Motivation / Goals

 Mind Work:

Motivation will arise at different levels- and when it is low, Its a good time to measure your Why's against your goals, those things you want to accomplish. What encourages you ? Your drive and motivation should come from within- it needs to be important to you. 

So make sure you know what you want. 

If your not sure. Then Ask yourself some questions. What is it you would like to be good at ? Or is there something you want to accomplish ? Or do you want to be fit, healthy; lead your best life possible ? All of these are great goals.

Knowing your Values is a good place to start. You may have some limiters . Be honest in what's important to you. How much time you have to devote to your training and recovery is relevant to your goals.   Really define, and articulate what it is you want- how good do you want to be ? Because when you know what's important to you - this is the reason you are doing what you are doing.

 Things will get tough. you hope they do. This is when you really know your goal is important to you. Its what keeps me going.  I keep a handful of 'mantras' to use at any given moment. I have all kinds.. Just for the perfect moment. I also hold onto those good moments 'to remind myself - of a good moment. I will also use quite the opposite- but this time, I recreate the moment to how I would've liked responded differently- and have a better outcome.  

Attitude. Have you heard, the saying "Attitude is everything" ? Well. It really is. There is a lesson in everything. You have the choice to choose any attitude you want .  So Why not start with a good ; positive attitude ? When Having a good attitude your more likely to continue that trend of positive options  throughout your day. And often times its just focusing on that Progress, on that momentum . 

Most things that dont go our way. We can learn from those situations- and on the other side of that is where growth is. It is most often growth occurs on the other side of that 'struggle, that suffering ,etc. ' . 

Its okay to make mistakes,  I encourage my athletes to make those mistakes, It takes Courage- It takes stepping out of your comfort zone in order to grow. 

So go out explore ; discover your talents ! 

2020 and We will Be back for 2021

 2020.... 

We were a little late to the table on getting things going for the season. We lost Bialetti as one of our sponsors. So we were on a hunt for filling in that gap. 

Things came together as they usually do. We didn't have a roster and once again we were planning on 'trying' riders out for the team in the early season races. 

As we came together for our team camp and first preseason race in Birmingham we got word the race and activities were canceled due to Covid. We continued at that point with our 'team camp'  in place aimed to make the best out of the time. Little did we know at the time.. it would have taken the entire season away. We used this as an opportunity to see the riders perform ,and getting to know the riders off the bike.  I went home on the Monday the 16th as at that time, Covid was moving fast.- and I wanted to be able to get home. Brittany and Sara stayed a bit longer to train with Tina and get some good team bonding in. 

Initially the races were postponed, and eventually one by one until the entire 2020 season was canceled. We were able to really dial in the remaining roster of our 2020 squad. We all continued to train and prepare while the 'racing was "postponed"  - I added some Leg weights; plyo back into my training in addition I was able to continue with My yoga practice that I added over the off season. Having all of the tools to train, and recover , made it easy for me to continue as usual. It might be just what my body needed. I dont know about you. Since we didn't travel this year its allowed me to spend more time with family .  *safely that is. 

We are excited that Team Colavita will be returning for its 18th year as a Professional Cycling Team. It is the Longest running womens professional cycling team. 

2019 Finishing the Year ..

 I realize I never followed up on my blog with how the remaining season went last season 2019 for our Team Colavita. 

Sometimes 'setbacks' can be another way to step back and review.. and see what the body is telling you. 

I was very determined to come back from my injury.  The physical therapy was very painful- I found the shoulder injury being the most uncomfortable. However, I had a good physical therapist, Dan  at Denton Sports & Physical therapy. I treated my rehab with top priority, that meant being diligent about doing what was good for the brain ; body.  I believed from the beginning that I would come back as I focused on doing the best recovery ever. I made sure I was eating very healthy and using clean, food. Mostly grain free, Lots of Vegetables, with health boosting seasonings, such as turmeric, rosemary, garlic, pepper, In addition to making sure every meal was intentional. - I also didn't drink any alcohol.  I increased my meditation , sometimes I would have to do the breath work in the middle of the night during this recovery time. The Red Light therapy device, Joovv.com has a lot of health benefits, one boosting the mitochondrion cells it helps promote sleep one of the biggest claims, but for me it helped with pain. After I returned to racing, I traveled with my joovv /red light device. I continue using this device daily. 

Our team finished on top. Winning the Team Competition for the USA CRITS Series. We also picked up the Best Young Rider with Natalia Franco winning that competion and Laurel coming in third. We couldn't have done it without the support of our sponsors. Colavita and Bialetti Being apart of the team success meant a lot from coming back from an injury.  Laurel Rathbun had retired, and Joleen Holland decided to sit out with the traveling schedule and work with her cycling team in Austin ,Tx. Natalia, signed with 20/20 with the ambition to race stage races.  

We also Hit Gateway Cup, One of our favorite 4 day criterium races. Well, really all of the 4 day crits are our favorite! We have great hosts for all of our races, Paul & Susan Saur hosted our team along with a couple other riders for Gateway Cup . They live on the Friday night Course. Lafayette Square. Natalia, Yussily Soto and myself raced . The first night the race was delayed due to the weather. It had been raining all day on the course, and I recall it was a bit chilly with the rain. We began and shortly after it had began raining,- It was dark , and I spent a lot of time on the outside, riding with the wind.. I figured it would be a way out if I needed it. Last Lap , I got pushed a little out coming into the 3rd corner to the finish- however, I realized I flatted and it may have been a blessing in disguise. The next day, We raced Tour De Francis Park, I ended up 5th and I came from pretty far back- after being boxed in. So I was feeling pretty confident on my sprint. The Giro Della Montagna  "the Hill" is one of my favorite courses - I actually was feeling amazing, and it perfect position - I was going to jump early on the hill , however, Olivia Ray jumped exactly at that time- and everyone responded. - and I ended up in a line to the 2nd last corner- and I couldn't get enough ground to move up on the downhill sprint. The last day is truly one of the harder races- I had my teammates cover moves, and I followed moves I felt I needed to. Natalia and Yussily did a great job. The pace was fast leading into the final lap into the final turn, and I began to jump on the inside and sprint, and had a mili pause, as Emily Flynn came out of her pedal, I rekicked my sprint, and ended up 2nd. I had the momentum to win this but super happy to pull off a podium on the final day of my 2019 Road Season. Or Crit Season.