Week One

It has now been just over a week since first arriving in Kutztown and I am pleased to say it is all going pretty well. We have slowly built up our training over the week to help us cope with the jet lag and to bring us up to a nice and hard weekend. On Friday we got out first look at the track and our first of many nights of racing. The Trexlertown track is a long 333m slowish concrete track and is quite a different track to ride compared to Invercargill's one which we had been riding just under 2 weeks ago. There were a few delays from rain which slowed down the start of racing for the night but eventually we got under way with the races. It was really good to get back to racing but quite a shock to the system! For the night we were paired up in teams to help race for each other, Cassie and I were together and it would be fair to say that with no major placings neither of us had the best of nights races, not that we were to bothered it was some very good training and good fun, plus there are many more racing nights to come. Us kiwis overall did have some good results though and it was evident that we were dominating all the races we were in.

The full team waiting to start racing. (Photo from John/ FB page) 

Photo of racing 

Saturday was another tough and testing day of training, with an easy road ride for about 50mins in the morning to give the sore legs a wee stretch which was quickly followed by a smashing erg session. With hammered legs from racing the night before this didn't make for the most pleasant of training days but I came out of it feeling pretty pleased with my self and you always know sessions that smash you are going to be good in the long run. I had some pretty good timing on Saturday because about 30mins after erg I had a massage to pound out the multiple lumps that were all through my legs.

Starting the erg session...

Sunday was a long road day which included the local derby bunch ride/race which is sort of similar to the mechanics bay bunch in Auckland. It was pretty amazing the amount of riders in the bunch and how quick some of them could go. We rode past the local Amish church and got to see the line up of horse and carts as well as having to pass a few, which is quite scary because you never quite know what the horse is going to do. We also went to Wegmans to do the food shopping on Sunday. Wegmans is a huge food market style supermarket and was very overwhelming with so many choices of food to get.

Wegmans

Monday was our first full rest day and first day of shopping. We headed to the King of Prussia mall which is about a 50min drive from home and the second largest mall in Amreica! It was amazing and the shops were endless. After 3 hours of shopping I think I did pretty well with helping out the American economy.  Then on our way home we quickly went to the outlet mall and had a wee look around there. Once we got home it was time to head to the local favorite 'The Tavern' to celebrate John our managers birthday.

On the way to the mall

Post shopping, the car went a bit slower up the hills on the way home.

So far everything has been going really well and my injury is cooperating with me and not being painful in anyway so I am feeling very relieved about that.
Tonight we are going to the track for some more racing and we will be doing track racing again on Friday and a criterium on Saturday.

Georgie