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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Yankee Springs Time Trail Recap

 


My race season has officially begun.


With a start time around noon I didn't have to get up super early. I was able to get up and around in a relaxed manner before heading out. I still got to Yankee Springs before 10am. I rolled up to registration and got checked in. Watched a bit of the Elite starters and headed back to gear up. 

I went and did a lap on the short course to warm up. Just rolled an easy pace. Temps were nearly touching 50 the last time I looked, and my start time was approaching. I headed over to the start gate just before noon. They called in the single speeders and then lined up the Open Clydesdale class. I was about the 8th person off in my class.

3, 2, 1 GO!

I was off and rolling. Right out of the gate I was pushing really hard. With there only being 10 seconds between riders there is a good change you will have traffic from both sides. I didn't want to get caught, so I was in chase mode off the line. There is always that balance of starting too hard and flaming out, or not starting fast enough and getting caught. I was finding that balance, but I was pushing pretty hard. The first few miles are flatter, so I wanted crush the pace.

When I passed the first maker I took a peak at my time. I was ahead of pace and feeling pretty good. A bit after that I caught my first rider. Almost got another, but he was a stronger climber and pulled away. Feeling good I pressed onward.

I passed the 2nd mile marker and had reeled in my second rider. I was feeling pretty good and was on my pace the way I had hoped. Breath. Breathe. The climbing is starting. The section leading to the guard rail is not flat, and I was starting to feel my pace. I got caught by a guy and he was flying. I knew he was one of the potentials for winning the category. I reeled in another guy and then one more as we got to the guard rail. As the next climb started I was able to sneak past him. I was still pushing hard, and the climb was pushing my heart rate higher. I knew I couldn't really back off, just had to find my pace.

I cleared the climb and reeled in another guy before making the right at the top of the hill. This is where the fun starts. I was making sure to slow my breathing as much as I could with deeper breathes. I was feeling good and feeling confident. Around mile 4 I started to see another guy in front of me. I also noticed I was looking over my shoulder a lot to see who was coming. I had mentally stop doing that. I told myself to focus on the guy in front of me and deal with anyone catching me as it happened. 

I caught the next guy at the bottom of the first main climb. At the cement marker I got past him. I could hear a lot of people coming too. On the climb I am not sure how many passed me, but all I could do was keep pushing. I made the climb and pressed onward toward the pines. I love this section because its technical and flowy. I rode with another guy. He would get a small gap, but I would close him down. We broke out of the woods to start the climb past marker 7. He eventually put a gap on me and I was starting to feel my pace. This long climb was really starting to hurt, but I had to just push through. At the top I took some deep breaths and some water before starting the descent.

By far my favorite section of trail, I let it rip. I could see that same guy on the switchback and was pressing to catch him. I never did, but I did reel in another guy as we got to the last long climb. I could hear a guy yelling behind me...directing the minions. The 14 year olds were charging and he was giving orders as they were dropping him. lol. I flew through the next descent and was still feeling pretty good. My pace fell off a bit in this middle section, but I was still close to goal pace.

The next few miles were pretty quiet. A few guys here and there, and we developed a group of 3. We rode together for a bit and then I knew it was time to go. We passed marker 10 and two of us ramped up again. I gave way to the last guy a bit later and was back in chase mode. 

Go, just go. Keep pushing. You're almost done. I was pushing as hard as I could. I got to marker 12 and I could feel that I was slowing a bit. Another guy caught me. I tried to hold his wheel, but I was running out of gas. The little climb up to marker 13 was reminding me that I had been off the bike for 2 weeks. This was where I could see I missed my goal time. But I was so close to the finish that I had to just push on. The last twisty singletrack was here. Flat to the finish. 

I hear "when you get a chance". Ugh....there is no room to pass in here and I wasn't about to pull over. lol. So instead of yielding, I just went as hard as I could go. We broke out to the last left and the guy was just able to pass me on the line. He found me after and said "dude, awesome finish through there!". 

I was done. Finishing time goal was sub 1 hour. I was at a very close 1 hour, 1 minute and 33 seconds. This was enough for a solid 11th place out of 27 in my class. 

Great start to the season! Next up is the Fort Custer Stampede on Sunday! 

Monday, April 21, 2025

Yankee Springs Time Trial PREVIEW

 

Next up:

Yankee Springs Time Trial

Fort Custer Stampede (XC)

Island Lake Challenge (XC)

Luton Park Time Trail

Addison Oaks Summer Classic (XC)

Fast Fitty (Gravel)

Traverse City Trails Festival (XC)

Custer's Last Stand (TT)




In my head, I know what I need to do. I did have to change my goals a bit because of my recent setback, but I am still going to try my damndest to hit my original goal. I want to be sub 1 hour. I was at 1:05 on a training ride a while ago, so its not a major stretch. It will just take me being focused and pushing for the entire time. In a race, that should be easy to do.....if my fitness holds out. It is a concern, but all I can do is try and see what happens. 

As of this post there are 25 clydes signed up. That is a lot. "Big Group" isn't a nice way to describe a clydesdale class. lol. Just a lot of riders in my category. With my original time goal, I was shooting for a top 10 finish. I would love to finish in the top 10, but I will literally take any finish. Goal, top 15. Stretch goal is still top 10. 

So how do I get there? Nutrition and fueling will be important. Mindset will be right were it needs to be. I have a plan of attack as well. Out of the gate I plan to start hard. I will need to push these first few miles to achieve my goals. I know the trail is fairly flat here, and I know I need to be fast. The climbing starts around mile 3. I need to survive this first challenge up the ditch climb. But when I crest the lip, I have to put power down and press forward. I can't recover until the very top where I can take a short breather on the short descent. Then its power again until a few more climbs. I can tell you that I am handling these hills better now that I am lighter. This is good, and while I need to be pushing the pace...I also need to be aware of blowing up. 

I don't want to ride the first 4 miles hard and then suffer for the next 7. So its a balance of pushing the pace, making sure I am breathing, and keeping my fuel up. I will have my camelback because I want to be able to drink anytime and not have to worry about bottles. I will have gel too, but my main calories will be in my bottles. 

I know where I can push harder and where I need a bit of recovery. But if I can recover after the harder efforts and still hold speed, that will be great. I will puh my heart rate up, and just hold it there as long as I can without backing off. Temps will be in the 60's, so no worry about flaming out in the heat. 

I feel like I am bouncing around a lot with my thoughts. I am excited to get the MTB season started. I am doing the championship point series, so I need a good start to my season! I know I will see some friends and have some good conversations too. 

I just want to get out there and race bikes again!!!! 




Wednesday, April 16, 2025

When reality sets in....

 Sometimes reality has a way of reaching up and punching you square in the face. This is one of those times.


After my surgery in August I set some pretty steep goals for 2025. The highest goal was by far the Lumberjack 100. I know if I set a goal for a race like this that I will do everything in my power to reach that goal. Well, I will now. In the past it didn't matter. I was suffering an internal battle that I would make me give up hope on the smallest whim. Thankfully, I am not like that anymore. 

I will be the first to admit that those feelings are still here. When I found out I had a new blood clot my brain went directly into the downward spiral. Thankfully, with the help of my bride and my friends I didn't stay on that spiral long. I took a step off the spiral and started to look at the whole situation. 

My buddy Dave put it best "you are not derailed. You are still on the tracks, just gonna move a bit slower for a while". Sage words my friend. Just stay on course and eventually things will get better.


The confirmation of the blood clot came this past Monday. I already knew, because I could feel it. Anyone could really, it was a pea sized lump under my skin. Today, its much smaller and the thinners are working how they should. The findings from the ultrasound confirmed that it was a superficial clot and not a DVT. A DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is what caused my pulmonary embolism in 2019, nearly claiming my life. The superficial clots are not as worrisome, because they are smaller. A DVT can break off and cause a PE or a stroke, or even death. So, thankful for the results there. 


But what does it mean.....


I have been building fitness since August. Slowly at first, and then heavier in January and February. March fell off a bit due to my wedding, but I was still making progress and feeling good. I still feel pretty good, but taking 2 weeks off leads to different things. For starters, you stop building any fitness. And to make that aspect worse, after two weeks you can see a major decline in fitness. Not a great combo leading into the race season. I think of it as 4 weeks of building lost. While I should be trending upward, I am trending downward (fitness wise). This is expected, but when I started to think beyond this two weeks, it made me pause. 

I barely rode in 2024. So no base to build onto. I have been building my base and foundation since August. If I had a full base from 2024, it wouldn't be as much of a concern. I could lose a bit of fitness and still be solid. Building from zero doesn't leave much room for a setback without some decline. Again, this all started to come me and my plans for 2025 started to crumble.


In June there would be Lumberjack 100 followed by Coast 2 Coast 100 in consecutive weekends. Big load for any cyclist, let alone one with less than a year of training. Add in that I was put on the sidelines for a few weeks and I knew a decision had to come. That decision is to skip both of these events. Its not an easy or a panic decision. It is, however, the right decision. I knew it would be a steep goal to ride 100 miles less than year after a major surgery. Following a year where I had multiple surgeries and logged less than 1000 miles. 

Again, I am still on the tracks.....there just won't be a stop at those two stations. Instead, I am going to focus on the Michigan Off Road Championship series and the shorter events. These fit my training better. I can ride hard for an hour. I can build that to 90 minutes and ensure I am not destroying myself for the rest of the season.  

Skipping Barry was rough. But there was some major chaos up there last weekend. Some bigger crashes and even some asshat dropping a tree into passing riders. It would have been a tough ride regardless of those things. But with the clot in my arm it wasn't a great idea. I could have caused more damage, or worse. The best way I can explain it like plumbing. A clogged drain as an example. Yeah, some water goes through and eventually it drains. But, if you fill the sink super fast it will just keep backing up until it overflows. My last ride my arm was swollen from the backup, so multiple hours of that could have blown up the vein. Not a good outcome. 


Because its almost gone (the clot) I will do an easy spin this weekend on the trainer and see how it goes. If its ok I will ride a bit more and a bit more. The plan is to race Yankee on the 26th. I will get into that more later, likely next week. 

With the weather looking better I am excited to get back at it. All should be good. Lets keep moving forward! 




Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Plans change

Well, we all know plans change. Sometimes those plans changing come at inopportune times. Like...say the Tuesday before my first race of the season.....

....well a plan changing event has happened....and it happened directly to me.

I am to blame. 

Well, sort of to blame. I mean, its my fault....and my responsibility....so the blame does fall directly to me....but there is another player that doesn't care about my plans or my rules. This player does what it wants...whenever it wants....and I am just along for the ride.


Long story short, I won't be racing Barry Roubiax this weekend. I was mentally ready and as physically ready as I could be. I was looking forward to it. Now, its a memory that never happened.

Physically I could race. But I shouldn't. And that isn't my choice, that is a demand from both a doctor and my body. I have to give my body a chance to do its thing before I force the issue and race for 4 to 5 hours. The time is at least 2 weeks, and could potentially be more. 

At this point I am planning on racing the Yankee TT. But some things have to happen with my body first. 

Mainly....I need to let my medicine do its work and clear the blockage I have in my arm. Yes, I have another blood clot. Ugh.

For those that have followed along, you remember my stories about 6 years ago of a near catastrophic ending to my life because of a pulmonary embolism. Well, in 2022 I had another clot. And in 2025 I have yet another. So losing the weight didn't help. But I didn't help my cause either, I was taking half a dose of my meds instead of the full dose.....and it wasn't enough to keep the flood gates open. So, I am back up to my normal dose and the blood is flowing better, just not great. 

I still have a clot in my forearm that feels like a pea under my skin. This size is much better than the nearly golf ball size it was a week ago after riding. See, this is why I can't ride. If I push my heart rate up, clearly more blood is pumping through my veins. But....if its blocked....it has to back up and causes pain and swelling.  Not great. 

I have to take at least two weeks off to allow the clot to clear. I am hoping it will take under two weeks, but that is the minimum time at the moment. I really don't want to....but I have to. I cannot risk having a piece of the clot break off and head to my brain....ending not only my riding season....but likely my life as well.

So, it is a setback. 

2 weeks off during the season is never a great plan. But, two weeks off to help lengthen my life on this planet.....is a decent trade. 


Not what I wanted to share, but it truly is what it is. I am out for Barry, but still holding out hope for Yankee. Even though there are a lot of people and I will be descending in fitness....all I can do is try. I am hopeful that Yankee is on the board still. If that event slides by with me on the sidelines still it will surely be disappointing....and make me more nervous about the rest of my season.


So it will likely be quiet for a few weeks. I have shit to do, but it won't be riding bikes. :(


Tuesday, April 8, 2025

The Race Season

A lot of people started their season last weekend at Melting Mann, but I still have yet to race that event. I have been signed up 3 times and I have never gone. One year I got sick the morning of. One year I just didn't feel like going. And one year it was downpouring. 

Currently I am just over a week out from my first event. I wanted to sort of lay out my schedule and see who is going to be where. So here it goes.


April 12th is the Barry Roubaix. This is a massive gravel race in Hastings, MI. I have done this even multiple times and it remains one of my favorite gravel races. This year I will again be attempting the 62 mile 'Thriller' distance. Being that this is a week out, look for the preview coming in the next few days.


April 26th is the first mountain bike race of the year. Its always a great time at the Yankee Springs Time Trial, where people come and show off their early season fitness.


May 4th is the Fort Custer Stampede. I know this course the best out of any that I ride, so I am hoping for a great result here.


June 1st is the Island Lake challenge. A super fun course (if I remember correctly) that will take me across the state for another XC style mountain bike race.


June 8th is tentatively the Maybury XC.   I say tentative because there is zero info about the race available. Waiting and seeing here.


June 15th is the Luton Park Time Trial. A course I love, but have never raced on. Should be an interesting challenge and my final tune-up before the big one.


June 21st is the Big MFer....the Lumberjack 100. I have some history here that I need to rewrite. 


June 28th is the Coast to Coast. I am only doing the 100, but this event will mark back to back weekends with a century. Should be interesting. 


Things slow down after June. I might do the Holland 100 in July, but the next event I am planning is the Fast Fitty in August. Its a flat course so I should be in good shape here.


There are a few stragglers that might happen in September and October, but I will share more on those as they get closer. Traverse City Trails and Custers Last stand. 

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

That's new....

 I headed to Yankee Springs on Tuesday to get some miles in. I am sort of surprised at the low amount of cars in the parking lot. but at the same time, Barry Roubaix is getting close and the focus for many is gravel. I appreciate the quiet trails. It allows me to just ride and not have to worry about getting run over. 


Since it was Tuesday it is the dreaded yellow direction. Maybe my disdain for this direction comes from the fact that I just know the trail better in the Red direction. I wonder that, and then I get to the long climb towards the middle and remember that it isn't lack of knowledge....it is 100% this climb. 

Hate is a strong word, but not even strong enough for how I feel about this portion of the trail. It just feels like it goes up and up and up and up and up. As you roll into the valley you can see that sides go pretty vertical, not fully knowing where you will end up. I have a good idea....because I love this part of the trail in the Red direction. It is a bombing descent that tests you nerves and skills as you drop further into the valley. In the yellow direction it is a whore of a climb that just seems to keep going.


I hate it....


I am not a climber so that doesn't help. But, each time I have ridden out here (in this direction) I have made a bit of progress. And if I don't make progress, I learn what needs to be done to take that next step. I look at the line. Try to determine where the best line is. Develop a plan for next time.

On this ride as I started to get into this area I was already primed to tackle the first challenge. As I rounded the bend to my first stopper I knew what I had to do. Gain some speed and power over the right hand side of the root cluster. I sped up as much as I could and hit the cluster on the right side. I was up and over the first hurdle, and on my way to the next. 

Feeling pretty happy with myself for clearing that first challenge my brain shifted to the next one. Another nasty root filled kicker about half way up the climb. As you round the last corner before the climb, it appears like a punch to the face. It looks terrible because it is. Its not very long, but it goes very steep. I knew I had to gain speed so I pushed what I could and started up the kick. I barely cleared it, but I made it. I was able to finish the rest of the climb and get a bit of recovery on the downhill into the pines (think mile marker 7). 

This was history my friends. Ever since they added the Yellow direction I have never made all of the climbs. Its such a rough go through there, and I probably let the mentality of it bother me more than the physical part. I am thankful that I could muster the strength to get over both of these major hurdles on this ride. For the first time ever I rode the entire Yellow direction without putting a foot down. 

(that isn't entirely true.....I did stop to help a damsel in distress. She had picked up a stick and it sent her chain over her biggest cog on the back wheel. The chain was jammed in pretty good. I stopped and helped her and then proceeded on my ride).


Even though I did that great, my time was only good enough for 2nd overall for myself. Maybe it was stopping to help. Maybe it was just feeling sluggish on the ride. But it was a great ride on a beautiful day in the woods.

I belong in the woods. There is something so much more enjoyable for me when there is a single ribbon of ground that I am following. Gravel is ok, but my mind can wander. Mountain biking offers a different mindset. You have to be focused on what you are doing or you can kiss a tree, get thrown off the trail, roll a root wrong and dump yourself. When I am riding a mountain bike I just am able to unplug and focus only on riding. My brain is still active with a few sub-routines, but overall I am in the moment. So as much as I hate the yellow direction at Yankee, I am still in love with the sport. I am grateful that I have been able to put myself in the position to enjoy it so much more. I am grateful for my wife that supports me. She wonders why I put myself through the torture, but she understands that I need to train and how it helps me mentally. 

Thank you friends for reading my posts. I appreciate you as well.