17-23 February 2013 Vanderkitten Team Camp

Vanderkitten Racing 2013: Jenn Reither, Kate Chilcott, Ruth Winder, Jessica Cutler, Jeannie Kuhajek, Co-director Katheryn Curi Mattis, Starla Teddergreen, Elle Anderson, Liza Rachetto, Amy Charity, Emily Kachorek. Not pictured: Rhae Shaw, Sophie Williamson, Director Jono Coulter
 

Four weeks post-surgery, I headed off to the US to start the 2013 racing season with my new team, Vanderkitten Racing. The team kicked things off with an awesome training camp in Silicon Valley, California, not far from San Francisco. We spent the week enjoying excellent albeit slightly chilly weather for team bonding and lots of beautiful rides to test out our new Wilier Triestina bikes, Pactimo kit, custom Kask helmets, Smith Optics sunglasses, and Vittoria shoes. Super comfortable Selle SMP saddles and ENZO’s Buttonhole chamois cream made the transition to our new bikes seamless as we rolled out our new PSIMET wheels.

A highlight of the week was a day spent at the Canary Foundation, an organisation created in 2004 dedicated to progressing research toward the early detection of cancer.  We started the day with a ride through the hills behind Palo Alto, CA, to celebrate the Canary Foundation’s partnership with Vanderkitten and a shared vision of empowering women. The route took in the part of the Canary Challenge fundraiser ride that will take place on September 28 to raise funds for cancer research. Following the ride, we were treated to a wonderful lunch and presentation by founder Don Listwin, followed by a tour of the world-class Canary Foundation research facility at Stanford University.

We also had an afternoon with Osmo Nutrition creator Stacy Sims fine tuning our nutritional knowledge and learning about Osmo, the ultimate in hydration and recovery products scientifically formulated specifically for cycling and triathlon. Osmo will be fuelling Vanderkitten to many wins this season. Check out the Osmo website for more info if you’re looking for something to give you and your stomach the winning edge this season.

The team camp week was jam-packed with rides and activities, but the excitement didn’t end there. Six of us finished off the week by packing up our bikes for a midnight flight to Central America for 10 days of racing in the Vuelta a El Salvador.

Unfortunately for me, my recovery from surgery took a nosedive and my fitness plummeted in the week leading up to camp. After having an exceptionally smooth return to good health in the two weeks following surgery, I ran into a snag with a bladder infection on day 14. After a week (and a bit of help from a course of antibiotics), the infection resolved only to be replaced by the worst pain I’ve ever experienced — in – my - life.

I definitely found a new meaning for agony. I imagine if my intestines were to into burst into flames, engulfing my abdomen in a white hot ball of fire—that would be pretty similar to the pain I felt. Sleeping, eating, functioning in general, all became severely limited. A post-op check-up confirmed A-OK on the surgery-front; everything healing beautifully and the pain was possibly an effect of the antibiotic on my already assaulted digestive system with time being the only remedy.

The pain, the resulting stress on my system, the inability to sleep or eat, and the physiological effects of the medication caused my fitness to plummet the first week of camp. So, now, as the season kicks off, I’m working on being patient and progressing slowly towards a gradual return to good form. Essentially, I need to build my blood levels back up to normal levels and the way to do that is time. The season has only just begun and lots more racing awaits. Check back soon for my adventures in El Salvador!