Friday, September 28, 2007

It's my Dog's life now

Now that my race season is over, it's all about my dog being the center of my universe for the next few weeks.
Why?
It's fall in the north woods and she does love the woods. So do I.

On the rocks near Sawyer Creek


Along side Sawyer Creek.


St. Croix River Trail


Sandy Rocks cliff, St. Croix River

My dog days are over and hers have just begun.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

PUKE and RALLY!

Colorado Outward Bound Relay.

Team Puke and Rally started our race with...


A tour of the Coors Brewery, Golden CO.


mmmmmmmmm, Beeeeeeeer


A few beers later... " I can ride anything!"


Ready to go at 5 AM.


We found it all along the way.


Running my first leg, The BUTT BUSTER, up Guenella pass.
That little dot on the right side of the road is me.


The top of Guenella Pass.


Hoooweee, you said it. Done with my last leg,
31 miles under my belt. Gerrrrr.


29 hours, 170 miles later,
Lounging at the finish and having some beers.

Who's in for next year?

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Team THINK and THIN recap

And here they are.
Rrrrrrrrrrepresenting Team THICK and THIN...


Big, Thick Tommy 29er. 200 pounds of Runaway Freight Train.
A little slow on the uphills but never touches the brakes on the downhills.
Lead, follow, or get the hell out of his way.


Gashed knee Dave. 180 pounds of Ironman and off road.
New to the off road game this year and can't understand why
"those big guys go flying by me."
It's all about inertia and gravity Dave, find it and you will fly too.
Broken Fork Bradley. 170 Pounds of Happy to Finish.
Got clipped on a fast corner and flew over the bars, broke his front fork and rode 12 miles after that to finish the race.
Hoping it's under warranty.
Old School Benson. 155 pounds of piss and vinegar...Thin.
Getting his wheel sucked by guys half his age.
"C'mon guys, take your skirts off and ride like you stole it."

Monday, September 17, 2007

Fattire 40, quick race report

Team THICK and THIN all crossed the finish line with only one bloody knee and one broken front fork.
40 miles later, the thickest man on our team of 4 finished first among us in 3:04. I came in at 3:12 and our 2 remaining crankers limped across in 3:21 with a bloody knee and 3:27 with a broken front fork. We spent the afternoon eating brats and belting down a few beers.
The day started with a temperature of 25 at sunrise and by the 10 AM start time, it was maybe 40 degrees. The sun was shining and the trail was in great shape for the 25th Anniversary of the Chequamegon FAT TIRE 40.
The mass start is slow as heck and it took me 3 minutes just to cross the start timing mat. Then it's a 3 mile roll out on pavement before entering the woods, forest roads, logging roads, ski trails and single tracks. Plenty of variety, sand, gravel and ROCKS! Oh my god were there rocks and boulders everywhere? Heck yeah. There were a few times when those soccer ball sized rim benders could not be avoided and I just hung on while my teeth got rattled. LOVED IT!

After the race, I got to schmooze with a couple Team Trek riders and...
Guess who?

Ross, Me, GARY FISHER, Sue.

All is well today but my legs are cooked.

LOVE IT!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

How do I know when it's almost OFF SEASON?

I've hung up my tri bike and greased up my mountain bike and...
I have a 40 mile MTN bike/off road race this Saturday


Chequamegon 40

On Saturday of the event weekend, this 40 mile, mass start, point-to-point off-road bicycle event travels from downtown Hayward, WI, over the famed American Birkebeiner Ski Trail, forest roads, snowmobile trails and other wooded lanes to the finish line in Cable, WI.

1,700 participants will take part in this challenging fat tire marathon.


Fat Tires Friends and Fun Throughout the Weekend

Friday warm-up event, Pasta Feast, product displays, awards presentations, hundreds of miles of bike trails, fresh air, clean cold water and countless stars.
Saturday is "race day", and Sunday is "fun day"!

GET FAT soon!



and then a 170 mile running relay race the following weekend as a 5-man Ultra team.
10th Annual Colorado Relay
The Colorado Relay is a 24-hour+ 170-mile team relay race, and is Colorado's Premier Team Relay designed for athletes of all abilities. The 2007 Colorado Relay will run on September 21-22, 2007.

THEN it's off season and I head for the woods for some camping and grouse hunting.

I'm so excited I'm practically peeing my pants.