Racing into middle age

Well, I haven't had time to post anything since my little morning excursion a week ago. Since then I have done 4 races and completed all of them. Some more stellar than others but I was out there. A dear friend always reminds me that showing up is half the battle, the other half is what you do prior (ie training).

Quick Recap
Salida
The road race was HARD! really hard. I was able to hang on for 1/3 a lap! The initial climb was wicked and the pack blew apart quickly, at least that was my perspective. I finished about 30 minutes behind the leader. On Sunday, the criterium was in downtown and it rocked! I felt awesome, even after the battering I gave myself the day before. I hung it all out within the first lap and even got a little gap but the pack reeled me in and spit me right out the back. I did ride with a local guy for the remainder of the race and we just did mindless loops. What fun!!!

Fed Center Race
This is a great circuit race only 3 miles from home. I preperation for the event, I went to a swim beach and laid in the sun. I got shelled but was able to keep the peloton within sight until 2 laps to go. The legs have never screamed so loud.

Bannock St Crit
What a fun event! The legs felt great and my mind was at ease. Just stayed with the pack until the sprint at the end where I sat up and soft pedaled in. My legs had no snap so no sense risking an accident. Rode to and from the event which I logged 68 miles for the day.

Not bad for a 40 year old!

Morning Spin

Took an easy morning noodle around Bear Creek Park and was able to watch the sunrise. Ready for the weekend, time to race. Escape mediocrity!

Good Bye Friend

17 years of service!

Weekend ahead

I have been thinking alot about the race this weekend. Not from the stand point of nerves or of my ability, but from the state of racing in CO. I consider myself a decent racer and tend to have a positive outlook. Since moving to CO, some of that has changed. Living in Austin I was the president of my bike club and rode with a great group of teammates. I have tried many times to join a club or team to no avail. A lot of that has to do with the fact I am not finishing in the top 10 in every race or that I don't toe up to the line every weekend. Just plain frustrating! I believe I have talents that any team would like to have. Oh well!

High country excursion

Headed to the mountains for a weekend out of the heat. I think everybody had the same idea. The trails were packed with avid cyclists knocking out miles climbing Vail pass. I rode from Breck to Vail, roughly 63 miles on Saturday. It was a pleasant way to spend the day. Sunday brought a grueling but short ride up to Hoosier pass in cold, damp conditions.

As I get older the rides I do in the mountains really help calm my soul. The expansiveness of the wilderness with the crisp air and clear blue sky make me realize that life will always be good. On that note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!!!!

The worst has happened!

To all cyclist their morning hit of coffee is what gets them out the door. Well, I have to say my coffee maker is gasping for breath. It has been part of my cycling routine for going on 17 years and has traveled from Marshalltown, IA to Houston, TX to Austin, TX to Denver, CO. Looking for a new coffee maker is harder than buying a bicycle. The technology has changed so much to complete such a simple task. It will probably take me the better part of the next few weeks to purchase a replacement.

I was able to get out for a easy spin this morning without a stout cup of joe. Heading off to the mountains for some long miles and to escape the heat.

Climbing back into shape

Rode in the heat, climbing over 7 miles up along highway 40. The legs were weary from doing hill repeats the day before but I felt solid. Hopefully Salida will be a good race for me.

Heat!

Boy is it HOT! I am suppose to go and do a long climb this evening. 104 on the back deck at its hottest.

I'll update the climb later......

The bike feels good..

I am back at it on the bike and it is feeling good. I did race this past weekend and that did not feel good, but I haven't been racing every weekend since March like the rest of the pack. I am planning on doing a road race in Salida. I am stoked!

It has been a hectic July and the rest of the summer looks to be the same.

Thanks

Pictures

I have figured out the whole picture thing and now will be posting more.



Freewheeling ride in Austin, Texas.













Matt at Michigan Bluff, mile 55!

Looking strong coming out of the aid station.

Is recovery overrated?

Tried to ride the Firecracker 50 two days ago and had a bad day. I am still reeling from the fact that I was unable to finish. The legs had no juice!! They are still tweaked from the effort with my brother. Will spend the next few days trying to recover so I can salvage what is left of the racing season.

Out on the Trail....

Man do I look like crap......

Working the kinks out

Rode today for only an hour. Man the legs are feeling tweaked!! Little pains abound but they at least felt strong and was able to spin some life into them. Four days to my next race, the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge. A fifty mile mountain bike adventure through some great country in and around Breck. I am hoping to hit the five hour mark but I will have to see how the legs feel Monday.

My dad and his wife are out for the Forth and we are planning a traditional picnic right down to the potato salad and hotdogs. Should be a great weekend.

Pain, Pain go away

Painful! That is all I can say. It was both mentally and physically draining to be running for 13 hours throught night with someone who pushed his body to far earlier in the day. Lots of prep talks, cussing, shin splint, and pity parties but he finished 100 miles in 27 hours 37 minutes. Thats a 30 minutes faster than last year. Pictures in a day or two.

My legs ache but in a good way and should be back on the bike in a day or two. It was good to get home and eat all the cookies in the house! To sleep in this morning was the best feeling in the world as I have risen at 4 am the last two evenings I got to sleep. I learned more about myself this trip and hopefully it will make me a better person.

The ups and downs of life bring many joys and disappointments but one has to remember that we are here for only a short period of time and we must push on.

Thanks for reading........

The big weekend

So my foray into running is upon me. My bags are packed, my legs feel good, and my spirits are high. I do have some butterflies, but that is to be expected. Check it the Western States 100 and follow the progress of the runners. I hope to meet my brother at around 7 pm and run with him until 5 am - it should be fun. I bought some battery powered Christmas lights that I am wearing on my pack.

38 miles of dust, sweat, and brotherly companionship = Life changing experience.

Will update will all the details next week.

Lake Kansas

With 15 inches of rain in the area of Kansas we visited I should have been swimming instead of running. You had to run to stay ahead of the mosiquitos which made me feel like I was back in Houston. Did some solid runs and even a short ride through downtown Wichita.

An uneventful trip and glad to be back in CO.

Single speeding to fitness

I have been riding my single speed mtn bike for almost 3 years and am amazed at the amount of fitness that I have maintained. I am not fast, but I have been able to stay steady for all my rides. Had a good ride last night with two other guys and really pushed it, I should be ready for pacing bro at WS100.

Off on another adventure to Kansas.....

Windy

I woke this morning to the sound of the wind hollowing. So what did I do, not roll over like a sane person and continue to sleep, I got up and headed out for a ride. I cut the ride short because the wind was so strong I had to pedal downhill into the wind and only was able to eek out 7 mph. As I rode the cross wind section of the ride, I got hammered and blown into the ditch three times. To compound the unpleasant ride, I got a flat a mile from the house.

Will spend the rest of the day out of the wind.

A running kind of weekend

Decided to stay out of the mountains this weekend in order to have good weather to train. Was able to get in two solid hour plus runs in with a 17 mile ride on the tandem.

Saturday am I heading out into the brisk air for a 6 mile run, I wished the trails were dry but pounding concrete is better than nothing. My bro won the Mens 100k Open division at the Kettle Moraine run last weekend, so I have my work cut out for WS. Got home and loaded up the family and rode to Golden for the Farmers Mkt.

Sunday brought rain and shorter run but a little hillier. The trails are still wet and will probably be that way for a day or two. I'll have to hit the bike for morning rides over the next couple days.

I am working on the groove of a blog, while out running I had all these topics flowing freely but I sit typing without a streaming though process. Maybe just lack of sugar.

Back to the OLN...

A Rest Day

"Recovery is overrated"

My first day of rest in 7 days. Rode yesterday morning and the legs felt great, I even climbed to the top of Grn Mtn to watch the sun rise over Denver. Today, I have been drinking to much coffee and cleaning house. Would have taken the tandem out with the kids but the weather did not allow it.

Hope to get two solid runs in this weekend, as I have only 2 weeks before I pace my brother at Western States.