Monday, September 22, 2008

LA TRI SERIES BONELLI PARK 06-08-2008

Can you understand why there are so many people who love living in SoCal? It's the weather. What a beautiful day, warm water in Lake San Dimas at Bonelli Park, and no wind at all. Swim is just under a mile, 24 mile bike on a challenging, hilly and technical course, and the run is hilly with asphalt and trails for 6 miles.
This is where I started racing and have done so many events over the years. Mr. Bill Fulton the race owner has done a fabulous job keeping this race series alive for 25 years. His son Chip will more than likely take it over and hopefully grow this event in surrounding areas. Now, it's just great to be back in the tri scene racing on the CANNONDALE SIX-13 Slice, a terrific time trialer perfectly fit by the guys at INCYCLE Bikes in San Dimas. Thank you guys for a terrific set up for Tri Racing, 2008.
My swim was average, just top 1/3 in my wave. Training for the swim is difficult in the Desert. Very few training pools where I live. Once on the bike I could really rock. That screaming downhill next to the 57 freeway is incredible. WOW, does that bike fly with the ZIPP 404 wheels.
Off the bike and started the run with low bloodsugar. I could feel it, kind of bonked. Mr. SlowTwitch.com Dan Empfield was running next to me and gapped me while I was trying to correct the blood sugar problem. 10 yards, then 50 yards, then 200 yards, he got away. As I seemed to stumble along devouring Vitalyte and Crank gel, I finally started coming around regaining composure.
Running through the jungle and then back out to the asphalt Dan saw me coming. There was another guy infront of us with my age group number on his calf. Dan gave me the word, "Go get that guy"! A little encouragement from a friend goes a long way. I ran that guy down and kept pushing to get another one. 2nd place in 21 athletes in my age group, 16th overall. Seems like the old days again. Love that racing stuff.

Ontario Mid-Season Criterium, May 18th, 2008

Beautiful Weather with just a touch of wind and good/normal blood sugar met me at the starting coral in Ontario, CA. While driving out to the race I did take 6 units of Novolin to get the insulin working. The drive out was an hour and I started eating 1/2 hour before I arrived. With an hour of insulin activity and bloodsugar on the way up I had a good opportunity to charge fast in the race without a bloodsugar mishap.
First race was 45 minutes after I arrived. Warmed up on the turbo trainer gentley for 20 minutes. It's so funny how some of the guys are almost killing themselves in warm-up on the trainers. Some will ride more than a 1/2 hour to warm-up. I suspect they are a little tired at the start but to each his own.
In the category 4/5 race, most of the racers are out their for themselves and have little faith. When there is a break in the peloton or someone jumps out there in front and tries to take off, there isn't a group of 5 or more who want to work together to follow and escape the main group. SO FUNNY. I would jump on with one or two people but nobody else. You usually need more guys to make a strong escape from the main group. Until I move up in category to the 3's, I think it will be mostly up to me and a good sprint at the end to win 4/5's to place in the standings.
Placed 12th out of 50 guys in this first race. In perfect position just off the outside riding in 6th with a terrific drive/sprint line the sprint was on and then the middle guys started to slow on the front. Just then the door closed with the sides enclosing on me like a giant envelope of sprinters. This isn't the first time this has happened.

The second race of the day with 30+ age group category 4/5. This race is a little faster with younger dudes of 30+ who are propbably more dedicated to training. At least it felt that way. The corners are fast and fun. The new CANNONDALE SYSTEM SIX bike is a riot to ride. I can go through the corners with every ounce of speed I can put in and just glide past 5 or 6 guys because the front end is so steady and predictable. Riding this bike so fast is like I was in video game at an arcade. And the sprints, I can't tell if the frame flexes or not. Stable and very fast. WOW, what an advantage I seem to have with this ride. Thank you Bill Riedel of CANNONDALE.
I won one of the premiums on a sprint challenge, the crowd caught us back, and with 4 laps to go it was difficult to catch my wind for the final sprint. Finished only, but winning a premium was fun none the less. Thank you One Touch by Lifescan, for the opportunity to represent you in SoCal racing, Insulindependence and Triabetes.org, SPIBelt, Vitalyte, Polar Hear Rate Monitors, Joker Media, Andiamo Productions, PURE Fit Bars, and the others who have helped make this season a success for me. God Bless you all.