Chasing A Dream

Durand 2009

2009-04-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

The pre-race on this one began on Friday evening as Randel and I stayed over at Tim's so we didn't have to get up so early to meet the car pool. The three of us did a nice little 19 mile ride, cleaned bikes, and loaded up.

There were a couple of hills on the ride and I thought I really sucked air on them bad. I was a bit concerned for the race as there were two nice hills and it was a two lap race. Doubts were setting in.

I had the whole team there an hour ahead of time so that we would have PLENTY of time to warm up. Lesson learned from Iowa!

My intention was to ride one lap as my warm up. Due to a couple of Portapotty stops due to nerves and leaving my gloves at the car and going back for them I did not have enough time to do a full lap. :(

So I did the next best thing. I rode the course backward to get to the hills and proceeded to get my heart rate up with a couple of nice climbs.

Course description: Nice rectangular course out in the country. The first leg is some rollers. Then you turn right into a nice little climb (and a short leg) then another right (into another hill) and you can see the first of the big hills. This long leg (in about the middle) has the two "killer" hills on them, pretty much so back to back. Then it is a couple of rollers into the last turn and a slight climb to the finish.

My goal for this race was to stick with the peloton as long as I could - hopefully longer than last year and to finish with a pace higher than 20 mph (last year was 18)

There were a couple of college club teams there. So there I am racing against kids about half my age. Nice huh :)

The gun went off and we took off on a slight down hill run. I was amazed and please at how fast the pack got into two lines - last year it more like a mob. I was about 2/3 of the way but lined up to sit on Randel's wheel.

I had developed a theme song for the race "This is the way you suck a wheel, suck a wheel, suck a wheel. This is the way you suck a wheel all race long!" and that is exactly what I did!

There was plenty of "accordianing" going on in the rollers. This always makes me nervous with newbies but everybody handled themselves fine.

I got low and tucked into the pack and enjoyed being towed along. It was close quarter riding so you had to stay really focused but we were moving along very well.

I did get hung out on the outside of the pack once and made what I will call my only mistake for the race. I should have dropped back and gotten tucked back in and worked my way back up. What I did do was hang out there, working harder than I should have, until we hit the first corner and hill. It was at this point we began to separate the men form the boys.

I blasted around the corner and jumped on the lead group going up the hill. It was this hill I was dropped on last year. At this point I felt strong and knew the hours I had spent spinning in my hardest gear standing up were paying off.

This got a little spread out on that hill but I was on the back of the lead group going into the two big hills. They really blew things up a bit. Here is where age and physique did not treat me well.

The young guys who were skinny as rails and weighed 120 pounds went up those hills like billy goats. I did my best to keep up but I just couldn't. I didn't fall off bad but I certain was not with that group after the second hill - but I was close.

So I got down in a tight tuck and decided I either needed to bridge now or I was never going to get back to that group. And I went. Hard. Just as it was looking like I was going to make it a couple of guys came a round from behind me (I may have pulled them along I'm not sure) and filled in the gap. I was now back in the draft of the lead group!

On the climb to the start finish line I moved up in the back a bit to a teammate (AW). When we crossed the line he was in 6th I was in 7th!

Here I was, halfway through the race, in 7th position in the lead group! I looked down at my computer and I was doing 22 mph and the arrow (relationship to my average speed) was point down! I was averaging over 22 mph at that point.

It was long before things began to ratchet up another notch. I tried to hang on but it wasn't going to happen. Soon I was out of the lead pack. As I crested one of the rollers I looked back to see how far back the next rider was (thinking I would let them catch up and work together). I saw no one! I backed my pace down just a bit and eventually there were a few others blown out of the lead group that I hooked up with.

The one guy was just spent and wasn't sure he could finish. I kept encouraging him and eventually we hooked up with another guy. His pace was too slow on the hills for me but he was too fast on the down hills to shake. I decided to hang with him until the big hills. (remember my goal was to suck as much wheel as I could).

Just before the big hills my teammate Tim caught up to us. There was this college kid that went by and Tim told me to let him go he wouldn't work with anybody. Tim did a couple pulls going into the hills which helped me recover a bit more.

As we start up I heard Tim say "Go get'm Gerbs" and that is what I did. It was out of the saddle time and just push for everything I had. I as I came up to my teammate Randel, he was weaving back and forth trying to make the climb. He had totally blown himself out trying to stay with the lead group. I yelled some encouragement (as I could see he was really suffering). Just before I got to him he weaved so bad he went off the road. I thought sure he was going to go down but he popped back on the road. I asked him if he was OK when I got next to him and he just muttered "Go get'em"

Once I got over the hills the 2nd time all I wanted to do was chase down the college kid in front of me. I was feeling good but I knew there wasn't much left in the tank. Every time I would get close the skinny little guy would stand and sprint about 50 yards to build the gap. Kids.

As I turned the last corner going into the finish climb I looked back. There was Randel! I knew he was pretty spent but I also know he has an incredible pain threshold. He reeled me in last year at Cleghorn and I never heard the end of it.

I knew I had something in my favor - it was an uphill finish. So I just focused forward and put on my final blast to try and catch Mr. Skinny College Kid. I go within about 20 feet then he popped out of his saddle. I knew I was done then but I kept pushing. With sweat streaming down my face and in my eyes I crossed the line. It was done and I had given it my best shot!

Twin Bing Road Race 3-21-2009

2009-03-24T07:20:00.001-07:00

We drove down to Sioux City Friday night and stayed in a motel (we rolled in at about 11 and were in bed by 11:30) Believe it or not I slept pretty well.

I had the alarm set for 6am so I could go get some coffee and get my system rolling. Breakfast was pancakes at McDonalds.

I learned a valuable lesson as the race director for the team - scout the route to the race. We ended up on a gravel road. There was a sign that said "Gravel Ends" One would hope that meant asphalt - but no. What it did mean was a billy goat path plowed through the dirt! At the top of a hill we turned around - much further and we would have gotten the vehicles stuck.

We eventually got to the race site. I jumped out of the car ran up to registration. When I walked in they were announcing 1 minute left to register. Furthermore there was a 75 rider limit to the field. With the 6 of us there were 72 riders!

Needless to say there was not much time to warm up! I grabbed my bike and started down the course (towards the first major hill and the up hill finish). My longest ride so far this season was 22 miles. I live on the edge of the prairie. This hill looked like a mountain! About 3/4 of the way up I looked at my watch and decided I need ted get back so as not to miss roll call.

On the way down I shifted up to my big ring and had the chain jump over the top! I stopped, put the chain on and made a mental not that any shift up had to be careful as the derailleur was not adjusted properly anymore :)

The A race come blasting up the hill as I rolled back into the start. I heard the name "Steve Gerber" called out and yelled "Yo" I found out later that was the race official’s second time through the roll call list.

My pace for the race was 14.59 mph. Don't let that shock you. The race was 45 miles long. I actually rode 53 miles due to missing a turn. In actuality I had a pace of over 17 mph.

The uphill start spread the pack out pretty good. I was struggling a bit because I hadn't gotten in a proper warm up but I knew my legs and lungs would come around and I'd get in my groove. My hope was then to reel in some of the stragglers.

I was passing some people on the hills and feeling pretty good. It was a sunny day: I was on my bike racing what could be better!

Randell and I played a little game of cat and mouse for a while where he would pull away from me on the down hills and I would just barely catch him on the up hills. Did I mention there where hills :)?

Eventually we hooked up with another rider (Heighlee - 20) and had a good pace line going. She was pretty new to this so we were working with and encouraging her. We were maintaining about a 20 mph pace at this time and I was starting to feel pretty dang good. We would time the pulls so I had the top 1/3 of the hill and Randell had the down hills.

Problem was we missed a turn. There was absolutely nobody there directing the racers. Now as an official I know the rule states the rider is responsible for knowing the course and I take responsibility for missing the turn. From the race directors point of view on a first year race I would have thought they would have either had a sign or a person there (they did at the next turn a mile further down the course).

Fortunately a team car saw us and eventually chased us down ( a good 4 miles down the wrong road). We turned around, picked up a few more people who had missed the turn and got back on course.

This little pack of about 6-8 riders were pretty discouraged at this point. There is no way we could make up 8 miles on that course in one lap. There was plenty of pissing and moaning and talk of bailing when they got back to the start finish line. Hell, I spent 5 hours in a car to go race in some of the best weather I have seen this spring - I didn't like this talk at all!

Then came the real hills! My legs were feeling pretty good and I just settled into a pace and kept pedaling away. After a couple of hills I passed the last guy in our little "lost" group. A hill later I was free and clear. Looking back the group had totally blown up and spread out over several miles.

This is when the next fear hit me. How do I know I haven't missed another turn (as I was out in front). I kept watching my mileage and hoped for a sign. I received it. Climbing a hill I saw a dead cat in the oncoming lane. I recognized it from the drive in (crazy huh). Over that hill I saw the T intersection that took us into Climbing Hill and the cops directing traffic. Coward killed.

After I made the turn at the T it was straight into a 15 mph wind for 4 miles into town. I was on my own - there would be no reprieve from this so I just put my head down and ground it out.

I made the turn into town and had to make the decision to do the 2nd lap or not. I asked some people in the feed zone if the A race had come by yet. They had once. That meant they had lapped me (due to the warm up ride in the middle of the race). I decided to see if I could finish my race in from of the A race:)

The climb to the start finish was brutal. I was going to be on my own for the whole lap but I was REALLY enjoying myself. I got tucked in on one longer down hill with a sweeping curve and hit almost 40 mph :)

On the back side in the hills I caught a gal from the B race. OK I wasn't going to finish last :) and of course I was ahead of all the DNFs.

In the hills I kept looking back for the A race. Eventually I could see them. I wanted them to either go by me before or after the T intersection. My confidence on corners is down a bit after my crash.

The breakaway group of 4 riders scared the hell out of me when they passed me. I would have thought they would have called out or something but nothing. That was before the T.

After T I was struggling in the head wind and figured the peloton would catch me easy but it seemed like they just weren't gaining ground. Again I wanted them passed me before the turn into town but of course that is right where they caught me.

As I went through town there were some of my teammates cheering me on and snapping pics. I knew all I had left was climbing that finish line hill for the third and final time.

The hill was kind of two hills with a false flat in the middle. The second section was steeper. By the time I hit the top the quads were crying but I was out of the saddle giving it all I had left. I finished and did not DNF. I hand ridden 53 miles which was well over twice as far as I had gone so far this year. I had played in some hills but none like this.

Bring on the rematch with Durand!

Weekend Warrior

2009-02-09T04:58:00.000-08:00

WHAT A WEEKEND!

Spin practice attendance was down which concerned me but also didn't surprise me. I knew the novelty would wear off and it is only Feb. in MN. Only the hardcore are thinking about racing at this point.

We did an aerobase builder Spinerval. I was quite pleased with my progress since the first practice. I was only one gear off most of the practice and was able to keep my HR right up where I wanted. It was a good workout.

In the afternoon I took off for a dirt road ride. I didn't realize what I was in for.

First of all there was a nice 17 mph wind from the NW. That meant that much of the ride would have some component of a head wind. Then add the fact that it was in the mid thirties and the top inch of the roads were mud. Further more the bottom of every hill had a larger area of soft mud at the bottom since that is where water collects. Every climb started pretty much so from zero momentum. Throw 30 pounds of bike in there and it made for some work.

Climbing hills my glasses would fog up due to the wind and my breath. On one particular hill they fogged up bad enough I had to stop as I had zero visibilty. Why I am still riding speed plays on my winter beater I will never know (laziness at it's best). Once I step off the bike and into the mud and snow the cleats were packed and I had no chance of clipping in. This of course made for some crazy foot slips.

Eventually I was so wiped out I decided to book out to a paved road and head for home. Of course the winter beater with its big studded tires does not roll like the GT on asphalt. Heading into the wind I had yet another battle. This was destined to be one tough ride.

MY HR ave for the ride was 144. I spent much of the ride in the 150's and topped out at 169. Couple that with the mornign workout and I was one tired boy!

Sunday brought a date with the weightroom. I started off with my usuual spin which went well. In the 7.5 miles I did I worked up a nice sweat and was ready to hit the machines.

There wasn't anything exciting about the weight lifting other than the fact I could really feel the effect of the previous day's riding. I was tired and there was no way getting around it. I knew that as much as I wanted to ride outside again in the afternoon it would not be wise. I needed the rest for today's High Intensity Work.

I am about 60 miles ahead of last years pace which is very good since I was sick off and on most of Janaury.

2009-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last night's workout was a battle with pain. Not the injury kind of pain. The kind of pain where you fight the battle of "will I take the high road or the low road".

I spent an hour and half on my trainer doing a High Intensity Training Workout. My average speed wasn't the best as there is plenty of soft pedaling between the hard intervals. Bottom line was I was drenched in sweat and totally tuckered out at the end.

I won the battle last night and took the high road. The road of "I will push thorugh this!" The 10 minutes out of the saddle in a big gear was rough. My hand was falling asleep and my legs were screaming. The sweat was running down my arms like water in the shower. I kept focused on the smooth 60 rpm, the elevation map of Durrand, and the picture of my wife I have hanging in front of me. When I hit the 10 minute mark I went a few seconds longer just to stab the pain in the eye - the exclaimation point on my victory.

Many people around me wonder why. Why does he push himself so hard? Why does he want to race anyway - he's not a young man anymore? Is it all worth it?

The way I look at it, any time I can dig deep like that, lay it all on the line and go for it, is one more moment when I know I am alive. I like knowing I am alive.

The interesting part was that during my standing struggle the Johnny Cash version of Hurt was playing - how ironic :)

Catching Up

2009-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since I blogged. January was not kind to me. First of all my laptop was gone the whole month - at least it was repaired on warranty. Secondly I was sick off and on for most of the month. Good news I am back in the saddle again and ornery as ever!

I have changed my training program from one written to develop power to one that works on high intensity training. Both are written by Dr. Arnie Baker.

I made the change due to my lack of training in Jan. and my desire to try and catch up some of that missed opportunity. There really isn't too much different between the programs. They both kick my ass!

Since this is my first time through the HIT (High Intensity Training) I cut the workouts in half - kind of :) I do start by cutting them in half and then add here and there to make sure I get in one solid hour. That kicks my rear end pretty good.

On Monday I had a big gear 5 minute out of the saddle session. As I was grinding away I thought about how 4 years ago when I first got back on the bike there was no way I could stand - my recently reworked knees would not take it. Now I was in the called out gear riding at the high end of the cadence call out - and smiling.

A little while latter I began to focus on the map on the wall of my first race for this year. I had a stare down with the elevation map - particularly the large hill on the back side. My intensity picked up. I was in the groove, I wanted that hill, I wanted it bad! The next thing I knew I had my 5 minutes in and was to begin a little recovery pedalling. I love visualizing the race!

I have also learned that it takes me about 8 miles of steady state riding to really get warmed up. I was doing a recovery ride on Tuesday. About 80 rpm and 15-16 mph. HR no higher than zone 2. I watched ans my HR climbed and then leveled off at about 118 (very much so z2) At the 8 mile mark my HR started to drop at the same pace! I think that was the point where I became fully warmed up!

This fits in with my race experience from last year. I would get blown out horribly early and then spend the rest of the race trying to catch the pack (never totally getting there) working like a dog on my own for the most part.

It also fits into my tri experience. I would have tons of trouble breathing during the swim. I always thought it was anxiety but in reality I probably wasn't really warmed up.

Lessons learned on the way to the dream.

Dog Days of January

2009-01-19T04:59:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful ride I had yesterday! I just doesn't get much better than that (until the leaves are out and the grass is green at least).

When I left the house the snow was lightly falling and there was a slight wind out of the north. I was off to do my normal 20 mile dirt road ride west and south of Delano. This was my first outdoor ride of the year!

The climb up the hill out of Delano sucked as always - I am never warmed up for that and my heart rate and breathing skyrocketed! Once I got off of county road 30 and on the dirt roads I had plenty of excitement. The wind from Saturday had left many drifts that would cross the road. Nothing like riding on hard packed snow and ice and then hitting a pile of soft snow several inches deep. I was working hard on my bike handling skills.

On the north end of Fountain Lake I had my first dog episode. I love riding the dirt roads because the farms are a lot closer to the road and you have a lot more intimate contact with surrounding. That includes the average farm dog.

This particular place had three dogs. A springer, an old lab, and a small something. The springer was the first to meet me with his buddies not to far behind. Most of the time when I great farm dogs on the road they stop chasing me and stand there wagging their tails - not these guys.

The springer took up a position on my right and the lab looped around to my left both of them barking away. The little guy was back there somewhere - I could hear his yipping!

I am always worried about running over and hurting some body's dog. Yea I know I could go down and that they really should be chasing vehicles of any kind but still I have a heart for dogs.

So I looked down at these guys and told them "So this is the way you want to play", got out of the saddle and sprinted off. The old lab was the first to bail on the chase with his littlest buddy the next to drop off. But the springer was a stubborn fellow. After about a 1/4 mile he finally dropped and headed back home. Then funny part was if he had kept going another 100 feet he could have caught me on an uphill and I was starting to really get winded. I'll be ready for this trio next time with a sprint starting just BEFORE I get to their driveway.

I had many more encounters with my furry friends (13 dogs total) but the rest of then just stood there wagging their tails when I greeted them with a big hearty "Hey Boy! How ya doing!"

I stopped at the top of the hill where the road comes back out onto CR 30 to drink some water. I can't really do that on the fly on the dirt roads due to their roughness and the fact that the water bottle needs to be tucked in my jacket pockets (on my back). I learned that the hard way last year. Water bottles on the frame get full of road spray - I hate the taste of road salt and dirt.

I had a hard time getting back in my cleats after that. Damn snow packed in them. I guess that is what you get for stopping :)

The stretch from 30 down to Watertown was fun. The wind was at my back and there is a series of hills that are fun to climb. I hit 22 plus mph on a down hill in this stretch. That is pretty exciting on packed, rutted snow and ice!

After I made the turn north from Watertown on the final leg back to Delano the weather got a little nasty. The snow picked up along with the wind (17 mph). I had to work pretty hard in this stretch including the hill going up from hwy 10 (where I get back on the dirt roads). My heart rate peaked at 171 on that hill. I don't see that often - even when racing.

Uphills are interesting in the snow and ice. Too much power on the cranks and you spin the rear wheel and lose momentum. It really helps you develop and very smooth consistent pedaling stroke.

I was quite happy to roll into the driveway. 20 miles - 1:41:18 - and one heck of a workout. Who could ask for more!

Jan 17, 2009

2009-01-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

So when I got up this morning it was 45 degrees warmer than the day before! Another swing like that and I'll be riding in short sleeves. Of course that won't be happening soon but one can only wish.

Once again I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout at practice. This club has been notorious for not signing up until the last minute and having a horrible commitment level. That said, having another 10 guys riding on a January morning was a great sign!

We did an areobuilder Spinerval - 70 minutes. I personally felt pretty good about my conditioning as guys were dropping all around me. That off season work is paying off. Of course I didn't ride the called out gearing (I never do). If I did I would never have held my heart rate in the desired zone.

We spent quite a bit of time in the drops (I hate that position). My back was feeling it later. But I have to look at that as good training. If I can cheat the wind I certainly would like to!

I rode in the front row and Jer noticed my seat was low. So mid workout I had Jer raising my seat! True friendship at it's best!

I had hoped for an outdoor ride in the afternoon but I was just too pooped. So I slept and read. I like to think of that as the all important recover time :)

Since both Jer and I were family less I invited him to the gym (as my guest). He was going to do one of my strength sessions with me. It wasn't long before he realized I had been very serious all winter so far. It started with the 5 mile stationary bike warm up (he was about .75 miles behind me when I was done) and he bailed after the 15 reps of 200 pound leg presses. In Jer's defense I really didn't expect him to match me lift for lift since he hasn't been lifting in quite some time.

But again I was feeling pretty good as i was keeping up with a guy about 10 years younger than me. I just keep chasing that dream!

Jan. 16, 2009

2009-01-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

Last night was one of those classic workouts. The kind that you don't really understand what is going on until it is over.

It had been a long week with the cold and the funeral. I was tired and I really didn't want to ride. The schedule called for a power workout - pain and torture. I thought about putting it off until Friday but that would be the night before team practice - not a smart move.

So I threw a chicken breast in the oven with a potato and told myself when the workout was over I'd have a nice dinner.

I started off with my typical 10 minute warm up spinning about 83 rpm. It didn't take long for the sweat to start (that is when I start to feel good). I finished my warm up with 5X30 sec hard effort (110 plus rpm) with a minute of soft pedaling in between. I am starting to think this might be along the lines of my race warm ups.

The first set was 2X5 minute form drills. Not particularly hard. In this drill you ride at about 85 rpm and concentrate on good form. Smooth circles (pedaling), no rocking, and a still upper body. My form isn't bad so these were pretty easy. I did have the gearing up though to get some endurance work in.

Then came the 30X30's. This is a 30 sec hard 30 sec soft pedal set. You don't have enough time during the soft pedaling for your heart to totally recover so it gets tougher and tougher. My kind of drill.

I should have been in a little bit harder drill because I was running about 110 rpm and was able to hold that for the whole 30 secs (instead of 100rpm fading to 90). The last set I let it all hang out (I think I topped out at 120 rpm). I loved the burn.

As I was doing my cool down I looked down at my gearing and realized I was in my big ring (when I thought I was in my small ring). That did explain why I felt like I was working harder (because I was). I just sat there and smiled - that kind of effort would not have been possible a year ago. My confidence is growing - little by little.

Durrand is in 92 days!

Jan 11, 2009

2009-01-12T05:35:00.000-08:00

After yesterday's trainer session I decided I was fully recovered from my illness and ready to resume my training schedule. My plan was to hit the gym for a morning strength session and then do a 20 mile dirt road ride in the afternoon (the temps were to be moderate and we have an Arctic blast coming in this week that will keep me from riding outside until most likely next Sunday).

The warm up session on the stationary bike went well. 100 plus rpm for 5 miles at close to 18 mph. I did notice my heart rate was a bit high compared to normal (my normal warm up never gets me above 125 I was up in the 140's) but I didn't think much of it.

Once I hit the weight machines I realized just what I was up against. Maybe I wasn't fully recovered from my illness after all! I struggled through every set and the sweat was just pouring off of me. In hindsight I should have back off a plate or two but that has never been my style. :)

When I got back to the bike for my cool down my HR was running in the 140's (normally at that point of the workout I would be in the 110's). I could only spin about 90 rpm for the first couple of miles. Eventually I got the cadence back up and the sweat was pouring off me like I was standing a a drenching rain. My heart rate peaked at about 160 (this really wasn't much of a cool down).

After my usual hot tub session (I'm too cheap to get a message) I was so wiped I knew the dirt road ride was cancelled. I was sad but I know it was the right thing to do. I need to listen to what my body is telling me.

Jan. 10, 2009 - First Team Practice

2009-01-12T05:26:00.000-08:00

As I left the house at 7 am I wondered just how crazy I was. The outside temp was -1 and I was heading to the first practice of my new race team! My steed (a 2001 GT ZR 1.0) was nestled in the rear of the Mustang and my Kurt Kentic trainer was sitting in my front seat (space is a premium in that car).

When I got to Brickyard Bikes in Chaska (Jer Baker's store where we will base all our training out of) I was wondering just how many people would really show. Of course the first to roll in was Robson (Roboman)! It was so good to see him after the several months of the off season.

By the time it was said and done we had 12 riders there! I was very excited! We did a Spinerval session on technique and a Spinerval session on Tempo/TT. I did about 20 miles in the session and had one heck of a sweat going!

For my first workout after being ill for a week I felt pretty good. I was surprised at how wore out I was at the end. I went to the gym afterwards, soaked and stretched in the hot tub. Chasng down the dream begins!