RACE REPORT: NCGP Elite Race

My favorite race of the year! Aside from being in my backyard, the course in Jackson Park seems to suite me and my roadie background. After my win in the 2/3 race here last year I received my Cat. 1 upgrade and looked forward to the UCI race in 2010.

After a 2nd-to-last row start, and a madhouse dash for the first left-hander it was 2 laps of fighting for position, avoiding crashing riders, and bumping and grinding before being able to settle in for the full 60 minute race around the fast track! We averaged over 25 mph for the first 2 laps, and I was settled into the 3rd group. As riders started to fall back I tried to work my way up to the 2nd group on the road, but was stuck in "no man's land" as the 2nd group joined the leading group to form a 15-strong front group that whipped around the course in the 60 degree sunshine. My mantra was "smooth and strong" as I tried to stay steady and work my way up. Our group of 5 took turns pulling, attacking, and some of us - crashing. I managed to stay upright all afternoon and even put in a last lap attack, but was pipped on the line for 18th as a Lees-Mcrae rider had slipped away a lap before - both riders had sat on our group as the other 3 made efforts late in the race.

My teammate Eric pulled out a solid 15th place for a UCI PR, and only 5 spots out of UCI points and a world ranking.

Check out a video of the first lap here: http://vimeo.com/17089216

You can see Eric pass Josh, but you'd have to wait another lap to see me!

Sunday: unfortunately I was called in to the hospital for 2 cases, so I missed my race . . . that's the life!

Race Report: Mars Hill CX

After a solid 5th place Saturday, my teammate Eric and I headed up I-26 for a short drive to Mars Hill College, where the cycling team was holding their inaugural cyclocross race. Eric told me that it was a short course, however what we found was one of the toughest courses of the year . . .

A small, but amped field lined up for a late (3:15PM) race that followed both collegiate and USAC races on the day. As "the gun" went off, Eric got the hole shot, followed by Paul Webb (who will be racing with us on the road next year) and then myself. Eric kept the pressure on, gapping Paul, and I followed one of his bobbles on the descent to begin my race-long pursuit of Eric. Eric tapped out steady laps, and consistently put about 5s a lap on me as he throttled it up the long climb which started after the start-finish. The course followed a grassy, off-camber climb that wound along a hill, before popping up a short run up and zig-zagging through a parking lot. The short respite was followed by a quick left-hand turn that wound (straight up!) through the woods before beginning a fun and circuitous descent back down toward the start-finish area. The course finished off with some more off-camber action before a series of 4 S-turns spat you out to a short 10 meter sprint to the finish.

Overall it was a successful day for the team, a fun course, and it was great to support a local collegiate team on an imaginative course! Thanks Mars Hill! Pictures courtesy of Christopher Graphics.

Day job + Scary Cross & Boone Cross Reports

So it looks like it's been almost a month since my last post! During the past month, my business partner went on maternity leave (which means I'm on call 24/7), my son started waking up at 3AM EVERY night (fortunately he's back to his normal schedule), recruited some new sponsors for the team next year, finished a tough block of V02 intervals, raced a few times, and completed a power test. It's been a tough month physically and mentally, but I'm starting to get back in a groove. It's a rough thing, doing the working 50-70 hours a week, not sleeping much, trying to be a good husband and father, help build a local team, and still train on top of it all!

I completed a power test yesterday up Elk Mountain, and despite a fairly mediocre amount of motivation, I pulled out my highest overall power output of the year, and a time just under 23 minutes - not bad considering I was on a heavy bike, carrying my seat pack, extra clothes and a bottle, and had a headwind! So even though the head's a little weak right now, the legs are strong.

On the results front I raced 2 weeks ago at Johnson City and up in Boone. I had a decent start at Johnson City, and even moved into 3 place for a time, before blowing pretty spectacularly and falling out of the top 10. I managed to get my "stuff" together and start to reel riders back in one by one until I pulled back to 7th. Unfortunately a poor last lap, getting bumped over the barriers, and leading out an uphill, headwind sprint put me into 8th on the day.

In between races the family headed to a Halloween Party (not ideal recovery), but we had a blast, and Ethan was a hit!
After waking up at 3AM, I almost bagged a trip to Boone to race for the day, but at the last minute decided to head up to one of my favorite stops on the cross circuit. I got a good warmup, but after the heat and effort the day before, I was feeling pretty "crispy" and decided to start a little less aggressively on such a tough course - due to the altitude and climbing. I actually had an OK start, but a massive crash derailed my efforts as I went over the bars and ended up in the grass of the course. Out of 50+ starters, I was about 46 on the first lap . . . so I just set my mind to pulling back riders each lap, and I actually felt stronger and stronger as the race went on. I pulled back somewhere around 25 guys, plus with those that dropped out, I ended up 16th on the day. OK, but disappointing when a top 10 was well within reach. Unfortunately my teammate Eric was BEHIND even me, but pulled into the top 10 at the end of the race.

Overall, a fun weekend of racing, even though it was the toughest weekend of the year physically, but even more mentally. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the last few races of the year! NCGP is next weekend!