THE "A" RACE OF MY SEASON COMES AND GOES WITH BIKE STILL ON THE TRUCK

I tried so hard........ My heart said go race, and my body said not a friggin chance! After a full week off the bike, trying everything possible to get rid of a nasty cold, the cold finally won. Although feeling better, there was just no power in the engine room. I himhawd all morning trying to figure out if it was worth driving the hour over to Iowa City and see if I could manage what I knew would be a screaming field of 3/4's on a very challenging course. Not wanting to give up on the race that I have had on my calendar as my "peak" race, I loaded the truck up and went. At sign in, I found out that I had won a woman's Jersey (HOW FITTING), that's how my luck this week was rollin. I pulled the bike off the truck, and went about trying a few slow laps. At the top of the large climb, my HR was through the roof, and this was at turtle speed. I put the bike back on the truck, and took the first DNS of my biking life!!! Needless to say my morale is at an all time low. I have a couple weeks to recover both mentally and physically before nationals, but this was the weekend I wanted as my litmus test for the season. So now all I have is like all good Chicago Cubs fans know is "Next Season"! Ty

SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED

It has been a broken record for 2007. Just when my fitness starts to find a groove, i'm knocked down with some sort of illness. After last weekends middle park where I felt great, the next day arrived with the usual soreness and the onset of a head cold. Today is Thanksgiving and the cold is now in my chest. With only tomorrow left to recover before Jingle Cross. I have spent zero days on the bike since Sunday hoping that my energy levels return before the official blows the whistle to start the 3/4 race. I will be eating huge amounts of food today and even more sitting around doing nothing. If that's not training then what is? Everyone have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving. I look forward to seeing everyone in Iowa City. Yes blowing my nose or not, i'll be there!!! Ty

THE MONDAY AFTER A RACE DAY

I woke up this morning and my right hip was locked up! No amount of stretching seemed to work. After hobbling around the house for a while, my wife demanded that I see Dr. Mike. I'm not positive if her reasoning was her concern for my well being or if she just wanted me to stop whining Either way I went, and am glad I did. Any of you sore riders out there, I recommend Q.C. Wellness and Rehab in Moline, IL. Great people, and Dr. Mike doesn't look at you like your nuts when you explain why you feel this way. "You carry your bike up what"? Doc also confirms every time I go there that I have ZERO flexibility! This has to be addressed in the off season. I'm no fan of going to yoga classes, but me just doing hurdle stretches in my living room is not cutting it. By the way I asked my 9 yr old if he was sore after yesterdays races and he said "NO". I think he's just saying that to make me feel older than I am. Everyone have a great week and see you on the start line at Jingle Cross. Ty

HOLD THE PHONE I FINISHED ON THE LEAD LAP

Proud (and tired) Dad

This is "very" early in the race!

After pulling me all day Dennis does finally leave me in the dust.

I'm hanging this on on my wall Adam!

My first race as a cat 3 is in the bag. It went way better than I expected. The biggest goal of the day was to try and not get lapped, which I did by the nobbies on my tire! Not that I wanted to go an extra lap, but it was more a pride thing. I didn't stick around to get the final results, but I know I was at the caboose end of the race and that's o.k. I had a bunch of people come up after the race and say nice ride! To hear those comments made the outcome of this race sweeter than any cat 4 race i've ever done. My son Tommy (re-run) also raced the juniors race and looked fantastic. Getting a head start racing at age 9 and driving a tank of a bike at that. A great father son day for sure. My good friends Lloyd and Dave showed up to cheer us on and the photos above are complements of Lloyd. Anyone who would show up in the rain on a busy Sunday and watch guys in tights on bikes jump over barriers and then take photos on top of it. Can't ask for better friends than that. Thanks guys! Ty

MOVE OVER C/X OPEN DIVISION (AS YOU LAP ME)

After a great first part of the C/X season filled with top 10's, and the fun of actually being competitive for the first time in my cycling (hobby) career. I decided that I really didn't like the stress of being that close to the front of the race. So without consulting anyone, I filled out an upgrade request and to my amazement, the USCF have blessed me with a CAT 3 C/X license!!! I am totally stoked at the thought of this weekend getting thrashed by the local hammers. All is once again right with the universe. I am back to my rightful place in the peleton. At the back! All you open division racers this weekend move over, "as you lap me". Ty

BACK TO BASICS

After a so so ride at Newton last weekend i'm taking this weekend of racing off to spend with the family. At the same time i'm getting some solid hours of training in. I'm going back to what got me into race shape at the beginning of the cross season, and that's just thrashing myself for 2 hours on my homemade cross courses. I would throw in some Greg pacing this weekend, but if you haven't heard the news, my human motor pacer Greg Harper has a broken collar bone! I think it is his 700th broken bone in his storied career. To get the details how he broke it, stop by the shop and ask. I would tell you, but I like the team discount he gives me at the store and would like to keep it that way!!!!!!! Anyway a good break from racing and some power training and I hope to be back motivated and in the top 10 at the next race. Ty