Running not Riding

This year has been a little bit low key. Maybe its the natural up and down cycle of a cyclist, but after a full race schedule last year, this year I can't seem to carry the same motivation levels. I could use a number of excuses that seem to justify the lack of determination, but I think it boils down to fact that this is my off year. After a off year I will be hungry for more racing and more disciplined training programs and so on.

That doesn't mean I have been completely idle this year, just scaled back a bit. I have been racing in the bi-weekly mt ogden race series, which has been a real fun change up. ~50 mins of tight, technical, rough, keep you on you toes, singletrack. I also did something I have not done in a real long time. Ran a race. The Wasatch Back is a relay race from Logan to Park City. Good time and good company. It made running bearable. Still a few races in the works for this year, stay tuned...

Sundancin

Rather than assuming the survival mode position like the last time I strapped on the racing plate, this years Sundance Spin was both competitive and fun. I actually battled a few racers for position and put in a few attacks. The legs were much more responsive and the course seemed to play into some of my strengths. This race reminded me why I race bikes. I don't think there is any other sport that one feels so many different emotions in such a short period of time. Pain, suffering, joy, fear, excitement, thrill, discouragement all in two hours. Super fun sections of trail on this course, there were times when I felt the bike and I where one.

Now I need to find some time to train...and train... and train...

First Race = Reality Check

Where do I begin. There are always numerous things I can take away from a bad race, the question is do I dwell on the bad or focus on the good. Wait, was there anything good? I did finish, and the thought of quitting did cross my mind a few times. It was a great workout. I got some good "on the trial" mechanical experience. I handled the weather really well and I descended fairly well. But, all I can think about today was all the things that went to sh*t about 20 minutes after the start.

I think about 16 of us lined up yesterday to race our mt. bikes. 14 finished, and I know at least 2 dnf. Maybe it was the big greasy burger the night before or the fact that I literally ran from the port-a-potty to the start line with seconds to spare or it was the first race of the year and I haven't exactly been killing it on the training scene, but, I still thought I was going to get a decent result.

From the back row I slipped passed a few riders and fell into 5th place as the trial narrowed into singletrack. I was pinned but feeling good as we slowly went up and down the course, then about 20 min in I shifted to my low gear as a short steep climb approached, nothing, chain drops and I jump off and run. I loosed a few places. Next hill same thing, few more places. So I stop and make a quick derailer adjustment and I am back on, but the next two and half laps are uneventful, except for the fact that I slowly got slower. I had nothing. I would stand to attack and then promptly sit back down and look at my non-responsive legs with big puppy dog eyes and say "pretty please". It didn't work.

I was battling to hold Grizzly Adams wheel on the last lap but felt like I could stay close to him and hopefully battle him for the 9th place finish. Then my rear tire went flat on a steep rocky gully. I had to walk to a few hundred feet to find a place out of the way to change to tire. I am so slow at changing a tube. I lost three spots and finished 10 min later then 9th place. 13th out of 14 finishers. Nice ehh.

Now the big questions. Commitment and Pain. This sport takes time and commitment to be successful, with work, family, house, other commitments takes time away from mtb racing. My left knee has been slowly degrading from about the middle of last year. I injured this knee snowboarding about 8 years ago and had orthoscopic surgery about 6 years ago. It has been pretty good until about the middle of last year. After about an hour of pedaling at race pace it becomes agonizing. I am planning on changing a few positions and look into some non-surgical solutions in the next few months and hopefully the future is bright.

So, this all becomes fuel for my fire. I will set it a blaze next race and fight even harder than ever. Oh, and I will have fun doing it. right?

So was looking through the pics from this weeks world cup and got a kick out our nation champs and there perfect posture on the bike. keep that back straight.

MTB2010

Took a good 2 hour ride today with Jeffery. It was so nice. All trail conditions from mud to dry loose gravel where ridden. Two weeks until 5 mile, all I need is some new rubber and a few more good training rides. I hope it is a good year. Between work, family, home, and other things its get hard to give the MTB the attention it deserves. Just got back from New Orleans for work. Sea Level is cool.

Drawing Lines

Looking down on the creeping haze of death. NO!

Looking up the ridge to Saddle Rock before the sun sets

Russ rides snowboard

The next day it snowed 6 inched at my house. Because of the orientation and wind patterns this ridge line received about 18" of fresh snow. If you follow this ridge line down you get about 1000 ft of vertical. It's a great little adventure, 40 minutes up 2 minutes down. A perfectly executed powder turn on a snowboard with fresh snow is hard to beat. Real hard to beat. It all has to come together though. Almost forgot, I saw 4 bald eagles, about 25 deer, and one little cottontail rabbit in the last few days up there.

Bitchin Camaro

This car is the answer to all of life's questions. right? The dice hanging from the rear view mirror is a nice touch.

55

55 degrees has never felt so good. After what seemed to be centuries of cold, inverted and toxic weather in the cache valley, I tasted warmth. Utah's Dixie that is... and I was whistling it loud and proud for the first cycling miles of 2010. Saturday I busted out the mountain bike and went over to do some recon on the Desert Rampage Race Course. I quickly became lost but was not worried because little sections of single track was to be found all over. I ran into Chris Holley and a bunch of Mad Dawg / Gary Fisher crew and they were kind enough to show me some new trails. After nearly 4 hours of hell yeahs, i was getting burnt, so when I flatted and the spare tube was not holding air I knew it was time to call it. I don't know if it is the rush of the trail and all the obstacles coming at you or it is the first time on the bike outside in awhile, but that first ride of the year feeling is priceless. Rode some bike paths and took a hike with Paige and Zoey on Sunday. Pretty impressed with the bike paths down there. Could not resist this photo opp. up snow canyon. Red rock and blue sky make a nice combo.

Starting to get excited to race this year. Now I need to get excited to lose some weight.