A PR at Luton?

 This weekend I had intentions of riding the Dragon trail at Hardy Dam. Everything went according to plan....and then Mother Nature changed them. But, let me go back to Saturday first!

I was invited to a party in Cedar Springs on Saturday afternoon. I decided to head up a bit early and to get some riding in before I headed over. I started north and was trying to decide where to ride. Yankee....Luton...Merrill...Cannonsburg...these were my choices. 

My next race is actually Lord of the Springs and is a mix of gravel and Yankee single track. I will need to get some rides in out there to get my head around that damn trail again....but this wasn't going to be the day. I passed the exit to Hastings and proceeded north to 10 mile road. I pondered which direction Merrill was running and just ended up heading to Luton. 

When I got there the lot had a few cars around. It was pretty humid and I was already feeling it in my breathing, so I took a hit off the inhaler. I geared up and headed down the trail. If you have never ridden at Luton then you might not know that the first part is like a freaking highway. It is pretty quick with a few roots. But it is WIDE. It is funny how much traffic this trail sees and you can tell. Hard pack highway for the first half mile. 

Then it breaks out into a gravel connector to Yellow. The fun beings. Some rooty drops and some interesting turns and you dump back onto the center blue loop. I crested a hill and saw a dude running. He was wearing sweat pants and a sweat shirt. Not a small dude either. Big and strong. Nuts for running in that heat dressed like that...but I am sure he had his reasons. I crested the hill before the orange loop and could see the memorial for Neil Scharphorn Sr. on the bench. Such an awesome gesture for a cool guy.

I continuted onto orange and it was going by pretty quick. I was feeling comfortable and riding my pace was decent. I pressed on and made the turn onto the black loop. This section just has cool flow to it. Then you fly into the signature pine section and it is by far my favorite part. This is where the trail actually crosses. I was watching and there was a guy coming down the hill...so I started to slow. He saw me and panicked...almost losing it before stopping and letting me pass. I was sure to keep an eye on the trail when I reached the intersection...and it was fine. 

Next up is red loop. You get welcomed with a climb right out of the gate. Gotta pay the price for the fun ahead I suppose. I made the climb and settled back into my pace for all the whoops and fun sections. I was actually standing and pedaling up the hills and feeling some power for a change. I bombed thru the red and eventually spit back out onto blue for taking the last section of green. This section isn't usually very much fun for me because I am wiped out by then. But this ride I held some pace and then crushed the last little climb before the trail widens back out indicating the last section of trail.

I finished and rode back to the car. Refilled water bottle and headed out again. Second lap was pretty uneventful. Just a comfortable lap again. Overall, pretty amazing day to be on the bike and the trail was in great shape. Such a fun trail and I was happy I did two laps. I finished up and headed to the party for some food and relaxation.

Upon checking my Strava I was shocked to see that I set a PR on the Luton All loops. I knew I felt pretty good, but at my current mass I just don't picture setting a PR on a trail that I have ridden a lot. But, I will gladly take it. I was feeling good and I rode a solid pace. I am noticing that my average heart rate is climbing the healthier I get. I am able to push it higher and keep it higher longer...so my cardio is doing good!

I was going to ride the Dragon today...but huge thunderstorms with massive rainfall kept me up all night. And then I saw a post on their page asking people to stay off the trail. Not too surprised, however disappointed I didn't get to ride there. I will get there soon enough. 

Trails at Andrews University

 Seemingly in the middle of nowhere is a small school by the name of Andrews University. Just off US31 in Berrien Springs is what I will refer to as my nemesis. I used to look at Yankee Springs this way, but since I have started working closer to the border this little gem has become my main course.

That being said....I have only ridden there twice since I started my new job. The last time I rode here was about 5 years ago and my buddy Kevin took a hard digger...breaking his collar bone and nine ribs. I did head there a few weeks ago...and it was actually worse than I remember....and that is what prompted this post.

I went there last night and skipped the group ride. The main reason I skipped the group is because I know I am super slow out there. I left work and made the short trip over. There was only 2 cars in the parking lot. I geared up and headed out.

Within the first 50 yards you know this trail is different. It twists uphill a bit with a bundle of roots. Then there is a short right hander with a very big root and a drop. I feel like you get thrown right to the wolves. And the warm up is pretty much zero. My heart rate was already sky high...and I was less than half a mile in. 

This trail...in a nutshell....is a power climber course. You have to be a climber. But you have to be a good technical climber with lots of power too. These are not hard climbs...not steep....not crazy long. But they offer a combination of tough climbs made tougher by the relentless amount of roots. There are multiple lines to choose from but none are super easy. They all offer their own interesting options.

On this ride, I had to get off and walk. I had already planned on it. But instead of feeling defeated by my lack of climbing prowess....I took the time to investigate the lines. Trying to make notes for my next rides. My ride was not a victory lap. It was a learning curve. I know after riding here that this trail will only make me a stronger rider. It is not a beginner trail at all. It throws hard punches. Then a few jabs...then some more punches. But it is always right in your face.....showing you who the boss is. 

I will be back. I will be a little faster. I will make a few more climbs. I will learn the trail. I will be a stronger rider...  

Learning curve

 I have been working with a coach or a few weeks now. For right now I am focusing on my nutrition. I want to write this post for a few reasons. Mainly, to share my head space with you guys to give you an idea of what its like to be me. Some of you already know, some more than others....some probably more than they should. ha. 

I probably overshare....in some aspects. In others, I harbor what I am thinking because it is probably best for humanity if I just keep those thought to myself. But sometimes, if you see me smile for no reason you can ensure one of two things. I turned what you said into something dirty, or I wasn't listening and I was thinking about something else. lol.

But mentally, I tend to be even keeled since my divorce. I still get down. I still get stressed. I don't tend to get as hyped as I used to, but I truly feel that Covid has worn me down in the last 18 months. Even Friday night I was sitting here thinking how lame I was because I was home doing nothing when I have every ability to be doing something constructive. But, that is really how I operate. If I can get a night alone doing absolutely nothing I treat it as a reset. I will either take stock of things in my life or maybe plan ahead for a weekend getaway with m daughters....or just get lost into some stupid game on my phone. I can unplug completely. And those are the days that help the most. 

Now I find myself navigating to some of the 50ish odd books I own. And my coach has suggested a few for the mental side of things. I understand that in that arena I am indeed my own worst enemy. I can tear myself down more than any person ever could. I can build myself up and take control of my mind. That is the best thing about our brains and our minds. We have the ability to train them to do amazing things. Pushing our own limits. However, we can also develop habits, positive or negative, as well. And that is where I want to discuss some thing regarding my nutrition.

My coach, first off, has been awesome. We talk on the phone one time a week and we email throughout the week. She wants to know the truth....and doesn't want me to be ashamed on what I am eating. She wants to know the truth so that she can help guide me to better options. And the best part, she is human too. As an athlete she relates to what people deal with on a daily basis. But, my nutrition right now isn't necessarily focusing on athletic prowess. lol. I am 285 pounds my friends. Every time I achieve something I am kicking some ass....and if you don't believe that....frankly....go fuck yourself. I realize that might be a harsh response....but that is directed at some people that have doubted my accomplishments in the past. And....apparently I am in a mood. 

Back to nutrition. My coach guides me...not forces. The phrase I hear a lot is "baby steps". This is perfect for me because I have always lived by the all or nothing when it comes to diets and that is generally why I fail. I fail because i call it a 'diet'. This really isn't a diet. It is my future. Something my coach tells me is to think about the 'future Sean'. Like...if I eat this bowl of ice cream how is it going to be helpful for my future self. Clearly, ice cream is a good example of instant gratification. So now, when do eat junk...the thought at least crosses my mind before I eat it. lol. Baby steps right. 

Honestly, the baby step approach means I will be successful at times and fall short at other times. And you know what.....that is ok. I have survived for 45 years on this rock with that exact roller coaster of life. Good times, bad times....life. Food has always been an issue for me. When I got married I was 180 pounds. I was 21. When my oldest daughter was born, I weighed a strong 185. However, I broke my foot right before she was born and was shocked at how fast I gained nearly 30 pounds. It was because I didn't look at food as fuel, but instead as comfort. Tired....eat. Stressed....eat. Happy....eat. Party...what kind of food we having. Lets eat.....and I figured that out many years ago. I have tried to focus on the actual event....instead of focusing what food would be there or what we would eat after a race. Mind shift.

I am rambling, sorry. What I wanted to talk about is looking at food as fuel. Remembering that if I eat like garbage now...I will suffer on rides or whatever later. My coach doesn't blow me up when I eat terrible. But knowing I am reporting to her helps me slow down and consider the ramifications. I am learning to eat better foods that will make me full. Basic foods. Not salads or weird stuff. Normal food. Just better for me....for everyone really. lol. My girls have to eat what I cook. So it makes it easier that it isn't weird shit that they wouldn't touch. So I have learned some healthier options for breakfast. Better snacks to eat that will keep my appetite curbed. Alternative foods to the cookies and other junk that I eat mindlessly. Mindful. Simply being aware of what I am stuffing in my pie hole so that my future self doesn't pay the price. I remember hearing "a moment on the lips...a lifetime on the hips" while I was growing up. lol. Whatever works for you to remember....hey....probably shouldn't be eating this. 

Honestly.....I coudln't tell you if I made a point in this post or not. Other than to say I am enjoying working with a coach. Taking the right steps the right way to ensure my weight loss is sustainable. Make sure I am healthy. Ensure I have an awesome future. Learning as much about myself as I am about nutrition, health, and the power of the mind.

Just keep moving forward. I will be out there....chugging away at my current speed. Maybe I will never be super fast. Maybe I will never be back to 185 pounds. But I will be healthy, which in turn will make me happy. Frankly, I am grateful for what I can accomplish....especially at my current gravity. I will post more about all of this in the future I am sure. Clearly I felt like getting stuff out of my head tonight. Maybe to make room for the week. 

I will leave you with this: Do something everyday that will help your future self. 

Holland 100 recap

 This event was my first ever century many years ago. It was also the event that I was on in 2018 when I had the realization that my marriage was over. So, there has been some significant happenings here. This year was fairly uneventful. Thankfully.

I was up early and my phone was dinging left and right with people asking about the weather. It was raining south of me, but was dry here in town. I ate my breakfast and rolled up to Zeeland. I rolled in around 6:30 and there was not many people there yet. Found a place to park and headed to registration. I picked up my bracelet and headed back to gear up. The bracelet was to identify those registered, for the food at the aid stations.

Everyone else rolled in shortly thereafter and we were approaching 7am. Poor JW had a tire blow and couldn't get her CO2 cartridges to work. I found her and we got her back in business. We met up with Jay and a few others then headed out. There was a group of 8 of us.

Within a mile or two I was riding with Jay and a few others but the rest of my team was gone. They were doing a casual warmup. lol. I was taking advantage of the draft at 20 miles an hour. The first part is pretty flat, so we cooked it to the first aid station. The rest of my friends caught us and we headed out again.

This is where the rollers start. I was holding on for the most part, and the group was working together doing pulls rotating back in. Was a good time. But then.....a big hill. The group was gone. lol. Again, I watched them all ride away and become ants in the distance. No reason for me to kill myself, I have 75 miles to go. They waited at the intersections for me, which was nice. I was actually not showing that apprecation in the moment because I felt bad they were waiting for me. 

But, we regrouped and went off again. Then a hill and I would be alone. The entire course is littered with riders. Fast people, slow people, young people and old people. We finally arrived at the pancake breakfast around 56 miles in. Because I am working with a coach I avoided the pancakes. It was find. I wasn't feeling the best....but it was from the saddle pressure. Like....rIiding on a credit card feeling. You know, I won't elaborate. lol. I sat and stretched for a few while everyone ate. Then I headed out knowing they would all catch me eventually.

Shockingly, i held off the group for 8 or 9 miles before they finally reeled me in. It was Jay and a few others that zipped by with words of encouragement. I just plodded along, but I was hurting. Then I heard JK. Her and D were with another dude and were flying. J was like...Sean...JUMP ON....and I did....for as long as I could. We were crusing at 20-21 and I was thankful for the draft. But eventually, the pressure on my saddle was too much and I had to back off. 

I rolled into the Fenn Valley aid station blown up. Physically I felt fine...but I knew I couldn't sit on that seat any more. So I texted my daughter while watching everyone refuel and get ready to go for the last 25. My daughter answered that she could save me....and my day was over. I gave everyone fist bumps or hugs and they were on their way. I waited for a bit and my daughter got there. I threw the bike in the back and she took me back to my car. Second, if I had to get back on that bike I literally felt like I might do damage to my body. I figured it "taint" worth it.....if you follow.

I got back and after a while everyone else rolled in. It was a very good and demanding day on the bike for me...and for everyone else. I gave big kudos to everyone for finishing that event. While there isn't relatively a ton of climbing for 100 miles, it just isn't an easy feat to ride that far. I got home...showered....and crashed. 

 If you ever want to do a century and have never done one before I highly recommend the Holland 100 for a few reasons. First, the aid stations are not super spread out. You get a ton of support and the food options were excellent. Second, it is fairly flat all things considered. Lastly, most of the riders are super friendly. There is always funny conversation, encouragement, and laughter.

Next up....could be Ore 2 Shore. Hard to say right now if this will happen or not. I have some planning to do. But I also might add another century this year....because I have to get that hundo under my belt in 2021. Keep on riding. 

A note on "Form"

 My mileage has dipped in June. A few factors...ok excuses...are to blame. But that isn't what this post is about. This post is about something I noticed on my trainer ride the other night when it was down pouring.

FORM

First off, I am not an expert in anything. I have a lot of knowledge in many different aspects and a certain skill level in many different categories. So before you take what I am saying as knowledge, just understand that it is more of an observation on my part.

On my ride last week I noticed that my shoulders were rocking more than normal. I don't mean when climbing a hill or sprinting. I am talking about normal riding on a flat road. Not even riding hard, just a normal pace. 

I do understand some riders have more upper body motion than others. I think of Allesandra Keller as one that uses her whole upper body while climbing. Kate Courtney is another. When they are riding hard they are using their full upper body. I am no different. When I am riding hard or climbing I do the same thing. Very natural.

However, I normally have what I call a quiet upper body when riding. I noticed this many years ago. I was on the trainer and had a buddy riding his trainer next to me. I was static...he was swaying front to back like he was in a rocking chair. lol. It just seemed like he was using a lot more energy to spin than I was. 

Anyway, a month ago I had a lot less upper body movement than I did on this recent ride. What does it mean? well, to me it means I have lost some fitness. It make sense because of my dip in mileage. So it was something that I noticed. Doesn't really mean anything. Just felt like sharing. 

The Major Announcement

 

Guess what....Coast 2 Coast is in just a few short weeks. Less than 3 to be exact. 210 miles of gravel across this great state I live in. 

Unfortunately I will not be participating in 2021. The decision has been made. The reservations cancelled. The entry fee donated. Done deal.

It wasn't an overnight decision either friends. This has been on my mind for a long time and after suffering thru the Dirty Donut this past Sunday I knew it was time to just pull the trigger and throw in the towel. If it was just normal suffering on the bike I would have stayed in. But I had some major foot pain and some deep back pain that solidified my decision. Having to get off the bike and walk because your feet hurt during a 60 mile ride is one thing...but continuing that for 4x the distance....just a bad idea.

I have had some pretty major life stuff going on in the past few months as well. Things that have taken me off the bike and have attacked me mentally creating a lot of doubt and fatigue that has no other explanation other than being from the emotional side. Emotional fatigue that has created physical fatigue. That combo drove the final call.

So....now you know. I will not be there this year, but I very well could be there next year. Lighter. Stronger. More stable. That is yet to be determined. But this is the right call for me this year. 

I still have a handful of races on the schedule and will not be adding anymore. They are all 60ish miles each and I have a century or 2 scheduled as well. Riding will not stop by any means. Focus on the other hand....will continue to be on making progress and being a dad to my kids.

Keep those tires rolling. 

Dirty Donut Race recap

The closest race ever for me! The Dirty Donut is a whole 10 miles from my house. So the early morning consisted of breakfast and a short drive to Martin, MI. I arrived, picked up my packet, and headed to where the team was set up by the awards.

I was carrying my cooler and a guy goes "you carrying that the whole way today"....lol. It wasn't a bad idea. It was about 8am and was already mid 70s. I started my slow warmup around the parking lot. I did a quick loop around a neighborhood and headed to the start line.

I lined up in the 13-15mph group. I was more towards the front so I could join the fast group. This event is known for its minus donut time. Every donut you eat you get 5 minutes off of your time. But, I was signed up for the "sprint" division which means we didn't eat any. Thank GOD. more on that later.

The last few announcements and it was time to go!

Photo courtesy of Lisa P.

I joined into the back of the lead group and tried to settle in. In the pic above I was towards the back. However, I was holding on and we were cruising at 20 plus. We rolled thru Martin and closed in on US131. I was starting to fall back a bit, but still managed to close in when we turned toward the drag strip. Still pavement I was tucked in with a few guys as the main pack started to disperse.

We hit the gravel and made the turn West. I lost contact and tried to settle into my pace. At this point, my average speed was high and I was comfortable going at the clip I had. A few people passed and I just plodded along...at a decent speed.

At 1 hour I was over 16 miles in. My goal was to average 15. I was well over that and was still feeling pretty good. I passed the first donut station and heard a few people cheer. I was settled in and wasn't minding the terrain. Pretty flat honestly. I started closing in on Hopkins and the 2nd donut station. This is where my day really changed. I rolled thru Hopkins and this was where the 61 and 41 mile races split. I pushed onward and made a left hander back onto gravel. Dead. Legs felt like they were dead. The gravel turned a bit softer and I started to sink in. Some of the people that stopped for donuts went blowing past me and out of site. I pushed as hard as I could, but this is where my suffering began.

30 miles in I had to get off the bike and walk up a hill. I was actually thankful because my feet hurt. The balls of my feet were on fire and felt like they were being hammered on. So the walk was welcome. Reached the top and rolled on again. My average speed was sinking quickly. At 1 hour is was 16 plus....at 2 hours it was 15.....and at 3 it was quickly approaching 14. 

Mentally I was done. I stopped at the last donut stop and got some more water. It was making me feel ill watching people eat more donuts. lol. No thanks. Not in that heat. I slowly got back on and made the final push toward Martin. I was getting there....but my average speed was under 14 now. My goal time slipped by. I had no choice but to keep moving. Then I saw a rider coming on a road from my right. It was a rider from the short course.....and I thought I was suffering. They started 2 hours after me....and rode 1/3 of the miles.....yet I caught them. Whew.

Photo Courtesy of Lisa P.

I finally crossed 131 and started South on the last stretch. Then I saw the gas station at the Martin exit. Knowing I was almost done gave me a bit of a spark. That, and the finish was on pavement. Lisa got a pic of me on that final stretch. I heard some team members cheering and I made my last turn back onto the high school property. I saw a guy just tooling along and that gave me some incentive to destroy him. Sure....he had no idea I was coming....but I beat him. lol. 

I finished....over 30 minutes behind my goal time. 61 miles of torture. Some was mental. Some was physical. Some was heat. Some was wind. My team did super awesome and brought home hardware in the overall 41 miler, overall 22 miler, and some other categories. I took up Dead fucking last. I wanted to average 15 and was around 13.7 overall. They did give us all finishers medals....so I got my millenial participation trophy for a job....well done? I suppose.

It was hard day on the bike for me, but my only option was to finish. Lots of water and some snacks was the end of the day in Martin. A short trip home, shower, and a nap that didn't help. lol.

Next up is Cow Pie classic.....and hopefully not another 60 miles of suffering. Gotta figure something out because I am tired of feeling like dirt on these rides. See you all soon!

 

Hanson Hills 50.....that wasn't....

 While I figured this event would be a stretch....I don't think I was prepared for the outcome. Here is how the weekend went....

I will start with Thursday evening. I didn't get to bed until after midnight due to a family issue. All is ok now, but when duty calls...you gotta answer. So Friday I was already tired. I left work early and got home to load up the rest of the gear. We headed out of Allegan around 4pm. With an ETA of 7ish for Grayling. That number changed dramatically due to accidents in GR and the shockingly perverse amount of traffic on US-131. It was basically wall to wall traffic from Grand Rapids all the way to Cadillac where we finally made the turn onto 55. Relatively unscathed we arrived in Grayling and started setting up around 8:30. I was worn out....and ready for bed. We were going to have a fire but we were forgotten about and the wood wasn't delivered until 11:30. No worries, as I was in bed. However, I don't think I was asleep before 1am because the campground was pretty rowdy. Not wanting to be a complete douche....I dealt with it....and my own expense and ended up not getting much sleep Friday night either.

Saturday morning came and I was simply dragging ass. I pondered not even going sometime during the night. Then again this morning. Then on the way to Hanson Hills. Then again....and again....until that feeling faded and I was warming up. Then it was time to line up and we all crowded around the big bicycle at the entrance. Brent gave his last announcements and one of them would come back to haunt me. But more on that later...time to start.

It was about a 2 mile road rollout. It was stated to be a "controlled" start, however it was about half a mile before I was riding alone. The leadout was well over 20mph. Perhaps normal for a 50 mile mtb race, but way over a pace for me....even on pavement. Eventually a guy rolled up with me and we chatted around the rollout and back toward Hanson Hills. Then we dove into the back side of the property and started rolling across the grass behind the lodge. At this point, my power was already lacking.

We started down the 2 tracks and eventually into the singletrack. Mark looked over his shoulder and wished me luck before disappearing around a corner. A few other people caught me but I was pretty much riding alone. I plodded along at my pace. I eventually reached a hill where I couldn't power up it and got off to walk. A 10 year old kid powered past me and went out of sight with his dad on his wheel. Alone again, I just simply rode what I could. My pace was slow. Zero power and quickly losing interest I found myself starting to ponder other events. 

I was moving slow and decided I needed a drink....then while putting the bottle back lost a bit of concentration and drifted left. The bar smacked a tree...followed closely by my left forearm. Sure, beat a guy when he is already down. LOL. At this point....I was like..."well....this is gonna be a long day". I was finding sparks of life every now and then, but I was still losing time every mile. The woods gave way to some clearings on the military property and some huge log piles. Add in some incredibly deep ruts and I didn't really know what to think. My brain was all over the place. Like...this is cool....those assholes kept me up....look at those logs......I am freaking tired and still have a long way to go....the Lorax is gonna pop out at any time......you know....stuff like that.

Then I rolled into the aid station. I was struggling, but kept going. I caught that little 10 year old punk there. He was kicking back a coke. About a mile later he blew past me again. lol. Strong dude for sure. Awesome to see him out there with his dad chasing him. Having only ridden Hanson Hills once I didn't really have a feel for where I was. I did ponder stopping and making a straight line back to the parking lot. lol. Again, I was struggling. I pushed on. And started to recognize a few things. Then eventually I realized I was on the last long climb of the lap. This is a long brutal climb. I walked. No way. 

Before that climb I did get lapped. Mile 20 was the first culprit. Dude finished 50 miles faster than I did 25. LOL. I am not a climber, but this race was hard for a number of reasons. Mainly the lack of sleep. 

I finally crested the last hill and bombed down into the field behind the lodge. And then passed the lodge....ugh. Can't I just be done. nope. One more nasty loop around the grass before diving back in behind the lodge and seeing the finish/lap line. I crossed the line in 3 hours and 28 minutes. One of the last announcements that was made that the cutoff would be 1 pm. That means....I missed the cutoff by nearly 30 minutes. Saving me from another 3 or 4 hours of torture. 

Overall it was pretty eye opening. I knew Hanson was hilly, and my biggest flaw is that I am a heavy rider. 100 percent my own doing. Yes, I am a lot stronger and have plenty of endurance.....but when the terrain tilts uphill.....I struggle. I know this weakness....and I need to fix it. But....it is what it is right now.

So I missed the cutoff and headed back to the campground. I did muster a 17 mile ride on Sunday with SJ so that was good. But I am very grateful I removed my name from the LJ100 wait list....as I would now be IN and I am just not in a place to try that event again. But, that doesn't mean things are over yet. Dirty Donut is this Sunday and Cow Pie classic is the following Saturday. Meaning only a few more weekends until Coast 2 Coast. I am still not 100% I am going to attempt it, but at this point.....why not. Everything is booked and final plans are coming into place. 

See you all soon. Keep on pedaling. 

Fast Fitty Recap.....REDEMPTION

In 2020 this was the single event that I did. Mainly because it was one of the very few that was small enough to manage.  In 2020 this race was brutal. Hot. I was way out of shape for a 50 plus mile race....and it all stacked up to me sitting on the side of the road waiting for the sag vehicle with less than 4 miles to go. This story is different....

I arrived plenty early and there was no crowd. Grabbed my packet and headed over to park closer to the start area. I was wave 4 this year.....where I belonged with the right speed type people. It was a nice morning. Overcast with temps in the 70's. Should be a good day for an awesome ride.

On my warmup I had to get a closer look at this chopper. Pretty rad with its turret and bad ass rocket launchers. I started out away from the Legion to where the course started so I could get a grasp on how far to the gravel. The first mile is pavement. Nice little rollers and good pavement. I rolled out and back and my legs felt really good. I was excited to get started. I wandered thru a little trail and onto the starting road. 

This was the start of wave 1. They are up there a bit. People were spaced ok, but whatever...I had COVID so I wasn't even wearing a mask. We were outside.....so go fly a kite if you have an issue. The waves went off and I edged to the front of the group. I realized as we got to the line that I was at the front....like....very front. Not where I usually start because I am a slower rider. But alas, here I was with a variety of riders young and old. 

3, 2, 1....GO. We took off and made the first right off the gravel onto the initial stretch of pavement. BOOM. Someone shot off the front like a rocket. No...it wasn't me. I was about 3rd wheel and was feeling comfortable with the pace. A few guys passed and started the train. I was 4th wheel and we were hauling ass into the first turn onto gravel. The poor girl in front of me wasn't as confident as I was and we lost some speed....creating a gap. Those 2 dudes were gone. I dropped in behind the girl and off we went. I eventually heard a few people talking. They were strategizing whether to close the gap on the other two or to just stay in line. 

We hit a solid downhill and because gravity loves me I just rocketed down the hill. Now I was leading the train to close the gap. Not a place I should ever be, but whatever....I was feeling good a whole 2 miles in so why not. I was hauling....gaining on the group. No clue how many people were with me....I was just hammering the rollers and slowly gaining on the 2 leaders (of our wave ;)  )

As we reached almost 5 miles I had closed them down to less than 50 yards. But....the road turned left....and uphill. Rider after rider blew past me on the climb. A few thanks me for the pull, calling me a beast!. Well...you are most welcome.....but y'all suck for leaving me behind. lol. 

The next 20 miles were pretty quiet. Although I was still averaging a killer pace, I didn't believe it would hold up. I was remembering all the hills are after 30ish miles in. I was riding my race, but I was riding hard. Would see a person now and then, but was generally alone for those 20 miles. Then a big group came rolling up on me. There was 10-15 people in there. Hard to say because of the way they were riding. When I jump in a group I like to know they are predictable riders. This group.....pure chaos. lol. A group of friends just riding for fun....and that is awesome to see. But not a group that I could hang with. I jumped on the rear of the group and figured it out very quickly that it would be dangerous for me to keep with them. They would swerve left and right and swap places and the guy in the back was left and right and back left. No rhythm. Nothing but pure chaos. I got a gap put on me on the next climb and just didn't bother to chase anymore. Didn't seem worth my sanity...especially with 30 more miles to go. 

Things seem to settle down after that. I was feeling my hard pace in the beginning, but I was still feeling pretty good overall. Temps were getting higher as the clouds broke up. I was thankful for the shade of the trees. The gravel out there....was spectacular. Most of it was hard packed with a few loose sections, some washboard, and some sandy areas. Overall....couldn't have asked for better roads. Around 35ish miles I spied the aid station. I stopped for a quick second and grabbed a water, but then got right back on to keep going. Part of that previous group was there and we started the yo yo ride. One guy on a fatty had passed me before the aid station. Then he passsed me again. Then I passed him back at the next aid station. lol. He caught me one last time and told me I was doing a good job. I was feeling good....and closing in on the finish.

This is from recovery ride on Sunday. Bloomingdale Kal-Haven Caboose

These last pics are from my recovery ride on Sunday. More on that later. lol.

I passed 40 miles.....and then 45......and I was just riding my race. I know I had slowed down by now, but I was still holding a solid average. For those that saw....I had set a soft goal of 3:45 for this race. Looking at how many miles I had left...I started doing the math. I was close....so I had to keep pushing. 

Mile 50 I knew I was going to be within a few minutes. GO...push Sean.....GO. I couldn't see anyone in front of me....but nobody was gaining on me either. I was alone.....but I knew I only had a few turns left. Push....push.....and then I see it.....there on the right hand side of the road. A lonely tree pushing a little shadow out onto the dusty gravel. This was the exact spot where I stopped one year ago. A year ago I was beaten....work out...defeated. This year I was mashing the pedals as I zipped past the tree....with a smile on my face....and reaching for a bigger goal.

3 to go.......2 to go....where is that pavement?!? Finally I see the last right hander onto the pavement. Quick time check.....can I make it.....GO GO GO. I am pushing with all I have left....and my tank is empty. I could see the finish line in the distance as my goal time slipped by. Still....I was close. I made the last left and rolled across the finish line in 3:47....just missing my goal time. Still.....pretty stocked....and let me tell you why.

Remember when I said last year was rough. I was bringing this up because my time was brutal. I was one hour....and thirteen minutes faster this year. Yes...from 5:00 down to 3:47.....on the same course. Clearly there are a lot of factors that go into that time....but the main one is that I wanted to destroy that time from 2020. I did. Sure....I was the last male to finish.....and only 2 women finished after me.....but I finished strong and with a solid pace. 

Twas a bit dusty on the KH this day....

Overall it was a great day on the bike. Then I followed it up Sunday with a solid 36 mile group ride on Kal-Haven with the H's and BB. Weather was perfect and we kept the pace friendly. My average heart rate was only 117, which is perfect for recovery. This weekend is Hanson Hills 50....which will be a major test with all the climbing. It will be my first mountain bike race in a long time. And being heavy....I know the hills will be test.

But....C2C is coming quick. Just a few weeks away. Here are the next few weekends

Hanson Hills 50

Dirty Donut

Cowpie classic

weekend off....but I am planning a century

Coast 2 Coast

Shit just got serious.....

 

Struggle Bus

 Not gonna lie.....I climbed aboard the struggle bus a few weeks ago and it hasn't stopped since!

Life, as usual, can get the best of us sometimes. In the past few days I have been wavering on the rest of my season. The next 4 weekends in a row I have a race. Fast Fitty, Hanson Hills 50, Dirty Donut, and Cowpie Classic. Then a weekend off....then....Coast 2 Coast.

I did a ride on Saturday on the Barry Roubaix course. I was planning the 62 mile course, but the body just wasn't having it. So I cut short. Ride was brutal. Body hated it. Mentally started to tank more. Amazing how much taking a week off the bike can mess with you. I started a new job and my routine hasn't been established yet. I was running short on time to ride, so I didn't. 

Ok, that is a lie. What felt like a busy week really wasn't. I am just using it as an excuse. While I felt like I didn't have the time to ride....I literally sat and did nothing other than hanging out with my daughter. 

Off week. Tough ride. Down the spiral I went.

This past Monday the day started off good. Put a mark in the win column. By noon, there was another mark in the loss column and the stress level was growing.....adding another mark in the loss column. On my way home I get a call from the school that one of my daughters was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID at school. She is now in quarantine. Strike 3 for that Monday. Mentally.....I was done. 

As usual....when I mentally tank I instantly attack my riding and my events that are planned. We had camping booked this weekend for Fast Fitty, and now we cannot go. Cancelled. But I can still race. But what is the point. I should just cancel Coast 2 Coast too. 

So I told a bunch of my friends what was going on. They all told me NO WAY. You cannot cancel, you have been putting in the work and are just having a rough time right now. Keep riding and get back on track. 

I unplugged. Watched a sad movie with my daughter. Cried. Got sad. Cried some more. Talked more with friends that are giving me nothing but understanding and encouragement. Slept. Ate a box of cookies. 

Today, I feel better. Yeah life is still all over the place. But I am still on track for my goal mileage for the year....even after a week off. Saturday weather looks warm and I have a major bone to pick with that race.....because I was so slow last year. I have goals still. I just have to put the excuses away and put on my big boy pants. Keep working. Keep grinding. 

Right now.....

Hart Hills Gravel Race recap

Time for another recap. This time I made the journey from Allegan up the Lake Michigan coast to Hart.  Upon arrival I found a parking spot and wandered over to packet pickup. I got my bag and headed back to the car to gear up. It was a bit cooler than I anticipated, so I wore my heavier long sleeve jersey. Met up with Bill and Nick from Rockford bike shop and headed out for a short warmup.

I joined up with a group and headed out of town. We kept going and I was getting nervous about being late for start so I swung back to start area. I had about 10 minutes so I rolled around and then eventually headed to the start gate.

The 50 mile riders were lining up and started to crowd the line. I was towards the back of the group...because lets face it....I am not a speedster. While I was ready mentally for the cooler air and the 55 miles ahead of me, I was not ready for the adventure I was about to start. While I thought there was 10-20 people behind me....there was a grand total of 2. lol

Then it was time to race. The group started out of town and I was actually pushing ahead in the group a bit. The entire field was stretching already as the start was on pavement, which is expected in nearly every race. We made a turn onto gravel...and the fun really began. The gravel up there is a mixture of loose gravel and sand. By sand....I mean....sand. I had no idea what I was in for with this race....and it was starting to show its ugly face early on. 

Above is one of the worse sections of sand. It was pretty gnarly

Photo courtesy of StellaFly

The miles slowly crept past. There were a lot of people riding around me. I would pass a few and a few would pass me back. At mile 10....I was averaging under 10 miles an hour. I was planning on a 4 hour day....and now it was starting to look like a 5 or 6 hour day.

I met up with a woman that was riding my speed and she made the funny comment about averaging 9 miles an hour. A group of 6 or 7 of us made the turn onto Hart-Montague trail and the speed instantly went up. Flat pavement. What a welcome sight even after only 10 miles. We pushed ahead and started picking off people. Cruising 22 mph is awesome and I was finally able to find a rhythm. We crossed a road that had a little rise, I pedaled hard and ended up riding alone. Made another turn....back into some nasty gravel. Watched my average speed climb to 11.5.....but it was about to tank again.

After the 25 mile course turnoff I rode alone for a long time. There were a handful of people I could see, but nobody close enough to ride with. Slowly the miles went by. I walked....a lot. Not because of hills...but because I simply kept sinking in the sand. I would be riding at a solid pace and then the road would just disintegrate and I would sink. Add in that there was a gale force wind warning....and my day just kept getting longer. 

Eventually I hit 50 miles. Thankfully the gravel gave way to a pavement finish so I was only fighting headwinds and crosswinds the last few miles. I managed to find a rhythm in those last miles...and pulled my average speed up to a blistering pace of almost 10 miles per hour. Just awful. I crossed the line is 5:26. Brutal race....but I finished....and I wasn't last.

This race was a good mental training race. Physically good too, but more mental. I am grateful that it was a full loop and not multiple laps....because I would have bailed out for sure. This race was one of the most difficult I have ever done. Had the gravel been locked up, it would have been better. The race was simply what it was....and we cannot choose the weather or the terrain or the conditions. What we can choose...is to give in....give up....or keep going. I chose to keep moving forward. The thought did cross my mind that I would have been faster if I had stayed in bed. I am thankful I didn't, but it was a challenge to keep going. I made it. I finished. I wasn't last. I lived.

 

Waterloo G+G Race Recap

 

Where do I even start with this race? Well....I guess I start in the beginning. 

I was in bed early because I had to be up early. Felt like getting up for work. ugh. Anyway, I was loaded up and out the door by 6:30 to ensure I was at Waterloo in plenty of time. The drive pretty uneventful and I was parked just a little after 8. With a 9am start I wanted to be there early. So I parked and wandered over to registration. The pickup was pretty easy. They sent each person a specific barcode for their info. I walked in, they scanned my phone and I wandered over to my number on the ground. I grabbed my bag, made sure my name was on the number plate and headed back to the car to gear up.

It was kind of chilly, but it was warming up fast. I geared up and started to roll around for a short warmup. With the race being split into 2 days there was not a lot of people around. I rolled down the start straight to get an idea of how it was set up and then went back to the start area. It was pretty much time to go. There was the 100K and a 50k fun ride. Everyone was mixed in together....which was fine for me because I am not a top 5 guy at these events.

3,2,1....go. We were off out of the parking lot to find what the gravel roads held in store for us. Right away I was liking the roads. Packed and solid. That changed when the roads loosened up and turned into a mixture of loose gravel and sand. The miles ticked by....4....5...6...7....then there was a nasty climb. And then another nasty climb. Then a super loose terrible climb. I wasn't able to make any of them because my gearing is just too steep. So I walked. And while walking I watched my average speed drop like an anchor. It was starting to mess with mentally.

By mile 10 my average speed was terrible. My legs hurt and my brain was checking out. I knew that I had probably done a lot of the climbing already...but it wasn't helping my brain. When I reached mile 15......I knew my day was going to end early. This race is a 2 lap race for the 100k. I was signed up for the 100k, or around 60 miles. Had it been a full loop, I might have been ok....but I mentally was fried and not looking forward to 45 more tough miles.

At mile 15 the roads did flatten out a bit. I looked into the data after the race...and at this point my heart rate never went over 140 bpm. I normally average over 140 during a race. But I had backed off enough that I was more on a ride than a race. The miles rolled past. At one point there is a hefty stretch of pavement and I started to doubt whether I was still on course. Thankfully I was. I kept going and eventually saw the signs stating 50k and 100k with arrows pointing different directions. 

I was done. I lowered my head and went straight into the park and approached the finish line. I admitted my defeat and finished with 30 miles instead of 60. The weird part is, I had a better average speed than I did at Lowell even with more feet of climbing per mile. None of it really makes sense to me, other than understanding that I was due a bad ride....and this was the day for it to happen.

I had one of those weeks where the stress is all over the map and eventually it just caught up with me. I am in the middle of house hunting, still raising my kids, and now changing jobs. I think all the stress added up and triggered some covid fog. I say this...because I had Covid and the fog is a real thing. Things simply didn't make sense. I actually left my car door wide open....at the race....with my belongings free for the taking. Thankfully nobody did, but just weird that I left my door open. Then getting gas on the way home when the pump stopped I simply put the nozzle back without rounding to the nearest dollar. Disconnected. 

I got home, took a nap and relaxed. Ate. Watched a movie. Relaxed. Went to bed on time. Today was a much better day. Looking at my average speed, I would not have been last had I attempted the 100k. I am grateful that I didn't simply for the fact that it would have been a fight for 30 miles. A fight that my brain was surely going to lose. And that is ok....I am human.

Now we wait and see how much snow we get. Yes...snow in mid April...in Southwest Michigan. Ugh. We shall see. 

Next up is Hart Hills in 2 weeks. I know I need to be focused for that race as it is 55 miles and a lot of hills. But....still not as long as C2C which is still the ultimate goal. Keep the rubber side down friends!

Lowell 50 Recap

Race number 2 for 2021 was the Lowell Classic Gravel Road Race, formerly known as The Lowell 50. I have done this even a few times, but just the 34 mile course. This year I stepped up to the 50 for training purposes.

The Dirty Donut truck

I planned to arrive earlier to this event to avoid the backup that I saw at Dirty 30. After a short hour drive to Lowell, I arrived at Fallasburg Park just before 8:30. With a race start time of 10am that was a good time to get there. Some people were there already because the Rogue 100 had started at 7am. I found a place to park and walked up to registration. There was no line so I walked right up to the table and got my number plate and swag bag. Then I wandered back to my car and started getting ready.

 

I was trying to figure out how to dress because temps were still in the 40s but it was warming up quick. I opted for a light long sleeve base layer and shorts. I then headed out to warm up. I rolled out and rode around for a few miles to get my legs loosened up. I was listening to the announcer talk about making sure riders are warmed up because your legs will be tested right away. Great, just what I need to start a race. Anyway, it was about time to line up. 

Then it was time to go. There was no rolling start, it was GO right from the gate. The pace was way too much for me. We made the turn out of the park and it was a fury of changing gears and colors. Right away there was a nice downhill; however, the price for that downhill had to be paid right away. Less than a mile away and I was getting dumped from the group already. I just kept going as much as I could as the group was breaking up. I finally crested the hill and saw that the entire group was stretched out. Next up was the nastiest climb on the course. It is by the river and is pretty steep with soft edges. I made it....part of the way up before I had to get off the bike and start walking. I had already planned for this, because this hill is a jerk...and I am not a climber.

Once I got to the top I got back on and started riding again. I was feeling ok, but my speed was slow. At 5 miles in I was barely at a 12mph average. By mile 10 I was up to 12.5 mph. I was right on pace for a 4 hour race. The course felt like it was all hills in the first 10 miles. At 12 miles I made the split onto the 50 mile course and was riding completely alone. At the next crossing there was a police officer. He asked if I was the last person....and honestly I didn't know. I told him I didn't know but it was likely. The hills started to flatten out and my average speed started to climb. At 20 miles I pulled my average speed up over 13mph. I just kept chugging along.

At mile 30....disaster. I was feeling pretty good knowing I only had 20ish miles to go. I saw a county officer marking the next intersection. I waved and went thru, settling back into my pace. A moment later I hear the police horn "wah wah". I moved over and slowed down.....thinking he was just going around. He rolled up next to me and says "I think you missed a turn back there". SHITBALLS! 

Thankfullly he didn't let me get far. I turned around and went back to look at the sign. Sure enough, I missed a turn. I was looking for traffic on the road where the officer was and didn't see the arrows. Dangit, it was marked fine.....I just missed it. So, nerves rattled a bit....I started to settle back into my pace. The miles were peeling away, then the hills started again. Ugh. I had my average pace up over 14 now and I was shooting for a 3:45 pace. 

About 4 miles from the finish I spy a rider ahead of me. It gave me a spark to ride a bit harder because I didn't want to be last. So I dug in and started chasing. I closed the gap and caught her on a climb. I said "we are almost done" and she responded "thats what I keep hearing". I felt like I was pulling away on the descent and then there was another climb. She caught me on the climb and started to pull away. I reached the to of the climb and put my head down to chase. She apparently didn't want to be beat, because she hammered me the last mile. I tried to close her down but just didn't have enough left in the tank. I rolled across the finish line in just over 3 and a half hours.

Overall, my goal was 3:45 and line time was actually 3:33. I once again averaged 14mph in a gravel race. In my preivous races I have never eclipsed 13, let alone covering 14 two races in a row. This race was a lot of fun. Always awesome to see so many people riding hard. Awesome to actually be racing again to be honest.

Some might think that my average speed is slow....well...you are not wrong. I was over an hour behind 1st place. But, I am not racing to be top 10. I am racing for training and for fun. Racing against the clock and pushing myself to be the best I can be. The Coast 2 Coast ride is quickly approaching and I need to keep piling the miles on. And, at 280 pounds....I will take my progress. I still need to lose some weight, but I am getting stronger all the time and will keep on trucking.  See you out there.....

Dirty Thirty Recap

 After racing only 1 race in 2020, I was pretty excited to start my season in 2021. Here is my recap of the Dirty Thirty in Saranac, MI

The alarm clock started to go off around 6:30am. I worked myself awake and to a position of sitting on the side of the bed. Too early for a Saturday, regardless of a race or not. Especially with temps in the low 30's. I eventually got up and slogged into the kitchen where I made some eggs. Thankfully I was packed and ready Friday night, so eating and loading up were my only tasks on this chilly morning.

While eating I checked the weather to ensure that warmer clothes would be the better option. I got dressed and headed out the door. I met Sheryl in Martin and we started north. She was coming for moral support! We headed up 131 to M6 before joining 96 toward Lansing. After a pretty quick trip we found ourselves in a traffic jam on the outskirts of Saranac. By traffic jam I mean that the traffic for packet pick up was backed up nearly half a mile away from the church! No worries, it was about 8:30 and my race didn't start until 9:30.

After about 10 minutes of not moving I started to get nervous. Time was slipping by very quickly and we had not gotten any closer to town. Eventually the line started to move and found a flow. We got my packet and searched out a place to park. Now, it was 9:10 and I was starting to panic a bit. I didn't want to miss my start. I quickly filled bottles and got everything ready while Sheryl put my number plate on. Then I launched over to the start area to find a bathroom. I hit the start line area around 9:20 with zero warmup. Minus the warmup, I was as ready as I could be.

The clock struck 9:30 and it was time to go. My start group was only about 12 people and we started very slow. The first mile just wasn't much fun. A small pavement climb out of town. With no warmup, my legs were just not cooperating. Knowing that I had 50 miles to go, I just kept going with the knowledge that I would settle in eventually. Before too long I was in my familiar position of riding alone. Slowly the group peeled away and I just found my own pace. 

The miles started to tick by and I was good and settled in. I had an average speed in mind, a goal time. And at 10 miles I was ahead of that average pace. Feeling confident I kept plugging away. At 20 miles I was starting to wonder where the hills were. I know there is some climbing, but hadn't seen much. This meant my average speed was much higher than I had anticipated. Around mile 25 I got caught by a guy. We had a terrific tailwind and were cruising along with low power. We chatted a bit and then he slowly drifted out of sight.

Around mile 30 I started to feel some hills. As the miles were adding up, my average speed started to drop. Not as much as I anticipated, but it was falling. But, the miles were going by. I was getting closer to 50 knowing that there was a "terrible" hill coming. A segment called Ivan the terrible. I figured out right where it was as I reached a hill where my gearing finally betrayed me. I had to get off and walk. Making my way up the hill I saw a nice gentleman standing at an aid station cheering me on. He was like, well done....I couldn't do what you are doing. He reassured me that the worst was over and that the rest of the race shouldn't be too bad.

He was right. The last part of the race was very fast and flowy. I figured I was getting close as I saw a Saranac sign. I rolled back into town and made the last right hander into the finish line. Not a lot of people around. Just a finish banner and some scattered humans. I crossed the line and was DONE. My longest race ever, and my fastest gravel race pace ever. I crushed my goal time by just under 30 minutes. My goal time was a reasonable 4 hours. I finished in 3:30:13. A goal of 12.5 and a final pace of 14. Like I said, my fastest and longest race ever.

 

So, the 2021 season started off very well. I learned some important information about my nutrition. This is why I am doing these longer races. In preparation for the Coast to Coast. I am using these rides to determine how my body responds to my nutrition and how my training is actually going. The training gauge is pointing in the right direction. The nutrition gauge gave me some good feedback and I will make adjustments in the next race. Lowell 50 is next. Another 50 miles, but with some additional climbing. We shall see how it goes.