dragging
a pretty intense (but very much fun) three days. friday night we made the evening run up to EC and got there in pretty good time. got cal down, hung out a little bit too long and off to bed after 11. trains, dog, kid, etc. always conspires against us sleeping well the first night (and some of us the second as well) so neither of us got much restful sleep. off to the EC farmers market (pound for pound better than madison imo) and then it was prep time for the ECCX race. robin made her debut in the 40 minute race and killed it. it was a long (2.1 mile) course and the first 1/3 was bumpy bumpy bumpy so i was proud of her to crush those 4 laps.
i rolled up to the start line looking at 12 or so other people - none of which i recognized. there were a few people who 'looked' fast but, as mostly usual, they weren't. got out nice and fast and after a lap a 3 person selection formed (one guy on a 29er). i did the majority of pace making for the full 80 minutes - i knew it was a risk but i wanted a good hard effort and not a draft fest. i had company the first 50 minutes or so and then i started to slowly pull away. the course was very fun, a forced hill run up with a barrier at the bottom, long gravel straights that all seemed to be into the wind, and a whoop section that was really fun (a barrier right before the section really tested my ability to get back into the pedals). i put my head down and hammer the last 4 laps alone, grinding it in for the W! small field and early race but boy it feels good to win. i indulged in a few post race beers and then headed back to my mom's for a cook out and fire on her sweet new patio.
sunday was comprised of church, apple orchards, lounging, dad's house and home (after 9 pm). we are all pretty tuckered out but content. monday was deck staining day and even though a few logistical items were conspiring against us, we managed to get all but a few spots stained. how do you miss a few spots? well, apparently staining by headlamp at 10 pm makes on miss a few spots on the stairs. i'm pretty bummed since it was one of my sections but other than that it looks bomber and feels good to be done.
hopefully i can get that deck fully wrapped up this weekend (we need more stain unfortunately). this weekend we also need to start getting our crap off the floors as our carpet is getting installed next week. i will be very content when all this house project stuff is wrapped up!
lake geneva prep this week. robin has the bug and will be throwing down in the cat 4 women's race.
happy tuesday.
i rolled up to the start line looking at 12 or so other people - none of which i recognized. there were a few people who 'looked' fast but, as mostly usual, they weren't. got out nice and fast and after a lap a 3 person selection formed (one guy on a 29er). i did the majority of pace making for the full 80 minutes - i knew it was a risk but i wanted a good hard effort and not a draft fest. i had company the first 50 minutes or so and then i started to slowly pull away. the course was very fun, a forced hill run up with a barrier at the bottom, long gravel straights that all seemed to be into the wind, and a whoop section that was really fun (a barrier right before the section really tested my ability to get back into the pedals). i put my head down and hammer the last 4 laps alone, grinding it in for the W! small field and early race but boy it feels good to win. i indulged in a few post race beers and then headed back to my mom's for a cook out and fire on her sweet new patio.
sunday was comprised of church, apple orchards, lounging, dad's house and home (after 9 pm). we are all pretty tuckered out but content. monday was deck staining day and even though a few logistical items were conspiring against us, we managed to get all but a few spots stained. how do you miss a few spots? well, apparently staining by headlamp at 10 pm makes on miss a few spots on the stairs. i'm pretty bummed since it was one of my sections but other than that it looks bomber and feels good to be done.
hopefully i can get that deck fully wrapped up this weekend (we need more stain unfortunately). this weekend we also need to start getting our crap off the floors as our carpet is getting installed next week. i will be very content when all this house project stuff is wrapped up!
lake geneva prep this week. robin has the bug and will be throwing down in the cat 4 women's race.
happy tuesday.
Comments