The Year of Whitney, Revisited

After the Fort Follies Grand Prix finished up August 24, 2013, I was spent. Emotionally, physically, mentally spent. I vowed for a year focused on what I felt was important in a fulfilled life, what I want to do with my life, and how I was going to accomplish these things This was fondly dubbed by my close friends as the Year of Whitney. I felt that in 2013, I had given too much and sacrificed my own sanity and stability of my relationships. 2013 was great- the Fort Follies began, I got my first pro contract with Colavita, and I led the charge with Fort Follies Grand Prix but none of that was sustainable with a full time job or helped pay the bills. What could I do that would be both exciting to go to work everyday and could create a future for me?

Read more here: http://whitneyschultz.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-year-of-whitney-revisited.html

Off Season Balance

By, Erica Allar

Definition of Balance : noun

1 an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady

Having balance is important. It is my opinion that in order for a person to attack the race season with the energy, focus and drive, there is a balance that needs to be maintained and managed. When the race season begins in March and ends in September, it’s all bikes, all the time. Don’t get me wrong, bikes are fun. Racing is fun; however, that success can’t be built on a foundation lacking balance. In order to attack the race season weekend after weekend, a persons focus, energy and drive is dependent on the balance created. I create most of my balance in my off season. 

To remain “upright and steady” in cycling I feel that it’s important during the off season to spend time doing things that can easily be neglected during the months on the road. So naturally after my final race of the year, my off season beings. I see a lot of people tackle their off season with running and cross training. I do these things also but first I take some time away from cycling to enjoy ‘life’. 

After the 2014 race season I committed myself to spending more time cooking in the kitchen. I have a mom and a few close friends who happen to be great cooks. I’m inspired by them and have been spending more time trying out new recipes. I baked my first pumpkin pie from scratch. And while my pie came out a bit too “moist” (least favorite word in the world, by the way), it was edible and my mom was proud. That means a lot coming from the woman who makes fun of the fact that I can burn water. Thanks mom! I explored roasting brussels sprouts in the oven instead of steaming them in chicken broth and made a chickpea green curry chicken dish that I quite liked. My most intricate dish was using the Colavita Rice to make a pumpkin and goat cheese risotto dish. It took a lot of focus and the dish was better without the goat cheese garnish but I was still happy with the end result. 

http://www.teamcolavita.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=284

It’s also important during this time to be with friends. We can’t have pets because we travel too much so I spend time with friends who own pets to get my fill. Once training resumes I also run, walk, mountain bike, take kettle bell classes and do all the fun things that get taken out of ‘the program’ once the race season gets close. 

All of these things, while simple every day events- brings balance to my life and gives me the ability to remain motivated and challenged while having fun and working toward my goals along the way. 

Everyone maybe have a different idea of what balance should like. Regardless, I encourage everyone to explore balance in their lives because in the end, everyone is trying to find balance in order to remain upright and steady. And really, without balance we would all fall off our bikes.