Lodi 2K9

I decide to try something new this year. Forget all that solo nonsense. I went out there with 15 year old Danny O to rock the duo class. I knew we were fast enough to have a good day, but there were too many variables to predict early success.

I led out lap 1. Found myself in 3rd place on the Mocha Fisher Rig in 32x19. Was feeling good till about 1.5 miles in when I washed out. When I got back on, I stumbled and ended up pinning my leg between my top-tube and bars. I pinched it badly, and it hurt. I freed it up and got going, but it hurt for the duration of the race. It didn't impede me too much, just aggravating. I held 3rd. Later, maybe 1/2 way through the lap, I burped a bunch of air out of the rear. I rolled it for a while, but quickly realized it would need air. I pulled off and dug out my Genuine Innovations inflator and quickly got back up to good pressure. Bike Factory teammate Jeremy Senn overtook me, and I rolled a mile or so with him before I took 3rd over again.

Rolling through the creek was a surprise. Hadn't expected that since we bypassed that last year. I also expected to be nearly done at that point, but the new, fresh singletrack section drug on for a bit. I pulled in, had a good exchange with Danny and he was off. I think I turned a 51:30 or so. The leader did a 49 and change. I had decided to be done with the mocha Rig with the Jones ACX rear and took the 2009, XDX equiped Rig in 32x20 out for the rest of the race. I think that was a good call.

Danny and I made the best of the good weather for the first 7 laps, averaging 55 minute laps between us. After I finished 4, the rain came, and it came hard. It would rain off and on for the rest of the race. The conditions went from bad to worse to awful. The new singetrack was a disaster. Somehow or another, the Bonrager XDXs managed to bite very well in the slop on my first wet night lap. I was out of the saddle up most the hills and didn't spin out. The roots weren't even an issue for me. Lap times went way, way down between the darkness, fog, slop, etc. Danny got in from his 5th lap around 10:20 or so. We were in 1st by a bundle, so I headed out with the intention of just surviving my 6th lap. It rained for the duration. Conditions were the absolute worst. Leafy branches were hanging in the trail everywhere. I lost my helmet light, and riding with just a bar light out there on that twisty course is a nightmare. I lost most of my rear brakes and the front was gone entirely. But I survived.

We won Duo. To the best of my knowledge, we won overall as well, fending off the 3 person teams as well. We were as consistent as the conditions would allow, and it paid off.

Nice work Danny, and Happy Birthday race, Dave.

FORD #1, 2009

Last year around this time I did pretty well @ the Fredericksburg Off Road Duath (FORD) #1, pulling a 2nd place behind ShawnT. This year was a tad different. Bigger field. Wetter course (thats a huge understatement). Tough competition. 2.8 mile run #1 started in the rain. The course, especially some new stuff, was slick as snot. I ran OK. Moderate pace ket me in the top 12 or so runners. After a quick pit, I was off on the bike. I rolled 3/4 of the ~10 mile lap behind DaveT in 34x19, which was not the best mud gear. The Jones ACX tire in the rear bit well for the most part, but I was forced off the bike on many slick hills. Eventually, though, I hit some nice terrain, settled in and starting moving along, passing many folk. I rolled into the pit very near DaveT and a singlespeeder out of DC named Steve. We were in the 3,4, and 5 spots by now, I'm pretty sure.

I got out of the pit first, but Steve quickly sucked me up and passed. I decided at that point I was going to hold on to him as long as I could, and that was challenging. If I had not had him as a pace car, I definately would have eased up. Once we left the woods, I decided to kick, but I broke too soon, had to ease up, he passed, and made his break. I was beat, but I dug down and stayed on his heals. Once I could see the finish, I let it all go. I passed him and took the 3 spot. ~2 minutes off 1st. Not bad.

Data: 36 minutes greater or equal to 182bpm. Another 36 minutes between 176 ans 181. Nuts. Avg 178bpm. Max 196. Wow.

Thanks to Konrad aka FRED Events for another great race. He'll get some grief for holding the event in those conditions, and the trails did take a little beating, but he had a tough call to make, and when he made the call, things were on the up and up. He and a few others will be out there doing what they can to make it right, and I applaud them for it.

OK, so it has been awhile. Sorry. The back is better. I have also been through a bout of patellofemoral pain syndrome that I seem to have kicked by running. Weird. Three cheers for a balanced quadricep!

Hilbert 1 got delayed, so OHill was the 1st race of the season. I took 2nd in SS. A fine day in the mud it was. Next was BRS. Bloody hard course. 1st of 2 in SS, but it was a good fight. And then came the delayed, much anticipated (by me) return to Hilbert. Expectations were high, but I haven't put in that many base miles, so I wasn't sure how it would play out.

I went into the woods 5th in Enduro on my new (to me) Mocha Rig in 34x20. Before the lap was over, I moved into 3rd. I caught up to ShawnT in 2nd on lap 2, but then he decided to attack the lead man, and he disappeared. After lap 2, I swapped Rigs and went out on the new Root Beer in 34x21. It was a nice change of pace, but between the easier gear and lack of energy, I ended up slowing down quite a bit. At some point in those middle laps, DaveK blew by on the rigid SS Fisher Ferrous like I was standing still. Getting back on the Mocha Rig in 34x20 on lap 6 felt good. Hard at first, but I was able to settle in and get back on top of the gear. I picked up the pace on lap 7 and turned a respectable time in comparison to what the top three guys were doing.

Starting lap 8, I figured eight would be enough. I knew I could come in and do 9, but I was hoping that no one was close enough to threaten. I laid down a pretty slow time, as I was sorta trying to run out the clock. What I didn't know was that the guy from PA in 3rd had come in and decided to be done w/ 8 as well. I had assumed he was out fighting on lap 9. Had I known he had pitted for good, I would have blown through and had a race on my hands, assuming he mounted up and came after me. I felt pretty good, and my late inning times were on par or better than his. Argh. 3rd was in reach, but 4th will have to do this time.

Course was great. Competition was great. The Rigs held up great. All and all, given my lack of base miles these past few months, I'm pleased. At some point, I may actually have to get off my arse and do 9 laps at Hilbert. We'll see.

I have new and exciting plans for Lodi. More on that later.

It is bloody cold outside. Not sure how this may affect riding plans. The back didn't get any better last week, so I followed the advice of my better half and saw the doc. And then I was off to Physical Therapy. So the riding didn't pick up last week like it was supposed to. Such is life. On the upside, the back is doing better. Second session of PT yesterday. Progress is a good thing.

I hit a 35 mile gravel ride over Fox Mtn with Russel and Ramsey on Sunday in the wee hours of the morning on a cross bike. Back felt good that day. Didn't quite expect the heart to be in the 180s, but with only 9 gears, I didn't have a choice.

I also got the trainer set up, so any day now I may set about punishing myself with some nasty interval nonsense. 54 days to Hilbert 1. 7 long rides. Doesn't seem like much time.

I am a crappy blogger. And I am sorry for that. I'd say I'll do better, but the odds aren't good.

XMas and New Years was great. Lots of Family. Lots or relaxing. A bit chaotic, but it was good to see everybody. I work for a new company as of September08, and they give me lots of leave and a flexible working environment, and I love that.

Race season ended about two months ago. I finished up 3rd in my last endurance race, and wrapped up 3rd in the VA Off Road Series in the singlespeed category. Only other notable achievement was taking the Enduro crown at the Camp Hilbert series. Since the season wrapped up, I've exercised haphazardly and eaten a lot. As of Sunday, I was officially ten pounds up from where I should be come race time. Also note that my back has been a mess for several weeks. Maybe it was the cleans in the gym, maybe the weighted back raises. Maybe I slept funny. I can't say what caused it, but I can say that I have continually aggravated it ever since.

So Sunday started my comeback. 43 miles of gravel and pavement with DT. It hurt, and my back didn't love it, but it had to be done. Today I decided to see how trail running felt. Probably did 30 minutes or so of out-and-back on the RTF (Barracks to 250). I didn't have my GPS, but I did have some Gangstagrass to keep me moving. I'll run it again after work someday and record the mileage. The upside is that by back isn't any worse. Sleeping on the floor tonight to see if that helps.

So my plan is to try and keep this blog updated as I return to race shape. If you see me slacking, feel free to give me hell for it. The weather is about to go south, so it looks like gym and trainer for a few days. Note: I have yet to set up the trainer. I'm putting that off in a big way. Wish me luck...