Pepper Bach 2003-2011

 
As I'm trying to type this post, tears are uncontrollably running down my face and I can not see.

I used to be a rock.  Now I realize that I am not.

I used to be able to withstand anything.  But now I know I am at my limit. 

I used to be embarrassed to cry in front of others.  This week I broke down in front of everyone in my personal and professional life.  I'm not going to apologize.

In a twisted turn of events we lost our sweetly sensitive 8 year old dog.  The way it went down was totally unfair and fucked.  We may never know why and that makes it all the bit harder.

Jeff and I spent every penny we had but could not save her.  Let me assure you that it was more than two carbon hardtails worth.  I almost cashed out my 401k today to keep her alive, but Pepper's body couldn't fight the good fight.

We are flat broke now.  I really don't even care.  Money seems pretty meaningless.

When she left this earth, Jeff and I were whispering sweet nothings in her ear....with promises of tennis balls and squirrels when she got to the other side.

The house is so quiet that it is completely unbearable.

 
To me she was that one in a million dog that oozed with herding dog sweetness.

I fear that there is more tragedy of the human variety waiting around the corner for us.  So Jeff and I will probably be off the grid for a while.

See you in a few weeks.

Some of the Things on my Paleo Plate

Pork Stuffed Peppers with Squash Puree

Pork Tenderloin stuffed with apples, cinnamon and honey, topped with Pecash Butter Glaze

Smoked Paprika Chicken Thighs with Roasted Onions and Brussel Sprouts

Eggs with Vegetables, Sweet Potatoes, Fruit and Almond Butter-Banana Pancakes

Paleo Nutty Cookies

Apricot Bars

While my kitchen skills pale in comparison to my knife-wielding counterpart, I can still throw down from time to time.  And for the record, I made everything except the pork stuffed peppers....but I did break the food processor making the Pecash Butter.  Sorry J-Bach.

It Ain't Over Yet.

Sheboygan is over and WORS 2011 is in the books.   I left it all out on the course and managed to sneak myself into the last podium spot.  While it wasn't my first elite podium, it was my first one at She-Vegas.  And I couldn't be more pleased with how I wrapped up my WORS 2011 season.

Photo by Loren Beyer

Clearly I thought it was a cyclocross race.

Photo by Niki Frazier

Running is not my thing, but sometimes it's a must.

Photo by Niki Frazier

I looked pretty calm considering there was some fast company nipping at my heels for the majority of the race.

Most people are hanging up their mountain bike shoes and calling it a season.  Not me.  I'm a glutton for punishment.  Yesterday I made my way over to Badger Prairie and signed up for my first WCA Cyclcross race of the year.  I wish I could say I was the Little Engine That Could.

But really, I was the Little Engine That Couldn't.  The Little Engine who exploded into 1000 pieces and barely made it to the finish line....full of pain, fury and a jersey full of spit and snot.
 

Getting dropped on the start line makes for a really long 45 minute race.  A flat, fast, windy, open, non-technical course doesn't really do a scrappy mountain biker like myself any favors.  Catching back on to the pack was near impossible, but I gave it my best shot.  Sitting in 8th (a.k.a DFL), I was somehow able to weasel my way into 7th after the first lap or two.  

So I sat there, lap after lap, pounding on the pedals, heart singing to the tune of 180+ bpm...wondering why I didn't call it a season after Sheybogan.  Thinking all kinds of negative thoughts in my head like - this hurts, I suck, I hate cyclocross, bike racing is stupid.  I could go on, but I think you get the point.

On my last lap I finally pulled up behind the racer in 6th place.  I sat on her wheel though a few turns and let myself recover.  She decided to ride around the sand pit while I rode right through it.  Boom, I was ahead of her.  My excitement was short lived, as she stood up on the pedals and made her way right back to my wheel...and was past me in an instant.  I chased her up the run up, onto the road, into the prairie and inevitably crossed the finish line behind her.  7th out of 8th on the day.  Not impressive, but I gave it my mountain biker all.

The amazing thing about Cyclcross is during the race you hate it and vow to never do it again.  But when it's over you suffer from a major case of amnesia,  forget how terrible it was and think about how awesome it would be to do it again.

My amnesia must be in full effect because I'm already excited about winding it up for the double header next weekend.  Thank you sir, may I have another?

Paleo Diet - Game On.

The Bachnessmonster has resigned himself to the possibility that he might be gluten intolerant.  How many stages of grief are there?  Shock, Denial, Anger?  I'm really not sure, but I think we've finally arrived at Acceptance.  For the month of October we are officially on the Paleo Diet (I'm really viewing it as an elimination diet).

Vino at the Tornado Room

So last weekend we hit the town and said goodbye to some of our favorite foods....at least for one month.  Goodbye protein pancakes and sprouted english muffins. I'll see you in 30 days.  No, don't be silly.  I'm not giving up my wine.  Now that would just be crazy.

What the hell is Dragon Fruit?  I'm still not sure.

Jeff said a very sad farewell to his beloved bread, beer and potato chips.  But we spent some time grocery shopping and spicing up our food repertoire a little.  Trying things like Dragon Fruit was a new experience for both of us.

Dinner on Tuesday night.

I really don't feel deprived eating this way and scarfing down a significant volume of food is seriously in my wheelhouse.  It's great.  I might have to go back to tracking my calories/carbs to make sure I'm eating enough and fueling my workouts.  Out of the box, the Paleo Diet can be a bit lowish carb if you are not cognizant of what is going in the pie hole.  After all, if I'm going to take a beating in the WCA cyclocross series this fall, I don't want it to be because I didn't eat enough bananas or sweet potaotes.  I'll take my beatings fair and square like a big girl.

Eating this way is really not very different from my typical routine.  Just a few tweaks here and there.  Two weeks of not riding the bike and one week of the Paleo diet, should make She-Vegas very interesting.

The Whirlwind that was September.

Photo by Niki Frazier

First up was Lake Geneva. 

Photo by Amy Dykema

Didn't quite make the cut for the overall but received a little WORS cash.

 Firetower climb -  Photo by Skinnyski

My favorite race of the year, the Cheq 40.  I had reports during the race from a variety of individuals telling me I was in the top 10 (which turned out to be off by one or two places).  I've never experienced quite so many physically and emotionally draining battles with myself and the other women on the race course.  I rolled to the finish line 12th overall.  I'm still a little sad about it, but I'll be back next year.

Photo by Amy Dykema

The look of happiness masking the relief that I was finally done. 

Photo by Flame Photography

This last weekend was a double header - USGP and WORS Bear Paw.  On Saturday at USGP I spent 40 very hard minutes getting spanked by some pretty serious cross racers.  I can say hands down, I was one on the most skilled bike handlers in my race.  Unfortunately I was one of the weakest riders who went backwards on wide open flats sections.  The net result was 8/11 for Cat 2/3 women.  Ouch.

Photo by Niki Frazier

After Saturday's pounding, there was a little redemption for me in WORS #11 Bear Paw.  

I found myself riding the first lap with Lisa and Anna as we were sitting 3rd, 4th and 5th.  I grabbed 3rd a time or two but with no pre-ride, I wasn't riding well enough to hold it.  

On lap 2, Lisa and Anna dropped me on the last part of the climb.  Then they opened up some serious time on me on the flat leading to the singletrack.  I eventually made my way back to Anna for the rest of the lap.  

Going into the final lap, my bike wouldn't shift so I ran the climb while Anna rode away from me.  I spent of good part of that lap resigning to the fact that I'd probably have to settle for 5th.  But low and behold, I caught Anna half way through.  So for the rest of the race we battled it out - riding, running and sliding all around.  Anna made a small mistake and I slipped past her.  I turned on the juice a little, kept the mistakes to a minimum and was 4th when the dust settled.  Good stuff.

What's up next?  Two weeks off of training to transition into Cross season.  And Sheboygan!  I have no vested interested in the Elite Overall as I'm not in the running for a top 5.  But I do plan on bringing my detrained legs, pride and a little bit of left over Bear Paw confidence.  It's those miserable, cold, muddy and technically challenging races where you find out what you are made of.  More importantly, you can use that knowledge in many areas of your life...racing and otherwise.

Did you know that this guy has a blog?

Look for him to do some damage on the WCA circuit this fall.

How do you know that Cross is in the Air?

1.  Your coconut oil goes from liquid to solid.

2.  You receive the following email:

Dear Renee Bach,

The following request to change your USAC category has been approved and processed by USA Cycling:
madisongrrl - 2011-08-22 5:30
Member: Renee Bach
License: Cyclo-cross Racer
Request to change category from Cat 3 to Cat 2

3.  Planning, plotting and scheming for the 2012 MTB season begins:

Who wants some?

G-Berz nearly killed me.

Question: How is that I still feel wrecked from racing on Sunday when it's Wednesday?

Answer: 1000+ TSS from last Sunday to this Sunday punctuated by the punch in the face that was WORS#9.

Having the week off from work after Sunday's suffering is exactly the doctor ordered.

The last two days were spent recovering.

Drying Fruit.

Making protein pancakes.

Recovery shakes for later in the week.

Energy Bars - the real kind.

Don't worry the, TSB won't rise for long.  

I've already got today's ride prep underway.