The Kudzu.com boys put on a performance that would make anyone proud! Rather than keep you in suspense, let’s begin with the punch line; they won the final two stages with a tremendous demonstration of teamwork and ability. To win a single stage is a great accomplishment, but to win two races back to back demonstrated that the Kudzu.com team meant business!! Although the weekend will be remembered for its successes, it was not without its share of bumps along the way. The team of four was reduced to three as Joey and the whole team suffered from a very subjective decision on the part of the race organizers and Joey was forced to sit out the rest of the race. This was a huge disappointment as Joey put in a solid effort for the time trial and was a key element of the team’s strategy. Joey in typical fashion, rolled with the punches and pitched in however he could, whether it was providing water bottles for his teammates or making pancakes for breakfast!

The team entered the road race with Oscar sitting only 12 seconds out of a top 5 overall position and the team worked to make sure he could inch his way closer to a podium spot for the overall. Everyone put in a solid effort in the grueling 92 mile road race and Oscar hung tough up the finishing climb to keep himself within striking distance for the next day’s circuit race. The circuit race began and the team was firing on all cylinders…well, until Jafer’s bike had a mechanical leaving him with no choice but to pull over and get service from the neutral support vehicle, resulting in him being a lap down. No sooner than Jafer rejoined the group did Oscar suffer a flat tire ending his chances for an overall position. He too would be forced to get neutral support and end up a lap down. And yet again, in true team spirit there was no time to dwell on the losses suffered and the team quickly switched gears to focus on gaining a stage win with their ace in the hole Thomas! And the team did not disappoint. With one lap to go Thomas was still towards the back of the field of racers, not to worry Jafer dropped back and towed Thomas to the front of the race passing the entire field in the remaining 1/2 lap and left Thomas off at the last corner where he handily finished off the task winning the uphill sprint finish by a sizable margin!

The last day’s criterium was a race where the boys executed in textbook fashion. The entire race Oscar and Jafer patrolled the front of the race, ensuring that the team was never in danger, while Thomas rode comfortably at the back of the field. When the race came down to the business end of the deal, the closing laps, Oscar single handedly reeled in the remnants of several riders who made an attempt at a race winning move, while Jafer dropped back to bring Thomas to the front of the race. Once Oscar brought the race back together there were two laps left on the mile long course. Jafer took over the front of the race with Thomas neatly tucked in behind him in his draft. Jeremy (the team director) called over the radio to Jafer to remind him he had to save enough for the last half lap. On the last lap Jafer kept the pace very high discouraging anyone to try and pass and providing a perfect position for Thomas. Jafer again dropped Thomas off at the last corner (which is still 400 meters from the finish line), where Thomas kicked it into high gear, put his head down and closed the deal with another win!
A job well done by the entire Kudzu.com U23 Cycling Team! You can follow the team’s adventures at teamkudzu.blogspot.com .

Needless to say, you know what I answered once I could finally form words again.

“Let’s not mention this to Daddy, okay?”

So, in short, I’m not thinking I’m going to try these jumping stilts - courtesy of Ski Haus Sports & Cycleworks in Annapolis, MD - anytime soon.

Here’s something you may enjoy. This video of “Fadi on the Street” shows fitness guru Fadi asking folks about their fitness goals. It is fascinating to me that when he asks them how they rate themselves on a scale of 1-10, most put themselves at about 6. Okay, so far, no surprise. But then he asks them what they’d like to be, and they say 9 or 9 ½. No one really wants to be a 10! Too hard to maintain. Too perfect. Now, doesn’t that take the pressure off a bit?

Help for an Ole Lady
I am 71 and have had seen my fair share of mow n’ blow gardeners who do nothing and charge everything to us old people. I needed my expensive, water hogging lawn replaced and drought tolerant garden instead with little maintanence and got exactly that without having to sell my gold teeth! No more neighbor dogs using my lawn as a toilet, and I fired my mow n’ blow guys and took that money and going to Vegas! Thanks a heap!

This place needs cleaning. And I need a good hour or two in deep meditation (that, or the hammock). I like that Tidy King, a cleaning service in Atlanta, didn’t show a picture of a king or even a clean house. Just that woman in her om, sweet om.