Just go faster...

Going into lap two I was feeling slow and starting to think about going into control mode. As I rolled through the stat finish they yelled 22 minutes, that was the same as my first lap last week! I wasn't as slow as I felt so I tried to keep the tempo up. Then two things went threw my head in quick succession.

1. My daughters sweet little voice saying "Just go faster, Daddy" So simple a 5 1/2 year old can grasp it, if you want to do better just go faster. I laughed and thought yep it's that simple, I'll just pedal faster.
2. I thought about playing a Mario Kart racing game with my daughter before heading off to the race and picking a car that had better acceleration and not quite as much speed. I thought it's all about acceleration not just power.

So I whipped up my cadence and chased the rabbits. I started making up ground, the technical sections came easier (I still suck, but they were better). All because I was working on acceleration instead of trying to power through everything. Ahh revelations mid race!! I kept the gas on, the pedals spinin' and cruised through the last laps. I never quite caught back on to the chasers, but my lap times were much better than last week.

Despite felling much worse this week my overall time was minutes faster and my three lap times were very consistent. In fact my second lap was faster than the first despite the eye ball bleeding pace of the opening lap. So another week in the books. I worked on what I wanted, got the laps consistent and I was faster overall. Now I just have to find the leg speed to turn some bigger gears... it will come.

I learned to "Just go Faster" even if you aren't feeling it, sometimes acceleration is better than power and to listen to your children they may just be smarter than you.

savor the small stuff...

Bigger and faster...

That was the theme this week at Wednesday Night The Races. The bigger turn out and everyone decided to throw down. I'll give you some digital views before I bore you with the details.

The uphill start!

About a mile of this to fight for your spot...

Before you enter the uber twisty singletrack.

No place to pass in the bar snatching ribbon of dirt.

Setting up for climb #2Climbin'. Half way up.A little false flat after the top of the climb (notice the very rare Wisconsin Gravel) before you hit some more twisty goodness.Then you drop back down the ski hill and start the loop over. This is the front side of climb #2.

The laps are only 4.11 miles, but typical of Midwestern single track it doubles back on itself so much that one section is nicknamed "Small Intestine".

This week the turn out was a little larger and we BLASTED out of the gate. No hole shot or pointy end this week. I was about 7-9, I think, going into the singletrack. That first mile after the climb is full out eye popping madness. A mad scramble for position going into the single track. I am still missing some single track mojo, but it is coming along. Stayed with the chasers again until climb #2 and away they went, not out of sight this week. I kept on the gas, inspite of feeling crappy-> strength training doing me in this week? And rolled by for lap 2...

Results...

So the Wednesday results from last week are up and I finished about where I thought I had. Seventh overall for the night and second in the 30-39 Men's division. Once again I am pleased with the results as all of those guys have been racing the WORS stuff already this year. My lap times were progressively slower, I'll have to work on that one tomorrow night. I have a tendency to back off a little bit once I am in no-mans-land and have given up the chase, this continues to be a big mental stumbling block for me. Still I would have needed 3 1/2 minutes to move into the top five overall. Right now is just about getting the hard efforts in the legs, building up, and trying to find some inner mental toughness.

can't wait to rev it up again tomorrow.

Ouch...

It certainly wasn't the 45 minute noodle ride, nor the 15 degree drop in temperature or 20+ mph increase in the wind during that ride that had me moaning - Functional strength training started yesterday. Ugh, this would fall into reason numero uno why I have a coach. I have fairly good idea of what I should do, but have someone else tell me what I must do makes all the difference in the world. I am how should I put this lazy, that is I tend to do the types of rides and workouts that I like and not necessarily the stuff I need to do to become fitter and faster, I think a lot of folks fall into this category. I really don't like functional core workouts, that is also why I have a very good friend for a coach - I know that if don't do what is expected I will get never ending shit, and he knows what is best for me. We have spent a lot of time on the bike together, he knows my strengths and weakness, especially my weaknesses.

Anyway lots of swiss ball based stuff and some bridges it was hard to make it through the entire workout, but I know it will pay off. So bring on the Functional Training I am ready to kick its ass.

enjoy the benefits of the "hard stuff"

Adaptation...

Change, and balance. They all go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other. Adaptation to a training program requires a change of habits and a shift in the balancing act of life. I know I have adapted when sleep comes fast and deep, I awake when it is time to ride, and the legs are lighter. Change is small - a hour earlier here or there, one less snack during the day. The balance is hard wife, child and work all require a delicate touch. Each one needs attention and time is valuable, love and understanding rule in the world of balance and I am lucky enough to have that in abundance. It still requires a juggling of schedules that would make a clown dizzy. Spring is here, the blistering heat of Summer is far in the distance (at least in the Midwest) and the frigid cold of Winter is all but a memory. Make the most of your stolen minutes and hours to yourself...

enjoy the fresh legs, clean bike, and endless miles because they to will one day be a memory, cross season is only 4 month away.

Wednesday...

Ahhhh... the feeling of dirt under 29" tread. So last night was the Wednesday Night the Races @ Crystal Ridge season kick off. The Spring trail work is finally done and the water damage form the ski hill has dried up and the trails are officially open.

About 30 people showed up for the first round last night. As usual I somehow ended up on the front row. One guy put the pedals down at the start and I got on his wheel. The start is at the bottom of a steep gravel road followed by a few minutes of open field single track, it's best to stay at the front and enter the wooded section wide open. I fought to keep his wheel then poof he was gone as soon as we hit the trees. I guess all those road/cross bike miles made me a little slow in the tight stuff, that I haven't ridden my mountain bike since last July when I got hurt. So into the single track we went, the lead guy was gone and I was "leading" the chase group. I kept waiting for the guys to yell to get out of the way, I wasn't moving unless they asked. We hit the second climb of lap one and POP, on your left 4 times in a row. The chase group was gone and I was entering no mans land. A couple more passed and that was it I was on my own for the next 2 1/2 laps. I caught one guy then just tried to keep the pace high and find some rhythm. I think I finished somewhere towards the bottom of the top ten, not bad considering it was my first race pace effort since Cross Nationals and first MTB race since the July of last year. Results should be up in the next day or so. I felt good but didn't have it in me to keep the pace. No worries though those guys have already been racing on the WORS series and I am still building up for cross so to stay near the pointy end this early felt great.

Sorry no pictures. In the process of getting the new toy fully functional I had to update the OS on the tired old Mac and lost my iPhoto and need to find a replacement since I don't want to fork over for iLife jsut to get a photo album program. Now if these guys would play nice and let shop employees get a deal.. It looks like they pushed the availability back again, so I can dream about it some more, oh well I can't afford it without shop guy pricing anyway.

enjoy your toys..

Sh*t Talk...

If you haven't seen a link to this blog post yet, check it out --> here. I don't know the guy and feel bad for his pain, but this sh*t is funny.