Time comes in enough quantity -- it's just the order of it's availability is what challenges this racer to timely updates. But if you're visiting once and awhile, and you catch something new from me it'll probably be a long write up. On blogs there are any number of reason why when you're surfing the 'net you stop in to see what's shakin'. Sometimes it's finding out what a friend is up to or to hear what crazy misadventures happened or to find out what the competition is looking like for the following weekend. I personally love it just to hear what's happening out there when your cycling community is small or remote it's a great way to stay in touch. If you didn't check out my previous post, take a look at who else is out there through the links if you don't already do so.
I'll probably write up a season re-cap before too much longer but more recently this late summer/early fall had alot of racing -- probably the most concentrated dose of the year. It started late August with a weekend of doubling up, first at the WORS Cup (mud fest), then the MNSCS Duluth Powder Monkey, the following weekend it was the Seeley PreFat & WORS Rhinelander Marathon Smokin' Spoke. That kind or amount racing depending on the individual & depth of training can put a guy on the edge -- of getting better or getting pushed over. For those I've not share this with I work with a CTS (Carmichel Training Systems) coach in my training, just a super guy out of AZ, Josh Powers is his name a few local's that do the NORBA's on occasion probably know him. I can't say enough about working with a coach, provided it's a good match. I went through 2 previous ones in the 4yrs I've worked with CTS but Josh really has his shit together and we connect real well. The man just seems to always know the answers. I think my most used comment to him is "you're always right", humbling but true. Why a coach? I love the sport, it's what I really want to do for a long time. I was talking to Sara KJ at the Iola Tater Bake yesterday & commented to her how I was so happy to hear her mention that she plans to be racing for a long time that at least I know somebody else that'll be racing with me in their 60's (& later). Now back to the coaching thing, depending on how you place when in a race with me, I'm not the most naturally talented & cardiovascular gifted human specimen, so having someone guide you along and fine tune things and plan your schedule takes alot of concentration off that side so you can just focus in on riding. (If you want to read about one of those supremely talented & cardovascular phenoms go here - the first part is about midwest rider J. Devine but the second guy is what you've got to read about).
So back to the races.... despite what you might have heard from others or read in blogs, the new course in Rhinelander, in my humble opinion was great. Yes, you really appreciated racing a full suspension bike, J & M Lalonde -- don't know how you did it, but I in no way am envious of how it must have felt. The course could be ridden really hard & fast and it had the most single track of all three WORS marathon events, also I really like that all age groups go at the same time. Got a decent start unlike past WORS events. Though a few guys got away early and out of sight I was able to stay in the top 10 early on, I dabbed once in lap one and 5 or 6 guys passed including Mike Flanagen-Hagg but I got back past them and hung tight with Michael Naughton & Jerry Daanen also Matt Muraski as he would launch off the front and periodically we'd catch up. For me coming off the previous day's Seeley race that really did me in -- I was just hoping to hang in and survive. But sometimes I have a better second day of racing and this was definitely the case. It took alot of water (thanks to Katie, Marshall & Hope who were in perfect position for each of the 4 handoffs) and alot of power gels but my energy stores stayed level and my mental game was really strong, I refused to get dropped. Couple laps in we caught a slowing Sara KJ but with alittle encouragement she got on the train and responded great, hung in there and eventually pushed us after she got feeling better. Hats off to her for diggin' deep and turning a rough spot in the race around. Not ever, ever any easy thing to do. Had some bad cramping in my legs in the race which almost never happens to me but I was able to work around it and when it all finished out, 3hrs 6min later, they counted me as the 10th guy out of a field of 90 to cross the line. Pumped? Ya, happy for sure, considering the previous days effort in Seeley. The high expectation side of me always wants more & better but I got alot out of the game I brought that day. One note was my legs afterwards ached like I can't remember for 30minutes after -- a good sign you left all out there :)!
Cheq 40? That's another story..... called understand your body. Got a cold virus on Thurs before the big 4-0, not good any way you slice it. Some people can race through illness or do short durations but at some point no matter how superhuman you might be there's a good chance it's going to finally catch up to ya. My race was this -- good position in preferred start, amazed how I was spinning out in biggest gear on Hwy 77, avoid & escape big crash on 77 with Marko Lalonde, at Rosie's field say goodbye to Marko, haul out for next 15-16 miles with crew including SS'ing Mike Johnson, hitting OO in the 70th-80th place, mile 24ish catching Sara KJ & Doug S, mile 27ish like a power tool slowly losing it's charge things start to unscrew. Now onto survival mode, what a frustrating thing to be in. You can't quite or drop out on a lap, you just gotta get to the finish line to call it a day. Climbing Fire Tower, I hear this voice call out "Swanson!".... yeah, Kelly McKnight, catching and passing me like biscuits at Thanksgiving dinner. 2nd big race this year, 2nd time he's pulled out the Best of the Bay title (little thing I put out there to the guys in & around the Chequamegon Bay area). Hat's off the boy, he rode like he's capable of and that was great to see. He just goated his way up and out of sight on that hill. Not that rest of the race is a blur, I just wanted it over. Matt Hudson blew by me on my Salsa 29er I lent him -- kinda shocked him when I yelled in a stern voice "Nice Bike! Hudson!", also saw those McFaddens on their Burley tandem get by me towards the end. I was able to stave off a few racers at the end and stay in the top 200 but going into the day being a few psi short -- that's what you're lucky to get away with.
Had my little girl, Hope's 1st Birthday party afterwards (almost missed last year's Cheq 40 because of the timing of that life event). Ending up checking out of that party early and hitting the sack while company was still visiting. I was dead. Skipped the criterium Sunday, and it was the beginning of my first 4 day off the bike rest since Feb/March this year. The rest helped some because at this past weekend's race in Iola, well, that story is going to have to wait til my next update....
No comments:
Post a Comment