Well it has been a long month here. Since my last post, I haven't been able to get out on the bike as much as I would have liked. I was off the bike for about 2 weeks straight because of work and lots of rain in the area. Just when work lets up for me, it decides to rain for like a week straight. Well for an overview of the last month. During the last 4 weeks I have been working 10-12 hour days, which for a summer off, really chaps my ass! I am part-time yet am working more than most full times. Oh well money was pretty good, but need a little time here soon to get ready for my upcoming year. As far as my upcoming year, I have now almost a full-time job load. I am going to be teaching P.E. at the following: K-5 Trinity Catholic @ Protivin (2 1/2 Days), K-8 St. Josephs School @ New Hampton (2 full days a week), and K-4 Desales School @ Ossian (2 1/2 Days, Every other Friday). So I was able to get to .8 for the year with 3 different school districts. Should be an interesting year! Other than that, just finished 24 hours of IDPE at Decorah High School for the summer.
Race Time!
Levis Trow 100 was this past weekend. This race had to fall on the hottest weekend of the summer so far with temps in the high 80's, low 90's and humidity in the 90's. This race was a perfect distance from home so I was able to leave on Saturday morning at 4:10 a.m. and arrived after a stop at McDonalds for pre-race breakfast at 6:10. 2 hours not bad! Set up camp in my autonomous fashion and took a look around at who was here. Ek, Charly Tri, Farrow, Lund, Blake, and other good guys. Oh boy going to be a fun race. Get told at the beginning of the race that it is no longer a 12 mile loop running 8 times but rather it will be a 15 mile loop runnning 7 laps. Another bit of good news is that it is incorporating more climbing with the increased loopage. Perfect for my style!! Ready to go.
Got off good in the Leman's Start and was second to the bikes. Got on and started the 3/4 mile roll out on snowmobile trails. Got passed as usual by the gears and Farrow right before entering the singletrack. Okay, good wheel to follow for the start. I was moving good for the first couple miles and then it happened, POP! Chain off the bike on a hill. Had to stop, put it back on and chase back to the train of 5 singlespeeds that passed me. We were all together. Well rest of lap went without a hitch, but oh wow was this going to be a long day as the climbs were good and the trail was awesome! Got done with lap 1 and decided to save a long day and choose to tighten the chain. Lost some of the singles because of this stop and was off again. Got done with 2,3,4 and finally some news of where I stood. I was in 2nd behind the Bianchi Singlespeeder, according to Shockey. Well that didn't las long and found him on Lap 5 and passed him. Unfortunately I hit my bonk of the day and Lap 5 was misserable! Worst lap of the day and got passed pretty good by my eventual rival for the day. Lap 6 Recovery and the catch because of increase tempo. Came through this last lap in a dead heat with 1st place. Decided to drop my Camelbak quick, grab two bottles and was off like a flash. Didn't raise my head the whole lap. Pounding as fast as I possible could without blowing up. I climbed all but one hill last lap, a feat I hadn't done all day. I was near blowup a couple times on this lap, but knew if I let up I would be caught. Well lap ended as well as the race! 1st SingleSpeed, 1st Overall for the 100 Miler. Good day on the bike. Felt great for a hilly course. Looking forward to Blue Mounds in a couple weeks. Good year going so far. Working for 24 Hours of Iowa at Boone as the GOAL RACE of the SEASON! Stats Follow. Hope to find some pics sometime soon!
1st Single Speed 7 Laps 105 Miles 11:49:03
1st Lap: 1:33:40
2nd Lap: 1:36:10
3rd Lap: 1:40:29
4th Lap: 1:47:00
5th Lap: 1:53:52
6th Lap: 1:43:08
7th Lap: 1:34:44
Got to love doing Fastest Lap, First Lap, Second Fastest Lap, Last Lap!!!
