and better for the rest of the season!

I really enjoyed my teammates, the course and the weather for my first Texas adventure race!

A 12 Hour Adventure Race?

2010-01-19T15:20:00.000-08:00

A 12 hour adventure race? I can't even remember the last time I competed in one. I guess I could check out my race results and find that it has probably been about 4 years.

For a while there it was not even worth my time, energy and money to do a 12 hour race unless it was in my Orange County back yard. I was hooked on international multi-day races and I used the relatively "short" 24 hour races for "training." Man, was I hard core back then! :)

These days I'm wondering how much it's going to hurt to run, bike and kayak for 12 hours!

Since giving birth to Sofia 16.5 months ago, my training has been under par. I've been getting in about 6-10 hours a week of some sort of work out but that's not nearly enough to make me feel good about racing. I'm still 10 pounds over my race weight and it's been super tough to shed without being able to train like I used to.

Why do I not train like before? Well the main reason is definitely time. I have to,,,, no I mean I WANT to be there for Sofia. I want to give her the quality time she deserves with me. Sure I could leave her with Daddy or with G-ma or with a daycare while I go train for several hours at a time. But I wouldn't feel good about it. So that's it. I have re-defined my priorities. (Not to mention, I'm working a lot more seriously than I used to. Not harder or longer hours, just paying more attention to work than to racing.)

Anyway, my plan now is to register myself for as many one day weekend races that I can so that I will keep myself motivated to train. Even if it is only one hour at a time.

Now I have to get myself into the 12 hour = short and fast mind set and I'll be ready to suffer! We'll see how I do next weekend...

Sofia's First Day at Gymnastics!

2010-01-19T13:19:00.001-08:00

Sofia was laughing so hard when she was on this trampoline that she flew off and fell. She just kept on laughing!

She had so much fun running around the gym floor! She chased balls and pushed around the lawn mower. Whenever she would catch the sound of a good song, she would stop in her tracks and start dancing!

The Coldest Day in History--Bandera 25K Trail Run

2010-01-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

New Braunfels, TX set a record for the coldest temperature in history on January 9. It was 14 degrees the morning of the Bandera 25K Trail Run! What the heck was I thinking? Had I not already paid for the darn race I would have stayed in my warm cozy bed with my warm cozy hubby and baby girl.

Alas, Shayne and his friend Patricia were waiting to meet me so we could drive together. When we arrived to the trail head, Shayne's car read 12 degrees! Ouch! I've trekked in that cold of weather and it is not fun! You would think that because I survived the cold temperatures of Alaska for 3 months that I could handle the cold temperatures of Texas for a few hours. Well, NO WAY! I just know that I don't like the cold at all and would prefer not to have to tolerate it.

Once again we were treating this 15.5 mile run as a long training day to get our feet used to the pounding. Our goal was to carry some weight in our packs while hiking the uphills and running the downs and flats.

I was so cold before the start that I broke one of the cardinal rules of racing. "If you are a comfortable temperature at the start, then you will be too hot when you are racing." I would say that I was as comfortable as I could be at the start because I was wearing my puffy jacket and big thick gloves I used in Alaska but I didn't care. I DID NOT want to take them off so I decided I would start with all the clothing and carry it with me when I warmed up. After all, this was a training run and we were supposed to carry extra weight anyway. Well, not a half hour later I was already removing my puffy. The temperature stayed in the 30s-40s for a while but I ended up carrying my puffy and my gloves the rest of the way. My feet were frozen for the first hour and I ended up tripping because I couldn't feel them but after a while they thawed and I felt better.

The three of us did a good job of sticking to our run/walk plan and we finished the 15.5 miles in about 4.5 hours. There were some good little climbs with lots of technical rocks throughout the entire trail. Our feet and legs really got a good workout and it ended up being a beautiful day when the sun came out.

Excrutiation Exam 85 Mile MTB

2010-01-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed, I've been checking out the race scene in Texas. This time it was the 85 mile Excrutiation Exam mountain bike race on January 2. Only it wasn't really 85 miles of mountain biking. It started at Bluff Creek Ranch in Warda, TX with a LeMans run start and an 8 mile lap on the trails. Then we rode our bikes 30 miles on back roads to Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, TX. After a 21 mile lap there, we were to return using different roads and finish with a half lap at Bluff Creek Ranch.

It's quite a race to do at the beginning of January during the cold, short days but we planned to do it anyway. The way I see it is that the more races I can get myself into, the more I'll train and the more prepared I'll be for a super long adventure race in the future.

Unfortunately I caught a cold again a couple of days before the race. I was congested and had to take some cold medicine right before the start. Shayne, Jayson and I started the race in the 20 something degree weather. It was cold and uncomfortable but we got moving and were able to warm up a little. We decided to take our time and use this race as a "get acquainted" training day since Jay and Shayne had never met before. We talked a lot, stopped here and there for snacks and took our time since it was going to be the longest any of us had been on a bike in a while.

Well apparently we took it too easily because we missed the cut-off to leave Rocky Hill Ranch after the 21 mile trail ride. Oh well, we were able to get in 56 miles in about 7 hours so we were happy with our workout.

It was only my second time riding the trails of Texas and I was pleasantly surprised. I found Bluff Creek to be mostly flat and easy with a hint of technical roots and narrow tree passages to maneuver about. Rocky Hill was definitely rocky. There were lots of creek crossing that made for many short, steep ups and downs with technical rocks and roots. The trails were definitely not the long steep climbs or drops of California but a very different sort of riding that I'm going to have to practice.

Over all it was a great day in the saddle and I was glad to have done as much as I did considering my cold.

Hel of a Du Duathlon

2009-12-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

I had been sick the entire week before this duathlon. I had a sinus infection and was on antibiotics so needless to say I hadn't been training at all. I actually would have prefered not to race but the guys with whom I will do my next adventure race were all going to be there so I decided to show up and give it a go.

I met Shayne, Ross and Sebastian at the start line and we took off together. We started with a 3.5 mile run and it was tough for me. It was a cold and rainy day so that didn't make it any easier. Sebastian decided to run ahead and left me, Shayne and Ross together. I did terribly on the run and fell a little behind Shayne and Ross. I caught them at the transition and we moved on to the 26 mile road bike. I'm a better biker than runner so it wasn't as bad but my muscles still felt it. The last run was horrible. My feet were frozen from the long ride so it felt like I was running on stumps. We took the last run very slowly and finished the race in 3 hours and 19 minutes.

It probably wasn't the smartest thing for me to do but I'm glad I raced it with those guys. I look forward to continuing to train with them so we can prepare for our 12 hour adventure race at the end of January.

Note to self: Need to train A LOT!

Yes,,,,I RAN!

2009-12-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

I needed to do something to combat the calories from the extravagant meal I was about to devour!

I hadn't really been running much in the last few months. In fact, the longest run I had done was about 1.5 miles and my knee started hurting! So I wasn't sure how well I was going to do, but I didn't care. I was out to get some exercise and that was it.

Turned out, I felt really good so when I saw the 2 mile marker I decided to speed up. I finished in 28 1/2 minutes which is good for my out of shape booty. I ended up in 4th place out of 31 ladies in my age group!

Just wait 'till I start training! :)

Mellow Johnny's Classic MTB Race at Juan Pelota Ranch

2009-11-24T15:24:00.003-08:00

Lance Armstrong and Mellow Johnny's hosted the first ever mountain bike race at Lance's Juan Pelota Ranch near Dripping Springs, Texas (just outside of Austin).

I wasn't able to do the XC race because the 700 spots were filled before I knew about it. So instead I volunteered to help out and got to pre-ride the course. Doing the pre-ride was probably best since I didn't get my race bike to Texas in time. I ended up riding my new AR bike that had a different shifting system than I'm used to and I had to borrow platform pedals and wear tennis shoes!

The shifting and the platforms ended up being a pretty big deal since the abundance of rain caused the course to be pretty slick and tricky. The course itself was quite different from what I'm used to in California. It was a 9 mile trail that was 95% singletrack with I'm guessing about 800 feet of elevation gain. It was technical in that there were many boulders and rocks to manuever over and through but there were no significant downhills or ups.

I thought it was a very fun ride and I would love to do that course as a 24 hour race! What do you think Lance?

SoCal Fat Tire Epic 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race

2009-10-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

I signed up for this race a couple of months earlier because I wanted a goal to reach for. Lately my life seems to be changing week by week so it was quite a challenge to find the time and energy to train. In between working in commercial real estate, working in custom suits, massaging with the DMS, making novelty cupcakes and taking care of Sofia, I was able to get in some road rides during the week and some mountain bike laps around the Fullerton Loop on the weekends.

My friend and adventure race "mentor" Karen Lundgren won the Pro Women's category and I finished in second place. It took me almost 7 hours to complete the super tough course which is the longest event I've done since the 24 hr Worlds in September 2007!

Amazing 1 year old climber training to scale the North West Face of Half Dome!

2009-09-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

My little Lady Sofia is quite persistent!

Over the Hump MTB Series - Irvine Lake

2009-09-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Some guys decided to start a weekday race series here in Orange County and it was about time!!! I can't believe no one has done that before!

It was a huge success! The first race was at the end of August and the second was a few weeks later. Over 300 mountain bikers participated in each race and did laps around a 3.4 mile loop at Irvine Lake.

It was great to see all the different levels of riders. There were some TRUE BEGINNERS who lined up just behind some TRUE PROS! Beginners did 1 lap; Sport- 2 laps; Expert- 3 laps; & Pros- 4 laps.

Even Hans "NO WAY" Rey showed up to give his support. You may know him from this photo....

Although I haven't returned to my former fitness level, I wouldn't have felt comfortable racing anything other than the Pro category. There were 5 of us ladies in the Pro category for both races and both times I ended up in 5th place. I must say that I was very satisfied with my performances. Not only was I able to somewhat compete with these super fast ladies, but I was also able to improve my time during the second race.

Next I will be competing in a race that is more my style. It is a 50 mile sufferfest at Vail Lake. The SoCal Fat Tire Epic is on October 3 and it will be a tough one for me. I haven't had a whole lot of training time but I'm getting in rides whenever I can. I just hope to finish within the 8 hour time limit!

My Dearest Specialized,

2009-09-11T18:30:00.001-07:00

Although it has been 8 years, I remember our first encounter like it was yesterday. Joe hooked us up together at Jax in Huntington and we took a lovely stroll down Main Street. I wasn't quite used to your stride yet and I tripped and fell to the ground. Joe rushed us back inside where I began to pass out from the pain in my hand. But I came to and was so embarrassed that I could think of nothing else but to take you home immediately. And that's how our love affair began, me & you...my beloved Specialized.

Just like any relationship, we've had our ups and downs. We've been through some very rocky paths and I've cursed in front of you more than a lady should. And you haven't always been an angel yourself. I can't begin to count the times that you have caused me much pain.

But no matter how dirty our relationship has gotten, we've always remained together.

Sure I have eyes and I've taken a peek at others here and there. But none compares to you and I can guarantee that I would never stray.

I often think of our trip to Greenland where the sun shone for 22 hours a day. We soaked up every minute of the sun riding amongst the glacier fed streams.

You've taken me to so many new places and I've especially enjoyed seeing the race podiums at Sea Otter, Old Pueblo, & Nationals.

I've been happy to carry you across exotic beaches in Brazil and "no riding zones" in Patagonia.

And no matter how many different styles or colors you take, I will always be there to love and care for you.

I would even go so far as to pad your landing with my body if you fell.

And now, that the baby is born. I need you more than ever.

I need you to support me on my way back to fitness. I need you to push me hard. I need you to perform like you're rolling with a fit athlete instead of a post-partum Mommy.

And I know you will. You and I will be together forever, my beloved Specialized.

I Bike to Work

2009-08-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

After 11.5 months of taking care of Sofia and "working" from home, I've returned to working in an office. I have to admit that working from home can be really great but the next best thing is being able to BIKE COMMUTE to work! I've always wanted to ride my bike to work but with my old job, I needed a car during the day to run errands. But now that I'm in a different business, I'm able to ride to the office.

I was a bit nervous because I really don't like riding on the roads with all the traffic and reckless drivers. But I was able to search the internet and map out a route that took me along bike paths for 90% of the way.

The first day, Greg dropped me and my bike off at work in the morning. I wanted to ride home first because I wasn't sure about the route and I wasn't sure how long it would take me to ride it. I had to check the map quite a few times. Transferring from path to path can be tricky because you have to cross some streets and search for the bike path entrances. So I took a couple of wrong turns and had to back track. That first ride was 18 miles and it took me 1 hour and 26 minutes.

Since then I've ridden a few more times and I've been able to find a couple of short cuts. The route is now 15 miles and takes me about 1 hour and 5 minutes.

I was also lucky enough to find a place to shower right across the street from my office. The building across the way has a bike rack so I can lock up my bike. They also have a shower and lockers in the ladies room on the first floor. Of course the signs read that the lockers and shower are for the tenants in that office building only. But come on,,,,I haven't seen any other ladies showering in there before work. Anyhow, I just hope no one notices that I don't "belong" to that building.

However, there can be a couple of drawbacks to riding. For instance: Don't forget anything! I forgot my lunch one day and I remembered when I was 10 minutes into my ride. Had to make the decision whether or not to ride bike home and get it. Forgot my brush one day, forgot my music today. I anticipate forgetting my bra or my shoes one day,,,or worse...my deoderant! Hope not! :)

Anyhow, the ride is great for now but I'm not quite sure what I will do when the time changes. Ride in the dark? Leave work earlier? Hmmm? Stay tuned...

Before & After

2009-07-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

Bernice Before Sofia...

& After...

People Want to Know

2009-07-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since the first time The Alaska Experiment aired on the Discovery Channel in April of 2008, people have been asking us lots of questions like...

1) How did you get on the show?
2) Did all that really happen the way it was portrayed?
3) What did you eat? Did they give you food?
4) How long were you really out there?
5) What did you do with your time?
6) Why did you hike to get ice for water when there was snow all around you?
7) Where you scared? How cold did it get?
8) Was Sofia conceived there? :) (Yes, people still ask that all the time.)

Season 2 of The Alaska Experiment aired this year but it was QUITE different than ours. However it did bring up a lot of discussion and debate about our experience and now Discovery is re-airing our show at 11pm Eastern time every night.

Now we are working on writing a book about our experience. We were out in the wild for 3 months and unfortunately there were only 7 episodes (maybe 2.5 hours in total of us) that showed how we lived. There was soooooo much more to our story so we thought we would share it with anyone who was still interested.

We hope to release an E-book, loads of photos, and a 40 minute short movie that we wrote, starred in, filmed, edited and produced. I can't say exactly when it will come out but I'm hoping by Sofia's birthday on September 7. (Which is exactly the anniversary date of the day we left to Alaska in 2007!)

If you are interested in getting an email about when the book and movie are release, send me a line and I will put you on the list. bernicepierson@hotmail.com

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

Sofia's first Independence Day! We loaded her up in the bike trailer for the first time and rode the wild streets of Huntington Beach!

Greg riding the Santa Ana River trail towards Huntington Beach on his big cruiser with Sofia in tow.

Mommy's "cruiser" is a Singlespeed Niner! :)

Sofia likes the ride!

4th of July in Huntington Beach! Bikes, bikes and more bikes!

We hopped off the bikes for a little while to enjoy the parade.

Sofia got a bird's eye view!

Jax Bicycle Shop parking lot on Main Street Huntington Beach. Downtown roads are closed for the parade and the bikers.

Sofia's first time at the beach. We couldn't stay too long because she just wanted to eat the sand.

Sofia's first dip in the ocean. The water was only about 61 degrees so it was a quick dip.

Daddy & Sofia riding under Huntington Beach Pier

Sofia had a busy 4th of July. She was worked!

Sofia's First Time In the Pool

2009-06-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

I love multi-sport!!!

2009-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

Cal Multi Sport Vail Lake

The feeling of completing one discipline after another is so utterly satisfying to me.

We started with a quick 1.8 mile bike ride to the kayak section. Although it had been over 2 years since I'd paddled, I was confident I could make it around the lake. I dropped my bike and quickly put on my PFD and hopped in the boat. Bike shoes, helmet and bike gloves still on, I started paddling. I was doing well until about 15 minutes into it when I started to wonder how big Vail Lake really was. I put my head down and just concentrated on using my core and couldn't wait to switch disciplines. 7.5 km later, I was done and so were my shoulders!

I had been passed by a few folks who had faster boats than mine. Notice I didn't say they were better paddlers. Yup,,,I just told myself they had faster boats. But I caught them in transition and swooped right passed. I had made it a point to transition as quickly as I could so that I wouldn't waste any unnecessary time especially since I knew my actual racing would be slow.

I rode back through the starting gate and on to the 15 km MTB course. Since I had raced the 12 hours of Temecula at Vail Lake many times, I was very familiar with the entire bike course and it was super fun. In fact, I was having so much fun that I totally missed a turn sign and ended up having to back track to get back on course.

My transition from bike to run was super fast also. The TA attendant said I was in and out of there in 20 seconds. Not bad for a gal who hasn't adventure raced in a couple of years.

I took off on the run section which I affectionately call a "trot" section. I trotted over and around the trees, through some trickling water and then through a thigh high creek. But after the first 20 minutes, the fun was over. I hiked up the dam climb and remembered why I prefer to be on my bike. I lost some time on the run (trot) but surprisingly no other ladies caught me and I ended up finishing in 5th place.

It took me 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete the course and I was TIRED! But it was so fun and I can't wait to get in better shape and do it again!

Juggling

2009-05-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't taken up juggling (although some of you wouldn't be surprised if I said I had). I'm talking about the constant juggling of life, especially with a baby.

My juggling act requires me to constantly prepare bottles

Sofia

My Little Ladybug is 8 months old already! Some days I get home and it seems like she grew longer in the few hours I was gone. She is a pretty good sleeper with 2 regular naps a day and nighttime hours from 7:30pm to 6am. She likes to baby talk and crawl around all day long. She's quite the busy body and wants to investigate every single little thing. She's been pulling herself up to her feet for a while now and I suspect she will be walking within the next month. She is a mover and a shaker and always wants to be on the go. (hmmm, I wonder where she gets that from?)

Training
I finally feel like I can call it training now instead of just working out. I'm feeling more and more like my old self when I'm out on the mountain bike trails. A few months ago there were some dark moments when even the weekend warrior guys were kicking my butt up the climbs. But yesterday......well let's just say there were a few guys who were bummed when they couldn't hang with this 8 month postpartum mommy. :)

Running has become a necessary evil in my training program since it's relatively easy to take Sofia out on the trails by my house in the baby jogger. So when she starts to get grumpy around 9:41am, I quickly throw on my running attire, strap her into the baby jogger, and out the door we go. She immediately falls asleep. I get in a good run and she gets in a good nap.

Mother's Day
My first Mother's Day was special because I got to climb up a mountain and then go back home to a beautiful baby girl.

Tim (from The Alaska Experiment), his friend Kim, Carl & his wife Marlyce & me on Mt. Baldy

Cupcakes

I made some sunflowers for the special ladies in my life. I also have a cupcake website going now too. Check it out......Clickity Click!

Race or Work?
I was planning on running (walking) the 24 hours of Nanny Goat this weekend but plans have changed. I've got my real estate license exam on Thursday so it makes better sense for me to study and get that done. Back in my care-free selfish days, I would have raced, however this is one step closer in my quest to finally settling on a career. Plus Sofia's grandparents are coming from Texas and they can't wait to spend more time with us (her).

Sofia's First 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race

2009-05-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sofia and I took a two hour drive up to the local mountains of Idyllwild to the 24 Hours of Adrenalin. Nope, I didn't race this time. I was there to DMS massage the racers.

My babysitter backed out at the last minute so I took Sofia with me and we made the best of it. Luckily Carl and Marless were there to help me for the first day and Christian was there to help the rest of the time. A few other friends came by our Feed The Machine/DMS Massage Booth and played with Sofia.

I came up with the ingenious idea of enclosing her in a blow-up kiddie swimming pool that had a canopy. I padded it with a cozy comforter and put all her toys in there and she was happy. It was only $25 at Target and it worked perfectly!

It got down to the low 30's at night so Sofia and I cozied up in my Honda Element. I took the back seats out, put all our blankets down and we slept together in the back. Every hour and half I turned on the heater for a few minutes to warm up the car and we stayed pretty cozy all through the night. (I know it's a box on wheels, but dang I love that car!)

And thanks to La Ruta Lou, Sofia had the PERFECT outfit! She was wearing her "stars & stripes" bike jersey and she looked adorable! Meanwhile, Mommy is still trying to fit back in her's! :)

Taking Time to be a Mommy

2009-04-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

I've been following a blog written by a friend of mine who took time off of adventure racing and ultra running to have a baby. I'm always interested to find out how other new moms are dealing with the effects of taking it easy through pregnancy and new-motherhood.

It's seems as though my friend and I have been going through similar emotions. We were excited and anxious to become pregnant and have our children even though it meant slowing down our intensely active lifestyles. All the while we were probably thinking that a couple of weeks after popping out the kids, we'd be back on the trails running and riding. Of course we knew we'd be slower and have to take a little time to get back in shape but I'm sure we didn't realize how much work it would be.

While reading her blog, I was amazed at how quickly she got back to running long distances and how she had some very ambitious race goals so soon after giving birth. Although I knew I had to keep my own pace, I was almost beating myself up for not keeping up with her post partum fitness levels.

I've been training as much as I can around working and taking care of Sofia, and a few times I've been plagued with some knee pain that I didn't have before. I'm pretty good about listening and understanding my body so I've attributed the pain to the changes my body made during pregnancy and also the extra weight I'm still carrying. Surprisingly I've been really good about taking it easy and not pushing myself too far to further any injury. Maybe it's because I'd rather spend more time with Sofia anyway, but whatever the reason it doesn't matter. At least I'm being patient about my return to pre-pregnancy ultra fitness levels.

It turns out that my friend now has some injuries in which she is attributing to post partum and is not able to fulfill her ambitious race goals. That news just assures me that listening to my body and taking my time with my return to pre-pregnancy fitness levels is something I must do in my own time.

Every week I have to plan a training schedule and try the best I can to adhere to it. Luckily adventure racing has made me very patient and flexible because having Sofia means that plans will always change.

I still have about 15 pounds I'd like to shed but I've finally accepted my current size and have bought clothes that fit. I've got a few races on my calendar including a 12 hour run (which I will walk) and a 12 hour mountain bike race. So maybe by Sofia's first birthday I will be back to where I want to be.

My First Duathlon

2009-03-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

Competing in races has always been very motivating for me. I know that if I put a race on my calendar, tell the world I'm going to do it, and then I PAY for it, I will force myself to train. So I decided to do a duathlon: 3.1 mile run, 18 mile road bike ride, 3.1 mile run.

Honestly...I did not set up the TEXAN behind me!

I have gone from running to riding to running many, many times in my adventure racing career. However, I have never done a true duathlon until now.

Running is definitely NOT my thing. So I "shuffled" my way through the first 3.1 miles and fell behind most of the pack. :)

But when I got on the bike, my body got happy again and I passed a bunch of folks. Some of them twice....hmmm, not sure how that happened.

Cool thing was that I had a fan in the crowd! When I finished the bike, I was transitioning to the run when a Marine said, "Are you Bernice?" I nodded and he said, "I've seen you on TV!" And despite the dread of my upcoming run, I forced a smile and a "nice to meet you" and I shuffled away.

I really had to talk myself through the last 3.1 miles! But I did and I was able to complete the entire race in 2 hours and 8 minutes!

I'm finding out that returning to my pre-pregnancy fitness level is way harder than I imagined. I have to keep reminding myself that I trained very hard for 6 years to be that fit. So I can't expect to be anywhere near that level at only 6 months post-partum. I just have to keep registering for races! :)

My "Cutie Cupcakes"

2009-03-29T06:07:00.001-07:00

For some unknown reason, I started making cupcakes when I was pregnant with Sofia...and I don't even like sweets (not to mention I don't like cooking!) I'm not joking when I say I have never eaten a single cupcake I have made. But I assure you that everyone says they are good. :)

Spaghetti & Meatball cupcakes, Popcorn Cupcakes: Made for our Alaska Experiment Premier Party at a pizza joint.

Shark cupcakes: Made for my boss's son's school party.

Panda Bear cupcakes: Made for my family in Texas when I was visiting them.

Baby cupcakes: Made for Cousin Winsome's baby shower.

Bagels & Lox cupcakes: Made for a BYOB (Bring your own brunch) Party given by my friend Christie.

Rabbit holes made for Easter in Texas.

Sofia's New BFF

2009-03-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Introducing...Shay Riley Kletke!

Shay is Sofia's new baby cousin. She was born on Friday, March 13, 2009. She was 9 lbs 12 oz and 21 inches long. I think we may have the next Misty May & Kerri Walsh in our family!

Brian & Winsome with baby Shay Riley

Sofia checked out her new BFF!

Shay is a whopping 3 pounds heavier than Sofia was when she was born. But now that Sofia is so big, Shay feels so small!

Aaaah, just 6 months ago this was me and Sofia at Hoag Hospital!

I'm really enjoying baking "novelty cupcakes!" These are the special "Baby Shay" cupcakes I made.

My Valentine

2009-02-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

NEED I SAY MORE?

24 Hours of Old Pueblo

2009-02-12T18:32:00.001-08:00

Last time I wrote a blog with this title, I had just placed 2nd at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo in Tuscon. It was only my second 24 hour solo so needless to say, I was totally stoked to have done so well.

This weekend, while the ladies are stuffing their faces with nutritional supplements, soothing their bottoms with "butt'r," and hallucinating at 3am, I will be hanging with the most beautiful girl in the world.

And although I would absolutely love to prepare for the 2009 24 Hour Nationals in Moab ...

It might behoove me to wait for 2010...

Good luck to all my MTB pals at Old Pueblo! Find your happy place.

Back to the races!

2009-01-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

I have always done 12 to 24 hour mountain bike races either SOLO or with one guy. But this time I joined a great group of gals for the 12 hours of Temecula.

Monique, Melissa, Bern, Tiffany

It's usually a lot of pressure to ride duo with a guy because he rides so fast and he expects so much out of me. Not to mention, I put a lot of pressure on myself during my solo races to finish a certain number of laps and compete with the top women. But I must say, it's a totally different experience to ride "just for fun" with a bunch of nice women. I had a great time and I remembered why I love mountain biking so much.

Jason and Heather put on another great race! This was the first time they left out the infamous "Dam Climb" and it made for a very "flowy" race course. Had I have been in shape, I would have ridden my single speed Niner. But alas, I stuck to the gears and had an incredible time.

Although I found the course to be super "flowy," it was quite technical with lots of ruts, rocks, and steep drops. There were several places were they posted "Caution" signs and there certainly could have been more of those signs all over the course. :)

Unfortunately Melissa took a nasty spill. She was scratched up and bruised pretty badly. They thought she may have had a separated shoulder so she was carted away in the ambulance. Turned out it was nothing major and she's fine. The very next day she was asking us when we could race again. Tough girl! That's why I love her!

And I must give props to the best support crew in the world. Carl and King Rich are always there for me for assistance and mental support. Thanks guys!

Sofia's Baby Talk

2009-01-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama

2009-01-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

The Inaugural Address

It's different to actually read the speech as opposed to just hearing it. Kind of like reading the book then watching the movie I suppose. I missed the speech on TV so I decided to read the first few lines to see what kind of sugar coated words the President's speech writers put in front of his face.

Yes, yes, that may seem a bit pessimistic, but isn't that the way it usually goes? Words, words, words. They don't mean a thing. (Is that a song?) Well, after the first few lines, I was hooked. I read all four web pages of the speech and even got some strange moisture in my eyes a couple of times. (Damn, those writers are good!)

Huh well, as I read it, I imagined President Obama speaking those words and putting true feelings behind them. I could see him in my mind and I could feel the power of his voice. The words flowed through my mind and body and subsequently drowned my governmental pessimism with renewed hope for the future.

I was actually excited and motivated! All the while thinking, "I hope they do it, I hope they do it, I hope WE do it. Let's make a change for the better! Can we?"

So my question is: Will the government use that speech as a general outline to construct specific goals for our country and implement those new ideas to better our nation and the world? Or will the Inaugural Address remain only sugar coated words, written by very good speech writers, forgotten in the back of some history book?"

Training With Senorita Sofia

2009-01-18T17:25:00.000-08:00

I've finally lost enough weight to be able to jog without my knees aching (or without my belly bouncing...yuck!) I like to take Senorita Sofia out to enjoy the lovely SoCal weather so I put her in the baby jogger and off we go. Our jogging loop follows the trails near our home. It includes 4 short but steep hills and it takes us 55 minutes.

Although Sofia is big and tall for a 4 month old, she is still a little small for the jogger. My adventure racing teammate Christian made us an "insert" to put inside so that Sofia can be supported. Little Lady seems to really enjoy the ride. She gets very calm when we start out and then of course she falls asleep about half way through.

I always used to hate jogging, and in my adventure racing days, I would have to force myself to go. But with Sofia, I'm actually enjoying it. Could it be because I'm running with a buddy who doesn't care how hard I'm breathing? Is it because I can jog really slowly without anyone else thinking I'm a wimp?...I mean since I AM pushing an extra 25 pounds. Or is it because I'm so happy to be sharing the beauty of the outdoors with my Little Lady? I think it's all of the above.

I've also been able to spend a little more time on the bike. During the week, I'm up at the crack of dawn riding my trainer for 45 minutes. On the weekends, I get in some longer road and mountain bike rides. Having goals is very important and motivating for me so I'm currently preparing for my first mountain bike race since pregnancy.

By The Numbers

4 Months since I gave birth to Sofia

5 Hours I rode my bikes this weekend (most I've done in 1 year)

24 Pounds I still want to shed

6 Days until my first mountain bike race since pregnancy

Miss Gilly's gift to Sofia: The Jolly Jumper

2009-01-17T17:21:00.000-08:00

Sofia's First Christmas

2009-01-02T15:20:00.000-08:00

Although my little Senorita Sofia had no idea we were celebrating Christmas, she was still filled with joy. She is the best present Greg and I could ever ask for.

Santa visited Little Lady Sofia in Texas. He must have known how good she had been through her first 3.5 months of life because he brought her lots and lots of presents! So many presents, they had to be shipped to SoCal in a very large box.

Texas Pic by Christina Ybarra

We had Little Lady Sofia baptized at the church where Greg and I got married in New Braunfels. There were so many people there to witness the blessed event. My brother Stephen is her Godfather.

New Braunfels, TX Pic by Christina Ybarra

My Lady (a.k.a grandma) provided Mamacita with the cutest little shoes and she actually kept them on through the entire church service!

My Christmas Post To You All

2008-12-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

I'm really not a big fan of Christmas music. I realized that when my Mom, Dad, and Greg all wanted to listen to Christmas music in the car and I claimed that California was too fashion forward to have any stations dedicated to holiday cheer. Of course Greg knew off the top of his head the station they wanted so not only was I stuck in three hours of holiday traffic, but I was also in auditory prison! Now don't get me wrong, I don't mean to portray a "bah humbug" attitude here. I love the Christmas holiday, it's just the music I can do without.

Is it just me or do a lot of the songs seem so melancholy and depressing? Or is it that they are just so slow they make me want to "put on my cap and settle down for a long winter's nap?" In fact the only Holiday song I really like is not about Christmas at all...

Bern's favorite holiday song

Anyhow, I'm sharing this special holiday post with you to tell you that I finally found a Christmas song I enjoy. So grab a cup of cocoa, sit back & relax and listen to this holiday song. And please don't be one of those folks who says "I'm just trying to get past the holidays." Take time to enjoy the season whether you are with your family and friends or alone on the trails. Have a HAPPY HOLIDAY & a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Finally, a Christmas song I enjoy.

I'm so in love!!!!!

2008-12-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

Isn't she just adorable? Okay, I know I'm biased but dang she's cute! I just love her so much!

Senorita Sofia can now see the mobile above her crib and she really enjoys it. She can lie in there for a long time just listening to the lullaby and watching the fuzzy construction vehicles go round and round. I just wish I didn't have to wind it up every 30 seconds.

She has also recently discovered her hands. She entertains herself for lengths of time by watching her hands and putting them in her mouth. The other day I put a colorful rattle toy in front of her face and waited for her to reach for it. After about a half hour she was reaching out and grabbing it. I'm not sure that she knows the toy remains in her hands but she is learning.

My best gal Miss Gilly came back from Whistler to visit with me and to meet Sofia. I've missed her so much. But even though it's been a year since she's been gone, we fell right back into our old routine! We drank wine, went mountain biking and then we went "girly" shopping for clothes and shoes! Aahh, the good old days!

Oh yeah, and she got to love on Little Lady Sofia also!

My parents came back for another visit. They just can't stay away from their first grandchild for very long.

My brother flew in from New York to meet his niece. He too fell in love.

Baby and Mommy hands

An A+ for Senorita Sofia!

2008-11-18T11:29:00.001-08:00

We took Sofia to her 2 month well baby check up and she passed the tests with flying colors!

She measured 24 inches long which was in the 100th percentile! Yup, she's gonna be a tall gal.

And not surprisingly she weighed 13.6 pounds which was also in the 100th percentile. I guess you can say she is "healthy!"

Unfortunately she had to get her vaccinations and of course she cried but Daddy was right there to comfort her. She was back to smiling within two minutes and I don't think she'll hold it against us...until her next vaccination appointment.

Senorita Sofia is also doing very well at "home school." She seems to really enjoy her Spanish lessons.

Little Lady's First Halloween

2008-11-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to dress up Little Lady for Halloween because I couldn't find any costumes that were small enough for her. Until one day I happened upon the cutest little witch costume that I knew would fit just right!

Witch-i-Poo

I was so excited to find it so I checked the price tag and found that it was a PET COSTUME! Yup, that's right. The tag showed a picture of the costume on a little dog. Well, so what!?! It was super cute and the right size so I bought it.

Every year Greg and his buddy Paul build the most amazing Haunted House in Murrieta.

Entrance is free and they usually have hundreds of people go through it.

I'm chicken so I go through before it opens and before all the real life characters are in place to scare me.

Sofia can't wait to go through the Haunted House someday. I'm sure she will be just like her Daddy and Halloween will be her favorite holiday.

Back in the saddle again!

2008-10-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

Almost seven weeks post delivery of my Little Lady Sofia and I finally did a real mountain bike ride! I was afraid I might have forgotten how to push the climbs or maneuver the techy downhills but I found that the old saying really is true..."You don't forget; it's just like riding a bike."

No, this is not me now. It was me last year because I'm really not keen on posting any "baby PHat" pics of myself.

I took a spin around my favorite training trails for an hour and fifteen minutes. I huffed and puffed up the easiest climb, but I made it without stopping. This ride was very encouraging and every day I'm feeling more and more like my old self except now I have a gorgeous Little Lady to go home to.

Battling the Bulge!

2008-10-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

After the birth of my gorgeous Little Lady Sofia, the docs told me not to do any physical labor for six weeks. SIX MORE WEEKS!?!?? After "taking it easy" for nine months, how did they expect me to take it easy for six more weeks?

Fellow singlespeed mountain biker Fuzzy John and his 14 month old son Ian came by to visit Sofia.

Well, it wasn't hard to take it easy for four weeks because my body really did need the recovery. But at the fourth week, I set up my road bike on the trainer and started riding. As Lady Sofia slept, I hopped on the trainer and took off. Unfortunately, my bottom could only take 12 minutes on the seat. So that was it; my first workout--12 minutes. It will be a while before I will ride for 24 hours straight again, but I'm working on it... one day at a time.

Sofia's First Month

2008-10-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Sofia at 5 days old

Sleeping beauty;
Sofia sleeps A LOT (during the day!) Every once in a while she will wake up to look around and that's when we talk to her and show her some colorful books and picture cards. During the night she sleeps anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours at a time. I'm always checking her while she sleeps to make sure she's still breathing. Yes, I'm paranoid.

Sofia's second week of life and she's already making funny faces

Growing like a weed;
Sofia's skinny little body is getting chunkier every day. She's also very long. At her two week doctor visit, she was measured in the 100th percentile of length for babies her age! Looks like she'll be a tall gal!

Sofia's third week

Hungry Hippo;
Sofia is a great eater! She loves to snack all day long. I opted for strict breastfeeding at first but by week three, I had to start supplementing her with formula. I just couldn't handle the constant feeding with no sleep and no breaks. Giving her formula allows Greg to feed her too so that I can get out once in a while, get some sleep, and be less stressed out. She's very funny. When Greg takes the bottle away so he can burp her she'll make cute little growling noises until he gives her the bottle again.

Sofia at 4 weeks old and ready for her favorite holiday -- Halloween!

Poopie diapers;
How did anyone use cloth diapers back in the day? I would really like to use cloth for the environment's sake, but newborns poop all the time and it's very liquidy! Maybe I'll try the cloth diapers when she gets a little older.

October 7; Sofia's one month birthday

State of her Mommy;
I ended up gaining 56 pounds through the pregnancy! I lost 20 pounds immediately without doing anything but it looks like I'm going to have to work hard to get rid of the rest. The docs said I shouldn't do anything for six weeks, but I just couldn't wait that long. At three weeks, I started some short, easy walks. At four weeks I set up my bike on my trainer in the back yard and started riding. My limiting factor is not my legs, but my seat! The first day I could only sit on the bike for 12 minutes! Now I'm up to 16 minutes. I guess it will be a while before I can ride for 24 hours again, but I'm working up to it.

"La Ruta Lou" Kobin sent Sofia a darling little Stars & Stripes riding jersey to match Mommy's 24 hour National Championship Jersey! Sofia will probably fit in her jersey in a few months and maybe by then Mommy will fit back into her's too!

Sofia Hawkins Pierson is born!

2008-09-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

After a very looooong 38 1/2 weeks of pregnancy, Sofia came into this world "relatively easily" on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 6:28pm. We were happily surprised to find out she was a girl.

She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and measured 19 3/4 inches long. She has very long legs, arms, fingers and toes.

And of course I think she has the most precious face in the world.

At only 15 hours of total actual labor, I must say that this birth was a lot easier than any 24 hour adventure race I've ever done.

Announcing...

2008-09-10T03:35:00.000-07:00

Sofia Hawkins Pierson

Born: Sunday, September 7, 2008
6:28pm

Weight: 6 lbs 12 oz
Length: 19 3/4 inches

Baby and Mommy are doing well after a fast and relatively easy delivery. First baby photos are currently under negotiations with the paparazzi.

Baby & Race Chatter

2008-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

I got all the baby clothes washed and ready to wear. Isn't it just so darn cute!?! But I do have a feeling that some of it will be too small for "BIG TYKE!" We chose one outfit to bring Baby ____ Hawkins Pierson home in whether it's a boy or girl.

I was able to make it through two months without puking,,,,but now it's back. I was awake at my usual 4am the other morning when I had a "Braxton Hicks" contraction and then had to run to my throne to puke! Aaaaahhh,,,reminiscent of my first 6 months of pregnancy! Well, they say this means my labor day is getting close. Two and half weeks and counting!

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Just when I was about to be really pissed that no one covered the Olympic Mountain Bike Race, it aired on the very last day of the Olympics at 2:50am. No medals for the US but great fun to watch anyway. Looked like it was somewhat of a technical course which was really awesome for true mountain bikers to show off their speed, endurance and skills! Last thing they needed was a "road race on dirt!" Congrats to our US mountain bikers for a great showing. Georgia Gould has her race report up.

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Bern trekking on day 9 of 11.5 at the Patagonia Expedition Race in Chile

I've been giving Beginner Adventure Racer Clinics....basically talking to folks about how to get started with adventure racing. It's a little embarrassing when people find out that the immensely huge girl is the one who will be telling them how to race for 4 hours to 10 days! But thank goodness I'm able to show them a power point presentation with lots of photos of me racing. That makes me a little more credible so they will believe that I was somewhat fit before and have done plenty of racing.

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Did you know?
Lisa Leslie is a 36 year old MOMMY who still plays b-ball good enough to win her 4th Olympic Gold Medal!
Dara Torres is a 41 year old MOMMY who swam her way to Silver medals in Beijing.
Lynda Wallenfels is a thirty-something MOMMY who kicks booty in the endurance mountain bike scene.
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are thirty-somethings on their way to starting families but most likely gonna play volleyball at the same level upon their return.

***These ladies are inspiration for me to get back to adventure and mountain bike racing!****

Chubby Chatter; Week 36 of 40

2008-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks I've been very lazy about blogging. Especially since I didn't think anyone was still reading this blog since it had very little to do with suicidal adventures in foreign lands and more to do with my ever expanding belly. But then I received an email from my aunt in Texas who asked why I hadn't updated it in a while. Well, at least my family still reads it so I guess I better post something!

For the last 36 weeks, I have been very busy building a baby. And for those who don't know the feeling, this sort of construction requires A LOT OF REST! So I thank God for my DVR and all the great sports that have been on television! The Tour of California got me through a really rough first trimester of morning sickness. The Tour de France got me through the peak racing time while all my friends were out competing and I was at home resting. And now the Beijing Olympics are getting me through the "home stretch!"

My friends are also entertaining me via the internet while I'm on hiatus. Dave & Lynda are racing fools and just finished strong at the Trans Rockies. Fuzzy lives to mountain bike race and currently races to live. It seems like Christian and Melissa are doing adventure races every weekend! Lou is my kind of adventurous woman! And I'm living vicariously through Caroline's 24 hour solos and Mario's 12 & 24 hour duo races.

But don't get me wrong, I've been reading a lot too. I've read so much about birthing that I could do it right here at home by myself if I had to (oh shoot, I hope I didn't just jinx myself!) Anyhow, during this period of my own physical inactivity, I've been entertained and motivated by exceptional athletes, all from the comfort and safety of my own couch.
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Little did I know when I named my blog "WHO NEEDS SLEEP?" that it would apply to my final couple of months of pregnancy. Everyone says, "sleep now while you can before the baby arrives because then you will be getting NO sleep!" Hell, I haven't slept well for the last 36 weeks and it's only getting worse.
~I can't sleep on my back or stomach because it's bad for Little Tyke.
~There isn't enough room for me and my 100 pillows on the bed.
~Even with 100 pillows, I can't get my extra 50 pounds in a comfortable position so that my back won't hurt.
~I'm too hot!
~I have to get up to pee a few times. And getting myself up is a major task that requires a lot of strategic positioning and grunting.
~Sometimes I need a 3am snack.
~I have MAJOR INSOMNIA! (If anyone else is up every morning from 3-5am PST, I'm available to chat.)
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Swimming is great! After watching hours and hours of Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, and Michael Phelps, I think my swim stroke has improved. Well, okay, maybe my doggie paddle is getting better but whatever. I've been spending lots of time in the pool because that's where I feel best and I think LT is really getting into it also. Maybe all this swimming is producing a little swimmer inside me? Sure feels like s/he's in there doing the breast stroke sometimes.
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I don't have my overnight bag for the hospital packed yet, but at least the car seat is in place. Of course we had to really read the instructions and figure the thing out, but it seems to be a really good one (according to Consumer Reports) and very easy to manage.
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My pregnancy progression in pictures...

Just found out! 3 weeks pregnant

17 weeks and already wearing maternity pants. (Probably because all my other jeans had absolutely no room to spare!)

Between 17 and 21 weeks I grew quite a bit.

22.5 weeks

28.5 weeks

29.5 weeks

30.5 weeks

36 weeks now but I went to the doc and she measured my belly as a 37.5 week belly! Yikes! I guess that means it's gonna be a big one! We're hoping that just means it's long. The ultrasound tech measured it's femur and said it has long legs.

33 weeks of 40...and counting!

2008-07-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

I used to think that pregnant women who waddled were over-exaggerating. Like you see in all the TV shows, there are the stereotypical pregnant women waddling around and leaning back like they're doing the limbo just to sit down. Well I must admit, that is now me and I can't do a thing about it. I think most of the waddling is due to the constant pain in my hip flexors. It feels as if I've been stricken with the worst arthritis. I guess it just means my body is releasing the hormone called relaxin and is getting ready for the birth, but it makes me feel that much wider. It's hard to walk, hard to get into the car, hard to get out of a chair, hard to put on pants, and hard to roll over in bed! The only time I'm truly comfortable is when I'm in the swimming pool. (However walking to and from the pool sucks! It's like, "Excuse me,,,yes, Shamu is coming through. I know, I know, my belly is popping out of my suit but don't worry I still have 7 weeks to go! I just need to get in the water and take this extra 42 pounds off my back and feet.")

What's going on inside with Little Tyke

All of LT's organs are now developed and some are functioning already just as they will after the birth. Rapid brain growth has increased Little Tyke's head size this week. More and more fat is forming so LT's skin is becoming a rosy color. I had my final ultrasound to check on LT's growth. He/She looks to be about 5 pounds and 17 inches long and his/her feet are about 6.9cm. The tech measured LT's femur and commented on his/her long legs! For the next four weeks LT will gain up to a couple of ounces a day and the Doc says LT is on his/her way to being an 8 pound baby!

I know that LT is already head down and is very low in my belly. It seems to me that LT is just as anxious to get out as I am to release him/her. But we still have about 7 weeks to go and LT needs that time to keep growing. I love feeling him/her move around inside. Sometimes LT kicks me so hard that I jump and let out a small yelp, but mostly now they are slow movements as if he/she is stretching. Sometimes Greg and I even push back on his/her foot or arm and play with him/her. And I can definitely tell when LT has the hiccups!

We had another great baby shower and now Little Tyke officially has more gear and clothing than Mommy! Yup, it's true. I've been forced to start selling all my superfluous adventure gear to make room for all of LT's stuff!

Julie had a very cute cake made for us. Going along with the Alaska Experiment theme, there is our cabin, a baby with a chocolate backpack climbing a mountain, and the quote, "The real adventure is about to begin." Isn't that true!?!?

My Aunt Irene & Uncle Sid came from Texas to help with the party and vacation in Cali! Pictured here with friends Kirsten and Dave.

About 60 people came through the party to enjoy the great food that Pam, Winsome and Betina made!

And of course there was music and dancing involved. These guys were great! They played Jimmy Buffet, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley and much more!

Even our Alaska Experiment producer Brian Catalina and his family showed up for the festivities!

Christian Burke and Bill McBlaine joined Greg in the baby changing contest. Although Christian had lots of previous experience with his own child, he was still caught off guard with the "special mixture" that was smeared on the diaper! But he won the contest and left with a super cool prize!

Week 29 of 40 and growing...

2008-07-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

My "weekly pregnancy e-mail tips" suggest I learn to "power nap" during the day. They say I should practice how to nap because I will need one almost every time I put the baby down. And making the most of naps can minimize fatigue and keep me well-rested and feeling great. Hmmmm, sounds familiar! FINALLY!!,,,SOMETHING BABY RELATED THAT I ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO! I've spent the last 6 years perfecting power naps during multi-day adventure races and have even been known to catch a few ZZZZZZ's while on my mountain bike (not recommended). So bring it on Little Tyke!! Let's nap away!

They say Little Tyke is now about 15.5 inches from head to heel and weighs about 2.7 pounds. LT continues to be active and grow. In fact there are times when I think LT is having a raging party inside my belly! Sometimes I can see my belly moving all over the place and it is wild!

LT's head is now in proportion to the rest of the body. Fat continues to accumulate under the skin. The brain can control breathing and the eyes can move in the sockets. LT is regulating his/her own temperature and the bone marrow is completely in charge of red blood cell production. LT is even urinating about a half liter of urine into the amniotic fluid everyday! He/she is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste and smell and is very busy getting ready for the birthday!

Greg listening for LT's heartbeat

The discomforts of pregnancy are definitely getting to me. I know I'm supposed to be cherishing this time however, I know I will be more than ready to pop LT out and get my body back.
Things I look forward to:
Sleeping on my belly, my back & twisting and turning as I want
Eating anything I want with out aversions and/or restrictions (I miss sushi!)
Real workouts
Not feeling like my belly is about to explode
Getting up to walk without hip flexor pain
Wearing my regular clothes

I've started preparing my birth plan. Just like a 24 hour solo mountain bike race, I cannot predict exactly what is going to happen during the event, but it will be great for me to have a written plan of attack to share with my "support crew" (AKA: doctors, nurses & Greg.) The plan is a list of options that Greg and I prefer for the birth experience including pain medication, music, cord cutting, etc. I'll get back to you with more details on the plan when we have it all worked out.

Texas Style Baby Shower

2008-06-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

It is true! EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS! Even the baby showers!

Over 150 people attended the party in preparation for Little Baby Hawkins' arrival.

My aunts, uncles, cousins and parents threw us the baby shower of the century at my parents' house in New Braunfels.

Of course many of the people wanted to hear all about The Alaska Experiment so we went around chatting with each table and gave them more details.

Some of my best girl friends from school were there! L-R; Anissa (friend since 7th grade); Mari (since 5th grade), Denise (since 2nd grade), Jana (since 6th grade), Lisa (since 6th grade)

Greg won the diaper changing contest,,,even though the diaper was on backwards!! How the heck did I know it was on backwards???....only because my aunts told me! :)

More games!

The cake was soooo cute!

The Mama is soooo big!

The party went into the night when the DJ arrived and we all danced. Little Baby Hawkins even took a couple of spins on the dance floor!

More of my cupcake creations--Panda Bears!

Were you inspired?

2008-06-10T23:50:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Experiment show is over.

Were you inspired...
To get outdoors?
To go camping?
To get in shape?
To spend more time with family?
To buy a really good heater?
To sign up for The Alaska Experiment Season 2?
To have a baby? :)

Tell me! Post your comment.

Shopping for Little Tyke

2008-06-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

I've entered a whole new world of SHOPPING FOR BABY! Who would have thought that a tiny little creature would require sooooo many things? And who would have thought there would be sooooo much studying involved in choosing those things?

So I decided to cheat and have the answers given to me on-line. ConsumerReports.org has been a total time saver and I highly recommend it. I go to the product I'm concentrating on,,,say for instance DIAPERS. And it gives me:

1) a basic rundown on the differences between cloth and disposable diapers
2) reasons why I would choose one or the other
3) estimated costs of each of them
4) how many I need to start

This is all really great information for me who has never had any experience at all with baby diapering...or babies in general! :) So after lots of reading and product comparisons on ConsumerReports.org, I was able to wisely choose a crib, stroller, car seat, and a bunch of other essentials.

Whew! Well luckily TARGET has everything! I thought about registering with Babies R Us, Pottery Barn and other stores, but Target seems to have all the right items at all the right prices. No need to spend a bunch of extra money at specialty stores when Little Tyke is gonna grow out of it all so fast. We'll save the money for tennis and golf lessons...and college too I suppose! (Nope, no adventure racing for LT...too dangerous! ;-))

There's a whale in the pool!
I'm now 25 weeks into this pregnancy and about 25 extra pounds into it also. It's been rough carrying all this extra weight but swimming has helped tremendously. The more I swim, the better I feel and the stronger my back gets which helps me sleep better.

There are sharks in the kitchen!
My highly anticipated "nesting" phase has arrived but not in the form of cleaning and organizing. It's come in the form of CUPCAKE MAKING! These are my latest creations...

I guess the up side to this form of nesting is that I don't really like sweets so I don't eat them. I just make them for other people so put in your orders now folks!

Bernice's Alaska Experiment Journal

2008-06-04T11:07:00.001-07:00

They posted my journal entries on the Discovery website. If you didn't get enough of us on TV, you can find out a little bit more of what it was really like for us at Hawkins Glacier Cabin. :)

And since we finally made it off the glacier alive (just barely), there is only one more new episode left. It is the "Reunion Show" that will air next Tuesday night, June 10. The ten of us got together with a special host and we answered questions about our time in the wild.

People like the show!

2008-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Experiment seems to be really popular. Lots of folks watching (over 2 million per episode) and lots of blogs going on. They even aired The Alaska Experiment marathon last week in response to the great demand! The official Discovery blog about the show is here. The website should have our video and written journals up soon.

Discovery is so pleased with the show that we've been doing follow up interviews and filming. There are three more new episodes left to air on Tuesday nights so keep tuning in!

The Alaska Experiment previous episodes can be seen on-line at video.discovery.com. The show is also going to start airing in the UK on May 26. It will be cool for some of my foreign friends to watch. Here's more info.

Some folks are wondering why we did it:
Was it to be on TV and get our 15 minutes of fame?... Well, I can honestly say that we actually wished we could have done it all without the cameras. But it has been great to have our families and friends take a look at what we learned while living in that wonderful land.
Was it for the money?...NO, there was no money, no new car, no million dollar prize at the end. For us the reward was an incredible outdoor experience of a lifetime that we got to share together.
Was it for the challenge?...Sure. We all get so comfortable living in this "world of conveniences" that we thought we'd put ourselves out there and find out if we could survive without running water, electricity, television, internet, and all the things we take for granted in the modern world.
Was it to get closer to each other?...Yes. Even though we've been married for 12 years, it's amazing how much more we learned about each other when we relied on each other for survival. The lack of outside distractions allowed us the chance to really communicate and understand each other's feelings so much deeper than ever before.

Whew! Anyhow, yes it was an incredible experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. And we hope that it will inspire others to REALLY get away from the madness of the lifestyles we have created in our fast paced lives. Take a break from work, from TV, from internet, from telephones, and enjoy the environment in which you live no matter where you are. Maybe not for 3 months, but for 3 days or at least 3 hours.

We are half way there!

2008-05-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

Week 21 of 40!!!

Last week I had a Level 2 ultrasound and an amniocentesis. These tests were suggested by my doctor mainly because,,,,well.......I'm old. Oh, come on!?! Okay, I admit, I'm 35 but I feel like I'm 25. And when I'm flying over the handle bars of my bike, I feel like I'm 12! But whatever, I guess my eggs are 35 years old so I took the tests.

Level 2 Ultrasound
This special type of ultrasound gave a very specific glimpse of Little Tyke. (But no, much to my Mom's dismay, I did not find out if LT is a girl or boy!) LT weighed in at 11 oz. and looks to be taking shape nicely. S/he was doing the "Macarena" in there and didn't stop moving the entire time. Even the technician was giggling at how much LT was moving around. I guess s/he already likes being on camera! :)

LT's heart had all four chambers pumping strongly and the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, and spine all looked good. My amniotic fluid levels, the location of the placenta, and the fetal heart rate also looked good.

I could have sat there all day and watched my Little Tyke but the show was soon over and the next test began.

Amniocentesis:
A small amount of my amniotic fluid was removed from the sac surrounding Little Tyke. The sample of amniotic fluid (less than one ounce) was removed through a long, fine needle that was inserted into my uterus through my belly! Yikes, sounds freaky huh? Well, since I was already feeling a bit queasy from my never ending morning sickness, I decided not to look at the giant needle that was going into my belly! (No anesthesia) The fluid was sent to a lab and tested for certain genetic defects. Thanks to God everything was normal.

So far it looks like all my puking hasn't affected LT at all and s/he is progressing nicely. They say Little Tyke can hear me now and some outside sounds as well. So I've taken up the guitar so I can play for LT. Greg says LT is probably covering his/her ears when I practice but I'm guessing now is the best time to play for LT since s/he probably doesn't know good from bad yet! :)

My progress report:
1. NO the puking hasn't completely stopped! It appears I'm in the 15th percentile of women who continue to have morning sickness past the first trimester... oh lucky me! I'm still on Zofran to control the puking when it gets absolutely unbearable.
2. NO clothes to wear! Yes, I bought some maternity clothes and I wear that, but how many times can I wear a "hawaiian flowered potato sack" over my shoulders?
3. I can't breathe! LT is starting to take up a lot of space in there and it makes it harder and harder to catch my breath, even when I'm sitting still!
4. I can't sit still! Sitting upright is starting to get uncomfortable. I had to pre-order my first Mother's Day present....a rocker/recliner that will allow me to recline comfortably with my growing belly.
5. I can't hold it! When I gotta pee, I gotta pee and damn I gotta pee all the time! Good thing I have lots of experience going in the bushes! Be careful if you invite me to your house and the WC is "Ocupado." I might be outside watering your lemon tree!

However, feeling Little Tyke's kicks and punches inside my belly make all of that other stuff worth while!

Our Alaska Experiment Premier Party

2008-04-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

About 120 people showed up to our Alaska Experiment premier party! Everyone had a great time eating, drinking and cheering us on as we entered the wilds of Alaska and headed to our cabin.

The cast: Greg & Bernice at Hawkins Glacier and Jasmine & Tim (Allan lives in NJ) at Flower Lake

The calm before the storm.

By the time the show started, the room was completely full and there was standing room only.

But the early birds were treated to pizza, salad, beer & soda.

Even my neighbors showed up!

Mel & Kat take time to see a photo of Little Tyke!

Kevin!

Kurt, Michelle, Anita

The adventure racing gang

Jack is so handsome.

Carl and King Richard

Eron and Cindy enjoyed my "popcorn" cupcakes!

Laughing at ourselves on the show.

Greg and Red

Arzu made this great cake that had our cabin, the river, the mountain, and even the mountain goat!

I've officially started "nesting" and baked over 80 "spaghetti & meatball" cupcakes and "popcorn" cupcakes for the party. They were a big hit!

Thanks to everyone who came to the party and made it so much fun!

"Our Arctic Challenge" the movie

2008-04-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Many of you adventure racers have heard about the Siku Arctic Challenge 5 day adventure race in Greenland. Myself and my teammates of Feed the Machine have had the opportunity to race there and I must say it is the most amazing race and the most extraordinary place that I've ever seen. I highly encourage any of you racers who are seeking a true challenge in a truly magnificent atmosphere to participate in that race. ...........HOWEVER.....do so quickly before the glaciers melt!!!

The folks who film the race every year have put together a movie that will show at the Newport Beach Film Festival on April 30 at 6:15pm. They use the backdrop of the adventure race as a venue to film their movie about global warming. They speak with the racers and the race organizers as well.

The filmmakers are from Denmark and are unable to attend this show so I will be representing them here in Newport Beach. This is a great opportunity for me to discuss the effects of global warming that I have seen with my own eyes.

You can get to the movie website and the movie trailer here.

Check out "Our Arctic Challenge" at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Wednesday, April 30 at 6:15pm!

Baby & Biking

2008-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

They say Little Tyke is 18 weeks/2 days and weighs in at about 9 oz. Everything looks good so far thanks to God. But of course there are more tests to be run. Here is his/her profile.

I'm getting larger...up to about 139 pounds now and I can feel it! Unfortunately I'm still puking and relying on the Zofran to help me get through the rough days.

But I did manage to have a great day riding with the gals at El Moro...

Now don't worry. I kept my heart rate low and didn't do any gnarly single track downhill or any steep climbs. I'm being SUPER cautious! It was just nice to get outside, get a little exercise, and chat with some great women.

The Alaska Experiment Promotions

2008-04-22T07:24:00.001-07:00

This was on msn.com.

Tuesday, April 22
"Alaska Experiment" (10 p.m., Discovery)
New series: Seemingly inspired by the success of the film "Into the Wild," Discovery takes the concept and makes a seven-episode documentary series out of it. Premiering as part of Alaska Week, the series ships four teams off to remote wilderness locations and asks them to survive for three months with only a simple trapper's cabin (what, no school bus?), a few guns and a minimal amount of food. Meanwhile, because this is Discovery and not MTV, participants' bodies and psyches will be scientifically evaluated to learn how the struggle against nature really affects us.

The Alaska Experiment Premier

2008-04-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is the 200 sq.ft. cabin we lived in while surviving off the land in Alaska for 3 months! Brrrrr, just looking at it makes me shiver! The snow on the roof served as our water for washing dishes, clothes, and ourselves. The yellowish, oven-like box at the bottom right was our freezer where we kept pieces of the goat Greg hunted (the main body of it was hanging in the tree out of the photo.)

Try to check out the show if you can! It premiers on The Discovery Channel on Tuesday, April 22! You can also find some footage and info on discovery.com. Here's the link.

BECKS!

2008-04-14T08:04:00.001-07:00

Too few Americans realize the privilege we have to see one of the greatest futbol players in the world up close and personally.

If we tried to see him play in Europe, we'd see a speck on the field from the nose bleed section. Not to mention, risk the chance of getting trampled. But at the Home Depot Center, I was within 40 yards of him while he played the Beautiful Game.

Going to a game is usually something I would put off because I'd be on my bike for hours and hours on a weekend. But thanks to Little Tyke, I have time to broaden my horizons.

Bend it like...

Beckham!

Landon's header for the first goal

But you have to hand it to America's own Landon Donovan for stepping up his game and showing futbol fans that he can hang right in there with the best in the world!

Set up for the PK

Psyching out the goal tender

Landon's second goal

I highly recommend attending a Los Angeles Galaxy soccer game! The stadium is gorgeous and it's the perfect place to enjoy a soccer game. It's lovely to sit out in the warm California sunshine and the snacks are affordable! If you want to go with me, let me know! I'll get the tix!

Week 16 of 40: State of a Pregnant Princesa

2008-04-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

I miss riding my bike for hours and hours. I miss playing in the mountains all day and night. But oddly enough, I MISS SWEATING! (And no!!,,, breaking into a cold sweat while violently puking doesn't count!!)

Little Tyke forced me to take some time off of exercising because, well frankly, I was lucky just to get out of my bed in the mornings. Yes, me, "Miss-I survived 11.5 days of tramping through Patagonia" and "I ride my bike 24 hours straight just for fun!" has been knocked down to her knees, whining and crying by the tiny, little, (peanut sized) person growing inside.

16 Weeks Pregnant (believe me, there is a belly!)

Have you ever pulled a muscle from puking so violently? Well, I have and it sucks! I finally begged my doctor for any kind of magic spell (or pill) that would ease my suffering.

Here's a recap:
First 6 weeks ~ Very sore boobs; all day nausea; but tolerable.
Weeks 6-15 ~ PUKE, PUKE, & MORE PUKE. ALL DAY MISERY!
Week 16 ~ I finally got some meds for the nausea and puking & the meds are helping tremendously. I've actually been able to make public appearances.

Easter was my first attempt at a long drive from home...

And thanks to the meds, I could actually eat something other than baked potatoes and spaghetti! YAY!!!

A few weeks later, I even had the energy to design a fruit tray for Eron's surprise birthday bash!

Watch out Martha Stuart,,,,my motherly instinct is FINALLY kicking in!

Amazing what I can do when I'm not training 20 hours a week! (But don't get used to it)

Eron was really surprised! It was a great party!

They say now is the time I should begin to feel Little Tyke's movements as his/her bones begin to harden. It should feel like butterflies in the stomach. Well, I've definitely been feeling something strange in there so I think it must be Little Tyke riding the bike around in circles!

My heart continues to increase its blood volume output to supply Little Tyke with oxygen. It is enlarged and is pumping about 20% more blood that it did before! Huh, and I didn't even have to blood dope! I guess that's why Little Tyke is riding around in there so much! They say my heart will continue to grow throughout my pregnancy and that will result in an increased heart output of 30-50 percent by the time of delivery! Maybe that's why they say women come back stronger after pregnancy!! You boys better start booking me for races now 'cause I'm gonna be so strong!! ;-))

Oops!

2008-04-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you put your finger between the chain and the chain ring and decide to crank the crank set. Ouch!

(Nope, it wasn't me, it was a silly boy friend of mine.)

For Sale!!! Updated 12/17/08

2008-03-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

WINDSTOPPER Tech Jacket
A Mountain Hardwear original. Windproof, breathable, and highly durable--an essential part of any layering system.
Men’s Size Small (works well for size 8 woman)
Slightly used but in very good condition.
Retails for $185
Will sell for $90
Check it out here

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CARBON WATERSTICK CANOE PADDLE: USED $85 plus shipping or pick up in Orange County
(Sells new for $180)
http://www.sierraoutdoorcenter.com/WASTC1RPaddles.html
Designed with the most advanced software and built using the newest materials and construction techniques available.
100% carbon for the blades and extremely durable carbon/fiberglass blend for the shaft. Using their unique technology this paddle encompasses all of the technology Waterstick has developed over the past 5 years.
It simply is the best.
Comes with round shaft standard on all straight shafts.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Weight: 11.1 oz.
Construction: Carbon
Blade Width (in.): 8 1/4
Blade Length (in.): 19 1/4
Length (in): 53
Will sell for $85 plus shipping

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SealSkinz Waterproof Socks: $10 plus shipping (new in box)

Medium black socks (Men’s size 7-9; Women’s size 8-10)

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SealSkinz Waterproof gloves: $10 plus shipping (new in box)

Medium (8.5 inches measured around the hand at the fullest part excluding the thumb)

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VOYAGEUR CARBON KAYAK PADDLE: USED $100
Voyageur carbon 95 inches tip to tip. Not winged...flat paddle 49X19 cm blade. 2 piece, with 3 twist settings. Cost $300 new. Will take $100 plus shipping.
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USED FULL SIZED VIOLIN $100 plus shipping or pickup in Orange County
Used violin is in great condition. Bow needs to be restrung. Perfect for a beginner or student. Includes case. Cash only please.

Contact:
bernicepierson@hotmail.com

Back home to my country...

2008-03-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

TEXAS!

Lisa has been my friend since 7th grade. We played volleyball and basketball together through junior high and high school. Now we are both pregnant with our first child at the same time. She's due to have her baby girl in a few weeks!

Almost thirteen weeks into my pregnancy and I'm still suffering from "all day sickness!" But little did I realize that my "mile high club" would have nothing to do with copulation and everything to do with regurgitation!

Picture this:

Princesa Pukes-a-lot in the window seat on a full airplane.
TURBULENCE as soon as we hit the air.
Fifteen rows from the potty, clutching on to a tiny little barf bag, and turning green.
Two big guys blocking my way to the aisle. One with his laptop, bucket of popcorn, peanut m&m's and a big Coke (not really but he might as well have been), fully enjoying his DVD.

I excuse myself to the back of the plane to stand by the lavatory just in case.
"Fasten seat belts" signs light up.
Flight attendant asks me to sit down.
I look at her with the face of..."Are you freaking kidding me???...If I go sit down, I'm gonna 'toss my cookies' into my neighbor's popcorn, then he will heave, and like dominoes each and every passenger will spew.......and YOU will be the one cleaning it all up!!!!"
...So she tells me to sit in the restroom and HOLD ON.

A few minutes later she comes back and apologizes for locking me in the can.
I explain to her that, unlike the drunk hooligans in row 12, Little Tyke is in fact the cause of my nausea.

And then I do what any normal, first trimester, prego lady would do: I beg her to let me keep my position on the throne!
She brings me a ginger ale, a cold towel, and larger barf bag for my convenience. What a nice lady!

And I get "preferred potty seating" for the entire 2.5 hour flight!

My Tia Vira "calling long distance!"

Dad wanted to introduce himself as well.

Cousin Ezy saying hi to the Little Tyke.

Morning Sickness - It's fo' real...

2008-02-29T09:41:00.000-08:00

Morning sickness, oh morning sickness
when will thou end?
Not solely in the morn'
but over and over again.

Twenty-four, seven,
week after week,
debilitating, depressing, alienating,
can't even speak.

Can't get out of bed,
can't let go of the "throne."
please not seven more months,
Can't I just stay home?

Meals I greet alone,
meals I greet with lament,
they're only bizarre obsessions, chores, and treatments.

No baby bump to show,
though public puking I go.

Dare you smile and shout...
"N'er sick did I become!"
Beware your flops, heels or hightops,
For up chuck my lunch will come.

Do not offer me Saltines!
Do not tell me it's in my head!
Or run as fast as you can,
lest you find yourself dead!

But ladies do heed this,
there shall end the misery.
In months it may be three,
if not stay strong thee,

for the prize at the end of nine,
true love surpassing time.

By Princesa Pukes-a-lot (AKA Bernice)

Approaching 11 Weeks!

2008-02-26T09:19:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to ride at Southridge this weekend, but as I'm quickly finding out,,,,I'm no longer in charge. Little Tyke (LT) had other plans for us. I think after last weekend's race, LT decided that Mommy needed to rest so he/she could have energy to grow. Not to mention, I have a UTI and I got a cold that turned into a terrible ear infection...talk about MISERY!

But I was able to get in my cycling fix by watching the Amgen Tour of California. Pretty cool that those great riders are right here racing in Cali!

I actually had a small glimmer of hope the other day when I woke up and didn't have to run to the throne immediately to puke! But of course, I made up for it later that night. Note to self: Spinach salads not so good on the way back up but Chocolate Ensure tastes exactly the same! (Yup, I know that's gross, but I warned you...brutal honesty!)

The Baby
They say the baby is now almost two inches tall and weighs 5 grams. It's not much, but LT is complete! You can recognize his/her little face and the eyelids are clearly visible. The vocal cords are forming and the inner ear and auricle have been formed, too. The first downy hairs are becoming visible. The process of ossification is in full progress; the fingertips are hardening and soon they will get miniscule nails. A bit later the toes will follow, because the development of the baby takes place from top to bottom.

Although the gender already has been determined, we can't see whether it will be a boy or girl yet. And I really don't want to know.

Foods I have been able to eat:
Potatoes, pasta, toast, Ensure, SunChips, fresh fruit, oatmeal, yogurt

Foods I can't tolerate right now:
Salads, chicken, fish, beef

Foods I want but cannot have:
Sushi, sushi, sushi!...and a big, full-bodied Cabernet!

I must admit, I've been very tired. They say building a baby is harder work than climbing Mt. Everest. Well, I don't know about that, but man, am I exhausted most of the time! A whole new vascular system has to be created and my body has to transport a lot of blood to it. Low blood pressure and nausea have also been adding to my exhaustion.

I've definitely had to tone down my former busy non-pregnant lifestyle for a while. Not being able to train and race with my friends is a challenge every week. But I'm just trying to keep my focus and look forward to the prize at the end of this challenge!

Little Tyke's First Mountain Bike Race

2008-02-17T16:05:00.001-08:00

I went out to Temecula to ride in a short mountain bike race at Vail Lake. The only way I can explain this is that racing is in my blood. I've been adventure and mountain bike racing non-stop for the past 6 years. And therefore, I'm unable to quit cold-turkey! I love the people, I love the events, I love to ride my bike, and I just plain love to get outside and exercise.

I decided to enter as a beginner so I would be forced to do only one lap at a very slow pace. I had my heart rate monitor on so that I could track my effort and not steal oxygen from Little Tyke. Although I kept a nice, easy pace, my heart rate shot up and I had to slow down even more. It was fine though because this time I actually got to check out the views. I enjoyed the sunshine. I enjoyed the single track. I enjoyed the competitors. And most of all I enjoyed the ride!

Bern & Little Tyke got 2nd Place!

Introducing....Little Tyke!

2008-02-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

February 15 was Little Tyke's first photo shoot! Less than 1 inch big and already causing so much chaos...(in mommy's body!)

Little Tyke's First Race!

2008-02-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

Little Tyke's first race wasn't a mountain bike race.....and no it wasn't an adventure race either! It was a SNOWSHOE RACE! Yup, Little Tyke and I did a 5km snowshoe race in Big Bear. It was our first time on snowshoes and it was a blast! We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

Of course I had to get up super early in the morning so I could get the puking over with before driving up to Big Bear! But luckily Little Tyke allowed me the courtesy of feeling fine driving up the windy mountain road.

Although it was a race, Little Tyke wouldn't let me run. I had to keep my heart rate low so we walked the entire course.

It was fun seeing a bunch of fellow adventure racers and friends on the course.

We are all about trying new adventures through this entire pregnancy!

Little Tyke and I finished in just under 4 hours. Quite a while out on the course, but we spent some time assisting a couple of folks that needed help. All said and done, it was a great day in the mountains of SoCal!

Weeks 6, 7, 8

2008-02-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

If nature had arranged that husbands and wives should have children alternatively, there would never be more than three in a family.

WEEKS SIX - SEVEN

I've been reading all kinds of things on the internet and the "Baby Calculator" said that I'm at 6 weeks and 5 days.
How some women go for 4 or 5 months not even knowing they are pregnant is beyond my comprehension. I immediately knew something was off. The sore boobs, the cramping, the nausea,,, sheesh,,,at 3, 4, 5 weeks, my body was going nuts!!
Now at 6-7 weeks, the morning sickness is in FULL EFFECT! And let me tell you,,,,in my case it's called ALL DAY SICKNESS! Waves of nausea all damn day long! I feel great, I feel terrible, feel great, feel awful, great, wrecked,,,,aaahh! Is this how it's gonna be for the next 7 months??? Good thing I'm trained in suffering!
I've been riding my bike here and there when I feel well enough. A couple of weekends ago I got to ride Bommer Canyon with Dave Paul and I made it for a couple of hours before the boobs were aching so bad that I had to stop. The next weekend I got on Bomb Shelly (my single-speed) and took her out for a very easy spin and that was super fun.
I'm working from home now so it makes it easy to rest whenever I need a break or a puke session. I still have to venture out to see clients here and there, but I can usually manage.

WEEK EIGHT

The Baby
The internet says the baby is approximately three-quarters of an inch (2 centimeters) long and weighs about a gram. It also says Little Tyke keeps on developing at a rapid speed: the beginnings of a skeleton are being created, with cartilage prior to the actual formation of bones. The little heart has started beating at about 60 times a minute, the stomach produces gastric juices, the liver makes blood cells and the brain starts working. Now the resemblance to a tadpole is quite clear, because webbed fingers and toes appear on the hands and feet! Little Tyke is growing pretty fast: less than two weeks ago it was the size of a grain of rice, now it's as big as your thumbnail.

Week 8: A Body at Work

I have officially bestowed the name "Little Tyke" upon my little tenant - it's easier than stumbling around and calling the poor thing "it" or "he or she" all the time. I keep trying to picture what he or she looks like; imagining it growing day by day. I spent half the day looking at pictures of 8-week-old fetuses on the internet. It's so hard to imagine that something so small is inside me right now,,,well except for all the unpleasant side effects that are a constant reminder something huge is going on.

I'm nauseous most of the time, and throwing up every single morning for 3 weeks straight. Everyone keeps saying it will pass after the first trimester...well, that's another 4 weeks away! AAAHHHH!

The books and my doctor told me to try "grazing," or snacking throughout the day instead of trying to eat three normal meals, and to take my prenatal vitamins at night rather than in the morning. I've resorted to all sorts of remedies: Sea Bands (wrist bands) to apply pressure at points to decrease nausea, Vitamin B-6, Ginger Snaps, lemon wedges, and praying (since I'm already bent over on my knees at the "throne". I'll try anything if it helps!

The Beginning of a BIG NEW ADVENTURE!

2008-02-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

The weekend of Camp Lynda I found out that Greg and I were expecting a baby! It's been an exciting and frightening discovery! But I'm super happy and my entire family is excited and ready to support me from all angles!

I went on to ride all 3 days at Camp Lynda, although I took it pretty easy. I managed to get in 5 hours on Saturday, 5 hours on Sunday, and 2 hours on Monday but I kept my heart rate low and I was super careful.

My plan is to keep riding as well as explore some new adventures throughout my entire pregnancy. If you care to follow along, let me caution you now...I'm gonna post the down and dirty details of the "Life of a Prego Princesa!"

Bern: Jan 16, 2008
119 pounds
about 3 weeks pregnant

Princesa Pool Shark?

2008-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

I decided that it's time for me to take up something new! Now, now, don't worry,,,I'm not tossing out Black Widow or Bomb Shelly for a Pool Cue (well, not yet anyway.) I've just always wanted to learn to play pool and now I'm doing it. Super Mario and I have joined a pool league so every Monday night we will be racking them up at Diamond's in Brea. (If anyone wants a good chuckle come and check me out!) But hurry because soon enough I will be really good and maybe I will move up from "Beginner" to "Sport" by the end of this season!

The great things about pool are:

1) I don't have to train for hours and hours.

2) I can borrow all the equipment.

3) I don't have to find a support crew when I want to play.

4) The playing field is equal whether I play a man or a woman- of any age.

5) And---I may actually be able to WIN more money than I spend on it!

Personal Training for Everyone!

2008-01-28T09:29:00.000-08:00

Updated July 2008

Are you a couch potato that needs a little motivation? Have you always thought about working out but didn't know where to begin? Do you wish you had a personal trainer but can't afford one?

Well, those are no longer valid excuses!

Bernice Pierson will give you the guidance and personal attention you need to shed those pounds and become fit and healthy.

Bernice has a Bachelor's degree in Fitness & Human Performance and a Master's degree in Sports Management. She is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Email Bernice to find out how she can personally train you through the internet no matter where you live! She will custom design your workouts to your specific interests and hobbies using your local gym, your home, and/or the outdoors. She will keep track of your progress and motivate you to keep it up.

bernicepierson@hotmail.com

Camp Lynda Day 3

2008-01-15T18:22:00.000-08:00

Gotta LOVE the Goose!!

This was some of the most fun riding I have ever done!! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so here are some photos I stole from the web.

Camp Lynda was super fun and great training! Thanks to Lynda and Dave for guiding us through some magnificent terrain around St.George, Utah.

Camp Lynda Day 2...FUN, FUN, FUN

2008-01-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

David Paul (Orange County, CA) and I spent the day together trying to follow my new Garmin Etrex Vista GPS. We had a great time riding Barrel Roll and the Woop Dee Doops!

Dave and Bern taking a much needed break!

Lynda and Dave are sooooo lucky to have such great trails with beautiful scenery out here!

http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/archive/2008/01/13/3333.aspx

More pics from Adam's blog...

http://www.epicriding.com/2008/01/this-one-time-at-bike-camp.html

Camp Lynda Day 1

2008-01-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

Bern and Josh after 5 plus hours of riding!

Pics and Info here...

http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/default.aspx

More Pics here...

http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2008/01/12/3329.aspx

Much Needed Binge Training in St. George, Utah

2008-01-08T07:15:00.001-08:00

Friends have been telling me about the incredible riding in the St. George, Utah area and now I'm going to check it out for myself!

Super Mario and I are headed out this weekend for Camp Lynda...3 days of epic 6-8 hour rides through the gorgeous desert!

I bought a new toy to guide me through camp-- the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx! The maps are loaded, the Black Widow is tuned, and my body,,,well, let's just say 3 months in Alaska was not mountain biker friendly.

Oh well, ready or not, it will be good practice at suffering and I can't wait to get out and RIDE, RIDE, RIDE all weekend!

My Race Results

2007-12-31T15:12:00.000-08:00

Bio
Bernice Pierson is an ultra-endurance adventure racer and mountain bike racer. She has competed in sprint, 12 hour, 24 hour, 4 day stage, and 12 day expedition adventure races around the world. She is a 24 hour Co-ed Duo US National Mountain Bike Champion and finished sixth at the 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike World Championships. Bernice lived off the land in Alaska for 3 months as part of " The Alaska Experiment" television show that aired on the Discovery Channel. She also participated in the Global Extremes: Mt. Everest adventure that aired on the Outdoor Life Network. Bernice serves as the Beginner Liaison for the Southern California Adventure Racing Club and is a motivational speaker and writer.

2009
November; 5K Turkey Trot Run; Gruene, TX; 4th age group
October; 50 mile West Coast MTB Marathon Championship; Vail Lake, CA; 2nd pro female
September; 15 mile XC MTB Race; Irvine, CA
August; 15 mile XC MTB Race; Irvine, CA
June; Cal Multi Sport Adventure; 7.5K Kayak-15K MTB-6K Run; Vail Lake, CA
April; Emcee Renegade Racing Sprint AR; San Dimas, CA
March; Devil Dog Duathlon; 5K run-30K bike-5K run; Camp Pendleton, CA
March; Adventure Race Speaker; A16; Oceanside, CA
March; Adventure Race Speaker; RNR Bike Shop; Orange County, CA
January; 12 Hrs of Temecula; MTB; 4 girl team

2008
Nov; 12 hrs of Temecula; (DMS)
Sep 7; Sofia Hawkins Pierson born
Aug 21; SportEve Culver City speaker; (AR)
Aug 14; Adventure 16 Oceanside speaker; (AR)
Apr 30; Our Arctic Challenge, Host/Speaker; Newport Beach Film Festival
Apr 22-Jun; Alaska Experiment on Discovery Channel
Mar 20; MTB Diva Night Feature Speaker
Feb 16; Racers & Chasers XC; SoCal; (MTB)
Feb 9; Snowshoe the Bear, Big Bear, SoCal
Jan 12-14; Camp Lynda, Utah (MTB)

2007 Television Show
Sep 7-Dec 9 The Alaska Experiment- Survived the Wilderness!

ADVENTURE RACES
2007
March; Bimbache Adventure Race; 5 days; Spain
2006
February; Patagonia Expedition Race; 11.5 day expedition; Southern Chile; 3rd place
May; Cal Eco; 24 hours; Auburn, California; 1st place
July; Scout AR; 12 hours; Orange County, California; 2nd place
July; Arctic Team Challenge; 5 day stage; East Greenland; 7th place
2005
February; Extreme Adventure Hidalgo; 4 day stage race; Hidalgo, Mexico
June; Nuevo Leon Outdoor Challenge; 4 day stage race; Nuevo Leon, Mexico
July; Scout Adventure Challenge; 12 hours; Southern California; 13^th place
July; Big Blue Adventure Race; 24 hours; Santa Barbara, California; 4^th place
August; Explore California; 24 hours; Catalina Island, California; 4^th place
October; Ecomotion Expedition; 7 days; Rio Grande Do Sol; Brazil; 28^th place
2004
March; Extreme Adventure Hidalgo; 4 day stage race; Hidalgo, Mexico
March; West Coast Adventure Race; 12 hours; Southern California; 5^th place
April; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Lake San Antonio, California; 9^th place
May; West Coast Adventure Race; 12 hours; Southern California; 5^th place
May; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Fort Bragg, California
June; REI Desert 12 Hour Race; Anza Borego, California; 3^rd place
July; REI Ocean 12 Hour Race; Malibu, California; 3^rd place
July; Balance Bar 24 Hour Race; Beaver Creek, Colorado; 2^nd place Amateur
July; Cal Eco Finals 52 Hour Race; Santa Barbara, California
September; Subaru Primal Quest; 10 days; San Juan Islands, Washington; 40^th place
November; Balance Bar 24 Hour Race; Los Angeles, California; 5^th place Amateur
2003
February; Extreme Adventure Hidalgo; 4 day stage race; Hidalgo, Mexico
March; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Lake San Antonio, California
April; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Santa Barbara, California
May; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Fort Bragg, California
June; Cal Eco 36 Hour Race; Yosemite, California
July; Balance Bar 24 Hour Race; Beaver Creek, Colorado; 5^th place Amateur
2002
March; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Pacheco State Park, Gilroy, California
May; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Eagle Mountain, Lake Tahoe, California; 9^th place
June; Cal Eco 24 Hour Race; Kernville, California
July; Subaru Primal Quest Expedition; 10 days; Telluride, Colorado; 39^th place
September; REI Ocean Adventure Classic 12 Hour Race; Malibu, California
November; Balance Bar 24 Hour Race; Santa Monica, California
2001
May; Hi-Tec Adventure Race; 3-5 Hours; Los Angeles, California

MOUNTAIN BIKE RACES
2007

Sep 1-2 World Solo 24 Hour Championships- 6th Elite Female
July 28-29 - US Nationals MTB 24 Hour - 1st Mixed Duo
June 16 - 12 Hrs of Temecula MTB - 1st Pro Co-ed 2 person
June 9 - The Traverse - 3rd Pro/Expert Female
May 26 - 12 Hrs of Weaverville - 1st Overall 2 Person
Apr 28 - Adrenalin 8 Hour Solo - 3rd Solo Pro Female
Apr 14 - Sea Otter Singlespeed XC - 4th Sport Women
Mar 3 - Vision Quest - Finisher!!
Feb 17 - Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo - 2nd Solo Pro Female
Feb 10 - Southridge Winter Series XC MTB -
Jan 20 - 12 Hours of Temecula MTB - 2nd Pro Co-ed 2 person
Jan 13 - Southridge Winter Series XC MTB - 1st Sport Women
2006
April; Warriors XC Spring Classic, Orange County, CA; 2nd place
June; 24 Hours of OC, Orange County, CA; 1st place
October; 6 Hours of OC, Orange County, CA; 3rd place
November; Warriors XC Fall Classic, Orange County, CA; 3rd place
November; 12 Hours of Temecula, Temecula, CA; 2nd place Co-ed
2005
April; California State XC Series, Lake Castaic, CA; 1^st place
April; Sea Otter Classic Short Track, Monterrey, CA; 6^th place
April; Sea Otter Classic XC; Monterrey, CA; 11^th place
April; 24 Hours of Adrenalin; 3 person team; Idyllwild, CA; 1^st place
May; Snow Summit Amateur Cup XC Series; Big Bear, CA; 2^nd place
June; Jansport 12 Hours at the Summit; Big Bear, CA; 2^nd place
September; World Championships 24 Hours of Adrenalin; 3 person team; Whistler, BC, Canada; 1^st place
November; 6 Hours of Orange County; California; 1^st place

TRANSITIONS

2007-12-21T05:23:00.000-08:00

In adventure racing, TRANSITION is defined as the location and time it takes the team to move from one discipline to another. Each minute is precious and it is ideal to have a smooth, fast transition. You should get in, change clothes and gear, eat, grab the essentials for the next leg and get out with no mistakes and no lost time. This is something that can be planned for ahead of time and organization and practice can perfect the transition into a "flowing discipline of grace."

In life, TRANSITION is defined as the movement, passage, or change from one state to another; such as the transition from life in the wilds of Alaska to life in the wilds of Orange County, California. Unfortunately for me, this has been anything but a "flowing discipline of grace." So many things happened and changed in my world during the three months I was away and it hit me like brick wall upon my return. Family, friends, work, racing, and training all succumbed to the never ending evolutionary state of life and it has been overwhelming. This is something that I did not plan for and practice ahead of time and I must admit that this TRANSITION is not flowing smoothly with no mistakes and no lost time.

However, the "race" of life goes on and I'm beginning to find the flow again. Some time on my bike, some time with family and friends, and some time reflecting on the wondrous serenity of Alaska (and the ability to return there if needed) reminds me that each minute is precious and I must learn and adapt to the world around me.

Unfortunately I am unable to write stories about our time in Alaska and I have no photos to share. The story, my photos and my journal will all be revealed in April on the Discovery Channel and their website. But you might check out the Discovery Channel on December 26. They are supposed to preview next year's shows and I'm not 100% sure, but there might be a preview of "The Alaska Experiment." Let me know if you see it as I will be traveling home to Texas on the 26th to spend some much needed time with my entire family and school friends. But if you can't wait until April to hear about it, let's do lunch or go for a ride and I will give you a preview! :)

Hugs and Happy Holidays!!

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2007-12-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

And I'm trying so hard to adjust back to this fast paced city life after living in the peacefulness and beauty of Alaska. Greg and I had an amazing time living off the land in the extreme wilderness. For those of you who don't know.....
We were one of 4 groups chosen to be on this reality documentary television show that will air in April on the Discovery Channel. The show is called "The Alaska Experiment" and it will air 8- one hour long episodes in prime time (probably following "Deadliest Catch.")
I hope you get a chance to watch.

Now, gotta go find my biking legs again...

Deep Muscle Massage

2007-10-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Bernice Pierson is a Deep Muscle Stimulating Massage Specialist using the DMS Machine.

Corporate Office
Motivate your employees with a mini rejuvinating "Massage Break" at your office.

Events
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Call: 949-293-7085
Email: bernicepierson@hotmail.com

Signing off for a few months...

2007-09-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

I've got a very interesting opportunity to live in Alaska for 3 months! I can't say much more than I will be living off the land with no electricity, no running water, and I will be hunting and fishing for my food. So,,,,,if I survive, I will tell you more when I return. Please send your prayers my way.

I will be back on-line around December 12. Until then, keep riding, running, kayaking, and having fun!

Hugs to all!
Bern

24 Hour World Solo Championship

2007-09-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

Things didn't go quite as planned for me at this race. But I managed to battle through the difficulties and finish 6th Elite Female. I'm surprised and happy to have finished so well despite all the challenges I faced. However, as all athletes know, when you feel you could have done better,,,,that only means one thing.....YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN! Aaaaahhh shucks!!! ...I'll have to think about it. :)

My support:
Carl Davis; one of my very first adventure racing friends.
Gillian Woodward, my best dear girl friend.
Mike Feeney, my friend from a job I had 7 years ago.
Super genious mechanic Andy from Desert Cyclery in Utah. My coach Lynda and I shared him, Dan & Dave.

Dan Abernethy; a very dear adventure racing friend since PQ 2002.

Dave Harris; incredible endurance mountain biker himself.
These folks took care of my every need from the time we left the OC until they dropped off my battered and beaten body at home after the race.

Carl & Gilly making the pre-race dinner

Mike Feeney

Bern creating her race "meals on the go."

The course:
I must say that I have a love/hate relationship with this type of course.
It was long, steep, sandy, and exposed to the sun & wind. There was one fun downhill singletrack that lasted about 8 minutes, but the rest of it was an uneventful grind. I hated it for all those reasons, but loved it because suffering is my specialty and suffer is what you do when you ride this type of course for 24 hours.

Super Sandy Course

Bern & Terri Wahlberg trotting the Le Mans start

The weather:
It was HOT and dry! 95-101 degrees on the course. No one expected this heat wave to come through...it’s northern California,,,by the beach! It’s supposed to be 70 degrees!

The race:
Rode the first 3 laps with no rear brake but the legs/body & everything felt super great!
Had to make an unexpected pit after lap 3 to get brakes fixed. Ate, drank & powered up.
I was going at a super easy pace & doing fine with the 100 degree temps,,,but...
I think I may have taken the wrong supplements at this early pit stop and I had a bad reaction to my mixture.
Dry heaved through lap 4.
Hurled through lap 5.
Rode my bike at a 3 legged blind dog’s pace for the next 16 hours.
Finished 6th Pro Women.

This little foxy guy came over to my pit to cheer me up when I was sick.

The pedicure:
Once, while I was hurling over the handle bars, I thought about how pretty my toes must look under all of this mess and it made me happy.

Music:
At the pre-race meeting, they announced that iPods were not allowed on course. I boo’d, everyone else started booing, we all started a chant…”iPod, iPod, iPod!” But in the end…something about the insurance policy,,,yada, yada, yada,,,,no iPods allowed. So I had to use my “internal iPod” …too bad it only had two songs recorded: It’s a Wonderful Night by Fatboy Slim and Enter Sandman by Metallica. Great songs, but when you only know one verse, 24 hours of it can really suck.

Overall:
Physically, this is the worst I have ever felt during a mountain bike race. I suffered tremendously. So why do I keep doing this you ask. Well, because I may not be the best 24 hour mountain bike rider in the world, but I’m the 6th BEST 24 HOUR SUFFERER IN THE WORLD! :)

It was also very cool to see a bunch of friends on the course. My training partner and teammate Josh Smith finally put it all together and had a tremendous race! He was smart and solid and finished 2nd in his age group. Our Sho-Air teammate Matt Nourmahamadian also had a great race! Heather Moothart was out there riding like a mad woman and she won a World Title! Unfortunately Super Mario and La Ruta Lou had some difficulties this time and were unable to finish.

Gilly saw a bobcat on the trail during my pre-ride.

Post race: Coach Lynda rode strong and finished 2nd Elite Female! I'm so lucky to have her on my side!

On the road to Worlds

2007-08-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

You don't even know how crazy this last week has been for me. Preparing for a very important mountain bike race,,,,and then finding out I'm going to live in Alaska for a few months...& I leave the FRIDAY after Worlds! (more on that later) Not to mention having to train others to do my job while I'm gone...AAAAAAGGGHHHH! Talk about running around like a chicken with its head cut off!

Well, even though I completely forgot to pick up my primary bike from the shop and now I have to travel without it and wait for it to meet me there, I DID get the MOST IMPORTANT thing done:

The Princesa toes are pedicured and ready to race. Whew! Just could not manage riding for 24 hours without the pretty toes. (Aaaah, back off,,they just make me feel good, alright!) And feeling good & being mentally strong is what it takes to ride around in circles, non-stop, for 24 hours!

24 Hour US National Champions Mixed Duo

2007-08-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

24 Hour US National Championship Start

Many of the big names in endurance mountain bike racing were at the 24 Hour US Nationals in Wausau, Wisconsin. Eatough, Sawicki, Ross, Rusch, Merenchin, Musto, Hendershot, Kaufmann, Collier, Namrita........not to mention Super Mario & Princesa Bern! ;-)) Super M & I had been discussing this race since the beginning of the year so we finally decided to team up and race the Mixed Duo category. After training hard all year with Josh and racing the 12 hour duo races with him, I felt ready for my first 24 hour duo. And Super Mario was the perfect teammate! He is so strong and so experienced in endurance racing and always has the game plan perfectly drawn out.

The Winning Team: Super Mario, Crew Captain Matt, Princesa Bern, Pit Chief & Mechanic Shawn Hauser & rookie crew Jenna

Matt Nourmohamadian is the youngest member of the Sho-Air/Rock N Road team and he agreed to support us in Wisconsin. His entire family lives in and around Wausau so they were nice enough to host us for the long weekend. His cousin Jenna also agreed to help us at the race. She had never been to a bike race before so it was a totally new experience and boy did she get a rude awakening! She had no idea it would be so much work! Unfortunately she hadn't had the "Warning" discussion that Josh (my teammate & support at Old Pueblo) gave to Matt......I think it went something like this:

Josh: "Hey Matt, you know there's a reason Bernice is called the 'Princesa.'" ...Etc, etc, etc!

Anyhow, Jenna learned fast and managed to put up with me and Mario for the entire 24 hours getting no sleep at all! She and Matt did a fantastic job keeping us cool during the day, warm at night, fed, and informed.

I must also mention Shawn Hauser and the Stadium Bikes teams. I met Shawn on-line when I was seeking help from the local riders. He offered to wrench for us and share his pit with us so that we wouldn't have to ship and/or buy all the pit necessities. He's a very experienced rider and mechanic and he helped us tremendously. He didn't race this one so he was constantly looking after our bikes and helping Matt and Jenna with the stove and anything they needed to keep us going. There were a few other locals that were ready and willing to help us in any way and I must say that the folks in Wisconsin are so nice and I hope that they will come visit our mtbike trails/races in Cali and that we will get to host them as well as they did us!

Super Mario, Aunt Pam, Cousin Jenna & Bern

Our wonderful sponsor Sho-Air took care of shipping our gear for us so we had a stress-free flight to Milwaukee on Thursday. Our Specialized bikes with our trusty Ergon Grips, our Hammer supplements, our Dermatone sun & bug block, my warm Ibex clothing, and my new Numa Sunglasses all made it to Milwaukee on time. We rented a truck with a Garmin GPS and drove about half an hour to Sussex where we stayed with Matt's aunt Pam and cousin Jenna. They have a lovely home that Pam designed and built. She made us a yummy dinner of pasta salad, chicken and fresh sweet corn. Matt's grandparents also came by the house to visit the nutty folks who were in town to ride their bikes in circles for 24 hours. They are a great couple who've been married for 57 years! It was so nice to meet them and have them wish us well.

The farm house near the race course in Wausau

On Friday, me, Mario, Matt, and Jenna drove 3 hours to Wausau where we stayed at Craig, Donna & Dillon's farm house. Doris (Donna's mother) and 11 year old Dillon were there to greet us and make us feel at home. Mario and I left Matt and Jenna there and we drove the 15 minutes to the course for a pre-ride. We checked in, met our Stadium Bikes pit neighbors, rode the course, and visited with some of our fellow mtbike friends. We hung out with Ron and Pua for a bit while Ron fixed the rotors on our bikes. That was super cool of him to take time to help us get them just right.

Our magnificent hosts in Wausau: Jenna, Matt, Doris, Dillon, Donna, Craig

Doris is a very lovely German woman who went out of her way to tend to our every need. She even made sure we had Mario's favorite pancake breakfast before the race!

Pit row

This is the second year in a row that the US National Championships were held in Wausau and I can tell why. It was a great course with great attendance. There were over 700 riders there!

Our pit with the Stadium Bikes gang

There were 3 other teams in our pit and they all made the podium also! There was the 4 man clydesdale team, the 2 man father/son team, and the 4 man junior team. This was definitely the WINNING PIT!

Shawn had the pit so well organized

Our table got a little messy though

Although he hates it, Super Mario did the very short LeMans start and the first lap. The course was about 14 miles with probably 85% of it being tight singletrack through the woods. It was super rocky with a few roots and logs in some areas. It definitely took some concentration to go over the rocks and not into the trees. And the best part was that the course was completely shaded! Very different than the terrain we usually ride here in SoCal. BUT THERE WERE NO IPODS ALLOWED! I was kinda bummed at first that we weren't allowed to have anything in our ears during the race, but it turned out to be a good thing because the trails were so tight that we needed to pay full attention to the trails and the other riders. Although it would have been fun to jam to some cool tunes whilst zigging and zagging through those trails. They did, however, provide a DJ with a Disco Ball and everything. About halfway through the lap the DJ was spinning his tunes and at 3am it was fun to hear the music and see the Disco Ball with flashing lights.

My Garmin recorded about 1000 ft of elevation gain through the 14 miles, but it didn't even seem like that much! The hills were just a bunch of "false flats" really. It was super fun and I really, really enjoyed the technical singletrack. I'd have to say this is one of my top two favorite mtb race courses.

The weather was perfect! I was dreading a very hot and humid day, but a "cold front" moved in on race day and kept the temps in the low 80's. A little warm but never too hot. Definitely not as humid as I was anticipating. And I didn't get a single bug bite!.. in fact, quite the opposite....I ate 3 bugs! (Ha, that's what you get you pesky suckas! evil laugh)

It did get a bit chilly at night for us SoCal folks so Mario and I sat in the truck with the heater on in between laps. During the early AM hours, while I was at the transition tent awaiting Mario's arrival so we could switch off, all the Wisconsin people were sitting there with their short sleeve jerseys and shorts while I was bundled up from head to toe and still shivering!

During one of my later laps, I was desperate for a little snack. I remembered that there was a makeshift "aid station" where someone had put up a table with Twinkies and a few other snacks. The sign on the table read, "CHRIS EATOFF STOPS HERE!" Yes, they spelled Eatough wrong...which made it even funnier. So I couldn't wait to get there for a Twinkie. Oh, the angel food cake with the white, creamy sweet filling was gonna taste so good at 2:37am! But when I got there, the only things left were some pickled eggs and a few pretzels. Well, I was hungry, but I wasn't desperate...soooo no pickled eggs for me! But I must have shown my disappointment because a fellow rider who was stopped there handed me a Powerbar from his pack so I grabbed it and rode off. (Thanks to you Powerbar guy!)

All went really well during our race.............well, except for when I totally cut off Chris Eatough! Yup, of all the 700 riders in the race and I cut off THE MAN! Double big OOPS! Oh well, it was an accident and I apologized and he was nice about it. For the full story,,,,...see me on the trails.
Anyhow, Mario and I had no mechanicals nor flats. We both had a few crashes, but nothing too bad. As the race went on and I got a little more tired, it was harder to clear the rocks without hitting the trees or stalling out and I have a few bruises and scratches to show for the effort. But overall, we had a clean and solid race. We ended up coming from behind and winning "in impressive fashion!" (so they said in Cycling News. :)

The coveted Stars & Stripes jerseys!

Super Mario was a wonderful teammate and I am so grateful to him for inviting me to this race. I never thought I would own a "Stars & Stripes" jersey!

Matt, Bern & Jenna

We definitely could not have accomplished this without all the support from Matt, Jenna, Shawn Hauser, Cindy Karch, Pam Oelhafen, Doris & Larry (thanks for the post race popcorn!), Donna, Craig, Dillon, Lynda Wallenfels our coach, Josh Smith my training/racing partner, and of course our sponsor Sho-Air/Rock N Road Cyclery.

The Brewers baseball stadium in Milwaukee

Aunt Pam and Cousin Jenna took us to Lake Michigan in Milwaukee

Mario walking past the Art Museum near Lake Michigan in Milwaukee

Bern packing it all up to go home

The Write-ups for US 24 Hour Nationals

2007-08-01T09:54:00.001-07:00

http://www.mbaction.com/detail.asp?id=2357

http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb/?id=2007/jul07/us24hrnats07

US National Champions Mixed Duo

2007-07-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Bern & Mario win the Stars & Stripes at 24 Hours of 9 Mile

race report coming soon...

Atomic Blue BOMBSHELLy

2007-07-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Back in April, my great friend Andy Lightle let me try his Niner SingleSpeed and ooohh dear me,,, did I fall in love! A week later, Chris and Ryan from Niner were kind enough to let me borrow a fully rigid S.I.R. 9 and I raced it at Sea Otter. Since that day, I'd been craving my own Niner SS and today she rolled into my life!

Here she is, my Niner ONE 9 SingleSpeed.....name: BOMBSHELLy!

I was lucky enough to secure the only existing Atomic Blue ONE 9 frame from Niner so she's a one of a kind! She still needs a few of my choice accessories such as my ERGON GRIPS and my Crankbrothers pedals, but I already took her on her maiden voyage and she is grand!

This is bike #5 in the garage! I never thought I'd be one of those folks who has a bike for every day of the week! But alas, I've become obsessed. Regular riders have one,,,maybe two mountain bikes. Serious riders have a hard-tail, a full-suspension, and maybe a downhill or another full-suspension. Mountain bike racers have the hard-tail, the full-suspension training bike, the full-suspension racing bike, and a road bike with a power meter for training. Obsessed bikers have all of the previously mentioned PLUS the SINGLESPEED. Any more than 5 bikes and you're just a down right nutty hardcore mtbiker,,,,,...not that there's anything wrong with that!

New music on my Ipod to go with the new ride:

Jane's Addiction; Been Caught Stealing
Tim McGraw; Live Like You Were Dying
Papa Roach; Last Resort
Fatboy Slim; Wonderful Night
The Crystal Method; Keep Hope Alive

12 Hours of SoCal (Temecula)

2007-06-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

Josh & Brad at the start

Josh and I teamed up again for the second of three races in the 12 Hours of SoCal (formerly known as 12 Hrs of Temecula) Series. Our teammates Brad and Todd also paired up again for the race. As expected, it was a HOT day in the SoCal desert so Josh and I really had to watch ourselves. It was already warm when the race started at 9am so we knew it only going to get worse. We did everything we could to cool off in between laps including soaking our gloves and jerseys in the ice chest!

Although we both raced The Traverse the weekend before, we allowed ourselves some recovery time through the week so we felt pretty good in Temecula. Even so, we still each had our moments of despair, but we battled through them and persevered.

We were able to finish stronger than most and got the WIN in the Pro Co-ed Two Person and 2nd PLACE OVERALL Two Man Teams behind our very own Sho-Air teammates Brad & Todd!

Once again the race director Jason and his staff did an outstanding job of organizing the race. They changed up the course and added a little more fun, technical singletrack and I thought it was the funnest course yet!

2nd Place Marius & Mandy, RD Jason, 1st Place Bern & Josh

The Traverse

2007-06-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

From my point of view it was climb, climb, climb for 5 hours then 1 hour down and out to the finish. 46 Miles and 8,000+ feet of elevation gain!

After 2 hours: This is where I looked back and said, "Dang, I already rode that far and I'm still feeling pretty good!" (Ingest hammer gel, relax on the Ergons, and keep climbing)

After 4 hours: This is when I looked ahead and said, "Dang, I still have that far to go and I don't feel very well." (Stop, hop off the bike, pour a zip lock of powdered Heed in my mouth, and unwillingly proceed)

After 5.5 hours: No more climbing!

But concentrate on the downhill or else...

Where's the end of this downhill?

Yay! The finish line in 6 hours 2 minutes! (Ingest the time keepers' 4 mini chocolate doughnuts and Lay's BBQ potato chips so I won't bonk on the way to the party)

Louise Kobin, Ankie Trollegard, and Bern on the podium with a little cash payout!

Manny and Jason were incredible! 1st and 2nd in under 4 hours!

Josh rode down the entire Trabuco trail and out the fire road on his rim! Crazy nut still finished in under 5 hours!

Super Mario on the podium again!

"Big checks" for Lou and Bern so we immediately went shopping! I'm not kidding, before we got home from the race, we were trying on pretty dresses!