Interlocken CX

My worse race yet but that is what happens when you take chances.  Got lined up as the 9th rider so went hard off the start line which is something I have not done much of.  Usually I wait until the second half to start pushing hard but thought I would change that up since I am not starting in the back anymore.  First lap went ok but on lap 2 I crashed 4 times, one of them being on concrete which took me a while to get up from.  Mud makes any course a lot harder by turning my tires into slicks, lesson learned.

Once again thanks to Bryan Trammell for the photos.

Twofer Cyclocross weekend

Yep, the weekend on the front range means more cyclocross racing!  I know it is getting old but I dig this sport. 

Saturday was Schoolyard Cross in Lafayette.  This was a very cool course on the grounds of a private school.  This course was a little longer at just over 2.5 miles meaning that we did 3 laps for the race instead of 4 like the past weeks.  It was also a faster course and I was able to average just under 13mph which is faster than weeks past also.  Either I was sucking today or the field was faster because I ended up 23rd out of 52. I am thinking the field was faster, there were a lot of younger guys I was racing today with college cycling team kits on.  Once again the man Bryan Trammell made an appearance and took awesome photos which are at the bottom.  Strava data can be found by clicking here.

Sunday was the Feedback Cup in Golden.  Went to the starting corral for the call up and for some reason my name was not called so I ended up starting in the back.  The last 2 races including yesterday I am either the last person in the first row or in the second row depending on who showed up.  Anyways took off hard so when we hit the sand pit just over a quarter mile into the race I was sitting between 10-15th place out of 26.  As I was running through the pit some jack hole trying to ride it through all the people fell over when he stalled out and turned my front wheel 90 degrees from my handle bars, shit.  After spending about 30-45 seconds realigning my wheel I was in last place and pissed.  I spent the next 38 minutes just hammering trying to work my way back up the field.  Ended 10th out of 26, only a few seconds back of the jack hole that twisted my wheel.  I have not buried myself like that in a while, felt good to physically burn matches like that after the week of personal BS I had.  You can find the Strava data here.  Even did a half a lap of Lookout Mountain as a cooldown.

Spent Sunday afternoon doing the backside lap at Mount Sanitas for a Suffer Better fundraiser to get out of the house and enjoy the 70 degree day.  Good active weekend.

October Numbers

Not as much running as I would have liked but lots of time in the weight room and 5 cyclocross races.  Overall I would call it a productive month.  If I keep November and December at 48 plus hours each I will be well over 750 total hours on the year,  that would be the biggest total hours in a year I have ever done even though it would be my lowest mileage running in a year going back to before I started doing ultras.  Guess all the cross training with the weights and bike do the body good.

Cyclo X-Flatirons

Damn, this blog is turning into a cycling blog lately.  Did the Flatiron Mall Cyclocross Cat 5 race this morning.  Ended up 18th out of 65. This course did not play to my strengths. Mostly wet, slick grass course with lots of turns or bike handlers course, which I am weak on. The course kept getting slicker and muddier on each lap.  Fun!

Thanks again Bryan Trammell for the awesome photos!

US Open of Cyclocross

Finally got some photos of the fun I have been having the past 2 weeks.  Bryan Trammell came out and took some AWESOME photos of me doing my weekly 40 minute sufferfest.  Today's race was at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder.  Hardest course I have raced yet. So fun!!! Lots of bike carries today due to super steep hills and 2 sets of stairs which all plays to my advantage of being more of a runner. Passing people every time we had to run with the bikes. Finished in 6th place, moving on up!

Welcome to the Family Graybeard!

Added the final piece to the family stable.  Foundry Harrow Cross Bike.  Found a used one in great shape at a cheap price, could not pass it up.  Now both my mountain bike and cross bike are from Foundry.  Love the solid colors from Foundry.  Yes I named this bike Graybeard.

This bad boy is an enabler for fun like the Cross of the North cyclocross race that I did this weekend.  Think I found my new sport to help stay in shape after a summer of ultra training. 

So much fun!  Next race is Sunday 10/18 in Boulder at Valmont Bike Park at 7:30am assuming that the kiddo's team does not make the championship game in their hockey tournament, come on out if you are looking for something to do. 

Also been slowly getting back to running 30-40 miles a week and look to increase the intensity of that work to start getting ready for some 5Ks and Crosscountry races this fall along with increasing time in the gym.  All of that should help keep me in shape this winter. 

If You Ain't First You're Last

According to USA Cycling I am in first place for Cat 5 from zip code 80021 after my first cyclocross race last weekend.  Waiting on the sponsors to come calling, hoping for SRAM.  Two more races this weekend.  Get some!

September Numbers Check In

Pretty weak month but guess that is to be expected with taking the time to recover from Leadville.  All of the hiking hours in the chart were from a single day of doing Capitol Peak so lots of time lifting but that is pretty much it.  Put on about 10 pounds as of last week, I would bet it is even more now.  I am trying to get back to running regularly again but my runs don't feel natural, they feel forced if that makes any sense.  Like I am out of whack.  This feeling is normal for me after a 100 but usually does not last this long.

Not sure what is in store for this month but I should get more overall mileage as I try to get back to both running and biking regularly again. 

Welcome to the Family Fatboy

Picked up a new toy last weekend to add to the family stable, Specialized Fatboy.  She is going to be a lot of fun in the snow this winter.  Planning on trying to make the whole winter Leadville/Copper series.   Maybe Leadman fat bike style?  Who knows.   http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/fatboy/fatboy

Still on the look out for one more bike then the stable will be complete for now.

Monday Funday- Capitol Peak

Yes, I spelled it correctly in the name of the post.  Look it up if you don't believe me.

Skipped out of work yesterday with a co-worker Scott and hit up a 14er that both of us have not done before.  I think this one is my new favorite even though route finding can be a little challenging at times.   Ended up with 18 miles and 6100ft of vertical gain.  Number 47 out of 58 and the Elk Range 14ers are now done.