Racing, Hamsters and Wieners

OK, time to talk a bit about my racing this year (I so know you care). Some good, some bad.

I have raced more this year than I did ALL of last year for sure. Take a look...

2010 Races:

9 Hours of Cranky Monkey - mid pack felt good.
Mohican 100K - DNF, freehub broke 5 miles in.
Hilly Billy Roubaix - (way) back of the pack, cramped, felt like shit.

Then in early August I got my second DVT in 2 years, 1 day later we found out we were going to have to move to Michigan. DVT + stress + madness + anger + stress = season over.

Fast forward to 2011... I vowed to race more, lose that stress weight that I drank , ate and drank on, and try to get my head on straight. Early season success at the weight loss and motivation had me pretty stoked on the season and it showed in my mid packness (top placings are a thing of the past for me, I'm all about mid pack though).

This is '11 so far...

Barry-Roubaix 35 Mile - mid pack as expected 25 degrees
Yankee Springs XC TT - mid pack somewhere as expected
Rust Shaker XC -mid to upper pack (small vet expert class)
Stony Creek 6 hour - mid pack
Hanson Hills 100 - mid pack
Lumberjack 100 - DNF after 2 laps (about 66 miles) - no legs, no desire.
Boyne Marathon (40 miles) - no legs, no desire, possible DFL*.

By the time the Lumberjack rolled around I was feeling sort of like a sloth on the bike again. My will to watch my food and drink intake fell away and I DNFed at the 'Jack. I did get to hang out with some good friends from back home and from my new home here in Michigan, so that was still sort of cool. OK, not "sort of cool," really cool.

This past weekend at the Boyne Marathon I felt like total shit. Worse than I did all of last year on the bike, and that is saying something!! I finished though and did not opt to DNF, so that was a small victory right there, but still it sucked ball. Much was my fault on some equiptment choices, but for the most part I just sucked and my brain was not in it to "race." *EDIT: It appears I did not finish DFL in my class. Sort of.... OK, I was DFL of the racers in my class who finished. LOL! There was 13 of us. I finished 8th others DNFed. Still not mid pack though. Ha!

I sort of briefly thought about chucking the season after Boyne, or taking a break for a month or so. But instead I have decided to take my balls by the vice grips and get back to where I was earlier in the season. Get miles in, watch what I eat, and limit any beers to the weekend only. I also want to keep racing and not let myself "take a break." For someone like me taking a break just turns into being a slug and before you know it, it's freaking January and I am bitching that I should have raced more, done more in the summer, blah, blah, blah.

OK, so back to 2011 and talking of wheels...

This weekend is the Ithaca 6/12 hour. It's only like 40 minutes from my house. I would do the 6 hour (Noon to 6 PM) and try to get some more points in the endurance series. BUT the course is only 5.5 miles long. UGGGGG!! While I hear it's tight singletrack with a ton of roots (perfect for the Spearfish and keeping the mind occupied), I just do NOT know if I feel like going in 5.5 mile circles for 6 hours. 12 hours is out of the question and I would rather shoot myself in the groin with a potato gun.

Not sure if I feel like being a hamster.
(Insert Richard Gere joke here)

My other option is the Log Splitter; a 28 mile point to point XC race up in Grayling, MI. This would be cool, but it does pose some slight logistical issues with the whole point to point thing and the timing of getting my ass up there, packet pick up, drive to course, ride 8 miles to the start, etc., Seems like it could be doable. The added bonus is that it's sponsored by Shorts Brewing. I dig me some Shorts and there is talk of some free post race refreshments.

Orrrrr.... I might not do either, and try to explore more of the NCT. Either way, I will be on the bike and getting some miles in. But then again that really wouldn't be racing would it? Hmmm.

Speaking of miles in, I got a nice 56.5 mile gravel ride in today.

I was going to do 45 to 50, but ended at 55. Thank God I packed a 3rd bottle, 'cause I drained them all! By the time I made it back into town I was a rolling salt lick. It was like an oven out there today, It was only around 80 (so they say), but it felt a LOT hotter. I felt great though, burned a TON of calories, and earned my 2 cups of post ride Rice Krispies! LOL!

On one stretch I didn't know what to expect, in about a half mile I passed one dead cat, two dead snakes, and a piece of a deer's leg. I was looking over my shoulder for sure! I was also chased my a wiener dog. Little f*cker was pissed at me. I had to stop because I was afraid he was going to get run over! No one wants a wiener dog in their rear derailleur. His owner had to come get him, because every time I took off he would follow me. She was glad I did though, thanked me, and although we looked about the same age she called me "sir." After that I contemplated going back and running the wiener dog over (twice).

OK, time to get some rest, think about a ride and work tomorrow. Today's ride went longer than I thought, so I need to make up some work tomorrow, or later tonight. Curse you vile home office.

Later.