Breaking it down !

Wow ! was that a hard race ! A little over 93 miles of trailriding in less than 11 hrs.
The race was fun and started with a real shotgun start and at XC race pace I stayed with the second group I knew I couldn't stay with the leaders at that high of a pace. The course was sandy with some roots and a real cool winding trail around to the top of the hill, a slight screw up and you could fall into some trouble.

I don't know my exact time on my first lap but I think it was around 1 hr ,then they stoped us because of some problems with the course being marked. I think we wasted about ten min. then they told us to go ahead and off we went.

Laps 2 to 4 I felt good and stayed with my Hammer products and Elete
Oh ya ! on my second lap I went over a small tree limb that looked real freash and my chainring dug right into it and right over I went ENDO ! I caught myself pretty good though and didn't get hurt (LOTS OF SAND )

laps 5 and 6 I stayed with my plan of just pacing myself and don't worry about the times I realy needed to finish this race and see how my body is going to respond to the suffering. I made the mistake of not taking in some more Gel and I think it drained me of energy on my 7th lap.

On my 7th lap I barely made it back I was cooked pretty good ! I could have quit real easy but I had Cindy give me some REDBULL and Fig-Newtons and they seemed to get me going again.

8th lap I felt good by time I got 1/2 way around and was trying see if I can get 2 more laps in by 8:00
when I came in on the begining of the 9 th lap I need a good time if I was going to get in 10 laps .....

But it was not meant be I needed a fast 1-1/4 lap and I didn't have it in me and I wasn't going to do a lap and not have it counted,So I stopped and 2nd guessing if I couldv'e made it ?

I think I ended up in 7th place out of 21 racers ! not bad for the old man ! I'll get out tuesday for some easy road riding ,I need to get ready for Jubilee XC race July 10th and 24-9

The only pisser I had about the course is I have never been hit so many times in the face and head with tree branches at least 8 or9 on the course I even called one the back scratcher , you ducked your head and it went down your back every time !!!!!

12 hr solo done !!

I did my first 12 hr solo this weekend and thing went well ! I did 9 laps and I think 7th place out of 21. I'll give a full report later on. I'm tired !!see ya !

12 hr race !

I just got back from a easy road ride , I need to get things ready for this weekends 12 hr race. I hope the weather stays nice, I need to get some more Gel but Rich is out of town now I will have to try some other type of gel and thats not good.

I watched the Proctor road race this weekend I marshaled on one of the hills,I wish I would've raced but maybe next year.I didn't find Sean Noonan after the race ,I couldv'e showed him some nice trail at Jubilee.

I need to get by bike and gear ready so I wont have to rush Friday when I get off of work,we'll head up around 11:30 and relax at the Hotel Friday night.I should go and pre ride the course ...I might go and do that!! I'll right back Sunday after the race !! see ya !!

reason I didn't ride today

Why didn't I aleast do a hour of sprints ? Well let me see if I can come up with some excuses !!!!!!

1- I worked 13teen hrs
2-I'm tired
3-I couldn't talk myself into it !
4- I talked myself out of it !
5- the weather was too nice I needed to water the garden
6-I'll ride harder tomorrow !
7- I'm a puss ! ! ! ! ! !

I better get on it tomorrow for aleast a hr. I need to pickup my bike from Bushwackers I busted off my x-o rear derellure Tuesday 180.00 bucks shot !!!!!!!!!! I'm putting a x-9 back on $75.00.

I might do the crit Sunday in P-town It's fathers day

I'm goning to bed ! see ya !!

Rain !!!!!!!!!

It rained today in EastPeoria and washed out the XC race for tomorrow, we got in the downhill and just started the new MTX course and the rain let loose !!!. It rained for more than a hour so the Prez and race cor. called it off. I told them even if they run it I'm not going to race !! It was way to wet and no way was it going to get better in one day. Iv'e done to many mud races and they are hard on the bike and the body,It's one thing if your already racing and the rain hits but when you know its muddy before you start, it's better to race another day.

I'll hit the road in the morning for some long distance , I better get to bed Iv'e been up for 28 hrs !!! I do this every freaking Saturday because I work Friday night and don't get off work till 9:00 am Sat. who wants to go to bed on a Saturday morning when the sun is shining ? This crap can't be good for me !!!!!! Sorry I'll quit whining !!!!

see ya !!

Race this weekend

Xc race is going to be hot ! and humid ! I just stoped by rich's place and got some more Hammer products so I'm good for a while.

We had a PAMBA meeting tonight at Terry's house It's always a good time,we got a lot done with the race going on this weekend we all have alot to do.Cindy and Amy is going to sell food at the race on both days,the club should make some money .

I'll ride the trails in the morning to keep the skills up on the singletrack,the race is at Farmdale and the course will be tough.I think I'm going to race it like a training ride and do some extra laps,the race is 3 laps I'll try and do 5 or 6 and have Cindy hand off my fuel. SeeYa !!

First century

I did my first century ride on the rode today !! 101.2 miles and I'm pooped. I took 2 days off after my 6 hr solo race and did a 1-15min. ride yesterday. It might not have been a good idea to try a 100 miler but I wanted to push myself hard this week. I have a XC race next week so I'll need to taper down a little ,I don't think another century next week is a good idea.I'm planning on a 12hr solo at the end of the month in WI.
see ya

Metro 12 hr

I made it thru another 6 hr solo in WI. 7th place out of 22 so I feel good on the results.Hills,Hills,Hills and that sums up this race,the hills were killer steep and nice and long,the only way I can look at these races are as training races.My next one needs to be 12 hrs I need to see if I doing 24 hrs is going to be possible.Tha race went well and food was good with the Hammer gels and drinks and e/caps.I met Jeff finally I read his blog every day I feel like I know the kid,his dad is a nice guy and is there for his support crew. The 11 laps were a good pace for me and wonder how much I could have done at a slower pace but for 12 hrs ? I 'll see if I can make the Hatfield race . I need a recovery ride tomorrow I have the 2nd PAMBA race next weekend it'll be tough. see ya !

12 hr race

This weekend, I hope it dosn't rain there isn't a refund.I did a recovery ride this morning 1-1/2 hr zone 1. I should be ready for the race.Cindy and the girls are going up with me Friday and we are going to stay in Gurnee and shop for the night.I better stay off my feet .Bike is all ready to go, i'll pack thursday, witch reminds me I need to get some Hammer gel tomorrow.I'll post back after the race !!

Kickapoo Race

Was last week and it was my first DNF ,but it's early in the season I hope it's my only one.I took a bad endo at the top of a small 6 ft. hill ,my pedal hit a stump and over I went and landed on my back and head. I'll live but I talked myself out of finishing the last lap,I wish I would of done it. I'm waiting for Tony to come out for a road ride today ,we have a road race in June to get ready for.I'll be going up to Wi. next Saturday for the 12 hrs of Metro I'll do 6 hrs solo again and then my next race in need to go 12 hrs. I'm looking at the NRS 1 or 2 for a 2nd. bike ! I love my Razorback I don't know if I can give it up. I'm going to get a quick nap in before I ride today See YA !!

I'll get back

To this post tomorrow , I seem to never have the time !!!!!!!!!!

6 hr race !

Well I just got back from turkey hunting and no turkey for me this year I had fun but I couldn't call a couple in close enough to get a shot today. I did my first 6 hr solo at Kettle mer. Saturday, it went well I got 11 th out of 33 so I'll take it. I don't think some of the riders were to serious some only got 2 or 3 laps. I went out hard with the main pack for the first lap and into the second then I had to start pacing myself a little better. When ever some one would come around me I would stay with them for a while to keep me going. My legs cramped up at the start of the 4 th lap and I had to walk it off for around 5 min. then I was okay and I slowed down and acually felt pretty good on the 5th and 6th lap.I need to find out why I'm cramping I need more training and some kind of supplement.I used the Hammer Heed ,Perpetuem and gel ,I don't think I used the perpetuem right I'll checkwith some other racers. the next Wems. race I can do is May 28th, I'm looking forward to it, 6 or 12 ? I'll see how training goes.

Sorry

I haven't posted ! I'm not very good at typing so it's more of chore than being lazy ! I just checked with the Iowa race and it sounds like the weather turned real bad. I'll check later today to get the 411. I have been doing ok on the training this week hasn't been the best but the weather sucks here to. Last Suday I got in a 4 hr. none stop ride at Jubilee to check out what drink and food I'll need for my 6 hr race next weekend.I didn't go real hard just steady,The waether might be bad in Win. So I hope they don't cancel it but I don't want to do a mud race either. The kickapoo race is in a few weeks to start off the PAMBA series and it's going to be tough.30 miles at race pace will be hard ,hope weather is good. I need to go mushroom hunting see ya!

First race of 2005

I had my first race in Moline Il Sylvan Stampede, It was a good race alot of fun,no hills but very technical with alot of rocks and roots. They had a good turnout of riders for there first race.The FORC guys did a great job and everyone was real friendly. That might not mean alot to some people but I'm doing this to have fun and ride not get to serious. Don't get me wrong I want to do good I can't help but race hard !! Okay ! about the race I'm raceing expert, we had 13 racers of all ages mostley aroud my age or 30's a couple were older. ther was a nice sprint about 100 plus yards to the singletrack and I went in around 10th place and I held it for most of the race. I was passed on the 4 or 5th lap but the guy fell about a 1/4 lap after he passed me and I didn't let him get back in the race. I tried some Hammer gel and drink and I really don't know yet on how the worked on me, I need to do some trainning with them. I finished strong anf felt pretty good at the end and didn't need to srint or go hard I just keeped a good pace and even droped the other guys behind me around lap 6. It feels good to see where my fitness is and get a race under my belt.Back to training !!! see ya !

Trail day Saturday

I didn't get my ride in Saturday like I wanted to, we worked on the trails for about 2- 1/2 hrs . All we did was use our leaf blowers on the trails to help dry them out. I ended up walking about 5 miles so I blew off the road ride. Sunday I went on a 4 hr 66 mile ride and felt good. Today I went to Farmdale for a trail ride, I got in 2 hrs of some easy spinning . The bad thing is I took two real hard falls, the first one I was jacking around on a log stunt and I fell to one side and the bike went the other side and I was cliped in so I fell hard.I just got scraped up no damage.The other fall hurt bad ,I was almost done not even ten min. from the truck when I rounded a corner nice and easy but my pedal caught a stump and stopped me now ! I flew over the bike but first racked my left cookie right on the stem ,then rolled over on my side. I didn't know what hit me ! It took about ten min. for me to get back on the bike and quit slobbering and groaning !!! . I put some frozen peas on the boys as soon as I got home.

I have to start yard work tomorrow ! more money for bike parts ! I might not be able to get back on the bike for a couple days with the weather going south. We have a PAMBA meeting tomorrow , It's always good to talk to everyone ! see ya !

Trail ride at Indy

today after work, the trails were in good shape after the rain, I got in 2-1/2 hrs of riding 20miles all together. I did 15 min. of warm up,1-1/2 hr of race pace then I took my time and enjoyed the woods. I really am feeling the extra weight this year I'm about 12 lbs heavier but I don't want to go on a hard diet this time of year. I'll try to eat better and let the bike burn some weight off. I hope to get in a road ride tomorrow It should be some hill work. I do my first race next Sunday in Moline ,Il I hope the weather is good ! see ya

Recovery ride

Today with Midds only 15 miles about 1hr 15 min. with a25 mile hr. head wind. I did 45 miles yesterday after work almost 3hrs, it has been a couple good days of riding 110 miles with 15 more today. I was called a fag by some farm boys in Farmington, I tried to get them bring it on but they went the other way. I think they were only jacking around I'll have Steph. check it out on who they are. I did some shoulders and arms this morning, I have to work tonight ( big money at time and a half) I'll take the gym bag and hit chest and back in Peoria when I get off in the morning. Most likely I'll run or stair stepper. See ya !

About Time !

I got back on the bike,I havn't been on it since the first of the week.I about bit off more than I can chew again ,I went north today to mark out a route and I ended up having to call Cindy and have her tell me where the hell I am !.I wasn't far off but I did need to turn around and go back where I came from . It was a good ride alot of time 4 hrs in the saddle around 65 miles. Cindy knew where I was heading and came out in the truck and met me at route 8 I had her go ahead of me and I drafted behind the truck for the last 3 miles it was great, she did a good job and I really needed the help. I hope to get a ride in after work tomorrow and then a recovery ride Tuesday with Midds and maybe the trails on wednesday if they are dry. see ya !!!!

Long day !!

another long day at work 13hrs and I'm tired, I think I'll just eat and go to bed. I'll get on the spinner tomorrow for some leg speed work. I was on the spinner yesterday for 30 mins. then ran down to tredmill and ran for 1 hr ,my legs were toast this morning. If the weather holds out the PAMBA team is going to come over Saturday for a road ride . I'll see how that goes !!!