Building Strength

Wow!  A month since the last post.  When I put this blog together I wasn't sure what I wanted it to be other than a repository other than facebook for my cycling blather.  Seems like a plan to me...

I've spent the last month mostly off the bike.  Checking Strava, I've ridden 215 miles and climbed 16,500ft in a month.  Not a whole lot.  I have been in the gym quite a bit.  I've been doing lunges, leg press, all kinds of core and arm work, and rowing on the damn erg more enough that I'm starting to feel like a galley slave. Jamie says this is the time to build muscle, listen to the body, eat a little more than I usually do, and make sure I hit the season with zero "cycling fatigue".  

As always with Jamie the wizard, it seems to be working.  I'm able to lift more weight, but more importantly for me, I'm also able to climb with less effort, and pour on the Watts when in spin class.  I'm now able to sustain about 3.9W/kg, compared to about 2.9W/kg about a year ago.  Not exactly world class, but I do start to register on the charts now.

I think I've got a decent set of goals for the year as well.  I'm very happy to say I'm past survival mode, and I'm going for speed.  Speed that will make plenty of people turn their heads, and speed that lets me claim "trail cred" for some time.  Going for 3:30 at the McDowell 40, 4:15 at the Whiskey, 2:10 at Iceman (Dave, Conrad, I'm going to beat you finally...I am), 8:30 at Barn Burner, and 8:50 at that little race in Colorado.   We'll see how it all works out.

For now, I'm spending time watching my girls make like dolphins in the pool (seriously, how can they be my kids...I'm a freakin' boat anchor in the water), trying my best to be a supportive Dentist's husband, and be a dedicated servant leader for the folks at work.  In between their are trails to ride, weights to move, and excitement to build for another race season.  I want to be on my bike these days, and am almost mentally and emotionally ready to think about training on the bike vs blasting around the dirt for fun.  Shotgun blast on Whiskey Row in about 13 weeks...

Leadville Essay

Dropped my name in the hat for the big show in Leadville on August 9, 2014.  They ask you to write an essay, so I did.  It's not very funny...but hopefully someone reading it thinks I should get another shot at those mountains.

let me know if you actually want to read it.  

2014 Race Schedule

Putting together a racing calendar for next year.  Here's what's shaping up...

Jan 18 – mcdowell meltdown  www.mbaa.net

March 16– mcdowell 40 (unless I’m skiing) www.swissamericanracing.com

March 29th – mcdowell relay (had fun last year…perhaps howard and stuart could ride later, and avoid getting lost…) www.mbaa.net

April 26ish – Whiskey 50 www.epicrides.com

May 16-18 – Moab trip with the boys

July 5 – Fire Road Cedar City Utah LT100 qualifier, if necc.

August 9 – LT100 (yes, I want the big buckle)  www.leadvilleraceseries.com

Sept 6 – Barnburner (LT 100 qualifier..and I want the big buckle in that race too) www.leadvilleraceseries.com. 

Nov 8 – iceman  www.iceman.com


Let's see if this all happens...

Man vs mountain

This week I went out for a ride with some friends to South Mountain Park in Phoenix.  I suspected Randy would choose the Mormon/National Loop.  I had never ridden in South Mountain, but National is pretty infamous for it's epic descent.  I am not a descender.  Well, I can fly down a rocky trail fast enough but National is something else entirely. 

So I dropped the kids off at school (the three year old knew I was up to something, as riding gear is not the usual drop-off attire), and headed to the middle of town (trails in the middle of town...life in paradise...).  

The climb was great, and the legs were feeling good.  We were rewarded with some awesome views of the valley from Scottsdale clear to Glendale.

Stupid Photog got a shadow in the pic

Unfortunately the climb ended, and the descent began.  I was generally unhappy and mostly scared for the descent.  I also managed to gain another nice souvenir.

I left a trail...

I *did* ride another trail I had never been on before, and that was good.  Randy is officially forbidden from choosing riding destinations for a minimum of six months.  Did I mention he snapped his derailleur hangar?  That's the cycling gods exacting their penance.

A great day, because I was able to go beyond where I thought I could, and anytime you can push the limits, it's a good day!

Cave Creek Cactus Classic

So I lined up a the Cave Creek Cactus Classic not really sure what to expect. I had a crappy workout on Friday, and was not quite feeling it.  Friends reminded me it was a beautiful weekend, and living in Arizona, best get out and ride!  A little more encouragement from the Iron Man and The Momma, and I had my bike in the car, headed for Cave Creek bright and early on Saturday...

I got to the desk, and Boris handed my Travis Pastrana's number...I figured that was a good sign! The route is one I am very familiar with, as it is one of the best trails around. 2 intense climbs, and wicked downhills that make your teeth rattle interspersed with sweet singletrack and just enough sand to remind you that yes, you're in the desert.  Looking up from the knobby every once in a while as the views were amazing. Life in paradise after all! (as i remind Yvonne, my paradise means riding in shorts in November...) 

Travis Pastrana's number.  Good luck?

The road roll out was a bit nervous - I avoided the two wrecks and seemed to be in the right place in the pack. The first climb is referred to as "chain breaker hill". About 1/2 way up the .3 mile 8-10% grade I found my legs and was wishing I had gone harder on the road, as I was stacking up behind a long line of riders. No worries though, this was a fun ride! I crested the climb, and followed my friend Pat Moty on the descent, going about as fast as I dared on the very rocky, bumpy, twisty track. This being Arizona, missing to the left...cactus. Miss to the right...cactus. So don't miss. 

Don't Miss!  Cactus are sharp

Some wash riding and ripping flats later, I was about 2/3 of the way into the race. I was on the last big climb of the day, and was pretty spun out. I was pretty sure I would not make my goal time. I kept motivated by chasing a (very) fast woman from Bicycle Ranch, who seemed to know every great line on the route. Before long, I saw a little sign that said "uphill". It was helpful, because without it I don't know how i would have known i was indeed going straight up the side of a steep hill...clearly someone with a little sense of humor marked the course, and that is always appreciated! After the "uphill" we popped out from the trail, onto the road and the 2 mile sprint for home. 

I pulled my new friend from Bike Ranch about 2/3 of the way home, and I was finished. She jumped out, and got to the line about 5 seconds ahead of me. I feel like i did my good deed of the day. I crossed in 2:02! I was pretty psyched. 2:02 for 25 miles including some intense climbs was a heck of a lot better than I thought I would do...and I was damn happy I decided to race Saturday! 

The best part of Saturday though was supporting the grass roots race organized in Cave Creek, with the Flat Tire Bike Shop at it's heart. The Flat Tire and it's owner Kaolin are little treasures we have here in the valley, and they deserve every bit of support we can muster. Kaolin is an advocate, a racer, an awesome mechanic, and a really fantastic guy. I hope the C-4 gets big. Really big. Big enough for electronic timing...and sponsor swag. So when you have a chance to race, do it. Support your local race promoter, and put your wheel or sneaker on the start line. You never know when you'll be at the birth of the next great race

Iceman Cometh Challenge -- 2013

Iceman Cometh Challenge - 2013

20ish years ago Scott Booth and I made the trek to Traverse city to ride in iceman in it's 4th or 5th year. We had steel mountain bikes thrown on the roof rack, started the race at Kalkaska high school, ended at Mt Holiday, and rode through 3 feet of snow along the way. We were cold as hell...and a tradition was born. Iceman was my first endurance mountain bike event, and is the one I go back to every year. I managed to skip a few for getting married, the birth of Anika, and the wedding of Jason Frankena and Rebekah Wolford. But for the most part, the 1st Saturday of November means getting to Traverse City, hanging with awesome friends, thrashing the trails through 30 miles of sand, mud, and the (rare) snowstorm. The race has humbled me with 2 DNFs, 1 4:30+, and many finishes with good stories attached. 

This year was a banner year with a 2:22, Dave Hunter running a 2:21, and Conrad Wasmer running a 2:15. PRs all around, and much happiness and draining of Bell's cups at the end. we missed Cliff and Scott this year, but no doubt they'll be back 

The race was really fantastic. A magic combination rain, a little cold, and the mud and sand seemed to turn the entire course into hero-dirt. That black tacky soil that lets your tires stick no matter how hard you crank or how far you lean. I felt great. I've clearly got some fitness left over from the last race (that one in Colorado...). Riding on cloud nine as I passed multitudes huffing and puffing up climbs as I flicked the thumb for a bigger gear. I even cleaned Anita's hill. Haven't done that, ever. I was pretty convinced I was finally going to win among the little gang i ride with, but Dave and Conrad were out there having even better days. To that I say...see you on November 8, 2014! 

But this race is about so much more than hammering through the woods. Iceman is real. Iceman is 4000+ people putting their wheel on the line to see if they might make it fast enough to get some beer before the taps run dry. Iceman is great friends -- some of whom I know because of this race (yeah, that's you Hunters), kids ringing cowbells, and my home state on proud display. Iceman is a bonus Christmas where I get to see people I don't see but once a year and for 72-96 hours forget all about whatever I'm sending email about day in and day out. Iceman is Bells beer at the finish, Michigan natives beating national champions, and the smell of pines and fall leaves in the north woods. Iceman set me on a path that winds through forests, mountains, over a few passes and up a few peaks. Iceman keeps me sane, and every once in a while shows me I can do more than I think I can. and this year, they took this picture of me. awwww yeah

Showboating on the last jump

Leadville 2013 Part 6 -- Epilogue

 Leadville 2013 is in the books. I've checked off a life goal, and am a better human than I was 6 months ago. Physically, I'm much happier than I was with myself last November. I rediscovered the edge of the envelope of my own performance and I've realized my own limits are largely in my mind. Also learned a ton about nutrition and training...all that I guess I should have expected. I also learned a lot about myself, my family, and my friends. I did not do this race to raise money for a cause, or awareness of a disease. I was not overcoming major life or physical obstacles. I was doing this because I wanted to do it. And I discovered that was OK, and that everyone was willing to support me in it. Those of you who know me well understand what a leap that is. My motivation a few times was wanting to be able to tell my kids, and Suman, and all of you that I had done this, that I had dug deep, and that I did not quit. Paraphrasing Ken Chlouber, I thought plenty of times about wanting to be able to tell a story about getting a buckle, not some 20 minute explanation of why I had to quit. Mostly though, I wanted one of those silver and gold belt buckles. It looks good in it's little corner of the kitchen. Come by and see it some time. So my personal mid-life crisis appears to be addressed. I think I came through unscathed. Will I go back? Let's just say I have a belt buckles in the brain, big ones. but now...73 days to iceman