Setbacks are inevitable, BUT THEY STILL SUCK!

It's been 2 months since starting the "Plan" and I knew things weren't going to be picture perfect. I rode Wednesday and when I got back I felt my big toe was very sore. I knew what was coming, GOUT! I started drinking as much water spiked with Black cherry extract that I could stomach. I went to bed thinking that I caught it early enough but I woke up at 11:30 that night in excruciating pain. Who knew a big toe could bring a grown man to his knees. I spent all night and the next day trying to ease the pain.

Friday (day 3) was spent doctor hopping from one to the next and eventually ending up in the ER. To make a long story short I doubt I will be able to race this weekend. I'm really disappointed! I wanted to complete the entire 5 race series. In one sense I feel like I failed - no it wasn't my fault but that doesn't change the fact that I set a goal that I can't complete. That pisses my off!

In another sense maybe I have won because I'm so disappointed in not being able to compete. Have I turned a corner where the disappointment of not competing sucks more than the pain of competing? Am I actually enjoying the suffering and pain? I admit I'm so addicted to the endorphins! I love competing! I love laying it all on the line. Going for broke! Emptying the tank! I love going toe to toe and seeing who gets to the finish line first. I love the feeling in my legs the day after a hard race. Racing is all about the moment - I'm not thinking of anything except how to beat the guy in front of me. It's about improving!

I know I need to think long term but I'm wanting to beat that next guy. I guess we will see Sunday. If I can walk it's going to be hard not to get on the bike and race.

Trail Thoughts

On todays ride there is a rock garden with a tree right next to the line I like to take to get through this obstacle. Today, and most days, I worry about my left grip getting caught on that tree trunk as I'm trying to negotiate the rocks. So what happens is I look at the tree instead of looking where I'm going to run right into the tree. It's often said when learning to mountain bike "Don't look at the obstacles look instead up the trail to where you want to go." On today's ride I got to thinking about this nugget of wisdom.

Isn't this the perfect metaphor to life? If you keep looking at all the obstacles in your way there is no way you can also keep your eyes on the prize/goal. Don't look at the obstacles keeping you from doing what you want to complete, instead look down the road. Look at the person you are becoming.

There are many obstacles, or reasons, why I shouldn't race bikes. Such as, I look silly in a full team kit, it's hard, I won't win, I don't know anyone, I might get hurt, it takes away from family time, I'm tired, and on and on. But I'm choosing not to look at the obstacles, I'm choosing to look at the finished product. When I line up at the start line people most likely see an overweight guy in a tight form fitting kit that they are about to beat. What I need to focus more on is what I'm becoming, a strong, fit, power house with an iron will and killer instinct ..... I'm just going to say it... I'm beginning to see myself on the top step of a podium one day. That's what I'm choosing to see!

Race Report: Winter Short Track Race #2

Last week's race went pretty well for my first race but, what was the second race going to be like? All week I have been trying to recover from the extremely hard effort that went into the first race. I was pretty tired, unmotivated, and training the past week didn't go so well. It's actually a good thing that I pre-registered because otherwise I'm sure that I wouldn't have shown up. During my warm up I still felt tired and sluggish. I pushed through the warm up and lined up at the start. My start was terrible! I got behind a slow poke but not sure I could have gone much faster anyways. I entered the woods towards the back of the pack.

After last weeks lap 1 blow up I wanted to take the first lap nice and easy. I just stayed on the wheel in front of me and lucky there were no crashes this time. I passed him on the uphill fire road and found another guy to race. I stuck right behind him for the next 2 laps - it was pretty easy but I didn't think I had another gear to go around him at the time. We caught another rider while climbing on the 3rd lap. Lets call this rider "Joe".

Sidebar: Last week my friend, Jon, marked this "Joe" fella and basically said "Beat him you can do it".

So when I saw "Joe" climbing right in front of me I knew I was going to lay it all out there! My fatigue left quickly and felt energized. I was on the hunt! There are 3 of us "Joe" is in the front and I'm in the back. Another Clydesdale rider passed all of us and "Joe" jumps on his wheel and they pedal off. Once I make it to my strongest part of the course I hammer past the other guy and try to catch "Joe". A few other riders got between us but I finally could see him on the climb. I passed the finish line and started lap 5 and Jon starts yelling "That's Joe, he's right in front of you!" "I know, I got this" I grunted. I tailed him all the way around the track, we both went through the soft grassy area. My strongest part of the track was coming up, this as my chance. As we made the right turn back onto the fire road Joe went wide and I gunned it and stayed tight inside and went as fast as I could go. I wanted to make sure and drop him and not give him a wheel to chase. I was looking down and pushing my legs as hard as I could. By the time we got to the woods I had about a 5 second lead. I went as fast as I could on the downhill. I could hear another rider right behind me - I thought it was Joe. Lucky it was someone from his team but not Joe. The uphill came and I was still pushing. Sweat running into my eyes, snot running down my face but I didn't dare wipe it for fear Joe might catch me. Made it through the grassy/muddy area and again hammered some more to the finish line. No Joe around me!

A great finish for me! Almost made it a mid-pack finish - 27th out of 41 riders. But I also shaved off 2 minutes from last weeks time or 20 seconds per lap. Not bad for a 30 minute race!

Thanks Pedaling Paul for the pics! Go check out his blog, there's a link on the bottom right of this page.

Philosophy of the BIG Ring

Thinking about what the name of this blog really means. I'm not a bragging that I'm all that - YET! I don't have a 53 tooth chain ring! And I'm not freak of nature! Life in the BIG Ring isn't about winning every race or having the biggest quads. I think it's way bigger than that.

It's always pushing, trying to get better, stronger, faster. Being disciplined in getting the workouts in, and keeping the diet. It's about making hard decisions and choosing whats best for you. Ignoring the pain. Everyone is in pain but you are dealing with it better than everyone else. It's barely being able to walk after a hard workout. Out sprinting someone for the line at the end of the race when you want to coast in. When your legs are begging you to quit and asking for mercy - but your mind says "The race isn't over - keep pedaling!" It's knowing you are going to finish last but you still finish. Not giving up! It's about getting knocked down and getting back up. It's about catting-up and getting your ass kicked by the fast guys!

Life in the BIG Ring isn't easy but its so worth it!

P.S. - It's not taking the easy way out and doping!

Race report - Charlotte Short track Race #1

The Charlotte Winter Short track has been on my list of races to compete in since last winter. Short track racing basically is very similar to Cyclocross. The first part of the track is downhill complete with berms, jumps, and is very fast and flows very well - the next part is a gravel uphill road and a small rock garden. To watch a previous years course click here.

Now to get on with it - My race was at 11:30 and the day was unseasonable warm, really warm- 78 degrees! The day started pretty well, I got there with plenty of time to register, warm up and got to watch some of the earlier races (watching helps me calm the nerves). RACE TIME! The start went really well even though I got there late and had to file through the clydesdales. I started at the back and was able to get a good start and make it to mid pack before we entered the woods (single track). I did way better than I was expecting in the woods - I'm still getting used to riding berms. I was right on the guys wheel in front of me and just as we are going to make the turn uphill and into the rock garden he spins out! He unclips and bike is completely blocking the trail, CX instincts kick in and I jump off the bike, jump over him and run! I ran probably 50 yds? When I get to the fire road I jump back on and I completely out of breath - remember I'm a biker NOT a runner! I start pedaling look down at my computer and its reading ZONE 6 - 186 HR! #1- I didn't know I had a zone 6 and #2- I thought Garmin would start beeping faster and faster like they do in the movies when a bomb is about to explode. Mind you I redlining and at the bottom of the climb! So I try to spin and recover as I'm going up- this wasn't in the plan. Meanwhile, an entire peloton of mountain bikers passed me on the climb. Once in the parking lot I felt a little better and could see someone to chase (and a lot of people to see me chase down a guy 1/2 my size) - so I did. I felt strong in the parking lot and wanted to beat the next rider to the woods. Lap 2, I was still trying to recover from the running on lap 1. My plan was to stay smooth and fast on the downhills, carry speed through the corners, and recover. The uphills I wanted to spin up them and catch someone in the parking lot before they reached the woods. The plan worked pretty well.

On the last lap this guy I was racing kept passing me on the fire road then I would pass him in the parking lot. Lap 6 he passed me again on the fire road pulling another rider along with him. They passed me and I jumped on his wheel. When we turned back on to the gravel road and I locked out the fork knowing there was going to be a sprint for the finish line. All 3 of us single file through the s-curve and into the parking lot. They guy in front of me went a little wide on the last corner. I spun up the legs and got next to his rear wheel then shifted. He heard me shift and he started pedaling harder - it was too late. I took him at the line by less than a second. I finished 32 out 39. I'm getting faster and stronger!

Even with the complete blow up on lap 1 of 6 it was a great day! I was able to meet a few new people, meet the guy I passed at the line (funny story - he called me "The Blur"), and hung out with friends. I can't wait till next week!

Fine Tuning

Well training and diet are going pretty well but I think I can do better. Now that training is picking up I don't think I can continue getting by eating what I have been. Training has (at times) been very difficult and I need better fuel. Starches, sugar and crap just don't feel like they are helping me. I need to take it to the next level - I'm hoping that eating "clean" is going to help with training and recovery.

Here's what I'm going to try -

Drink more water and less sweet tea! Yes I'm from the from south where that sweet nectar runs in our veins. But not anymore!

Eat more good carbs - veggies and fruits! Sure I'll have a piece of bread or tortilla once in a while but not as regular as it has been. Bread just isn't cutting it with the training I'm doing. I need rocket fuel!

20" spin before breakfast! I've read that some professional cycling teams have their athletes do a 20" spin before they eat breakfast. It's supposed to rev up the metabolism! its also supposed to teach your body to burn fat instead of sugar.

Eat more protein! Grilling is my preferred way to cook because it adds so much favor without adding calories. We eat a lot of chicken - Baked chicken, Wishbone chicken, BBQ chicken, Thai chicken, Chipotle chicken..... (sounds like that scene in Forest Gump).

Find a Coffee alternative! OK, it's not the coffee its the cream and sugar. I have no idea how this is going to go. I love having a couple cups of that delicious brew in the mornings. Yes I've tried other sweeteners but feel they taste like metal and chemicals. I might just have to give into temptation on this one. Or maybe call it a wash IF i do my 20" spin in the mornings?

Name change!

As you may or may not have noticed I changed the name of my blog. There were a couple reason's why. Number 1 was the old blog title was hard to say even for me. The other reason is a little more descriptive of the blog. The past month or so I've been learning a lot.  The plan I have been following has really been pushing the limits of  my body and more importantly my mind.  Mostly learning to stay in the big gear and push. It's been a struggle to say the least!

When I got into this plan I realized I have been riding at the same pace for years! My fitness hasn't improved even though my mileage has. It didn't matter if it was a 10 mile ride or a 50 mile ride- the pace was always the same no matter how hard I tried to increase my average speed. I realized that I was only doing an endurance pace.

So welcome to The BIG Ring.