Battle the bear race report.

First race of the season down. Overall it was a success. There was no vomiting, no nausea and no cramping. My race report to coach is as follows:

"The race was today. I warmed up fine, and I finished the race. Two great things. I am pleased with how I did and how I felt when I was done, no stomach issues. However I was off the back after the first lap. I think only the really fast guys showed up. I beat my time from 2 years ago by probably 15minutes. My last lap was 10minutes slower than average because I was caught behind the juniors racing. So probably would have been closer to 25minutes faster. I was middle of the pack in 2011. I am happy with the time and it was the first race I finished since 2011. I am really happy that I did not have any GI issues that I have had in the past. Two years ago I could not get anything down for about an hour after the race. This year I had 2 little pbj's, a hammer race bar and a full bottle of recoverite within 10minutes of finishing. Then I had a veggie burrito. NO problems. During the race I had 3 bottles of perpetuem, which is more than I have ever had during a race. I think I need to work on that, 4 would have been better. The last lap I got that tingly feeling all over that tells me I am about to bonk. Luckily I was near the finish. Great day really, I am looking forward the the rest week and then what lays ahead."

When she wrote back she gave me praise and also, kidding on the square, that Maybe I didnt go hard enough. She is probably right. This next race I will have more confidence to hit it a little harder. I did get some pics of the race which I will post here-

The water must have stunk, look at that face. Also my right knee warmer kept slipping down and was very annoying. I took it off right after this picture was taken. The starting temp was probably 45deg with blue skies.

This is about the 4th lap, I am just starting to descend mt Carbon to about lake level then its maybe 5miles of flat twisty trails, not my specialty.

This is the last lap when "Baby face Larry" passes me just before the descent. He smoked me. I never saw him again. I think he was on his second cigar by the time I got to the finish line.
Actually it was pretty fun to see this guys race, after I got the race mentality out of my head. It took a few seconds to go from, "hurry hurry hurry" to enjoying seeing these juniors racing. The guy behind me here is 3033's father and is trying to coach him from behind me. That was pretty cool. The descent is pretty steep after this and most of the kids walked it, but the ones with no fear just held on and.....

This week is a recovery week which came at a great time. Work has been stressful mentally and physically. Coming up, more intervals at Lactate Threshold for long periods. Coach told me that they are difficult and that I should prepare mentally. Well, Im ready. I start these tomorrow.

Until next time- Enjoy the outdoors. Life is short and unpredictable.

PS- Thanks Coach. I am enjoying this experience.

Intervals, Intervals, Intervals

Well lets see. I have been following my Coaches plan pretty closely. The main thing that I have been doing is intervals. Getting more repetitions as the weeks progress. They aren't that bad really, except for the first one. The first one is usually pretty bad, but after that I can get into a groove, the pain is less intense and not as bad of a shock to the system. I did a lactate threshold test to determine my zones for training, the numbers were not very impressive but everybody is different. I was talking to a friend who knows Ned Overend and he said that Ned didn't have spectacular numbers, but that guy smoked everybody. Still does. So I am ok with the numbers. We shall see if the results follow. Today was a variable intensity ride with climbs so I went out to the Colorado Trail and rode some single track. Oh Boy, single track is so nice and up there is wonderful. The smell of the dirt and the pine trees. Nothing like it. According to STRAVA I got some PR's today on the climbs, I dont have alot of data points but I am pretty sure that I have only done that climb on my geared bikes so I am pleased.

What a beautiful day. Its supposed to snow tonight, go figure.

Last week the race on Ridgeline was postponed to this past Saturday. I was working so was unable to attend. I am ok with this due to the fact that I had only been working with Coach for a week at that time. The next race is this weekend, Saturday. Battle the Bear. I am stoked to test myself. Ill let yall know what happens.

Have a great week.

First day of the Coach Program

Here we go. So I did hire a coach. Today was the first day on the program. 2 hours of endurance riding. No problem right. Well I took my wife to work this AM and it was cold, 34F actually. On the drive back to our house it starts rain/snowing. I have a meeting at work and hope that it starts to warm up and dry up. Wishfull thinking apparently. By 1045 it was 33F and the streets were wet. I am supposed to do this on the dirt, singletrack if I can find it. I figure that I know its wet and cold here so why not head to Castle Rock and see what its like there. I load up the bike and all the cold weather gear, and the dogs want a field trip as well. They will stay in the car, but they dont care, its just a mobile doghouse really. I crest the hill leaving south Denver and it looks like Castle Rock is clear. Cold but clear. There is nobody at the trailhead and its dry. Perfect.

I head out and get the workout that I was supposed to get. The trail had enough moisture in it that it was very tacky. There were some sand corners that kept me honest though. This trail that I rode is the race course for this coming weekend. It is a pretty difficult course. There are no climbs over 200ft but in one lap there is about 1000ft of climbing. So 6000ft for the race. Ouch. I felt really pretty good today but I am concerned about the distance of 60miles and the weather. This is a picture of my bike right now out back.

Yep, about 6inches and its still falling hard. I am excited to test myself this weekend.

Coach Dunlap. My coach is Alison Dunlap. I am very excited to be working with her as well. We had a phone meeting yesterday so she could go over my plan for the next month. Like me, she likes to have scientific support for the techniques that she employes. Inserted into my plan are reasons for why she is having me do a specific workout at a specific time. We were on the phone for a little over an hour. She never seemed rushed and allowed time for me to ask questions. She explaned things so well though that I didn't have many questions. I think that this is going to workout pretty well.

I work the next two days so no riding until Thursday. Happy trails.

What a Great Day on the Bike.

Today was beautiful. I rode my singlespeed out to Bear Lake State Park from home. 11miles on bike path then two glorious loops on dirt and back home again. Grand Total of 44miles and 2100 feet of climbing.  I was averaging 13.5mph on the pavement out to the trail and was happy to see that my speed did not slow when I hit the dirt. I felt awesome when I rode up the climbs on the dirt also. I was remembering when we raced out there how bad that 6th lap felt on the climbs. I could barely turn the cranks over on that last lap. I feel that I am much better conditioned this year. I have been on the bike for more longer rides than before. I made a batch of energy bars before I left and they were perfect. Not too sweet but moist and tasty, easy to swallow. These are definitely the way to go, after the initial investment of supplies, about $30, I spent $1 today. Not bad for the equivalent of 18 clif bar type bars. And I know exactly whats in them.

Earlier this week I heard back from the cycling coach that I asked to be my coach. She said that she would take me on. She sent me a list of questions along with the waiver and contract. The Questions are interesting and kind of surprising in many ways. What do you feel you are good at on the bike? What do you feel that you are bad at on the bike? What breaks your confidence on the bike? I didn't think that I would have to think when I hired a coach. I am looking forward to answering the questions, there is about 25 of them.

Strava.  I really like the program but I cant get good mapping unless I keep my screen on all of the time.  Every time I have the screen lock or time out it interferes with the GPS.  Anybody else have that problem?

Anyways, hope everybody is having fun on the bike. 

Blow the dust off that bike.

Well lets see... This will probably be a short post but what can I say my ink well is a bit shallow after not writing for so long.  Changes since the last post-- new year, another dog, new house, no motorcycle, got my mojo and drive back to ride my bike for hours on end. 

It seems to happen this time of year when I start getting motivated to ride and then the snow starts falling on the days that I have off. Its beautiful the days I'm working, I ride my bike home and the wind starts up on my commute. How does it know? Well I had enough and rode downtown in one of the "worst Blizzards of the year" according to the forcasters, just to have coffee with a good friend. There were about 5 inches of snow on the streets on my ride back home. It was beautiful. I feel like I am riding longer distances without ill effects on the stomach. 50miles being the longest, last Friday. I had some water and home made energy bars. I read a book called "Metabolic Efficiency" and have been changing my diet a bit to get more efficient. I feel like its working but wont know unless I get tested. I wrote a coach this morning to see if I can get on her list of athletes. Debating with myself about having a coach has made me realize a few things. 1)I probably wont be a professional cyclist, 2) I love to compete, but dislike finishing in the middle of the pack and feeling like ..... 3) I really want to be a better cyclist. So taking these into consideration, I think I need help. Ill let you know what she says.

I have been riding the road bike primarily this year so far, but decided to dust off the geared, full springy bike for my ride today.  What is it about a mountain bike that makes me want to bunnyhop over every chunk of ice and ride through all of the slush on the side walk.  I felt like a kid, which I guess is one of the fun things about riding a bike.  Well needless to say, my feet were wet on my return ride. By the way it was about 20degrees out today.

Road ride from my house to, well you can read the sign.  Next day it snowed about 6inches.

My goals for the season are the Rocky Mountain Endurace Series, and a solo 24hrs in the Sage. Longer term- Mel mentioned that he may be interested in the Cape Epic again in 2015 or 2016.  That works for me.

Ill try to write again soon. I am sure there will be some great adventures in the future.