Our Alaska Experiment Premier Party

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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.)