RAAM 2009

RAAM has passed by Hermann each of the 3 years I have lived here. This year was no different with the exception the route crossed the new Kit Bond bridge into Hermann then down Hwy 100 to Washington. In past years they just kept heading East on 94.

Tuesday I was out for my AM training ride hoping to come across one of the riders. Sure enough I did, rider Mark Botoh. He is currently running 4th in the solo category. Saw the guy/crew stop for gas, ice and other goodies. When he got off the bike he could barley stand up, looked like a drunken sailor as he staggered to regain balance. Obviously not drunk on booze but I guess you could say he was drunk on miles. At this point in the race he had about 1900 miles in his legs.

It's hard to image riding that many miles, especially in the heat of the past few days, day after day pushing the body to what has to feel like complete exhaustion at all times.

RAAM in the past has not been much to watch or even follow on the net. Seems like 3 time champion Jure Robic will always win and win by a big margin. Not this year. 2408 miles into the race Robic and a guy named Dani Wyss are actually racing! Robic had a 80 min lead when I shut things down for the night yesterday, this AM Robic's leads is a mere 17 min.

With 600 miles to go this should play out to be one close race. For some reason I find myself rooting for the Wyss. I guess it's because he may be the underdog or it may be that by him pursuing Robic there is actually a race to watch. Regardless, it's amazing what these guys are doing.

Check it out for your self here.

http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/rcrank.php

Tour of Winghaven RR

I thought the ToW had a great look to it this year. Banners, start truss, staff shirts the whole nine yards, place looked professional, nice job Mike and crew!

Had about 80 in my race, started front row and lead things about for about half a lap or so. Moved off and settled in for what was to be 10 laps.

At the end of the 2nd lap we came into the round- a-bout, several guys go down in front of me resulting in a full brake controlled slide coming to a stop just before colliding into the pile of wreckage in font of me.

Took a bit of time to get through the pile, but I did, and off I was in full sprint mode to catch the group which was now on top of the hill. Tried to work with a few riders to catch back on, but we never made much progress. Finally after 5 laps of horrid hot temperatures riding mostly solo, I called it a day.

Not the way I wanted this race to end, but those are the breaks I guess.

Next week is recovery then July I ramp up the intensity for the first time this year. Most of this year has been threshold with a mix of above threshold, but July will max out my abilities setting me up for cross season.

Dirt crits and MTB races will dominate July!

Hermann Cross Registration Opens Today

Go Here

State Road Race Report

Photo by http://www.ficksphotos.com/ficks.fp?Selection=galleryCategories

Great day for a road race. I think 4 guys got off the front after the 1st lap and stayed away. I was able to stick with the group, 16 or so of us made it up the final climb together making our way to the finish. I was ready to sprint for a good placing but by quads cramped leaving me to spin the last few hundred yards for 23rd.

Overall pleased with the effort. Thanks to Todd and his crew for a fun event.

Route 66 Duathlon 2009 race report

Route 66 Duathlon is a small race out of Rolla that I highly recommend to anyone. It's a low key well run event that Dawndi and I have done twice now, having a great time both times.

Dawndi was happy with her goodie bag.



Dawndi hit up the 5K run with me bringing up the rear for the 19 mile TT. Pulled out the skin suite for this one.



Things got started with the run, mass start.





Dawndi has been training well, looking to better her time from last year of 25:58. Having the advantage of racing last year she knew what the track was like and said to me before she took off her legs felt light.

Last years team winner Eric and Blake were there, seeing them we knew game was on.. Blake is a super fast runner throwing down 4.5 min miles. Today was no exception, he came across the line first for the run leg at 18:18.

Dawndi came sprinting across the line 7 min later for a new best time of 25:15. Nearly 45 seconds better than last year, major improvement! Dawndi set me up well to chase down Eric and hopefully take home 1st.




I had the power tap loaded which allowed me to set some specific goals for this race. Stay just under 250 watts for the first 5 min, then ramp things up a bit trying to keep things at 300 or so. On this hills push harder then take it easy on the downhills. Finally, stay seated the entire time.

At the turn around in St. James I was able to get a time check as I saw Eric coming my way. We were now 3.5 min down. After seeing the time check I knew it was going to be close.

With a few miles to go I did get a glimpse of Eric allowing me to get another time check that showed I had closed the gap even more to only 1.5 min between us. Unfortually I was running out of restate, catching him was going to tough at best.

Eric put down a great effort to hold me off with a final gap of 45 seconds taking home first with Dawndi I coming in 2nd in the team competition and 2nd overall. There was one guy who was infront of Eric and I but he cut the course and was DQ'd.





We both improved our times over last year under near identical conditions. I improved my average MPH from 22.8 last year to 23.7. Average watts ended up being 262. The pacing I think made a huge difference, normally I take off hard and suffer near the end. Today I was well within my limits keeping a steady effort all day.

Racing contineus Sunday with the State RR in St Gen.

Hermann Cross 2009

This year there will be 3 cyclocross races in Hermann, MO. A few things to point out so all are aware. All three events are registration on line, but you pay at event site the day of the race. This way I get an idea of head count and you are not locked in financially if something comes up and you can't make it. I do ask that if you can't make it to email me so I can update the roster. You can register on site, but do so on line if you plan to race.

Races are staged in order of registration, priority call ups for Under the Lights and State race.Bearcat Cross and Under the lights race have beginner men and women categories. These categories are for 1st timers and others that have been thinking about giving this awesome sport a try. Ride what ever bike you have, MTB, hybrid, unicycle... just give it a try.

Single Speed category at all three races. I tried to set up the schedule of events so that those SS racers could race SS and their category if desired.

Bearcat Cross and 5K Run on September 13 (Sunday)
Registration now open
http://bearcatcross.blogspot.com/

Hermann Cross Under the Lights on September 19 (Saturday)
Registration opens June 15 @5am
http://hermanncross.blogspot.com/

Missouri State Cyclocross Championships December 6 (Sunday)
Registration opens September 7 @ 5am
Bubba Cross Series race
http://mostcxchampionship.blogspot.com/

Rhetts Run Race Report

Loaded up the MTB and headed to Columbia MO for Rhett's Run. Did this back in 2006, the first year Dawndi and I moved to MO. Was 7th that day.

Today I had high hopes of placing well. Over the last month I had spent some significant time out at Cosmo Park pre-riding and even did a pre-race training day there. Felt I had the course dialed in.

Things were dry for the last 3 days and the course All was in place as I had pictured mentally. Woke up today with a chance of rain in the Columbia area. Looked at the radar and it looked like it would stay north keeping Cosmo dry. Well things changed, as I drove there it rained and when I arrived a nice big shower dropped making for a mud bath. That mentally took me off my game a bit.

I begin to go out for a pre-ride before the beginners took off at 11. Switched out tires, headed back out, made one more change and finally settled on a combination that I thought would work for me. Only bad thing is that I took about a hour to do so and did a piss poor job of staying hydrated in the process. For me it was humid and I was dripping with sweat, not a good combination. Not sure why I did this, like I said, the weather mentally took me off my game and I was not thinking right.

Raced started at 12:30, in the end the trails were perfect, rain had drained well and the riders from the previous race smoothed things out. No tire change would have been needed after all, could have rode with what I had on when I arrived.

I had a good start, about 4th of 5th holding that spot I think through the first lap which took about 22 min. During my fist lap I began to feel the on set of dehydration, goose bumps. Crap! I started to drink more and took on a few more gels trying to keep it at bay.

During the 2nd lap it came back a bit more intense, started to make mistakes, concentration was off, more goose bumps and calf cramps started . And to top things off my left grip came loose which I had to take it off.

After 40 min I decided it was best to call it a day and not stress my body with full blown dehydration.

Couple stupid mistakes that could have been avoided if I had just kept my head on straight. Disappointing day for sure, but here are many more days of racing this year staring with this weekend. Dawndi and I race a team duathlon Saturday and then I head to the State Road race on Sunday.

I'm going to go mow now, it's a rider so no risk of dehydration, doubt I'll get a DNF there.

Rocking at 70

Started the day with my normal AM training. Here of late I've done the majority of training on my cross bike out on the Katy trail. Makes it easy to hit the watt target ranges.



Couple months back Dawndi purchased some Crosby Still Nash concert tickets for her Mom for Mothers day. Last night was the concert. To be honest I was not sure how this would turn out. I know here Mom would have a great time but uncertain who Dawndi and I would like it. Despite them being near 70 years of age and most of the concert was filled with similar aged ex hippies, this was a good show.

Championship Prep

Two State Championship races coming up, Midwest Fat Tire and USA Cycling MO State. Last weekend headed to Cosmo park to prep for the MWFT race. There is just something about Cosmo that I like, always like to ride out there. 10 day weather forecast is looking good, hope that holds out and we have a dry race.



In July the USA Cycling MO State race will be held at Broemmeisiek Park. Had never been out there so Shaun and I made the trip yesterday to check it out. Spent a couple hours out there, all in all it's a cool track. This race I'm sure will be super fast.

Finally June is here and racing can begin again.