What a mess!!!

Last month, it had appeared Verona, WI has been absent from receiving any form of precip for quite sometime. Ground frozen deep and hard made the circuit really fast. The profile would suit me well as there was a good amount of elevation gain/loss. Often it is the least expected that happens during cyclocross races, like, not unclipping at the base of the railroad-tie staircase on the opening lap and losing contact w/the two leaders. Apparently, I jarred my tuke that I was wearing under my helmet forward when I laid myself out during that digger. So, while giving chase, my vision was obstructed by that damn thing and there wasn't enough room for me to cram it back up w/gloved fingers. In hindsight, I should have just stopped and taken my helmet off to remove it but playing the coulda-shoulda-woulda game is something not worth dwelling on for me. Passing over the barriers I realized that I had to hand off my glasses to Chris on the next lap in order to deal w/my problem. I'd bring back one of the guys on the bell lap to stand 2nd on the podium and leave w/a little cash for supper in the Dells on the way home!!
If this sight is appalling then cyclocross is not for you!

Returning last week proved to be an entirely different challenge @ the same venue. When everyone heard Wisconsin in January to host Cyclocross Nationals, expectations were for nothing but ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. Instead, conditions looked similar to a fall weekend, however, to us riding it was like something we don't get many opportunities to practice. During the holidays, they got a little snow, it melted, turned into a skating rink prior to opening day of racing, and lastly.....unseasonable warmth! Chatting amongst fellow racers at our hotel the night before that got a chance to pre-ride on Tuesday, said, "if you race later in the afternoon then don't bother checking it in the morning as conditions change by the hour." So, Jen & I would hang low in a conference room and dork away time on the iPAD until it seemed appropriate to drive over to Badger Prairie Park. It was really nice having Jen there as this was the only event of my season that just her & me got to make alone and it was a classy one. We walked a lot of the course watching another race going on prior to mine and quickly observed how much trouble athletes were having keeping the rubber side down. My best description is, imagine moving over frozen soil that was rock hard except for the top 1/4-inch thawing under you upon making contact. Turning in the corners had speeds being reduced as no ruts were able to form makeshift berms. I was going back & forth on tire pressure as mechanics in the pits were switching it up constantly. Getting the nod from a USCF official in the booth that the course was free to be on, I went out to hopefully grasp things. Well, that didn't happen, I was all over the map but chose to keep this to myself rather that share it w/Jen. She likes to get really competitive and kick me in the ass when my tone of voice isn't to her liking. According to other sanctioned events, the points system predicted that I would suck which meant I barely got called up in staging to begin in the 5th row!!!!! Fortunately, it was a clean start that saw no crashes. About two minutes into the first lap a rider went down in a turn and I rammed into his back w/my front wheel. Straddling my stem, I almost suffered an endo but escaped unscathed by shuffling around him. Oddly enough, it was definitely more tricky to be running than pedaling. The slick nature of everything quickly intimidated me which got under my skin but I refused to go down w/o valiant effort. I took every risk within my ability but gaining time on riders ahead of me just seemed impossible. Equipment choice for once put a governor on each rider but those possessing mad skills factored into the equation too. On my limit, I'd dab the ground many times during moments of helplessness...wondering...is this my best or is there any way to eek out advancing??? In the end, I finished 24th which came fine to me. My peak flew by maybe a week and a half earlier as I lost sharpness but didn't fade as splits proved. For me, having the bell lap quickest of all when my bike weighed 3x as much w/organic matter sticking to it brought joy. However, finding out the water truck went dry just before I got in line, put me in another mood.

Kind of strange to begin a new year in a race of such high caliber but how can a guy complain. I won't be seen in any form competition for the remainder of winter as my body & mind need a break. Getting outdoors amongst like-minded runners on the snomo trail is echoing to me from the woods. Ambitions surrounding this idea will reveal big desires in the future.

a new toy from SANTA

It's all about tread selection of the rubber on your wheels and psi for cyclocross should you choose to race into January. This past week, I rode it too low where I was bottoming out the rim on the ground and too high where things felt like a marble on glass. Since the weather is changing daily this winter, selecting the firmness in my tires has been a crapshoot. Until, I was granted this present...

...who needs a floor pump when you've got a hand held air compressor?!

no more guessing w/a digital inflator to the tenth(39.2)

1 of 2 battery packs

& the charger to give 'em juice

sense of discipline

I told myself that I wouldn't succumb to holiday decadence. Yeah right, foolish me, to think a line such as that would hold up! Rating my actions leaves me even more saddened as I believe a complete implosion occurred. Although, I'm basing my lack of energy and muscular weakness on the fact that most of what Jen & I prepared in the kitchen all last week is not very nutrient dense. So, I've cracked the whip on diet and have gotten focused once again. Feeling back to normal returns quickly when I eat healthy. Plus, it is easier for me to keep oriented while training.

course inspection

Two weekends ago, I left Johnson County Fairgrounds in good spirits knowing things clicked, even though, my results wouldn't indicate it. Weather became the obstacle and if you were able to keep your bike upright in the slippy mud then you were golden! My handling skills were fabulous along w/legs to match. However, lady luck wasn't on my side as I found a circular steel drainage grate hidden in a deep latte-colored puddle as we rolled thru a cattle pen. Immediately, when I doinked my front wheel off it the white Stan's sealant began to spit out of the tire. Thinking it might clot, I continued to go but upon taking a 180-degree turn to move on under the flyover, my rim bottomed out. DNF on Saturday. I was told by countless spectators and racers alike, the "W" surely was mine to be lost and I knew it too!! At 10:20 again the next morning, temperature dropped, and the rain stopped. I didn't have the same snap as the previous outing which showed during warm-up hot laps. Regardless, there was so much rage burning inside me from misfortune. Call-ups must have been of a random method because I had to start second row this time. With heavy fencing enclosing the paved straight, it was nearly impossible to get the holeshot prior to the first muddy corner. I have no fear of taking risks that impact solely myself but when the consequences ruin the efforts of a fellow competitor, that is too selfish for me. We quickly caught the wave of women that went out a minute earlier and the chaos was intense!!! The soil absorbed standing water from yesterday but it was still greasy and peanut butter in nature. Every left and right I hollered, the person would take the line rather than free it for me. Crashing twice into marking tape/stakes and a handful of almosts put the white flag in the air until the bell lap. Seeing the crushed look on Jen's face after she heard the loud speaker announce I abandoned the race on Saturday as I walked over had me refuse to repeat that image. By this point, I think the Gobble Gallop was even surfacing as the cranks were getting hard to spin. My poor attitude during the middle portion of the race, blinded me of what actually remained. Passing a couple more gave me 5th on the ride which is probably more than I deserved. Iowa granted me the same placement two consecutive weekends but allowed for many lessons learned. This was a difficult week ending w/brutal sickness on the drive north.

Otherwise, I've recovered since and have been stockpiling time on the bike out in the cold. Also, holiday eating is in full swing already which has treated me well following illness. I don't allow myself to behave like a teenage girl when it comes to food, especially, now that the seasons are changing and putting additional stress on our bodies. Besides, I like to indulge in Christmas festivities!!!!

Tomorrow, Chris Rubesch is giving me an opportunity to carpool w/him down to Madison for Badger Cross. He'll be the second ultrarunner that has shown interest in knowing what the cyclocross scene encapsulates. We'll be departing later this afternoon and staying w/his sister. Mary, another friend of his will be joining us too. Saturday, I'm going to head over to the venue and get familiar w/every turn, off-camber, run-up, etc. Watching how some of the racers negotiate the course will also be on the agenda. Sunday, the singlespeed race kicks off the morning @ 9 AM. I've done my homework in the mud...lets see whether I pass the test on snow & ice...

doing laundry w/Ben

While @ Jingle Cross Rock, our camper ended up being parked next to Ben Berden! Later, Josh & I happened to meet up w/him in the Marriot, which played as the race weekend hotel. A bunch of us shared a washer and dryer since not many items were needing attention from each individual. Cool guy who speaks both Dutch and English, plus, a real bad ass on the bike. Another example, don't judge from all the ink you see on the surface. Jen & Natalie gave him the nickname "waffle" but we kept it undisclosed as he has probably heard that one before. Enjoy the video link as much as we enjoyed talking w/his mechanic about the steeds!!

Leadville Lottery

Well, this evening I decided to submit my info for a possible entry into the Trail 100. So, if I get picked then plenty of motivation to sit in the coffee shop and eat pastries will hit me. Did that come out wrong?

Living History Farms

Damn! Fall season is the best!! I've got 3 races in the next 4 days so I haven't got time to document life experiences, otherwise, I miss out on living life. Putting it plain & simple, you need to make your way down to Urbandale, IA for this one. Great cross country atmosphere about this venue and those creek crossings make it extremely fun!!!

I did the cyclocross race later in the afternoon following cheers to my teammates during their run in the morning. There was one enbankment that riders had to, literally, toss their machines up and figure how to get just themselves out. Many ropes were strung down to be used should a person felt the need. Missing an early selection left me battling the wind in the open fields alone which was my fault and must have occurred while snoozing?!. However, I fought hard to roll over the line in 5th place. That makes a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th on the year to date. Maybe I've got a win coming this weekend back down @ Jingle Cross Rock.

Along w/stimulating discussions on coffee, eating Mongolian, I really enjoyed my trip. Check out a sweet video that my good friend Tony captured of me here.