Jill
and I got up early thirty on Saturday morning because I
had volunteered us for the Xterra
Triathalon. We were course marshalls and lucked up and
got the spot at the head of the mountain bike trail right
next to the bathrooms. We tried to give everyone their position
in the race, but we kept getting confused trying to keep
the men and women
separate.
Sunday was the Georgia
State Championsip Race #4 at Arrowhead Park, Lake Tobosofkee,
Macon, GA. I did not feel good that morning, and almost
did not go to the race, but I decided to go ahead anyway.
I awoke that morning and made my way into the bathroom for
nature's call. As I was trying to relieve myself, I started
feeling woozy and dizzy and fainted into the shower. Jill
ran in as soon as I started to fall and caught me. I don't
know what the deal was. My bro says I'm hypovolemic, which
is a big
word for dehydrated.
So back to the race: It was a very hot
day and I was struggling from the beginning, sweating profusely.
I was on the hook for three laps. After one and a half laps,
I had to stop at the water station that Mallie
D. was manning, sit on the ground, and take off my helmet.
I was feeling dizzy. I sat there for about five minutes
drinking water before I could move on. Mallie had a worried
look on her face when she saw me, so I know I must have
looked bad. This race was turning in to a six hour race
for me. I was draggin' ass! Some of the pro expert guys
lapped me three times. I'm pretty sure I came in last place
Sport 30-39.
I ordered a Camelbak
Blowfish from Cambria
Bike Outfitter today. Hopefully that will take care
of my future hydration needs.
Over the weekend I also found time to create
a On-Line store for OMBA. It's thru CafePress.com.
I have created T-shirts and a Hat so far. More Items with
the OMBA logo to come in the near future
Sport
Men 30-39, 25th out of 28 |
GSC
RACE #4: ArrowHead, 3 laps, 18.5 Mi, 2hr
51min, 6.4 mph avg |
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Monday,
June 19, 2006
A
Beautiful Weekend for a Mountain Bike Race and Vacation
to Helen, GA. We made the Mistake of leavin last Thursday
just in time to hit Peak Rush Hour in Atlanta. It was a
Parking lot on 285 and up through 85 almost to 985. We kept
our spirits high and stopped off in Gainsville for supper
at Sonny's
Bar-B-Q. We got to the Country
Suites and Inn at night fall. Small mix up with the
rooms. Jill went to open the room and people were in there
allready. The reception had given out the same keys by mistake.
We had a great room with two double beds, a seperate living
area with fold out couch, two TVs, microwave, fridge, and
Coffee Maker. Jill rested while I took my daughter to the
indoor pool for a couple hours of splashing. We jacked the
A/C down in the room to sub-zero and slept good. We were
stoked cause they had our favorite TV channel Boomerang!
It stayed on the entire 3 nites we were there.
Friday
I got up at the @ss Crack of dawn to go Pre-Ride. A beautiful
peaceful morning. I had the whole trail to myself besides
a few wild turkeys I startled. I did a lap then swung back
by the hotel for Coffee and a bananna at the Continental
Breakfast. Then went out for a second lap. I had a great
ride, taking note of all the twist turns ups and downs of
the course. After my ride I showered up and we headed out
for lunch in Helen. We ate at the Trolls
Tavern overlooking the Chatahoochee River. We walked
around Helen and did the shopping thing. Later that afternoon
my Sister and Family, Brother with Wife came up. They were
camping at Jenny's Creek Campground. We met up at
Anna Ruby Falls. We all hiked up to the Falls together.
Jill Cassidy and I ate supper at Farmer's
Market Cafe in Helen before ending the night splashing
away at the pool.
Saturday
I rose with the sun again to do a single pre-ride lap. I
was wore out from the day before and wanted to take it easy
since it was the day before the Race. Well that wasn't going
to happen. After riding then pigging out at the continental
Breakfast we met up with my family again to "Shoot
Das Hooch" which is German for "Float down the
Chatahoochee river on a Tube". We signed up for the
Combo Package of Tubing and Water Park at
Helen Water Park. Needless to say after all that I was
Broke Up Sore. Not the way I wanted to be the night before
the Race. We ate the Sorba Spagettii Dinner at the festhall
that night and I registered for the race. Afterwards we
strolled down mainstreet to all the shops to pick up gifts
for the pitiful folks back home who could not make the trip
with us. We spent a small fortune on confection at Hansel
and Gretels Candy Kitchen. We got a few "pounds"
of their famous Fudge and Jill got her Favorite Milk Chocolate
Caramels.
Sunday
my whole family showed up to root me on. It was Father's
day and My daughter was there to give me good luck, and
I needed it. I was feeling strong at the start even though
I was sore from the day before on the river. Then things
went way wrong on the second down hill. I tapped the brake
around a fast corner, I was intimidated by a large stump.
My back tire broke loose and came around slamming into it
and sent me Sailing SuperMan style about 10 feet. I got
up dusted off untangled my chain and by that time even the
old fart class behind me had passed. I trudged on with my
back tire scrubbing the frame from a broken spoke. I was
content with last place and just wanted to finish. Little
past half way of the First lap Renee (SORBA-OMBA
PREZ) caught up to me. I thought I would at least try to
stay with her for a while. I drafted her through the grassy
fields and managed to hang on up the last soft dirt climb.
To my surprise, One of My class was just ahead. I was just
about to slow and let Renee go on when I saw him. Well that
fueled the fire and I stayed right on her back tire, Past
Him and through the end of the first lap. Renee dropped
me on the climb out of the start finish. I kept up a good
pace the second lap and caught another of my class but could
not muster up enough strength to pass him.
After
the Race Jill and Cassidy had an Ice cold Gatorade waiting
for me and I really needed it. We checked out and Headed
for home. I stopped at the last exit on 985 before 85 in
Buford to get gas and there was a Jittery
Joes but I didn't stop I opted for a Chocolate milk
from the QT store. I did make a mental note of where it
is for the next time I head up that way. Like in October
for the Gainsville College Race, Tumbling
Creek Rumble.
Sport
Men 30-39 37th out of 40 |
GSC
RACE #3: Helen,GA, 2 laps, 16.6 Mi, 1hr
59min, 8.3 mph avg |
Friday's
Pre-Ride : Helen, GA, 2 laps, 17.5 Mi,
2hr 14min, 7.8 mph avg |
|
Monday,
June 12, 2006
Nice
turn out yesterday for the OMBA
Group Ride at Camp
Thunder. About 15 brave souls showed up. Some fella's
that were familiar with the Trail were there when we got
there. It worked out well because they were able to guide
the fast people around the first lap wile I stayed back
with the slower group to make sure no one got left behind.
Although I felt bad about Don
and Angie getting left behind. I did'nt want too, but
they were very adiment that I not wait for them. I had a
great time no matter how "fast" I was going. I
was just happy to ride with a great group of friends. I
was able to do a second lap with some of the faster guys.
I'm glad I did cause I kept them on the right trail a couple
of times.
Tward the end of the first lap My rear tire started scrubbing
on the Frame. I did not remember hitting any thing very
hard. I have very little clearance between my frame and
2.5 Maxxis Minions anyway. I just kept riding thinking it
was just a little out of true. But wile packing up to leave,
as Mark D was racking up my bike He noticed I was missing
a Spoke. I mean it wasn't just a broke spoke It was totally
Gone. I took it up to Bike Tech Macon to get it fixed today.
I should be ready to roll by Wednesday. I'm going to try
and get a few laps in at Arrowhead Wednesday night. Then
I have to pack up for my trip, leaving Thursday afternoon,
to Helen Ga. for the Helen
Fat Tire Festival and GSC
Race that Sunday. We are staying downtown Helen at the
Country
Suites and Inn. I'm looking forward to the Continental
Breakfast.
Saturday,
June 10, 2006
Today's
Paddling: Lake Juliette, 3.0 hours |
Yesterday's
Ride: ArrowHead, 2 laps, 10.0 Mi, 1hr 21min, 7.4
mph avg |
Wednsday's
Ride: Thomson, 4 laps, 18.8 Mi, 2hr 16min, 8.3
mph avg |
Sunday,
June 4, 2006
Beautiful
weekend to get outdoors. I took a 60% chance of getting
rained on Friday by riding my bike to work. I made it to
work in the morning with no rain and even though I could
see rain clouds, pouring off in the distance on the way
home I did not feel even a Drop. It sure came down hard
that evening though, Wile Jill and I were on our way to
Perry we got caught in a torential down pour that almost
made me pull off the road and wait it out. We were on our
way to Angelo's, a new Italian resturant in Perry, GA. We
road around the town square but could not find it. We opted
to just go to Angelina's anouther well known Italian Resturant
in Perry. It was very Delicious! Jill even had some of her
favorite wine, Blackstone
Merlo. After we gorged ourselves there we went to Stone
Cold Creamery in Warner Robins to top it off. This place
has had a line out the door ever since they opened. They
take the Plain Icecream they make then mix in the topping
you request right in front of you on a cold stone. They
sing and dance and chant all the wile.
Saturday
I went out to Lake
Tobesofkee. OMBA
was having a work party at the ArrowHead Park Mountain Bike
Trail. It was National Trails Day. We worked from 9:00 am
til 1:00pm, we fixed a brige crossing, cut in some new trail,
leveled off an off-chamber spot along the trail, I took
it upon myself to revive a cement picnic table that had
become overgrown. It sits right off the trail and was covered
with leaves and moss. I cleared it all off and raked out
around it then trimmed back all the over growth. I'm not
sure if it will ever be used but at least now someone could.
Rick from Bike
Tech Macon grilled Burgers and Dogs. Then afterwards
some going for rides and others for a swim. A great day
of Fun and Trail maintenance.
Today
My brother and I went out to a private pond to test out
our Canoe we will be using in the Upcomming Ocmulgee
Adventure Race. This is a borrowed Coleman
Canoe and has some minor damage to it so we wanted to
make sure it was sturdy and bouyant. I was kind nervous
driving down the road with it strapped to the roof of my
Car. It turned out to be very stable and we deemed it Race
Worthy. This vessle has been christened "The Pickle"!
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