Race season is here!
Well, next Saturday I'll start racing. I've already skipped a few cross country races because I've decided to compete much less than last season. I'm probably not going to race any time-trials at all. Conditioning has become much tougher this spring, mostly because of very little exercise and too much food this past winter. I managed to add 15lbs to my mid-section and hey, it's slowing me down!Last night I cranked-out a 28 mile trek of backroads and a couple of laps through the Addison Oaks race loop. It's regretably the only reasonably long ride I've been able to fit in this spring.
The first race is a 12 hour epic at Addison Oaks County Park on May 13 from 10am-10pm consisting of a nice mix of single track in heavy woods and a bit of two track (service road). The trail only has a few midsize climbs, some minor technical features (log piles, rock/boulder beds) and all-in-all is pretty fast. The flow is very enjoyable, quite a few sections on the course allow for "recovery" which I use without reservation. My brain wants to ride full-out the whole race but hey...it's 12 hours, you need to recover.
In case your wondering, I have a team mate. We alternate laps over the 12 hours. He is the faster and stronger of the team and an all-around great guy. His name is Lloyd Lind. Two years ago he was the NORBA state champion in the 40 over beginner class. He won 12 races in a row his first year racing. Not a bad guy to have on your team eh? I managed 3rd in state last year in the same division. We both race sport division now and it's the most competitive of all the classes. Many ex-elite/expert riders eventually end up in the sport class in their 40's. I can only hope to not finish last this season. I feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about it.
Veronica and I ride together about 3-5 days a week. We have an 11 mile loop we like alot with some very tough climbs or an 8.5 mile slightly abbreviated loop. She rides a 6 mile loop solo on the nights I go on training rides (the painful days). I've tried to convince her to compete (just for the fun of it) but she's been a tough nut to crack. It really is a great way to do something together that's healthy and challenging. I just think it would be cool if we could go to the races together and both push it to the limits!
Memorial Day weekend our 4 man team will take on the 24 hours of Boyne race...but that will be another story. God Bless.
posted by Larry Whitcomb @ 9:44 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well, it's true. You are a crazy man! While Melissa and I were in Chicago visiting her parents, her dad took me on a 6 mile loop up and down the hills of the suburbs and I couldn't navigate stairs that night! I can't even imagine going 12 or 24 hours. For that you have a serious amount of respect coming your way from me. I think even my bike cringes when it hears 24 hour race. Keep it up, you crazy trail master!
By the way, you still up for Doyle when he is in town?
Okay I want to ride, lets double team Matt and see if we can get you and he and Veronica and I to go ride some time.
In the mean time we are going to hit Genesis church in Royal Oak tomorrow at 11:00 if you want to join us. You can chek them out at
genesisthechurch.net or maybe it is .org I forget, they are a church plant from Kensington.
By the way, I only won 7 races that year sandwiched around an 8th place finish in a 8 hour event, but I am looking forward to doing more events with you.
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