For Love of CYCLING

Wiped out and torn down....

This week has been a tough one! I think I need to get better about not using exercise and my punching bag. I have always been able to clear my mind by slinging a leg over any of my bikes, but now I think my rides are getting way to intense when they should be recovery. I kinda put in a hard week on purpose b/c Reddick was not a priority race and I knew I had to train through it. I definitely did! I only took off Sunday when I sat in the car for 10 hrs and let the free radical laden blood pool in my legs. I'm sure that was good for them! Right.

Last night I made the effort to drive to Montgomery Bell St Park and do a lap in light and half in dark, but when I realized I was getting hungry I rolled back to my car to find my lights on and an unfamiliar shade of orange. At first I thought someone was breaking into my car but realistically I had left my lights on b/c I never opened my driver door after parking, which normally turns off the automatic lights. Smart me just slid into the passenger seat and changed from my M-F work attire to my weekend work attire and then proceeded to get out the passenger door, which I know now will not shut my lights off. The search was on to get a jump; where behind the 1st door I almost was shot b/c the young thuggish guy said he was robbed at gunpoint only 2 nights earlier, so you can only guess what he thought when a guy dressed like a stormtrooper and a light strapped on his head knocked on his door. While waiting at the front door of the third house, where I luckily found jumper cables, I heard the UFC champion look-alike that answered the door screaming like he was beating his kids/wife just minutes before. Luckily "Hoyce Gracie" was a nice guy with a firm handshake that sent me on my way back to Nashville. Too bad I was shivering and starving by this point. It didn't seem like I could reenergize once I finally got home, which was bad news b/c I was doing a 4-5 hr ride the next morning.

The model airplane field ride this morning definitely took its toll on me as we upped the tempo for the entire length of Natchez Trace. I admit I hung on to the top group, making my pulls, upping the pace as I watched my HR stay steady above 170 bpms, which is almost topped out for me right now until I figure out why I haven't been able to get my HR above 177 since my 1st Pro race last year in March. Whew, here it comes. I got dropped about 8-10 miles from the end of the trace. In all reality it is not a huge deal b/c only 4 solid riders went on as I pulled my heart out with Johnny Pryor on my wheel for the entire duration. They just wouldn't let up and I could never close the gap until our mid-ride refuel stop at good ole Fly's grocery. After getting some fluids and food I pulled up front to mash the big ring to get one more muscle tension interval, which officially tapped me out. Luckily we rolled into downtown Franklin, TN to hit up the Starbucks where an Oddwala smoothie and maple oat scone provided the energy I needed to brave the next 1 1/2 hrs home. Total of 5:10 in the saddle today! Not bad in a days work. Now to fire up the grill for some chicken and try to create an Asian dish with buckwheat Asi Soba noodles, stirfry veggies, and a plethora of spices. It better be good so I can fuel up for heading to either Monteagle to do a 13 mile hike/run or some mtn bike trail.

Quickly before I sign off, I must say the new Flyte road bike is working better for me than any rig I've had over the past years. Jamie and Dan at Flyte really hooked us up. I am waiting to hear from my alma mater teammates at MSU as they take on their 1st collegiate race this weekend in Depauw Univ. David and Landon are repping on the new Flytes and hopefully ripping it up. I may get one of them to do a guest post about the collegiate race. Man I miss the collegiate circuit and the camaraderie it provides! I may be back in it soon! Keep you posted on that tidbit!

Over and out, Daniel.

Racing underway.....

Back from a great weekend of racing in Reddick, FL. We couldn't have picked a better weekend to drive to the South and outrun the nasty cold front that swept through the Midwest. As we rolled out of town on Thursday night, I had reports of temps dropping into the teens and snow falling, while we showed up to 80s and sunshine. We couldn't have asked for better!

12 hrs of Reddick was my 1st experience with this type of race and I couldn't have had a better team and support group to go on the maiden voyage with. I was lucky to be racing with Steve Wilson, Kenny Marshal, and Dustin Greer; with Steve's family and friends keeping us fueled and on-track all day. The only thing that went wrong was Dustin getting the stomach bug from his sister causing him some time bowing to the porcelain god and us being short one team member. Oh well we still pulled off a 3rd place podium finish, being only one lap down from the Trek Pro team and a local group that knew the trail like the back of their hand. 15 laps in 12 hrs isn't too shabby!

This race was a great learning experience and a great way to start my season on a positive note. I don't think I could have chosen a better way to shock my body into the transition of low intensity to ramping up the high end for race season. Running 42-45 min hotlaps every 1.5 hrs forced me to dig deep and find new fitness. The transition from day to night forced me to also trust my bike skills and as I call it "use the force." I was running off instinct when I ran a 45 min night lap that was only 1 min slower than my last day lap. This reinforced that my bike skills are still strong; which I was worried about since I've moved to Nashville and most of my riding has been done on the road.

Happy now with one race under my belt where I had a great time. Now I am building my schedule to focus on branching my racing from the normal XC races to more of a focus on the Norba Marathon series and some surrounding endurance races. I think this will suit me best and offer me the most satisfaction this year. I have locked in a new management position at my job and a new schedule to go along. Plans are in the work to get together a weekly night ride while the days are still short. I am thinking Wednesday nights! Hamiliton Creek, Montgomery Bell, maybe Chickasaw! Who knows...I may change it up week to week, but I am thinking Montgomery Bell next week so I can get another good ride in and fill everyone in on my thoughts of that place with a little more detail.

Oh yeah, next weekend I will be branching away from the bike again to go to Denver. I am way past due to hook up with my brother-from-another mother, old roomies, the infamous Bubbles, and one of the few people that read my blog. ;-) The plans to board at Copper Mtn and Vail have me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for Thursday when I fly out.

Off to ride now, Lates!