This weekend, I learned that I’m a masher. Lance Armstrong used to be a masher, until he became a spinner. And on Saturday, I took the first step towards becoming a spinner and changing my mashing ways.

I’m talking about cycling, of course. Saturday was our cycling team’s first official training ride. It was a pretty easy 25-mile ride on Fiesta Island. We worked a lot on technique. First, as I’ve indicated, I learned that I’m a masher, which is a cyclist who habitually pedals hard in a high gear at a slow cadence. This is not good for endurance racing. Instead, I need to become a spinner … habitually pedaling in a lower gear at a faster cadence. I’m working on it … 12-steps (or spins) at a time.

We also did a lot of pace line work, which was cool. A pace line is a group of cyclists riding close behind one another in a line so that each cyclist can draft the cyclist in front, except, of course, for the leader who is taking a turn to pull the rest of the group. The riders take turns pulling and drafting. A group of cyclists in a pace line can maintain a substantially higher speed than even the fastest of the group could do alone. This was also a major mindset change for me since my last race was a triathlon and drafting is illegal. It was a good reminder that cycling is a team sport.

I had a great time with my teammates. Many thanks to our awesome coaches for the day - Tom and Steve. I learned a lot an am so excited to be part of this team.

Great example of a pace line.

I know, I know! I’ve been a bad blogger. I’ve started several ‘o posts, but haven’t quite been able to seal the deal and get something published. It’s just that someone hit the fast-forward button in January and things have not slowed down one iota since then!

So, here’s the latest.

My brother and Nicole got hitched in January! The Peterson-Cunningham clan traveled to Turtle Bay resort on Oahu for what was quite certainly one of the most beautiful wedding’s I’ve ever had the honor to be part of. It was such a beautiful celebration for these two individuals. The setting was perfectly Jeff and Nicole, and the whole vibe of the event was them … laid back, easy going and full of love, fun and lots of laughter. I am so happy for the both of them. Their love story is nothing short of inspiring. I love you both so much!

Since then, work and training have been the dominating themes of my life. I’ve been busy at the office putting together a brand-spankin’ new Web site for San Marcos and re-vamping San Marcos 360 – the City’s magazine. In addition, I’m in a full-court press to get the Mayor’s State of the City Address put together. It is a busy time for sure.

Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I decided it would be super cool to train for a 100-mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe in June. So I signed up with Team in Training and will be working towards the goal of completing the race and raising $3,500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As many of you know, my sweet cousin Kathy Ann passed away from blood cancer at the very young age of 25, so I will be racing in her memory as well as in hopes of finding a cure. Researchers agree that the gateway to solving cancers in general is finding a cure for blood cancer itself, which is why this is so important to me.

Go TEAM!

Blue, Age 7

Thanks to the superb photo talents of Oh My Dog! Photography in Encinitas, CA. Check them out!

Hello dear family and friends,

It has been an exciting and fun-filled year here in sunny San Diego! Since I never seem to get my Christmas cards out in time, I thought this online update would be the next best thing. I’m hoping this blog will be the “gift that keeps giving all year long,” so much as I continue to update it and you continue to visit.

This past year has been a blast, mainly because I’ve had the pleasure of traveling quite a bit. In January, I ventured to Florida to visit my good friend Parrish and meet her adorable twins, Jacob and Abigail, for the first time. We had a memorable time in Ft. Lauderdale and South Beach, proving we are still young at heart. January also brought a fun visit from my dear friend Annie and my Aunt Darby and Cousin Becki for the Carlsbad Marathon.

In April, I traveled to Lake Tahoe for a conference and tacked on a few extra days to enjoy the slopes of Heavenly Ski Resort. What a fun time! Also in April, Parrish and I traveled together to Japan for a week. That was certainly a worthwhile adventure.

In May, the double cousins (Jeff, Tom, John and myself) conspired together to throw our Mom’s a surprise 60th Birthday Celebration in Bend, Oregon. We rented a lovely home there and were all waiting in different parts of the house to surprise our Mom’s when they arrived. It was a very fun weekend together honoring these two wonderful ladies!

The summertime brought two trips to Hawai’i- one to Kauai in July withmy friend Annie and one to the Big Island in August with Jeff, Nicole and Tom. Both were sun-filled and very memorable.

The fun didn’t end there. September was the month for weddings. My friend Patty and I traveled to Manhattan to attend a wedding and take in the sites of the Big Apple. We visited Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, Greenwich Village, Central Park and took in two great Broadway shows. Also in September, my dear friends Michelle and Nick married on the beach in Carlsbad. It was by far one of sweetest weddings I’d ever attended.

Finally, in November I took a few days to visit New Orleans with my friend Jared before deciding to slow things down for the holidays. Whew!

In between all of this fun, I managed to squeeze in a full time job. I still work for the City of San Marcos and truly love what I get to do each day. In addition, I kept busy with lots of outdoor activities including several hikes and bike rides around San Diego. I also completed a couple 5K runs and took up Bikram Yoga while I was at it.

Blue and I will be spending the holidays with family and friends in Portland. I can’t think of anywhere or anyone I’d rather be with at this special time of year. I hope you find yourself in the same position.

I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead in 2009. I hope the new year finds you filled with joy, happiness and peace.

Merry Christmas!

With much love and big hugs,
Jenny and Blue