Sublime Rime

Spring 2011: "That Feeling" and a Comeback

2011-05-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

I had a great winter. I had the equipment I needed, new mountain bike terrain to explore, some riding partners when I needed company, and an excitement I haven't had in years. I left a band which gave me free evenings for rides and was looking forward to my season opening at Michaux Maximus, my favorite mountain bike series. On April 13th I got home from work and went to do my hill workout on the road bike. I just wasn't into it. It had rained the past few days which cancelled my normal MTB workout, but I still didn't want to train inside. Winter was over and I needed to harden up. I wasn't tired or rushed for time, but I still put my light on my bike for some reason to be safe just in case. Hindsight can be 20/20; have you ever had "that feeling" that you should be doing something else? Why didn't I want to be out doing what I love to do? I was about to get the answer. 30 minutes into my ride going down a steep hill I was coasting at about 40 mph when all of the sudden I see a tan blur under the guardrail... what is it.. a groundhog? ...Then its all slow motion... a THUD... chain-slap... my front wheel... the yellow lines coming closer... the texture of the gravel fast approaching... and FLASH! I hear plastic and metal scraping against the road and feel the heat buildup on my left side as I slowly grind to a stop. I lay on the road and look in front of me and see my house key, a five dollar bill, and an orange Nature Valley bar in a baggie laying on the street. I sit up, take my Oakleys off and get to the side of the road to inventory the damage. I have a broken helmet, ripped leg warmers and shorts, but the bike looks fine. Then I realize this isn't good... my spring glove is almost entirely gone on my left hand and I can see the bones and tendons of my fingers and knuckles... It all happened so fast. Early the next morning leaving surgery I still can't get "that feeling" out of my head. Sometimes you should listen to your instinct.

I am six weeks out now and working hard on my recovery; instead of training stress scores and intensity factors I am measuring degrees of bend and motion. Its time to plan a comeback. Like most athletes I have had my share of injuries and setbacks. There is a time to let go of things that could have been, and get busy on what is going to happen. Sometimes training seems too routine and boring; the same trails and roads, schedules, intervals, maintenance... now its all I can think about. A little time away can give you focus and drive that is incomparable. I'm still a way out, but can't wait to ride out of a parking area, hit start on my Garmin, play on my iPod, and open the rear shock for some good times!

2011 Training Begins!

2010-12-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

Its been a long time since I have had a post, but I have been very busy getting things set up and together for 2011. This is the time of year when you can really make a difference in the next season if you get started. My last race was the Michaux Of Teaberry; ever since I have been Re-Tooling my training and equipment for the following season. Since 2005 i have been racing Cross in my off season, but I have been very unsuccessful with my following year preparation and decided to spend more time on the MTB so I can get back some bike strength. Cross has exploded in popularity for good reason with a lot of quality events in the Mid Atlantic, and National Class racing almost every weekend within 2 hours of Baltimore. Now the majority of athletes in the Elite fields have a Cross focus which is new to racing in the USA for regional athletes. I definitely think its great for the sport!

My new training plan started Thursday and the first 3 days of my new plan have me in the Hurt Locker! Very fun and exciting, but I have a LOT of work to do. I plan on focusing on Endurance MTB racing for 2011 with the Michaux Series, some NUE racing, and the Marathon National Championship in Bend, OR as my goals. I really have enjoyed the past year looking for something new so I hope to make the best of it. For everyone reading now is the time to write your season goal on your calendar. It should start TODAY; even if you aren't going to be able to train in earnest get the wheels rolling. 2011 will be here before you know it and when that opening race gun goes off you will be ready!

Speaking of being ready I will be creating a new Training Blog with training tips and workout ideas for 2011. I will also be holding an Endurance MTB training camp Spring 2011 with some National Stars and Equipment Experts focusing on Power Training, Nutrition, Race Tactics, Technique, Equipment, and Fitting. I will post the details soon with an announcement in the next few weeks! Thanks for reading and get ready for an excellent 2011!

Thats The Way The Cupcake Crumbles...

2010-05-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

One week after officially opening my racing season with an XTERRA humbling, I headed up to the 2010 Michaux Maximus Endurance MTB Race in the mountains north of Gettysburg, PA. Jes Stith of Gettysburg Bicycle and the Michaux Productions crew put on an amazing 3 race series considered one of the most challenging in the USA. This year's race definitely did not disappoint!

With summer racing weather conditions and sporting a new Specialized Epic 29er bicycle and Gettysburg Bicycle colors I was really excited to get started. Mary and I had one of the worst weeks imaginable after returning home from Vegas; we had to say goodbye to our friend and dog Tyler. Mary had him since he was a pup at the pound, and I had the pleasure of being with him since 2001. I wanted to have a nice day on the bike and get out in the woods and get feeling better knowing that Ty was in a better place.

With our snowy winter I didn't spend any time on the MTB, but this new machine made my riding the best it could be. When I ride my MX bike, a KTM 450 SX-F I feel like I am not able to use its potential; I feel the same way when I am riding my new bike! After a good start (for me) I settled into a good pace and tried to enjoy the terrain. Things were going pretty well, and I was feeling like I could hold my current tempo for the duration of the race. The hard thing to do with an event like this is to know when to exert yourself. With the demands of rocky, rooty, sometimes swampy terrain there is always an opportunity to put too much effort into a section and pay for it later. There are times when I will get off and walk a climb, or a log or rock section to keep my exertion level more even. Michaux is notorious for amazingly technical, exciting, and demanding sections of rock gardens and singletrack, then sections of fire roads and climbs that allow you to recover and work on your nutrition. I was trying my best to stay on my schedule of 1 gel every 20-30 minutes; and drinking my hydration sports drink. This worked great for the first 18 miles!

Going up a climb getting to the aid station at mile 20 I started getting cramps in my thighs! It was humid in the mid 80's, and the week of stress and heat was starting to take its toll. Luckily when I came through for water my friends were running the feed zone. Suddenly I hear "look at Chris representing the Cupcakes!" There is a friendly competition between the Michaux/Gettysburg Crew and the Shenandoah Bike Co. in Harrisonburg, VA over who has the best riding. Gettysburg riders are referred to as Cupcakes... I have never been a part of either being like Switzerland remaining neutral between the 2 riding destinations and formerly considering Frederick/Gambrill as my home turf. Now I was a Cupcake! Jake grabbed my bottle and filled it, and with a few snickers bites I was on my way to the 2nd part of the course.

I was not familiar with the 2nd half of the race having missed the pre ride the week prior being out of town. Riding mile after mile of awesome terrain listening to a playlist of Jeff Healey, Metallica, Rob Zombie, Coldplay, and Jack Johnson I felt like there was no other place I would want to be. On a particularly secluded ridge trail I began to feel much better about losing my friend a few days back. Coldplay was playing:

All Winter

We got carried

Oh way over on the rooftops

Lets get married

All Summer we just hurried

So come over

Just be patient and don't worry

And don't worry

All of the sudden I felt much better. I was out doing what I loved on a great day, pushing myself and getting back to feeling like an athlete again. That lasted a few more miles...

Before the race I had decided that I could use the aid stations for my needs and started the day with a 70 ounce pack and a 24 oz. waterbottle. I thought there was a water station every 10 miles (my mistake..), but at mile 24 I finished my pack. After a few more minutes I had no water left in my bottle either, but figured I would refuel soon. Then the fear began to set in... I thought I was headed towards a very demanding 3 Mile Trail without water! 3 Mile Trail is famous... it has been the unravelling of many racers myself included because of its location in the race, and its physical and technical demands. Every fire road I climbed I was fearing the left turn into the pain. I started having more dehydration symptoms, but still managed to push on. Finally I looked and my computer said 34 miles and suddenly I realized I approaching Rt 233 which meant only 1 long climb left! I passed 2 racers and descended and crossed the road and by that time gave up on water at the last stop. It was just then when I started to get a puncture in my front tire.... As the Stan's solution shot out I started hoping it would seal... SEAL...SEAL.. SEAL! With about 10 pounds of pressure it finally stopped.... now I had a choice... stop and change it and lose the last 3 or 4 positions I had gained, or risk it? I decided to keep it going...

After 4 hours and 38 minutes of fun, cramps, emotions, rain, rocks, and mud I crossed the finish in 9th place. Thats the way this Cupcake crumbled....

I rode back to my car hearing Coldplay again:

No I don't wanna battle from beginning to end

I don't wanna cycle

Recycle revenge

I don't wanna follow

Death and all of His Friends

There is something about pushing past your limits that is cleansing; a trial by fire.... my crucible was the Michaux Maximus. I feel different now, and stronger in ways I can't explain. I hope to continue this new energy from now on. Its time to get out in the weather and enjoy... if you haven't competed yet this season get out as soon as you can. Adventure is right outside your door, all you have to do is let it find you.... thanks for reading!

There I Go... Turn The Page...

2010-05-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

My 2010 season officially opened at the XTERRA West Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 25th. After the worst winter in my lifetime here in Maryland with record snowfall, I was apprehensive about my form entering a new season a a Professional. 2009 was my worst year ever for racing only competing four times, and breaking my collarbone on the last day of August and missing my 2009 goal race Ironman Arizona. I had finally decided to get back to racing shorter distance events, and building back my intensity. Needless to day the winter was not very helpful!

The 2010 Las Vegas venue was one of the nicest I have ever seen at the Loews Resort 15 miles outside of the city. During my pre ride of the bike course I realized it was going to be HOT! The course was mostly hilly, sandy double track with a few fun sections of trail by the water. Unfortunately the swim course was closed to competitors which turned out to be my downfall. I had done one swim in my wetsuit since my injury which was really not smart on my part, and during the race I had some problems with spasms. I ended up having to take it very easy and my day was basically over before it really began. I did have an OK bike split, but by the end I was definitely not motivated. I had Metallica's cover of Turn The Page playing over and over in my head as I rode down the dusty, sandy trails. The run was uneventful, and I was poised to finish my opener on a low note. Then, while running across the ridge nearing the finish I had the best view of the lake and surrounding mountains under blue skies. Suddenly my thoughts drifted to better days ahead, and started hearing Colin Hay's Beautiful World playing in my head:

My my my its a beautiful world

I like swimming in the sea

I like to go out beyond the white breakers

Where a man can still be free

Or a woman if you are one

I like swimming in the sea...

After the event was over, and I thought about it a while I started to come up with a plan. The main way I deal with a disappointing finish is to map out a way to overcome my challenges. First I have to get my shoulder straight, then I have to spend more time on my MTB and trail running. Specificity is very important when it comes to XTERRA and MTB racing. The other thing I have learned is to put the race behind you; if you worry about a bad day all it will do is get in the way of your progress toward your season goals. Every athlete has bad days, and the key to being successful is to analyze what happened and come up with a plan and learn from your challenges. Most of the time the stresses of a bad day aren't from yourself at all, but of expectations of others. It is very easy to feel like you let someone down; your sponsors, your spouse and family, your friends... the truth is that the bad days actually make those good days that much better. Racing is a very personal thing, and if you try to remember the reasons you compete in the first place it usually makes it easier to move on. For now I will just remember that if racing was easy it wouldn't be exciting. There is always something to work on, improve, or sustain. I will just remember the experience and hope I can have better days ahead:

...And you don't feel much like ridin'

You just wish the trip was through

Here I am, on the road again,

There I am, up on the stage

There I go, playin' star again,

There I go, Turn The Page

Thanks for reading and I hope the 2010 season has started well for you! Thanks for reading!

Those Are The Breaks Duke...

2009-10-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

After 90 minutes of a good ride on the last day of August I was distracted; my mind wasn't in the game.... I was caught up in a world far away from the moment. After all of these years riding 2 wheeled vehicles I rarely realize the speed I am traveling. One lapse in concentration and I am seeing the ground... the sky.... the ground.... etc. At first I didn't want to let it in, but after a few minutes I knew I had broken my clavicle and at least a sprained wrist. Its a common injury with cyclists, and my 3rd time; but it is never something you are ready for. After my last break and no medical treatment except an Xray, I decided to skip the doctors and just get on with the recovery and try to get back to Ironman training. The bike would be no problem with indoor training, but running and swimming would be a challenge. Two weeks without running and four without swimming would be hard to recover from. At the end of September my Ironman race in November started to look like a problem. Injuries are part of being an athlete whether its a broken bone, a muscle tear, or an overuse injury. I am lucky to be resilient when it comes to training stress, but I do get injured from time to time. The key to putting it in your past is accepting the injury, accessing the situation, and planning how to come back to your form quickly and safely. This time I decided I would do one of my favorite races and see how I would hold up before I decided the end of my season: the Brierman 50 Half Lite Triathlon in Frederick, MD.

One of my friends was doing his first race back after an injury and a long recovery which made the day much more fun. Luckily for me he didn't mind me swimming behind him for almost the whole time which made my first obstacle much better! Getting out of the water and onto the bike I knew that I had to do all I could to have a good bike split. This race is not your typical 1/2 IM, it is HILLY! In fact you cross the Appalachian Trail a few times and you are almost always going up or down. Glancing at your speed usually shows something like this: .... 28....34....12....4....26... 40.... 4... 6.... There are a few times when I was spinning out in my aero position with a 53x11 so that is not your regular bike leg! Luckily for me I was having a good day; and at the end of the first lap there were times when I could see the pace car and the leader ahead. That was all I needed to keep the pressure on. I was making time up on the climbs, but where I would really close was the descents. I was probably climbing 1 or 2 mph faster, but on the descents it was probably closer to 7-8 mph difference which I didn't want to lose. I knew the leader was a gifted athlete and runner so I had to make my move on the bike. With about 5 miles to go up a steep hill I finally moved into the lead and kept my momentum going. A few more technical sections and I was finishing the bike leg. When I left T2 Mary was giving me some great encouragement, "... you are first and 2nd place isn't in transition yet..." Running up the path I heard, "He is just coming into Transition...GO!" I had never led a road Triathlon before and was doing my best to push the pace. This run was demanding as well so I tried to keep that in my mind. I kept repeating one of my favorite song lyrics in my head, "... Goodbye everybody... don't come find me 'cause I want to disappear..." What a difference a month makes! I was laying on the ground August 31st, and now I am leading one of my favorite races! I passed a house with a dog in the yard which was great because I could hear how far ahead I was. When I heard the dog start barking I looked at my watch... 15 seconds... just keep pushing maybe he will slow down. I hoped to lead until the turnaround, but after being caught on a descent I started to feel the limit. My legs just wouldn't go fast enough on the downhill. I started to lose contact. Trying to keep it together I just kept my focus; although I was passed I was having one of my best runs ever... I wasn't fading. On my way back into the park I was happy. I wasn't going to win, but I was finally finding some strength in my racing again. After all the stress of the year, the setbacks and disappointments; I was feeling what I love to feel: I am an Athlete. I am performing and have no limits... This is where I love to be!

After a long day I was happy with my second overall, but my body was telling a different story. I was definitely feeling my injury and lack of preparation. The bike was one of my best, but I have a long way to go to feel good again. It is time to call it a season. I will work very hard in the pool and the gym over the winter so I can have a successful 2010. So many times I have chased my dreams for good results regardless of my actual fitness. An athlete has to be stubborn, tough, and determined; but being smart and realistic about goals and achievements is also very important. In a year when I raced less than I have in 17 years, it is still nice to move on. Bringing the season to a close means you can begin to plan your next season and goals; What could be better than a fresh start? One of the greatest things about competition is that it is always there when you are ready. All you have to do is decide when and where you want to go, and the starting line will be waiting. How many things in life are like that?

You Say You Want Diamonds On A Ring Of Gold...

2009-07-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

Race number two of the season is in the history books, and I am still trying to find that elusive form that I have been working on all season. Saturday July 11th was the 2009 Diamond In The Rough Triathlon in Perryville, MD. Leading up to the race I have had a few rough weeks. An injury and a sickness from XTERRA East kept me off the bike for a week, and both have been nagging me enough to cause a few problems here and there. I woke up Friday with some issues that turned out to be related to my fall earlier this year. How come these things crop up right when you REALLY don't need them? I can train through things, but a good performance usually requires good health!Tthat being said I decided to give it my best shot.

the Swim: Oh.... the swim.... my new bane of existence! I used to train for 1/2 an hour 2-3 days a week and was always happy in the water; now I spend 3 days for an hour with structure and can't seem to put together a good race! Just a little humor first, if you ever have to use the restroom before a race, don't count on just going in the water! When I jumped in off the dock into the water there was 30 seconds until the start.... I don't know about you; but I need a little more time than that, and less than the 400 other people floating and bumping around me! Sooo... I started out OK, but realized that my back kept me from rotating properly to breathe to the left which is my stronger side, and I couldn't pick my head up to sight without a spasm....NICE. I tried to stay with as many people as I could so I didn't have to look. I just never felt like I could get going and was already thinking of the bike by the time I got back to the dock.

T1: I have to start riding without gloves or something, this is getting ridiculous. Do I really have to spend 1:51 in transition? What am I doing putting gas in my car? I have heard of staying calm, but this is taking it too far.

Bike: This is my favorite course. From the moment I get on the bike I love it. this year I went in the 2nd wave and there were way more people on the road (that combined with a swim that was more like a float in the current by me!). I was very impressed with everyone out there because the course is demanding. It is hilly, twisty, and actually a little scary for someone that isn't very confident in their aero position. I left the aero helmet in the car because of my back problem, but rode my disc and trispoke wheels. It seemed pretty windy out on the loop and I usually do better when the riding gets tougher. My top speed on my GPS was 49.8 mph and judging from how it felt I think it couldn't have been far off. My legs were OK, but my HR never got very high which was actually a good thing. I never seemed to lose too much momentum. I did pass 3 cars on the left on the loop which was new to me; one seemed to be following a racer they knew; but 2 wouldn't go around other competitors. I wonder what they thought when there was no one coming the other direction, but decided to sit right behind a racer trying their hardest to let them by? It had to be funny to have someone on a bike come by and quickly go out of sight... we have to get our revenge sometime right?

One funny thing happened when I passed someone about 3 miles from the finish. I usually race the bike leg with my earplugs in because of wind noise in my helmet, and it keeps me focused and in race mode. I usually leave them in T2, but one fell out on the loop. I shifted to the small ring to go up a climb and dropped my chain. I was still going fairly fast when someone came up along side of me. I pedaled the chain back on and took off. The other racer began to sprint next to me and tell me how I was supposed to slow down until he passed me... I didn't want to tell him that the 30 year old group had left 5 minutes earlier, I didn't want to break his spirit so I just kept going. People are funny in races sometimes! I was definitely wishing I had my earplugs in so at least he would have been muffled a little!

Run: After a good T2 I set out on the run. This race is good for me because of the demanding bike loop and climbing, and the run is only 5 miles. Its out and back so you can see where you are in the race. Surprisingly I was feeling very good on the run. Again it was tough to know where I was because of leaving in the 2nd wave. Maybe this was a good thing because I passed a lot of runners; that almost never happens! At the turnaround I thought I was going to hold my position, but about 1.5 miles out I was passed by someone; I raised my pace, but couldn't stay with him. I finished and was very happy to have that one behind me!

After the race and talking to my friends MJ and Mark I realized that it wasn't just me suffering in the swim; the winds and the chop definitely took its toll on all of the racers. That brings me to a good point: Its funny with athletes because we tend to feel that all of the problems or obstacles that happen to us are unique. We feel like we are the only ones with these adversities, and that everyone else out there is having a perfect day.... this isn't true! EVERYONE has something that is bothering them whether its physical, mental, mechanical, or even mythical! When you hear the stories after a race about how "this year isn't good", or "I could have had a great day, but..."; or "I wish I had felt like I did when..." try to tune them out. After a race everyone has things that could have gone better! Its a natural reaction, but when you are racing you have to forget anything negative. If you focus on the fact that you had a bad swim, or you have a sore back and neck, or you just can't seem to push you are DEFINITELY going to have a bad day. There are some tricks to use that are worth experimenting with, Some racers use a mantra such as "go, go, go", or "venga, venga, venga" for old TDF fans. I tend to focus on a line of music, or a lyric. In this race I used AC/DC's "Runaway Train... running right off the track". Something to take your mind off the problems and the pain, and get on with the job at hand. So much of racing is attitude, and a good performance is just as much mental as it is physical. Try to have something whether it is a song, a lyric, a sound, a color, whatever it is to keep you thinking positive.

All in all I had a good race and enjoyed it again. I like to try to pick out the good things about a race as well as the things I need to work on. I had to settle for the 2nd bike split, but I also negative split the run which is new for me. I suffered in the swim, but I have never been as comfortable at speed on the bike which means the best races this year are yet to come. I was never thirsty or hungry so I did my nutrition right as well. Although I finished 14th overall, I have another chance to have a better race in a few weeks; that is what I love about racing... the best is always yet to come! Thanks for reading...

Back In the Saddle

2009-06-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting back into training! Monday after XTERRA Richmond I came down with something, but didn't know I was getting sick until the fever and cough hit. Now I am finished my antibiotics, and my lungs are starting to clear and I am feeling better. what a bad time to be sick... I wait all year for this weather! maybe I won't get sick in October like I do every year.. I hope so! At least it kept me from pushing too much with my injury from the fall in the race. I am such a Rock-head about things I would have been training and not giving my body a chance to recover had I not gotten sick. Its funny how your body reacts to things, and how it compensates. I can always notice it in my athletes, but its hard to notice when your body needs rest yourself.

No races for a 2 weeks, and then I am doing the Diamond In The Rough Tirathlon in Perryville, MD. this is an awesome event! The bike leg is very hilly and demanding, and also is longer than a standard race at 27 miles. I will be working on the TT bike getting ready for the event. I would like to do a training race or TT before the event as well so I will keep you posted.

I am also starting to plan 2010 already believe it or not. In this day and age of races selling out in minutes online, you have to have your major events planned well in advance. This year IM Arizona is November 22nd, and that may be my last IM for a while. right now I am thinking of racing the full XTERRA Cup Series for 2010, and doing 1 Ironman 70.3 race; possibly New Orleans. Plans always change, but for now I think that is the plan. I am going out to ride MTb for a change now so I will post over the weekend. If you get a chance get out and enjoy the weather this is what we wait all year for! thanks for reading...

The Numbers...

2009-06-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Going over the data from this weekend's XTERRA, I found some interesting things. I didn't wear a HRM for the swim, but on the bike my average HR was 157 bpm. That is very close to my 156 bpm average I had at IM Arizona in 2008. The funny thing is that the bike leg for Arizona was 5 hours long! My LT threshold at my last fitness test in February was 167 bpm, so I was 11 beats under my usual HR in a race such as an XTERRA. The run was better, but still 164 is not my usual sustainable effort level in a race; especially of that nature. Its not like I don't know what happened during the event, but looking at the hard numbers sometimes can provide another insight to your performance. This is a good time to realize that things in races don't go as planned. You can train, diet, prepare, and rehearse; but the race is going to take its own course. You may have great luck and have a better than expected day, or you may have a very rough time and not even finish. An endurance athlete has to put even big races with big goals and ramifications behind them in order to have the confidence to continue. Successful racers will take the good and the bad from a day, and use it to improve for the next time. So many times all I hear from racers is the bad and that can be a problem. As a competitive racer I can beat up on myself over and over about so many things in an event from nutrition, equipment selection, and race strategy, to other athlete interaction; but that will not help me become a better racer. As a coach I know that even in the best race with the best results there are things that didn't go well. They just aren't mentioned because of the positive outcome. I try to find something positive in every performance from myself and my athletes; as well as things to work on and ways to improve. This approach may seem unemotional at times, but in the long run it is filled with much more emotion, dedication, and perseverance than having a more reactionary response to the outcome. The overall winner of the XTERRA East Cup had a horrendous cut on his foot pre-race. If you ask Conrad how the day was of course he is going to be pleased and positive with the outcome, but I bet he will remember what happened in the water and do whatever he can to avoid having a problem like that again. That is one of the things that makes him a great champion.
Next time you compete try to evaluate the entire experience, the good and the bad, and don't focus too much on either. Nowadays I am almost embarrassed to talk about the bad things that happened during a race! In the hours and days after the event when you are telling the story, don't focus on just the bad things. Some of the sensational stories are from the bad things, but the good things can make for good entertainment as well. If all you take away from a race is the bad things, the missed opportunities, or the mistakes; it will keep you from being the confident, positive, successful athlete you need to be to perform at your best. Once you see that even on the worst days there are many things that are good, competing becomes much more enjoyable. The next time you get to the starting line it will be easier to remember all those good things from a race that can give you the confidence and toughness you need to make it through the next bad time. One of the greatest things about being a racer is that there is always the next event to have a better outcome. As long as there are races to do, and people that want to push themselves to new levels, an opportunity exists for a positive performance. You can't control many variables that go into a race and an athletic performance, but you can control how you are going to interpret the outcome. Try focusing on those positives and see how much better of a story can be told when you look back on the day; you will be a better racer and athlete because of it!

2009-06-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

Ups, and Downs

2009-06-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today was my first race of the season, 2009; the first of my new direction, and the first XTERRA as a Pro. It was quite an experience! I definitely learned a lot, and had a great time. I also learned some big lessons that will keep me motivated, and learning to be a better athlete. Here is a breakdown of the race:

Swim: This was the hardest swim I have ever done at XTERRA, or really anywhere. the James River was muddy, high, and the current was STRONG. I started OK, but quickly went way downstream with the current because I didn't swim at the correct angle. It was tough! I couldn't really ever get into a rhythm, and was only able to correct my path by standing on the rocks during the shallow sections. I talked to my friend Kris after the race and we both laughed how we were washed down so much that we had to walk up to make the buoy! After the swim I couldn't have been happier to get to T1.

Bike: A lot has changed for me over the past few years. I used to ride my MTb about 3 days a week, and do most of my long days on it. This season I have ridden about once a month until a few weeks ago; it showed! I will always have good bike handling skills; the problem is I have lost my MTB fitness a good bit. I have much more power now, can keep a better tempo, and can ride much longer, but the steep sections and the quick accelerations and pace changes are hard on me. I definitely need work on it and will start this coming week! I was having a good bike split until I got to a section of trail that was darker, wet from dew, and off camber; when my front wheel touched a slab of wet rock I didn't really see I went down... HARD. I high sided, went down off the trail and downhill onto a bunch of rocks. After getting back up and composed I had my chain jammed down under my chainrings against the BB. After getting it out and back on the bike I realized i had a stiff link in the chain. A few minutes later after the repair I was on my way, but couldn't push as much. It was my mistake, and it was pretty much the end of a good split. After riding in to T2 I was hoping for a decent run.

Run: This was my highlight. I have always had a good bike leg, but the run was always my Achilles heel. Leaving T2 I had a few spasms from my fall in my lower right hip and back, but I was moving well. After about 3 miles I was still feeling like I had a lot of energy, and could keep a good pace. Mile 4 and 5 came and went, and after running a little with my friend I just kept an even pace until the finish.

All in all it was a good day. I actually feel lucky because I haven't hit the ground that hard since 2006 on the MX bike which landed me in surgery. I guess someone was watching over me so whomever it was I appreciate it! There were a lot of things I learned today, and a lot of things I see that I have to work on. the good thing is that I can say I ran much better, I got my nutrition right, and I was strong until the finish. I have to work on pushing a faster pace, my MTB fitness, and my swim starts. Its always important to take good things out of a race. People that only focus on the negatives like falls, traffic on the trails, and the competition will never be happy. I will try to take both the good and the bad and make my next race better. I finished 12th, but need to work on all my sports to get into the top 10. Most of all I need to stay off the ground on the bike to maximize my best sport! The best part of today was that Jesus and Elvis didn't make an appearance! I know what I need to work on, and I enjoyed seeing a lot of friends and getting to race! To my friends and crew Andy and Erica, Stan, and most of all my Superstar Mary; thanks so much for coming to support me and cheer me on! I hope everyone had a great weekend, and get out and enjoy the great summer weather ASAP! Thanks for reading!

Pre Game...

2009-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Nothing much happened Friday; had an uneventful swim and got ready for the race. I rode the Yeti on the street and made some adjustments. Today, saturday I got here in Richmond at 2:30 pm. I picked up my packet and pre-rode the course. Man it was awesome! It was drier than I thought, but the river is high and some parts of the old course are flooded it looks like. I think they had to re-route a bit on Brown's Island. Anyway, I will post some stuff tomorrow night when i get home; keep your fingers crossed for some good luck and a great race! I can't wait!!! Thanks for reading!

WMD...

2009-06-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

Here She is! My new XTERRA machine, a Yeti hardtail! I have been racing on a 29er for a while, and last year in Richmond I rode it in my return to triathlon after 3 years off. I was definitely a "deep dish" version of myself at 169 pounds, and I felt like I had the wrong bike for the job as well. The 29ers definitely roll over obstacles much better, they hold their speed better, and they have more traction in just about every situation; they also are slower to get rolling, and have more resistance with more contact patch. I decided I wanted to give a 26" wheel a try and hopefully it will be the right choice. I prefer to race in the rocky, mountainous terrains where the big wheels excel, but for the fast twisty stuff this may be the ticket. My friend Jes Stith at Gettysburg Bicycle got me the frame and fork, and he is a great source for anything as far as cycling goes!

I rode the bike yesterday and it was awesome. Very fast, light, and smooth. I will say you have to be on your toes a lot more without rear suspension or big wheels, but that is part of the fun. I think it will be a great bike for the weekend; lets hope that we are able to have a swim at the XTERRA. The James River is very strong right now, and it won't be the first time that it is a problem. Years ago the current and high water forced officials to cancel the swim and have a duathlon. Nowadays I will be OK with that, but sure would love to swim so keep your fingers crossed!

Race Week!

2009-06-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well it is finally here! It has been a very long Spring, and the XTERRA Atlantic Cup is this Sunday 6/14/09! Its a big day for me because its the first race for me as a Pro triathlete. I have to say I am a little nervous about it, but I also think I can excel at a lot of the things that will be different:

1. I will be leaving in the first wave. I am not a great swimmer, but I have been working hard since I had such a terrible swim at IM Arizona last Fall. I hope to be able to finish with the pack of normal guys. This is important because I will be behind a lot of people after the swim, but as of now 22 pros including me isn't bad. I am usually very polite on the bike and have trouble moving by slower racers; I can really push the bike leg now!
2. The competition will be excellent. A lot of times because of my bike strength, and lack of swim strength I am passing a LOT of riders that are going a much different pace than me. With Pros maybe I can ride with someone and it will actually help me push and have a better bike leg. Sometimes you raise your level to the competition around you.
3. I am an unknown rider. Nobody will know who I am, what my abilities are, or just what I may have under the hood.

4. I am a runner. OK, I said it. I actually feel like I can call myself a runner! Not that I am anything special, but I think I can hold my position a lot better now than any other time that I have been racing. I actually go out to run for "Fun" sometimes now... I know, crazy!
5. I have wanted to race Pro since 2004! I have been waiting a long time for this shot and I will do my best to make the most of it!

It has also been a good year for training for me. Unfortunately I was downsized after FBW was acquired. I have opened my business Sublime Athletics, but I am still building it and have more time to train and recover. I haven't ever been able to get this much time in, and have it be quality with a decent amount of rest. I have been working hard on my running, and when I get my nutrition right I can actually lay down a better time than in the past.
Emotionally and personally it has been a very bad year for me as well, but I am getting along OK and the racing will definitely help me have direction and an outlet. On the good side I am 14 pounds lighter than I have been since 2002.... there is nothing like racing with a more powerful and lighter engine! Speaking of that I will post some new pictures of my new Yeti race bike... it will be finished today!
I will post every day until Sunday, and then will give a recap of the race. I have other plans for this year, but they all start after Sunday. I really hope I didn't lose anyone by not posting in a while; this is a race blog though so its time to get started! From here on out its racing and fun for the rest of the year! Thanks for reading...

Is It Spring Yet?

2009-04-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

Well its been a long time since I posted, and a lot has happened for me. I have been having a great time with Sublime Athletics working with some great athletes, and finding out just how many people out there really love to compete and race at their best. I have also left my career of 11 years; Ferris, Baker Watts is no more. It was a great run, and I hope to work with some of my friends again in the near future.
I have been very busy training and learning a lot about what it takes to be a Professional; I had no idea the amount of recovery i was missing out on! 2 a day workouts, and longer days have been much easier for me in a lot of ways; lets just hope I can make it pay off. So far I am only registered for 2 races: Ironman Arizona on November 22nd, and XTERRA Atlantic Cup in Richmond, VA on 6/14/09. The XTERRA will be my Pro debut as an Off Road Triathlete; something I have wanted to do for 8 years. One of my competitors in the past who is an excellent racer is also racing Pro which is exciting. In XTERRA I really haven't seen many age groupers move up to the Pro ranks which is unfortunate. Upgrading is not an easy process due to the current USA Triathlon rules, and that is the problem. Regardless of that it should be exciting! I will be making regular posts, and am working on a training blog as well; I will post the link when its up and running. I hope this weather holds now its time for Spring and summer!

Changes

2009-03-02T08:58:00.001-08:00

Being an racer is very tough; competition is a microcosm of life. You never know what is going to happen, and with every action comes a reaction. No matter how hard you train, plan, desire, or persist you can't control the outcome. You have to react to what is happening in real time, and make decisions to bring out your desired result. Even with all the elements in place for success, there are simply things that are beyond your control. A true champion can conquer the obstacles, and move forward to the next challenge, crisis, or adversary. What makes someone successful is the ability to move on. If you hold onto the past that is exactly where you will end up. Nothing will remain the same, and that is why only a select few will emerge victorious.

2009 Season Planning and Training Begins....

2009-02-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

Ouch! I just finished my first week of training for the 2009 season; the off season is over. Now is the time to get ready for the rest of the year. I had a great off season evidently with Holiday parties, Ravens tailgates, and the football playoffs and super bowl. The official tally is 9 pounds; I gained 9 pounds from 11/23/08, the day of Ironman Arizona. Not bad for the off season! On a more positive note I didn't break any bones in 2008! Every year since 2002 I had some kind of fracture; last year a broken collar bone in late October really derailed my training and I had a terrible winter. I was the heaviest I have ever been starting my training last January. When I was at the IM Arizona pre-race dinner they asked how many people had lost weight for the event; I stayed standing for the 20+ group! 22 pounds! So that means I am already ahead of the game for this season which I am happy about.
This year also brings a lot of challenges for me in my "real life". I am losing the job I have had for 10 years, and starting in a new direction. I hope to be able to get in the kind of training I need in my new adventures, but only time will tell. The good thing is that I will have a training camp for the first time since 2003 which should get me off the trainer and jump-started for the season. No official plans yet, but I will enjoy any time I can have in the daylight.
So far the only race I am signed up for is IM Arizona on 11/22/09, but I have some races planned and will post my schedule ASAP. I will be racing the 2009 Masters of Motocross Series, The Michaux Endurance Series, and the Piranha Sports Tri series, and probably 2 XTERRA events. I am undecided on an IM 70.3 because of my job situation, but for now I will focus on these events which should keep my busy! I am definitely happy to have competition, because it seems like the only thing that ever stays constant in my life. No matter what else I am doing, I always get to feel at home racing. Its funny that the most unpredictable thing in my life has become what gives me stability. No matter how well I prepare, I will be happy when the gun goes off. Its the only time when 100% effort produces 100% reward; I hope everyone is looking forward to racing as much as I am. It will be an adventure I know that, and I'll do my best to keep you posted.

2009, The New Year...

2009-01-05T18:29:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone! Its been a while, and I have definitely had a good off season! I have officially gained 6 pounds, and I have been living it up and being lazy since November 24th; the day after IM Arizona. I went to Orlando for a coaching seminar, I went to 2 Ravens games, and numerous parties and have had a great time. the funny thing is, I am getting tired of it. Really? Really... tired of not training much, drinking and eating whatever I want, and not having any direction. When I train and have structure, everything is better. I know what I have to get done, when I can do it, and how I am going to do it. Without that I am just going through the motions. Even good beer and food isn't as good if I can have it whenever I want! I know what this means...
Time to get back to basics, and preparing for 2009 and racing. I only have one race for sure on my schedule which is IM Arizona on November 22nd; but I have an idea of doing three 70.3 IM races, and maybe even a sprint or 2. I will get it all laid out and post it soon, but at least I have a new direction. I will also fulfill one of my lifelong goals: get my Pro license! I really missed out on a Pro MTB license back in 1999 by pursuing the USA Masters Worlds Team; which was pulled and cancelled AFTER I had qualified! I only got one shot at a top Semi Pro result, and spent it racing the 1999 Seven Springs National in the team qualifier. It was such a big deal to me back then I turned on NORBA and MTB racing for good. Although I still do some from time to time I have never focused on it since. I started XTERRA racing in 2000 and ended up here as an IM Triathlete. Now, with the demise of the big time Pro scene for MTB racing here in the states (at least as we knew it), they have done away with the Semi Pro category; so Semi Pros can now race Pro if they desire. Well, I might as well get my license; then I could at least race XTERRA as a Pro if I want to give it a shot. Anyway, I am very pleased to finally get my license, and hope I can put it to some good use in the next few years. I hope everyone is ready for a great 2009; I know I am. I will be writing a good bit again so stay tuned, and thanks for reading!

IRONMAN Arizona

2008-11-30T12:16:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-11-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-11-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

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....

2008-10-09T09:11:00.001-07:00

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?

2008-09-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-09-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-09-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-08-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-07-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

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

Diamonds And Rough

2008-07-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-06-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

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....

2008-06-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-05-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

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....

2008-05-12T07:23:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-05-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

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!