and it begins…2012 racing

I can’t believe it’s already mid January and the 2012 race season is under, for some at least, including me.  Last weekend while my wife and friends were out smashing out on the coast ride I raced the Ontario Grand Prix.  It was my crit and first road bike race of any kind.  I was bit nervous going into the race, for obvious reasons, but got plenty of good advice from pete, trevor, and wattie heading in.  all of them have a lot experience racing on the road and are helping me get better everyday.

My race wasn’t until 3 so I got up knocked out an ez spin and a good breakie and then hit the road solo.  Everybody else was either sick our out of town… or partying their faces like a college kid on on spring break, but I won’t mention any names.  Everybody kept telling my to be careful and about how cat 5 crits are sketchy so of course when as soon as i roll up to race the paramedics are peeling some guys off the road after a crash in the 30+ cat 4/5 race (i would have entered this one too if it wasn’t sold out).  So my nerves were already on edge.  I talked with my neighbor brian, who unfortunately got tangled up in the crash, but did catch it on his go pro… check it.

 

and to make things worse about 90 minutes before my race it started to rain a bit.  Luckily is stopped after 15 minutes and the sun came out and dried up the road.  There was NO way I was going to jump into my first crit on wet roads.

So for my race I lined up on the second row.  The start was super mellow, way different than cross or mtb races.  I just sat in somewhere in the 10-20′s to get a feel for the pace and the course.  We didn’t have time for a practice lap due to the crash and rain.  So I didn’t know the course.  So I sat in for the first half of the lap and then moved up into the top 10.  I stayed there for a lap or so.  Then some guys tried to make breaks and I took it upon myself to bring them back.  I also started throwing in attacks.

I know this isn’t the smartest way to win a crit, but I really wanted to test my fitness and have fun.  Sitting in the whole race is not fun.  I wanted to make things happen, but this also meant I was on the front way too much.  That and not having any teammates makes it hard to win.  But I was blown away with the power I have right now on the bike.  I could bridge and gap or break with ease, and when I really threw down a big surge not many guys could match it.  the training I am doing right IS working.

So after throwing in a bunch of attacks and pulling the 75 man peloton way too much we headed into the bell lap and I kind of gut stuck/pinned as everybody swarmed.  So I had to spent the final lap navigating the pack to get back inside the top 10.  Lesson learned.  When we hit the final turn I was in the top 10 but got stuck again and winning sprint left from the right and I was on the left and boxed in.  I finished in the bunch so i am not sure where (place-wise) i actually finished.  I know I am not a sprinter and winning a race like this isn’t going to happen unless I can try go for a solo attack off the front.  next time i think i’ll try that.

so my impression from my frist road race.  I LOVED IT.  I had so much fun and there were times I was riding about has hard as i could.  that’s the kind of effort I love.  I know a lot of people, mostly my triathlete friends (and wife), don’t really understand how a 45-60 minute (crit & cx) can be so gratifying for me.  It’s what I love.  I like all out efforts, going as hard as I can until I pop, and ending the race feeling gutted.  For me it’s more gratifying than ironman, honestly.  And the best part you don’t need weeks to recover.  I can get right back to riding.  I am even more excited for my 2012 race season and all the road racing to come.

here is another video from the Ontario Grand Prix.  I wasn’t in this race but a lot of my friends and family have no idea what a “crit” is and this a good videos.

another race happened this weekend in arizona.  one of the athletes I am coaching, James Adams, ran the Rock and Roll AZ Half Marathon.  He has been working hard, really hard, and is super motivated.  He didn’t head into the race with much rest just a some lighter days leading.  Well… he smashed it!  A PR with a 1:14:40.  Very stoked for him and it’s gratifying for me too.

that’s all… except for some food photos from the week.  FEED THE MACHINE!!!!

roasted veggies.  a winter staple.

bbq’d pork chops.

grilled organic chicken sausage and roasted veggies.