Fruita Fat Tire Festival

I'm enjoying some additional training prior to the season starting. Thus far 5.5 hrs the first day, 5 hrs so far the second day of Fruita's best MTB trails. No time to write as riding is the priority. Race season starts in two weeks!

More pics here.

Illinois Canyon

It is always great to get outdoors with one of your sons!

Variety of Training

The winter months haven't been so bad on the training front as I've been consistently putting the "fun" factor into my efforts. My goal was simply to keep the legs spinning and my mind away from the weather.

The last update was our trip to Florida a few months back. Since then I've been working in St Louis, Orlando and at home. I became a regular at the "Y" spin classes in St Louis and really enjoyed my time there. The weather sweetened up one week which allowed for some incredible lunch road rides in the back hills of Fenton. I sure wish those hills were closer to home as they were tough. I've been on the bike 10 of the last 12 days with a mixture of road, mountain and using the single offroad. A few of the outings were with the Vesrah crew as we prepare for another season.

I do have some ride pictures, yet I had to post Solomon's picture as it is one of his best.

Christmas in Florida

The kids were out of school, my wife had a month break from school and I had a few days of work to do for a new client in Orlando. Therefore, it was time to head South for two weeks of Sun!

Days by the pool, a few days were spent playing around inside Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I believe I'm done with theme parks for the rest of my life. Highlight was time at Anna Maria Island. Beautiful white beaches, seafood, beach cruisers and rest.

I brought my race bike along and spent two days at Alafia State Park. I've been told it is the best place to ride in Florida and the reports weren't wrong. Flowing trails through old phosphorus mines mixed with plam trees and some extreme sections thrown in. The locals were quite hospitable in allowing me to tag along. Highly recommended if you visit Florida.

Winter is here

The Chicago Winter is here! It is starting to slow me down to about twice a week KK or Palos rides, yet sites like this keep me inspired to ride. That Y membership is starting to look appealing as we usually join each year in January to keep our fitness levels high.

I was able to join my pops for an offroad motorcycle ride on Thanksgiving morning. It has been way too long since I was on my bike due to some mechanical issues, yet the best part was simply being with my Dad sliding around in the mud. How many 42 year olds get to do this with their Dads! I did get a good laugh in watching him slide out around a corner and end up sprawled on the ground.

Fall Rides

It has been a great Fall thus far! Rides, Rides, Rides, logging hundreds of miles throughout Palos, Knoch Knolls, Saw Wee Kee, among others. The Rig has been a blast to ride! My goal of 3 days a week was lame. Of course I didn't see the sudden downturn in my day job to 1/2 time either. Regardless, the weather has been incredible here in Chicago and I've been able to enjoy it. Things have changed over the past week as the cold and moisture are starting to set in Now it is simply quite a few lunch loops during the week while I break up work and looking for more work. I also joined fitday to track all of my activity and intake in order to keep things in balance and be primed for Spring.

Chicago Marathon

The wife that could! Glynnis simply loves to run. Thankfully she can. She was diagnosed with MS around 16 years ago, has pushed through various challenging exasperations requiring patience, rest, IV steroids and a trip downtown every 4 weeks to the MS Center at Rush to receive a Tysabri infusion. Her MS physician is encouraging her to continue running. She has refused to stop doing the things she loves. She ran for HOPE Worldwide this year, a great charity. 

Dad, the boys and I headed down to encourage her along the latter part of the race. We parked just south of 35^th street, checked the times being reported at the local McDonalds and determined we would have about 50 minutes until she hit Chinatown.

Therefore, we hit the side roads and alleys and worked our way to Chinatown. Brian Sisler come through full of inspiration. We found some Chinese treats while we waited on Glynnis. The boys loved Chinatown! She came through a bit behind her goal, yet looking refreshed and strong for the remaining six miles. We headed up towards mile 25 and waited as Glynnis came through with Charlie Reitz. After reuniting at the finish, we enjoyed a long ride down the lakeshore to 31^st and on to the car, drove back to the finish to pickup our Winner and then back home. A great day! 

Pics

Looking ahead

The end of the season is hard to accept. The cold weather is starting to come with knowledge that Chicago winters are brutal! So much time inside, darkness, laziness and the ease of falling into depression - SAD. This winter will also include a surgery to remove the plates in my arm. I've found a key for me to fight the winter blues is to stay active both inside and outside. I've also contemplated CX this year, yet didn't have the bike and few, if any of my friends were doing it.

Therefore, I’m kicking off the fall/winter season with a focus on fun rides with a new GF Rig. The plan is to continue my normal 3 days/week rides until the snow gets too deep. This usually works through the end of the year. After that? The boys are now teenagers and wanting to start lifting weights in the home gym. This should be some more fun as we hang out and get buff.

Five more years til we head South for the winter…

Kettle Win

Our team came together for the final WEMS race of the year. We were joined by Vesrah's Mark Junge as this is his favorite place to ride. It showed as he had the fasted overall lap of the day. The course this year was simply the fast blue loop and just over 9 miles. Ken started the day with the lead and we all were able to help during the day to end up with a 20 minute lead over 2nd place.

This is the end of my racing for the year. A year ago is also when I broke my left elbow. It has been a tough year of physical therapy, emotional pain over the ordeal and then the added pressure of the major home gut and build. All in all things have turned out quite nice. My speed on the bike was still strong once the season got going. My arm will never be straight again, yet the pain is very infrequent. We are now living in our renovated house. Life is good!

My racing goal for next year is simply to have fun with my friends.

Big thanks to our team sponsors for a great year!

Results    Pics

Thunderdown in the Underdown

Another great race in the books and another crazy day! My day started early with a hour trek up to Merrill for another 12 hour team event. Thankfully the rest of the team went up the day before which allowed me to have a late arrival. I arrived by 11AM to find out the fastest lap times were 90 minutes. This is exactly what was expected as race organizer Chris Schotz has been talking all season about the length and difficulty of his course. The course was almost 100% twisty tight singletrack with continual climbs. It was a true Northern Wisconsin trail with similarities to the Ojibwe Trail in Cable, although alot more climbing. My first lap was all out and ended up as the overall second fastest lap of the day. A bit of rest while Ken and Mike took their turns and then I was up again for the night lap. Northern Wisconsin, pitch black, 100 minutes of solo racing in bear territory. Needless to say I was a bit freaked out. I did have to yell at a porcupine to get off of the trail. In the end, we came out on top with 20 minutes over 2nd place! Trophy in Wisconsin style was a 64 oz growler inscribed with race details. Next up is Kettle 10 hr!

The long time continued as we stopped for dinner and the drive home. Mike's car started have steering and rear suspension issues on the trip which kept the speed at a maximum of 55mph. Ken and I followed him slowly back to Chicago, well Ken did as I slept as usual only to arrive home at 4:15AM.

Results   Pics