Team training camp

Reflection

Season ended with the Brentwood Gran Prix about three weeks ago.
Overall it was super. Met three goals: did not crash, reached a high level of fitness and was a key player in helping my team. Not quite sure what the off season will look like in terms of training.

Time to get the shoulder stronger. Do some cross training to strengthen the core and bones. Maybe some swimming and hiking.

!?!

San Marcos Circuit Race

Mates Brian and Brian got 10th and 11th. Tony did some blocking during the final lap. I was oblivious to it all. Early efforts were my demise and I started to fade towards the end. Figured race was wrapped up as a group of 7 was a minute up the road.

Fun fast 1.7 mi. course with a small hill and another gradual rise.

Finished with Mont Ventoux

It all comes down to this...

Mud castle

remember making these at the beach?

Look ma' I've raced a bit.

Went to my one year check up today. According to the CT scan it looks like bone is holding the clavicle together as opposed to a "fibrous bridge." That's good. Still there's work to be done to get things fully functional. Glad my current profession doesn't require heavy lifting or overhead work.

Not nearly as many races as last year...but hey...
2-28 North End Classic
Stage 1. Criterium , Stage 2. Road Race.
3-29 LA Circuit Race
4-4 Golden Acorn Road Race
4-5 Dominguez Hill Criterium
4-18 Devil’s Punchbowl Road Race
4-26 Dana Point Gran Prix
5-3 San Luis Rey Road Race
5-16 Ventura County Stage Race
Stage1TT , Stage 2 Criterium , Stage 3 Road Race
5-25 Long Beach Criterium
30+, P1,2
6-7 So.Cal. Champs Road Race
6-14 Dominguez Hill Crit.
30+, P1,2
Camp San Luis Road Race
SLO Criterium Classic

Race report for SLO 4th of July Weekend races:
RR: Interesting parcourse on the oldest original national guard
facility in California. Up, down, left and right. Seldom straight and
flat. Throw in front, side and tailwinds. Don't forget fork snapping
cattle guards. After the first two laps the almost 2/3 of the field
disappeared. Credit Strawberry, Liquid, A.Olson (Telekom, Saunier Duval,
Bissel, who's he riding for now?) and N.Shirley for setting an
untouchable pace up the climb. Many of these culprits would eventually
drop out after the butchering was complete. Decided it was way too fast
if I had any hopes of finishing. Cut my losses and rode within my
abilities. Funny, I just came up with about five excuses for letting
myself drop off the back. Finished 23rd.

Camped out under the stars at El Chorro campground. Ear plugs and an
eye pillow allowed me to sleep in total oblivion to the developing scene
(11hrs of zzz's) around me. Awoke to what could only be described as a
post apocalyptic America. Massive trailers, campers, trucks...basically
tons of horsepower.

Crit: After getting a look at the course I checked my pants for the
cojones that were locked in the car. Totally psyched myself out for
this race. Started at the back and stayed there until the finish. Once
things got moving it turned out to be a very smooth and safe. Once again
supporting the idea that slow crit: bad, fast crit: good. Finished
feeling a bit unsatisfied as I never really had reason to put out a real
effort. Entertained the idea of moving up at times but the field was
strung out the length of the block. Super fun course. Semi-technical
with a short momentum climb, long gradual climb, wide corners, barriers
for length of the course and a very enthusiastic crowd and MC. Finished
somewhere in there.

An all around good weekend. Mark it on your race calendar. Well worth
the drive.

Side note: Be on guard and watch out for drivers with smoking brakes
rolling through stop signs. Still counting my lucky stars :)

Pictures are worth a thousand words:

Style

Talk about confidence. The final turn was tight and no more that 250 meters from the finish. Rahsaan Bahati has won every race he's entered for the last four weekends. Not bad. In fact he's been winning since his days at Major Motion back in the late 90's. Within the last 24hrs. he won the SLO criterium to take the California State Criterium Championships.

More or less my route (minus a few error on the map) in 95 deg. heat. Took a counter clock wise direction.

Manhattan Beach Gran Prix- one year out.

Today is the 2009 Manhattan Beach Gran Prix. One year ago today (actually tomorrow the 29th) I crashed hard 20 meters before the final turn just before the 5 laps to go bell rang. For a variety of reasons, which were beyond my control, it would have been wise not to race that day. No regrets though. Remnants of my injuries still linger. "Time heals all wounds"...but scars remain pretty much sums it up.

In no way do I feel better off for this experience. I must say though, I've gained some insight and empathy along the way.

Reached the one year mark and have been riding, racing, and loving every minute of it.

Races to date

2-28 North End Classic Stage 1. Criterium, Stage 2. Road Race.
3-29 LA Circuit Race
4-4 Golden Acorn Road Race
4-5 Dominguez Hill Criterium
4-18 Devil’s Punchbowl Road Race
4-26 Dana Point Gran Prix
5-3 San Luis Rey Road Race
5-16 Ventura County Stage Race
5-25 Long Beach Criterium

Started to feel something that resembles "fitness" during the last two races. After Dana Point it was time for a bit of reflection and planning. Posted my objectives or targets in writing (on the wall) and made some changes to my diet. Just cut out the empty calories. Trimmed some blubber and maybe added some lean mass. Feeling much better.

:)

View Larger Map
had that feeling i've not had in quite some time. kept wondering what was around the next corner...how much farther until i turn back? one of the most scenic and inspiring rides in a long time?

races

racing has been fun. just kind of rolling with the pack.
back on track now. kind of got lost during mid-March to mid-April.

random post

did some races two weeks ago...san diego omnium (same course as boulevard RR) and a local crit. my team mates did a fine job in the RR. top ten, top 15, top 20. i finished towards 18-20th. the crit was fun. tony cruz was there. can't believe he rolled the dice at local crits before heading off to pari-roubaix? when you're pro your're pro i guess? i had a few off the fronts and pulls in the final laps but nothing special in terms of results. after all these years i lack the eyes for the key moves. something got away with 7 laps to go. race radios? i could use them. keeping the faith though. i will get on form and it will all come together. eli is racing every weekend and is full on at the moment. i was like that last year until my crash...and in 2004-...

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TANK VIDS: i'd like to fall asleep to this every night.


THIS COULD REPAIR CELLULAR DAMAGE WHILE I SLEEP: sleep should do this on it's own 8-10 hrs. for very active types...in an ideal world.


HAL voice: