Solon Cross

This weekend was Solon Cross Race hosted by CRC. Kevin Kimmich did a great job setting this course up. It consisted of many tight corners and a crazy maze to get everyone caught up in. The start was hectic. We all had to run from the start line about 50 yards out to our bikes, grab them and take off for the maze. I was lucky and ended up around 2nd after the start, so I wasn't caught up in all the carnage leading into the maze. I felt good throughout the whole race. My legs started to feel a little tired in the middle with about 5 or 6 laps to go, but I felt like I got a second wind and ended up finishing 8th overall. It was a great race because the whole time, Brent Evans, Eric Lesko, and I were battling it out. It came down to the last corner before a set of barriers and I took the corner too fast and unfortunately washed out. I had no bad feelings about it at all though. I was just happy with the way I felt and the great race we had. Next weekend is Snakebite's Cross race in Elyria. Should be fun and another great weekend.

Later

UCI3 weekend

Last weekend was UCI3 Cincinnati Cross weekend. Friday's race was very hard. The course was very hilly, bumpy and very dusty. I did not really feel myself that day and finished around 29th overall. I really did not have a feel at all for the course. I could not get myself into a good rhythm. But every course is not going to suit you. Saturday's race was at Sunset Park and it is one of my favorite cross courses. There was a lot of tight corners, wide open sections for passing and two sandpit areas. I was feeling very good during the race until I washed out around a corner and the guy behind me ran into my bike. His front wheel ended up pushing my rear derailleur out of whack and caused my chain to jam in between my rear cog and my back wheel. It also forced my chain to wrap around my crank arm a couple times. So at this point, a few racers were passing me and my bike was unable to move forward. In one last attempt, I simply pushed my bike backwards causing my chain to slack and I was able to fix the problem. I still felt strong throughout the race and finished well, despite my mechanical. Sunday's race was at Harbin Park, and this course is another course I love. I had a great start in this race and felt the best during this race than the previous two. I picked myself up to almost top 1o with three or four laps to go and I was telling myself to keep it up. Next thing I know, I am flying down a hill and shooting up an uphill when suddenly I hit a big root and seconds later, I get a flat. I ran the rest of the way to get to the pits and take the front pit wheel. Later that lap, my Dad flatted as well and unfortunately, it was a front flat. But what was really horrible is I had the spare front wheel from my flat, and my Dad was in 3rd place in the Masters 45+ race and he had to withdraw because there was no spare front wheel. I had no idea what was going on during the race. I finished way back because of all the running I had to do and all the racers passing me. Despite the bad luck all weekend, I had a great time with everyone. It was a fun weekend and TLE had a great showing in each race. I believe we left a great mark on the competition with the great results everyone pulled off.

Later.

Weekend ahead

UCI Cincinnati this weekend! I'm really looking forward to all the racing and seeing a couple friends from Pa, who I will be racing against. It should be fun and hopefully I will have good legs for all three days...Knock on wood. Updates will be posted.

Applefest 3.2

Yesterday was the Applefest 5k in Franklin, Pa. Actually the race should be called the Applefest 3.2 mile run becuase it mapped a little bit longer than a 5k. The day before the race, we all drove up to Doug's cabin for the night. When we arrived at the cabin, we cruised down to downtown Franklin to walk around the Applefest and to get some grub. We ate at a very good Italian restaurant, which had a mile long line to get in.

The next day was the 5k. We arrived at the race venue around 8:00 and the race was supposed to take off at 10:00. It was freezing. Winter hats, gloves, tights, long sleeve shirts, etc. was being worn by a lot of people. While we were waiting for the race to start, our warm-up consisted of a couple intense games of ping pong in the Franklin YMCA, which was where packet pick up was located at. After a couple games of ping pong we started our real warm ups. While we were warming up on the course, I said this is going to be fast. I was going for a mid to low 17 minute time.

When the race started, it was a dead sprint off the line. The typical funny guys of every running race of course took off like a bat outa' hell but quickly blew up about a football field length into the race. I kept up my fast pace throughout the race. I was very happy with my first mile time and second mile time. After the second mile I was in about 6th place and running with two other racers. We had a very fast pace going and we were not slowing up a bit. When the finish line was in sight, one of the two runners already took off and the other runner and I were starting to kick up the pace to a sprint. We were back and forth the whole way to the finish. I was in front of him, he pushed in front of me; we were back and forth about 4 or 5 times. At the end, I lost the sprint and finished 7th overall and 1st in my age group with a time of 18:06. I was happy with the way I felt and the sprint finish at the end. The course was all downhill going out to the turnaround point, and the rest of the way to the finish was mostly uphill. From what I heard from other racers, the finish line was pushed further than last year's finish. So I would say the distance of the race was 3.2 miles. It was very fun and a very competitive race. I felt like I was going to throw up after the sprint finish, but it was worth it. Dad and Doug finished great. Dad finished 19th and Doug 15th; 10 seconds apart. They both won their age groups and the friendly rivalry battle continues between them. The whole morning before the race, Doug and Dad ripped on each other alot. It was great and I'm sure that is was made them extra fast during the race.

Another great time with Doug and this is the last time to visit him and stay at the cabin this year. Too bad the fun had to end so soon, but it was great while it lasted. I'm looking forward to this weekend coming up in Cincinnati. UCI Cinci Cross weekend, and it is going to be another great weekend.