Over at Keith's Oct 19th where he informs me of upcoming Tour Duh Canmore Oct 31st at the Drake and halloween cross races. Last years event ended up being one of the funniest most random nights of the year, who would have thought an indoor bike race. At the same time we were looking at pictures from his cross races last 2 weekends, man do I wish I had a cross bike. The entire concept of cross is so wicked in so many ways. You against the course, full throttle for 1 hr, sand pits, jumping barriers, cruel 15 m climbs with 180 turns....why am I not in this sport? Oh ya no time or cross bike. Keith replies well I do have an extra bike as he has previously said..
The competitive spark in me decides I must enter these events for a late season suffer. So I have 10 days to get back in shape after over 1.5 months off and enter Oct 31st cross race in Calgary and the Drake that evening :) Size up Keith's bike next few days and head out for a rip on the trails.
Next day morning jog with Seth up Tunnel, urrggg 20 minutes of 175-180 HR. Afternoon on the road bike, was a little kid out there. Usual grind by Surprise corner around Tunnel with a few laps around Minnewanka and Johnston lake. 2 hrs of absolute burn soaking up every second out there with beauty 15 degrees and sun.
2 days later
Plyometric jumps 10 times x 3 sets. Holy the best value 3 minute workout hands down!!
Right after those on trainer inside - had to dust it off as it had been a while
1 min on 1min off x 5 repeat set
40 sec on 20 sec off x 5 repeat set
20 sec on 15 sec off x 5 repeat set
Love that workout, key is too pace but quite hard when HR so high. Purposely no recovery time between intervals, perfect training for demands of cross courses.
Worked this morning then jogged up Tunnel with Seth in pack. No matter how many times up there, always kills. But was just off a few seconds of times late summer.
No expectations for Oct 31st race, just have a riot and try and hang in there while not throwing up. Hope to get out or on trainer at least a few times this week.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Almost 3 weeks old
Enjoyed my 7 days off work, days were actually mostly spent with Seth going swimming, wagon rides, jogs up Tunnel and bikes. Us being out gave Marnie time to catch up on sleep. Seth is so gentle and sweet with Rory, non stop hugs and kisses.
Already a yogi
Already a yogi
2nd bathtime
Sunday, October 17, 2010
New Addition to our family!!
Marnie's due date was Oct 18th.
Oct 6th evening 11:17pm Marnie wakes me up with extreme contraction pain saying we are going to the hospital asap.
Won't dwell to much now but called 911, grab towels, Marn's mom walks in to her daughter on floor with a baby coming out. Mom and I turn into MD's and deliver our baby boy on the bathroom floor with the help of 911. Paramedics show up as Rory is on mom's chest, off to hospital.
17 minutes from when Marn woke me up to delivery of baby!
Rory Sean was born 11:33 pm happy and healthy.
Oct 6th evening 11:17pm Marnie wakes me up with extreme contraction pain saying we are going to the hospital asap.
Bag is packed, call Marn's mom to come up, call midwife to meet at hospital as no time to come to our house where all of a sudden Marn in bathroom says the water "sack" and head is coming out! Sure enough go to bathroom and indeed a head is out!
Won't dwell to much now but called 911, grab towels, Marn's mom walks in to her daughter on floor with a baby coming out. Mom and I turn into MD's and deliver our baby boy on the bathroom floor with the help of 911. Paramedics show up as Rory is on mom's chest, off to hospital.
17 minutes from when Marn woke me up to delivery of baby!
Rory Sean was born 11:33 pm happy and healthy.
meeting for 1st time
Bow 80 or lack of
Oh the Bow80, half the stress of this race is making the sign up in April. Sold out in 20 minutes this year where a few friends missed the boat.
So with only 4 races on my calendar this summer, the Bow 80 was a race I was waiting 4 months for as it is so epic in so many ways. After road provincials I was pumped to keep my fitness and go in a race where there was no drafting, no hiding in the pack, it was you against the trails with epic 1 hr ascents and descents. Even though I realized I would not have time to ride 5 hrs of training - time to win race - I was relying on my mental strength to pull me through. Hard intervals on the trainer when I had time between work and family with a few rips around tunnel mtn and minnewanka had me excited to battle.
Unfortunately mother nature stepped in and dropped snow and freezing temps the week leading up. After last years gong show with snow and pulling half the field off the course, the race organizers cancelled the race a few days out for safety concerns.
Murphy's Law the temps were high teens to 20's next 2 weeks. In his e mail Bob mentioned looking for earlier date next year - lets hope so as this race always ends up with weather issues.
See you next year Bow 80
Somewhat of an anti climax for me now with cancellation of this race, where next race is literally 8 months away. Work so hard at achieving a fitness level then all of a sudden done for 8 months. Well not quite done per say but I thrive for the race competition of biking and now so far away until next challenge. Saying that super excited for x country ski pulling 2 little ones around - 40 odd lbs - to keep the fitness alive over winter and come out strong in spring for Velocity again...??
So with only 4 races on my calendar this summer, the Bow 80 was a race I was waiting 4 months for as it is so epic in so many ways. After road provincials I was pumped to keep my fitness and go in a race where there was no drafting, no hiding in the pack, it was you against the trails with epic 1 hr ascents and descents. Even though I realized I would not have time to ride 5 hrs of training - time to win race - I was relying on my mental strength to pull me through. Hard intervals on the trainer when I had time between work and family with a few rips around tunnel mtn and minnewanka had me excited to battle.
Unfortunately mother nature stepped in and dropped snow and freezing temps the week leading up. After last years gong show with snow and pulling half the field off the course, the race organizers cancelled the race a few days out for safety concerns.
Murphy's Law the temps were high teens to 20's next 2 weeks. In his e mail Bob mentioned looking for earlier date next year - lets hope so as this race always ends up with weather issues.
See you next year Bow 80
Somewhat of an anti climax for me now with cancellation of this race, where next race is literally 8 months away. Work so hard at achieving a fitness level then all of a sudden done for 8 months. Well not quite done per say but I thrive for the race competition of biking and now so far away until next challenge. Saying that super excited for x country ski pulling 2 little ones around - 40 odd lbs - to keep the fitness alive over winter and come out strong in spring for Velocity again...??
Friday, October 15, 2010
Rest of Summer and Provincial Championships
After Banff Race, put on 12 lbs and biked a whopping 2 hrs the entire next month.
Spent time with family enjoying time together. A few trips away to Kelowna and Marn's moms place at Little Bow Lake.
End of July after 1.5 months of relaxing and zero biking, decided to enter Road Race Provincials in 3 weeks. Road 3 hrs / week tops with indoor intervals when I had time.
Similar to Banff Race, days out was laughing at the 107km distance as I had literally rode that distance once the past 2 months :) Staring line with Robbie he was complaining he took 1 week OFF the bike last month where I laughed to him I have ridden one week in last 2 months.
At front of race first half where hung back for a bit. Last quarter at front again with 2 other guys chasing 2 people down. Hilarious as nobody else was helping, 1 guy actually yelled back for help and still nothing - how can one fell good with themselves siting mid pack watching others. Again part of road racing and I am on the wrong side of the strategy but who cares - I am racing 3 times all summer not going to hand mid pack.
Final 500 metes at front with others while spending zero energy being smart where guy comes mocking by with Harlee and Matt on wheel. I hesitated for .02 sec (why)? which cost me race Ended 4th . Fellow RMCC rider Matt placed 3rd - nice!
Happy with 4th considering rode 3 hrs once in 2 months so surprised I had the legs for race.
RMCC 3rd and 4th
Spent time with family enjoying time together. A few trips away to Kelowna and Marn's moms place at Little Bow Lake.
End of July after 1.5 months of relaxing and zero biking, decided to enter Road Race Provincials in 3 weeks. Road 3 hrs / week tops with indoor intervals when I had time.
Similar to Banff Race, days out was laughing at the 107km distance as I had literally rode that distance once the past 2 months :) Staring line with Robbie he was complaining he took 1 week OFF the bike last month where I laughed to him I have ridden one week in last 2 months.
At front of race first half where hung back for a bit. Last quarter at front again with 2 other guys chasing 2 people down. Hilarious as nobody else was helping, 1 guy actually yelled back for help and still nothing - how can one fell good with themselves siting mid pack watching others. Again part of road racing and I am on the wrong side of the strategy but who cares - I am racing 3 times all summer not going to hand mid pack.
Final 500 metes at front with others while spending zero energy being smart where guy comes mocking by with Harlee and Matt on wheel. I hesitated for .02 sec (why)? which cost me race Ended 4th . Fellow RMCC rider Matt placed 3rd - nice!
Happy with 4th considering rode 3 hrs once in 2 months so surprised I had the legs for race.
RMCC 3rd and 4th
Spring Bike Races
Mid April Speed Theory hosted a hilarious race - Prairie Roubaix.
Cat A consisted of 4 - 18 km laps with 2 km's being full on gravel. An unofficial race to say but still 50 guys showed up for our category! Not thinking first lap with sitting about 35th place going into 90 degree turn to start gravel where the entire pack got blown apart like no tomorrow. Mad sprinting watching the top guys hundreds of meters up. Spent next 54 kms with heart rate through the roof hanging on with 5 guys while finishing 23rd. Great mid April session
May 1st Velocity Stage Race Edmonton Was not going into race but 2 week out got the go ahead
Cat 3
Time Trial 8th Not too happy with results as felt stronger
Criterium 8th Fun race being at front of race entire time. Boxed in at sprint finish - urrrgggg
Road Race 8th At front again entire race chasing people down, missed 2 man break. Darren 3rd, Steve 4th
Omnium 8th
Happy but should a could a would a - maybe too much time up front but whatever not happy with sitting mid pack watching others. Do realize this is road racing where its all strategy with smartest man winning but felt well and had fun out there. Chalk it up with another road race learning experience :)
Cat A consisted of 4 - 18 km laps with 2 km's being full on gravel. An unofficial race to say but still 50 guys showed up for our category! Not thinking first lap with sitting about 35th place going into 90 degree turn to start gravel where the entire pack got blown apart like no tomorrow. Mad sprinting watching the top guys hundreds of meters up. Spent next 54 kms with heart rate through the roof hanging on with 5 guys while finishing 23rd. Great mid April session
May 1st Velocity Stage Race Edmonton Was not going into race but 2 week out got the go ahead
Cat 3
Time Trial 8th Not too happy with results as felt stronger
Criterium 8th Fun race being at front of race entire time. Boxed in at sprint finish - urrrgggg
Road Race 8th At front again entire race chasing people down, missed 2 man break. Darren 3rd, Steve 4th
Omnium 8th
Happy but should a could a would a - maybe too much time up front but whatever not happy with sitting mid pack watching others. Do realize this is road racing where its all strategy with smartest man winning but felt well and had fun out there. Chalk it up with another road race learning experience :)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Banff Stage Race
Signed up in March with RMCC's Invite Team for the Banff Race (able to receive temp upgrade from Cat 3). With Marnie pregnant I did not know what the next summer would bring with being busy with 2 children and no time for cycling. Seemed like a good idea 3 months out but as 2 months passed my riding time was literally 4 hrs / week, reality was setting in with what actually was going to happen riding with Cat 1' s who ride 20 + hrs / week and last stage being 145 km's. Marnie was asking me why not just race in Cat 3 and podium etc...thought only live once go for it and learn from this. Kept at my 1 hr indoor interval sessions in the meantime with getting outside a few weeks out with laps around tunnel.
87 riders total in Invite Race
Crit
87 riders total in Invite Race
Prologue Hill Climb 1.5 km's 28th Top time on my team
Lake Louise Race 80 km's 43rd Did what teammates said not to but just happened -must be in top 20 at Baker Creek as no room to move up - too bad as envisioned beauty hill finish sprint. Received 30 sec penalty for crossing line which dropped me to 43rd from 25th
Criterium Was top 15 for first 15 laps then flatted. Changed wheel at pit when commissionaire said to go out then all of a sudden was lapped. RATTLED at this as thrown out there at wrong time by him
Time Trial Gave my all but lost minutes and minutes to the big guns
Tunnel Road Race 145 km's 40th Dropped on 10th lap up Rocky hill
Omnium Overall 43rd out of 87 guys RMCC was 7th of 15 teams
Happy overall with experience under my belt racing with Cat 1, too bad about Crit. Not bad for a dad who was riding 4 hrs / week.
TT Start
Tunnel start
Crit start
Crit
Summer update
With Marnie back at work May 1st and us deciding to not enroll Seth in Daycare, we had a busy summer to say the least, Marn and I had 1 day OFF together as we juggled our schedules to watch Seth.
Friend Erin and her cute 3 yr old son Leland watched Seth 2 days / week where the other days we managed. Saying this Seth and I spent 10 fold more time together spending our days going to the Banff Springs pool, "running" up Tunnel Mtn, biking and generally loving our time together.
Families must make sacrifices to make things work financially, this was our summer for this as day care costs $800 / month with somebody else raising your child. The day will come for daycare / pre school, but in the meantime we did what we had to do to make it work - thanx to Erin and Leland for all their help.
Wow - been 5 months
Well Oct 14th and tonnes to update, thought I would add a few pics from winter as Seth was too cute.
Torch relay in Banff
Rink across the street
1st time on skis in backyard
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