This is sort of in response to Tango's last post, but I didn't want it all buried in comments to his, so here goes.
The first race of the season was yesterday at Pontiac Lake. 34 degrees and flurries with a stiff (20mph) wind at the start. Perfect day for Kelsey's first race of the season. I persuaded her that she is no longer a 'beginner' so she entered the sport category, women, 29 and under. Even after a fall in which she managed to tear the knee of her spandex pants, she finished first! Not bad for her first time on a trail since last fall with her brother.
We won't discuss the competition, or how many other riders were in her category, but suffice it to say that there wasn't a single rider anywhere close to her.
Her time was respectable compared to other riders in other categories, especially given that she played in a volley ball tournament all day the day before, then went to a birthday / sleepover that night, then went to the race in the above mentioned weather conditions after about 5 hours of sleep, on the floor.
Unfortunately, no photos, as some dummy forgot the camera, again, like always.
Now the response to Tango part...
Kelsey has decided to make a real go of this racing thing this year. Yankee is next weekend (April 20th) and she'll be there, but only for the race, as there's another VB tournament the day before.
The next race is the Ft Custer Stampede on May 4th. Again, race only because of VB. Justin is planning on being at this race too, as finals end that previous Friday.
Then it's the Owasippe race on May 18th.
The next one isn't until June 22nd at Lawless.
Then Stony Creek on the 27th of July.
And finally wrapping up on the 17th of August back at Custer.
The summer races will likely turn into weekend long camping trips, with the exception of Stony.
So, so far, those are the races we'll be at. Hopefully some of the other Lion Tamers will be able to make some of them. And of course, we'll be doing some visiting when we're out at Owasippe.
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3 comments:
YES! K-Dave weighs in! So nice to of you to add your voice to the waning din in here. Excellent, excellent first post.
Now for my substantive comments: FIRST IN THE WOMEN'S SPORT CLASS??!! Who cares how many other people showed up? As the reigning 35+ ABR masters women national road race runner up, (there were 3 of us in the race and one of my competitor's flatted and got lapped) I know of what I speak when I say: If it were easy everyone would do it. Like so much in life, most of it comes down to just showin' up. Any twit can buy a bike and think of a million reasons NOT to race it.
Besides, how much actual bike riding did Ms k.-Thang do to prepare for said race? Did she get her 1,000 base miles in between December and early March? Has she been doing one-legged drills and power intervals and high cadance intervals and over-and-under intervals to perfect her pedal stroke and work on raising her lactate threshold? Has she done anything to work on her leaky calcium channels? I bet not. The sky's the limit I tell ya, ya just gotta train!! Volleyball is a great sport, don't get me wrong, but it won't do much to get you ready for a mountain bike race.
I'm not much good for racing myself these days despite the fact that I did, in fact, do all or most of the foregoing things to get ready for the season. But once again, the forces of nature have conspired against me, this time with my latest right leg ailment. It's now digressed to incredibly tight hamstrings, calf, quad, and hip flexors and a knee just about twice it's normal size. Doc says MRI shows at least some remaining threads of an ACL, and no obvious cartilege issues. So? No one knows. Take it easy, ice, stretch... ugh, yeah that would be what I've been doing and it hasn't helped. In a word, it stinks. But... if I can I might come on out to cheer on a fellow 'Tamer, if I can sneak away. Besides, maybe, just maybe, some PT might actually help me. Who knows, stranger things ahve happened.
Anyway, enough whining.
Congratulations again, k. This weekend we're going to be in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday so maybe, just maybe, I can work Yankee into the trip. As for May 4, we have to be at Lil Lotto's grandfather's 90th birthday extrvaganza, so that's out for us. Not sure yet about May 18th, but maybe. Lawless is closest to Chicago, so maybe that one too. We'll see.
That's what I'm talking about. Liontamers in the woods. Kickin asses. Takin names. Well played k., well played. And don't go apologizing about how many (or few) racers you ripped the legs off of and left whining in the woods. You took on any and all comers. Sport Women under 30 ain't exactly a boutique classification. Not like, say, blue-eyed, long-haired, left-handed, Mensa-qualified, volleyball-playing, 17 year-olders riding tandem fixed-gear recumbent unicyles.Just keep showing up and keep showing 'em how clean a rear wheel can be. Volleyball though. It's gotta go.
And thanks kDave for posting. Also for driving, wrenching, sponsoring, and cheering for lowercasekperiod. Like you got something better to do.
So I'll do my best to show up at one of the weekend camping events and try to represent in the old fart category. Till then, keep us posted. And don't forget yer camera.
April 16, 2008 8:05 PM
Well, if you can only make one, Tango, I hope it's the Owasippe race. Just like last year, it will be the same weekend as the teen sleep-over at the library and the high school regional track meet, but that's okay. We can sleep when we're dead, right?
As for you, Miss K., all I can say is "WOW!" Congratulations! You rock!
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