NY STS

First bicycle race of 2012 is in the books. However, unlike most Michigan racers, I wasn’t at Barry-Roubaix last weekend. I was in NYC for a bachelor party over the weekend and decided to try my hand at the NY Spring Training Series race in Central Park on Saturday morning. I’m not sure what made me think that it would be a good idea to do a bike race while on a bachelor party, but I did it anyways.

Needless to say my 5AM wake up came way too quick on Saturday (actually some of the guys weren’t even to bed yet) but I got suited up and was on my way to the park by 5:30. I was at the registration tent by 6 and after getting my number pinned on met up with Kate, Andrew & Andrew’s brother Chris. Andrew was there to race the Cat 5 race and Kate & Chris were there to cheer us on.

6:45 rolled around and things actually got going on time. The sun wasn’t even fully up yet and I was already racing. Things were pretty much business as usual in a Cat 3/4 race, except a bigger field than I’m accustomed to (107 racers lined up for my race alone). There were constant attacks and breaks but none really strong enough to get more than a 5-10 second gap and none staying away for all that long. I was part of a brief one on the start of the third lap but it was just like any of the others really. Things went by fairly quickly and uneventfully and next thing I know we are inside 2 miles from the finish and then crash number one happens. Not sure what caused it but I watched the guy go down and I’m sure he didn’t get up quick. I get by and am sitting in alright position, but I need to work my way further up if I’m going to have any chance at the sprint. As I’m working my way up another crash happens just to my left and this one ends up as a pile up. I get by but not without seriously checking my speed and losing the small group that was in front of the crash. I chase back on just in time to pass a couple guys at the line, but not in time to have any real go at a podium spot. Oh well, that’s bike racing. Results still haven’t been posted but I’m guessing I rolled in somewhere just inside the top 20. Not a bad result for the field size but a little tough to take when I crossed the line with so much left in the tank.

After the race we all enjoyed breakfast at a café a block from the park sitting at a table outside and enjoying the great weather. Then it was back to the nonsense of the bachelor party, none of which will get mentioned here at all.

First race is out of the way and now it’s time to get some wins so I can hopefully get my upgrade sometime soon. Next up is a couple more Spring Series races this weekend, Waterford Saturday and Ann Arbor Sunday.

A Different Kind of Racing

The past two weekends I’ve competed in two races, and neither of them were bike races. Anything I can do to get the motivation going I guess.

Last weekend was a stair climb race at the RenCen in Detroit. 70 stories in 6:36 and 2nd fastest time overall. The certificate I got at the race said 3rd overall but they found an error in the timing and changed the results. Not too shabby considering I didn’t climb a single stair to train for it (I didn’t specifically train for it at all, but I do train a lot for other things). I have to say that was quite possibly the toughest 7 minutes of physical activity I have ever done. If cyclocross is “an hour in hell” I’m really not sure what to classify stair climbs as.

Then Sunday we had some amazing weather here for the Corktown 5k also down in Detroit. I lined up with 7,000 other people to give my first ever competitive 5k a try, again without any specific training. I run a couple days a week but that is just to make sure I’m ready for the marathon so this speed thing was something totally different for me. I ended up finishing in 20:05, good enough for 144th overall and 18th in my age group. Again a pretty good result all things considered.

Then I got home and put in a couple hours in the saddle because Sunday was just too nice not to be outside. First ride of the year in shorts is officially in the books (and I haven't even shaved my legs yet).

First (bicycle) race of the year is now less than two weeks away. The season will be upon us before we know it, and the weather seems to be agreeing with that.