Since the back to back days of the road race win and the Chickasaw disaster, I have managed to only race once and get in some other quality time. The next race on the schedule was the road race in Murfreesboro, but I chose hangin out with my brother, his finance, and my new girlfriend, Heather, instead. Sorry road racers, they drove in from Omaha and Heather flew in from Denver, so you lucked out. We decided to go hike at Fall Creek Falls for 4 hrs instead which was a welcome change from the usual hustle of a race
weekend, but that is yet to come as I headed to the White Lightning hosted by my sponsor team Wood-n-Wave and my all-supportive hook-up, Steve Wilson.
I was definitely pumped going into White Lightning, as it was the 1st race I ever did when I was 16 yrs old back in 97. Wow, that has been a while since the 7 mile 1st timer race that I finished 2nd in. I guess it was kinda ironic b/c that is how the results posted this time except in the Pro field. The race brought some fast names from the local scene, like teammate
Dustin Greer, Brian Schworm from Lexington, and Anthony Slowinski from Louisville. The race was actually ran in reverse direction so I was not as familiar as I would have liked with the trail, but I still almost knew every rock and corner since I was a weekend warrior there for years. I knew that I had to play my cards right and set the pace, so I jumped out front and
started mashing up the climbs that started the lap. I had an initial gap, which was closed by Schworm and Slowinski soon. I noticed Dustin a ways back with a group as I yelled for him to join us. I could not ease the pace as Slowinski and Schworm were breathing down my throat. I led most to the 1st lap and then again during the 2nd. I had a little extra push in me that day considering it was my home course, I had plenty of cheering section, and it was the first time that Heather was getting to see me race.
The pace stayed obnoxiously high and on the last lap, Schworm attacked up a tough climb. I made the move to stay with, but I felt something that wasn't quite normal in my low back. I stayed on the throttle anyways; ignoring the pain for about 10 minutes until I let his wheel go and he slowly crept away. I was in some serious pain with a half lap to go. At this point I was almost going into survival mode. It must have been bad if my sis and Heather told me that the grimace on my face coming under the canal bridge (halfway point) didn't look pleasant. I managed to roll across the line in a respectable 2nd and represent the proud blue and orange colors of the bike shop only a couple miles down the road.
I also want to throw out a quick thank you to all those that cheered me on last weekend at the race. You all don't know how much it means to me to have the familiar faces pushing me along. I love every minute of it. I am excited for what is going on with riding and racing in the Midwest region especially in the local hometown area. It is great to see my legacy proceed me while Murray State jerseys blaze through the woods and what a great following Steve Wilson has created by helping so many cyclists in the region. I give utmost props to Steve b/c I would not be where I am at today if not for him floating me on bikes, gear, and mechanic work. Thanks everyone for helping me stay mentally sound in an oh so tough sport!
Now I was in recuperation mode since I couldn't even bend down to fill my bottles out of the cooler. Finally on Friday after 3x/day of icing and Ibuprofen the pain started to subside as I decided not to attend Knobscorcher. I didn't think it was a smart idea and also I had a new bike waiting for me at the Wave. So I vouched for picking it up and dialing it in with Steve on Sunday. Oh how nice the new Top Fuel is!!! My back is so thankful to get off the softtail Moots to something with a little more cush.
That is all the race news as I plan for a free weekend coming since Easter races are rare. It will be good time off especially since the new big news for me is I'm moving to Denver. Yep, making the leap of faith to explore a relationship with a great girl. I guess that means Dustin won't have to have a photo finish sprint to rap up the TBRA jersey and he won't be forced to start at my obnoxious "fire under the a**" pace that I do. But people better watch out in the future, b/c now I will be living and training at 5280. I can see the hematocrit rising now.
See you in a few weeks as the road races are coming up and TN mtn biking is getting more full swing. And Dustin, you better plan on winning Montgomery Bell, b/c I will be in NY that weekend and we can't have any other person take the TN races from us.
Live to ride, ride to live!
Daniel
weekend, but that is yet to come as I headed to the White Lightning hosted by my sponsor team Wood-n-Wave and my all-supportive hook-up, Steve Wilson.
I was definitely pumped going into White Lightning, as it was the 1st race I ever did when I was 16 yrs old back in 97. Wow, that has been a while since the 7 mile 1st timer race that I finished 2nd in. I guess it was kinda ironic b/c that is how the results posted this time except in the Pro field. The race brought some fast names from the local scene, like teammate
Dustin Greer, Brian Schworm from Lexington, and Anthony Slowinski from Louisville. The race was actually ran in reverse direction so I was not as familiar as I would have liked with the trail, but I still almost knew every rock and corner since I was a weekend warrior there for years. I knew that I had to play my cards right and set the pace, so I jumped out front and
started mashing up the climbs that started the lap. I had an initial gap, which was closed by Schworm and Slowinski soon. I noticed Dustin a ways back with a group as I yelled for him to join us. I could not ease the pace as Slowinski and Schworm were breathing down my throat. I led most to the 1st lap and then again during the 2nd. I had a little extra push in me that day considering it was my home course, I had plenty of cheering section, and it was the first time that Heather was getting to see me race.
The pace stayed obnoxiously high and on the last lap, Schworm attacked up a tough climb. I made the move to stay with, but I felt something that wasn't quite normal in my low back. I stayed on the throttle anyways; ignoring the pain for about 10 minutes until I let his wheel go and he slowly crept away. I was in some serious pain with a half lap to go. At this point I was almost going into survival mode. It must have been bad if my sis and Heather told me that the grimace on my face coming under the canal bridge (halfway point) didn't look pleasant. I managed to roll across the line in a respectable 2nd and represent the proud blue and orange colors of the bike shop only a couple miles down the road.
I also want to throw out a quick thank you to all those that cheered me on last weekend at the race. You all don't know how much it means to me to have the familiar faces pushing me along. I love every minute of it. I am excited for what is going on with riding and racing in the Midwest region especially in the local hometown area. It is great to see my legacy proceed me while Murray State jerseys blaze through the woods and what a great following Steve Wilson has created by helping so many cyclists in the region. I give utmost props to Steve b/c I would not be where I am at today if not for him floating me on bikes, gear, and mechanic work. Thanks everyone for helping me stay mentally sound in an oh so tough sport!
Now I was in recuperation mode since I couldn't even bend down to fill my bottles out of the cooler. Finally on Friday after 3x/day of icing and Ibuprofen the pain started to subside as I decided not to attend Knobscorcher. I didn't think it was a smart idea and also I had a new bike waiting for me at the Wave. So I vouched for picking it up and dialing it in with Steve on Sunday. Oh how nice the new Top Fuel is!!! My back is so thankful to get off the softtail Moots to something with a little more cush.
That is all the race news as I plan for a free weekend coming since Easter races are rare. It will be good time off especially since the new big news for me is I'm moving to Denver. Yep, making the leap of faith to explore a relationship with a great girl. I guess that means Dustin won't have to have a photo finish sprint to rap up the TBRA jersey and he won't be forced to start at my obnoxious "fire under the a**" pace that I do. But people better watch out in the future, b/c now I will be living and training at 5280. I can see the hematocrit rising now.
See you in a few weeks as the road races are coming up and TN mtn biking is getting more full swing. And Dustin, you better plan on winning Montgomery Bell, b/c I will be in NY that weekend and we can't have any other person take the TN races from us.
Live to ride, ride to live!
Daniel
posted by Unknown at 8:03 AM
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