The Last Post

It is a Sunday evening here in Maui and my day is coming to an end. The final event is a luau with plenty of food and beer. I just got back from it. The day is catching up with me. My feet are tired and my legs feel like meat sticks in a slim jim case.

The race is in the bag but it barely didn't happen. 7 miles into the race at a blistering speed, I flatted in my rear tire on lava rock. So badly that the sealant didn't hold. I was able to restabilize with 15 lbs of pressure but it wounded me the rest of the race and I never made up the time. I lost valuable time and flatted on my front wheel again later in the race around mile 15. Was it my fault? Yes, in a way. Hopping patches of lava rock to pass was the cost but in retrospect how would I not be able to make up time otherwise. A friend I have raced against twice finished ahead of me again. I was sort of bummed over this when I realized that I was really quite close to her on the bike section. I just didn't realize that all those little things which ate up time, came back to bite me.

I concluded the day with a lot of forethought. What strikes me is the little things I missed. I missed the fast transition. I missed running fast because I just couldn't find my legs for two miles. And I missed catching my friend because of these things. I guess you can call it irony at it's finest. For me, this mean't finishing in 4 hours. I wanted 3 and a half hours. Some of this I blame on barely keeping the rear wheel together. Upon inspection of my tires, I lost count after 100 in terms of thorns which were embedded in the tires. Hawaii is a rugged place for this reason and it goes without saying that I would gladly choose to take up road riding if I lived here.

So will I do Hawaii again? Maybe someday but not anytime soon. My bike is all sorts of messed up from the lava rock and it was a costly venture to get here. As I prepare to become a homeowner, this type of thing doesn't abide well financially. But at least I did it and finished. Once was enough and there are a lot of places to explore in 2011. Will I do more Xterras in 2011? I honestly plan to race one but that is all. I have learned that to do well in Xterras, you need a different focus instead of the same training plan I used for long distance riding. I could not recover from that type of training in time for Maui. However, a little place known as Leadville resides in my mind and places a smile across my face as I cast my eyes to next year. Racing with a team again in 2011 will also help me address some issues with my style of riding in terms of nutrition and performing at a higher level. I really feel that I need that sort of thing again since in some ways I have hit a wall with my riding/racing ability. A year off was excellent coming from Colorado Singletrack. Now, I am ready to don a new jersey and fly under a new flag. Of course, a few weeks of boarding to clear my mind and I leave the subject for a later day.

This is the end in terms of this blog which has detailed my adventure leading up to the Xterra World Championship. Sad to see it end but it has been a great experience nonetheless. You can see a lot of the world by bicycle. 2010 has been a year which allowed me to log over 20,000 flight miles chasing a dream. A dream to be an Xterra World Champion finisher. It was a good ride.

From here, you can now follow my adventures in 2011 at "Life of a Leadman."

THE END

This is it.

This is it. The night before the Xterra World Championship. All is quiet on the island of Maui and folks are tending to their nightly rituals or are sound asleep in their bed. I am here, in the moment stuck amongst a wash of emotions surrounding this race. It has been 4 years since I started racing Xterras. They have become a big part of my life and played quite a role with shaping it. Xterras turned me from a borderline corporate post college alcoholic to a fit and hard working person who loves life. Not a bad tradeoff.

So here I sit on the verge sleep. I am restless. My mind is tired but my body is craving exertion. It has been more than 24 hours since I amped up my heart rate. In the course of one day I think my body is enjoying the absence too much. It will be a shock when we hit the water running in the morning. I want to finish the swim strong enough like at Lory. I really enjoyed that swim but this saltwater thing still throws me off a bit. Either way, I intend to suck in the moment and run things as hard as I can. Where I end up, no one knows.

Everything Kris was started a year ago when I had just gotten into this race. It is sad to see this chapter come to an end in some ways because it truly has been quite an adventure writing about my training and adventures. Though not as proactive on this matter as some, it turned out to be something I am proud of. If you get a chance, flip back through it sometime to see the many prior entries surrounding this blog.

I also want to take a moment and thank Van Dessel Cycles, Pearl Izumi, Maxxis, and Oakley. These were some integral sponsors for 2010. Even as I move into a new year, these companies will stay firmly in my heart regardless of whether or not they help me again or not. We made it this far and I couldn't have done it without them.

You know, a lot has changed since this blog was started but I made it. From racing, to life, love, and careers. It will no doubt change again. For now, this Colorado guy has some sleep to attend to. In this exotic world of palm trees and sand, I close my eyes and hope for safe passage tomorrow. I hope Vandy pulls through like it has so many times this year. At one point today while walking past it, I uttered "one more time old friend" just to keep good karma. Perhaps we can both pull out the strength and pull it just one more time. This has been a long road and a lot of training. Let's make it worth it.

It's Time

It is 1:00 AM in the morning and I have only three mere hours before I have to wake up and begin my journey to Maui in the early morning. I am excited, nervous, and confident all in the same swoop of meditated emotions.

Where you take it from here, no one knows. It was strange to note that tonight I went to the gym in Highlands Ranch to swim my last laps before I leave. It was 10:00 by the time I got there and 4-5 cars dotted the parking lot. I had the place to myself. Exactly 1 year ago, I vowed to try with all my might to get into the World Championship. I put my mind to it and here I am in the dead of night, typing these words after setting foot in the exact same gym where I concocted this crazy idea.

For now, I end this entry. Short and sweet but important. More to come.

Maui. The Conclusion of a Chapter In Life.

Maui is less than a week away and my nervous excitement is undeniably here. Concerns regarding the transport of Vandy, navigation on the island, and logistical challenges abound in my worried mind. I am for the most part ready physically. One thing I constantly struggled with this year was doing we

ll in two of the three disciplines. This past summer, my shortfall was the run section of a triathlon. I flew on the bike and surprisingly learned to swim correctly for the needed distance in the Xterra circuit. For what it's worth, I believe this will not happen at Maui. I have refined my technique and equally practiced the two disciplines I seem to tradeoff in terms of falling short. (Running and Swimming)

The bike section could be tricky but I doubt this honestly. Based on what it looks like in the videos, I foresee lots of double track in hot scorching sunshine. I can manage this effectively from my training in the burn sections of Buffalo Creek. The choppy lava rock should be manageable on the FS Vandy 29er and its' ubber strong Maxxis Crossmark tires which I love so much. Certain races like the Firecracker 50 or the Fat Tire 40 has taught me that the Vandy can make up for my lack of skills on the descents. It climbs great for a full suspension bike so no concerns there. My legs are diesel at the moment so the infamous "Ned's Hill" does not intimidate me. Not when I have had Mt. Falcon to train on these past few days. In fact, I am sort of looking forward to bagging a l

ot of placement on the climb come go time.

Tomorrow is my last long ride of the season. I am planning on riding at a race pace up Mt. Falcon, over to Lair of the Bear, Bear Creek Park in the morning. Should be an epic ride that will break down a lot of my muscles prior to a few days of recovery. I am tapering off the running and swimming as well.

My philosophy on Maui is pretty surreal. It is the World Championship and the highest level you can achieve in the world of offroad multisport racing. I don't intend to win since there are much more devoted people than myself, however I do intend to finish strong. It has been almost four years since my first Xterra in the frigid waters of Buffalo Creek. I have changed a lot and grown over this time with grad school, my career, and ambitions. Maui marks a pinnacle in terms of hard work to reach this point. When it is all done, I have this sort of calm satisfaction in terms of knowing that I am ready for whatever is next in life. Buying a house, expanding the competitiveness of Free Wheel Coffee, and attending to things I have put off these past few yea

rs are higher up on the priority list. It is time to grow up a bit. I am still going to keep my fitness. In 2011, I will return to the team ranks with Bach Builders, a well known ultra distance team consisting of World Champion 24 hour athletes and adventure racing veterans. It is a significant achievement and I hope to back up these words with a high level of performance. But that is another chapter for another time.

For now, it is a beautiful fall day here in Denver and I have an evening to myself to relax and attend to packing for Maui. More to come as Maui looms closer and closer. And if for anything else, I am glad to take my turn in Maui with the many other Coloradans who have made this journey. Let's bring it!

Hawaii

It's the first week of September and I am lying in bed. Instead of returning to work and life rejuvenated, I have officially burned both ends of the candle and am pretty tired. It's been a good weekend. Volunteering at the 24 Hours of Leadville, riding Centennial Cone, and ending with a picnic in the park with new friends has made this venture a success. Did I spend a lot of money? No. Did I drink myself silly? No. Did I regret any part of my holiday weekend? No.

So the next questions remains. Where do I go from here? Honestly it all beats back to Hawaii now at this point. I feel in shape but more running and swimming needs factored in before Maui. Ideally I want to finish Maui more so than actually doing good at it. I feel like I am going into a battle with no way of winning so I have to focus on the journey. Hawaii has always intrigued me and I want to see it with my own eyes.

It's funny to see my race schedule empty. 2010 has been a crazy year. As it stands, my resources for bike racing are all but kicked. The Van Dessel Jersey Devil FS is in pieces from the demands of this year and the Cannondale Flash 29er is at the point of needing a good tune up before heading to a new home. I am still pretty set on using the Van Dessel mountain bike lineup for 2011 unless Anvil builds me something really special. So for what it's worth, now is the time to point the compass west, finish Hawaii strong and regroup through the winter. I planned to race cyclocross but that is a fleeting concept with how much work lies ahead, especially with Free Wheel Coffee. So I digress. Perhaps this was a rant. Perhaps it was just an update to where life has taken me.

Directions

It has been a while since I last updated the blog. As usual, I am way behind race reports which you can now find at FreeWheelCoffee.com under blogs. It has been by far a busy summer. Even with racing spaced out 2-3 weeks, I still find myself backlogged with work that just isn't getting done. I just raced the inaugural Two Mile Run mountain bike race and was not expecting the terrain which was reminiscent of Germany or something out of the forests of Europe. (Where were my wide open spaces?)

So anyway, I titled this blog "Directions." In essence, I am planning to use this blog to log my journey of training for the Xterra World Championship. I have decided not to race or do any other events besides what I am registered for until that is a done deal. When my feet touch the white sands of Maui, I want to be 100% ready.

So for now, that is where I stand. One more race next weekend in Fort Collins, then 7 weeks or so to train to do my best. That means more than just biking but weekly trail runs logging miles and swimming 2-3 times as well.

On that note, I am out.

Vaporize Me

It's a July morning before work and I have a long list of things to do with Free Wheel Coffee this coming week. Busy, busy, busy. As I sip some coffee, my thoughts begin to drift to what is next on the list of things to do here at "Everything Kris." Of course, there is the trip from D.C. to Pittsburgh in 2 weeks, the Xterra World Championship, and of course if I get in, the Vapor Trail.

I want to do the Vapor Trail in a bad way. Since the Breck 100, I have found myself all too often questioning just how much further I could have pushed it. My boss at Anvil has some experience riding the trails used in the race and he seems confident I can pull it off. I envision this race which has so many variables in the mix. Lightning, a 10:00 PM start, 20,000 feet of climbing, and really getting "out there." Kind of romantic in my sick and twisted personal outlook. I can do it. I know I can. Only challenge is getting accepted at the moment. So call this little blog my personal campaign to get into the Vapor Trail.

Top ten reasons why I should be chosen.

1. I ride consistently and can hammer out a lot of miles. My training right now is around 200-275 miles of riding a week with a mix of road and mtn. (More mountain these days)

2. I am 26 years old and modestly fit. Finished the Breck 100 this year and made it into the Xterra World Championship in Maui.

3. Van Dessel Cycles would really like to see me in the mix.

4. I have the perfect bike and it is a proven rig for this kind of event. A Van Dessel Jersey Devil FS. It's a good climbing bike yet it is comfortable enough to hammer out miles. Lots of them.

5. I know when to push it but I also know when to back off to avoid getting hurt. I have raced lots of miles on my bike and motorcycle and have a pretty solid record of safety.

6. Support from friends and family. Working in the bike industry, I have made some good friends. A lot of them support this venture as well as plan to pit this event.

7. Climbing is my strength. 20,000 feet of climbing equates to lots of opportunity to roll hard.

8. A good attitude. I am out to have fun and enjoy the world from two wheels.

9. My resume of racing. http://adventureresume.blogspot.com/ Check it out. A modest list of results to prove my mettle for the event.

10. I can provide some sponsorship perks through my business. (Free Wheel Coffee Company)

So that's my list for now. I hope the folks at Absolute Bikes see this and say "Let's give this kid a shot." More updates to come through the weeks on this adventure. As it stands, I plan to start training either way and hope for the best. From the folks at Anvil Bike Works to the crew at Treads Bicycle Outfitters, they support my venture 100% and I hope to carry through.

Pick me!!!!

A refreshing morning by any stretch of the imagination. I awoke this morning with a renewed vigor from the quintessential tearing down and buildup process that my body went through this past weekend from the Breck 100. It was a fun race that went well.

So long story short, life is going well and I am turning and burning through life in more ways than one. From racing bikes to actually spending time with my folks, life is good. I snapped this picture at Anvil recently while working on the manual mill. So nice to be gaining technical knowledge in machining and frame building. I am finally growing to understand the finer details of hand built quality bikes. But enough about my technical rantings, the reason I am posting so early this morning is because I just submitted my resume to Dirt Rag Magazine for a Content Editor Position. Web development was at one time a career task and later a hobby with growing Free Wheel Coffee. Now, I might have the chance to work with a great group of people and put all the new techniques with Wordpress into play that I have learned over the past six months. So if you're by some chance a hiring manager at Dirt Rag and you are reading these words, pick me!

Outside of sipping a great cup of coffee this morning, I am planning to get back on the stationary bike as well as throw in some swim laps later this evening after work. The Van Dessel 29er is going to get a full rebuild at work this week since it is all sorts of nasty from the Breck 100. I have an invite to race the Vapor Trail in September and if I plan to do it, I need to be very proactive with keeping it in top shape.

So off to work, to life, and to the adventure which is my life. :)

Alcohol and 29er Love

I am two Sole Cervezas into this evening. Been a while since I knocked back a few in this manner, especially since the Breckenridge 100 is less than 2 weeks away. The biggest challenge of my life and I am somewhat buzzed. Irony at it's finest.

I raced the Firecracker 50 this past weekend. It was a good race and I thoroughly enjoyed the terrain until I wrecked and ripped my of chamois off. No bueno considering I had 20 miles to go. Long story short, I had a DNF. I feel okay with this for a few reasons.

1. Beaten and bruised back at the start line, I ran into Josh Holloway from Lost.

2. Ran into a racer that was sponsored by Broadnet.

3. My bike didn't break. I think Vandy more or less is ready to roll for Breck once the race wheel arrives this coming week. (As for the rider, that remains for speculation)

4. I was pretty damn far ahead by the time I quit. I mean I passed hundreds of people on the way back.

5. I think I will always stick with Pearl Izumi shorts. Found this out now, not later during the Breck 100.

So that's how I look at it for now. Next year I am going to race the Firecracker 50 and finish the race strong. Overall, I loved the course. It was fast and no long suffer fests. Just great singletrack and easy climbs.

So that's all for now.

Blood, sweat, sunburns, and a declaration

It's the waining hours of the fourth of July and I am laying in bed in pain. Today I was bested by the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge Colorado. The Firecracker has always been one of those races that I anticipated racing but never had the chance to try in the corporate world. Coming off the Crested Butte Fat Tire 40, I was somewhat tender to say the least. My body was coming back together and chance are that I could have pulled it off but a series of problems arose today which changed things for the worst. They are as follows.

1. I ripped my Van Dessel shorts. When I say ripped, I mean half my ass was hanging out. This resulted in a chamois that did not fit correctly and a very unique sunburn later that day. If I could have just managed to sit on my seat comfortably, things would have turned out differently.

2. My bike did not feel comfortable. My hands went numb and my right foot went numb as well.

3. The concept of distance. Doing a second loop was a killer. I need to break that mental barrier and quickly considering the Breck 100 is like 2 weeks away. The irony was that this event was only 50 miles.

4. My lower back flat out hurts. I am not sure if it was from sleeping funny the night before or simply not fitting the bike correctly but it is in significant pain.

So for that reason, I lay in bed tonight listening to Mexicans shoot off their fireworks and hide when the cops roll by here in Westminster. I failed but I learned a lot today about myself and the high altitude trails of Breckenridge. We will do battle again.

Perhaps I am becoming an expert.

I am laying in my bed, totally exhausted from racing today. My body is throbbing and I am pretty sure that I got sunburned on my shoulders. Sleeveless shirts are the mark of a triathlete but 30 miles in Colorado sun has their point of reckoning as well. I raced the course in 2 hours and 26 minutes. Two 46 minute laps and a 54 to close out the business at hand. I blame a cross wind and limited opportunity to pace someone for my lackluster performance on the final lap. I got out ahead of some folks in my category but there was a big gap between us and anyone else.

Overall, I am pretty happy with how things went even if my body is reeling in pain. I loved the course and how my Vandy performed. I also loved that I gave it my all. I mean the tanks were dry when I crossed the finish line. It was nice getting a fast start and backing it up with a time to be proud of. Next year I plan to race the Clydesdale category to see how that goes. I reckon that I will be near the top of my game in terms of how hard I can push it since it will be only a few weeks prior to starting Leadman. What can I say except that Bear Creek is one of those races that I use as an anchor to my life. No matter how good or bad I do, I always look forward to dropping the hammer and playing hard at Bear Creek Park.

Chase that feeling

A spring evening in Denver. Hmmm, what a day. 8 hours of work, battled some traffic, sauna time, then home to watch an episode of Lost. The feeling in the air is timid at the moment. First race of the season and I have no idea how I am going to do. Since I am racing expert at Battle of the Bear, I don't foresee myself doing that good. However, it's all about the experience and it's nice having a humble beating to get the year started.

We had some rain this evening and I think it could actually make for a great course if it holds off for tomorrow. It will be just enough to tamp down the dirt. This is the first time in my 3 years of Bear Creek that the soil is so moist and the scenery so green. Almost doesn't seem like the Colorado I knew when I originally moved here four years ago. But time illustrates that we all change. My body is leaner but I also had my first gray hair recently. My how time flies.

I can't slack off though. I know I can ride hard for two laps but the third has me concerned. I trained a lot for the five lap Front Range 50 the past two years but this time around I focused on a new regiment with cross training. Tons of swimming, high intensity cadence, and long climbs have been typical of my habits leading up to the race. Does this spell a formula for the endurance to do 45 minute laps and finish in under 2 hours and 30 minutes? Hard to say but that is my goal after all.

So for now, this is my last post before the race. My gear is freshly pressed and the Jersey Devil is dormant for the moment. The devil is in the details. Off to prepare and sleep.

Hustling

Been like a month since I updated this blog. Can't believe how fast time flies when you're working your butt off. Anyway, I have been pretty busy and can't help but say that life is moving fast. I am training hard and have lost 26lbs since I left Broadnet. Thank god I am done with corporate life. I don't know what's next or even have an answer, however I remain positive that the future is bright. Lots of things to be thankful. Today I drank a great lager beer, hanged with some friends, and ended up tucked in my bed. I am thankful for the sunset, the buzz on my head, and the peace of solace right here in this little trailer of mine. Can't say it is perfect but when is life perfect anyway.

So onto my ramblings. I am starting the wheel build on the Cannondale Rush to sell it soon. Not my size but it was a leftover from the ex. For the wheelset, something cheap. I was thinking WTB stuff. Glad to recover my money from that. Once it is sold and in the bank, I am going to start building the Ramble Tamble 29er up. It should be a simple build. Here is the dream build.

Fork - Custom handmade rigid fork from Anvil Bikeworks. (Painted to match)
Frame - Van Dessel Ramble Tamble 29er
Hubs - American Classic
Spokes - DT Swiss
Rims - Stans ZTR
Rubber - Maxxis Larsen rear and Crossmark front
Brakes - Avid BB7
Stem - Titec Carbon Pluto 110mm
Handlebar - Answer Carbon Flat
Crank - FSA V-Drive
Seat Post - Titec Carbon Pluto
Seat - Van Dessel Road Seat
Headset - Cane Creek
Chain - SRAM High Grade

I plan to use this bike in the coming fall riding season. I want to use it for cross racing and eventually the elusive snow bike race series in Leadville. After that, I plan to transition to gears, front shocks, and all that sexiness. 2011 will be a hardtail year for Leadman, however right now it is all delicious on the FS Jersey Devil.

I am also in the process of buying a road bike to replace the Six 13. I wanted a Raleigh Rx 1.0 but they are sold out for a while. I was torn between a Yeti ARC-X and a Cannondale Six 5 carbon. The Yeti would be more versatile, however it sucks not riding what we sell at my shop. Got so much to do and this is only the section devoted to racing, bikes, and beer. :(

Contrasts

Been too long since I was on the blog. Let's just say my life is quite busy right now but in a good way to say the least. I am pulling double duty with a bike company and a bike shop. Right now both are in the peak of their season. It will eventually slow down but for now, it is full throttle.

I am training and riding but the schedule is mixed at the moment. Not too worried since the season is young and most of all, I don't have grad school on my back. The stresses of dealing with grad school sucked last year. Now, my mental focus and commitment is dialed in as well as a body that is becoming accustomed to racing over the course of the past two years. I know what I have to do and it is getting more challenging to push the threshold in comparison to knowing how to simply address a previously encountered experience.

70 Miles and snow

Made it close to 70 miles today on my road bike before the weather closed in. Sad to cut the ride short. The bike paths of Denver make for some epic riding. I will return to bag that ride again later, perhaps even Thursday or early next week. I am going to be turning off the road rides for a few weeks to concentrate on running laps at Bear Creek park for the Battle of the Bear. My goal is to run 45 minute laps consistently for the three that I have to complete. Last year I deviated by 6 minutes on the Front Range 50. Not good. I also swam 1/2 mile tonight at the gym. My little beer belly is quickly fading. I am also going to step back from road riding to await the arrival of my new factory road bike from Cannondale. Can't wait to try running a full carbon frame. I am on the fence as to whether or not I will like it as much as aluminum, however I remain positive since carbon is still the top choice in the Tour De France.

Where I am at physically is pretty solid so far for this year. Now, I have to work on staying healthy, avoiding beer, and making in roads to break barriers with distance racing. Leadman is ever closer and I think I have a lot of fuel in the tanks leading up to something of that nature, however there is no time to sit on my laurels.

The last parts are on order to finish up the Van Dessel by next week. I plan to use a shop bike to run Bear Creek this weekend. It is a Gary Fisher Hi Fi 29er Deluxe that we have in the demo fleet. Should be a sweet ride. I have had a lot of good vibes exploring full suspension 29ers. I still love and prefer the hardtail 29er for racing but you can't beat the smooth ride of a full suspension setup, especially when you're deep in technical terrain.

That's enough for now. Going to brave the elements to see Sweatshop Union tonight.

Riding on Rails of a Divine Wind

Just getting my day underway. I rode pretty hard yesterday in a manner that was reminiscent of spin class. Still love my Cannondale Six13. It just rails so fast as if it is on a Divine Wind.

But enough about road biking, I haven't drank a single beer since Saturday. I know it doesn't sound like much but it is a small victory considering that I knocked back quite a few while I was unemployed. The bike shop is helping me along with my life. Gave me an anchor to work from. Sometimes that's what you have to do.

The Vandy is almost done. All Sram XO, Stans wheelset, tubeless, carbon to the max. It is going to break the 25lb mark, however it is definitely not going to weigh much more. Maybe 26lbs. I can't wait to get it out on the trail. Seeing it come together has given me a great deal of personal satisfaction. Crazy to think it will travel with me from West Virginia to Hawaii this year with me. I love this bike so much. It is honestly like I finally got the exact bike I want. Rare, special, and built for me. The only question mark on my mind is the gearing. I think I can handle the super hard setup but no doubt the likes of the Breckenridge 100 could change that. All the other races on my schedule don't really bother me with this setup.

So in less than 2 weeks, I plan to call up a friend or two and go out to take Vandy on it's maiden voyage. I am thinking it should be an epic ride like a day at Buffalo Creek or something totally new. Either way, it's gotta be special.

A day of rest

Next four days I have to work so I decided to do an off day. Was planning to go snowboarding but my body is in a state of disarray. On one side, I have my old self returning in regards to being in shape. On the other hand, I am very sore from my 78 mile adventure. My lower back hurts a good bit and I think that is from the race oriented position of the Six13. I love that bike, however I am at a point where I either need to upgrade the parts or sell it and trade up. I like the Six Carbon frames Cannondale is producing right now. They seem like a further step up the ladder in exceptional performance thanks to the BB30 and full carbon option. The Six is not exactly a Liquigas Hi Mod bike but beautiful nevertheless. And of course color doesn't count but I love the black color scheme of the Six 5 version. (The man in black style) Decisions, decisions.
Alright, back to training and cleaning. I am going to go to the gym today and get some time in the pool. Last night I swam 6 laps and it felt really good. With Xterra ACE in less than 2 months or so, I need to get up to 35 laps a day. Plus, it is low impact until my body catches up.

Off to do some job search stuff as well as clean up my place. I want to move in June but it's going to take some work at this point. A lot of stuff is going to be sold off to simplify my life.

Cold is the Great Divide - My Denver Loop Adventure

What a great day. I woke up around 10:00 AM and was on my bike by noon on a short ride that transpired into an adventure on my Cannondale Six13. (I sure love that bike) Anyway, I started off from Westminster and soon hooked onto the Platte river trail after some traffic dodging and sprint warm ups. From there, I meandered through Lakewood and managed to stay on the path even though it would disappear from time to time thanks to a block or two misleading me from where the path stopped. I soon ended up in Golden an hour and fifteen minutes later for a much needed lunch break. From there, I climbed up to Red Rocks as an impending storm dropped snow on my shoulders. To make matters worse, I didn't have my CWX under armour on. (Muy frio) As I crested to I70, I was soon on a roller coaster ride all the way to Bear Creek Park. From there, I snaked all the way down C470 to Chatfield Reservoir. By now, it was 3:15 pm and I was quite worried that I would not be home by dark. Fortunately I put the pedal to the medal on my bike and covered 15 miles to Denver in no time at all. By the time I reached the Confluence Park by REI, I had an hour before sundown. I raced up the trail and was soon winding my way back to home. What was ironic is that I bonked 2 miles from home. True, my supplements were empty but it was odd that I was so kicked by then. So close to home.

My legs are kicked and I foresee some swimming and weight training tomorrow. Felt good to knock down 78 miles. Wish I could do that more often. Who knows, perhaps I will. :) Off to sleep.

Xterra ACE West Virginia - REGISTERED!

I guess I needed a little motivation to get my ass off the couch. Today I registered for the ACE Xterra in the New River Gorge of West Virginia. It has been way too long since I have passed through the New River Gorge area. Last time I was there, was before undergrad in fact.

Xterra ACE is the only offroad multisport event offered in the state of West Virginia. It has an intimidating 1.5 mile swim which even includes passing through a class 2 rapid. In addition, there is an 8 mile trail run with 1000 feet of elevation gain. Not for the faint of heart. To top it off, there is a 10 mile mountain bike race completely on singletrack. Rumor has it that ACE has some amazing singletrack in typical rooted, wet, and muddy east coast style. I am very excited to see some mud and slippery roots again. Riding the rockies has taught me a lot about traction in rocky and tight sections. However, nothing beats getting back to the kind of terrain I grew up riding. I am also excited about the opportunity to spend some time with the fam damily. My parents have never seen me race since I moved to Colorado. They will have two opportunities in 2010. Once in West Virginia and once in Hawaii. My mom and dad love riding bikes. Guess that's where I got it from. Having my mom handing off a water bottle would be a cool feeling.

So cheers to the second registered race on my schedule for 2010.

On the horse. Pronto!

So it is March 1st. Oh my god, I don't know how I am going to pull off racing in 2 months. Fortunately I am only 25 and can get up quick enough. I think.....

I just got hired by a bike shop here in Denver. It isn't the "career job" but it is a lot of fun. I finally have a close connection to the cycling world with great people from the shop that I got my start right here in Colorado.

So what is on the agenda? Honestly it is finishing the Van Dessel FS stat. I could have easily gone out and ran laps at Bear Creek Park today. It is dry and warm. Perfect!

A lot remains to be done but it isn't impossible either. I was halfway sold on the idea of just buying another Cannondale. Still, that doesn't exactly align with my strategy of sticking with Van Dessel for the next 5 seasons. I had to cut back the race schedule some but most of the races are still pretty intense. If I so desired the HT feel, I could just lock out the FS. So anyway....

So my plan? Buy the wheelset by this weekend and take my bike to work to finish the build as the parts roll in, pending it is okay to ride under this flag.

Getting back on the horse

Been a while since my last entry on this blog. In fact, a lot has transpired since the last entry. I left my job due to a complex breakdown of office politics. Left with a good recommendation from my CEO but ultimately I am back in the job search. Seems like the economy is turning around and my small coffee business is providing some added income as well. However, the inconsistency of the job hunt has seriously cut into my training schedule. Not that I don't go to the gym but I have not had the time to build a complex breakdown of my training routine and discipline involved with a diet. I gained some of my weight back from the holidays. Not good.

Also, the Van Dessel build went back to a holding status. I have the funds to complete the build but am holding onto it until I land a job. Just the way it is for now.

So what else has been on my mind? For now, it is regular contributions to some forums on mtbr and an occasional spin on the bikes in the gym. No real riding/training temporarily until further notice.

And of course, if you know of any job leads worth checking out, let me know!

Directions

Up in the air with some things in my life (Not going into detail) but I had a moment to post a picture of the Vandy. Since the last pic I have added a carbon seat with the signature titanium Van Dessel seat. Looks pretty sweet. Wheels should be on by next week. I want to get over that hurdle as soon as possible. I also found a sweet deal on carbon flat bars and plan to order three sets. One for each of my Van Dessel mtb bikes for the future. Once I get over the hurdle of the wheels, it will be time for the drive train and brakes. I am pretty excited about those additions because they are a lot more easy to obtain. $200 is a lot easier to spend that $500. I want to do Hayes Stroker Carbon brakes. In a perfect world, I could be riding Vandy by next month at this rate. So far it weighs in at 17 lbs. Maybe, just maybe I will have my 25lb FS. ;) Time will tell.

I am also putting the ex girlfriend's Cannondale Rush up for sale once Vandy is built. I plan to take the funds and build the HT Jersey Devil. Once again, wheels and front fork will be where the money will go. I know that I can build a 25lb HT. The Van Dessel is perfectly suited for a F29 fork and stans wheelset.

Training was shitty last week. I had a stressful workload and it cut into training. I plan to change that this coming week somewhat. Tune it back in case I can snowboard at Wolf Creek. Snowboarding has taken on a greatly enjoyable perspective this year. I can't say why but I have just had a really good time. Enough about that for now.

Cross training

Spent the last two days snowboarding. One day at Breck as a bonus and one at Winter Park. Breck was horribly crowded and commercialized beyond what it was like when I ski'd there my last season. They might as well have put billboards on the mountain to make some extra cash. It was good though to do some teaching which is why I was there in the first place. Winter Park was another animal altogether. I rode some extreme terrain and pumped through some jumps to boot. Even mixed it up with some intense mogul riding. No crowds, a few colds beers, and good company.

My legs feel so strong this year. I have stomped some short landings and walked away solid. In fact, outside of the expert pass terrain park, I hit every jump today at Winter Park. Pretty good feeling. I am so ready to get on my mountain bike. In fact, seeing it sitting on my couch without wheels is a major point of spite for me right now. Or bitterness.

Tomorrow it is back to the gym. I have spin class and hope to hit up my core routine as well. If I can do core Tuesday and Thursday, then mix it in with arms on Wednesday, I should be solid. Swimming will be Wednesday and Friday. If any steam is left in the tanks, I will cram in 7 miles of running during the week. I plan to do spin class on Saturday as well.

So that's all for now. Pretty lame entry but sometimes it is the lonely passage that one must travel in order to achieve a goal.

To note: I pretty much aced my workout routine this past week. And for the first time in 5 years, my body lines are returning. Eat your heart out Brad Pitt!

Rest

Long week. I was pretty burned out by yesterday. Seems like all I do is drive, work, and workout right now. I can't wait to move down to Littleton. I am going to gain a lot more sleep in my routine as well as have an added opportunity to commute by bike to work. Can't wait until April.

I worked out a lot this week. Swam 3 days, ran 7 miles, lifted weights, did core training, and 4 sessions of spin class. Very busy indeed. I am not going to make the first Leadville snow race. I blame this on my lack of planning with the Van Dessel. It is truly a lot of work to build a bike or for that matter the one that you want. I digress. Aluminum/alloy frame with carbon components. Isn't that supposed to be easy?

So for now, it's work, work, work! Time to train, swim, and get it done!

This for that

Just decided that I am going to Jazzfest in New Orleans. Conflicts with my North Carolina trip to race the Uwharrie Xterra and visit Jordan. I cant fit anything really into the slot for the prior weekend, except maybe a road race in Boulder. I am not ruling out at least one road race for 2010. Good cross training and I already have a sweet road bike. I am still at odds with the idea of crossing an Xterra off my calendar however. This has led me to consider racing the Xterra Marathon of Trail Races.

I think racing the Xterra marathon would be a novel idea to begin ramping up to Leadman in 2011. I am however worried that it would hurt my chances of doing well in the Xterra World Championship in Hawaii. I don't want to be run down for that race. Stress fractures aren't cool going into a triathlon. I just can't really peg how long it took to recover from Colfax. I know it was a couple weeks but how long exactly, not sure. Must think this one over.

Did spin class today and had a good time. I like the instructor since she mixes it up. I also enjoy these sprint classes. I never really understood how to approach a sprint class. In reality, I think it is an element I have been missing for a while. If I want to beat Tommy O at Winter Park this year, I need to have lightning bolt starts and consistentcy across the board. What can I say? I can't wait!

In the AM. Spin class, arms, 3 mile run. Busy, busy, busy.

Swimming

Went swimming today on my lunch break. Was blown away by some guys who were on a swim team that were running laps. I take it they were from some local high school in the area. Wish I could swim like that. I mean they were across the pool and back with 2-3 gulps of air. Simply amazing. I have done some rough calculations for the pool at 24 Hour Fitness.

It is 25 yards long. Out and back it is 50 yards total. This is translated into 45 meters. There are 1,609 meters in the swim at the Xterra World Championship, or in simple terms, 1 mile. 1,609/45 = 36 laps in the pool. That's what I need to be pulling to survive the championship. Right now, I am pulling a lame 10 laps and they are inconsistent to boot. Tomorrow I am going to go swimming again. The goal 16 laps. Halfway there.

On the agenda also is spin class, pushups, situps, and 3 miles on the treadmill. Need to get on that. My goal for base miles this week is 7. Nothing too bad but I gotta fit it in.

Really looking forward to taking the Van Dessel into Treads this week. They are going to spec it out with some nice SRAM components to get me started. I really want to get this bike ready for the Leadville race in 2 weeks. I know that is quite ambitious so time will only tell. I think it is safe to say that it is time to buck up the money and finish the job. Kris has gone too long without his singletrack fix. :)

Busy day in the AM. Goodnight.

Wheels to pavement.

First weekend back with the Treads crew. Glad to finally be rolling along with things. I kept mid pack today. Not great but not horribly bad. I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, planning to hit the gym next to get some swim time. I am learning my technique more and more with swimming. When I hit that first Xterra of the season, I don't think I will be the fool again.

Dropping off the FS this week. In a perfect world, I will be running this bike for the first Leadville snow race. Cant wait!

I am off to work on the Free Wheel webpage.

It's Going to Be a Busy Year

Just spent the past afternoon searching for some parts for the Van Dessel. Nice to be so close to finishing the build as well as just have a down day. I just wish I knew what type of brakes to go with. Decisions, decisions.

Looking at my itinerary for 2010, it is going to be extremely busy. And you know what? It's going to be like that for a while. Almost the entire schedule works pretty good. I may encounter a problem with the Spearfish South Dakota Xterra. AGAIN! (Insert irony) If I can make it through with only one scheduling conflict, I can survive that. As it stands, there will be a ramp up of ultra endurance/xterra events followed by my return to Winter Park. Then, it will be two races, some down time to recover for Hawaii, and boom I am done.

Two races which I think are important but questionable. The Rocky Mountain Half Marathon and the Breckenridge 100. I want the B100 pretty bad and think I can do it with the Jersey Devil FS pretty effectively, however it will do a lot of damage to my internal fuel tanks. That kind of race eats up my energy reserves and screws with the metabolism for a few weeks. When I finished Leadville, I was pretty messed up. I have heard the Breckenridge 100 is harder than Leadville. With more racing on the itinerary and the Xterra world championship in November, I have a lot to ponder on whether it would be wise to fit it in. It's an important training piece for the Leadman series in 2011 so time will tell. I hope to run the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon also, pending that it is offered and I can fit it. Colfax was hard last year but putting a half marathon into the mix would be a good idea for the summer.

As for my bike situation, the Jersey Devil is in the next to last stage of completion. Once the wheels are on it, I will most likely hand it over to Treads to finish the build of the drivetrain and brakes. In a perfect world, I could potentially have it ready to roll for the first Leadville race on the 24th. I don't foresee building the HT for a while because I know I can't build it up in time for Battle of the Bear, however there will be quite a stretch before I need it due to riding the FS during the Winter Park race series. My resolution.... Build it over the summer when time permits.

Concluding thoughts. Hard to believe it's 2010, ski season is halfway over, and my first bike race is coming up quickly. I am in better shape than last year. I attribute that to good music, good friends, and decent nights of rest. It's the start of a good life. Lots of work to be done.