Many of you already know that I chose not to drive to Philadelphia this weekend. A long and stressful week at work compounded by not being at home with my family on a weekend, and not being on call for almost 2 months, aided my decision. That and the thought of 22 hours of driving sandwiching 100+ miles of riding in 2 days sealed the deal . . . so instead I felt that it was only right to ride 100 miles this weekend for those that donated in honor of my mother.
To this end, I chose the Blue Ridge Breakaway ride. I figured that this would be a challenge and ideal preparation for the Shenandoah 100 in two weeks time. The ride started off with 50 miles of rolling terrain followed by a climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and then another 30 miles along the final stretch of the Parkway itself. So basically a 50 mile 'warmup' followed by 40 miles and over 5600' of climbing, followed by a 15 mile descent back to Lake Junaleska. Quite a challenging course, and an excellent event put on by Nancy!
Everything started out well for the first half of the ride, and as we hit the climb on 215 to the BRP my legs felt awesome. The group went from 40 to 2 very quickly, and myself and a rider, Baker, from Boone set a nice tempo to the top. This is when the RAIN started. Hard, cold, blinding rain. The rain intensified until we descended to the final climb of the day, when it gradually picked back up. Halfway up the climb, Baker throttled it down a bit, but I had to keep going, just to stay warm (aided by a trash bag shoved up my jersey!). The 80 degree temperatures had plummeted to the 60s and my legs and body weren't thrilled. This is when the SAG vehicle informed me that the Parkway was "being shut down" and I needed to "get in the car". Since he was driving a truck, I kept going. At the top the volunteers at the aid station waved and offered me drinks, so I figured I was fine. Descending into Maggie Valley was harrowing and once I hit the bottom I was welcomed by standing water of 3-4 inches on the road and waves of water from the passing vehicles. You read that correctly: waves. I watched the water slosh out of the holes on top of my shoes and pinched my face together to prevent the spray from blinding me as I drove on as fast as I could. The only thing slowing me were: the cracks in the pavement, stoplights, cars and trucks cutting me off, and the water itself. Never has once been so happy to see Granny's Chicken Shack and the finish banner!
I treated myself with a Coke and BBQ sandwich before I hightailed it home! A great training ride and an epic one at that in the books . . . thanks to all the volunteers out there braving the rain yesterday, it was a great event!
P.S. It's not too late to donate to LIVESTRONG in my mother's honor: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=330113&supId=229913356
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
RACE REPORT: Fontana Dam Jam
So after my not so illustrious return to racing after a month off (including a bought with heat exhaustion, and 2 weeks in Europe), I decided on a whim to do my first mountain bike race in 14 years last weekend. Since I signed up for the Shenandoah 100 next month, I thought that this would be a good test to see how my body would react to a shorter effort. Being a cat 2 mountain biker, I wanted to see how I could perform and try to get an upgrade to the 1/Expert level.
My friend Rob gave me some advice before the race and suggested that I start conservatively. After the gun went off I followed wheels until the first technical singletrack section where I ended up slipping into the lead before being overtaken during the technical descent. I decided to hang with the Northstar rider, but got a little antsy once the second road climb began. As I cruised into the lead I rocketed over the top of the climb, only to realize that I missed the turn back onto the trail! After realizing what I had done, I turned around and headed back up the climb to the woods. 4 minutes later I was back in the race and thinking about how I was going to explain this to my friends that were watching.
Going into the second lap I decided to give it everything that I had on the second lap and see if I could get back near the front of the race. Coming into the 3rd lap a rider said, "keep it up, you're about 2 minutes behind the leader!". Woah! I thought that maybe I had a chance! I went as hard as I could into the last lap up the early climb, and kept pushing down the descent into the second (dirt) climb. I saw the leader halfway up the climb and focused on staying smooth and conserving a little bit of energy before I caught the leader. I overtook him going through a technical section and went hard to gap him up the same climb that I went off course! I finished about a minute ahead, and thankfully didn't have to use any of those excuses that I thought up as I picked my way back through the field . . .
Celebrating with a Highland brew!
Thanks to: Highland Brewing (who's beer I enjoyed after the race), Trek & Bontrager (the Top Fuel rocked!), Liberty Bikes (great pre/post race support), Rudy Project (lid & shades), Honey Stinger (fuel), Swiftwick (check out the sweet recovery socks!), PML Pathology, Mosaic Realty, Carmichael Training Systems, Dr. Steve Miller DDS, Crossfit Brevard, Joe Lilly Photography, and Affordable Home Inspections.
Results:
* XC-2 (30-39) 11:09:22 AM 22.50 miles
1 676 LARSEN CHRIS ALE P/H HIGHLAND BREWING
2 670 EDWARDS CHAD NORTHSTAR BICYLES
3 648 PELTZER CARL SKELETON CREW
4 674 SCHMIESING DAN TVB
5 675 VARNER JEFF MOCK ORANGE RACING
6 665 RICE CLINT
7 607 CARMICHAEL LEE
8 677 DUNWOODY LADD
9 672 HENSLEY MIKE CYCLE THERAPY
10 609 NOISETTE BRENT
My friend Rob gave me some advice before the race and suggested that I start conservatively. After the gun went off I followed wheels until the first technical singletrack section where I ended up slipping into the lead before being overtaken during the technical descent. I decided to hang with the Northstar rider, but got a little antsy once the second road climb began. As I cruised into the lead I rocketed over the top of the climb, only to realize that I missed the turn back onto the trail! After realizing what I had done, I turned around and headed back up the climb to the woods. 4 minutes later I was back in the race and thinking about how I was going to explain this to my friends that were watching.
Going into the second lap I decided to give it everything that I had on the second lap and see if I could get back near the front of the race. Coming into the 3rd lap a rider said, "keep it up, you're about 2 minutes behind the leader!". Woah! I thought that maybe I had a chance! I went as hard as I could into the last lap up the early climb, and kept pushing down the descent into the second (dirt) climb. I saw the leader halfway up the climb and focused on staying smooth and conserving a little bit of energy before I caught the leader. I overtook him going through a technical section and went hard to gap him up the same climb that I went off course! I finished about a minute ahead, and thankfully didn't have to use any of those excuses that I thought up as I picked my way back through the field . . .
Celebrating with a Highland brew!
Thanks to: Highland Brewing (who's beer I enjoyed after the race), Trek & Bontrager (the Top Fuel rocked!), Liberty Bikes (great pre/post race support), Rudy Project (lid & shades), Honey Stinger (fuel), Swiftwick (check out the sweet recovery socks!), PML Pathology, Mosaic Realty, Carmichael Training Systems, Dr. Steve Miller DDS, Crossfit Brevard, Joe Lilly Photography, and Affordable Home Inspections.
Results:
* XC-2 (30-39) 11:09:22 AM 22.50 miles
1 676 LARSEN CHRIS ALE P/H HIGHLAND BREWING
2 670 EDWARDS CHAD NORTHSTAR BICYLES
3 648 PELTZER CARL SKELETON CREW
4 674 SCHMIESING DAN TVB
5 675 VARNER JEFF MOCK ORANGE RACING
6 665 RICE CLINT
7 607 CARMICHAEL LEE
8 677 DUNWOODY LADD
9 672 HENSLEY MIKE CYCLE THERAPY
10 609 NOISETTE BRENT
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Applegate's pull on the Stars & Stripes!
From Andy Applegate:
Hi Everyone,
I don't usually send out mass emails, but we are in the midst of our big goal race trip of the season, so I thought I would send an email with what we are up to. Our (my and Cara's) big race goals of the season revolve around the tandems this year. First up is the Master's national road race championships in Louisville KY this week. We just completed the Elite mixed tandem time trial event yesterday and were able to win by just 2 seconds! It is very hot here in Louisville with temperatures around 100 degrees and high humidity... it was tough to get in a fast ride and we are happy to have won the title again.
Tomorrow is the big tandem championship road race. After winning in 2007 and 2008 we were beaten into 2nd last year and while we are out for redemption tomorrow it is going to be a tough / hot race.
After that we head out to Leadville to do the world famous Leadville 100 race.... on.... you guessed it, a tandem. This is going to be a big challenge and a long day.
I have seen some of you here in Louisville and will see a few more of you out in Leadville.... I look forward to it. While I am on the road for the next week and a half, I have plenty of time to talk and email... so let me know if you need anything and keep me updated on your workouts!
Andy Applegate
Carmichael Training Systems
Hi Everyone,
I don't usually send out mass emails, but we are in the midst of our big goal race trip of the season, so I thought I would send an email with what we are up to. Our (my and Cara's) big race goals of the season revolve around the tandems this year. First up is the Master's national road race championships in Louisville KY this week. We just completed the Elite mixed tandem time trial event yesterday and were able to win by just 2 seconds! It is very hot here in Louisville with temperatures around 100 degrees and high humidity... it was tough to get in a fast ride and we are happy to have won the title again.
Tomorrow is the big tandem championship road race. After winning in 2007 and 2008 we were beaten into 2nd last year and while we are out for redemption tomorrow it is going to be a tough / hot race.
After that we head out to Leadville to do the world famous Leadville 100 race.... on.... you guessed it, a tandem. This is going to be a big challenge and a long day.
I have seen some of you here in Louisville and will see a few more of you out in Leadville.... I look forward to it. While I am on the road for the next week and a half, I have plenty of time to talk and email... so let me know if you need anything and keep me updated on your workouts!
Andy Applegate
Carmichael Training Systems
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