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.

Under The Lights

The Tuesday night ride felt good tonight under the lights. It was a beautiful night out, and my legs responded to any efforts I put out. I will work on recovery for the rest of the week. Then, I am ready to work on surges and attacks on future road rides.

Sore

I am extremely sore after the past weekends riding and racing. I am sore everywhere.....my arms, legs, back.

This type of effort will make me stronger.

Hard Weekend

At the Saturday morning ride I had good legs. I felt good on the climb and was ready to do some attacks, but forced myself to hold back trying to save for the race Sunday.

Sunday, race #1 was fast and hard, with constant surges by the group. It was a very hard race.

Race #2 was the Single-Speed race. I made the front group and felt under control and able to respond to the hard efforts from the other riders. After nearly 20 times up the climb at full speed during two races I did feel some cramps in the legs for sure.

This hard weekend of racing will truly benefit me in the future. I want to keep improving and go to another level with my riding.

Saturday Moring Ride

This weekend will start out with the Saturday morning group ride in Monterey. Followed by some good food and stretching.

Then the CCCX Cross Series final race on Sunday. I especially like the CCCX final course I created. It will be demanding and a challenge to race on.

Tuesday Night Ride

It was some very steady climbing on the Tuesday night ride. At times it was fast climbing and a good fight uphill, other times it was steady and controlled. I like the climbing sessions the most.

Smooth Pedaling

The legs felt good up the climb on the Saturday morning ride today. They were spinning nice and I felt smooth and in control on the bike.

Suffer

I suffered up the San Bruno Hill-Climb race. It was not how I want to ride. I was ill the night before the race, and this set me back for sure.

Hill Climb

Sunday it was 2 scouting trips up Mt. San Bruno. The hill climb race is this week and I know it will hurt, but I must be prepared to suffer without giving in to the pain of the effort.