Missouri State Road Race

The MO state race was a long one. 70 miles long. Long enough that i didnt drink any for two entire days before the race. When we got to the race and lined up for the start it seemed the field was smaller than last year. It looked as though only 60 or so guys were racing. Anyway, after the race got going it was great. Super nice out and the pace was modest at best. Not too fast, not too to slow. Just comfortable. I had put some pressure on myself to do well at this race because of its length, difficulty, how well ive been doing this year, and because i flatted out last year. Everything was going smoothly untill we go to that bastard of a climb 20 miles in. Its about a mile long and its steepest point is about 13%. Not super steep really, just long and sustained. I was about mid pack when we hit the climb and could see that a gap was opening up in the front. I hammered it trying to avoid a TKO and get in the lead group. As i crested the top of the climb the peleton was about 75 yards in front of me with a couple of stragglers in between. I put my head down and charged at 100% effort for what felt like eternity. Luckily i gathered a guy up and we worked it together trying to get back on. Im not certain but i would guess it was about a 5 or 6 minute chase to the peleton but we made it. I was cashed. Heart rate through the roof, legs felt super pumped up with blood and lactic acid. From there i just sat on the back and rested as much as i could. The rest of the 1st lap was pretty easy. At the start of the second lap i was really dreading it. I was already starting the feel the miles on my legs and was only half way done. I wasnt sure if i would finish the race. At the top of the climb starting the second lap i held on to the group easily.....surprisingly. Maybe everyone else felt as shitty as i did. For the next 19 miles it was very slow at times, and very fast at times. At the 20 mile mark of the lap there is that bastard of a hill again. I was trying to save energy for it but knew i was in trouble based on my first lap performance on the hill. When we hit the hill the peleton quickly strung out. My calfs were cramping very bad. I was putting out as much power as i could to stay close. At the top of the hill looked up the road and saw riders staggered for as far as i could see (the next corner). I started picking people off trying to get back to the group, if one even existed. I hooked up with a Momentum rider who was willing to share the work and start making time back on the peleton which was down to about 5 guys. We got passed by the wheel truck and i thought that our chances were over. Getting passed by the wheel truck is bad news. That means your way off the back. However, we kept hammering and actually kept the wheel truck in sight. Soon, we started catching the wheel truck and eventually caught the wheel truck and passed the wheel truck. Back from the dead. For the second time that race i was dropped and caught back up. From the talk in the peleton there was some guy off the front all alone and check out. After everyone got there legs back we made a group effort to chase this guy down. Our pace was about 27-29 and we held this for about 10 min. We started to see the guy and the pace went up a hair just to make sure. I was on the front when we caught the guy..... shit, that guy had a different color number. He was not our guy. We asked this stranger about the guy we were chasing. " Oh yeah, he is way the fuck down the road, probably a mile." Everyone sat up.... all hope was lost. Our race was for 2nd now. We pretty much coasted the next 14 miles. There were actually about 2 or 3 more guys catch our group. The last mile was small rolling hills. I tried to set myself up for a good finish but got boxed off on the shoulder of the road and came across the line 3rd in the sprint finish. It was a great race and i had a great time. Till next time...





.....holla atcha boy

Castlewood MTB Race

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN...... It has been raining so much this year i cant stand it. I havent been able to ride that much lately because of rain and was not sure really what to expect at the C-wood race. The C-wood race is typically the longest race of the year for some reason. I guess its the layout of the trails and how centrally located they are to one another. Anywho... I did the sport class race which had an awesome turn out of 40 riders. I had a terrible starting position but didnt realize it untill they said GO. I thought the race was going to wrap around the lower field like it always has before we went up the Lone Wolf climb. When they said go we went right up the bastard. I went from about 30th, to about 9th in that one climb. I saw Drew Black off the front right away and hit it as to not get to far behind. He has been riding very well all year to say the least. Well.... he and two others dropped me, and there really isnt any else to report on the race. I rode by myself almost the entire time and finished a respectable 4th place. Drew beat my by almost 5 minuets. Team Seagal was in full affect giving away free PBR's to anyone who raced and I took full advantage of that benefit. I need the rain to stop falling so i can get some training in. Hope to have some pics soon, see you at Matson.



Holla atch boy.......