Cyclocross 2008

My first Cross race of 2008 will be this Sunday in Ft. Ord. I like the course I designed and the route is very fun to ride on. I will race my very hardest.

I will be doing the Saturday morning ride to hopefully open up the leg muscles and get some time in the saddle turning the legs over.

Strength

I must keep trying to improve my riding. I must work on overall strength. Strength in climbing. Strength in spinning. Strength in race tactics.

Cyclocross season starts this weekend, and this will be the best way to work on my racing tactics and all around riding strength.

Victory

You have to race your bike and take chances if you want to win.
At the Folsom Circuit Race I put it all together. All the hard work and all the lessons I have learned in my racing came into play.

With only 2 laps to go in the race, I was in the pack but no one was going to pull a breakaway of 7 guys back so.....................

First I did a solo flyer and attacked up the bridge climb to make it across to the breakaway. It was a serious effort to get across, and I had to dig very deep, but I made it happen.

With one lap to go I was in the break with a fighting chance for a special win.

After catching the breakaway group, I drove the front and pulled the breakaway the final time up the bridge climb. I wanted to keep the speed high and make sure the field did not catch back on. I had amazingly good legs in this moment and simply drove the front of the group and let all the guys have a free ride up the hill.

While the rest of the breakaway was not wanting to risk a move before the sprint for the finish, I made a huge move up the final hill, got a gap, and had a go from so far out solo to the line. It was a risky move but I was determined to make it to the finish for an amazing win.

Getting to the finish line first was a result of hard work and some major determination and fighting like a wild animal all the way to the line.

VICTORY!!!!

Eyes On The Prize

It is important to never lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel~

To get results you must dream big and fight hard.

Desire

My desire to train and race is overwhelming. However, it is important to curb my desire to ride and search for recovery after hard training. It is far to easy to over train, when I enjoy riding so much. I must focus on stretching, core work, recovery, and diet, as well as time in the saddle.

Benicia Race

It was a strong finish at the Benicia Crit. It really has been an amazing year for me on the road. All of this experience will allow me to get better, stronger, and faster. I am so thankful to be able to compete and I will work hard to reach my full potential.

Keeping Focus

It is key for me to keep focused on the task at hand. I lose focus, and I lose the race. I need to remain concentrated on my race.

Hills

It was hill repeats in Ft Ord to shake my legs out some on Tuesday night. It was nice to get in some fast tempo climbing to feel the legs burn a little. I will now take a few rest days to try and recover. I did notice I was a little lacking in power the past weekend and felt fatigued. I rode strong, but the legs felt a little heavy at times.

Learning Experience

Each race really is a learning experience for me. I must keep learning and get better from each time I step up to the start line. I did not get the finish result I wanted at the S.F. Giro race, but I did get a serious learning experience.

Giro of San Francisco

I will be lining it up at the Giro of San Fran. on Monday. It will be some serious racing action for sure.

Sprint Action

I must improve in all aspects of cycling. Climbing, tactics, and the sprint. I have to keep challenging myself and putting myself through the tuffest situations possible to become a better rider.

Sore

I am very sore from the past week of riding. My mileage count was my highest of the year. After many hard efforts my legs and muscles were pretty tapped. It was good to have a rest day and try to get in some recovery time.

For The Win......

I went hard for the win at the San Ardo Road Race. I attacked extremely hard up the finish climb and had a gap, but it was a premature move. there was organization behind me from some solid riders and I was passed before the finish line. I will learn from this experience of being so close to the win. I was pleased to finish very high amongst a very solid group of riders.

The Santa Cruz Road Race was a real suffer fest for me. At least I hung in there and finished the race. One day I would like to ride well at this event.

Riding Time and Racing Ahead.........

The Tuesday session at Ft Ord was some solid Road Race action. I did multiple flyers and bridged a big gap on the last lap to claim the practice win.

Today I did 5 hours on my Mountain Bike. It was good to ride around and rip up some trails and enjoy my time on the MTB.

This weekend I have 2 very hard races on tap. I have tremendous desire to race my best.

Step Up~

It is necessary to step up and race like I am able, because if I do not step up and really go for it with passion, then I should not race.

Suisun Crit.

I will take part in the Saturday morning ride to get the legs spinning and post some hard efforts in preparation for the Suisun Crit. on Sunday. I want the legs to be firing at my highest level for the Suisun race, which will surely be a very hard Crit.

Hill Session

The Tuesday night workout was just that......a good workout. I did many attacks, and lots of surges on the bike. I then proceeded to lead out the sprint for the finish line.

I backed that workout up with a full rest day.

Today it was back on the bike and a full on hill festival of cycling. I did Jacks Peak climb, Aguajito, and 3 times up the A climb in Pebble Beach. All in all it was 3 hours 30 minutes of riding.

I simply want to get better, stronger, faster.

Recovery Is Key

After many hard efforts this past weekend it was nice to have a day of recovery. To make the improvements I desire, sometimes I have to get off the bike and into a recovery mode.

Tomorrow it will be back to time in the saddle and some very intense surges on the bike.

Hesitation~

A slight hesitation in the crucial moments of the San Rafael Crit. was the difference. I need to make my own destiny in these situations. It is there for me to take, and I know I can achieve the result. It will happen!