Racing....TN style,

After a long week of work and two more hard days in the saddle with my newly found riding partner, my legs and body were officially worn out. But as everyone knows, I am the type of person that will keep on pushing through until things slow down. Coming home from work on Friday, I was heading straight for a nap, but house guests for the weekend were already waiting in the driveway. No rest for me as I proceeded to get both my mtn and road bikes set up to race. Yep, good ole me doing a split weekend just to prove a point to some peeps that the mtn bike racing I do is just as tough or tougher than what they think. To sum up that story, I proved it well by breaking away and winning the Pro 1/2 road race by several minutes. Uh oh, I may be becoming a double threat. Whatever training I've been doing or the lack of has been working. Anyways point proven, but now I had the Chickasaw SERC the next day a stocked field of pros to keep me on my toes.

I showed up with my "A" game and proved it by going into the woods in 2nd place out of 20+ riders. I pulled the group along for the 1st 35 min until another unlucky break. Yep, the same flat tire that took me back last weekend proved to surface again. And with the caliber of riders on Sunday, fighting my way back was tough. I tried but another two flats took me out for good, or at least of contention. I finished the race by riding the flat and running for over an entire lap. I definitely got the "biggest heart award" according to someone that yelled at me as I ran across the finish line with cheers.

I must say I should have gotten more rest for the weekend, but I wouldn't have given up the good times I had with some of my boys going to several live music shows. I found my new favorite band as we stayed out until 1:30am on Saturday night watching the CD release performance by AutoVaughn. Check'em out, very worthwhile and will be in Murray on April 20th, as will I. Yeeeessssssss!

Well definitely whipped from this weekends efforts on the bikes and from lack of sleep so this is all for now. I'll see some you next weekend as I anticipate coming back to my home turf at the White Lightning at LBL. See you there!

Blood test, EKGs, and KY mtn bike racing.......

Since the last post, much has happen; the seasons are beginning to change, racing is getting underway, fitness may be coming around, and lots of questions have been answered. I have officially been in denial since my 1st pro race last year in at the NMBS in Fountain Hill, AZ. The 25 hrs of straight driving combined with racing at that level in extreme heat followed by a recovery day of blistering the marathon course and a rest week of heading to Durango to ride the "oh so flat" Durango to Silverton century. Yeah I officially shattered 30 beats off my max heart rate from the day of the race and I officially haven't seen over 180 bpm since. I finally gave in last week and visiting Vandy for a little testing. Believe it or not the blood tests, EKGs, peak flow, and all else turned back great. Good news I guess, but now I'm left with several specialist's names and a big question mark.

With all this in the works, I was considering taking the next couple mths off the bikes and simply focus on running a little since I will be running the Music City in April. Luckily this last weekend, my friend Travis took me out and did his best to break my previous HR threshold. Mission accomplished; to an extent with a whopping 183. This was good so I decided to take my chances and head to Youngers Creek, KY this weekend for the 1st race in the KYMBA pts series.

Saturday started with a TT on a 4 mile course. We had a chance to put in two runs and the best time posted won. I walked into this weekend feeling unsure, unfit, and unconfident. As I told my travel partner I felt bad, he replied...."the last time you said that, you killed it!" Little did I know that after taking a few warm-up laps and sending my teammate Dustin off as my "rabbit," I would come back with the new course record of 19:15. I luckily posted the fastest time, and after several made valiant attempts to crack it, I decided to head out for another. Why not? I came to ride my mtn bike and it was a fun course. I had nothing to lose but a little energy for Sundays XC. The second lap was a mere 2 seconds faster even with a wreck. My mentality and doubts were being washed away. Something must be firing right even if my HR doesn't rise into the past maxes of 206 bpm. But if I can somehow figure out how to get those 20 beats back...whew. I am ready to roll.

Now on to Sundays XC. We unluckily were blessed by 20 degree weather on start time which was a drastic change from the 82 high that I experienced in Nashville last weekend. Oh well the race must go on. I knew I had to check myself today to see if I could lay down that kind of power for a long race b/c we were laboring 3-11 mile laps....and this place wasn't actually flat. I guess that is why it was named the Switchback Attack. Off the start I knew I must get in top five to start the climb so I wouldn't get bottlenecked in the switchbacks within the 1st mile. It worked...holeshot and I was in the lead setting the pace. At the top I had created a gap after the 3rd rider, so I settled into my groove. Before I knew it there was only one with me and then the accordian started to happen on 2nd place. I noticed about a 20 second gap and I was feeling great and making more time when I noticed that the freshly cut section of briar ridden trail had caused me to pick up a thorn. There goes my lead as I dismount and go straight to fixin! Bad luck kept flowin as my CO2 gave me nothing but freezing cold liquid that froze my gloves to the spokes, but kind fellow racers tossed me an extra after about 10 people passing me. I was on my way playing "catch up" now. 2 laps to go and I started reeling riders in. I felt great as I moved from double digits back into 3rd on the last lap. I may not have won on paper but the lap times I put down were impressive and that is all I needed mentally to get me on my game.

No time off the bike for me right now! It's recover up and get ready for the local SERC #2 at Chickasaw in Columbia this weekend. Racing season underway and looking forward to whatever it brings my way.

Alots been going down.....

It's only been a few weeks since my last post, but I tell you life has been churning. This is great thing b/c who needs a calm comfort zone. I love having the thrill of new experiences and change.

I have been pretty on schedule the last few years with riding daily b/c I love it, not b/c I need to do specific workouts. This has gotten me farther than I would have ever believed. Now I am to the point where I feel taking breaks to do other things is just as important as being on the bike. My theory...ride to tear it down and active recovery to let it build back. That is why my last excursion to Colorado to ski was perfect, among other things. I had the chance to take off my bike for 5 days and ski in some of the most beautiful mtns in the states. I must admit, it was hard not having a bike seeing the mtns in the distance and having 70 degree weather. Whew, real tough!

The break was great b/c I am back and feeling better than I have over the past few months. I was actually able to get my HR up a little more than usual doing some efforts but I am still having some issues. I did go to the MD this week for bloodwork, EKG, peak flow, and other tests for a diagnosis. Luckily all came back fine. Now I must go see some specialists at Vandy. Racers better watch out if I get this thing figured out, b/c if I was able to do as well as I did last year with a 30 beat limiter on my max HR, then take that governor off and watch me rip some legs off!

The riding lately has been great with the weather here in Nashville taking a turn to more springlike. Every Wednesday I am leading a group ride a Montgomery Bell State Park. It is going well with about 4-6 people showing up for a dusk loop and then flicking the lights on for some great night trail riding. This consistency is going to work out great, even though it is a hustle for me to get off work and to the trail in-time.

This last weekend, Travis Werts officially ripped me in half on a 5 hr ride. I held my own but he definitely has a little more of a motor than myself. Luckily he backed off for the last 1/2 hr so we could spin and recover. I feel great two days later even with a running sprint workout yesterday. Yes, you heard it...running. Plans are in the works to run the Nashville Music City Marathon. I am branching out a bit so my riding is taking its toll, but I will have some killer endurance if I get up my miles running.

I know I mentioned something last time about being back in the collegiate circuit. I still don't have a definite on this, but plans are in the work to attend a school here in Nashville to work on my masters in Sport/Business Psych. If all works well, I will be a full time masters student by fall, working as a full-time health consultant, and yes training/racing as a Pro! As you can tell, I like to have a lot on my plate. Bring it on!

Well I would love to fill you in more, but I must get my ride in today. Not looking forward to the change in weather that occurred over the last 12 hrs. Yesterday it was 79 and not it is 39. Whew time to get those legs crankin.

Over and out,
Daniel