Alisha was back in action this weekend for the first time since her injury in Philly, although in a different type of road race than usual - her feet were pounding the concrete instead of the pedals. She competed in, and convincingly won, the Bele Chere 5k road race in Asheville, NC on Saturday morning. Overnight rain and drizzly race conditions kept some runners at home, but almost 1000 runners showed up, including over 430 women. Having not done any road racing in several years and no speed or turnover work, Alisha was still able to finish the hilly 5km course in 18:00, 19 seconds ahead of the 2nd place female and in front of all but 15 of the men. The Bele Chere race also doubled as the official North Carolina 5k road race championships. In addition to Alisha’s NC Championship in the cycling criterium in 2005, she is now the NC 5km Road Race Champion.

Alisha jumps back into action in August and September with several triathlons on her schedule, including the Duke ½ Ironman Tri. She will be back on the bike with Webcor-Platinum in September in Bermuda to close out the 2006 cycling season.

• Asheville’s Citizen-Times race report
• Alisha’s thought’s on her blog
• Full Results via the Asheville Track Club

Alisha Lion recently got a report from the orthopedic doctor and she is well on her way to healing up 100%. She still has one more month before another doctor recheck, but in the meantime is slowly moving back onto the bike.

Now riding more consistently on the hoods and adding more intensity to her training, Lion is enduring in the heat that has swept much of the Southern States this summer.

In early August Alisha will start physical therapy on her shoulder to restrengthen the joint. The past few weeks Athletic Edge Sports Massage in Cary, NC has been an integral part in keeping Alisha’s shoulder strong enough to be able to train effectively.

Thanks to all the support Alisha has received from friends and family during her injury.