Boulder Roubaix - 4/7/12

The weekend after Oceanside was my first road race of this season as a CAT 3, I was very excited to race the Boulder Roubaix.  This race is 70% on dirt hard pack, but very bumpy which yields for some tired riders, consisting of three 18 mile loops for a 56 mile total.  There were four CAT 3 guys from my team including myself in the field and we decided to help each other out where we could.  The first two laps stay with the group and the last lap see what happened, and nail it in the final miles.  That’s pretty much exactly what we did, I found it easy to stay with the group and match any breaks that happened.  There were lots of sketchy areas with all the dirt and mass of CAT 3 guys riding together.  We lost Travis and Bart on the end of the second lap, but Darain was holding strong in the third lap.  Towards the mid part of the third and final lap I think Darain started cramping and fell slightly back.  I lead the group a little too much the last lap, but no one wanted to take any turns up front, even though I was barley pushing 250 watts.   The last few miles I really thought about just pulling away and trying to hold a gap on the group, but did not know if that was the right thing to do.  It was inevitably going to come down to a sprint, and that is not exactly my strong suit.  So at the two mile marker I started to pull away, thinking I can sprint for two miles right?  Wrong, I created a small gap that was closed at 1 km to go, I was passed by over 15 guys.  I was like no way I was just leading this whole thing, I managed to keep sprinting and get back to 11^th place across the line still within 11 sec of the leader.  Darain came in the top 20, Travis, and Bart were just a little ways back as well.  I learned that I am not the greatest sprinter that I think I may be and also that if I want to win some of these road races I either have to make my move earlier or learn to sprint.  I think a little of both for next time, but over all a very fun and tough road race, Paris Roubaix on TV Easter Sunday the next day to boot.

Oceanside 70.3 - 3/31/12

 Who gets injured tapering for a race?  This guy, that’s who…the last two weeks preceding Oceanside 70.3 I was feeling very good on the run and bike.  About that same time after a long run I felt my hip giving me some issue.  I ran again on that Friday, and pushed through the pain in my left hip and knee.  This was probably not the best thing to do since after I was barley able to walk and limped around for a few days after till it felt better.  I went to see the Dr for an x-ray to ensure it was not a stress fracture in my hip.  The Dr simply said well just don’t run if that is what hurts and reviled the x-ray was normal, I could not get into an MRI until the next week which I was scheduled to travel for work, so MRI now on 4/15 4 weeks after the initial injury. 

So I guess I will still race, I have already made travel plans and the whole family was coming out as well since it was spring break time for the kids and San Diego is not a bad place to visit as well.  My plan was to not run the week preceding the race and to start the run and see how it feels.   The same weekend was also our team camp for my new team Zoot which I was very excited about joining this year.  We arrived on Thursday before the race on Saturday, did the typical pre-race activities on Friday and got the kids into a fun run that night.  

 Saturday the race started in the harbor with a brisk water temp of about 57 degrees, no worries I had a brand new Zoot wetsuit to try out and I like the cold water much more than too hot.  The air temp was cold in the high 40’s as well, with a nice little marine layer coming off the pacific which made it feel like it was raining.  At this point I was really wishing for some gloves, arm warmers, and toe covers for the bike.  I did not pack any of these thinking San Diego was warm and sunny all the time.  Maybe a little electrical tape on my shoe vents would have the same effect? There were about 30-40 pro men in this race that showed race morning, with lots of familiar faces.  We went into the water on time and the gun went off.  I stayed to the far outside I did my own thing for the first 200 meters or so, then started to make my way to the fastest line to the right of the marker buoys.  Andy and one other swimmer were in front of me with a small group directly behind me.  We pretty much swam this way the whole course, there was some nice 5-6’ chop at the turn around which was fun.  I exited the water 3^rd with a small group a few seconds behind me, I usually try not to be the leader of groups like that in the swim but, really had no choice in this one.  T1 went fine, I really liked how fast my new wetsuit came off with the legs cut higher and at a diagonal.  Once on the bike I knew then it was going to be a cold day.  Pretty much raining and cold the whole time, and most including me were not dressed for it, so I just had to go a little faster to warm up right?  Never really happened here.  I was passed by some of the stronger bikers in the field in the first few miles, then the rest of the bike through camp Pendleton was a back and fourth between a few groups of riders.  It was a nice bike course through the camp with multiple tank crossings, a few hills, and pretty scenery.  I came into T2 in 17th, and the only issue here was my frozen fingers and wrists trying to unbuckle my helmet and put on my running shoes.  It took a few tries at each, I think the spectators were quite puzzled.  Once out on the run I could tell I was limping in the first mile, this was not going to be good at all.  My feet were cold but the warmed up in a few miles.  I could not really decide whether to drop out or continue to limp through it.  I decided to limp the whole course, I felt like everyone was kind of saying “man I am not sure if that guy is going to make it” as I passed, oh well.  Not much else to say here about the run, it sucked, I limped, went slow, got passed, but I finished 30^rd place with a 10 min slower run than usual for me.  I have an MRI scheduled soon and should know more after that. 

After the race I kind of just wanted out of there to relax and rest/stretch my hip which now hurt like hell and I was limping real bad everywhere.  So I got my bike rode back to the hotel, packed up my bike, got in the car and hit the beach to kill 3 hours before the team camp check in.  My wife and the kids were already gone horse back riding for the day.  I settled into the Carlsbad beach to relax and stretch my hip out in hopes that it would feel better.  The weather had turned from cold and rainy to warm and sunny in the afternoon.  This is what San Diego was supposed to be like.  The Zoot team camp over the next few days was fantastic, we had a swim practice, spoke about all our new sponsors, had photo shoots, and went out to dinner each night with the team.  It was great to meet all these new folks and race with some of them on Saturday.  I just wish I was not that guy that was limping around the whole weekend.  Monday was the last day and I met back up with the family, went to the beach, and visited some friends for dinner.  San Diego and Oceanside was a great race and vacation for the family.  I am sure I will be here again next year, hopefully with a little better run the next time around.  For now time to heal up and figure out what is wrong with this grandpa hip so I can get my season back on schedule.

Swim - 24:10
T1 - 2:29
Bike - 2:19:46 @ 24.04 mph
T2 - 1:22
Run - 1:31:38 @ 6:59/mi
Total - 4:19:25
Place - 30th

ROTG - 3/11/12

I did this 7k running race in 2011 as well and was looking to test my running fitness here and better my time by a little bit in the process.  I have stepped up my running a little bit this season and this 7k proved I am in a slightly better shape than last season at this point.  This race is all through the streets of downtown Denver with a few hills to run up and down.  Shanon and Christine did the race as well, it was a good time and my results were 30 secs better than the year prior so my goal was accomplished.  At least this year the lead woman finished behind me, not much though, but she was also an Olympian.

Place - 29 OA, 8th AG
Time - 24:31
Pace per mile - 5:39

Frostbite TT - 3/3/12

First race of the year a local TT in the cold with crazy 40-50 mph winds, yea to be expected CO in March.  I thought Boulder was windy, but north of Fort Collins takes the cake for sure.  I took the win but it was hard fought and a little dangerous with the very strong cross winds.  People riding discs at this race were literately blown off of the road.  The course was an out and back of about 16 miles, the out was slightly with the cross winds and back was against.  Everyone was leaning quite heavily each way.  I thought my fitness was a little higher as the race was tough at the end, but that is exactly the reason for these early races.  More work to do and lots of bike racing this season.

Place - 1st CAT 3
Time - 00:30:06.9

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