5.16.10

* MTB Ride - Guana Reserve
Rode from home to Guana and met up with T.J. - we rolled down through Guana on the double track roads and hit some of the south trail as well. Some sections were really sandy. We popped out to refuel at the Gate Station and then decided to head back on the road. Tailwind on the way back! Pretty mellow pace throughout whole ride. Nothing really hard - good saddle time.

Ride time - 3 hrs / 47 miles

Ride file

5.9.10

* MTB ride - Guana River State Park

Rode from home down PV Blvd to 210 and then went into Guana River state park through the Roscoe entrance. It was about 11 miles from home to the entrance to the park - good warmup. Hit the 'trails' and kicked it up to solid enduro-pace. The trails are just double track dirt roads - mainly they're hardpack but there are some soft, sugar sand sections. Did a little exploring but mainly tried to keep a good effort going. At about 2hrs I popped out by the south entrance which is right next to the Gate Station convenience store - I refueled with some water and G-ade and then headed back in to the park to retrace route. I definitely picked up the pace on the way back - kept it in z4 or higher. It was a little windy in some open sections, but overall the trees did a good job of shielding me from the wind. I popped out at the 210 road gate and then headed back towards Jax Beach. The wind was tough on the Blvd going back but I spun down through PV, through Jax Bch and then turned around in Atlantic Bch and then back home.

Ride time = 4hrs 8min / 59 miles

Ride file

5.2.10

PM - mtb ride
* Rode to Hanna for a lap, then cruised back towards Jax Bch. Then I rode south through PV and went down to Solana Road to Roscoe Road... Did some road miles through Palm Valley and then did quick loop through Guana State Park. Then back down PV Blvd to home. Rode at 'enduro pace' -- fairly mellow - zone 2/3 stuff.

Total time = 3:19 / 46 miles

Ride File

4.24.10 Cohutta 100 Race

Cohutta 100 Race
* Full Race Report here

Stats:
Distance: 100miles
Ride time: 8hrs 31 minutes
Elevation: ~ 12,200'
Conditions: Mild and overcast for first 4hrs; then thunders storms and wind from about mile 50 - 75; then just muddy trail conditions
Place: 34th

Ride File

4.14.10

(Recovery Week)
PM - mtb ride
* Rode down to Hanna Park and did 1 south loop and then back home. EZ pace on way up and back - pushed it a little bit while in the trails.

Ride File

1h 25m / ~ 19 miles

4.11.10

P.M. - mtb ride
* Rode mtb down to Nocatee and did some exploring. Rode a little way down '20-mile Road' and then turned around b/c I saw some houses and really didn't feel like getting hassled. Then rode down the powerline road and ducked into D-Dot Timberlands and rode for a few hours. All just double-track jeep roads - some sugar sand sections, but all was rideable. Saw a bunch of wildlife - some turkeys, gators, deer, snakes, and 'dillos. Fun ride - nothing hard - just some good quality saddle time.

4h 23m / ~50miles

Garmin File

3.28.10

Mid-day - mtb ride

Rode at Hannah park. Got in a little over two hrs. Did 3 south loops and 2 north loops. Never really went hard - just kept it mellow. Was still feeling it a little bit from the day before. Fun ride - felt good to be in the woods.

Total ride time 2hr 20min / ~22 miles

Side note: Open Road was out there doing a demo - I rode the DI2 electronic shifters - really cool!!!

3.14.10

Race - Southeast Regional Championship Series #1 - Gainesville (Haille's Trails) -
* Ended up with 3rd place Master Expert (30-39). I'll post the full race report HERE, but total ride time was just over 2hrs with some super intense efforts at the beginning. Andy Johnston (former semi-pro) and Allison Anjos (badass cat 1 roadie) got 1st & 2nd. I was just glad to push through the pain and hold on to 3rd - rode about 4-1/2 laps solo (chasing and being chased).

3.10.10

Urban Assault - group ride
* Rode mtb on the group ride.
Total ride time 2:53 / 40 miles
Fairly ez ride with a few pickups in the pace for not more than 3-4 minutes
Fun ride - probably last one like this for the year --> time change is this coming weekend. The weekly 'hammerfests' will begin shortly!

Getting Focused....

Been neglecting the training log - but the miles have been getting done. I'm going to start working on keeping this and the RecoverBetter blog more up to date. The training and random stuff on here and team / business stuff over there. Did the 12 Hours of Santos a few weeks ago and it was killer! Competition-wise, I got worked over. But I think it was good and it has got me stoked to ride/train again. Over the past few years, I've learned that for me, the desire to train comes and goes throughout the year. I used to stress over it and worry that I would get so lost and lose my fitness, but I know now that its normal for some down time and it actually helps me to focus hard when its time to buckle down.

Next race is SERC #1 this coming weekend in G-ville at Haille's Trails. Just looking forward to pushing it hard and having some fun on the trails. I love bike racing - any kind!! Sometimes I wish I could race every weekend - mountain bikes, road bikes, triathlons, and even some BMX.

Since Santos, I've had two solid weekends of good rides. Last weekend the weather was crap on Saturday. I was pretty bummed at first because my goal that weekend was to get in some good long miles and continue with building some fitness. I hit the rollers for an hour on Saturday and had a decent workout, but rollers are still not as good as real riding. Sunday was a different story - killer weather, blue skies, slight wind.... but it was all good. Got in a little over 5 hrs on the road.

On this past Saturday, I skipped out on the group ride to hit 3 hrs solo. I cruised out through Nocatee and decided to push it through all the spokes and back to the bridge. I stayed in high z4/5 for a good 30-40 minutes and then recovered as I spun down A1A to the Gate Station. Quick refuel and then another 30 minute hard effort into the wind going north. Rolled into the driveway with 3hrs. Yesterday (Sunday) I wanted to hit the trails so I had to fix up the Spark, as she was feeling a little 'under the weather' -I guess 12 hard hours will tear up any bike. After completely rebuilding the rear end linkages and some bearing maintenance - I cruised up to Hannah and knocked out a few laps (did one fast south loop = 20:45) -- total ride time about 2hrs.

Heading into the week with some fatigue in the legs -- loving it! Its funny how I feel 'better' when I'm tired and sore! I plan on training through this week and the race on Sunday. No tapering for low-priority races......

- sbc -

1.14.10

MTB NiteRide at Hanna Park -
Rode from house down to the trails and did 2-1/2 south loops and 1-1/2 north loops. Joining me on the ride was Tony J., Scotty P, and Radd Pop. It was a pretty solid pace - maybe a little faster than should've been - but its always hard for me to judge how fast / hard I'm riding at night.

We got in close to 3 hrs with right around 31 miles distance.

Here is ride file:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/22385686

1.13.10

Urban Assault ride -
2:17 minutes
30 miles
* Rode my mtb with the group. Was COLD.... nothing hard or sustained. Got in a few of the "sprints" but otherwise kept it ez.

1.10.10

Sunday ride - met up with Tony J. at the trails. Was cold again, so I opted to skip the ride to the trails and just drove there. Kind of lame, i know, but i didn't want my feet to hurt again. I think that is from riding on the road and having to deal with a cold headwind. Anyways, got in 5 south loops & 2 north E-trail loops. Pace was mellow.
Including CD, ended with right around 3hrs and 31 miles.

1.9.10

Saturday ride - rode from house to Hannah Park for a few laps on the mtb. It was cold - mid 30's. Was wearing just about every piece of cold weather gear I could find. Did about 4 laps and then cruised home.
Total time was a little less than 3 hrs --> 2:52 and distance was right at 30 miles.

Tallahassee Race Report

Tallahassee is one of my all-time favorite courses to race – mainly because they incorporate the BMX track into each lap – but also because it has some really fun fast flowing singletrack on hardpack clay and it even incorporates some good climbs (a rarity for Florida courses). One of my favorite memories of this course was my first year racing sport class when we first got to ride in the ‘yellow’ wave with the experts and pros. That particular year for some reason there were a bunch of actual PRO’s that showed up – one in particular was Ryan Trebon. I remember I was ‘hammering’ up this one particular climb only to hear “Rider back!” and looked back just in time to see a 6’4”-blue-and-orange blur fly past me. That guy was flying.
Well anyways, FAST FORWARD about 5 years and this year I headed out there to hit up my first XC mtb race of 2009. The only other mtb race I did this year was the 6 Hours of Santos – Solo, which I really didn’t do all that well at, mainly because of lack of actual training for that one. Mainly this year my focus had been on the Half-Ironman in Augusta so the summer was spent training solely for that. The Scott Spark had been hanging up in the garage since February and only got ridden once in July for one hour at Hanna. The one thing about triathlon training is that it really increases your overall level of fitness, but you don’t really ever concentrate on ONE thing. Mainly this summer, my riding consisted of 3-4 times a week with one long ride, sometimes 1 or 2 tempo / group rides, and sometimes just an ez spin. A lot of the tempo/group rides ended with t-runs, so needless to say – I had not been bike-specific training this year. I went into this race just hoping I could hang on to the front group for a lap or two and if I got dropped, I was just hoping to hold position and not get passed after that. Its totally a different feeling when you go into a race without expectation or even having any clue as to how competitive you’re gonna be. Kind of fun actually – almost like being the ‘underdog’ – it’s like you really have nothing to lose. That’s how I felt this past Sunday. I had checked the results from the last couple of races and I knew who the guys were to mark – since its been the same couple of guys on top each race – I was specifically looking for Allison Anjos and Joe Vietro. I knew there were a couple of other guys who were fast but I didn’t know what they looked like, so I just figured I’d keep an eye out for those two. The weather was a bit on the chilly side but I figured once we got going hard in the race we’d warm up pretty quick and I was right.
I had a not so good start – mainly was just in the wrong gear so when they blew the horn – I was slow motion pedaling. I finally got going and the first straight away headed downhill towards a gate which was wide enough for 1 rider at a time. I hit the first trail in around 8th or 9th place and realized that I needed to move up really quick. I could see on the front was Anjos and Vietro and a couple of other guys. I knew that if I sat in for too long on the first climbs I’d get bogged down behind the other guys and would lose touch, so I made a couple of passes and after the creek-crossing (COLD) I was in about 6th place in a line with everybody. I was watching for Anjos to attack because he was in 2nd and once we started climbing – he made his move so I jumped with him. This popped a couple more guys and know there were only four of us – I knew that at the top of the climb – the trail pops into single track for the downhill portion and I wanted to be on a good wheel at that part, so I moved up into third right before the top and now it was Anjos, Vietro, and me. Right where I wanted to be!!!! There were now two guys right behind me also, so I knew I had to be good on the downhill part – because in this class, one slip-up and you lose position really fast. We were flying down this trail – called the ‘Cadillac Trail’ even though it’s totally not smooth and Vietro slid out so I went around him and was now sitting right behind Anjos in second. Came out of this section and hit the next trails which start off flat but have some rooty climbs towards the end. It seemed like Anjos slowed down a good bit which was fine with me. I sat on his wheel and recovered a little bit. At this point now there was about 5-6 of us rolling along. At one downhill section with roots and sand on the bottom – Anjos slid out so I went around him and now I was leading the race – it sounded like some of the other guys got caught up with Anjos so now there was only me and one other guy riding off the front. This year they shortened the lap a little bit due to some construction, so as I’m riding – I keep thinking there should be some climbs coming up, but then all of a sudden we pop out next to the BMX track, which is always at the end of the lap…. SWEET! At this point I’m feeling good, riding with some guy on my wheel – all by ourselves. I roll the bmx track and pump a few backsides and jump some of the rhythm section – opening up a full straight-away gap without even trying!! I hit the feedzone but didn’t need a bottle so I slowed down to fully recover and just to check out the 2nd place guy. At this point, the guy rides by me in full attack mode – I jump back on his wheel and we’re rolling through for lap two. Didn’t recognize the guy but he looked strong, so I stuck his wheel and decided to let him set pace. The whole time – I’m thinking I’m in perfect position – off the front, totally comfortable, and not doing the work!!! Solid. We fly up the climbs and I’m feeling really good, but everytime we hit a flat road section, the dude looks back and just attacks hard from the saddle – those were the only times that it got really hard, but I’d just sit on his wheel and let him work. This happens a few more times and I realize that this guy is strong – also, we’re putting time on the two guys behind us. I’d see Anjos and Radd every once in awhile, but each time I realize that there not really gaining on us. At this point, I decide that if this guy is gonna keep attacking and we’re putting time on 3rd & 4th place, then as long as he doesn’t slow down, I’ll sit in and let him work. I wasn’t sure how I was gonna feel on the fourth lap, so I didn’t want to go up front and blow up only to get passed by Anjos and Radd at the end. So this guy motions for me to come through at one point, but its up a climb and I’m drinking from my bottle, he notices that I’m not pulling through and then he throws down a super hard effort…… dumb. So now I know that he’s not hurting, but he wants me to pull him around – this guy is strong just not smart. Its not gonna happen. He starts yelling something in Spanish to me and I just yell back – “Dude, I’m hurtin. I can’t attack right now. Just go.” I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to work for him, but since he was attacking me, I didn’t see the point in pulling through. That wouldn’t have been smart. So I sit back on his wheel and we’re almost through the last lap. He gaps me a little here and there, but he must’ve started fading, because he’d make some stupid little mistakes on his lines and I’d be right back on him. “Somebody’s getting sloppy” – I thought to myself!! Perfect because I was now recovered and feeling pretty good. Weaving in and out of lapped riders, we finally pop out onto the BMX Track and climb up the starting hill – I totally expected this guy to start hauling – but I took off down the first straightaway and I went into BMX mode. By the way, I was 2002 Florida State BMX Champ in 21-21 Expert Class, was ranked 5th nationally in 2001, and got invited to race on the USA Worlds BMX team as an elite amateur that year. It’s been a while, but I still know how to ride a track……… I hit the first straight in full sprint, speed rolled the step-up and got perfect backside, went into each berm in full attack mode with elbows flared and pulled out in full wheelie torque mode!! It was awesome. I hit the little rhythm section and rolled, rolled, jumped, jumped and then looked back and realized I had about a two-straightaway lead – popped through the gate and headed towards the finish line for my first expert win!! Way stoked. It was a perfectly executed race from a tactical standpoint. Maybe I could’ve done some more work but hey, that’s racing!!! I know the 2nd place guy (Ernesto Toledo) was probably pissed that he worked the whole race only to get nipped at the end. Maybe next time, he won’t try to attack the rider that he wants to try to share the work with.
So all in all – a great race for me. Radd ended up having to pull out on the last lap because of a rock that sliced his tire in two spots – if that wouldn’t have happened I totally think he would’ve gotten third place. Karel even had a great race placing either 6th or 7th. He’s a good dude, and getting faster with each race.
Next up, I’m gonna run in the Outback Distance Classic – Half-Marathon. I’d love to go sub 1:30, but mainly just want to beat my time from last year. That’s at the end of November. I might try to throw in another mtb race if I can. It sure is fun racing, when you’re fit.

2-15-09

PM -
MTB ride at Hanna
3 laps -> 1 wu / 1 racepace / 1 cd
~1:15
Then did ez T-run on South loop (wore new shoes = Zoot's = solid!)
~25min

2-8-09

a.m.
MTB ride at Hanna with Tony J and Radd Pop
Did 1 lap WU (~23 min pace) then did 2 laps @ race pace (20:30 & 20:50) then 1 northside E-line and then CD on southloop
~2hrs
T-run at Hanna - ez pace -
~25 min

1-19-09 thru 1-25-09

So, things have been crazy at work. Long and stressful hours just didn't seem to motivate me to train - felt more like drinking beers more than anything. But I guess its alright - I kinda decided to use this past week as a recovery week. Not that I was in desperate need of rest - but it mentally makes me feel better about not training hard. So heres the recap:

Monday 1.19.09 -
1hr ez spin on the trainer

Tuesday 1.20.09 -
40 min run with the dawg on the Golf Course (really cold btw - in the 30's)

Wednesday 1.21.09 -
Late night at work so no training - but I ate good food at Bonefish with Steph and Horton

Thursday 1.22.09 -
Nothing - another late night at work - chilled at home

Friday 1.23.09 -
Got up super early 4am with Steph (she had early flight to Houston) so I hit the pool - did 3 x 10min sessions - nothing fast - just felt good to be in water for first time in over a week
Then did 30min of core work / stretching

Saturday 1.24.09 -
3-1/2 hrs mtb
Rode from home to Hanna - met up Randy Hagins - did about 5-1/2 laps then cruised home. Good saddle time - I did put in a couple of accelerations but was wanting to check pacing in prep for the 6hr race 2.21.09

Sunday 1.25.09 -
Trail Run at Hanna
1 hr - did south loop (39:05) then did an ez 20 min for cool down

1-17-09

Hanna Park Trail ride

6 laps - 3 at moderate pace (~23 -24 min pace) then rode with Todd at ez conversational pace for another 3laps

Total ride time 2hr 30min

1-1-09

MTB ride
~ 3hrs
Rode from house (really windy) did about 4 laps total and then rode home