the quest for the red plate FINAL POST page 2

[stego]

got sick at 2am on Easter Sunday and spent most of the day passed out; trying to rest and let my body get over what it was. My tummy was doing flip flops; it was angry and when I get sick I get sick. I got the aches and chills and fever and it was finally pretty much over late evening. Took the day off from work to spend with the teen yesterday since school was out anyway. Got caught up on chores and actually felt well enough to spin on the bike. Beautiful, slightly windy day here in the central TX area. Got on the scale last Thursday and again the weight has dropped to the lowest, and I am THIS close to that 100 total weight loss. I don't know how I will recover from being sick so I will listen to my body. Yoga went well and I will just keep going for the month and pay attention to develop a routine that will focus specifically on the areas I am concerned about. I did spend a significant amount of time this weekend on working on the yard and just in time for some spring showers that came through. It looks like there is a good chance thunderstorms will happen this weekend so I will have to be prepared.

 

[stego]

I really felt more like "hair of the dog". It wasn't much fun, and I had to pay attention and recover. Come Thursday I burned 2 laps, and I was wiped. Went out to the venue Saturday afternoon and they changed the afternoon event to a time trial and moved it back an hour. So I went out to pre-ride and came back in 45 minutes later. At the starter tent went out and quickly got up to speed. About 1/2 way through got caught by 2 but lost 1 on the climbs. Came into the finish in good place. The trails were nice even after all the rain from the past 2 days. Packed up the bike and went to rest. Next morning brought practically perfect weather. We had a front move in with some gusty wind. They called up 5 of top 10. I eyeballed them and figured it was mine to lose. Whistle blew and struggled to clip in, but kept on it and into the hills with the front pack. One guy came back very quickly and that was 5th. Kept them in sight for a little while but it strung out pretty quickly. Hit it hard and on the hills, recovered on the downhills, hammered in the big ring on the long stretches. Came through on the feed into the upper loop and my wife called out 3rd but that wasn't right. Went into the hills and I could see him and patiently kept pulling. Went by and he kept with me until a dismount section and I ran up and lost him there. Hit hospital hill and 1 section and went down: HARD: penalty for failure. Lost my gel bottle, plate was hanging by a thread (literally-I need it to finish) banged my shin and hip but had to scamper back on and keep on it. I saw 5th very close and had to rail to keep him off. Came upon some stragglers and passed quickly. Hit the final descending and powered through the finish to 4th. I claimed my 1st top 5 decisively. This course is won in the hills and I put it down. I guess my 80-90% was enough. They did awards based on the XC event and time trial and I got on the podium. It was very sweet.
I'm doing big ring in 2 weeks (so the roadies can come up and do drag races) and then put in my final bid at X-bar on May 17. I am going to recover this week and keep at my yoga. My wife was talking with a lady at the team tent and she is a coach. I am at the point where this is the next step...

 

[deekaypee]

I just wanted to pop in and let you know I've been following your posts with interest, and learning a lot about your sport.

Congrats on your top 5 finish!

I look forward to reading your next entry and to find out what happens when you get a coach...

 

[stego]

We're getting some rain here in the central TX area, but still in a serious drought. It seemed appropriate to be a responsible homeowner and tend to our landscaping during a non-race weekend. Just in time for some good, soaking showers as I got some fertilizer down. I've recovered pretty much from being sick on Easter and think I'm running 100% again. This next race is roadie friendly and there is no way I can "recalibrate" my engine in 2 weeks. But I have been pushing myself hard and hitting my intervals. I've been consistent with yoga and that has helped and it is almost time to build a "routine": 1 more week of classes left. I went to downtown Austin to run Saturday morning and ran well but not "fast enough"...seems I am focused on the MTB and I have to accept that. I'll have plenty of time to run after the spring season. I will back off a little after May 17 and we have our family vacation early June. At this point I see going to the coach beginning in July to prepare for the Fall series.
It is all well and good to race, but it is just a bike race, after all. My wife and I have pretty much just begun the teen years, and it seems that we are learning as we go along. Our son is gaining more and more independence, and it seems he's not interested at all in being competitive and making fitness a daily part of his life. He's not said anything to me as far as "practicing" and I've had to back off completely. I forsee after the spring series he'll no longer be on the team as he will be in athletics in high school. He's not prepared for that in any way and I think the right thing to do for me as a parent is let him figure that out on his own. I've built his engine by daily riding but his body has adapted to that and he no longer pushes himself. He's more interested in video games, TV and eating...it set me off on Sunday morning because he was watching TV and his old man was outside working on the yard. After 2 hours I'd worked myself up in a good lather and decided smartly to "shut my trap" and go do intervals on the bike. That wore me out good and I had no energy to "rant" at our son. There are other journeys other than fitness and eating and it seems this one is pretty challenging...

 

[stego]

this venue is just north of Houston. I've raced here several times, and it is usually par for course to see 1/2 the field of faces I will only see one time. The roadies like to come up and run drag races through the forest. Not today. Come Sunday morning, the area had brief hard thunderstorms and that changed the course entirely. Driving in saw a section of the trail with a huge puddle. MTB racing in the mud separates the men from the boys. Got the bike on the trainer and had a good spin for 10 minutes but that was it and the rain came down: again. Got back in the car and got ready...got on the bike and rode to team tent. Had the call-up and the rain tapered off. Fortunately, the trails drained super well but there were quite a few corners that were muddy and loose. The race starter announced the bridges would be slick. I was disappointed in my field call up as it was 12. I am used to fields of 40-50. Went for the hole shot at the start and was 2nd but lost the leader. I could hear the bickering and it wore on me so in the 2nd lap I ran the engine and dropped them. We had 3 laps and I maintained well. In our final lap the skies opened up and I smartly decided to dial back on the engine and maintain...and pulled off 4th place. The 3rd place guy was surprised but he caught me off guard and I couldn't respond at that time. I was hoping to catch him in the 3rd lap but the rain nixed that. I was totally unprepared to pull a top 5 at this venue but this pretty much cements my upgrade. I took the time to talk to some of the racers and the final event is mine to lose. In perspective, I was rather wary of the rain, but my experience paid in spades. It is just about time to shut down this thread and I am going stay focused for the final race...for which I will report on. I have reached the point where the next step is a coach and I will start that in July to prepare for the fall series. Category 1 is very competitive and self-coaching will only get me so far.

 

[stego]

we've finally gotten some heat here in the central TX area...low 90's consistently for awhile. Took my son out for a group ride yesterday afternoon while I did some hot laps and he said they all dropped out except one guy. I found myself a bit sluggish going out but once warmed up just kept a good steady pace. Thursday I went and practiced on a technical course and did better...but went down a couple of times. It's not about going fast...it's about paying attention and working on ability. If I can't clear it, I hop off and go, go and go! It's not a race who clears the hard stuff...it's a race from point A to B. I can tell my body has just about had enough and it is almost time for a break. I've written here about getting to the 100 lb. mark and it seems my body is just not quite ready...it's close but it will do it when it is time...and not when I say. I've seen more cyclists out on the road and this week is national bike week, finishing with bike to work day on Friday, May 15. I've commuted by bike on Friday's for the past 3 years...and I actually look forward to de-stressing from driving in the cage. My final report for the spring season will be up next monday...and if Stego gets moved up to the "red plate".

 

[jmasgat]

Stego Good luck on your race. I am just learning of the pleasures of riding (road bike). It's one of the things my DH and I can do together, otherwise he's out of my league for other sports. When he wants an "easy" ride, he can ride with me!

Maura

 

[stego]

I really appreciate those who have taken the time to comment and to those who have just read. As my weight loss thread in 2004-2005, this blog has been a great outlet and a way to share with my Disney friends. Thank you.
Went out to the venue Saturday afternoon. We got some great thunderstorms in the central TX area; many HAPPY homeowners and lots of green lawns. But would it be different 3 1/2 hours away? Nope, pre-rode the trail about 5pm and found huge mud puddles. X-bar is what I call the most technical course on the circuit and for those of you not in the know, mud DOES NOT mix with rock. Rock always wins. But, since I have been racing since 2005, I have some experience now. I did indeed, have to draw on my strengths. They cut the course at a fence line as they described truly horrid conditions. This shortened the lap to about 6 miles. Sunday AM came out nice and cool but sunny: perfect conditions. We found out early that they changed our start time; and we would be doing 3 laps. Only 6 guys lined up so top ten for sure! One guy took off fast like he always does; but I kept up with him pretty good. Another guy came out of nowhere that I don't know and he was gone. I lost the bickering guys very shortly in the tight technical stuff. I smartly decided to unclip and run sections. Coming through lap 2 I had settled in and had warmed up and hit the rocks well. I did go down one time and I was done with that. Came through for lap 3 and my wife said he was about a minute ahead. My rear wheel had come loose and I had to stop to take care of that; but I got back on it and put it down. I cleaned the last hill and sprinted through and I was done: 3rd.
After putting up my bike and cleaning up, I presented my MTB resume and category upgrade request to Category 1: A mountain bike category where racing skills, strengths and stamina have reached an exceptional level; racing is very competitive. My request was granted and as of yesterday, I am competing at the Category 1 level.
In November I made the decision to do the work to get a different result. After becoming a WW lifetime member in July 2005, my life could no longer be about losing weight. It was time for me to get on with my life. For me, the brick walls were to see if I wanted this bad enough. I went and talked to the lady I met and asked her to be my coach. We are going to get together late June and I will start training in July for the fall series. That will be a good time to cut my teeth as the big dogs come out for the spring.
I'm coming off the MTB now for at least 6 weeks and catch up on some things. I am going to do a sprint tri for fun in June. My family and I are going to San Francisco and then drive up the west coast to Seattle for vacation, so that will be good. If I have inspired you, great. If anything, I might have even entertained a few of you. There is MTB riding, there is MTB racing, and then there is Category 1. I now join the ranks of a very few and I am proud to do so...because I have earned it.
It's now time to pedal off with the sun bright on my face...

 

[deekaypee]

Congratulations, Stego! You rock!

I really appreciate how you set a goal and pursued it with dedication and passion. Thanks for taking me along for the ride. And a big whoo hoo for reaching your goal and achieving Category 1 competitive status!

Oh, and I think you're a fine example of how those of us working on weight-loss can--and do--embrace other fitness goals. Our healthier lifestyle, athletic journeys are measured solely by a number on the scale.

 

[ironz]

From WW to Cat 1 Cycling....that is awesome!!

I haven't posted many replies to you, but I do read (would appreciate some paragraph breaks, though, and I mean that nicely--your posts are just harder to read if long ) and have been keeping up with you.

Sorry I won't see you at the tri in June...I'll be at CapTex next Monday if you come downtown. Working much of the summer.

I do hope you'll post more when the fall season gets going, so we can hear about it!!