Mary and I showing just how hardcore we are(n’t) in our Rudy Project skull sunglasses before the Sunny King crit.The view from the Team Colavita service course at our house on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is not an inch of flat terrain in that region. NOT A SINGLE FREAKING INCH.We believe in representing our sponsors in a dignified and professional manner.Headed into Charlotte for the weekend to do some crits.Andrew and I were able to be together in Charlotte to celebrate our 6-month wedding anniversary. Despite having race obligations, we were able to take a moment to celebrate by having a massive pile of Italian food and a coffee date.A string of bad luck was punctuated (ha!) by a flat tire that left me stranded on the side of the road when my CO2 inflator failed. I handled like a professional; by that, I mean I sat on somebody’s lawn and cried while waiting for the team mechanic to come rescue me.We help each other get fired up for early morning races with motivational text messages.My wonderful parents sent an Easter basket filled with treats down to Winston-Salem, where I sat around nursing my injuries while inhaling the candy eggs and mini bottles of alcohol they lovingly included.A night out on the town in Bentonville, Arkansas, home of the first Walmart. This town was so picturesque that it almost seemed fake. I even got to see llamas frolicking in a field, which made me think of this and laugh endlessly.Nothing is more fun than loading the bikes on the roof of the van in the rain on the way to the Joe Martin Stage Race time trial.Apparently we manage to have fun despite the rain. Whitney fueled up for her ride with Twizzlers while I settled for my eighth cup of coffee.The team and the crew from Bike Bentonville taking over an Olive Garden. Mary ordered us bottles of wine according to the criteria that “they are from Italy!”The wine treated us well and made us very excited about Olive Garden.Thanks to the efforts of the team (and the cookies I baked, of course), Laura finished 2nd and Mary finished 8th overall at Joe Martin. GO TEAM! And now I am home again.
