Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Cross, Baby!
My competitive season is pretty much done, and I’m looking for a fun way to build some bike fitness before next year. The perfect solution: cyclocross – a fusion of mountain and road riding (obstacle-trail riding done on a beefed-up road frame with knobby tires). There’s a pretty vibrant scene around here, and this evening, a couple guys were down at the local shop (West Hill) running the course set up there. I went down to say hello and check it out... I even rode my buddies’ bike for a couple laps. It’s a hoot – I can’t wait to get my own bike (I’m searching now). Here are a few quick shots from the evening:
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Vermont Half-Iron Race Report (Part 2 of 2) - The Process
As promised, some more of thoughts from the race this weekend:
Keep the taper easy: I tapered for a week and a half, and felt bad the whole time. I was sore, tight, and worried about my fitness. My inclination, then, was to do more; stretch more, eat more, and do more “sharpening” workouts. However, I was careful not to get sucked in, and followed my plan (which was to do very little). Sure enough, race morning rolled around, and I felt great. I learned, yet again, to trust the taper.
Keep the bike easy: I watched a lot of people go by on the bike. I had the 30th best swim split and the 72nd fastest bike time. Partly, I was taking it real easy because I feared the run. But, really, that’s about where my bike fitness is. Remember, this is only my second year in the sport, and while working on swim technique and steady running gets me by, the bike fitness will take awhile to develop. I’m committed to it coming around, and committed to doing the sort of consistent work it requires. Some day, I’ll be able to ride like I know I’m capable.
Racing to my fitness: I’m pleased with the race because the finishing time reflects my fitness. I’ve had races where I’ve flatted out, or gotten sick (sometimes both), and the final time was nowhere close to what I could have run otherwise. However, I ran this race up to my current fitness level… I just don’t think I could have gone any faster. While it’s sort of humbling to accept, and I certainly expected better coming into the season, this is my fitness for the time being. I’m pleased I executed a great race, and it gives me a good starting point for the beginning of next year.
A life-changing experience: The nature of endurance sports achievement is incremental. When you do a 13-mile running race, you don’t just go out and do it. You do 9 miles one week, 10 the next, 11 the week after that, and so on. So, when you get to 13, it doesn’t seem that long. “Of course I can run 13, I just ran 12 last week… no big deal.” When I finish an event, I’m always surprised when some says “wow, 13 miles, that’s a long run.” I say, yeah, I guess that is a long run… wow! My own feelings of accomplishment sneak up on me.
However, this race is different. I really feel the weight of the 70.3 distance, not only in my legs, but everywhere. I feel accomplishment – that I really did something. I pushed through physical barriers I didn’t even know existed, and as a result, am somewhat of a changed person. Today, after the race, the world looks a little different. Given the usual nature of my athletic accomplishments, I’m surprised to feel this way, and curious as to why this time is any different. But to be sure, I’m enjoying the sensation…. And looking forward to the next race.
Keep the taper easy: I tapered for a week and a half, and felt bad the whole time. I was sore, tight, and worried about my fitness. My inclination, then, was to do more; stretch more, eat more, and do more “sharpening” workouts. However, I was careful not to get sucked in, and followed my plan (which was to do very little). Sure enough, race morning rolled around, and I felt great. I learned, yet again, to trust the taper.
Keep the bike easy: I watched a lot of people go by on the bike. I had the 30th best swim split and the 72nd fastest bike time. Partly, I was taking it real easy because I feared the run. But, really, that’s about where my bike fitness is. Remember, this is only my second year in the sport, and while working on swim technique and steady running gets me by, the bike fitness will take awhile to develop. I’m committed to it coming around, and committed to doing the sort of consistent work it requires. Some day, I’ll be able to ride like I know I’m capable.
Racing to my fitness: I’m pleased with the race because the finishing time reflects my fitness. I’ve had races where I’ve flatted out, or gotten sick (sometimes both), and the final time was nowhere close to what I could have run otherwise. However, I ran this race up to my current fitness level… I just don’t think I could have gone any faster. While it’s sort of humbling to accept, and I certainly expected better coming into the season, this is my fitness for the time being. I’m pleased I executed a great race, and it gives me a good starting point for the beginning of next year.
A life-changing experience: The nature of endurance sports achievement is incremental. When you do a 13-mile running race, you don’t just go out and do it. You do 9 miles one week, 10 the next, 11 the week after that, and so on. So, when you get to 13, it doesn’t seem that long. “Of course I can run 13, I just ran 12 last week… no big deal.” When I finish an event, I’m always surprised when some says “wow, 13 miles, that’s a long run.” I say, yeah, I guess that is a long run… wow! My own feelings of accomplishment sneak up on me.
However, this race is different. I really feel the weight of the 70.3 distance, not only in my legs, but everywhere. I feel accomplishment – that I really did something. I pushed through physical barriers I didn’t even know existed, and as a result, am somewhat of a changed person. Today, after the race, the world looks a little different. Given the usual nature of my athletic accomplishments, I’m surprised to feel this way, and curious as to why this time is any different. But to be sure, I’m enjoying the sensation…. And looking forward to the next race.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Vermont Half-Iron Race Report (Part 1 of 2) - The content
I did my first half-ironman this weekend, up in Central Vermont. This was my A-race since the beginning of the season, and despite an injury-plagued couple months, I went through with it and had a good time. I’ve broken my race-report up into two pieces; the first part covers the content of the race, while the second deals more with the process of training and racing it – what I learned from the experience. Part two will come along in a few days, but here’s the nitty-gritty:
Swim (1.2 miles): I knew it would be a long day, so my first real goal here was to swim easy. I let the lead pack go almost right from the gun, and settled in with the second pack for a couple hundred yards of easy swimming. As usual, the pack got strung out pretty quickly (mostly from people settling back to a pace they can actually sustain), and I found myself alone. I stayed long and relaxed, and soon enough, found two guys to swim with. After I hit the second buoy, I picked up the pace a bit, and found a great pair of feet to ride almost all the rest of the way back in (thanks, whoever you are). I exited the water in something around 35 minutes, and most importantly, feeling fresh.
Bike (56 miles): Because I’m an above-average swimmer, and a below-average biker, I’m used to being passed a lot coming out of T1. Still, each race I struggle with my inclination to try and “keep up” – to ride at someone else’s pace instead of my own. This time it was no different, but I respected the distance, and knew I could get in trouble fast with my lack of run fitness. So, I sat in, and watched a lot of people whiz on by. The miles actually went pretty quick (despite being really cold in the driving rain), and rolling into T2, I was pleased with my ride – my pace was right, my nutrition and hydration was good, and my body felt ready to run.
Run (13.1 miles): This is really what I was worried about coming into the race. I’ve had a bad ankle injury keeping me (mostly) on the sidelines for nearly three months now – these 13 miles would about equal my run volume of that period. However, I was pleased to feel good right off the bike. My pace was much slower than I would have expected had I been training, but all considering, I was just happy to be running. I caught a few people early, then passed a couple more hitting the turnaround. At about mile 10, I started to feel pretty tired – my hip flexors started to burn, and my cadence slowed a little. At mile 11, I was really dragging - my face was screwed up in pain, and drool started to come out the side of my mouth (picture Macca during the Kona marathon last year, just a whole lot slower). At mile 12, it got bad – the most pain I’ve ever felt at one time. I had to stop briefly to stretch out cramps in both hamstrings, and don’t know exactly where the energy to keep going came from (except that running was the quickest way back to my car). Finally, I crested a hill, and saw the final turn right in front of me. I took a left into the park, and ran down the finishing shoot alone. I stopped the clock at 5:47:38.
The rain made taking any pictures difficult out on the course, but here are a couple shots:
My father (left) and fellow-athlete Steve T. at the campsite Saturday night:
The great aid-station volunteers:
Me on the nasty bike course (though I think I’m smiling):
Me showing the key to my success… color coordination:
Coming into T2, ready to run:
Swim (1.2 miles): I knew it would be a long day, so my first real goal here was to swim easy. I let the lead pack go almost right from the gun, and settled in with the second pack for a couple hundred yards of easy swimming. As usual, the pack got strung out pretty quickly (mostly from people settling back to a pace they can actually sustain), and I found myself alone. I stayed long and relaxed, and soon enough, found two guys to swim with. After I hit the second buoy, I picked up the pace a bit, and found a great pair of feet to ride almost all the rest of the way back in (thanks, whoever you are). I exited the water in something around 35 minutes, and most importantly, feeling fresh.
Bike (56 miles): Because I’m an above-average swimmer, and a below-average biker, I’m used to being passed a lot coming out of T1. Still, each race I struggle with my inclination to try and “keep up” – to ride at someone else’s pace instead of my own. This time it was no different, but I respected the distance, and knew I could get in trouble fast with my lack of run fitness. So, I sat in, and watched a lot of people whiz on by. The miles actually went pretty quick (despite being really cold in the driving rain), and rolling into T2, I was pleased with my ride – my pace was right, my nutrition and hydration was good, and my body felt ready to run.
Run (13.1 miles): This is really what I was worried about coming into the race. I’ve had a bad ankle injury keeping me (mostly) on the sidelines for nearly three months now – these 13 miles would about equal my run volume of that period. However, I was pleased to feel good right off the bike. My pace was much slower than I would have expected had I been training, but all considering, I was just happy to be running. I caught a few people early, then passed a couple more hitting the turnaround. At about mile 10, I started to feel pretty tired – my hip flexors started to burn, and my cadence slowed a little. At mile 11, I was really dragging - my face was screwed up in pain, and drool started to come out the side of my mouth (picture Macca during the Kona marathon last year, just a whole lot slower). At mile 12, it got bad – the most pain I’ve ever felt at one time. I had to stop briefly to stretch out cramps in both hamstrings, and don’t know exactly where the energy to keep going came from (except that running was the quickest way back to my car). Finally, I crested a hill, and saw the final turn right in front of me. I took a left into the park, and ran down the finishing shoot alone. I stopped the clock at 5:47:38.
The rain made taking any pictures difficult out on the course, but here are a couple shots:
My father (left) and fellow-athlete Steve T. at the campsite Saturday night:
The great aid-station volunteers:
Me on the nasty bike course (though I think I’m smiling):
Me showing the key to my success… color coordination:
Coming into T2, ready to run:
Friday, September 7, 2007
More From the Road
I just got home from my trip. I had a good time in Montpelier, and despite some crappy mechanical problems on the way back, the last part of the trip went real well. Looking through my pictures, here’s some more stuff from my travels:
There was lot’s of camping (the second shot is of my makeshift office – set up in the state park bathroom... that's a new one):
Some great open-water swimming:
Some nice scenery:
And of course, some great riding:
There was lot’s of camping (the second shot is of my makeshift office – set up in the state park bathroom... that's a new one):
Some great open-water swimming:
Some nice scenery:
And of course, some great riding:
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
On the Road Again
Once again, I’m checking in from the road. After watching the GMSR on Friday, I stayed around the general area to do some research. Since then, I’ve been to places like Rochester, Bethel, Tunbridge, Rygate, Groton, Topsham and yes, even Mosquitoville (I’m serious, it exists). It’s been a whirlwind - tons of fun, but crazy. From here, I’m heading into Montpelier for two days to map that area, and to visit a friend. With one stop on Thursday morning to Fit Werx in Watsfield, I should be on my way home. Two days there, and it’s back out on the road to race! Some highlights from this trip so far:
More GMSR: On Sunday, I caught some more of the Greeen Mountain Stage Race – this time it was the pro/1/2 riders doing the Road Race through Rochester. It was so cool to feel the peleton come through town – it felt like a train.
The two-man break:
The chase pack:
The Peleton:
And, the Grouetto:
Green Mountain Bikes: I found this great bike shop in Rochester, after watching the race. It was so cool, that the shop deserves its own post – watch for it at some point.
Jim: Jim’s other bike is a Harley. He’s a former body-building champion. He never wears a helmet, and he doesn’t even own a bike jersey. No frills to his riding style, he just LOVES to be out on the bike, It’s cool to see people like this out there (though in reality, I would prefer he put a lid on).
Lake Fairlee: On Monday, I got in a great open water swim at the town beach on Lake Fairlee. It was a beautiful night, and a great place to swim. You can get access to the beach for a $2 fee (great if you have family along), or if you're a cheapskate, you can swim from a pulloff just south of the beach on 244, or even further south, from the public boat launch (considering it's not peak-boat time). Either way, it's a great place to take a dip.
Me stretching out after the swim:
More GMSR: On Sunday, I caught some more of the Greeen Mountain Stage Race – this time it was the pro/1/2 riders doing the Road Race through Rochester. It was so cool to feel the peleton come through town – it felt like a train.
The two-man break:
The chase pack:
The Peleton:
And, the Grouetto:
Green Mountain Bikes: I found this great bike shop in Rochester, after watching the race. It was so cool, that the shop deserves its own post – watch for it at some point.
Jim: Jim’s other bike is a Harley. He’s a former body-building champion. He never wears a helmet, and he doesn’t even own a bike jersey. No frills to his riding style, he just LOVES to be out on the bike, It’s cool to see people like this out there (though in reality, I would prefer he put a lid on).
Lake Fairlee: On Monday, I got in a great open water swim at the town beach on Lake Fairlee. It was a beautiful night, and a great place to swim. You can get access to the beach for a $2 fee (great if you have family along), or if you're a cheapskate, you can swim from a pulloff just south of the beach on 244, or even further south, from the public boat launch (considering it's not peak-boat time). Either way, it's a great place to take a dip.
Me stretching out after the swim:
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Hot Tubes Developmental Cycling – Doing it Right
A couple named Toby and Sherri run a shop called Hot Tubes in Worcester, Massachusetts, right down the road from where I did my undergraduate work. Along with making custom frames and doing some of the best bike-paint jobs in the country, Toby and Sherri help sponsor and run a developmental cycling team. The Hot Tubes team gives serious young cyclists from all over the US a chance to ride like a pro – bikes, equipment, clothing, training camps, and racing in Europe all included. I met Toby and Sherri a couple times in Worcester (they eventually sold me my red Cervelo TT frame), and I liked them because they were always friendly and generous. Most of all, I loved that they were giving such a great opportunity for these kids to ride competitively.
Well, watching the GMSR prologue hill climb this past Friday (see previous post), I saw that the kids are learning more than how to ride a bike fast. I was watching the climb from near the finish, and knowing the shop, yelled for each Hot Tubes rider as they went by – “yeah, Hot Tubes… allright… go, go, go.” Each rider, despite being completely gassed and out of breath, said “thank you” to me for cheering.
It was a small thing, but it spoke volumes for the kids and the team. These random acts of courtesy are the sort of things that stick in your mind – that you begin to associate with Hot Tubes - the things that build a team culture sponsors and supporters can be proud of. If the kids decide to continue on in competitive cycling (as many probably will), these are the exact type of things that will distinguish them against equally fast competitors. Sure, you’ve got to win races, but sponsors can pick from a lot of people who win races – it’s these types of things that really count.
It’s clear that the Hot Tubes developmental team isn’t just helping kids become great riders, but fostering an attitude that will help the kids beyond this year or the next. One that will help them in both their personal and professional lives, whether they choose to continue cycling or not. What better qualities do you hope for in a teaching program?
Saturday, September 1, 2007
GMSR - What a Day!
As planned, I headed over to the Waitsfield, VT area for the prologue stage of the Green Mountain Stage Race – a 7-mile climb up Appalacian Gap. I took off about half-an-hour before the first group of the day, and rode up the course. It wasn’t quite as bad as I was expecting, but man, that’s still a serious climb. Even while I was trying to spin up it, there were plenty of out-of-the-saddle, grind at 50 RPM moments…. It would no doubt be a tough day for the racers.
I positioned myself at a nice place near the finish, and soon, group after group were zipping past me to the summit. A few looked really good, and a few had completely cracked – the rest were somewhere in between…. seriously drained, but still fighting with all they had. It was so cool to watch – these athletes laying everything out… emptying the tank to get up the hill as fast as possible. I hope the pictures below convey some of what happened out there:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)