KATHRYN BERTINE / UPDATE:

Dear friends and readers,

Hard to believe a year has passed since my Olympic Quest ended! I still marvel at the experience of that journey, and am grateful for all that ESPN allowed me to do. Just wanted to touch base and give you a quick update on my writing and cycling life...

-The book will be released in April 2010 by ESPN/RandomHouse and the title is AS GOOD AS GOLD. After the publishing date changing four times, this is finally final...I was just in NYC for the photo shoot of the book's cover, it was a lot of fun. A lot of make up, but a lot of fun! The cover will be an image of me holding various equipment from all the sports I tried. Wheel, sword, goggles, handball, oar, etc. I'll keep you updated on the release!

-Journalistically, I have big ideas in the works for "what's next" but it is taking a little longer for book deals and magazine/web contracts to transpire in this lovely economy. Hopefully there's more news here soon! In the interim, I occasionally write some pieces for The Examiner, found here http://www.examiner.com/x-3266-Womens-Cycling-Examiner~y2009m7d14-Want-to-race-with-long-hair-Fine

-I've had some great visits to St.Kitts and Nevis this year, not only to claim the time trial and road race national title, but more importantly to give back to the community which has given so much to me. In May, my fellow Tucson cyclists (and others abroad) collected 800lbs of cycling gear to donate to the kids of SKN. Kids that were riding in flip flops and jeans now have bike shoes and proper cycling kits, helmets, etc. I am so proud to say that there were over 20 junior riders on hand for the first national championships of SKN! More news about that on my website under the "Where's KB?" tab.

-I'm still racing, both for SKN and for a domestic US team called SpecializedD4W/Bicycle Haus. It has been a good year, although occasionally tougher now that ESPN is not covering all aspects of my racing life! :) Still, I am hoping to push forward to 2012. Clearly ESPN has created a monster. Anyway, I've got three more races left in 2009...please let me know if you're in the area.

Chris Thater Criterium Binghamton, NY (August 30, 2009)
Arizona State Time Trial Championships Picacho Peak, AZ (September 7, 2009)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, Mendrisio, Switzerland (September 23 & 26, 2009) [Wonderminion and Winston will be there, too!]

I hope you are all well, and thank you yet again for all the support you've given me over the past three years. Means more than you can imagine.
All my very best wishes,

Kathryn Bertine