Cyclocross, why didnt I do this before?

Getting ready to go up some stairs, carrying my bike, WTF??

I decided on Tuesday to race on Sunday. My first ever cyclocross (CCX) race. I was a tad nervous. Not because of learning how to race cross, not because of a fear of crashing, but having to dismount my steed in a hurry. Turns out, Im pretty good at getting off it fast, however, getting back on is another story. Well, getting on, isnt exactly the problem either, its getting the left foot back into the cleat without stopping to do so. All in all, I think there were about 5 dismount sections including a rock barrier, a double, a single with a short steep hill after it, a single with a hairpin turn immediatly after, and a set of stairs. I may have missed one but no matter, it amounted to 20 times over 4 laps. The only time I fell was when I had to dismount for the short hill anyway so I just kept going. The crappy part about falling was having my left leg stuck in the cleat with mud and grass so it was tough to get up and start running up the hill.

So, the race was started at 9am. I raced in the beginner category based on advice from veteran cross racers. I started near the front because in my experience from MTB racing, getting the hole shot or near it, is a good thing. The first tricky part was about 40 seconds from the gun. Its a downhill in the grass and slick dirt. I wouldnt have called it muddy at this time but it was going to be before too long. The descent was what I expected on the first lap. Lots of fast people on the flats hit it before I did and I had to use my brakes. Later in the race, I would be passing people down said hill that were on full suspension MTB's and were too chicken, I mean cautious, to let it fly.

The first lap is all about spreading people out. About half way through, I was wondering what the hell I was doing out there (as can be seen on my face in this picture).
My WAR FACE!!

My cleats were not very muddy at this time but they were getting there. I thought I was doing OK, but my HRM was telling me otherwise as it read 189bpm. I decided to ignore that little bit of feedback and concentrate on slowing down, pacing myself, and having fun.

There were a few people from Camas there waiting to race and cheering me on. They kept yelling things like "keep going, you still have 10k to run", etc. Good times. That first lap, as I said, was hell. After I got in a groove, I pushed on, getting passed mostly on the uphills and on the remounts after the barriers. I think on the first lap, I would have had the energy to bunny hop a few of the barriers but not being used to a road bike in the mud, I didnt even attempt it.

I dont think I have heard so much cowbell in my life. It was like there was a sale at Walmart on them. About 1 in 10 seemed to have one. Around my 3rd time in the velodrome, I heard the announcer say that the lead riders were almost at the finish. I was kind of hoping at that time that I would get lapped so I could save my legs and shoulders for another race but alas, I did one more. I think the first one took me about 12 minutes and given that I did 4, I felt pretty good. The lead riders did 5 and when I looked at the stats for the Clydesdales, only a few did 5 so I think Im moving cat's. I finished in 112th place...... By far my worst ever finish in any kind of bike race but I didnt come in last. There were a few DNF's and Im glad I wasnt one of them although at times, again, I was wondering what I was doing out there in the rain and the mud on a road bike and thought abuot just riding to my truck.

Some observations of CCX riders.... most of the guys show up in capri pants although Im sure they call them something different when a guy wears them. Some race in some weird get-ups, some wear team uni's, VERY few shave their legs, even fewer shave their faces or get hair cuts. One guy that started at the front had about 20lb of dreadlocks wrapped up in some sort of cloth and tucked into his jersey pocket. One dude was wearing green and white striped socks like the wicked witch of the west. There are less attitudes than at a road race. There seems to be a lot of weed smoked prior to racing, not that I smelled any, but more like the way some people act. The people parked next to me were very friendly before and after the race. They gave me a home made oatmeal chocolate chip walnut bar that really hit the spot after the race. Dave and Sarah I think were their names. the guy parked on the other side of me, sorry to say I dont remember his name, but he found me after the race to see how I liked it. He got the holeshot and led the race for the first lap. This was his 3rd CCX race and he had never led a lap before so he was pretty pumped about it. All in all, everyone I met was very helpful, pleasant, and happy to be there and I think I want to be part of this "cult" (as so many CCX'ers call it) and race again next week in Wilsonville.
Jumping across a barrier AWAD style!!

To Run or Not to Run, what a great question

I have been running lately, more like shuffling, but, hey, Im mobile right? I pushed myself to do a 5k and managed a negative split on the last mile (first was faster than the second mile but the third was faster than both) AND I did all at under 10 minute/mile pace. Yesterday, I knocked out a mile at under 9min/mile pace but was knackered after that so I didnt do much more high pace stuff. I picked up a marathon training guide just before my run and they said Monday was a day off so I only went 2 miles. BTW, if you want to up your pace, bring a husky and have someone that runs faster bring their dog, that way the husky will pull you to a phenomenal pace. My dog is for rent on a daily, weekly, or monthly rate and he is dirt cheap.

I have not yet decided whether Im doing a marathon or not. After a 5.5 mile run last week, I felt pretty good, and I was all over doing another 20.7 miles given the right training. Towards the end of the week, my legs still felt pretty good on my shorter runs, 3 and 4 miles, but mentally, I didnt want to go another step. Not because I couldnt, but more like, why am I doing this?

Today, I will ride my bike, a little cross training like it said in the article, and tomorrow, an hour run. I dunno, do I have it in me? I know I can get faster on a 5 and 10k so maybe, I wont push the long distance stuff except maybe for a half IM in 2009. Which reminds me, I guess I should sign up for one of the good ones. My buddy Mark seems to think he can beat me at the 70.3 in FL but I dont think so. The only thing stopping me from not proving him wrong is the trip across the country but you never know, I might find a way just to make him lose to a handicapped guy.

2008 Paralympics

So, Im a good swimmer. In most of my races I am in the top 1/3 and Im good with that considering my swim training isnt as much as it should be during the tri season. I was reading my friend's blog today and he talked about this swimmer that won the gold medal for the 50m Fly.

This athlete has no arms, not even stumps, and he did the 50m fly in 37 seconds and change. I will let you read about from Meyrick as he is a better writer than I but I watched the youtube video of this guy and was amazed. Imagine every time you have to make a turn, you crack your skull on the end of the pool..... no thanks.

The unfortunate thing for the Paralympics is, at least in the US, the coverage is nil as far as I can tell. I havent found anything except for the paralympic.tv site but you cant change channels to watch other events so whatever is on at the time, is what you get. We had an Oregonian win a gold in the women's TT so it made it on the sports section of the news but thats all I have heard.

Maybe by 2012, they will have some better coverage. I sure hope so, because if I attain my goal of making the Canadian cycling team, I want my family and friends to be able to watch.

PC, AWAD, AB, BCS, AK, BK, WTF??

Our society is full of acronyms, I kind of like them. CIA, FBI, DHS, RCMP, GOP ....... the list goes on and on. One thing that sport is filled with too. In the 'disabled' world there are a TON!

After I got hurt, I used the term physically challenged. When someone asks me why I'm limping however, I sometimes tell them I disabled or handicapped but that's not very PC but I am a PC athlete. I used to be an AB AG athlete, now I'm an AWAD. I'm not BK or AK, I'm 'les autre'. I'm not a para or a quad but I did have an SCI. When I race AG, I'm not a 40-44, I'm a Clydesdale..... OK, no acronym for that. When I race, I have mediocre T2 but a pretty fast T1 but my injury was at T8...... confused yet? cuz I'm just getting started.

I spent some time at OHSU after I got hurt then I was transferred to RIO. I get emails from the CPC, the ITU, TriBC, and TRICAN. I used to be a member of USAT and now am just a member of OBRA but next year I will probably have to be licensed by the UCI as well as BCC and OBRA. I have professional licences from the WADOH and the OBCE and if money were no object, I would get certified in ART.

I don't drink MGD or PBR but I do like other kinds. I have patients that do MMA and also ride CBR's. I went for a few tryouts for the BCJHL but ended up in the KIJHL as well as the BCJFL. I work with some kids in the WHL that have aspirations of the NHL as well as some others that want to go to the NFL but only after some NCAA time. Hopefully soon, they will have a better system than the BCS.

I used to have a husky that was AKC but she is gone. Now we just have mutt's that need some attention from a DVM. I have friends that are DC's, MD's, DO's, DMD's, and DDS's. I have other friends that are CPA's, SPHR's, and PhD's.

When does the insanity end??? How bout RFN! Now I just have to wait for my sister to proofread this so I can be scolded for using too many acronyms improperly and WAY too many apostrophe's.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, bubye!

Boston Marathon???

So, Im probably an idiot... why you ask? Because I want to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Maybe the voices in my head are right. After I asked myself why, besides the obvious, that I am an idiot, I was reminded of little things such as my hatred of running, and I always say it hurts, but you know what? Just like my little league coach would say as he hit line drives at us, it only hurts for a little while. What do they say, "pain is temporary, pride is forever"?

Ever since I did World's and met some great inspirational people, my goals have been more lofty. Hell, I even think i could get into Nordic skiing, just to see if I can qualify for the Winter Paralympics. No worries Meyrick, I wont take your slot, you're younger, stronger, and faster but I'm better looking :) I used to be a great rifle shot, maybe I can be a good biathlon athlete.

Maybe I will train to swim the English Channel..... naw, forget that, I don't love swimming that much. But, while I may be an idiot, I am driven. I know what a bad hurt is and I know what the pain from doing something like an Ironman is, and the two, so far, have not co-existed in my body.

swim bike run repeat

I dunno what to do with myself lately. Just like last time I did an Ironman, I am lost without a plan. I swim, I bike, I run, but for what? No races til next year unless I do the one in Seattle area next weekend. Maybe some running races are in order. COMPETITION, I NEED IT.

I have to work on my sponsorship letters. I have to clean my kids toys up (sort through them). I have to organize my garage. I have to organize my office. I have to work on my grammar so my sister doesnt send out emails telling me how bad I am at using my punctuation marks. I want to learn Russian for my job. I want to learn Spanish for my vacation. I want to get a new mountain bike. I want I want I want I want........... it never ends. I want peace and harmony in my world, and maybe even the rest of the world too.

Ok, done for today, more exciting news with bad grammar tomorrow.
D

Season is over.... or is it?

Yesterday and today, I had two of the best, short workouts I have had in ages. I ran yesterday for the first time since IMC. I cannot believe how good I felt. I was on pace for a sub 10 minute mile. Mind you that was dog assisted, but even so, after the first mile, I still felt full of energy. Well, that nasty GI issue I continually get jumped out of its evil hiding spot. The problem with a spinal cord injury (SCI) at least for me, is I never know when I gotta go and it always seems to creep up when I need it LEAST. Like when Im having the best run of the year or during a wetsuit swim.

Today, I rode my MTB for the first time since March. I was inspired to ride it after sharing an email with Jaimie Whitmore. I had read about her illness in Competitor Magazine and Stacey suggested I share my story with her. I get all emotional when I talk about how I got hurt, not sure why, just the way I am I guess. It took me a while to write it and not long after I sent it, she wrote back. I basically said what happened to me and if I can help inspire her to get back on the provervial horse, then I have accomplished on of my goals. To help others that have had recent life altering injuries. Jamie's situation is much worse than mine; she has had cancerous tumors removed but the neurological issues are similar.

Anyway, I got on my MTB and 15 minutes later, I was back at the house, getting my roadie shoes and my TT bike. I remembered why I hadnt been on it for 7 months, it needs work. You know, the bike has grown on me since we were so up close and personal for 7 hours and 4 minutes last weekend. It hurt me, but I now respect it. Before I left for Canada, I was hating it and couldnt wait to get rid of it. Today, I think I will be keeping it. Its great for shorter distances which I will be focusing on next season.

My steed.

I had to get some groceries after my ride so I threw it in the truck, went to QFC, and rode from there.
Except for the dozen or so lights I had to stop at, I maintained a good solid output for an hour and I felt awesome. I climbed one hill and didnt have to granny gear up it. I was very pleased. Guess Im in good shape after all.

So, back to the title. The day after IMC, when we were driving back home, I thought I would just kick back, work out daily with weights or other cross training activities. Over the past few days, I got an itch to race at least one more time this year. There are a couple of Oly distance races near Seattle and of course, there is the CAF event in San Diego but that might be out of the budget for the year. If we can find someone to watch the boys, Stacey and I might both be racing as there is a sprint event too. I feel like I could kick ass on a sprint today but I should do the Oly distance. I have to save face from Nationals when I had the worst 10k ever.