The cycle

Winning a race feels great. Putting in the hard work then having it pay off when it matters feels great. The flip side to that is getting out of bed feeling like an elderly man. Aches, pains, soreness, and general fatigue is also part of the training. It's not fun, and it makes me wonder why I put my body through the wear and tear.
Some days it's all I can do to drag myself outside, and most of the time it takes a large amount of coffee. Then I get out on the road and that stiffness goes away. In it's place is the smooth feeling of my legs coming alive. As I turn circles and my heart starts to pump my motivation shoots up. Some of my best rides have started out with me feeling super tired then coming around.
It's rides like that where I learn to suffer through the hard part of a race. During every race there is at least one point, usually many, where you're just suffering hard and your legs want you to stop. If you can get through that point on your own, when there's no one else around you can do it when the race is on.
The more you do this the stronger you get mentally and physically. At times I even look forward to those efforts because I know that they only make you stronger. The next day you may wake up feeling stiff and sore, but you get out the door and start the cycle again.

Another win!

It's true what they say about winning, it is addictive. After taking my first victory on Saturday I was hungry to repeat that again on Sunday. I knew I'd be facing a bigger and probably more competitive field and I was looking forward to it.
I woke up a bit sore and stiff from Saturday's crash but I wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be thank goodness. With my race not going off until 2:45 I had plenty of time to get some things done. Last Sunday I cleaned our kitchen floor thoroughly and had a good race, so I repeated this ritual much to Courtney's delight. We hit the road at noon for the short jaunt to Golden.
I watched the pro's race, did my warm up, changed out tires for more grip and lined up to start. The weather was super hot, we set a record in Denver of 96 degrees, not quite 'cross weather. I drank a lot of PowerBar Endurance and water to keep hydrated and cool. After some good spinning and getting the heart rate up it was time to start lining up.
Since I was one of the 1st to register my low number allowed me to be in the front row, a big key for 'cross starts. Just like my days of BMX, getting to the first corner in first place is huge. Our start had us ride through a field, make a U turn around a soccer goal, head back through the field and then hit the course. It was going to be chaos! With 30 seconds to go I heard Court yell at me to get a good start, thanks for the advice!
I did get away cleanly and hit the U turn about 3rd or 4th. Coming out of the corner we all hit the gas and as we entered the first hard right turn on a narrow dusty track I was in 3rd. Job well done. Ironically the guy in 1st was a rider I destroyed on Saturday. He had lead early then faded badly. I got around 2nd place and sat right behind 1st. In a loose turn he bobbled it, forcing me to clip out and lose momentum. I was lucky though because we had a gap to the field so only 2nd place got by me. I was back in 3rd and worried that the slowish pace would allow the field to catch up. I made a decision to get by both riders and go hard. On a long straight I pulled to the left where there was really no line, just bumps, hammered hard and took 1st.
As I came through a double barrier section a spectator yelled that I had a gap so I poured it on and was never challenged from there. Being out front with a comfortable margin I could pick my line and be a bit cautious. With yesterday's crash still in my mind I took some corners pretty slowly for sure.

Me out front, 2nd and 3rd way behind!

Crossing the line in 1st was awesome. I really didn't expect to win since the field was bigger and had more experienced riders in it. One rider, the guy that beat me in Copper Mtn. last week got a terrible start and finished 5th. I knew that the start was key so I was really happy to have pulled of the hole shot.
Next week I'll be racing in Boulder on Saturday for sure and maybe Brighton on Sunday. Saturday should be big with all the Boulderites coming out to race. Again, I'm looking forward to more competition and fighting it out for the podium!

Taking another victory!

A race of firsts

Today I raced my 2nd cyclocross race of the season in Co. Springs. While 80 degrees isn't quite 'cross weather, you take what Mother Nature gives you. The course was dry, loose and mix of some wide open flats a few stretches of pavement, some not so technical barriers and super sharp corners. I felt good warming up and was gunning for the win.

Clearing the barriers (some pros hopped this)

As we lined up for the Cat. 4 start, there were only 10 guys racing. I was bummed about this because the bigger the fields the more points are available for upgrading. Again, you have to take what you're given.
The start was at the bottom of a paved hill before turning 90 degrees onto the course. I got a good start and was 3rd going into the first corner. I got by 2nd place and kind of sat behind 1st for a bit. I knew I was more fit than he was since I was stronger on the short climbs so I passed him and took the lead. Half way through the 1st lap we hit the wide open flat section. This is just your typical multi-use trail and you could really get moving. There was one turn that while not too sharp was tough because the path was loose, the speed was high and there was no banking.
I lead into the turn then before I could blink I was on the ground. My front wheel had washed out and I hit the deck. The 2 riders immediately behind me passed as I was getting up and re-mounting the bike. My left shifter was bent, but other than that the bike was OK. My shoulder and hip took the brunt of the impact but there was no break, just torn skin.
Looking up I could see the 2 riders were still well within reach. I put the hammer down and before we came back through the start/finish I was back in first.

Taking my first victory

I rode steady, and certainly a bit more cautiously, but still managed to pull away. I lead it home for the victory, taking my first victory ever along with my first crash. It seems ironic, but that's 'cross for you.
After my win I visited a very nice EMT who cleaned out my road rash with some iodine and scraping. It didn't hurt nearly as much as she told me it would, so that was another plus.

I won $15 to Chipotle and some valuable upgrade points for my effort. Tomorrow's race should be larger and more competitive. I just hope I'm not too stiff, but I'll give it a go.

Post Race medical attention

Another weekend of racing

The cycle of weekend racing continues this weekend as I race back to back cyclocorss events. On Saturday I head to Co. Springs, then on Sunday I'll be racing in Golden. That's what I love about these short 45' races, you can do them back to back, they don't take up the entire day and yet you wake up Monday knowing you put some work in.
I still have to get used to these short all out efforts but I'm getting stronger every time I go out. On Wed. night I went to Golden for a 'cross practice session. The guys at Green Mountain Cyclery set up the course they'll be using on Sunday so we could pre-ride it. The turnout was big, about 50-60 guys, and we did a few hot laps to simulate racing. This is great practice since you get used to having the other riders around you, the stress of passing/not being passed and having to execute. It's like a hard interval workout without having to think about it.
Hopefully all this extra work will help me this weekend. The goal is to go super hard from the gun and just hold on. That strategy is something I would never do for Ironman or most events really, but it's time to try a new tactic and take that risk!

Copper 'Cross

Sunday was my first cyclocross race of the season and I couldn't have asked for more. The race was at Copper Mtn. and was not too technical. Only 2 dismounts, one for a barrier and one for a set of stairs we had to clear. Other than that it was hard packed, bumpy and rocky.
I got a great start and was 3rd through the 1/2 of the 1st lap. The 1st place guy stacked it on a slow corner, 2nd place got tangled up and I passed them both. Coming through the start line in 1st was pretty cool and very motivating. 2 laps later I was passed by the rider who had ran into the 1st place rider on the 1st lap, and I tried to stay with him. I bobbled one section of the course though and he was gone. In the end he put about a minute on me, and 3rd was a minute behind me. This left me 3-4 laps to hammer, work on riding smooth and try to push the envelope of my handling skills. I finished in 2nd, my highest finish in any cycling race!


Monday I was a bit sore, but after an easy 1:45 spin my legs were feeling good again. I wanted to go hard, but I know better.
Today I decided to ride up Deer Creek Canyon and felt really strong. I think the super hard efforts I had to put in for the Steamboat Stage Race really had a great training effect. I'm feeling super strong right now and look forward to racing hard the next few weekends!

'Cross racing begins tomorrow!

While most of you think this time of year is known as Fall, many cyclist call it 'Cross season. The funny looking bikes, jumping on and off the bike and leaping over barriers has started. I've been on my cyclocross bike 5 or 6 times, have already improved my mounts and dismounts and have set up my schedule for the season. It will be heavy early on, then a break through October, which is really the heart of 'cross season but I am traveling 3 weekends in a row, then back at it for November and maybe early December.
Tomorrow's race is up in Copper Mtn., so it shouldn't be too hot. Cyclocross was meant to be run in cold, wet and possibly snowy conditions, so racing in the heat and dust can be brutal. I am hoping that my fitness from the 4 day Steamboat race and that my new found skills will carry me to the front.
Either way it's going to be fun!

Steamboat Stage Race, Done and Done

My world ends three feet in front of me. My mind screams at me to just stop pedaling, pull over and give my legs a rest. How I am still moving forward I don't know. It's me and 5 other riders and I know that if I lose the shelter of the group for one second my world will explode. Courtney is behind me in the car leap frogging ahead to take pics, maybe I could just jump in the car. I try to push the negative thoughts out, but I don't have the energy to spare. My legs continue to turn over automatically, but with no purpose. Thankfully, mercifully, no one attacks. Earlier I felt strong, like I could pull away from anyone, now I need all the help I can get. I remind myself that I am out here of my own volition, no one made me sign up. I take in some fluids and throw down some energy blocks I stashed away in my jersey pockets.
Somehow my legs start to come around. I am pedaling circles again and the power is returning. With the surge in my legs comes a big boost to my morale. I've suddenly gone from dead man rolling to taking longer pulls up front. With each mile I feel I am getting stronger, I am taking the energy from the other riders and using if for myself.
Our group splits on the final climb, I am in the final three. I grab for my water for one last drink, another rider attacks. I jam the bottle back in the cage and go after him. He holds me off to the line, but I was coming up on him fast. I cross the line exhausted but happy from the effort. I went to the brink, my mind tried to sabotage me, but I kept it together and fought to the line.

This Labor Day weekend I labored at the Steamboat Springs Stage race. The 1st day was a time trial, the 2nd was a circuit race, the 3rd was the road race (where the excerpt above occurred), and a crit race finale. Stage racing places a new set of demands on each rider. Recovery, pacing, tactics and a positive mind are all needed. I enjoyed having to mark riders, keep track of time bonuses, know who is in the group, who is up the road and who has been left behind. It brought a new element to each day.

Each morning I woke up tired, sore and groggy. I used everything I could to get my legs ready, coffee, espresso laced chocolate bars and more coffee. What was most difficult was getting my mind ready to race. The mind knows what's ahead, the pain and effort to come and it doesn't want to acknowledge it. Simply focusing on getting organized is hard. You know you need to focus, but your mind isa foggy mess. But once you throw a leg over the bike, clip in and start pedaling it all starts to come around. The adrenaline gets flowing again and pretty soon that fogginess is replaced by a singular focus to achieve. The transformation is acute and fun to go through. Amazingly it happens the same every day. Fatigue and tiredness is replaced by energy and alertness, if just for an hour.

In the end I took 5th overall and placed 4th in the final crit, my highest crit finish ever. I wish there were more stage races on the calendar but the logistics make them hard to pull off. Next year I will certainly highlight this race and go for a big result.

More racing

After running with Dean, I needed a break. My legs hurt (thankfully I had no blisters) and my head was tired. Fortunately it didn't take me long to come back around and within a few days I was back on the bike, which is good considering I am racing a 4 day stage race in Steamboat this weekend.
The race starts with a time trial on Friday, has a circuit race Saturday, a road race Sunday and finishes with a criterium on Monday. It will be a lot of hard racing for sure.
I like this style of racing since it is a mix of endurance, speed, power and the ability to recover from each day's effort. I did my first stage race earlier this year, thought it was only 3 days. I finished 5th overall so I'm hoping to at least equal that in Steamboat.
Courtney will be there to take some good photos, except for Sunday. She is running 5k on Sunday to get her own workout in.
It should be a fun time for sure and I'll do my best to keep you updated.