The intermountain cup was at Snowbird Saturday and the mountain took it's toll. Mad Dog had a couple of flats that took people out or dropped them significantly. And it was hot. In the past this race has had the motto: Escape the heat at 8000 feet. I have yet to find this to ring true.
At the start line, there were three of us in my category so I figured I had third in the bag. I did not expect to do well because I had been fighting this bug all week. My warm up lap I felt okay, but my throat would burn as my repiration increased and my mouth got dry. As we started I got to the single track first which surprised me. I couldn't really find my rhythm as we wound through the forest. Roxanne passed my on the hill. Normally, I wouldn't mind because I can descend pretty well, but this course was loose and I did not want to take any risks. Today I didn't mind because I was happy doing as well as I was and I was simply filling in a self inflicted need for overall points. I felt pretty strong and could see Roxanne on most of the climbs during the first two laps. By my third lap I started to fade. I just didn't have the energy. I have never DNF'd (shoot a dead guy*) and although I did not want to finish, I could not bring myself to quit. I just told kept thinking just relax and finish...no big deal. And that is what I did finishing about a minute behind Roxanne.
For those who don't know me, "Shoot a dead guy" is an expression we use in place of "knock on wood" because it makes about as much sense...none.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Back on the bike
I have been back on the bike for the last two days. I have done some mild climbing, but nothing too strenuous. I think I may be getting sick. I didn't feel right today at work. So maybe not riding makes me sick more than riding. I have read that exercise actually increase some immune cells during, but then others drop right afterwards. So that would indicate the key is to stay away from sick individuals as soon as you are done riding. That should be easy.
We got a new arrival today--a Madone SL 5.2. Chris may be stripping some of my parts for it. I am okay with that because the bike I have been riding was a hand-me-down from him.
I also got a pink saddle and bottle cage for my cobia. The pink is a great compliment to the blue. It looks good.
We got a new arrival today--a Madone SL 5.2. Chris may be stripping some of my parts for it. I am okay with that because the bike I have been riding was a hand-me-down from him.
I also got a pink saddle and bottle cage for my cobia. The pink is a great compliment to the blue. It looks good.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
The hardest thing
I believe that recovery is the hardest part of training. I have been told by several individuals that I am overtraining or close to being overtrained. I usually dismiss this because I haven't thought the individual really knew what they were talking about. Chris mentioned it the other day though and it hit home. He would actually know.
So I took the next day off (Wednesday). We went to a movie after work, so that wasn't so hard. Thursday and Friday I went painfully slow...painfully. Thanks to Maren and Sheri for their patience. Chris rode with me and I thought he was going to go mad. He kept referring to me as individuals that are slow and I would respond, "I am not going any faster." Today is Saturday and I am trying to take the day off. Chris is out riding right now. I am not sure if I am going to make it. It does help that he is riding one of my bikes because his is in the shop. The bike that I am left with is not as light and requires more work to ride. It is so hard to be me....
So I took the next day off (Wednesday). We went to a movie after work, so that wasn't so hard. Thursday and Friday I went painfully slow...painfully. Thanks to Maren and Sheri for their patience. Chris rode with me and I thought he was going to go mad. He kept referring to me as individuals that are slow and I would respond, "I am not going any faster." Today is Saturday and I am trying to take the day off. Chris is out riding right now. I am not sure if I am going to make it. It does help that he is riding one of my bikes because his is in the shop. The bike that I am left with is not as light and requires more work to ride. It is so hard to be me....
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
it was the best of times; it was the worst of times
The title pretty much sums up my race experiences since I have been back. We will start with the best because it comes first in chronological order.
The e-100 12 hour race.
I had convinced chris to race co-ed duo with me for this race. he elected himself captain. As captain, he had a couple of rules: 1. go fast. 2. no crashing. i did my best to stay within the given rules. we debated/argued over who would go first. neither of us really wanted to run, but as captain it only made sense that he should go first. he wanted to be captain. he put in an impressive first lap, coming in third. as I started my first lap, my legs felt heavy but they loosened up on the first climb. I felt bad as three guys passed me--was I breaking rule number one. Then another couple of guys came up on me, but they stayed behind me for awhile indicating that I was going plenty fast for them for awhile. I would later find out this was Dave Harris. They did eventually pass me. I realized though that chris came in before alot of other fast guys, so I was okay getting passed. The final down hill was awesome and I would become giddy each time I approached it. My first lap time surprised chris. As I approached our "camp" to switch with him, he was sitting down, shoes off, helmet on the table. He asked what I was doing back. I indicated that I was racing and it was his turn. We lost a good 30 seconds on that fiasco. Captains!
In the end chris and I ended up getting in 14 laps--7 a piece. We won the co-ed duo, the duo, and had the most laps with the best time overall. And to quote Dave Harris we were "wicked fast".
Solitude Utah State Championship.
This was the worst of times. I had a terrible race. I climbed really well, but felt off descending all day. There was another competitor who was the rudest racer I have ever experienced racing with. She would yell at you to get out of her way anytime she got behind you. She would essentially force herself in front of you if you did not get out of her way. That sucked--it is a race. She was the cause of one of my three crashes. I was able to regroup and catch her and the third place individual. But then I endoed on my second lap. It was slow and easy, but took me out of third. Then I got yelled at when I bobbled another area, so I let her by. By the decent on the third and final lap I was in fourth and felt I could catch third. I was going well and I have no I idea what happened. I was practically done, when I landed hard on my lid. I had endoed again. I dizzily stood up and made my way the few steps back to my bike. I don't know what I hit, but it caused some air to escape from my front tire. Fourth place past and actually politely asked if I was okay. Which suprised me because I was expecting to be berated for being on part of the trail yet again. My bike took some time to find the correct gears and I slowly approached the finish line fighting back tears. No concussion, but my head, neck and back are sore. A good race, a bad race. As Jerry Seinfeld would say, "I am even Steven."
The e-100 12 hour race.
I had convinced chris to race co-ed duo with me for this race. he elected himself captain. As captain, he had a couple of rules: 1. go fast. 2. no crashing. i did my best to stay within the given rules. we debated/argued over who would go first. neither of us really wanted to run, but as captain it only made sense that he should go first. he wanted to be captain. he put in an impressive first lap, coming in third. as I started my first lap, my legs felt heavy but they loosened up on the first climb. I felt bad as three guys passed me--was I breaking rule number one. Then another couple of guys came up on me, but they stayed behind me for awhile indicating that I was going plenty fast for them for awhile. I would later find out this was Dave Harris. They did eventually pass me. I realized though that chris came in before alot of other fast guys, so I was okay getting passed. The final down hill was awesome and I would become giddy each time I approached it. My first lap time surprised chris. As I approached our "camp" to switch with him, he was sitting down, shoes off, helmet on the table. He asked what I was doing back. I indicated that I was racing and it was his turn. We lost a good 30 seconds on that fiasco. Captains!
In the end chris and I ended up getting in 14 laps--7 a piece. We won the co-ed duo, the duo, and had the most laps with the best time overall. And to quote Dave Harris we were "wicked fast".
Solitude Utah State Championship.
This was the worst of times. I had a terrible race. I climbed really well, but felt off descending all day. There was another competitor who was the rudest racer I have ever experienced racing with. She would yell at you to get out of her way anytime she got behind you. She would essentially force herself in front of you if you did not get out of her way. That sucked--it is a race. She was the cause of one of my three crashes. I was able to regroup and catch her and the third place individual. But then I endoed on my second lap. It was slow and easy, but took me out of third. Then I got yelled at when I bobbled another area, so I let her by. By the decent on the third and final lap I was in fourth and felt I could catch third. I was going well and I have no I idea what happened. I was practically done, when I landed hard on my lid. I had endoed again. I dizzily stood up and made my way the few steps back to my bike. I don't know what I hit, but it caused some air to escape from my front tire. Fourth place past and actually politely asked if I was okay. Which suprised me because I was expecting to be berated for being on part of the trail yet again. My bike took some time to find the correct gears and I slowly approached the finish line fighting back tears. No concussion, but my head, neck and back are sore. A good race, a bad race. As Jerry Seinfeld would say, "I am even Steven."
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