30 July 2009
New Rotation
My first rotation (Neurology) ended last friday (July 24th), and after an eventful weekend with Kyle's folks in town to help us paint our front porch, I was off to my next rotation, Psychiatry. This rotation, like the last, is 4 weeks long. I am doing this first week on ECT (or electroconvulsive therapy) and then the next 3 weeks on med psych. This week has been a great experience. I am working with Dr. Jerry Lewis. He has allowed me to get a full range of experiences with the ECT treatment and with following his patients in clinic. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, but I can't complain. I don't foresee myself going into Psychiatry, but I am definitely getting valuable patient interactions that will hopefully make me a better doctor someday.
Scott County Park MTB Race
A couple of weekends ago Kyle and I had planned to do the WORS Sunburst Showdown race up in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, at the last minute Kyle could not go because of things going on with work, so we decided to race locally instead. The race we did was on Sunday (July 19th), the ScoCoPa Frenzy, and it is part of the IMBCS and the I-74 series. Some of the kids from the shop and the like were there as well, Nickski, Robnett, Nate, and Cara. We were all decked out in the new Geoff's kits (all except Nate that is), I was the only one in red one though. We had a great time. The women went off with the men's sport field just 2 minutes behind. This was great in that we didn't have to fight them when the course bottle-necked into the single track, but it also meant that we had to go through the entire men's sport field. I had a great time though. All of the guys were great about getting over once they realized that I was the leader of the women's race. I took a heuge tumble on the first lap for no good reason. I just went from being upright one minute to endo and on the ground the next. No harm done though.
I finished 15th overall, but I think I could have placed higher up if I hadn't had to go through absolutely all of the men's sport field. Unfortunately, it just wasn't Kyle's weekend and he had to pull out of the race because of a flat. My girl Cara finished 3rd behind me and Beverly Winslow in the women's open race, so I was very happy to see her do that. Robnett finished 3rd behind a couple of Guiness riders and Nate now knows what it is like to be absolutely wrecked after a race :)
Good race...good people! Thanks for taking the time to put the ScoCoPa Frenzy together FORC!
I finished 15th overall, but I think I could have placed higher up if I hadn't had to go through absolutely all of the men's sport field. Unfortunately, it just wasn't Kyle's weekend and he had to pull out of the race because of a flat. My girl Cara finished 3rd behind me and Beverly Winslow in the women's open race, so I was very happy to see her do that. Robnett finished 3rd behind a couple of Guiness riders and Nate now knows what it is like to be absolutely wrecked after a race :)
Good race...good people! Thanks for taking the time to put the ScoCoPa Frenzy together FORC!
15 July 2009
Weekend of road miles and one of the strangest group rides ever...
Kyle and I had toyed with the idea of going to Clear Lake for the Bicycle, Blues, and BBQ races. However, this being the first weekend that I did not have to work since I stared my first rotation, and still having a bitter taste in my mouth from my abysmal showing at the state crit, we decided that long, hard miles near home would be best.
Saturday, we rode out to the state course, did a lap, and then rode back home. I have not felt that tired from a ride in quite sometime. Then, Sunday morning, we got up early for a ride with some of the shop kids. There were 7 of us in all. It was pretty fast paced at time and the pissing contest started earlier in the ride than I had anticipated, but all-in-all we had a great time. We went out Sugarbottom, to Tiffin, then out Cosgrove over to Sharon Center and back in. Another 50+ day.
Since my first rotation started, I have struggled to maintain a riding schedule. I am starting to get back into a groove and this weekend was well spent not racing, but instead getting in valuable training miles. I am pretty excited about the Iowa State Road Race which is coming up in just a couple of weeks. I hope to be in a better place physically and mentally compared to how I was for the State Crit.
Somehow, I managed to be finished with everything yesterday by 4, which meant that I was able to get home in time to make group ride. Since we wind was out of the south we went out of town on Sand Rd. I kind of assumed we were going to Lone Tree, but we turned left and headed east on 520th St. The pace picked up with the cross wind and I was working harder than I wanted to ended up off the back just a little before Wapsi. I was not sure which way the group had gone, so I just turned south back into the wind at Wapsi and headed toward Lone Tree. I suffered alone in the headwind past Lone Tree and eventually made a right turn onto 660th. The wind was now at my back a bit more, so I picked up the pace. I made the left onto Utah and I see a huge group of riders coming at me. I realize that it is the B ride, so I quickly turn around and stick on the back of their ride, so I wouldn't have to ride alone anymore. We make the right turn back onto 660th (the way I just came from) and are almost back to Wapsi when a group of 3 riders turns and starts coming toward us. I realize that it is Hopsin, Fin, and another Mercy rider. As they pass, I decide to turn around again and get in with them. They were moving quite a bit faster than I had anticipated, but I was able to catch just after they turned onto Utah. Hopsin eventually upped the pace, which caused the 4 of us to start a rotation. We rotated solidly pretty much all the way back to 520th. At this point we see the the front 8-10 people or so from the B ride coming down 520th and our group of 4 became a group of 12-14. Amazingly, everyone continued to rotate and we maintained a nice pace all the way back into IC. There was a sprint for some sign, but since it wasn't a town sign or a stop ahead sign, I had no clue what we were sprinting to, so I just rode really hard like Kyle and I always do to the top of the hill. It was a very strange ride, but I had a great time. I hope I can make it out for more group rides in the coming weeks.
Saturday, we rode out to the state course, did a lap, and then rode back home. I have not felt that tired from a ride in quite sometime. Then, Sunday morning, we got up early for a ride with some of the shop kids. There were 7 of us in all. It was pretty fast paced at time and the pissing contest started earlier in the ride than I had anticipated, but all-in-all we had a great time. We went out Sugarbottom, to Tiffin, then out Cosgrove over to Sharon Center and back in. Another 50+ day.
Since my first rotation started, I have struggled to maintain a riding schedule. I am starting to get back into a groove and this weekend was well spent not racing, but instead getting in valuable training miles. I am pretty excited about the Iowa State Road Race which is coming up in just a couple of weeks. I hope to be in a better place physically and mentally compared to how I was for the State Crit.
Somehow, I managed to be finished with everything yesterday by 4, which meant that I was able to get home in time to make group ride. Since we wind was out of the south we went out of town on Sand Rd. I kind of assumed we were going to Lone Tree, but we turned left and headed east on 520th St. The pace picked up with the cross wind and I was working harder than I wanted to ended up off the back just a little before Wapsi. I was not sure which way the group had gone, so I just turned south back into the wind at Wapsi and headed toward Lone Tree. I suffered alone in the headwind past Lone Tree and eventually made a right turn onto 660th. The wind was now at my back a bit more, so I picked up the pace. I made the left onto Utah and I see a huge group of riders coming at me. I realize that it is the B ride, so I quickly turn around and stick on the back of their ride, so I wouldn't have to ride alone anymore. We make the right turn back onto 660th (the way I just came from) and are almost back to Wapsi when a group of 3 riders turns and starts coming toward us. I realize that it is Hopsin, Fin, and another Mercy rider. As they pass, I decide to turn around again and get in with them. They were moving quite a bit faster than I had anticipated, but I was able to catch just after they turned onto Utah. Hopsin eventually upped the pace, which caused the 4 of us to start a rotation. We rotated solidly pretty much all the way back to 520th. At this point we see the the front 8-10 people or so from the B ride coming down 520th and our group of 4 became a group of 12-14. Amazingly, everyone continued to rotate and we maintained a nice pace all the way back into IC. There was a sprint for some sign, but since it wasn't a town sign or a stop ahead sign, I had no clue what we were sprinting to, so I just rode really hard like Kyle and I always do to the top of the hill. It was a very strange ride, but I had a great time. I hope I can make it out for more group rides in the coming weeks.
06 July 2009
Iowa State Crit...and lessons learned
Yesterday was the Iowa State Crit. Unlike years in the past in which the race has been in Pella, IA and up against an Iowa MTB race, this year the race was in Cedar Rapids and not up against a local MTB race (at least as far as I could tell). I decided awhile back that I was going to do it, but I guess I wasn't thinking about where I would be in my clerkships or what type of course it was going to be. Well, it turns out that the course was flat as a pancake with only 4 turns (I prefer climbing and desending, twists and turns) and I am just now getting used to the 10 hour days on Stroke ward, which has been very disruptive to my training schedule. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have still done the race, but I probably would have ridden it differently.
Anyway, we start off pretty slow. No attacks really, and pacing at about 20 MPH. It felt like we weren't even moving. They called a couple of primes which got things moving momentarily, but things would always settle back down shortly after the sprint. With about 15-18 laps to go, I pushed the pace around a few of the corners, but was not able to stay away off the front for any considerable amount of time. Then, Kim came around and attacked, but that did not stick either. Then, with 5 or so laps to go a prime was called and I had just worked quite a bit at the front. After the sprint for the prime, I realized I was on the wrong wheel and suddenly a gap formed. I couldn't bridge it, so the rider I was with, Lacey from DMOS, and I took turns rotating until we finished together.
I was very disappointed with this finish, since up until now I had been having my best road season so far.
Lessons learned:
1) My life is changing and I will have to change with it. I don't have to quit cycling/racing just because I started my M3 year, I just have to learn how to make it work in my new life.
2) Bad races happen. Whether it was bad because I have not been training enough or because it just wasn't a good course for me or whatever, life goes on. One bad race doesn't dictate how other races will go, anymore than one good race will.
3) I have a fantastic teammate. This isn't really a new lesson learned, but more solidified what I already knew. Not only does she ride her bike fast and is a great role model, she is a great friend. I appreciate all her support in good times and bad.
Next up, maybe Bike, Blues, and BBQ weekend? maybe? Next MTB race, WORS #6 Sunburst Showdown. The stroke team part of my rotation ends tomorrow and then I start in the clinics on Wednesday. Who knows, maybe I will find somemore time/energy to ride?!
Anyway, we start off pretty slow. No attacks really, and pacing at about 20 MPH. It felt like we weren't even moving. They called a couple of primes which got things moving momentarily, but things would always settle back down shortly after the sprint. With about 15-18 laps to go, I pushed the pace around a few of the corners, but was not able to stay away off the front for any considerable amount of time. Then, Kim came around and attacked, but that did not stick either. Then, with 5 or so laps to go a prime was called and I had just worked quite a bit at the front. After the sprint for the prime, I realized I was on the wrong wheel and suddenly a gap formed. I couldn't bridge it, so the rider I was with, Lacey from DMOS, and I took turns rotating until we finished together.
I was very disappointed with this finish, since up until now I had been having my best road season so far.
Lessons learned:
1) My life is changing and I will have to change with it. I don't have to quit cycling/racing just because I started my M3 year, I just have to learn how to make it work in my new life.
2) Bad races happen. Whether it was bad because I have not been training enough or because it just wasn't a good course for me or whatever, life goes on. One bad race doesn't dictate how other races will go, anymore than one good race will.
3) I have a fantastic teammate. This isn't really a new lesson learned, but more solidified what I already knew. Not only does she ride her bike fast and is a great role model, she is a great friend. I appreciate all her support in good times and bad.
Next up, maybe Bike, Blues, and BBQ weekend? maybe? Next MTB race, WORS #6 Sunburst Showdown. The stroke team part of my rotation ends tomorrow and then I start in the clinics on Wednesday. Who knows, maybe I will find somemore time/energy to ride?!
01 July 2009
Playing Doctor
My first clerkship of my medical career started this week. I started in Neuro on the Stroke team, so it is pretty much like getting thrown into the deep end right from the start. It's going well, although I am getting way less sleep than I had hoped I would so early in clinicals. I have been getting in before 7 and rounds have been lasting until well after 1 in the afternoon. There are 4 other med students working with me and they are all women. Three of the 4 are 4th years, so they know what's going on and have been very helpful for the other M3 and me.
Since the 4th falls on a Saturday, this friday is a university holiday. Between the 5 of us we have to each take one shift either friday, saturday, or sunday. I took Saturday to ensure that I got Sunday off for the Iowa State Crit. I can't wait to sleep in Friday morning!!!!
Now I'm off to a lecture on seizure disorders.
Since the 4th falls on a Saturday, this friday is a university holiday. Between the 5 of us we have to each take one shift either friday, saturday, or sunday. I took Saturday to ensure that I got Sunday off for the Iowa State Crit. I can't wait to sleep in Friday morning!!!!
Now I'm off to a lecture on seizure disorders.
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