IRONMAN Arizona

First of all I want to apologize for not having an Internet hookup in Arizona. I was going to post every day, but didn't get the chance to use my computer. Ironman Arizona was TOUGH! I felt good leading up to the race, but Saturday the water was cold on my practice swim and I was happy to have a long sleeve wetsuit! My friends and I were thinking that the water may actually be warm over the summer; we were wrong! I will take you through the day:

6AM: In transition I found a pump to top off my tires which was actually a frantic situation with almost every rider. The cool temperatures had tires low on air. This is the time when all the nerves are kicking in: Am I going to be able to finish? Did I put all I needed in my bags? Where is my timing chip? I should have trained more! Are my new running shoes going to be OK? Where is the start? How long is the Porta-lav line? Why am I doing this again?

6:45AM: Water temp is 63 degrees and I am getting in the front? It will take a while for 2200 people to get in... am I ready for this?

6:50AM: The Pros go off... boy would I like to start with them instead of 2200 people!

6:59AM: I can do this! I am ready! Lets get this thing going!

7:01AM: I can't see.. I can't breathe... why am I doing this again? Try to calm down!

7:35AM: Finally at the turnaround, I may actually get though this swim!

8:09AM: I am so glad that is over! Where is that bike I love? I can't wait!

8:15AM: Now things are great! I love Ironman... this bike is awesome, how did all these people beat me out of the water?

9AM: The turnaround took a while longer than I thought... I didn't realize the end was such a climb! Now that I am going down I can see why I was hurting a little 35mph!

9:45AM: How am I going to get this spare tubular to stay on my bike? I had better hit the mechanics station... I am getting hungry?

10:40AM: That second way out to the turnaround seemed MUCH longer... why is it so windy? Who are all these guys drafting off me getting Red Cards? Is it really worth it? Man that special needs stop took a long time!

11:30AM: Only one more time out and back... keep eating! Is there pizza at the feed zones? I sure would like some water instead of Powerbar drink!

12:20PM: Remember you have a marathon coming and you aren't the best runner! One more time down the descent! Be sure to
get all the food in before you start running! why didn't you eat those peanut butter pretzels again?

1:15PM: I don't want to leave my bike! Please don't make me leave the bike! You mean all I am going to have is some running shoes for that last 26.2 miles?

1:20PM: I am not feeling too good, but that first mile was a little ahead of schedule... just keep going!

1:30PM: Still doing OK... maybe I will get feeling better if I just drink water and have gels?

1:40PM: These people at the feeds are awesome! How can they stand out here all day? Man am I hungry! I wish I could stomach some salty stuff!

1:50PM: Just stay positive.... you will come around.... walk a little if you need to...

2:00PM: Man this is gonna be a long day... you definitely didn't get your food right...

2:10PM: There is always next year... just keep moving! All you need to do is get through this...

2:30PM: Hello Jesus! I am so glad you are here cheering for me! What do you know its not that bad out here!

2:40PM: ELVIS? I knew you were still alive! Can you spare one of those Peanut butter/bacon/banana sandwiches? I am tired... if i just walk over there maybe those rocks are comfortable to lay down on...

3PM: This is as bad as it gets... I am definitely feeling like the King in his "carbohydrate, sequent jumpsuit, purple, bloated, dead on a toilet phase"... to quote Wayne's World.

4PM: OK! One more time around... that will be easy! Why did I do this again?

4:52PM: There is my goal time.... I only have about 5 miles left to walk/run.... maybe next year?

5:30PM: You can't quit now... how would anyone know how to find you? Is it going to be dark soon? Why is Elvis following me, and why won't he give me something to eat? I wonder what kind of beer they have at the next stop? If I could eat it would be a large Pepperoni pizza!

5:45PM: Ahhhhh.... the left tun to the finish... am I almost done? did I do 3 run laps? Where am I again? .....100 meters? Is that longer than a yard? Why don't I know metrics? Can I make it 100 meters?

5:47:09PM: Chris Newell from Reisterstown, Maryland... You are an IRONMAN!!!!!!! I am done!!!!

5:50PM: In the medical tent.... I weigh how much? I lost 7 pounds? why are my arms cramping? I have to lay down... I am freezing!

... And that was my day. I had a great time believe it or not. I finished in 10:47:08. All of that and I was still a minute faster than last time. I am all signed up for 2009 and will try some new things to get ready. I have to get my nutrition down because I feel like I never got a chance to run at all. I was just finished before I started. Ironman is definitely hard to figure out. The day is so long you never know how you are going to feel, or how things will work out. The amount of emotions you go through is just amazing... from feeling like a world beater; to feeling like you got in way over your head... its all in there during the day. The best thing about racing is there is always another shot... all you have to do is keep trying. If I just keep trying new things one day I will figure it out; or at least find something I can try to get stronger. Its been a great year and I am so happy I decided to do Ironman again. I have a feeling 2009 will be a very good year; I appreciate you reading; until next time... keep training!

"Chris-is" Avoided.... Hopefully!

These things always happen to me..... Its Tuesday November 18th at 9:35AM and I am at work. Its a busy time for me as you can imagine being a stock trader so I ignored a call from an unknown number on my cell phone. I got worried so I checked my messages.... turns out it was this great woman named Janet who worked at UPS in Tempe, AZ. She had found my bicycle and opened the case to look for my information because it had no address, or shipping label on it! I had packed the bike myself and it was shipped out UPS by my shop last week. When packing it I put the shipping address on the outside of the case in 2 places with duct tape, and as a precaution put my personal info on the bike's top tube. Luckily this wonderful woman called my cell number to tell me she had my bike and no idea what to do with it! I had the tracking number, but she had no shipping address attached to it. How did my bike even make it to Tempe, Arizona? After giving her the address she said it would go out no problem; Ok so maybe she didn't go to the lengths that Tom Hanks did in Castaway to get my package delivered, but it means an awful lot to me!!!! That would have been a real problem showing up Thursday ready to pick up my bike at Inside Out Sports and hearing it never arrived! This is supposed to be an easy, non-stressful week for me! There is nothing like shipping a bike only to have it stolen, and paying $125 for the honor of delivering it to a thief! I should know I had a new Cannondale Scalpel team issue bike with full XTR stolen a few years back from DHL in Kansas City, MO; I wonder why they are out of the US now? Needless to say I am very lucky I had a cyclist named Janet in Tempe looking out for me!
I will be posting daily from IM Arizona starting Thursday; hopefully I will only have good posts from now on! By the way, ALWAYS put your name on your bike; it might just fall into the hands of someone who will do the right thing someday!

Its Been Interesting...

This past weekend was the KBS Cyclocross at Rockburn Park in Maryland and it was a great race. I missed last year's event so I extended my CX season for 1 more week to do a race close to home. I have had a strange cross season this year because of IM Arizona training. I either feel good and ride strong like I did at Hagerstown, or I have bad starts and never really get going. Rockburn was definitely in the never got going category. The course was actually shorter than last year, but it was still a very long lap with some great sections and obstacles. I liked the fact that there were 2 climbs, and actually a downhill where you didn't pedal for a few revolutions. Usually that kind of variation isn't found in the modern CX model. Regardless of my results this year I have tried to take something positive from the race, and Sunday I was climbing well. This won't translate into much at IM in a few weeks, but it will mean that I am fit and up to the challenge if its a windy day. I will be glad to get to race day feeling good and see how it plays out!
Although I will do the MABRA championship in a few weeks, I think the cross season was good, and entertaining for a change of pace. I am very surprised at the recent popularity at the races and hope it continues; cross is a great format for racers, promoters, and sponsors that allows close racing in highly populated areas. I remember when MTB racing used to have large turnouts, and the same kind of excitement. Hopefully it will go a better route than NORBA!
From now until IM Arizona on 11/23 I will be updating a little more. I don't have any events planned so I hope to make it entertaining. I will definitely have a lot to report race week and afterwards with what I am referring to as Beer and Pizza week! I hope you are enjoying your Fall; thanks for reading!

MX Wrap, Cross, and The BIG Day

Its been a crazy few weeks! I finished up the Masters Of Motocross series with an awards and ride day, finished my longest run before IM, and did another cross race. Sounds like everything went great, right? Not exactly... 2 weeks back I was feeling tense about missing a bunch of training to being sick, and the impending IM AZ on 11/23. I finished a 90 minute hilly ride with an 18 mile run.... haha. It was the last big running day I will allow myself to have; not being the best runner all I can do from then on in is create problems. The good news was it went off pretty much without any problems. I feel like I will be OK as long as I get my nutrition right in November. After that long Saturday I went to the Masters of MX awards day at Tomahawk MX track in West Virginia. It had been a few months since I had ridden and it showed! I had a great time, but wasn't feeling comfortable and part of the bike like someone who actually rides! I even dumped it in a rutted corner to add to my beat up body... nothing serious though. All in all it was great and I ended up with 2 trophies for 2nd Overall in 35+B, and 3rd Overall in 30+c. I will post some pics this weekend. If you are over 30 and race or ride MX, I suggest you check out the Masters of MX series in 2009!
Last week I had 2 days off to "train" for November. Not a fan of the cold weather I decided to go to Patapsco's Avalon area for a brick endurance ride/run... what a mistake! I hadn't ridden MTB since July and about 10 minutes into my ride I went down....HARD! I caught my right hand on a tree branch and the next thing I know I have a cracked helmet and bruises and trail rash all over my left side. So much for training days... I finished up a measly 2 hours and went home. The next day I was sore so I did an IM swim.... which actually went well. All in all not great for training, but good for my most overlooked event.
That brings me to the DCCX cross race last weekend. I had never been there, but I will definitely be back! what a great course; inside the DC beltway? It was surrounded by crowded, sprawling DC, but what a nice area and a great layout. Having 2 great finishes in my 2 MABRA races I lined up in the back as usual. After the start I started moving up, but with the twists and turns and technical sections I could only really make up time through the pit and out on the road/path. After 45 minutes I was in 11th place with no real estate left; one of these years I will give cross a real shot! For now I have one more race this weekend, and then just trying to stay healthy.. which seems like a challenge for me lately! I will have a report on Monday and hopefully some pictures. Just so everyone knows I have officially entered the panic/apprehensive phase of my Ironman preparation; not much time goes by when I don't think of something I need to do, buy, or worry about! One of my friends doing the race told me he was the same way... I guess it isn't just me. I have 3 weeks to be ready for the big day. I fully intend to be ready to leave it all on the course; I'll keep you posted.

Autumn Surprise

Last week was a rough one for me, I came down with a sickness on Monday, skipped work Tuesday, and didn't work out the rest of the week. Luckily I only had a cough and congestion over the weekend which is why I was surprised with the race. Sunday was the first year for the Brierman 50 Half Lite (.85 mile swim + 40 mile bike + 9.3 mile run = 50 miles) in Frederick, MD. It started at Greenbriar State Park which is one of my favorite MTB areas, and a place to pick up the AT (Appalachian Trail). Why is that important? Because it is in the mountains... this race is HILLY!!! It was a cool morning in the 40's and the water temp was in the 50's which was definitely a wake up! I used my long sleeve wetsuit for the first time this year and must have really liked it because I left the water 13th which is my best so far. After a few mess ups including trying to put a shirt over my aero helmet I had already put on, I was on my way. This course was AWESOME! 2 x 20 mile loops on a tough course; I will post the altitude gain when I download it! Going out of the park is a steep climb to Rt. 40 and there was already guys weaving in their big gears trying to get up the climb. The bike leg was probably the best I have seen with twisty, fast, hilly descents and long, steep climbs. The crux of the course was a 1.5 mile ascent which stepped up and never seemed to stop. I had great legs from all the rest, but the wind was not so good so I just tried to pace myself. Most of the descents were fast and I had a max speed of 48mph! After the 1st lap I thought I was in the lead, but the sprint athletes were also on the course so it was tough to know who was in the Half race. About 3 miles from the finish I caught a guy who was moving really well and passed him, but couldn't shake him until a steeper climb up 40 back to the park. I entered T2 either 1st or 2nd, but left 3rd with another snails pace transition. then the pain started! The run was just as hilly as the bike.... straight up over the AT and back down. Its funny, but I can actually run uphill better than most people, but the downhills are where I really suffer. Coming into the turnaround I heard footsteps... and lost 3rd. Then on another long descent another racer caught me so now I am 5th and starting to worry... are the hazard lights going on? I still felt good, but I just couldn't seem to get enough oxygen to apply any speed. Luckily I had done enough on the way out and the bike to have a cushion and I finished 5th overall; my best result in a road tri! I have to say that the course definitely favored me, and having 3 minutes off the bike to my next competitor made the difference. I feel like if I can stay healthy and keep working I am on track to a good IM in Arizona. I still get that sinking feeling when I hear footsteps on the run, but at least now I am not just falling out of contention. I will post pictures when I get them. Now I just have to figure out how to run like these guys and not get any slower on the bike... I had better get busy! Thanks for reading!

Setbacks....

Its been a few weeks since I wrote anything, and I thought I had better write to say I am still alive! Its been a tough few weeks and I have had a few illnesses to deal with. The first happened the weekend of the Ed Sander Cross, which is my favorite cross race of the year. I started having an allergic reaction to something and developed a rash and some congestion that wouldn't seem to clear up. I had to skip racing and take 3 days off of training altogether. After feeling better during the week I did feel good enough to go to the Breast Cancer Awareness Cyclocross in Hagerstown, MD on October 4th. I raced in the Elite Master's category and had a great race going until I rolled my tire in a corner with 2 laps to go. Frustrated, but unhurt I ended up that day around 15th which was OK. Then on Sunday I started feeling bad and had to cut my workout short; sure enough Monday I had a sore throat. Now its Thursday October 9th and I am 2 days into a course of antibiotics with a cough and cold! I have a 1/2 Ironman (lite) to race Sunday so I am hoping to get progressively better the next few days. It was supposed to be my last big test before IM Arizona, but now I am just hoping to be healthy enough to get there. This kind of stuff almost never happens to me, and I am not used to having so many setbacks.
All in all I had to think that I would have some setbacks. I have had a great year so far racing and maybe this will make me focus a little better on the end of the season and my goals at IM. Its always tough for an athlete to accept setbacks, but in the long run they can turn out to be something that will help out in some way. I would rather have just about anything than a fever, cough, and cold; but I will try to make the most of it. 3 days totally off training and going into a half-litle Tri is not where I thought I would be right now, but I will do my best to make the most of it! I hope your Fall is healthier than mine! Thanks for reading!

Crossing To IM?

This past weekend was the opening season for cyclocross here in the Mid Atlantic. I have been using cross for years to extend my racing season, usually because I have been hurt and missed my season goals. Luckily this year I am healthy and my main focus Ironman Arizona is 2 months out. This does cause a dilemma for me because I have been racing and training for endurance triathlon all year, and although I do intensity and shorter races, none are quite like cross. I learned that the hard way at Charm City Cross this weekend! Years back cyclocross was just getting traction and the races were well attended, but nothing like the races of today. There are teams and racers that are only based on racing Cyclocross, and needless to say the cometition is much higher than just a few years ago. I tried my best to have a good start, but just didn't have the capacity or even the want to try to get up front early in the race. With 60 or so racers out there gunning for the first corner its easy to end up near the back of the pack... which is where I was! Luckily about 10 minutes into the race the pace slowed and I started to warm up. By about 30 minutes into it I was actually feeling good and riding with a local favorite rider who happens to be named Chris too... which made me feel like all of the crowd was cheering for me! With a lap to go I was still feeling like I was just getting warmed up so I really started to push the pace, and we were just dangling out of the top 10 so I felt with a good push we could both move up. Unfortunately I went too hot into an off camber and lost the front end of the bike and went down. After remounting it took me a few minutes to get going again and by that time the race was over. It was fun, but my road rash and sore muscles told me that this was something I will have to be careful of in the next few weeks. With the demands of IM training eating up most of my weekends, and another 1/2 Ironman race in a few weeks I can't commit to a season of cyclocross. I am going to do 2 or 3 local races maximum if I don't end up losing fitness for IM. This is crunch time for me and hopefully I can stay healthy and get everything right. I will be trying to get some more time in this weekend by doubling up at the Ed Sander CX in Buckeystown, MD. After that I will be getting ready for the Brierman 1/2 which looks like it could be a great Tri for me in the mountains near Frederick, MD. I will keep you posted and thanks for reading!

1/2 Way There...

This past weekend was the Diamondman 1/2 Iron triathlon in Bear, DE. It was a big test for my fitness and pacing for Ironman so I was hoping to have a good day. With hurricane Hanna moving through Saturday it was a great blue sky day for a race! I decided to drive up the morning of the race which was not a good choice having to leave at 4am.... luckily Mary did the driving and helped me with everything... thanks Mary! I didn't start very well in the swim because of getting to the line late, but surprisingly within 5 minutes I was having a good day. I am not the best swimmer, but I don't slow down so I tend to catch up as the race goes on. At the turnaround I caught on with a small group and got into a nice draft for the return. It was also good because we were going directly into the sun so sighting was almost impossible. Leaving the water I felt good and was ready for the bike; 57th out of the water is OK... The bike leg was a challenge! I have only raced 1 1/2 iron distance before so I wasn't sure what kind of pace to maintain... should I go all out on the bike? 56 miles would be a great distance for it, but then a 13 mile run? Maybe if it was an 8 mile run or even 10, but 13? I felt very strong and even though it was windy I was keeping a good pace. the course had been changed so we had to cross a large bridge which was a climb 4 times total. The first time was great out to the turnaround, and I saw the 3 leaders coming back. After that I thought I could catch everyone else. I kept my pace though and tried to get my nutrition right for the rest of the day which brought me to my first problem. I was thinking we would have whole water bottles for bike cages, but at the bottle exchange they were not the right size... I couldn't keep one with me on the bike. I made the decision to just try to get by with the 2 I brought which probably wasn't the best idea. That is what a test race is for though, right? Everything went well until the last trip up the bridge. By this time I was well through the field and passing people on their 1st way in so it was crowded... that isn't usually a problem, but the cars had backed up behind the groups of racers. Now I am trying to pass racers on the left while I have slow cars I am passing on my right! Scary stuff... luckily I was only held up a few times, but in the scrum I must have gone over a bridge seam too hard and my front tire began going soft. Luckily I was able to keep it going OK and finished the bike leg with about 30 pounds in there... that was close! I went into T2 6th overall and had the 5th bike time. Now comes the hard part.... I left T2 in 7th place behind a guy that I wanted to try to pace with. After a good first mile I began to come to my senses and let him go... I have to pace for runs like this! The course was on the C&D canal path by the water which was great, but I wasn't used to the crushed stone. By the turnaround point I was getting pretty happy; I had maintained a great pace and still felt strong... I thought I may even be able to negative split the run! Well, I was definitely ahead of myself.... by the time I got to mile 10 I was having a hunger knock and slowing down. I quickly went into survival mode... how fast do I have to go to stay where I am? Needless to say when you are thinking like that you are not doing well.. I was passed by 1 guy at mile 11 and 1 about a 1/2 mile out.... I had nothing left, but still was happy. Much to my sup rise I finished the run 21st, and ended up 9th overall! I also won the 35-59 age group with a time of 4:38:39 which left me happy! It was also the first race in my new kit for my team Sublime Athletics. I will be racing and promoting my coaching service and should have a website up soon. Next up is the Michaux Endurance series finals if I ever recover from this race. I will keep you posted and thanks for reading!

Honky Tonk Heroes Like Me...

No races for me over Labor Day weekend, but I did get to go to Nashville, Tennessee for some good times! Mary and I flew down to visit some friends for the weekend. If you have never been to Nashville you have to put it on your list of places to go! Music row and the honky tonk bars are just amazing and it is not your everyday musicians who perform downtown; most of them are session players, or people who are in the business just kicking up their heels for fun. On Saturday night I saw an awesome band called Here Come The Mummies. The lore behind the band is that they are all session performers who have contracts that keep them from performing with each other, or live at all. To get around this problem they take the stage in full mummy costumes from head to toe to conceal their identity. Nobody knows who they are, but as soon as they hit the stage it is impossible not to have a good time! If you ever get a chance to see them check it out! As for me I will be racing the Diamondman 1/2 Ironman this weekend in Delaware if a hurricaine doesn't hit; I will keep you posted!

A Different Kind of Performance!

Its been a while since a post, but I have been busy! Training has been good, and I have some good races in September coming up. The big performance this month was musical, but I still kind of treat is as athletics. In what feels like a former life, high school and college; I was a musician. My Mom was a Peabody Conservatory piano major and teacher, and she started me playing piano so young I don't remember learning... I have always known how to play. In high school I took up electric guitar to play with some friends and didn't look back. When it came time for college I got into Peabody Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and some other schools. I didn't know back then that I could have done anything I wanted in college or I would have followed those dreams. I did major in music for a while at Towson, but soon after I lost the drive after most of my friends either stopped, or moved away. I approached the guitar in the same way as a bicycle; I practiced for hours a day working on my speed and technical skills, as well as just playing anything I could learn to get better. After a while I just started doing other things and didn't play for years...
Which brings me to a few months ago when my oldest friend and guitar student called and needed a guitarist for his band which had a show at the Recher Theatre in Towson, MD on August 23rd, 2008. I hadn't played seriously in about 15 years so this was a big undertaking. Luckily it was all original material, and I would just have to write my parts and play lead. I would have loved this 20 years ago, but now it was going to be tough to get enough time away from training for IM to practice! After a few weeks of playing and a few practices things got a little easier, but I have a long way to go to get back to being comfortable. As it all turned out the last 2 weeks getting ready were very good, and we put on a pretty good show. The big problem was our sound; I couldn't hear myself play, and evidently most of the show my "clean" tone wasn't heard much at all. It was a good experience though and we are actually playing again in October at the Recher. I will keep you posted! Coming up next week is the Diamondman 1/2 in Delaware so i hope to have a good race report and some pics. Until then enjoy the holiday weekend and keep riding!

40K: The Perfect Torture Device

Saturday I decided to do the District 40K Time Trial Championships for a change and some good training. I had done the TT champs twice before, once in my first year of racing... 1993; and in 2005 where I flatted a tire. I usually just do this distance in Triathlon after a swim and have to leave some in reserve for a run so this was going to be fun... or so I thought. My goal was to break an hour for 40K which is something I have always wanted to do. It does require a good bike that is up to the task, and since I have a new TT bike for Ironman I was set. After a traffic filled drive to Cambridge, MD over the Bay Bridge, I finally was ready to give it a go. The time trial is an all out solo effort for 40K(24.8 miles) and pretty much the benchmark for TT effort. It is short enough to put in a very hard effort, and long enough to really do some damage to your engine! Riders are sent off in 30 second intervals, and drafting is not allowed at any time. As I rolled up to the start I was disappointed that 2 riders in front of me had not posted; that meant I had 90 seconds to the carrot to chase. On the other hand I had some serious competition starting 30 seconds and 1 minute behind me...
After the start I settled in to what I thought was a good pace. I was going about 29 mph with a slight tail wind and trying to stay smooth. Just as I was feeling good and warmed up... whoosh!!!... my 30 second man came blowing by. "He is going too hard too soon" I thought; "I will get back by him as soon as we turn into the wind" ... I let these thoughts into my head for about a minute... then went back to the effort... I didn't see him again! The tough thing about TT is that its very personal; you are racing yourself more than anything. Pacing is important because if you go too hard you can drop major amounts of time trying to recover. If you don't go hard enough it is often hard to raise the pace after a while and then the negative thoughts can enter. Luckily I had R.E.M's "It's The End of The World As We Know It" playing in my head and just tried to keep pushing. At the 20K mark I was feeling good, but it hurt! 28:12 for 20K... I am on pace for a sub hour! This is not the kind of effort I am used to because the terrain was all flat; I didn't get out of my aero position the entire race. One of the best parts of triathon is the great bike courses with turns, hills, and downhills. TT is just effort, pure and simple; there is no escaping it if you aren't feeling good. If you reach for a waterbottle that is 5 seconds off your time; you can't even look around if you have an aero helmet like I do or it becomes a parachute to slow you down. A little further down the road the mental games had begun... At about the 25K mark I was thinking about all the workouts I had skipped this year, and vowing to never miss another... at 30K I had decided to stop drinking beer.... 32K I won't eat ice cream or chocolate any more... 35K and I will do at least 3 hard workouts a week... after I lose 5 more pounds... and then I realize that I am almost done. I start thinking about how good it is going to feel to stop, and really pushing to bring that time closer! I am still riding into a headwind and decided that the rumor I heard about a tail wind at the finish was spread just to break my spirit. About 2 miles out, just when I was about to quit cycling all together I looked at the sticker on my stem... "The Duke" .... something happened. I looked at the speedo and it read 28.3... 29.4.... 30.1... 31.6.... 33.5... I was really moving! I was in my top gear and now just burying myself... but it didn't really hurt. Often in races I get thinking about my Dad and what he would have thought of my racing. He used to call me The Duke because of John Wayne, and the fact that he used to carry me around when I was little like a football. He was an amazing athlete before WWII sent him to the Far East, and went to the Olympic Trials for Wrestling. Usually when I get that feeling things get better. The tail wind took on a lot more meaning for me... As I crossed the finish line I stopped the clock at 56:23... I had broken the hour! After a little cool down ride to the car I did a short run and went and checked the results. I was 5th in the Pro 1/2 group, and averaged 26.4 which left me happy. Sometimes when things start to get really rough, if you just refuse to give in; you can get help from some of the greatest places!
Next up is Diamondman 1/2 Ironman in September so I had better get busy training! I am sure I will get involved in plenty of adventures before then so I will keep you posted...

Chillin' In The OOB... Choices...Choices...

Well there has been no racing for a while.... I went to Maine with Mary to Old Orchard Beach to visit her family and spend some much needed beach time in the sun. The highlights were the beach of course, a mini Portland pub crawl, and my first 1/2 marathon training run this summer. Downsides were coming back to work for 2 days of nothing to do, NO BIKE, and no motorcycle. It was amazing weather for any outdoor activity! I really did need a break and a good transition to IM training, and this was it. I don't know if I am really ready for the long days, I have been enjoying the intensity training and racing! I am sure I will get back into it though.
Its also time for some decisions. I have a MX race at a track I have never been to this Saturday that is conflicting with a TT I would like to do. I need to work on my position for the next 3 big Tri's, but I am currently locked in a lead battle for the MX series, and hold down 2nd in another class. Which do I do? Its funny when you begin the year you never see the conflicts that come up with being involved in a series or more than one series; but they always crop up. Then there is the remainder of the season to think about, and what would be best for the big season goals. So far I am leaning towards the TT and taking my chance at the MX series finals.... we will see.... That does bring up a good training/racing issue about priorities, because nobody likes to leave anything on the table and go into the unknown.
Sometimes you have to roll the dice and see where they land, even when you have a plan, a goal, and motivation. When I look back I am sure it will be easy to show what made the difference; for now I will just try to follow the action! I will have a report when the racing is done...

Beyond Where We Should Have Gone...

Sunday 7/20 was the second stage of the Michaux 2008 Endurance Series in the mountains north of Gettysburg, PA. This race has always been the toughest for me in the series, and this year was no different. I started the race about 2 pounds underhydrated which I knew was going to be a problem, but the MX race on Saturday was a makeup from a rain out and I had to attend. Before the race I talked to my friend and the race organizer Jes Stith of Gettysburg Bicycle about the course; when he described it as the best course of all the Curse layouts I knew I was in for a treat. I have been racing Michaux since my first year riding which was back in 1992.... Jes is by far the best race organizer I have ever seen; he and his group do their best to make the course the best, and most challenging that they can. Usually when you do these races you are racing the course, which is almost extinct in MTB racing nowadays. The only bummer was that the turnout seemed light due to the MTB Nationals in Vermont, but there was still a bunch of brave souls ready for the Curse. Now onto the race...
After an OK start I was definitely out of sync on the first few miles of descending. This is one of the toughest descents not to flat on that I know of... rocky, fast, and requires a lot of pedaling between sections of loose, jagged shale. I must have passed 6 or so people on the side in the first 2 miles with flats. Then after settling in a little I hit the ridge trail which is one of my favoites in the world; Twisty, rocky, but still flowing singletrack totally created for MTB enjoyment! About a mile into it I came up on a friend of mine on the side of the trail just as I started to flat the front tire... I had cut a sidewall. Poz was on the side of the trail and I didn't know if he had a flat or what because my iPod was too loud... I didn't hear much. He started to get out a tube and then I realized it was for me! I told him I was fine and he joked about catching back up to the leader... little did I know that was going to be important! Anyway, after racing here for years and ripping sidewalls I was prepared with 2 tubes and a tire boot. After a lengthy tire change I was back on my way. By the time I had made it to the reservoir about 8 miles in I had decided I was on the wrong bike; the 29er wheels were great, but my technical skills were rusty and I was having trouble sitting and pedaling without getting knocked around. I felt like a roadie! Wait a minute, I am a roadie nowadays!
The funny thing about Michaux races is that unless you have ridden here its hard to comprehend just how demanding it is. After about 18 miles of racing I was already starting to cramp in my legs. I knew that it was my hydration, but what could I do about it? It was in the 90's on a beautiful summer day what was I to do, stop? I kept thinking that I could beat it if I just kept drinking and staying on my nutrition plan. Along the way I rode with some friends, and saw some great racing going on in the women's class. Slowly I was in a downward spiral, but I was having fun so I just "hung in there". I also was having an allergic reaction to something in the woods. Every year I have problems at ths race and this year was no different. My arms start itching, then I start coughing and getting asthma. This time I had some benedryl in my pack, but I didn't know how I would feel if I took it so low on water. That was a mistake, but its not like I haven't made them ALL day right? On a steep, long hike a bike, out of water, the emotions started kicking in. You know, those questions like: what the hell am I doing here? Why did I get out of bed at 5am to do this? What were you thinking trying the old 1-2 with the Curse of Dark Hollow? Did you know at home the a/c is on and the couch is waiting and the beer is cold?
On top of that I couldn't eat without liquids...
By the time I made the last water stop I had ridden some of the coolest new trails I had ever seen, but I was too tired to enjoy them. Luckily I GPS'd the whole race so I can find it again. The guys at the stop were great, although when they asked what I needed I looked on the table and saw what I really wanted... a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale! That would have to wait until later so I downed 2 full water bottles at the stop, and then went on to the last 7 miles of singletrack. By this time I felt like Chevy Chase in Vacation, in the desert with his pants on his head saying "I'm dead.. I'm dead.." I started thinking about how long I could lay down on the trail, rest, and still be able to finish. Luckily every time I started cramping there would be a descent. Of course my arms were cramping then so I was definitely in trouble. Then I came upon something that made me laugh... danger signs. If you had seen this course you would have thought it was funny too! This entire loop could have a big danger sign on it! But Jes wasn't kidding! The following downhill was hairy to say the least and very steep and technical. I decided if I tried to get off I would seize up so I just stayed on and took my time riding down. One day I will mount a camera to my bars to get some shots of this terrain.. amazing!
Now I was only about 3 miles away and I felt like I was finally going to make it. I thought about crazy things like the climber Beck Weathers who was left for dead on Everest only to come back on his own power to camp to be rescued. There is something very humbling about being in survival mode, but its also kind of purifying. You feel accomplishment just for being alive and that makes you almost euphoric. I guess that eventually ends if you don't stop or be rescued and you lose consiousness and die? Luckily I didn't find out! Just as my gps said 2 miles to go I came out by the parking lot? There was an arrow pointing AWAY from the finish area! Was this a joke? Had someone changed the course? Just then I think of Leslie Neilsen in Airplane... "Surely you can't be serious? ... I am serious, and don't call me Shirley..." They couldn't run us this close to the finish and send us downhill and away? Luckily I knew what they were up to and after a mile out on the road I turned under the powerlines and back to the trail to the finish. By then I am just thinking of Airplane lines all the way to the line.... "Do you like gladiator movies? .... he never drinks a second cup at home... excuse me, I speak jive... looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue..." That is what is going through my mind at the end of the race... not racing, not where I am finishing, just Airplane! I crossed the finish line and they handed me my Michaux race pilsner glass and I went straight to the keg and filled it. I walked back to the truck, changed, loaded the bike, and headed out to meet Mary in Gettysburg. I didn't even think about where I came in! Later, after some benedryl, food, beer, and food and beer; I got a call from my friend Don who said he picked up my money for me? Evidently I had placed 5th? I won money after that endeavor? It turns out that Poz who had stopped when I flatted finished 4th in front of me, and we must have just survived in about the same places to the finish! All in all it was a great race, and I definitely learned a real lesson about my limits and what it takes to be an endurance athlete. I figure after this experience IM Arizona will be a breeze in November! Only time will tell... for now I keep thinking of Jack Johnson's Sleep Through The Static lyrics... "...Beyond where we should have gone... we went beyond where we should have gone..." I will be on vacation next week so when I am laying in a hammock relaxing I can think back on this race and laugh about how I went beyond where I should have gone... again.

Preserving The Diamonds

Saturday was a makeup race at Blue Diamond MX park in New Castle, Delaware. The goal for me was to maintain my placing in the Masters of MX Series, and not get too far extended for Sunday's Michaux MTB race. Blue Diamond has some scary stuff, but generally its a good track to ride. Temperatures in the 90's and no shade made for a rough day all together. I knew after the 1st practice it was going to be tough because I could not get the entry to a rhythm section down; the new gearing had me a little out of sync. During my first moto I had a good start and went to the 1st turn behind my friend David who is currently leading the 35+B series. I was feeling good, but didn't have the run at the 110 foot table to clear it on the 1st lap and I got gapped. After that we stayed about the same pace until late in the race when I caught a few lappers. I finished 4th which was OK. The 30+C Moto was packed and stacked. I was caught behind a crash in the 2nd turn and lost the front 3 riders, but other than that it was uneventful. I had a back and forth with 2 guys that ended up leaving me back... 6th. Both second motos were about the same, but I never felt comfortable and really need to ride at least 1 practice day before the next race! The big problem was the heat; its impossible to stay hydrated in a parking field with no shade wearing MX gear for 6 hours! The race was a longer day too because of some new classes and I ended up almost bonking before I made a B-line for the Wawa and some food. This is just a foreshadowing for what was to come on Sunday...

Bad Ass Austrians... G'Day Mate!

Here's the 2 KTM's after a bunch of work on the MX bike including a new drivetrain and tires.

Diamonds And Rough

Saturday July 12th was my official return to Triathlon at the Diamond In The Rough Race in Perryville, MD. Its a unique Tri because it has a very technical bike course with a big climb and many fast descents. Its also weighted toward cyclists because the bike leg is 27 miles, and the run is 5 miles. I was definitely worried about how I would feel after a few weeks of training hard and feeling tired. Ever since the Richmond XTERRA its harder and harder to get up in the morning. I was very excited because it was the first race with my new Cervelo P2 TT bike; what a machine! I used a Zipp Disc in the rear with a HED Tri spoke in the front; I was pulling out all the stops looking for a good result. I even broke out the aero helmet! I had to take off the race numbers from the 2005 race in Honolulu; after that race I sold my Tri bike and didn't even get a license until 2008. Now that is all in the past because I like the new ride!
The swim is actually really nice at this race and a big loop in warm water with good visibility. I have been swimming, but its never my strong event so I was suprised to feel so good. It was the first time I ever teamed up with a competitor during a swim too. I didn't know who he was, but he and I exchanged pulls just cyclists in a breakaway. When I exited the water I gave him a wave of thanks going to T1.
That was when the fun began! Armed with one of the fastest bikes in the race and some special gearing for the hills and descents I really pushed the pace as much as I could. I had left in the 2nd swim wave so the first 1/2 of the bike I was constantly passing other racers. I tried to stay smooth and in my aero position and spin as much as I could. Any time my speed dropped below 15mph I got out of the saddle and tried to raise the pace. Luckily for me by the time I hit the very technical descent and climb I was alone. I just wasn't getting tired on the bike which is a great feeling to have after a dismal month! Coming back into the park on the access road I saw a box turtle crossing the street; could that have been my spirit animal from the last month? I definitely shook off the past few weeks on the bike split and was happy entering T2.
My run was much better than I had expected, but I have been working on it since March. I wasn't catching many people, but I wasn't on the ropes either and felt like I could hold my own. I did get passed by 2 racers on the run, but I expected that with a strong bike split. I still have some work to do, but at least I am seeing improvements!
In the end I had a good day and ended up 8th overall and won the 35-39 age group. I posted the fastest bike split and was the only person to break 1:09:00 and averaged 23.6 which left me happy. I really do think my bike and the position had a lot to do with it! The run was my best average to date I think at a 6:53 pace. I hope to improve on that, but I am definitely happy! Next up is the Masters of MX race at Blue Diamond Park on Saturday 7/19, followed by the Monsters of Michaux Series' Curse of Dark Hollow 7/20. Hopefully I will survive the double and have some interesting stories. I will post some pics asap; thanks for reading!

Distractions and Temptations

The 4th of July holiday weekend was tough for me.... extra time off work with OK weather during a rest week could lead to some tough decisions.... what to do with the extra time? Besides the fact that I ate and drank way too much for someone training for IM Arizona, I have also been feeling flat for a while now. What did I do? Go for long rides and Overtrain an already stressed body? No... I decided to trade in 2 motorcycles and get a new bike! With gas prices over $4 a gallon, and my future employment uncertain I will definitely be riding a lot more. I ended up with the amazing machine in the picture.... a 2008 KTM 990 Superduke. Talk about a distraction!!! I definitely want to be out riding it all the time... I just hope I can control that urge and get in the miles on the bike. At least my commute will be much more pleasant now.
This time of year is tough on Me for some reason. I guess its after the first phase of racing, and the transition to the big goals of the year are here. Its funny, but in April I would do anything to just ride in short sleeves, but in July I act like if there are clouds looming I will melt at the first drop of rain. The motivation is always tough too because the progress has slowed, and the big goals still seem far enough away. Hopefully the Diamond In the Rough Tri this weekend will be some motivation to keep pushing. I will keep you posted... until then I will be riding 2 wheels.

The Deflating Tomato Hawk

The next round of the Masters of MX Series was on Saturday June 21st, and I was looking for some good results. After my disappointing race at XTERRA I was happy to have my rest week with some good MX at one of my favorite tracks. I left the house at 5:30am under sunny skies with a bike that needed some work. I was awaiting some new Michelin tires and a drivetrain, but they didn't make it Friday so I was going to race one more time on some sketchy tires. This was the first race under real summer skies so I was excited and Tomahawk used to be my home track when I trained! 

The practice in the morning was muddy, but the track dried out quickly and was in great shape with some good ruts and a great flow. I was feeling confident even though I hadn't been on the bike since the last round of the series. After 2nd practice I had the 2 step ups down and was looking for a good moto. The first race was the 35+B event and I had a great gate pick. I was almost all the way right and the first turn is a 100 degree right which is off camber. When the gate dropped the Katoom 450 did its usual and I got the holeshot! There must have been a tangle behind me because I got over the first set of jumps and over the 1st big table before I even heard anyone else! I have never led a lap before, but I finally thought things were going right! After lap 1 I was feeling good, but the nerves of being out front were setting in; over the 2 step ups I was smooth, but I lost the rear end on a sharp, dry turn. After getting back straight I could hear someone behind, but no pass was coming? I just kept trying to stay smooth, but now every turn seemed sketchy... the rear tire just wasn't hooking up. After lap 4 I had decided to take each turn from the inside all the way out and be smooth on the throttle and it seemed to work. On the last lap after holding off some racers I finally got passed in a corner. Then the next corner brought more trouble... what was going on? I finished the moto 2nd after a tip over from a competitor and rode back to the truck. I had about 5 minutes to drink something and refuel and lube.... then I saw the problem! A rear flat tire! The course was loamy, but I can't believe I didn't catch on sooner. I wasn't having trouble cornering... the rear tire was shot. After a frantic few minutes of pumping up the slow leaking tire I realized I missed the start of my 2nd class ... the 30+C race... the series class I was leading. It turned out that there  had been a cancelled moto? Luckily the Masters MX Series is run by some great folks, and they decided the cancellation caused too many guys to miss their race so they credited us with some finish points. 

    During intermission I frantically searched the pits for someone to buy a tube from. After securing a tube I actually was approached by one of my competitors in the B class that offered to help me change the tire! How's that for a good community? Changing a MX tire is very tough; usually I do it at home with a stand and an hour... out in a field with minimal tools its tough! With the help of my friends I got the tube changed, but it had a slow leak. With 2 motos left I decided to run higher than usual pressure so I could at least finish the races. Luckily I had another 2 holeshots, but the rear of the bike was all over so I ended up 4th in one and 5th in the other. I was still happy and the day was just what I needed. 

     Racing so many different types of events is fun for me, and keeps things interesting; but eventually it catches up with you. I haven't had the preparation I have needed for MX and that was clear in my results. By the next round I hope to have new tires, gearing, and some track time. I definitely learned something about preparation, and also about the MX community. After every event I try to get something positive to hold on to for the future; this race's positives were good starts, and great people. I hope that everyone can run into people who lend them a hand when they need it sometime during their racing season. It really does make all the difference! Next up is the Diamond in the Rough Triathlon on July 12th and the premiere of the Cervelo P2 Carbon TT bike... hopefully I will have some great news to report! 

     

Keep XTERRA Tri-ing...

On Sunday 6/15/08 I officially made my return to Triathlon at the XTERRA East Championships in Richmond, VA. It was an interesting trip, but I sure have my work cut out for me! It was also the first trip I have stayed overnight for in a long time... which brings me to the first problem with the race. I was staying at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Richmond which was the host hotel for the race. Its a nice place, and very convenient to the race site... but the 4AM fire alarm and evacuation of the building was not what I had planned. On top of that the building had a malfunction with the system so after my trip down the stairs from the 11th floor the alarm continued to go off 2 more times. Enough of that.... onto the race...
The Richmond XTERRA swim is in the James River, which is scary to say the least. This is the only Tri swim I know of where you can literally break your clavicle! There are a bunch of large rocks, trees, and other debris under the shallow sections of the course. It is interesting, but not my favorite kind of swim. After some frustrating experiences I got out of the water and into transition. I was trying to be minimal for it, but I just kept making more and more mistakes. I forgot to put on my headband, and I forgot my gloves and had to go back. If there is one thing I know its that racing in 90 degree heat in Virginia requires gloves. I used to have good bike splits... that was before my time off from Triathlon. I just felt like I couldn't get going for the first 30 minutes. It sounds like just an off day, but what relaly happened was my swim fitness. When I get better swimming I don't go faster, I just have much better bike splits. So I have some swimming to do!
The most positive part of the race was the run... I don't think I have ever said that before. I had a slow T2, but this was the first race where I felt good the whole run. Nest time I will wear regular racing flats instead of trail shoes. I wasn't fast, but I held my position pretty well. I ended up 11th in my group of 35-39 men, but I think I had an OK day. I will be training a lot more in the next few months, but I need to race Tri to be good at tri! Hopefully I will be adding some good XTERRA pics in the next day. Until then have fun riding!

Fly On The Wall

There was no racing for me this past weekend, and with a big race next week coming at the XTERRA East Championships in Richmond, VA I decided to take a break. I have never been to the US Pro Race in Philly so I decided to go up and see some racing in one of my favorite cities. It was HOT on the weekend! I know it is a little miserable for most, but I kind of like racing in the heat. It usually just increases the suffering and a good plan can make all the difference. I was definitely impressed with the wall in Manayunk; what a great course! I hope to go back and do it right another year and join the party!

This coming weekend is one of the only "Big" races I am doing this year before Ironman. If it goes well I may head to another XTERRA; it all comes down to Sunday.... just like I like it! Stay cool and enjoy the longest days of the year in the next few weeks!

What the Thunder Said....

It was the last weekend in May of 2008 so I decided to pre-register for a road race. I should of known what was to come, but I wanted to put in a good effort to get ready for some of my goal races in June. I was walking my dogs Saturday morning under some cloudy skies, but no rain. I was in the truck with Mary going to the Murad Memorial Road Race in Poolesville, MD when it started raining. By the time I got to Mt. Airy and got of I-70 it was coming down pretty steady. After a bunch of traffic delays I finally got to the race start just when the Pro 1/2 was staging. I rarely get a bad feeling about racing; I usually race no matter what the conditions. I don't like rain or cold, but I will race if I am registered no matter what; this was different. So I decided to leave and..... go to a brewpub! ...The Gordon Biersch in Tyson's corner . 10 minutes into my drive and it started thundering... then came the lightning. About 10 minutes after that it started hailing golf ball sized hail! Even after all of this I felt bad; I shouldn't have left the start area... I should have gotten out there and raced. After my 3rd Marzen and my burger I had rationalized that I needed the rest anyway. I think as athletes we feel almost a guilt when we don't finish our workout plans, even if there was no way to do it. Most people would see this as a flaw, but we all know that its the same drive and stubborn determination that brings us to our goals.
Monday night I got an email from one of my teammates about the race; it started, but during a cloud burst they neutralized the race. After a few more minutes they literally rode through a stream over the road and the race was stopped. After a 15 minute wait period they called it. I still don't know if the race ever re-started, but my friend left. There have been too many times when I fail to follow the signs; I blindly go on when there is something that is trying to tell me to come to my senses. Once I ended up with a broken hip in traction; and another time I got hit head on by a truck and broke my tibial plateau.

Sunday I went out on for a road ride under sunny skies. After about 45 minutes the clouds were thick and I started hearing thunder. The rain started coming down, then it got heavier, then it started hailing. Luckily Mary came to my rescue after I found shelter at a church. This time I got in the truck and went home. Who would have known what was to come if I decided to continue.... If there is one thing I am trying to learn it is to listen to those signs. When things continue to mount in the way of a ride or a workout there may be a reason... in the future I will try to listen to What The Thunder Said.

Prisoner At Granogue

Wow, I forgot how fast a Pro level MTB race starts.... I can't remember the last regular XC race I did; but it was at least 2004. Now I know why I like Triathlon and endurance events! Actually, the Granogue race this past Saturday was a lot of fun, and definitely what I needed to wake up to the effort needed from me in June. The XTERRA East Championship in Richmond is on similar terrain, and definitely something I want to be ready for in a few weeks. The big difference is the start.... when you get out of the water and on the bike in XTERRA you are already in race mode, and the competition is spread out. Not at Granogue; the first section of the start was the same as the cyclocross race in October with the climb by the tower; then we went down and around a few fields which was good, but then we hit the singletrack. There was literally a line at least 10 deep waiting to get into the trail. The last time I saw that I was in Minnesota in 1997 at the NORBA XC in the pouring rain. After a good 30 seconds we finally got rolling again. I was definitely impressed with the fitness level of my competitors, and their technical ability on the twisty course. After the first hour I was finally feeling pretty good and ready to try to move up a little. I ended up passing a few guys here and there, but the race was definitely over before it really started for me on the first lap. Its a different kind of effort required for XC racing and I definitely don't miss it! The good news is that when the race was over I was ready for a run. I definitely enjoyed the race and the course, and maybe one day I will be training for XC racing again. There is one thing for certain: I did not Escape From Granogue and I have a feeling that place will always have me as a prisoner!

Just a word on the rest of the weekend..... this may have been the nicest weather I have ever had on Memorial Day! A great 3 hour brick workout on Sunday followed by a good road day Monday has left me happy, and even showing a little farmer tan. That almost never happens to a 9 to 5'er, but I will take it! I changed my racing schedule this coming week so I could try some road racing for a change. I may be looking into more road events in 2009 with some friends so I will give it a try. Hopefully it will be another great weekend of weather!

April is the Cruelest Month?

The weather on last night's ride confirmed that 2008 is at least a month off. It is definitely like April... we left the Hunt Valley shop under dark skies for the ride and by the time we got to the start it was raining slightly. There was a big turnout which was somewhat suprising considering the weather forecast, and temps in the 50's. Going up Cuba road it started to drizzle, then come down steady. Sean and I were feeling a little uncomfortable with the large group in the rain so we went to the front and tried to create a split. After about 15 minutes we were away with a group of 2 new guys from out of town, Trevor, and Trek MTB superstar Chris Eatough. I was still hoping it was going to be passing showers, but it wasn't to be. After a while we were all miserable and cold! It had to have been in the mid 40's, and it was windy. I was having a hard time feeling my feet and my shifters, my shoes were literally swimming on me, and I was just hoping to stay upright. The good thing was that nobody wanted to stop; we were already wet and cold so we just wanted to get the workout in and finish the ride. Quite a difference from the MX crowd on the weekend where they cancelled the 2nd motos, and this was just a training ride! By the end of the ride we were all happy and smiling, there were no crashes; and we all got in a great workout. I read and article recently about the US Navy looking for their elite SEAL squad in new areas; cycling in particular. I can definitely see their logic! Cyclists have to perform in a wide variety of weather conditions, and be able to ignore the pain and focus on the task at hand. We ride when its wet, dry, hot, cold, snowy, icy, muddy, windy, dark, humid, arid.... you name it! We are definitely a unique group of people and I am happy to have spent the last 15 years becoming one of us.
I was sorry to hear that Mike Eatough, Chris' dad had a big get off on the motorcycle recently. Evidently he was riding with some friends and went down hard fracturing 7 ribs, his sternum, and some vertebrae. Mike is one of the most talented riders I have ever met, and a great guy to boot. I wish him a speedy and full recovery!
Its Memorial Day weekend coming up and if things go OK I should be racing at the MASS Escape From Granogue in Delaware on Saturday. After that I hope to enjoy some May weather for a change! This could be the wettest May on record here in Maryland and I think T. S. Eliot may have had it wrong.... for cyclists May is when the racing starts in earnest. The early season is over, and the majority of riders are coming into racing form. That in addition to this weather makes May the cruelest month!

Big Brown and Big Mud

The weekend started well... I went to the Preakness at Pimlico here in Baltimore Saturday to see an impressive athlete.... Big Brown. I grew up on a horse farm and we had 1 or 2 racehorses at a time growing up so I am used to being around the horse racing scene. I have always followed racing, but I haven't seen a horse as impressive as Big Brown in a long time. When I was little I was lucky enough to see back to back Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978. They were amazing and had a big impact on me and my racing aspirations. I always liked to see a dominating performer in action. This year we have something special and may actually have a horse to take the Triple Crown. Big Brown crushed the field at the Kentucky Derby, and he just repeated his dominance at the Preakness. It was a great day with lots of sunshine and fun with no training... what a nice way to spend a Saturday!
On to Sunday... I left my house under sunny skies at 6AM to go to Tomahawk MX and the Masters of MX series race. So far we have had 3 out of 4 race weekends be raining and muddy; last week was cancelled so I was itching to get to the event. Tomahawk used to be my training track and its always a good place to ride. Little did I know what was happening in the mountains.... by the time I crossed the AT in Frederick it was drizzling, and out on I-81 it was pouring. Well, it was another muddy race! I always feel like I have an advantage in the rain because of my MTB racing experience, but it was tough going. I got the holeshot in my first class moto and ended up having a good race finishing 3rd. My second class didn't go so well. I did get the holeshot again, but was passed quickly after taking a rutted line and bobbling after losing traction. That is when the trouble started. I got totally roosted and couldn't see a thing! I waited until a section where I could go for a tear off (usually you can do them in the air, but when its this muddy NOBODY is jumping far!) and I pulled off ALL of my tear offs by accident. In my defense there was so much mud on the goggles I could barely find the hook to tear away! After that I had 2 tip overs which is actually pretty good on a track that was getting worse by the second. I ended up 4th in the race and was looking forward to getting back out there. I tend to have better 2nd motos and it gives me an advantage when the other guys get tired. Well, for the 2nd time in 3 races they cancelled the 2nd motos! I kind of expected it, but when your best attribute is your fitness, and the mud makes the effort more than 100% harder and longer you want to have your advantage. I guess 48 degrees and raining is miserable, but we were already wet, right? I can't blame anyone for not wanting to go back out, but I sure would like to have it go my way one of these days.
After the race it was an exercise in mud removal and truck preservation! I was covered in mud head to toe with a bunch of muddy gear so it was quite a task. To top it off by the time I got back home at 4pm and through the car wash with the bike the sun came out. It was nice for a while and started me thinking of going out for a run.... I went upstairs and got some clothes together... and then it started pouring again. Something was telling me to call it a day. The bonus was the Moto GP on Speedvision... it was time for a beer and some couch time! I hope you had a bearable weekend... I may do my first mountain bike XC in so long I can't remember on Saturday we will see how the week goes! I hope all of the mud comes out in the wash!

Mean Street

What a week! Early morning workouts and busy evenings have me whipped! At least I had time to make it to the Wednesday night training race/ride. I had my new Cervelo crammed into my loaner car's trunk; there is nothing like going from a Nissan Titan crew cab to a Hyundai accent for a week to make you aware of your personal space! The funny thing is that the Cervelo is probably worth more than the loaner car, and DEFINITELY faster! I was happy to get out with some friends for a good training workout. The group was bigger than usual, and I wasn't feeling very comfortable. I decided it was time to do some longer efforts so I went out on my own. My bike position is definitely coming along, although I rode a longer stem which wasn't to my liking; the bike felt great! Its been a long time since I thought a bicycle gave me an advantage, and got me excited to ride it. Most of my enthusiasm was due to loving the new machine! All went well, and even though the group stayed together much longer; it all came down to 4 guys at the finish. I don't think I will ever learn where this virtual finish line is! As we went up the last climb almost 100% it was time to dig for the end.... I went hard, got a gap, and just withered a slow death! It was much better than last week, and hopefully soon I will be able to hold the effort all the way to the line... wherever that is. The mood of the ride at the front definitely warrants the title of this post; and the fact that I went to see Van Halen Thursday night in Baltimore! What a great show! Check out the picture... Next up is Masters of MX at Tomahawk in WV... if it ever stops raining!

Rain Out....

I don't really care what the calendar says, to me it is April. Rain a few days every week, cold temperatures, wind, overcast.... these are classic Spring days. They are also the reason I love summer, and want to move to the desert. By the time May rolls around this kind of weather should be out of here, right? Haven't we had enough of this weather since October?
The Masters of MX Series race at Blue Diamond Park in Delaware was cancelled due to weather Saturday. Its funny how much something like that thorws off my schedule. I was all packed and ready to roll Saturday AM and I checked my mail to be safe... cancelled. I can definitely understand because running a race is a lot of work, and you want people to show up so you can get paid for your work. With heavy rain Friday night, and a bad forecast it is bound to keep people at home. I personally would have raced regardless. MX is new to me so I have that enthusiasm you get with something new.... it is a new challenge. I wouldn't like getting my KTM wrecked with mud and water, but it is only a bike right? Its funny what racing a mountain bike for 15 years does to your sanity, isn't it? The last race I did in the mud I kept saying to myself... its only 20 minutes; what are these guys complaining about? Sure its 38 degrees, but I am not wearing a skinsuit! Its not 4 hours in knee deep mud pushing your bike like previous NORBA Nationals I have done; Seven Springs, Snowshoe, Helen, Mt. Snow, Hunter Mountain, Red Wing, I have dome them all. How about 1995's 24 hours of Canaan?... I know I am dating myself with some fo those names, but I was there for them all. But I digress...
When I get a break from my routine I don't know how to handle it. I spend most of my time working, training, and racing. This means packing bags for morning workouts, commutes, evening workouts, races, etc... I have developed an amazing ability to pack work clothes, and not need an iron. Once I had a convention here in Baltimore and I rode to work 90 minutes in the rain with 2 suits in my messenger pack, stayed downtown overnight; then commuted home the next night. Nobody could believe I didn't drive down in my iron box and pay $23 a day to park. People don't understand what its like to be a working athlete using every free moment to train so you can compete at a high level. The funny thing is once you break that cycle, I don't know what to do. Saturday I basically decompressed.... I ordered some clothing for my new training service cycling team, caught up on some other stuff for starting a website, and slept! I slept until 10:30.... it was like someone had given me sleeping pills! I have been getting up at 5:30am to swim and train since March, but this is the first break I have really had. The funny thing is that I didn't do much of anything! For someone that is always looking for more time I sure sit around and do nothing pretty easily! At least it cleared up for a good afternoon ride. Hopefully this coming Sunday's MX race at Tomahawk will happen. Who knows, maybe it will actually be sunny and in the 70's? It is May already! I will let you know...

Thrash Wednesday

This is the third week I have been to the Hunt Valley/Baltimore Wednesday night ride. It all started after our local training race here in Baltimore folded a few years back. The idea is simple really... take a good bit of the racers out for a hard training ride and simulate a race each Wednesday night. The ride is the same course each week, and starts at 6pm. If you have a problem, or have a bad night and get dropped there are ways to re-join the group on the ride. This week there was a good bit of talent at the ride which made it very interesting. The other thing making it "interesting" was leaving Hunt Valley Bicycles late.... we missed the ride and had to chase. It was actually kind of fun once we got started, but Sean was the real teeth in the chase. He had literally just finished assembling his new Cervelo Carbon Soloist...and he was excited. This is the same bike I was having my 3rd ride on, and still getting comfortable with. The funny thing was after about 20 minutes we finally caught the group, and we couldn't stop! Sean and I rolled right to the front and kept going. Pain is a funny thing; once get used to it, stopping it is harder than you might think! In our defense it was a momentum thing... like when you have been driving fast on a highway; and get off and enter a small town. That is where the local police hold their fundraisers with the help of out of towners (I know this from experience!). After getting everyone thoroughly upset at seeing the HVB green up front, things seemed to get back to normal. Then the real fun started. Every week the ride breaks into groups, but this week the front was like a lobster pit. Everyone was just pushing the pace and attacking whenever there was a lull. I was thinking about my road racing experiences and wishing it was more like tonight. There wasn't really anywhere for anyone to hide. It was more like a cross race than a road race. If you weren't trying and paying attention you were off the back. The funny thing was that EVERYONE put in attacks... as soon as someone was back another person would put in a dig.... now this is fun! In the end, after the "virtual" finish line, everyone seemed happy and spent. It definitely lived up to the name of this entry... Thrash Wednesday. If you are ever in Baltimore on a Wednesday come on out to Hunt Valley Bicycles and join us.... we depart at 5:45pm and ride to the start... or at 5:55pm and race to the start....

Great White...

The alarm at 5:30am was a little tough this morning.... time for the morning swim... the Michaux Maximus 50 miler was yesterday. I decided to race on my new Salsa 29er hardtail which in the end was a good decision; but it was tough getting used to it! I have been racing full suspension bikes for 10 years so the first hour was very different. I kept taking what I call "suspension" lines... where you can stay in the saddle and pedal to keep power to the rear wheel. After being bucked off the saddle numerous times I began to get the hang of it. All I can say about 29ers is they are just plain better on rough terrain. It certainly wasn't like racing my 5" Stumpjumper, but it saved me numerous times and made the steeps much easier.
... Onto the race.... I am so suprised at the starts of these 50 milers... the front of the race is as fast as a normal XC race. Of course with world class riders Chris Eatough and Harlan Price on the front no wonder, but I am still suprised at the mere mortals. In the first 20-30 minutes I was passed quite aggressively by a lot of riders in some sketchy areas. It was funny because I just kept thinking of what was to come on this long day... did they know what that 4th hour would be like? I also had my iPod on low so I could hear riders, but not really communicate so maybe that was part of it.
After some muddy new terrain, and some of the best trails in the world including Grave Ridge I started to get moving. My plan for the day was get though the first 25 miles, then see what I had for the 2nd half. I call this the "Great White" strategy... When a great white shark attacks it does so quickly, and doesn't stay around for the fight. It tries to mortally wound its prey, and then it just waits.... why risk a fight with a fresh adversary where injury or death could be a result? It is much easier to finish off a rival when they are tired, right? Well, at Michaux there is no need for a preemptive strike; the course will do that for you. The key is to have enough in the last part of the race to go by your competitors.
Going up the long climb called Dead Woman's Hollow I really felt good. I was used to the bike, and had great legs. My nutrition was on track so the time was right to see what I had. Things went really well... for a while. All along the fire roads and some of the trails I felt great... groove tunes from Jack Johnson and Chili Peppers kept me happy and pushing. Then, going up a steeper climb, I went for the granny gear... and had a bad case of chain suck. The chain was up under the chainstay... maybe it was all the mud and the dry chain... I thought the day was over. I worked with it a little, turned the bike upside down, and was ready for the chain tool when somehow I managed to get it by the chainrings? I don't even know how I did it, but just then 2 of my friends came by, Jake and Cheryl. That was all I needed to get back into the race. I rode with them a while, and eventually we all went back to our own paces. Now I was resolved to no granny which at Michaux is quite an issue. The good news is the running has got me feeling great off the bike. I think I am faster just not using the low gears and dismounting anyway... its still not as fun though!
After another hour I was crossing back over the Appalachian trail and I saw a whole group of racers stretched out on the road up Big Hill. Could it be that I was actually back in this thing? Did my pacing plan work? Coming down Rattlesnake Ridge I really felt good and was suprised how much energy I had left. I just wasn't slowing down, so I decided to put in a real effort on the flats to crossing rt.233 and the climb to the finish. I will have to run a marathon in November at this point at IM Arizona so why not? With Rob Zombie and 50 cent on the iPod I was in cruise mode... I caught a group of riders right before 233, and thought that if I didn't go 100%, they would all come back on me by the finish. After 4 1/2 hours, pegging your heart rate feels a lot different! After a good 10 minutes of redlining I turned around and saw on one. After all these years racing had a strategy finally worked out? ...maybe the others didn't have anything left? As I went down the last road to the finish I thought of the Great White shark.... no wonder it has been around for centuries... sometimes your best ally is time... normally those other racers would have plenty left to fight... and I usually end up losing.

Thanks to Jes and everyone who puts on the Michaux Endurance Series! If you haven't had the pleasure to race at one of these events come out to the other 2 events n the series. I didn't get to stay for the official results, but it looked like I finished 10th overall at 4:57 and change. Looks like I will be out for some more punishment and fun in July... see you at the Curse of Dark Hollow!

Wednesday Night......The Soloist

The Wednesday night training ride leaving Hunt Valley Bikes was different this week.... I picked up my new bike!!! A Cervelo Soloist Carbon.... for those of you who haven't seen one of these in person just watch any pro cycling race and someone from the CSC cycling team will be on one.. usually winning or in the front. I was in a rush tonight so I didn't get a chance to do anything to the bike except set the seat height. For the first few miles I was getting used to the position and I couldn't believe how smooth this thing was! I don't know how they did it, but it is stiffer and smoother than any bike I have been on. I am definitely impressed and even after being off the front of the main group several times I still felt great; this bike is amazing. It felt more like a TT bike at higher speeds cutting through the wind; it has that feeling that the faster you go the more it gives you an advantage. I will post some pictures this weekend if I can stop riding it long enough! Big MTB race Sunday so I will have a good bit to report on... until then happy riding!

Welcome to 2008! One of the Gang

Saturday was my first bike race of the season; I have been racing MX since March, but this was the first test of the engine. Blue Diamond Park in New Castle, DE is one of my favorite MX tracks; and since I have a race there in May I decided to do the MASS Series STX while I trained for MX. The itinerary was to register for the race, ride MX for 60 minutes, and do the short track; Then return to the track for some more motos. Unfortunately I didn't tell anyone my plan so when they wanted to start the race early I was nowhere to be found. Luckily for me the promoters were the nicest bunch of people I have come across in racing and went looking for me. At 12:00 (15 minutes before the start) I locked the KTM to the truck and rolled over the hill to the start.... after the search party had found me we got underway.
I have only done 1 STX race before, but this one was different. It was just like a cross race on MTB's.... fast, twisty, and fun. I really enjoyed the effort, the competition, and the spirit. As I rolled back to the truck and got back into my MX gear I was really taken by everyone I had run into during the event. THESE PEOPLE LOVE BIKES AND RACING THEM! I had not had that feeling for years. In what I consider my past life of competitive cycling I was around this scene all the time. I was one of the gang and people knew me. After years of teams, sponsors, races, and trips I looked for new adventures. XTERRA and Triathlon took me in a new direction, but I always wanted to stay in cycling. I am glad to see that cycling is still healthy and willing to welcome me back as one of the gang. People always say you are only as good as your last race, but a better way to look at it is... all it takes is one race...
To top of a great day I ran into an old friend and bike racer at the MX track, and we ended up riding and talking for the rest of the day.... small world when you are on 2 wheels!