Baraboo Road Race

Got up early this morning and went to the road race course. Sarge had to race at 9. We drove the course, two steep climbs of about .75-1mile in length and 8+%. The rest of the course was rolling and a lot of false flats. The winds were also very much a factor today, 15+mph.

Sarge did a great job in his race and brought out 2 guys with him, only to win in the final! SICK!

Next was Garrett and I's race. 45 Miles, 3 laps which meant 3 times up the big hills. Started out almost like a crit, pegged the first 3 miles until the first climb and then directly up the climb. Guys were falling off already and the pace was kept very high the first lap. Never thought a road race would start this fast. After the 2nd "two-step" climb, a group of 12 got off the front, myself included. This was the winning "break". We ended up losing 3 riders, and ended up being just 9 for the last 1.5laps.

I was surprised to be here, and just sat on. My legs didn't feel great today, don't have much racing in my legs. Hung on, but found myself cramping at the start of the last lap. Tried to drink and eat, but I think I waited a bit long. We slowed the pace down as I think everyone was watching everyone else and just waited for the sprint. Cross-wind sprint from the left, I was in great position, but just don't have the anaerobic effort yet. Came across 9th out of 9. Oh well, I was happy to be climbing with the best in the race, and hanging in there in the cross-winds. Haven't raced with that much climbing since Tour of Ohio last year in June.

Got some great training in today, with some anaerobic work tomorrow in the La Crosse criterium. I'll post some pictures from the race, don't have many.

Post from Crit either tomorrow night or Monday! See you at Finchford!

Race Weekend

First of all. Happy Anniversary to Bethany. 1 Year and it has been the best of my life :)

It's Friday! Just two classes today and then I am done for the weekend....kind. I have a very big Neuroscience test on Tuesday that is haunting my brain. Luckily I am getting away and racing twice, so hopefully I won't forget to study!

Last day of swimming lessons and then I am out of here with Sarge and Garrett, both of Team Wheaton Fransiscian and graduates of Luther College. All packed up and ready! Legs are feeling pretty good from the first week of training block after rest week. Did some LT and high intensity stuff. Gonna open the legs this weekend and test myself as I haven't raced very much!

First race is in Baraboo, Wisconsin and held by the Baraboo Sharks Junior Team. It looks as though it is pretty hilly which isn't all that bad, I have to climb a lot just in and around Decorah everyday. Will be a good race to test my legs after Eagle Point and before the upcoming month of Memorial Day races.
Second day is a fast/flat criterium in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Both of these races are less than 3 hours from my home at Luther, which is nice as a lot of Iowa races would be the same or farther right now at this point of the year. Never have raced in Wisconsin, so it will be cool to see new faces, test my mentality.

Hope to see some Iowa faces maybe. Sounds like Moritz and some of the B2U guys will be heading up!

Dopers Suck

Schumacher again.... get him outta here. I think he should be banned from all athletic events period for the rest of his life.

Rebellin as well.....wonder if a sample will come back from Fleche Wallone saying he is doped?


Anywho, rode some tempo today, felt good, climbing good! I am ready for this weekend.

LT Tuesdays

Did 2x20 Intervals today. Kind of the standard Tuesday workout for me. Felt awesome, I can tell the rest week last week really helped! Getting some good base form. Now 5 week training block before Memorial Day Weekend!!

This weekend is shaping up nicely with a road race in Baraboo, Wisconsin on Saturday and then a crit in La Crosse Wisconsin on Sunday. First time I have ever raced in Wisconsin, so it should be a great time. Will have to be very attentive as I know no-one!

Looks like Iowa City was a lot of fun!!!

Epic Ride Day

Got out of class early today and had nothing for 6 hours.

Called up Novian Whitsitt for a ride. He is an African Studies professor at Luther and one of the strongest riders I have ever seen. Lee Venticher could tell you more.

Anyway, we headed about about 11:30 for the day, going south into a 20+ mph constant headwind. Just a nice tempo pace. Got out of the headwind after about 2.5 hours of riding. About 50 miles into the ride, we came up on a bridge that was knocked out by the floods last summer. Nothing had been done on the road, by way of rebuilding. Of course we were talking about this, and as soon as we turned a corner....the crews were out rebuilding the bridge. We were stuck and had to make an 8 mile detour on Highway 151 to get back to a road home. So we are riding single file on a State Highway, and were pleased to see how courteous the truck drivers were, slowing down and even giving a couple honks after they passed.

Anyway, made it home after 4.5 hours, 80 miles covered, 4000kcals expended.

Then had my protein shake, animal crackers and headed to 1.5 hours of swim lessons. Got to the caf and stuffed my face.

Been doing homework non-stop since 7:30. Going out to eat with Bethany tomorrow night at La Rana Bistro, an Italian restaurant in Decorah for her bday/1 year anniversary. Then back to school for my buddies 21st bday. Saturday will be busy with Beth's 21st bday. I got her something awesome for a present. Hope she likes it!!!

Have a great weekend at Iowa City, hopefully won't rain to hard on y'all.

3 more weeks of school and I am done!

See you at Finchford. PEACE!

Eagle Point

Race Report #1!

Drove down to Dubuque on Sunday for the Eagle Point Criterium. Threatening weather looked as though it was going to rain the whole day off and on, making for a fun race. Made it to Eagle Point Park overlooking the Mississipi at about 12. Walked down and got registered, talked to some folks about the morning races and saw Chris Reed. We were the only from the team to race in the Cat 3's Sunday. A good showing by the HBA team with John Peters, Tom T, Chris and Geoff Eastburn.

Chris and I got our numbers on and gear ready and spun around the neighborhoods for a bit. Non other than Jimmy Carrico stroles up next to us in his ICCC kit and spanking new Specialized bike with HED Wheels. Balllin.... After rolling around and watching a great finish in the Cat 4's, we got on course and did some warm up laps. Race Time!!! Finally!

Rick P goes over instructions and sends us off. Right away Jimmy throws down a flyer. Caught and we settle in a bit for the first lap. 2nd lap, Chad Bishop puts in an attack, and I decide to follow, knowing that he has been riding amazing this winter/spring. We soon have about a 150m gap on the field and keep pushing. After a lap and a half, we are joined by Brendan Keely and Dom Moreinic. After we keep pushing the pace, our gap went right out. Jimmy, Ryan Jacboson and Chris must have done some good blocking in the field. My legs were feeling pretty bad at this point as this was my first real anaerobic workout of the year. We rotated through nicely and the gap continued to grow. I knew that Dom and Chad were really strong, and haven't ridden enough with Brendan to really know, but he was very vocal in keeping us together.

After a few laps, we saw the field about a half a lap behind and we just set it in fast cruise control. Nothing happened for the next few laps, I did see Ryan Jacobson go on a flyer off the front so we had to monitor that. Fast forward to 2 laps to go, we lap the pack with 1 to go and this is when the fun/chaos starts.

Chad goes right through the field and hits a fast pace that us 3 missed. Luckily Chris Reed was trying to get away for the field sprint and latched on. Dom went and tried to bring back Chad, and I sat on his wheel, knowing he was the best sprinter. We get to the last uphill and still haven't brought Chad back who had 20m or so. I go around Dom and latch on.....DOH! I get caught behind Chad when Brendan makes his move on the outside and starts sprinting. We never get back to him, but Dom passes me and I am able to just get past Chad for 3rd.

3rd place for my first race was sweet, I am very happy and feeling confident in my training. It was great to ride with Dom, Chad and Brendan (Congrats man!). I won't be doing IC weekend, because of work and Beth's 21st B-Day.

I will see you all at Finchford!!!

Getting some form...

Lack of updates for lack of racing. Have been getting some great training in without races to schedule around. Over half way through my 2nd semester of junior year. I am down in Cedar Falls for Easter Break with my girlfriend Bethany.

Have gone out for 6 hours the last two days and today rode with Bike Tech racers. Thanks to John, Kat, Mike and the others for their help. Looking forward to having some great food tonight and tomorrow. Going to Peppers Sports Bar for dinner, best chicken strips!

Go back to school on Tuesday, and have a good week of training before Eagle Point. My first race is in the middle-later part of April.....that is horrible. After that I have a week break, I don't believe I will make it to Iowa City as it is Beth's 21st birthday on the 26th. Going to do two races in Wisconsin on May 2nd and 3rd. After that..... Finchford and then Memorial Day.

I guess that is about it. have a great Easter, and hopefully I'll be updating this more often.

God Bless