CCCX XC #3 3/15/09 @ Ft Ord- Monterey

I attacked early on lap #1 at CCCX XC #3. I felt pretty strong and wanted to hit the hills as hard as possible. Ultimately I had to settle for 2nd place as I was dropped by the winner toward the end of lap #1. I rode solo for the rest of the race, hitting each hill as hard as I could to hold off a strong chase group. At times the chase group was only 10 seconds behind me. but i kept working as hard as I could and this paid off as eventually I gapped the chasers and made it to the finish to claim 2nd place on the day. Not bad, but I want to win!

Racing~

The first Tuesday night Circuit race was held this week on the course I selected in Ft Ord. There was a good sized group out for the first one of the year. I kept attacking hoping to escape, but was kept in check by some of the strong riders there. My CCCX team mate took the sprint after I softened up the field.

This Sunday is race #3 of my CCCX XC Series. I added lots of climbing sections to this race route. I am really hoping to have a better ride then race #2. On that day I had no power after having a really bad crash the previous weekend, and then a root canal done on my tooth the following day.

Now I am feeling so much stronger and am really ready to go at it up the hills on the race route I put together. I feel relaxed and ready to race.

Folsom Win

I won the Expert 40+ XC race at the TBF series in Folsom on Sunday. The race win allowed me to also win the TBF overall Series title for the 3rd straight year. This was special for me as I crashed so hard at race #2 and was battling physical issues during the early part of this MTB season.

My legs felt strong and my pedal stroke felt as if it was starting to spin more effortlessly. I hope to continue my progression toward better fitness and being better, stronger, and faster.

Intervals~

Did the intervals today.........OUCH did that hurt. Unless you are doing intervals at least once a week it is easy to forget how bad they make you hurt. My lungs, legs, & all of my muscles were really screaming "what the f*ck are you doing" as I threw it down full force in each interval. I want to do of this stuff for sure!

Today was extra special as I received a green light from Oakley sunglasses for my 2009 sponsorship package. Being sponsored with Oakley sunglasses is a dream come true as they make the best products and sponsor the very best riders. I am very motivated to be one of those riders.

Road

Did 2 hours 30 minutes on the Road Bike today. My legs felt a little stiff so I just kept the tempo easy and enjoyed the time in the saddle. The Tuesday night circuit race practice session starts next week in Ft Ord. It will be some good training for sure. Tomorrow I will do some intervals on the Road Bike. This Sunday is the final race of the TBF MTB Series and I am looking to race extremely hard.

Tried....But NO!

I gave it a go at the CCCX XC Race #2. I had so much going on, putting on three races on the weekend, having a root canal on Monday, and recovering from a hard crash the past Sunday. I tried my best to do the race, but simply could not get it together. I was on the lead for 1 lap and then I suddenly could not pedal and I had to quit the race. A smart move because I was completely tapped out.

Now I must work on getting better, stronger and faster.

Eager To Race~

I set a very good course for this weekends CCCX XC race #2. The weather will be good on race day and the course is going to be very fast. There are steady climbing sections, some sharp climbing sections, and the rest is rolling and fast. I am so very eager to race. I am feeling very strong considering I had a bad crash this past Sunday and a root canal on my tooth on Monday. I still did the Tuesday night ride and felt good going uphill during the ride. I am working on feeling no pain and digging deep to suffer and then still perform when suffering my most.

It is a super busy weekend for me. I have my XC race on Saturday, then the High School Nor-Cal race on Sunday. And there is the CCCX DH race I set up for Toro park going off on Sunday as well.

UP AND DOWN........

This past Sunday I was leading the Folsom TBF race in my division on the last lap. The course was super fun as it was raining and muddy and I was having a blast in those terrible conditions. Then on a high speed downhill section I crashed hard and rammed my chin into a downed tree on the ground. Blood poured out and I had a huge hole under my chin. I finished the race but was passed by the rider who was behind me by 25 seconds when I crashed. So I went from first place and feeling up, to crashing hard and going down in a matter of seconds. That's racing! Still managed to finish 2nd place and was thankful I did not get knocked out or hurt worse when I hit the downed tree so hard chin first. It felt like I was hit in the chin with a baseball bat!

I then had a root canal the next day as I was racing with a infected tooth.

I always come back better, stronger, and faster after horrible ordeals. So this will only make me stronger!

Working On Improvement

It was climbing and group work tonight on the road bike. I will keep focusing on improvement. When the going got tuff during tonight's ride I felt my best. I really feel amazing at times on the bike, and I know my power and strength are growing. Last month I was so sick, and now I am starting to really feel like the improvement is coming at a rapid rate. I will continue to work hard, both physically and mentally.

That's Racing...

At the CCCX XC opener I felt really good early in the race. The pedaling felt easy and I was relaxed. Then a rider crashed in front of me, taking me over the bars with him! After that I lost power and just suffered the rest of the race. That's racing! There will be good, there will be bad, and sometimes it is all mixed together.

I was lucky to not get hurt in my crash. Then I just did the best I could to suffer on.... and make it to the finish. It was a long day in the saddle and the bad weather turned a good course into a real test of strength and technical ability.

I can be so much better, and I will learn from this experience. This difficult finish will only make me better.

Ready To Race

I am feeling ready to race. This Sunday's race is going to be really hard due to the rain and wind and cold weather that is in the forecast. I really like racing in the bad conditions, and I will have my chance this Sunday for sure!

CCCX RACE #1

I set the course for the CCCX Race #1 XC today. The course uses a few new trails that are really sweet, and I also use some of the old trails that were extra fun to ride on. I really think this race route is possibly the best mix of trails out there in Ft Ord. The weather forecast calls for heavy rain & wind. I am really looking forward to racing this course under severe Storm conditions.

TBF MTB WIN

I did the best I could at the TBF Race #1 this past Sunday. I felt good, not great, and gave everything I had on this day. Sometimes a good ride is just fighting as hard as possible, and taking on the pain of the effort when your not feeling great.

I fought extremely hard during the entire event, and just kept plugging away at the course as best I could. In the end I won my division with a time of 1 hour 44 minutes. I basically was solo for the whole race, and this kind of long, extended effort, will help out in future races. I know I can improve on this ride.

MTB RACE

This Sunday is the first MTB race of 2009, the TBF MTB race at Folsom. I really like this course. I will pre-ride the route on Saturday and give it a go in the race the following day.

Road Action

My legs are feeling much better as I am recovering from my month long illness. I almost won the field sprint at the Cal Aggie Crit. in Sacramento this past Saturday. Then won the Masters race at the "Lou" Night cross race in Fresno, despite crashing three times. On Sunday I felt really good on the bike and at the Early Bird Crit. I had a solid chance at winning the 1/2/3 series final. I finished 7th losing five spots in the group sprint right on the line. Then I backed that up with some strong group riding during the week in Monterey. It is the best feeling to gain strength instead of losing it being sick!

Weekend

Today it was 2 hours 30 minutes on the Road Bike. I did some uphill power tap checks, which have really helped me focus on power pedaling.

This weekend will be very busy for me, I hope to do 4 races.....

Little By Little

It was 3 hours of steady riding tonight on the Tuesday night ride. The theme for the ride was climbing, and there was lots of uphill practice to be had.

Little by little I can feel my strength coming back after my very long and drawn out sickness.

The legs started to really turn over well as the ride progressed. I will be better and stronger then before, as getting past my illness will lead me to actually being better then ever.

I will continue to improve all aspects of my racing and riding.

OUCH!

It is never a smart idea to try and race when you are sick and lacking power and stamina. But it does create some serious pain in the legs and tearing apart of muscle tissue. I did the Early Bird Road Race, and the Early Bird Crit this weekend. Now I am so sore, and so ready to improve on my form. Being sick, my rides were as bad as they can be..... and the efforts really hurt!

However, this suffering will make me so much better in the near future.

Comeback

After all the sickness and the time spent with the Doctor in the operation room, I am now left with a comeback. I must work to comeback, better, stronger and faster. I am starting to feel like I have some energy to train and some strength in my legs. I will work to improve.

Down - But Not Out

It was a visit to the Doctor and a 2 hour medical procedure today. Not my regular type of training.

This is a step I had to take to get to full strength in the very near future.

Saturday A.M. Ride

I felt good on the Saturday morning ride thru Pebble Beach considering I am seriously sick. I have been blowing stuff out my nose for a few days and am the proud owner of a sore throat. I still felt ok going up the climb today and actually felt better as the ride went longer. I need some serious rest. When I get past this sickness, I will be ready to really throw down some aggressive riding.

Thursday Ride

It was some hard power efforts on my ride today. Just some surges uphill to work on my power and snap. Then it was time in the drop bars spinning the legs hard.

Rest

It was no riding and all resting today. I can feel my legs recovering. Tomorrow I will do hill intervals.