I very recently realized that I started this to record my biking and training journey for 2009 and it fell by the busy wayside in the blur that was 2009.
Now that it is late fall and the "training" season has come around again, I will attempt to be more faithful in updating this blog with the daily/weekly workings and add the list of intended events for 2010.
2009 was a pretty uneventful year in race participation for me - I rode in one race, '24 Hours in the Sage' in August.
2009 was a very eventful year in other ways. My son graduated from college in June and he got married in July. Preparations and time away did not lend itself to lots of time to train, nor time to race.
The good part about the one race I did get to do is that the four-man team I was part of this year turned out to be pretty good. Not that we won or even made it to the top three, but we did turn 20 laps and placed 7th out of 13 teams in the Men's Four category and 10th overall.
(more to follow soon...)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Busy Year
This year has a lot going on and not much of it is concerning mountain biking. My son is graduating from college in May and getting married in July.
I'm trying to figure out what biking events I can ride this year based on what I will be able to prepare for (i.e. train for) in between these other big life events.
At this point I am thinking about trying to ride in the Courage Classic in late July, the proceeds of which benefit Children's Hospital. Then I am planning on riding 24 Hours in the Sage in September. I might be able to get in some local races at the Sand Creek Series.
Mostly I just want to have fun and enjoy riding this year. Last year I got goofy trying to train, train, train, and it really took the enjoyment out of riding.
I'll try to update again soon as it is getting into the full swing or MTB season here in Colorado.
I'm trying to figure out what biking events I can ride this year based on what I will be able to prepare for (i.e. train for) in between these other big life events.
At this point I am thinking about trying to ride in the Courage Classic in late July, the proceeds of which benefit Children's Hospital. Then I am planning on riding 24 Hours in the Sage in September. I might be able to get in some local races at the Sand Creek Series.
Mostly I just want to have fun and enjoy riding this year. Last year I got goofy trying to train, train, train, and it really took the enjoyment out of riding.
I'll try to update again soon as it is getting into the full swing or MTB season here in Colorado.
Friday, August 15, 2008
24 Hours in the Sage
Ok, here I am about a day away from my next endurance event...
An event called 24 Hours in the Sage. It's held in Gunnison, Colorado and it is pretty much exactly what its name implies - a 24 hour race - 12:00 noon Saturday until 12:00 noon Sunday. Fortunately I am racing as part of a four man team, so I'll do one lap (about 13 miles) and rest while each of my teammates rides a lap, then we repeat the process until the time is up. That means the race goes through the night, so I will get to do a lap or two in the dark, with lights of course, but in the dark still.
An interesting side note is that the race coordinator scheduled the event for when the moon is full, which would be a tremendous help, but we have a weather forecast of overcast with rain likely. So much for using moonlight.
My preparation for this since my last race: very little. I got in one night ride (my first ever) on Sunday night. Aside from that, work has required a lot of extra time, so I haven't been getting out as much anyway. In addition to that, it has been very rainy for the last week which has not been exactly conducive to riding either.
The good news is that it is all about having fun, so that's what I'm going for.
While we have desperately needed rain here, I am praying for a reprieve (contrary to the weather forecast) from the rain and possibility of snow.
The next post will be about how the race went.
'Til then - Keep the rubber side down and keep 'em rolling.
An event called 24 Hours in the Sage. It's held in Gunnison, Colorado and it is pretty much exactly what its name implies - a 24 hour race - 12:00 noon Saturday until 12:00 noon Sunday. Fortunately I am racing as part of a four man team, so I'll do one lap (about 13 miles) and rest while each of my teammates rides a lap, then we repeat the process until the time is up. That means the race goes through the night, so I will get to do a lap or two in the dark, with lights of course, but in the dark still.
An interesting side note is that the race coordinator scheduled the event for when the moon is full, which would be a tremendous help, but we have a weather forecast of overcast with rain likely. So much for using moonlight.
My preparation for this since my last race: very little. I got in one night ride (my first ever) on Sunday night. Aside from that, work has required a lot of extra time, so I haven't been getting out as much anyway. In addition to that, it has been very rainy for the last week which has not been exactly conducive to riding either.
The good news is that it is all about having fun, so that's what I'm going for.
While we have desperately needed rain here, I am praying for a reprieve (contrary to the weather forecast) from the rain and possibility of snow.
The next post will be about how the race went.
'Til then - Keep the rubber side down and keep 'em rolling.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Laramie Enduro - Mission Accomplished
It's done - over - I did it.
I had some divine help - I was worn down, cramping, fatigued, ready to give up. I prayed asking what to do and I received answers and encouragement near the end when I really needed the most.
I fought some tough mental battles and I had to face the fact that I might be able to finish and along with that I had to concede that it would be okay if I did not get through to the end.
As I went from miles 52 to 62 I faced those challenges and when I finally arrived at te final aid station (approx. mile 62) to rehydrate and take a moment to rest, I decided to ask a course marshal about the last section of the course - if it was like the part I had just come through, I would have ended it there because I didn't have the mental or physical energy to get through another section like the previous one.
I got more information on what was still before me and decided that after my short recuperation that I still had enough to be able to get through what still lay ahead. In the last eight miles there was a one-half mile section with about an 800 foot elevation gain with some technically challenging sections. In approaching the last climb I decided I would ride what I could ride and walk what was too much for my tired state and so it went. I got past the last section I had to walk, climbed back on my steed and began to peddle again.
I approached the top of the ridge with a thunderstorm brewing just off to the north with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling and about that time my mp3 player started playing the song How Can I Keep From Singing by Chris Tomlin. I started singing along and worshiping and just had a full heart so overwhelmed that I was about crying. I was encouraged and uplifted by God's wonderful Spirit. Then the next song was another Chris Tomlin tune How Great Is Our God and it was all downhill from there. I was invigorated and was off for the last couple miles which went by really fast. Before I knew it I was coming down the last hill with a turn to the finish.
I was done. The event I've been working toward all year was over... and I had finished.
I finished in somewhere in the bottom 50 people of the nearly 350 that started, but I finished and I was thankful for that accomplishment. My time to ride nearly 70 miles was about 9 hours and 18 minutes.
I'm waiting for the website to be updated with the official times, so I know what my official time was, but that isn't really too important. What is important to me are the things that God allowed me to experience and learn along the journey.
Mission accomplished.
I had some divine help - I was worn down, cramping, fatigued, ready to give up. I prayed asking what to do and I received answers and encouragement near the end when I really needed the most.
I fought some tough mental battles and I had to face the fact that I might be able to finish and along with that I had to concede that it would be okay if I did not get through to the end.
As I went from miles 52 to 62 I faced those challenges and when I finally arrived at te final aid station (approx. mile 62) to rehydrate and take a moment to rest, I decided to ask a course marshal about the last section of the course - if it was like the part I had just come through, I would have ended it there because I didn't have the mental or physical energy to get through another section like the previous one.
I got more information on what was still before me and decided that after my short recuperation that I still had enough to be able to get through what still lay ahead. In the last eight miles there was a one-half mile section with about an 800 foot elevation gain with some technically challenging sections. In approaching the last climb I decided I would ride what I could ride and walk what was too much for my tired state and so it went. I got past the last section I had to walk, climbed back on my steed and began to peddle again.
I approached the top of the ridge with a thunderstorm brewing just off to the north with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling and about that time my mp3 player started playing the song How Can I Keep From Singing by Chris Tomlin. I started singing along and worshiping and just had a full heart so overwhelmed that I was about crying. I was encouraged and uplifted by God's wonderful Spirit. Then the next song was another Chris Tomlin tune How Great Is Our God and it was all downhill from there. I was invigorated and was off for the last couple miles which went by really fast. Before I knew it I was coming down the last hill with a turn to the finish.
I was done. The event I've been working toward all year was over... and I had finished.
I finished in somewhere in the bottom 50 people of the nearly 350 that started, but I finished and I was thankful for that accomplishment. My time to ride nearly 70 miles was about 9 hours and 18 minutes.
I'm waiting for the website to be updated with the official times, so I know what my official time was, but that isn't really too important. What is important to me are the things that God allowed me to experience and learn along the journey.
Mission accomplished.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Counting Down - Three Days to Go
How did it get to be the end of July so quickly. I'm looking at the calendar and there are only three days (less really given that it is ten o'clock at night) until the big event - the Laramie Enduro that I've been training for and gearing towards all year.
Three mornings from now I'll be up early for the 7:oo a.m. start with 70 miles to ride staring me in the face and then we'll be off down the trails and forest roads.
I'm confident I'll be able to finish and I've set myself a goal of completing in seven hours or less. Now we'll see how it turns out.
I have been resting since Saturday's race; not because that is what is best training-wise, but because I've been fighting a sinus infection and my energy levels have been very low and if I'm going to ride and finish on Saturday, I'm going to need to be better. I visited the doctor today and got a strong prescription of antibiotics that will hopefully get me over this mess and help me recover some energy. I'll need it.
A funny side note to visiting with my doctor today -- he's been very concerned for me that I might get seriously hurt while mountain biking. Indeed, I visited him a few months ago because I was afraid I might have torn ligaments in my left shoulder. He has been road riding for the past several years and has been encouraging me to take the "less dangerous" roadie route. I found out that he decided to start mountain biking - apparently very shortly after my last visit. I've been mildly amused about that since I found out.
So, off to bed now for some much needed rest. That's very important too.
--Three days and counting down.
Three mornings from now I'll be up early for the 7:oo a.m. start with 70 miles to ride staring me in the face and then we'll be off down the trails and forest roads.
I'm confident I'll be able to finish and I've set myself a goal of completing in seven hours or less. Now we'll see how it turns out.
I have been resting since Saturday's race; not because that is what is best training-wise, but because I've been fighting a sinus infection and my energy levels have been very low and if I'm going to ride and finish on Saturday, I'm going to need to be better. I visited the doctor today and got a strong prescription of antibiotics that will hopefully get me over this mess and help me recover some energy. I'll need it.
A funny side note to visiting with my doctor today -- he's been very concerned for me that I might get seriously hurt while mountain biking. Indeed, I visited him a few months ago because I was afraid I might have torn ligaments in my left shoulder. He has been road riding for the past several years and has been encouraging me to take the "less dangerous" roadie route. I found out that he decided to start mountain biking - apparently very shortly after my last visit. I've been mildly amused about that since I found out.
So, off to bed now for some much needed rest. That's very important too.
--Three days and counting down.
Results Are In
So Saturday I did the Winter Park Series Valley Point-to-Point race.
I rode the race once again on Saturday. I raced in the Beginner Men's 45-49 class. I didn't get to the podium, but I made great improvements from last year and had a great time. I took 15 minutes off my time from last year's race which is dramatic improvement so the winter spin classes were well worth it.
At the beginning of our heat of the race, all the beginners from ages 40 - 49 were started at the same time. The first mile is a climb up the service road. There were guys that jumped out on that first section with everything they had, but I held back a bit to pace myself up this section. It paid off because guys started slowing down and grabbing higher gears while I kept on the middle chain ring and worked the upper gears on the back cog, all the while picking off a competitor here and another there until hitting the single track at Four Point and onto Upper Cherokee down to Lower Cherokee, picking off a couple more along the way.
Lower Cherokee is a steep, fast, rocky ride and a quick glance at my bike computer showed me I was running around 30 mph. My dual suspension Rocky Mountain ETSX-70 carried me down smoothly and swiftly (and it was worth the investment).
After Lower Cherokee comes a climbing section on a trail called Ice Hill. Last year it was hard for me, this year I was able to set a pace and stay with it, again passing other racers as they struggled like I did last year over the steeper and rootier sections. I lost pace on some of the racers ahead of me on the next section, but was able to catch back up on a forest road down to the next climb. The next climb is up a jeep road called D4. I now kept up the pace with the four racers ahead of me and went on to a cool descent on WTB, which after last year I call Watch The Bumps, which dumps out onto another forest road which is a wicked fast downhill ride with ruts and erosion prevention bumps. Again having the ETSX was awesome as I flew down the road at 30-34 mph. I caught another couple racers as that section ended and dumped back into some single track and had to bide time waiting and looking for places to pass, got by and kept peddling.
With about 5 miles to go, I was still feeling pretty good so I cranked on. I was remembering about that point that last year in the same spot I was wondering what I had gotten myself into and why I was even out there. This year was way better. I paced myself along the gradual 3.5 mile climb up Flume, was grabbing gears as I hit the top and hit it hard down Creekside until I caught up to a woman from the sport class and a rider from one of the younger beginner classes that started earlier and had to wait for passing lanes. At the double track near the end, I grabbed all the gears I had left and sprinted for the finish.
What a great feeling to finish strong and improve dramatically over my previous year's time.
Half a week later I'm still pumped!
I rode the race once again on Saturday. I raced in the Beginner Men's 45-49 class. I didn't get to the podium, but I made great improvements from last year and had a great time. I took 15 minutes off my time from last year's race which is dramatic improvement so the winter spin classes were well worth it.
At the beginning of our heat of the race, all the beginners from ages 40 - 49 were started at the same time. The first mile is a climb up the service road. There were guys that jumped out on that first section with everything they had, but I held back a bit to pace myself up this section. It paid off because guys started slowing down and grabbing higher gears while I kept on the middle chain ring and worked the upper gears on the back cog, all the while picking off a competitor here and another there until hitting the single track at Four Point and onto Upper Cherokee down to Lower Cherokee, picking off a couple more along the way.
Lower Cherokee is a steep, fast, rocky ride and a quick glance at my bike computer showed me I was running around 30 mph. My dual suspension Rocky Mountain ETSX-70 carried me down smoothly and swiftly (and it was worth the investment).
After Lower Cherokee comes a climbing section on a trail called Ice Hill. Last year it was hard for me, this year I was able to set a pace and stay with it, again passing other racers as they struggled like I did last year over the steeper and rootier sections. I lost pace on some of the racers ahead of me on the next section, but was able to catch back up on a forest road down to the next climb. The next climb is up a jeep road called D4. I now kept up the pace with the four racers ahead of me and went on to a cool descent on WTB, which after last year I call Watch The Bumps, which dumps out onto another forest road which is a wicked fast downhill ride with ruts and erosion prevention bumps. Again having the ETSX was awesome as I flew down the road at 30-34 mph. I caught another couple racers as that section ended and dumped back into some single track and had to bide time waiting and looking for places to pass, got by and kept peddling.
With about 5 miles to go, I was still feeling pretty good so I cranked on. I was remembering about that point that last year in the same spot I was wondering what I had gotten myself into and why I was even out there. This year was way better. I paced myself along the gradual 3.5 mile climb up Flume, was grabbing gears as I hit the top and hit it hard down Creekside until I caught up to a woman from the sport class and a rider from one of the younger beginner classes that started earlier and had to wait for passing lanes. At the double track near the end, I grabbed all the gears I had left and sprinted for the finish.
What a great feeling to finish strong and improve dramatically over my previous year's time.
Half a week later I'm still pumped!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Pre Laramie Prep
This weekend I am racing one of the Winter Park races. It is the Valley Point-to-Point, one of the same ones that I raced last year, and I've really wanted to do this race again this year to be able to gauge improvement from last year. I'm using this as a "warm up" for next week, even though only a little less than a third the distance of the enduro.
I've felt good this week after the 63 miles I road on Saturday and I rode strong on my 7 mile lunch time ride today.
The one thing that I haven't achieved this year was dropping my weight down where I had hoped. Rather, I've gained about 6 pounds back since spin training classes ended in April. :( I was really hoping to get under 180 by racing season... didn't happen... oh well! I guess I will just have to go with where I'm at and give it my best shot.
That's all for now.
Next post... Winter Park race results.
I've felt good this week after the 63 miles I road on Saturday and I rode strong on my 7 mile lunch time ride today.
The one thing that I haven't achieved this year was dropping my weight down where I had hoped. Rather, I've gained about 6 pounds back since spin training classes ended in April. :( I was really hoping to get under 180 by racing season... didn't happen... oh well! I guess I will just have to go with where I'm at and give it my best shot.
That's all for now.
Next post... Winter Park race results.
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