Sunday, September 27, 2009

Not a photoshop trick



This is not a photoshop trick or optical illusion; that is yours truly on the top of the podium. this weekend was the last race in the minnesota state championship series and I came in first in my age bracket. I was in the citizen/beginner race. So there are harder divisions to work towards but this was a real win. It was a tough race and up to the last 1/4 mile a toss up as to who would win.

For most of the race I was trading the lead with two other riders and I didn't know if I was going to hang on to the end. Fortunately as the race progressed the other two started to wain and my strength was holding. In the last few places where the trail opened up wide enough to pass I really put the pressure on and speeding up the pace and eventually was able to ride off the front.

This course thankfully played into my straights and didn't penalize me to greatly for my weaknesses. It had frequent sections of grassy double track to plow through and made very good sprinting opportunities. Which as it turns out is a strength for me. It's surprising smaller guys don't tend to be good sprinters. Climbers yes but sprinters not so much.

The track did have a good deal of very tight twisting single track which I am not very fast in. so I was loosing ground in the single track and gaining it in the open. If I am too Improve my overall standings and or move up in division Bike handling skills really need work.

I must say I am very pleased with the seasons end. As always through the season there have been countless times where I get beat so bad, it is nice to not be at the bottom of the pile for once.

Ok bike season is over.... time to ski... birke is in 153 days... better start getting ready!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Transition

This week started transition to ski season. Which means trail running and hill intervals with poles.

Like the last couple years by September I an ready for a change of pace. My skiing mentor is telling me that I need to spend more time on my rollerskis. I went down pretty hard on them acouple weeks ago and now I'm scared of them. I'll have to buck up the courage on keep trying. Maybe football pads : ).

My 73 year old father started working out at a gym last week after years of reletive inactivity. After 3 years of work and improvments I almost envy him. To be starting at the beginning on hindsight was a really exciting part of the grand experiment. Change and improvement comes so fast in the beginning. Mental peace, clarity; once long forgotten, return and the contrast is so drastic.

I have distant friend who I know is really struggling and I hold hope for her that she finds her path to feeling better soon.

So many of us live unnessesarily discomforted.

Wishes to us all for peace, not joy, not elation simple peace will do.