Mid Season Break

This week has been one of those that affirms that although life sometimes hits you pretty hard (like a broken jaw, and busted teeth…) it can also be full of joy and satisfaction.

First off an Elicia update: All good news! Her pain has receded greatly to where she no longer needs pain killers to get through the day, the stitches have been removed from her face and there is essentially zero scarring.
The juicer drive has been an absolute success, there were enough donations in the mail when I returned home to pay for the juicer with a little left over, which was put towards raw vegetables and berries, according to the delicious recipes that so many people were kind enough to send as well (I am in the process of compiling these and printing them into a little booklet).
Elicia was unawares of this little project I undertook during her time laid up in bed, and when I brought home the juicer and shared with her some of the wonderful things people had said, tears of happiness welled her eyes. She credits her quick recovery to the support she has gotten from all the people around her, and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve never seen anyone heal like this, its crazy!

I had some notes that I wanted to share from a few of the guys who really made this a success –

From Todd Lee – Sport Director Team Inferno –
“For the Elicia Hildebrand Juicer Fund: NOT BEER! Get well soon, Todd”

From Matt Winstead –Team mate at Inferno – A man of few words with a heart of gold
“Juicer from Jesus.”

As Eli healed up I decided it was time for me to get a mid season rest in as well. A few much needed days of not training have done wonders for me, and let me catch up on the things that you overlook during a busy season, cleaning the bike, the house, soaking my Rudy Project racing bags in the tub (along with my camera, d’oh!) and plenty of sleep. Up next, the Charlotte invitational, Marion Classic, Criterium Nationals… then my last semester of college!

Thanks Everyone!

Recipes are piling in, and the response to Elicia's need has been fantastic - so thank you all who are keeping her in your thoughts. At this rate we will have a juicer and a whole dictionary of recipes in no time! She is feeling much better, and the swelling has gone down significantly to where she can speak pretty well now. Thanks again to all those who called, wrote and sent her good vibes ;) It is helping her healing process kick into over drive!

ELICIA HILDEBRAND JUICER DRIVE

Hey all –
My girlfriend Elicia has just suffered a crash at the calloused hands of Superweek. We spent a long night at the emergency room getting her cleaned, stitched, x-rayed, RE-x-rayed, sedated and finally to surgery. The end result is a jaw broken in two places, some damage to her teeth and some serious contusions on her arms, shoulders and chest. Our nurses and ER doctor were amazing, and the stitches he put in are perfect, so scarring will not be a serious issue, there was no damage to the head, neck or spine; the bone has been re-set by the surgeon and wired into place.
That’s the good news, her wounds are all repairable and she is already at home, on the couch watching the tour and cracking jokes. The bad news is:
She is in a TON of pain, and
She has to drink out of a straw for 6-8 weeks!!!

So as of today, I am starting the “Elicia Hildebrand Juicer Drive”
We have a blender here at the house, but vegetables don’t blend up so well and eating only fruit, yogurt and ice cream for 8 weeks will be pretty tough.
They start around $100, so if you would like to donate to the cause, send as little or as much money as you like, or simply your favorite juice recipe to:

Bennet van der Genugten
1628 West 30th Street
Indianapolis, IN
46208

I will be putting together a recipe book of different vegatable and fruit juices with names of those sharing and best wishes below, something like

"Hans' Big Green Machine: Get well soon, love Hans!"

Ingredients: Wheat Grass (fresh), 1/2 apple, 1 teaspoon raw ginger, 1/4 cup bluberries.

And thank you sincerely to those who already called and emailed your good wishes to her, it means a lot to know that you have people in your corner when you get knocked down.

Iron Hill Photos

I just got hold of some really cool photos from the Iron Hill twilight criterium, thanks again Edwin Hadi photography for these excellent shots of the team in action! Before the pain really got going.....

Definately feeling the burn now.......

Last lap wildman eyes!

busy week

Since my last update I feel like an eternity has passed. The USA Cycling Track Development camp was a great success, the athletes were very highly motivated and just rode with miles of heart all week without complaint. It was a terrific expirience helping them learn the craft of cycling, on and off the bike, and see how much they enjoyed getting out there and riding. Working with young cyclists is something I absolutely will do in the future.

Its not all hard work! Jeff "Lightning" Hopkins using those lightning hands to show our campers how to shred some guitar hero.

Following the camp I travelled with Elicia back to Bloomington for a family gathering where both of my brothers and step sister, as well as the rest of the immediate family was there to hang by the grill, tell tall tales and catch up. Saturday we scooted down to the LMPD NRC crit in Louisville where we got Matt Winstead in 4th place and a bunch of us in the top 20, I believe I Was 20th. A bit of a shocker, with 95 degrees and 90% humidity left the field struggling to function.

This is really a bare bones account of the great expiriences I have had with the development camp, my family and the LMPD crit but I am a little pressed for time (fancy that...) as I am on my way up to SUPERWEEK!!!!

Big brother Russell working his culinary skills... ummmm, glad I'm not a climber.

Hard Earned Result

Well since my last post I drove back to Ohio for the Grandview Heights circuit race where I was 9th and my team mates Jin and Hayden were 5th and 1st respectively, a really good day for the team. Following a quick stop off home to relax, do all my laundry and catch up with some friends in Indianapolis to watch the Moto GP racers practice at the Indy 500 speedway, I returned to PA for the Iron Hill criterium, part of the USA Crits Series.
Last year I was dropped like a bad habit in this race, so I was looking to get even with the event. It is relentless, hilly and fast with loads of good riders and poorly lit night time corners; all that aside I rode very well and escaped what was left of the peleton (around 40 out of 100 survivors) with a small group and came in 8th place. My confidence and fitness are reaching a very good level and I finally feel like an animator in these professional level races, not just a passenger.
This week is also very exciting for me, as I will be coaching a USA Cycling junior development track camp here at the Major Taylor velodrome. I will be assistand coaching under former world junior track champion and my team mate Jeff Hopkins and my coach at Marian College Dean Peterson. I'm really pumped to meet the kids and get them out on the track!