I love mud. Riding in mud seems to bring out the kid in me. But racing in mud is a whole other ballgame. Sunday was about thunderstorms, rain, and more rain. All day rain was moving east across the state and so I knew what we were getting in Eau Claire was eventually going to hit Iola. But being the first race of the season I figured I had to get out and race. Besides Iola was all sand, right?

I arrived at Iola Winter Sports Area only to be greeted with a parking lot full of mud and cars stuck in mud. After some brief delays to the Citizen and Sport races, I warmed up and toed the line for the first WORS race of the 2012 season. GOOOOOO echoed through the pines and we are off. I momentarily forgot how hectic and crazy the WORS starts are and before I knew it we were climbing up the back side of the ski jump hill and descending down into a bowl full of mud and wet grass.

It didn’t take long for the mud to take its toll on the bikes. Mid way through the first lap I had a major case of chain suck and had to pull off and finagle my chain out. By then my race turned into chase mode and then into survival mode. I was never able to “settle in.” Dismount, run, slide, ride, ride and slide, dismount some more, and ride a little bit more. No one seemed to pass anyone and everyone found themselves in a “war of attrition.”

By lap three I had major chain skipping and was down to one gear. I thought for a moment to bail on the race just to save my bike, but the thought only lasted for a moment. After the final stretch of gnarly, slippery, greasy single track section, I rolled across feeling beat up from fight rather than beaten down by a race.

It was still a great day of racing because one got to hang with fellow races that you haven’t seen since last fall.  But in the end I’m left wondering just exactly where I am at so far.  I had glimpses of strong riding but the mud took its toll and left me wondering.  Time to train some more and wait for the Cable Off Road in a week and a half.

Single Swizzle

Sturgie

Sunday is game on.  Who’s coming in ready and who’s coming in to get ready.  When the Goooooo rips throughout the pines it becomes each man for himself.  Nasty.  Who’s coming?  Ready or get ready…

Wise man once said – “Don’t buy upgrades; ride up grades.” — Eddy Merckx

Time to crank it over and ride up the (Iola) grades…

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Sturgie

It coming.  Soon to be here.  Just sit tight and be ready.  Are you ready?

I really do not know what to say about this photo.  

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Sturgie

++++ It’s tough as hell being a father and it f’in matters.  So good enough is good.  Enough!  If you are dad…join me right HERE!  Learn why dad’s are more important than moms – for starters, dads are more calm and collected in an emergency.  Don’t believe me…click HERE!

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Sturgie

+++spring riding

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The season of base training is in full swing.  I didn’t have a great ski season and so I was a bit concerned coming into the 2012 season.  But then again, it’s only March and we are mountain biking already…so I think the early spring riding will make up for my lack of ski fitness.

Either way I’m pleased to announce that I will be working with Craig Manthe at FitElite CrossFit of Eau Claire.  It is nothing secretive or some crazy inside training.  The deal is, I feel like I have gotten to where I am today on what I know and now I need that little extra “expertise” attention.  And with his biking resume and his personal training expertise, Craig will help me to pay attention to the little things that can greatly improve my season.

It has been about core, core, and more core.  Something I have spent little to no time with.  Craig takes me through stretching, techniques, and then a ball buster workout that not only works strength but also adds in cardio.  The best part of this is that Craig translates what we are doing in the gym with cycling.  He breaks it down so that I know what to pay attention to and how it will effect my biking.

Stay tuned…this could get interesting.  Either way – if you are runner, skier, biker or anything endurance like, Craig Manthe and FitElite is the ticket to taking whatever your passion is to the next level.

Three weeks till first race…

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Sturgie

The feeling when the rubber hums over the pavement through the spring air.  I must remind my body that all the heart one can muster will never replace the sweat equity of preparation.

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Sturgie

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Kissing the '12 ski season good bye. This was the best part of the Birkie race and it was only 2K in. Long day…

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via diamonwizard

Just to be is a blessing.

Just to live is holy.

~Rabbi Abraham Heschel

Each day, life seems to creep up on you to only snatch the only daylight that is left.  You know what I’m talking about.  I don’t need to tell you anything new on my end.  As the old cliché goes – “it is what it is.”  But as a wise man once told me – “only if you let it.”

“But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this”

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Sturgie