tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78802247362459936112024-03-05T05:29:24.074-08:00Pongo-RantzAryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-78937557195726007862013-01-08T09:26:00.001-08:002013-01-08T09:28:20.470-08:00What were we talking about?<div style="text-align: center;">
(Inhale)</div>
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(Long Exhale) </div>
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The joy of the off season. </div>
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Just in case you all wonder where I will be and what I will be doing until race season starts up again in April.</div>
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<br />Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-67258752793511263512012-09-20T09:51:00.001-07:002012-09-20T09:51:49.968-07:00Is there such a thing as an 'easy' ride?<br />
What was supposed to be an easy ride turned into a TT effort yesterday. Problem was I had a hard feeling the trail yesterday. I mean Maybury should be a no brainer for me as it's my home trail but I was riding it like it was my first time on the trail. Bike was all over the place. Four pedal strikes in 13 miles speaks for how bad I was riding. Plus I ran off the trail twice.....it wasn't pretty.<br />
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Anyway, Diesel and I planned to take the first lap easy and then maybe dial it up for lap 2 and 3. Fast pace but not race pace as neither one of us were in that mood. Diesel led out Lap 1 and we were tooling along talking about his wedding reception this past weekend. For two miles all was calm and fun. But then I noticed our pace was picking up and was going to say something when I saw what was going on. Diesel had quietly reeled some one in. Problem was, the guy wasn't about to let us pass. No worries, I was in 'easy rider' mode. But then the guy lit a match and took off. Of course Diesel went after him. <br />
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Damn it! <br />
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I had started my day by driving my 35 minute route to work only to get there at 6:30am and realize I had left my bottles, dry mix and bars on the kitchen counter. Ugh. Oh well, looks like I will be going to the bike shop over lunch for supplies. Sue was even nice enough to call me around 7:30am to tell me my cooler was on the counter. She didn't have time in her day to bring it out to me and I would never ask her to as it's an hour round trip...although she would do it if she had time. Good excuse to have lunch with me. So at 11:30 I head out to the bike shop that is about 10 minutes down the road. 30 minutes later I finally get there......WTF, traffic sucked because of the construction. Seth wasn't there but I ended up shooting the breeze with Ben for a bit before hoping back in the car with my new Sweet Bikes bottles, NUUN and Shot Blocks. Drive back was fast but still the trip took an hour. Could have made it home and back in that time. The fuel I got from the shop would work but it wasn't my norm so I was a little upset at myself again for leaving it at home.<br />
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As I watched Diesel tear down the trail after this 'not passing me' guy (We'll call him Charlie), I did a mental coin flip in my head on whether to chase or not. I wasn't really in the mood for this buuuuut Diesel had engaged and needed a Wingman. So I opened up the throttle and went into the red to reel them in. It took a good half mile or so to get a visual and I was surprised to see that Diesel was only in missel range of Charlie....to far for guns. Interesting. Is he matching Diesel's pace? I yo yo-ed off Diesel's back wheel for a bit as he tried to keep this guy in sight. I'll admit I was struggling to keep pace as my lines were messy and I was relying more on power than grace to stay in the dog fight. Something felt different in my riding and it was a bad different. I had a couple close calls with trees that I shouldn't have been anywhere near and one boulder that nearly ended my day. I was brake checking waaay more that I should have been in corners and again had to rely on pure power to get back on Diesel's wing.<br />
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But the end was near and the three of us bolted up toward the end of the trail full tilt. I was happy we were coming to the end as 99% of the riders we chase like this always stop after an effort like that instead of making the turn to start another lap. We were supposed to be there for fun and I wanted to do continuous laps without stopping but as hard as this guy was pushing the pace I was eager to stop and talk to him a bit and find out who he was. I was third in line as we crested to the trail head. And then it happened, he made the right turn to start another lap. "You've got to be kidding me" I said out loud. Just then Diesel pulled left to let me by and said, "Your turn!" <br />
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Damn it!<br />
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On the way to the trail from work I got a call from my 6 year old daughter Abigail. She wanted to inform me that I put Ashton's yogurt in her lunch instead of hers. In a normal family this isn't a big deal but like me, Abi can't have dairy. Luckily she knew she wasn't supposed to eat it and wanted to let me know she knew better. "Daddy, it wasn't my soy yogurt. I was Ashton's cow milk yogurt." I was proud of her but at the same time upset with myself as I don't mix up her foods with Ashton and Ciara's......ever. With all my dietary issues I am in tune with what she needs to stay away from. I have been making Ashton's lunches for 6 years now and Abi's for 2 and this was my first big mistake. Ashton is hypoglycemic so he can't have to much sugar. So I have had a good stretch but to make two mistakes in one morning is unlike me.<br />
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Because we were expecting to stop at the trail head, another rider had jumped in front of us but quickly realized we were on his six and let us by. I didn't want to just yet as I wanted to wait another couple turns when the trail opened up a bit. But he insisted. So off we went in search of Charlie. I am not sure if he backed off the throttle because he may have thought we stopped but it only took a minute or two until I had a visual again. It was on a switchback that put me 150 meters behind him. As the switchback met up I looked over at him and he looked at me (kind of felt slow motion like a movie) and there was a 2 second stare through each other's sun glasses. The shared feeling was obvious. He didn't want to be caught and we didn't want to be dropped. Diesel was hanging off my back wheel, I couldn't see him but I could hear his bike and knew he would bridge back up once he recovered. I knew better than to wait for him. He would be upset if I did. <br />
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I was still riding 'dirty' as my lines were not crisp and I was still relying on power to catch Charlie. I thought by now I would be in race mode but was having a hard time flipping the switch. I even misjudged a rock garden and rode out the side of it and had to plow my way back to the trail.....very uncharacteristic of my at Maybury but Charlie was pushing a hard pace. I had been in these situations before and have been able to respond. I had the legs but where was my head? And for crying out loud I was on my full suspension and not my hardtail. I should be flowing like water down the trail.<br />
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I could now see why Diesel was having a hard time with this guy. Not only was he fast, he was fast because he was smooth. He was hitting all the right lines and his cadence was spot on. He was very efficient. Reminded me a lot of me, except I was doing a horrible job of being me even though I had me in front of me to follow. Charlie could have been dragging a chalk like behind him and I still would have misread the trail. <br />
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As expected Diesel had bridged back up to us and we were back in formation right before the midway point of the trail, approaching the turn around by the damn. Although I was a mess I was optimistic that I could hold this pace for the second half of the trail. But if Charlie were to make that right turn again and go for round three I was not sure if I could keep this pace up. I had skipped a few 'drink spots' and I was coming up on my feeding time. I would need to find a way to get some shot blocks in me and more fluids before a possible lap 3 at this pace. It didn't help that this was my first experience with NUUN and I likened it to drinking alka seltzer.<br />
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Then the unexpected. As we leaned into the turn around at the damn Charlie slowed down and eventually came to a stop. I was surprised and we slowed down and rolled by him slowly to say awesome ride and great pace. He said the same to us and you could feel the mutual respect. Looking back we should have stopped to chat with him but we were on the trail and I wanted to keep going. It appeared Charlie parked at the other entrance and came onto the trail at the midway point so that was his full lap. I was gassed but tried to keep a decent pace for the rest of the lap. I did tell Diesel that I was stopping after that lap for a break to collect my head. It was weird now to not be chasing anyone.<br />
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After a brief stop to change bottles from the jersey to the bike we took off down the trail for lap 3 with Diesel at point. It was a pretty uneventful lap but we still pulled a low 29. I felt more crisp, alert and one with the trail but don't know why. Maybe I wasn't warmed up enough when we started chasing Charlie and my body needed a second to catch up and at the break it did. Either way I was much happier with how I rode lap 3.<br />
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We decided a 4th lap wasn't needed as the sun was getting low and we would be running out of light. Total trail time was close to 1:27:00 for the three laps. Made me wonder if any of those were in the 28's. Normally I will do 4-6 laps non stop and average just a hair under 30 minutes a lap so to see we averaged close to 29 minutes a laps was nice. Maybe that had something to do with my sloppy riding, I was out of my comfort zone. Hats off to Charlie for pushing us so hard out there. Driving home I regretted not stopping to talk to him. Diesel said we should have stopped to try and recruit him. <br />
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Hopefully we'll run into Charlie again soon. However, I think I need to come up with a better nickname for him for our next meeting.<br />
Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-1408882939940949812012-08-06T10:13:00.002-07:002012-08-06T10:13:43.740-07:00From the cheap seatsThat's about sums up the past 3 races for me since my 3rd place at Bloomer. To reacp:<br />
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July 28th - Tree Farm Relay - Team was sitting in podium position after 3 laps and I had a major tangle passing another rider which caused a crash and valuable mins doing trail repair to my bike to get it rolling again. I lost close to 4 mins on that crash and we lost the race by 5 mins. It's been a week and a half and it still bothers me. I had a lot riding on that race and since last year have been bent on winning that race after coming in second in 2011. We still finished 4th out of 17 teams but that's the first time since 2006 we have walked away from that race without a top 2 finish.<br />
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Aug 4th - Brighton XC - As always I am not a good starter and get bad field position in the hole shot. Went into the woods in 11th place and spent my first lap of a 2:18:03 race looking for passing room where there wasn't much. I had my first taste of racing against Simon Bailey as him and I spent the majority of the race switching at the point fighting for the last podium spot in our class. With 6 miles to go I was able to tighten the screws and build a small gap between us but 3 miles later it backfired as I stated to cramp and could not hold my pace any longer. He was able to pass me and build a lead I couldn't close after I recovered and I ended up finishing 4 seconds behind him. Looking back I should have waited another couple miles to attack him. Live, learn and move on to the next race with knowledge in your back jersey pocket.<br /><br />Aug 5th - Ruby XC - This was an A race for me until I found out that Dub9, Lako-moto and Chunk all weren't going to be there in the geared class. Still a fun course though and figured if nothing else it would be loads of fun to race there again. Well, race day came and so did the rain and only one other person in my class. By the time I got to the starting line I had lost a lot of motivation to be fast. Less than 10 minutes into the race another rider from a different class crashed in front of me on a wet wooden bridge and even though I got past him okay I wasn't set up properly for the next bridge and since I wasn't fully upright with my weight centered I went down to mother earth with a large thud, shoulder first. Ouch. That one hurt but I was okay and so was the bike. But I sat there on the ground for a second wondering what I was racing for that day. I had a hard time taking glory in possibly winning a race against only one other person even though that person was a well know fast Jeff Cerget. I kept thinking about my upcoming 'A' race at Maybury and how if I wrecked my bike or injured myself and had to miss that race I would be very upset. I pedaled on for another mile trying to refocus but could not get a radar lock so I called it quits because low focus and slippery trail conditions could lead to a much worse crash. <br />
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But . . .<br />
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Through these three races didn't pan out for me like I wanted them to, I got to be part of some good results for some closer friends of mine. <br />
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First, my one and only teammate Brian killed it at all three of these races. He redeemed himself from last years Relay and threw down some sick fast lap splits for the team. Then at Brighton, even though he blew up toward the end he was still able to salvage a 3rd place in his class for a great podium finish. At Ruby less then 24 hours later he not only won his class, he laid waste to the entire Sport Category and set the fastest time of the day...and he came through the finish chute like he could have went another 15 rounds. It's been so fun to be there for "The Year of the Diesel."<br />
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Another person is my boy Brad Lako. After a disappointing finish at Bloomer he bounced back 2 weeks later to finish 2nd place at Brighton and remind us all what he is really capable of. Just when I thought I was making progress on catching him.....lol. My money will be on him come the Stony XC in three weeks. I now I can't match his power but I just hope that I will be able to do enough to stand up there on the podium with him that day.<br /><br />And last, my dog John Osgood. What a freight train this guy is. After chasing his butt around Bloomer 2 weeks ago and coming up 8 seconds short, he put the hurtin' on me at Brighton and finished a solid 4th place more than 2 mins ahead of Simon and I. Then, like Brian, 24 hours later mounted his Single Speed and rode what may have been his most complete race of the year so far. Starting his 3rd lap of a 3 lap race I had him clocked at being 4 MINUTES ahead of closest rival but didn't want to tell him then as I wanted to double check that I was correct. So I waited for the next rider and sure enough, damn near 4 mins! So I raced to the next road crossing and informed him of the gap he created. Then was able to be there to see him finish. Killer race.<br />
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So, even though I had a rough 2 weeks it was great to still be out there to see the people you went through the ranks with over the years have their days. Very proud of them all as they earned their stripes without short cuts. Anyone who stands on the podium at the end of the race, no matter what class, will tell you it wasn't an easy ride to get there. <br /><br />And also big ups to JTP and David Moore as well on their accomplishments in the past two weeks. Two guys who I have gotten to know a little better this year that have been pulling down some hardware as well.<br />
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<br />Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-45553773585800139322012-07-23T09:49:00.000-07:002012-07-23T09:53:21.617-07:00Making Progress<br />
I have been away from the race circut for a couple years. I have done a few races here and there but not any USAC races to chase points. In previous years I was able to pull down some podiums but it's been a long climb to get back to possibly being fast enough to do that again. Along the way I have had a few friends tell me to keep focused, keep working and I'll be back.<br />
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I wish there were more race courses like last weekend. Lots and lots of twisting single track at the Bloomer XC, stop number 6 of the 8 race circut.. This course suited my strengths but I knew it would still be over 2 hours of work to finish this race. There were two sections on the course where you could stretch your road legs a little but this race would be won or lost in the single track. Luckily for me I have spent thousands of miles riding behind Master McCabe for the past 7-8 yeas and over time have picked up his single track form. Sure I have to take credit for being able to execute this style of riding but I do have to give credit to my Single Track Sensi.<br />
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The plan was to get a good position off the start and be in the top 5 or so going into the woods. But I have never been a sprinter so I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull that off. So when it was go time I hammered within my limits and it was good enough to land me 6th into the woods. Good enough. A train of 7 of us bobbed and weaved through the trees together for the first ~4 miles. Then after the 'decent' the rider in front of me was a little brake happy and the top 4 guys created a small gap of about 5 seconds. Once on the first open flat the 4 of them took off like a sqaudren of fighter jets in formation. Once I made the left hand turn I called the pass and took off after the pack not wanting to lose much time to them. Dubs was on my six like planned as I knew I would eventually need a pull from him on the next open flat. The surprise to me though was the climb after the flat that I wasn't prepared for. I had went a little to hard across the flat and by the time I got to the top of the stair case climb I was really in the red. So much that I made a stupid mistake and my front tire washed out causing me to go down. I hopped up quick but let Dubs go by as to not slow his momentum.<br />
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On the next open section he was planing to pull but I couldn't match his power. Crap. So much for that. But once back in the singe track I had caught him and we rode tire to tire for a good mile before I called the pass on the left. He stayed with me for most of that lap but slipped back a few seconds in the tighter stuff. I was bummed as I was hoping we would be able to work together most of the race. I came around to lap and when I passed the team tent Brian called out, "30 seconds to Lako!" Really? Wow, only 30 seconds behind him? I am waiting for the final results to post to see if that was true as I didn't belive I was only 30 seconds behind the race leader after 35 mins of racing. <br />
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Lap two I spent calculating and revising my race strategy. I could see Dubs on some of the switch backs and he looked like he was holding his own. Parts of me were hoping he'd regroup and close the gap on me so we could work together more but then other parts of me didn't want to try and out sprint him to the finish. On the long flats I looked over my shoulder a couple times half expecting to see Dub's all black kit closing in on me or the bright orange kit of David Moore who can throw down some serious power on the flats. But at the end, I rode lap #2 pretty much alone. <br />
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Entering the single track of lap three I could an RBS rider who started in the younger class in front of me. He was holding his own well so I decided not to call the pass. He was climbing a little better than me but I would quickly be back on his tire when it evened out and we had to weave the trees. He asked me twice if I wanted to pass but I explained to him it might benefit him more if I stayed behind him. Plus I was using lap three as a set up for the last lap. I didn't want to do those long flats alone and judging by how well he did the exchange chute I knew I could draft him in those sections and save my legs a little. Plan worked flawlessly as he clipped along faster than I would have been able to alone and he pulled me thru those sections well. Going through the exchange chute to start lap 4 I grabbed a bottle from Brian as I passed and he told me 60 seconds to Lako. What? He must have him confused with some one else.<br />
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I told the RBS guy that I was going to attack hard on lap four and he had already agreed to let me go first into the woods. He made a few comments once we entered but he dropped off the pace quickly as I was zoned in on catching who I was really after, my friend Osgood. If Brad was only 60 seconds up Osgood must be closer! He has been finishing on the podium race after race after race this year but I knew if I had any chance to beat him it would be on a course like this. He kicks my butt at time trials and I seem to always beat him at the marathon but this was an even playing field, a pure XC. I was doing 34-35 min laps and was confident I could close that 60 second gap in that amount of time. I pushed hard and worked to get the most out of every corner. But then something odd happened. Before I hit the first open section on the back half of the course I heard, "Aryn's coming." It was Osgood's voice but who was he talking to? About two minutes later I found myself on Lako's back wheel. I was surprised and concerned at the same time. He was the last guy I expected to catch. Unfortunately for him he popped and was just doing his best to make it to the finish. Normally it feels good to pass such a respected racer but not under those conditions. But it can happen to any of us so I pressed on knowing Osgood was still in front of me.<br />
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At this time I had no idea what place I was in. My main focus was to catch Osgood. I got some help from 'Tiny' (I just nick named him that) on the long flat section and told him to hug my wheel once we got back into the single track. He tried but wasn't able to hang on. I could see Osgood in front of me on the switch backs but I was running out of time to catch him. He saw me to so I know he was digging deep to make sure I didn't catch him. He passed a rider from another class and put some one between us but my eyes were still focused on him. But man was he riding well. I watched and waited for him to slip a wheel, mis-shift or make a small mistake some where and then I would make my last dig to close that gap. But hats off to him for riding as smooth as butter and making sure not to leave me an opening. I came out of the woods just as he crossed the finish line. I laid off the gas and coasted in as the official time sheet says I finished 8 seconds behind him. <br />
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I can honestly say that I have not had that much fun on a bike since chasing my friend Jeremy around Maybury last year in the same type of cat and mouse game. Although it hurt a little inside to be so close to catching him only to lose to him at the end, I will never complain about losing to such a classy racer. He threw down a solid performance and once it was all over waited for me at the finish line to shake my hand and say, "Welcome back to the podium."<br />
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That's class. Thanks bro!<br />
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That's me, third rider back in the picture. First rider is the man I chased after for two hours and eighteen minutes. (guy between us was from anther class)<br /><br />Second picture, if you were there you know why I was laughing.<br />
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<br />Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-10055775923970900132012-07-09T12:43:00.001-07:002012-07-09T12:49:18.453-07:00Mentally Regular<br />
I am good at long term suffering and have the track record to prove it. Out of the 8 'endurance' type events I have done I have taken a top 5 in my class every time dating back to 2007. 40 miles, 60 miles, 6 hour solo, 2 man 12 Hour and a 12 hour solo. Heat, rain, mud.....didn't matter. I always went far enough to get a top 5. But three years I have waited to get back to this race, the Stony Marathon. Last time I did it, it was 60 miles for Experts but now it was 50. Hell, I did 112 miles in 10 hours on roughly the same course back in May. After that I knew I was on track to fight for a podium in July. To be honest I had plans to finish in the top 3.<br />
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2009 I took the year off because Sue and I had our third child. 2010...well that was out of my control. 2011...same thing. But in Nov of 2011, I had my eyes on July 7th 2012 and my break out race. Any race before that was just a warm up to where I wanted to be. Then in 8 weeks, 7 months of preparation was destroyed. <br />
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After the 112 miles in May I developed tendonitis. I took 3 weeks off to heal up. I told myself if I could ride again by June 4th I would be okay because I wouldn't lose much of my base. June 4th came and I was able to spin again. So I took a week to spin lightly to make sure I could still ride without pain during or after rides. The week went well and so I went back, revised my training plan and went to work. So I was able to train well again for a solid two weeks.<br />
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And then the bomb dropped.<br />
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June 23rd I couldn't talk. By June 25th I was at the doctor being told I had an ear and sinus infection. I would need 10 days of antibiotics and rest. Seriously? I just started riding again!<br />
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Do the math and 10 days meant I would be taking meds until two days before the race . . . THE RACE!<br />
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One of the three races I had marked as A+ races. One of the five I marked at A or above. <br />
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Another week was taken off the bike....doing nothing on the bike. Seven weeks passed and I only been able to train during two of them. One week was 3 light one hour spins. That doesn't count. The week leading into THE RACE, I rode once with Brain at ILRA for 2 hours but at a recovery pace for most of it. I also did a 2.5 hour road ride but again with a race coming up and still on drugs and feeling 65-70% I knew I had to take it easy.<br />
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3 weeks rest + 1 week weak spins + 2 weeks hard efforts + 1 week sick + 1 week of drugged up weak efforts = 5 more pounds for me to carry around every where I go.<br />
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I almost canceled. To hell with this. No, I need to make an effort and get back out there.<br />
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I raced but spent my fist two laps seriously considering taking the DNF. But as I came around to start lap three that inner fire that had seemed to burn out was bellowing smoke now. And when there is smoke there is fire. It was near 100 degrees out and I had only had one ride in decent heat to prepare for something like this. But I was going to see it to the end. I had never taken a DNF and I wasn't about to now. <br />
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4:06:33 the official card read. 8th out of 14. 22nd out of 50 in the entire Expert Category. But more important to me, I finished. <br />
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But what meant even more to me was that three guys who I respect highly congratulated me in person at the results table on showing up, giving the effort and finishing the race despite the past 8 weeks. You know who you are.<br />
<br />
The lack of training, still being sick and the immense heat made this one of, if not, the most hardest races I have ever done. Both physically and mentally.<br />
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Last, there is one person who helped me finish this race without even being there. My wife, Sue, was smack in the middle of the virus I had and still wanted me to go and do this race even though I would be leaving her home sick with 3 kids. She knew I was less than ready for this race but she knew how long I had been waiting to go back to do this one. She sat home and worried about me the entire time because of the heat and my lack of health. Most of all I wanted to finish the race for her as I feel the day would have been a failure after all she had sacrificed for me to be there. <br />
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So even though I wanted to be able to dedicate my long awaited return to the podium to her, all I can do is dedicate finishing of one of the hardest races I have done mentally in a long time. And some times that's more important. This one's for you baby.<br />
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<br />Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-8351333197181669022012-06-28T10:56:00.000-07:002012-06-28T10:56:14.559-07:00Chain Slack<br />
It's been 4 years since I raced a full schedule. The last three years have each posed their own issues that kept me from racing again. I was very excited after talking with Sue and coming up with a plan that would allow me to race again this year and chase points. The plan was formulated back in November of 2011 when my training for the 2012 season started. <br />
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Since then though, it's been a roller coaster ride to try and keep myself gaining and building to be stronger and faster than the races I did last year. It seems for every solid block of training I have had this year I have had a block that has made me have to hit the reset button. Since November I had been sick and in need of antibiotics three times. The first time was a big hit over xmas when I had 10 days off of work and had planned to do an endurance block. Well I was sick for 8 of those days and I never got on the bike. The second time was the first week in April. After having awesome weather in March and getting outside to ride quite a few times I came down with a horrible ear infection that side lines me for a week and a half leading into the first race of the year. The third time, well I am in the middle of it right now. After putting down over 400 miles in the last 3 weeks and on track to have well over a 500 shortened month. I am on my fourth day off with no plans to ride again until Monday because I still feel like crap, coughing and blowing my nose every 60 seconds. <br />
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Yes, I have lost more than the last 4 days recently. The second weekend of May I competed in a 12 hour race. One thing led to another and I finished 112 miles on the trail in 10 hours but I picked up tendonitis along the way. That injury kept me off my bikes for almost 3 weeks. Three weeks that were supposed to be a huge build time for me. Once off the injury I had to ride easy for a week and then was able to hit it hard for two weeks...until I got sick, again.<br />
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On top of that I remember taking a week off for the kids being sick. That's something I know is going to happen now and again so it was no big deal. But Sue also broke her ankle again in March and that had me take some time off to keep things running smooth at home.<br />
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So in the first 26 weeks of 2012 I have missed a total of 7 weeks of training time and 2 races. You could say 8 weeks if you start the count from the last week of 2011. Out of these 8 weeks missed, only 1 of them fell on a planned rest week. On top of that I have 9 days until my next race which is a 50 miler and an 'A' race. Needless to say I am not going to be in tip top shape for it so pulling down a podium may not be possible now as I have lost to much training time in the past two months. Judging by last week's training numbers I am still hot for a 2 hour or less race but I am not sure if I still have the long haul legs I had 6 weeks ago to battle for a top 5 spot in the next race. Lako, Osgood, Dubs, Moore and Bonnell are all podium threats for the next race and 8 months ago I had all intentions of placing top three at this race. But to beat even 3 out of the 5 guys I just mentioned is a huge feat. My log shows only one ride over 2 hours in the last 6 weeks and being sick I will not have the opportunity to ride this weekend to help develop a race strategy. <br />
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I am going to go still and race. I paid for this stupid Cat 1 license so I may as well use it. Like my man Osgood stated in his blog, "Can't plan viruses." I preach race strategy to everyone who asks me for advise but for me on this one, my only plan will be racer's instinct. Just start pedaling when the gun goes off and make decisions as the race unfolds.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-48404317937204989882012-06-04T09:44:00.004-07:002012-06-04T09:44:56.317-07:00Not my typical Sunday morning rideSunday morning....got up at 7am after staying up until 1am with Sue to watch a movie. Was moving a little slow but the plan was to be out the door at 7:30. Checked the weather, looked like it might rain but I had what looked like a 1 hour window. Plenty of time since I was only supposed to be doing an hour coming off this injury. So I got my stuff together and went out to the garage to get the road bike. It's that time of year where I leave it in the garage instead of in the basement hooked to the trainer 24/7. Once out to the garage I found the rear tire on the Felt to be flat. For real? <br />
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<br />
So I went back in the house to the basement to get my pump. Aired the tube up only to hear the air pissing out. Took the tube out and saw the hole was at the base of the valve stem. Crap. So I checked the rim and tire for the culprit and found nothing. Grabbed the spare tube out of my saddle bag and put the bike back together. As I went to air up the tube all I heard was air coming out and the pressure gauge still reading zero psi. For real? <br />
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Back to the basement to find another tube. I was going to give it one last try. As I walked in Sue was up and so was Ciara. She gave me that look like 'thought you were gone already.' I said to her, "Something doesn't want me to ride today. I had flatted twice already and haven't even made it out of the garage." Looked all over the basement in 'the bike shop' as the kids call it, and found no extra tubes. Had two new tires sitting there. Even have a second set of wheels but no tubes or tires on them. How do I not have any more tubes? Damn it. Had my face buried in my hands with frustration when through my fingers I see the Salsa Mamasita I spent 2 hours building up yesterday. Only problem is I don't have a seat post or saddle for it yet. Other than that though the bike is ready to ride. The Titus uses a bigger diameter post. The Felt post would fit.....oh but so would the post and saddle off the Redline! So I threw the Mamasita on my shoulder and hiked it upstairs and through the kitchen on my way out the door. Sue gave me another look...."I got a seat post and saddle in the garage! Love you! Be back in an hour or so. I don't have any house keys....." I said as I ran out the door. <br />
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It's been 6 years since I went for a morning ride on the road with a mountain bike. It took a couple neighborhood blocks of riding to get the seat post and saddle position right but I managed. Wanted to make sure it was spot on this time so I wouldn't have a repeat of last month. Figured I would start my 20 mile loop and it would take me a little over an hour to finish. Well my 20 mile loop turned into my 25 mile loop because I was having so much fun. As I rolled down Mack and was 3 streets from my block I see a car that looks an awful lot like mine make a right turn and head down the street in the opposite direction. Luckily it was heading into the direction of The Pancake House. What are the odds Sue ordered breakfast and threw the kids in the car and went to go pick it up? Very slim since that's my job. <br />
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Once closer to home I see my car is not in the driveway where I left it. Little late in the morning for people to be stealing cars but I wasn't worried. But Sue knew I'd be home close to 9am. She'll be back from the Pancake House with breakfast soon. I better go in and shower up, I told myself, so I can eat my food while it's still hot. Got to the back door and crossed my fingers she left it unlocked. Had been out riding for about 75 minutes and breakfast was sounding good. Walked in the house with the Salsa on my shoulder and as I walked to go through the kitchen I saw a piece of paper on the counter that read, "Went to church with the kids. Luv Ya!" It was dead on 9am. I had an hour and fifteen minutes on my hands. What to do? Well, I did the only sensible thing of course. Slammed a gel, grabbed a rice bar, refilled the bottle and went out on the bike for another 45 minutes. Knee was feeling good and the Salsa was running great, why not? <br />
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I forgot to start my computer so I have no readout from the ride but I didn't care because after taking two weeks off to heal up and spending last week only doing a 30 min and 45 min spin, I was finally able to do something that resembled an actual ride. I was able to put in some good efforts against the wind with the left leg doing it's share of the work load. So after all the commotion before the ride I ended the morning with almost 120 minutes of saddle time and to my pleasure the knee went on through the day without any repercussions. I still think racing this weekend would be a bad idea but I will see how the week goes and consult Sue on Saturday. She is mostly worried about me re-injuring and it would be in my best interest to listen to her if I want to try and salvage the second half of the season. <br />
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And no blog is complete without any pictures. So here is some for your viewing pleasure: <br />
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"ON YOUR LEFT!"</div>Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-77463414846003122142012-05-08T10:02:00.001-07:002012-05-09T04:12:08.508-07:00A Ticket to Ride?<br />
Sunday's ride went a little different that planned. First, it took me forever to get out the door. I was 50/50 on going out for a ride and the fact that I would have to start with full tights on didn't make it any easier. But I got everything together and out the door I went at 8:15am....and if you know me that is a late start time for a weekend ride. I decided to head south on Mack, hang a Louie at Morross and b-line it to the water's edge. Surprisingly my 10 min ride to the water felt really well and I was ready to go. <br />
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Wind was blowing in from the north at a good clip, a steady 10mph. So I made a right and headed south. It was hard to keep my speed in check with the tailwind but I tried knowing I would have to eventually turn around and take the wind head on. Plan was a 2-3 hour ride. I had packed for 3 hours and with the 12 Hours of Stony coming up I figured I should just do an endurance type ride. Nothing to straining on the lungs or legs. As I approached the Grosse Pointe/Detroit border on Jefferson I thought to myself it had been a while since I have been downtown. So instead of making a left and taking Barrington to Windmill Pointe, I proceeded due South in route to Cobo where Jefferson ends.....technically where the sidewalk ends to.<br />
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At 9am on a Sunday morning the roads are pretty clear as there are not many people out yet...mostly church goers. So the ride down to the heart of The D was pretty uneventful. I did pass another person out for a morning ride but she was clipping along below 15mph so I just waved as I passed. Sun came out from the clouds by the time I got down to Cobo so I leaned the bike up against a pillar and slipped off the tights showing off the new Twin 6 Team Bibs...although no one was around to see them. Rolled up the pants and put them in the jersey pocket and off I went again. I was 43 mins into the ride now and downed some calories before I stopped to derobe so I was good to go. <br />
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Things were going well for the first 60 seconds until I passed the Christ's Church of Detroit and the wind hit me head on.......holy crap it was coming down Jefferson at a faster clip than I had realized. So there I was, to deal with a 15+ mph head wind for return trip home. So much for taking it easy. What was a 23mph pace was quickly reduced to 18 mph against the wind and at times dipping into the 17's when the wind would gust. I pushed on for the next 25 minutes to get me back to Grosse Pointe. I wanted to do some laps around Belle Isle but that would only have stalled the inevitable head wind battle. So instead of heading for the safety of the island I kept charging north against the wind. I made it to Grosse Pointe and looked down Barrington as I passed thinking how nice it would be to go down there and get out of the wind. That would have been the smart thing to do.<br />
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As I kept due north I eventually passed the War Memorial and then made the small decent to where Jefferson turned into Lakeshore.....all of a sudden it seemed as if the head wind increased another 10 mph. I knew this was going to happen though and was ready for it. I got lower and more aero and kept on against the wind not wanting to give up. As I passed Morross I thought about making the turn and going home but that would have cut my ride under 2 hours. No dice. So as I rolled north it wasn't long before my side of the boulevard was separated by little orange cones. Instinctively I went inside the cones where the cars weren't allowed. After all the so called bike lane was over there and the cars were in the left lane. Well about a mile later a Grosse Pointe Farms officer on a motorcycle tells me as I pass that I can't be in that lane because there is a running race going on. I slow down and ask if I can ride in it until I see runners. He says no and demands I ride in the left lane with the cars. I look and say, "There's no room!" He glares at me and says, "Son, you need to stay out of the right lane or else you'll find yourself with a ticket." The conversation went fast and I had a goal of getting to 16 mile road and didn't want to break pace so I agreed and pedaled along. <br />
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I was hugging those cones as the cars past and some were very close. WTF I thought to myself. I had gne another mile without seeing anyone in that 'running lane.' The next set of cars made it interesting. First car, no issue. Next car was a Grand Cherokee and as it passed a Boxer leaned his head out the window and nearly bite me...for real! I had his spit on my face to prove it. Scared the crap out of me but I had to hold my line next to the cones to not get run over. Next car was close but the fourth car was a GMC Yukon. As I saw the hood I did an, "Oh sh!t." I brought my elbows in and I swear the mirror was 3 inches from my shoulder as the truck passed. The driver was cool and slowed down but I said f**k this and went inside the cones. Next vehicle to come up....a motorcycle, with the cop on it.<br />
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I looked over at him and he stared back at me. I was riding the left side of the right lane about 12 inches from the cones. I looked at him, pissed and gassed from dealing with the cars and headwind and said, "I'll take the cost of a ticket over the cost of my copay for a trip to the emergency room. I am sorry but that Yukon was to close for my comfort and there is no room for me in that lane. I had a friend out in Pinckney get hit by a truck towing a landscaping trailer last year and I don't need that trouble." He looked at me for a second and said, "You can ride where you are until you see runners. When you do I need you out of that lane or else I will have to give you a ticket." I asked how much further until the cones ended and said at the Edsel Ford mansion. I said okay since it was only another mile up the road.<br />
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After that he took off and I decided to go into the red for a bit to get this over with. I saw some runners shortly after and hammered the pedals in the left lane to clear the cones before the next set of cars. Next I clicked down and recovered for a bit before finishing my ride to 16 mile. I made the turn around at 16 mile and headed home with the wind to my back again. In the end I rode for 2.5 hours and spent roughly 80 straight minutes against that headwind. <br />
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As I pulled up to the house Sue was coming out the front door with the kids and I was gassed but happy to see them all. I thought for a second whether I should tell her what happened. In the end I did and although she doesn't like hearing those things she feels better knowing than not knowing. <br />
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(Sorry, no pictures but this was long enough without them)Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-20880622417766643312012-04-30T09:16:00.001-07:002012-04-30T09:43:19.927-07:00Pontiac TT wrap upPontiac came and went in a flash. Maybe because my round trip in the car was only 1.5 hours instead of 4.5 hours. Met up with Dub 9 in the early morning again but also got to chat with more guys and gals I haven't seen in a while. Most noticeably Todd "the Hitman" Powers. I was lucky enough to catch up with him at the registration table and then hitched on his wheel for the warm up ride before the race. Was great to catch up with him and get some pointers from a seasoned veteran who knows a thing or two about racing.
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I was a bit nervous again before the race but found myself as calm as could be at the starting line. It had warmed up with the sun shining it final broke into the 40's before my start time. Last weekend at Yankee it was in the 30's and when I arrived at Pontiac it was still in the 30's.
I lined up Dave Z from Cycletharapy. Cool guy but he wasn't in my class so I planned to work with him as a team the first few miles. We were to go off together and he seemed to know more about the trail than me so my plan was to let him take the hole shot and lead us out over the first 2 miles. Well right before the first set of climbs he let me by and I think it worked out well for me as I had a clear look at the all the lines to the top. Again, he was not in my class but he pulled me thru the first couple miles which was part of the trail I didn't remember. Thanks Dave! (Dave leading us out from the start and into the singletrack)
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The rest of the trail came to me in flashes as I would come up on certain sections. It was like deja vu. So I was able to set up for certain corners, descents and also pick my gearing accordingly as well as manage my heart rate. The first lap went by faster and with much less suffering than the first lap at Yankee the week prior. I was feeling good but was still wondering if I could keep it up for another lap. I came around to lap though and accidentally missed the sharp right to start my second lap and had to lock the brakes up. I was in track stand mode for a split second and then turned the wheel right and just made it back to the loop chute without putting a foot down. But I was in a big gear so I was standing up pulling on the pedals to get my speed back up. Dumb dumb dumb mistake that would later cost me precious seconds. (My face reacting early to what was about to happen 60 seconds later as I over shot the lap)
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I had already switched bottles and downed some calories before the lap split so I was off and ready to tackle lap #2. I had cleared most of the slower traffic my first loop and after the 2 mile climb my legs were still feeling pretty good. Felt way stronger than last week and more along the pace of where I thought I should be. Due to less traffic I was able to get into a rhythm and focus more on the trail rather than trying to find room to pass people. I still passed 3 riders on the second lap but I passed at least 10 on the first. The second lap felt much smoother than the first and I felt more controlled over myself and the bike. All the metal notes I had taken the first lap had paid off and I came into the finish chute strong going on 9 seconds slower than my first lap. First lap was a 43:18 and second was 43:27. I knew the top guys would be pulling 42's so I would probably not crack the top 5 but I would be close. As the results were posted I saw that Lako and Osgood both ran a ~41:30 first loop and ~42:00 second loop to net them a 2nd and 3rd place. Damn that's fast. I saw that I took 7th and considering how my off season went I was okay with that. Top 5 would have been nice but I felt I managed my race well and rode a clean race with minimal mistakes. That was until Brian pointed out that I finished less than 4 seconds behind the guy in 6th and less than 10 seconds behind the guy in 5th. Remember me earlier mentioning I overshot the loop around....it cost me 6th place for sure. Not sure I lost 10 seconds there but I know it was at least 5. But that's Time Trialing. It's you against the clock and you have no idea how anyone else did until the results are posted. Kudos to the two guys who finished right in front of me. I am sure they felt pretty good about their finishes and went home happy.
Congrats to my guys Lako and Osgood for such a great race. Always good to see them off the course and on the podium. Hopefully I will be back up with them soon. Also thanks to Todd Powers for the pre race pep talk and also the on course inspiration to push on and get that second lap time I needed to try for that podium. If I were to ever have a coach he'd be the guy I would call. But last, congratulations to my main training partner Brian "The Diesel" McCabe. He cleaned house on his single lap in the Sport category to capture his first solo win in his 6 years of racing. He has come close a handful of times in the past but this day he left them all in the dust with the closest guy finishing 2 minutes behind him. Don't remember his time but I wish I could have seen him on the podium. I tried to stick around for it but Taiwind was running slow and I had to get home. (Check out The Diesel bringing it down the hill to the home stretch....drifting his front tire and all!!!)
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I have this weekend off of racing but May 12th Brian and I will be going to Stony to either do the 6 or 12 hour solo races. Still on the fence of which one to do but will have to make a decision soon.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-64625808361779647312012-04-30T09:06:00.001-07:002012-04-30T09:11:43.286-07:00Late Yankee TT recapIt's still hard to believe I made it to the beginning of this race season. I have been trying to make it back the past two years with zero luck. I did a couple races last year but nothing like I wanted to. This off season went okay but I got sick twice for over a week each time. then of course the kids were sick off and on but I expect that to happen. Sue getting an avulsion fracture in her right ankle wasn't planned but we made it through that and are on the tail end of it. And then there's the extra hours at work.....well this is life and I do my best to train around it all. Sue has been super supportive of what I am trying to do this year and she has given a lot as well to help me get to where I am now.
Enter the Yankee Springs TT. The official season opener. Hadn't raced there in 6 years and had only ridden there once since then. Last time I raced there I was in the Sport class and finished 24th out of 27 with a time of 1:00:55. Figured I couldn't do any worse than that. Really didn't remember much of the trail but got a run down from my friend Dub 9 before the race. I was feeling pretty positive that morning and had a game plan set. I needed an early start to make it home asap so I signed up in Elite, under Max Rockatansky, two classes higher than last time I raced here. I am not chasing points in the CPS series, I was just there to see what the legs had and to get a good training race in. Like my man Osgood says, the best training is racing. Well I went off early and got dropped early. I was feeling okay the first half of my first loop but then it can time to climb and I seemed to have left my climbing legs in the car. What the hell??? I thought I was in better shape than this. As I was completing the last mile of my first lap I seriously considered quitting the race and going home. Yes, I was that out of it mentally. But I came around 3+ minutes faster than I thought I was going so I sucked it up and made the turn for my second lap. 10 miles down, 10 to go. About 5 minutes later I hit a good spot to switch bottles and down some calories. I swapped the bottles from my jersey to the bike and when I reached back to grab my gel flask all I found was an empty pocket. Oh sh!t. I had left it in the car...along with my climbing legs. "This isn't good." I said to myself out loud. I was already struggling and without proper fuel the last 5 miles were going to hurt. So I took a chance and kept going hoping I wouldn't bonk. Well when the climbing started again my legs didn't want anything to do with it. I was losing time and power. Crap. I had to stay seated on all my climbs because if I stood up my legs would start to lock up. So I decided to let loose a bit on the descents to try and regain some of the time I was losing on the ascents. Problem is it takes a lot longer to go up the hills than to come back down them. I was probably losing at a 10:1 ratio in terms of seconds.
But I finished the race, shaking a little and in need of food. My times were not that impressive but I gave myself a pat on the back for fighting thru the race and not giving up. I finished with a 1:44:17 which was fast enough to put me 17th out of 36 in my actual race class which is Expert 30-39. But I was in Elite and finished 29th out of 31. Yeah, I had no business being in that class. But I got to go race and get all the do's and don'ts and pros and cons out of the way before the Pontiac TT.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-57355277095441925552012-04-10T10:21:00.001-07:002012-04-10T10:25:02.860-07:00Going another roundSunday night at about 2am I gave up. The fire inside me went out. I was giving up racing. I was ready to sell everything mountain bike related and get that new carbon road bike I have been wanting. No more races. No more stupid training schedule. I could go back to living like a normal person...sleeping at night and not worrying about when I was going to get in my next ride. I was knocked down to the canvas again but this time I just wanted to lay there and rest for a while. Wait for the 10 count from the ref and be carried out of the ring by my trainer and coach. I had been battling in the same ring for 7 years now and every time I got hit I would just bounce back up, get the gloves checked by the ref and get the okay to continue. But not this time. I was comfortable laying there on the canvas. I said to myself it was over. Lay there and relax. If you don't get up the count goes all the way to 10 and you don't ever have to worry about getting knocked down again over this.<br /><br />Ciara had stopped throwing up and I eventually got a couple hours of sleep and woke Monday to take on the day. One sick daughter turned into two sick daughters and I still had the wife with a broken ankle. Didn't help either that my son had a sprained wrist as well from basketball. But I am dad. The hero. I pressed on thru the morning and eventually the girls felt better. Ash was off at Sue's parents for a few hours to hang with grandma and grandpa and Coach Austin. 4pm rolls around and I laid down on the couch to rest the aching body. It had been 4 days since I laid in bed for more than 3 hours without getting up. Everything hurt and I had taken some Advil to help. <br /><br />Throughout the day Sue would asking me what I was thinking and I would just say something I had been thinking that didn't have any relation to bikes. She knew I was avoiding the subject. She doesn't want me to quit. Yes she gets her nights out with the girls from her volleyball leagues to the theater...dinner with the girls. But she has put a lot of time and effort into taking care of the kids while I am out doing my things as well. She goes out for enjoyment and volleyball is her therapy but she knows my times out and those god awful early morning weekend rides on the weekends are training. Plus she knows I have been trying for 3 years to return to racing but have had some set backs due to our extended families which were out of our control. She has done more behind the scenes things for me than any training partner or riding friend I have. From her expertise in the health and fitness field to give me advise to her being a wife and mother to my kids, she has given a lot.<br /><br />With the girls watching a movie and Sue icing her ankle I fell asleep for 10 minutes on the couch awoken by Abi grabbing for the doll that was on my chest. The doll, Bath Baby as Ciara calls it, smells of baby powder and it put knocked me out cold for that 10 mins. Well that was just enough time for the Advil to kick in. I laid there for another 10 minutes with my mind wandering. What about Diesel I thought to myself. I can't give up on him. After all he said I was his motivation to train like he is. He has put in more time than any off season in the past to get where he is. he i set up and primed for a great year. And then there is Tank Evans. All the preaching I have done to him to keep fighting. I'd be a punk to drop out now. And if I stop now then I could rob Diesel of his chance at doing well at the Farm Relay. Sure I am replaceable but I know he'd rather have me there. And damn it if we are going for the win this year it's only right we are both there. And this whole 12 hour thing in May was my idea. If I stop now and he finishes that race.....this isn't just about me anymore. I am now riding for those who have helped get me this far. <br /><br />That fire had never went out before. It had been put on simmer a few times but never went out completely. I thought it was gone, 14 hours without smoke. But there must have been a single coal still warm in there that needed a little air blown on it. I popped up from the couch and went to make dinner. I was still tired but felt that drive again. That burning inside to keep moving forward.<br /><br />By 9:30pm the girls were feeling better and asleep. Me, I was on the trainer starting a 2 hour ride.<br /><br />"Uno mas" I said to myself.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-38977780521877320382012-03-19T11:58:00.005-07:002012-03-19T12:10:23.074-07:00Late to the party againWith the race season starting already in 5 days I again will find myself late to the party. I had signed up for the Barry Roubiax nearly 3 months ago but had to sell my entry. There are multiple reasons why I had to do it but it worked out in the end as I am still fighting off something I caught two weeks ago. I am still riding and training but I battle congestion daily along with a dry cough that tends to start around the time I go to bed. It sucks. Two weeks prior me becoming sick my kids were sick and I missed a week of training. No big deal because I had been going solid for some time, with the exception of being sick over the Holidays. But after only a week of being on the bike again I fell ill and had to take another week off. This blow came during a major transition in my training block and I had to step back and reorganize. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3SaOy576VlZhSvCNWwr8eNOpPUBsOdml8yahCUwzgn255ED56da6c7ILB1cUQWJOt0FoOOkdC0scvb3ejSyqrdIiyrzYSSNCXtLglXj1NZqtWT5scsveVltxLSvfMKBTSJyp20Qgs99A/s1600/organize.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3SaOy576VlZhSvCNWwr8eNOpPUBsOdml8yahCUwzgn255ED56da6c7ILB1cUQWJOt0FoOOkdC0scvb3ejSyqrdIiyrzYSSNCXtLglXj1NZqtWT5scsveVltxLSvfMKBTSJyp20Qgs99A/s320/organize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721687612381501394" /></a><br /><br />Now some would say go do the race anyway, it's not an A race so just go and ride. But I am not one to race unless I am fit to do so. If it was later in the season and I had more quality miles under me I would but all the travel time (this race is 2+ hours from my house) money involved and time spent away from the family is not worth it if I am not 100% ready. If it was a trail race and on this side of the state I would strongly consider it but it's a 35 mile mostly gravel road race and although fun, I'd rather spend my time at the trails. Plus my kid's have an important school function that is falling on the same day and now I don't have to worry about what time I will be back on my side of town...and that had been in the back on my mind for some time. Being a husband, father, employee and part time racer you have to keep the balance. Speaking of balance, the weather here in Michigan has been off balance for some time but has really tipped lately. It's been in the high 60's to low 70's for over a week and we still have 4 more days before it goes back down. Last week I went trail training with Bran and we did 30 miles at Island to stretch the Trainer legs out. Felt great. Then Friday I did my morning training ride outside before work. On Sunday my wife took the kids with her to her parents to get the garden ready for the season and I went out for a 50 mile road ride. Even got a slight sun burn. If all goes well I will be doing hill repeats outside tomorrow morning before work.<br /><br />Riding outside this early in the season has really given me a chance to see where I stand in terms of where I want to be. My endurance seems to be spot on but I can tell I am lacking in the power department. The hills I have come across have me working a little more than I'd be liking to. Yes I have trainer data showing where I am exactly but that only gets me so far. Being on the trail and the open road tells the complete story of where you really are. However, I do have to remember it is only March and in March I am supposed to be doing intervals on the trainer. It isn't until after those intervals in mid April that I go outside and start climbing real hills on the road bike at Island and Kensington. And my form doesn't seem to come around until mid May which is about the time I find myself at my first A race of the season. But although I feel behind in my training maybe I am right where I am supposed to be. I know I just have to keep plugging away and . . . <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCI7QoSADX6vbhljxIdBPMAlHpTNWQBvRO9wJefF-X8JSsQGXBw7WVKicmE45cCb7zs-vZA92LGWNHWAnG9Hn5mWG-ZhrRqr2MVzP5oyNXclFfLzrAC5T-XF2aLFMIZw8i80IDVpr2xxm/s1600/Stay_on_Target.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCI7QoSADX6vbhljxIdBPMAlHpTNWQBvRO9wJefF-X8JSsQGXBw7WVKicmE45cCb7zs-vZA92LGWNHWAnG9Hn5mWG-ZhrRqr2MVzP5oyNXclFfLzrAC5T-XF2aLFMIZw8i80IDVpr2xxm/s320/Stay_on_Target.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721686688709197362" /></a><br /><br />Time will tell and come April 22nd I will know for sure where I stand as I plan to return to Yankee Springs where this all began 6 years ago. Back in 2006 Yankee Springs would be my first ever race and I haven't raced there since and i will be there for sure this year. Nback then I was told by fellow club riders to skip Beginner and go straight to Sport, given my abilities at the time. My hope was to finish mid pack and walk away with some experience. Well I finished 24th out of 27 riders in my class and walked away with loads of knowledge of what not to do before, during and after a race. But I still caught the bug and the rest has been history. <br /><br />Good luck to all my friends racing this weekend. I can't wait to read all the blog updates and hear all the stories. In the mean time, I'll be chasing my carrot getting ready to start the trail season.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ8PnTXcGHW8AuGHpjPg2MlyLOc25CyJgSM8DHvMReZ5OlMH8jEWrdzxR1gmrUAO3TbloSFoLFikLavnkb1eFtA8vMNqBBHhuIwrHrbkahPbBseXuvezoUFN68VVaUmAKAr7d06pep06-/s1600/donkeyandthecarrot_blogres_9601.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ8PnTXcGHW8AuGHpjPg2MlyLOc25CyJgSM8DHvMReZ5OlMH8jEWrdzxR1gmrUAO3TbloSFoLFikLavnkb1eFtA8vMNqBBHhuIwrHrbkahPbBseXuvezoUFN68VVaUmAKAr7d06pep06-/s320/donkeyandthecarrot_blogres_9601.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721685035738235410" /></a>Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-38223657482446439002012-01-02T09:19:00.000-08:002012-01-02T09:46:34.470-08:00Stoking the FireAlthough there always seems to be something to complain about I should not complain how my 2011 riding/racing season went. After all I think I rode more miles in 2011 than I did in 2009 and 2010 combined. I fell 500 miles short of my goal but I did tell myself early in the year I wasn't going to over stress about forcing rides. I did miss a couple races I wanted to do but the races I made it to went very well. Can't complain about 3 races and 3 trips to the podium.<br /><br />I had planned to use my 10 day winter break off of work to do an endurance block but I got pretty sick so I spent 10 days off the bike. Oh well. The main reasons I am not upset is becuase I am still way ahead of where I was last year at this time and more importantly still on track with where I was in the beginning of 2008. Plus, I didn't have to be at work so I got tons of down time with Sue and the kids even though I wasn't feeling all that great.<br /><br />2012 is shaping up to be the most promising riding/racing season I have had in 4 years. Although I have loftly goals for myself this year I would still be very happy if at this time next year I am writing and stating that I didn't accomplish anything more than I did in 2011. But Brian and I have had a few talks already and are both very excited to be back in the mix of a race series. Along with chasing points we also have a few races we'd like to attend to put some old demons to rest....unfinished business.<br /><br />What's most exciting is the idea of being back in the mix with my old foes who are also geat friends. Over the past few years they have helped me keep focus on some day returning back to the starting line and 2011 scratched the surface of what the old days were like. Now it's possible that all four of us maybe back at the line togther and man what a site that will be.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-49343551728855187682011-11-22T09:41:00.000-08:002011-11-22T09:44:26.609-08:00Breaking Into New Territory...But Not On Two WheelsI normally wouldn't rant about rave about my bowling but......<br /><br />My first game of league night last Saturday night I wasn't happy with a 170 something I threw but I was content that I was closer to where I wanted to be. I should be able to throw 180-190 every game. I had 2 bad weeks before this and I was working on digging myself out of a rut. Only issue today was that I was hitting the pocket well but the pins weren't falling for the strike. I felt like my first game I should have had 2-3 more strikes than I ended up with. No issue tho, that's how the game goes some days. At least I was throwing a consistent ball to the pocket. I did miss two spares that cost me a 190 game though. I get more upset with myself for missing spares than I do with not getting a strike on the first ball. But as a team we did enough that game to pull off a win against one of the better teams in the league.....by 16 pins. <br /><br />Before game two I went to talk with Sean, my officially unofficial bowling coach. He is on the league and loves to help people bowl better and does it well because he only gives out advise if and when you ask for it. He said, "Slow the ball down. Lower back swing and you'll control the release. Plus you know your ball gets better pin action at a slower speed. So game two I made the adjustment and slowed the ball down a bit with a lower back swing. I also toweled the ball more often. Some times I forget how important that is. So I was able to rack up a few more strikes and managed a solid 218. Picked up all my spares and we won that game by 11 pins. Sue, Danielle and Todd were throwing their averages both games but we barely escaped a loss both games. I knew in order to take the series I needed to throw another good game. It was then I realized that another 600 series was possible if I just threw a 210. <br /><br />So going into the third game I was focused on my 600 series. I wanted to start off with 2-3 strikes to get the team rolling. The first three strikes felt perfect coming off the hand. 4 was a little different but barely. 5 was spot on like 1-3. So I had tied my record for most consecutive strikes and was on my way to the 210 I wanted. 6th frame the ball slipped out off my thumb and I threw it flat, end over end, no side rotation but since I felt it slip I adjusted the release and sent it straight to the pocket from the right side with no hook. I figured I'd leave a pin or two and was very surprised when they all fell. I turned around and said out loud, that was pure luck right there. Number 7 was a picture perfect strike. Could possibly be the best ball I have thrown in decades, seriously. But it didn't really sink in until the 8th frame. <br /><br />While going up for the 8th frame the sweeper, Jon, for the other team stopped me. He could tell I was starting to get nervous. He said, "Listen, this is bowling. It gets scored one frame at a time. Don't think about any thing else but this frame. Relax and take it one frame at a time." I knew Jon and we had talked quite a few times in the past. He's an avid bowling with a more than a few 300 games under his belt. So I relaxed a bit and remembered what he'd said. <br /><br />After I threw the strike in the 8th it started to become a reality that I might be able to pull off a 300. After the 9th I wasn't sure what to do with myself while waiting for the 10th frame to come. No one was talking to me but I wished some on would of but at the same time I was to wrecked up to start a conversation with anyone. 10th frame comes and I am the lead off bowler for our team. In a regular league I'd be third or fourth man but this is for fun so it didn't really matter. Well the girl on the other team didn't even get out of her seat. I walked by her and she gave that look like, "the lanes are all yours." Very classy move. Jon gave me 'the nod' like he knew I could do it. So I grabbed my towel, and cleaned my ball. By now I had developed a pre approach routine, even where I was putting my towel down after wiping the ball off. Took my stance, then a deep breath and then my approach. I knew if I was going to mess up any of them it would be this one. It left my hand and I knew it was good. Went back to the ball rack without making eye contact with anyone. My nerves were really starting to get to me. Grabbed my towel before my ball came so no one would see my hands shaking. <br /><br />Ball came and now I am set up for number 11. 'Two more' I told myself. As I stood there for my approach I noticed the music was louder. That's when I realized more people had stopped bowling and had come to watch me bowl. That didn't make number 11 any easier. However, I kept the little cool I had left and managed another smooth release. It was tracking good but I made sure to watch it all the way through. They all fell and I closed my eyes in amazement. I really couldn't believe the situation I was in. Just 6 months ago I threw my first ever 600 series and this season I had only thrown a handful of games over 200. I had no business being this close to a 300. For crying out loud my previous high game was a 248 I did that over 10 years ago at open bowl with some friends. <br /><br />But none the less I was here and had a chance at perfection. Now the whole damn place was quiet. Music was still on but he had turned it down. When I went back for my ball I didn't look up as I really didn't want to see how many people were watching although I had a good idea of how many. While cleaning my ball I thought about volleyball. I had played for so many years and been in so many good matches but it was nothing like this. I thought about cycling. So many races I had did well at but I trained my ass off for them so I expected good results. This tho, this was all new to me. As I held my ball for my approach I could now see it moving from my hand shaking. 'Uno Mas' I thought to myself. Took my approach and it all felt good until the release. The pressure had gotten to me and I threw it a little to much to the left but it did not have as much lift on it so it wasn't going to hook past the pocket. I knew it was going to hit a little high and heavy on the head pin but the crowd behind me already started blowing up because it looked like it was very possible I'd get the strike. Problem was me and maybe one other person there knew I had thrown it a little to fast and I would not get that side to side pin action that had been working so well. As it hit the pins, they scattered and I could see some of them went up to high and when they all went still the 4 and 7 were standing. <br /><br />298. . . . so close. <br /><br />As I walked back I got a lot of hand shakes, high fives and congratulations on an awesome game. I knew it was incredible but to be so close I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. I'm human. So we had won the third game, the series and retained first place in the league for yet another week. Todd immediately said, "Let's go get a drink and celebrate." It took a few minutes for the disappointment to go away and once I had the drink down my nerves also went down and my hands finally stopped shaking. <br /><br />In the end I learned a few things and also saved some money. I told Sue if I would have hit a 300 I would have had to retire my ball and put it up on a stand above the fire place in the Living room. I got that look and she said, "Well, I would have let you keep it up there for a couple weeks." and then gave me a big hug and kiss.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-3354842531289731042011-10-18T09:30:00.000-07:002011-10-18T09:57:55.987-07:00Burchfield Time TrialWell I had this big, long, me gloating about me, boring to everyone but me write up done about this race I did back on October 1st. Seriously it was REALLY long. It described a lot of the trail sections in detail but after thinking about it Brian and I drove all the way out there to race that trail with out ever even riding it before so why should I give anyone more of an edge than I had if they are even remotely thinking about going out there next year. Sure Dubs sent us a VERY descriptive email laying out the trail meter by meter, short of sending up a virtual topo map. But really even if I had a month to study that email there was no way I'd remmber all that come race day. Plus there were others out there racing that had never been there before. So not only am I being selfish for Brian and me, I am being selfish for the others I know who went there blind....thus my pictures only showing the easy sections of the trail.<br /><br />So my personal recap is as follows:<br /><br />1 - It was frikin' cold when we got to the race. 36 degrees on October 1st.<br />2 - Met many cool people before the race and signed up for Men's A (highest division they had listed)<br />3 - Scoped out some of the course while warming up.<br />4 - Still frickin' cold at start time, 10:00am.<br />5 - Course was killer with a little bit of everything.<br />6 - Rode a clean race to the finish with litle to no mistakes.<br />7 - Still cold after the race and quickly layered back up.<br />8 - Won some cool stuff int he silent auction and warmed up by the fire<br />9 - Found out I had won 1st place in the Men's A division and was feeling pretty good about myself.<br />10 - 5 minutes later found out I didn't set the fastest time of the day. Ends up some high school kid from Brighton smoked my time by a full 3 minutes. Props to the young ripper. Solid time!<br />11 - Packed up camp and loaded the car.<br />12 - Still frickin' cold outside.<br /><br />Still went home happy with my fancy trophy medal wooden ninja star thing. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBJxloNn5EWFmfXu5wCsYQVcC-xQ9skJO9gfhtFQMS1PgOv3U23YfYIMe_GQTbau4O-F_Dutva9E-Ockhp17gMBlK8CLmzWbURS5cDzZ7WrqMpfK3KjwUnhl_KsvX6lQZwJknGm8GLsOh/s1600/ttmedal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBJxloNn5EWFmfXu5wCsYQVcC-xQ9skJO9gfhtFQMS1PgOv3U23YfYIMe_GQTbau4O-F_Dutva9E-Ockhp17gMBlK8CLmzWbURS5cDzZ7WrqMpfK3KjwUnhl_KsvX6lQZwJknGm8GLsOh/s320/ttmedal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664875952247627314" /></a>Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-64824762348117601432011-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:002011-09-08T09:18:02.967-07:00Back to the basicsWelp, the road bike found it's way to the basement and is now one with the fluid trainer. This will allow me to ride around the weather a little better. I'll still get out for the occasional trail ride this fall but the morning road rides outside before work are done for the season. Just plan to spin thru September and use it as a transition time. In Oct I will be back to the weights and will plan to start building my base back up on the bike. No races planned for the rest of 2011. Have some penciled in but none I feel I have to be at.<br /><br />Next 5 weeks will be interesting. My son's soccer schedule will own me thru this time and also we decided to start my daughter in a volleyball program. After seeing me play last Monday she got all excited about the game. Plus the wife's volleyball season starts in 2 weeks so she has been working out hard to get ready for her up coming season. As much as I like the sport of cycling, most people know I'd give it all up to be able to play volleyball regularly again. Although I was just a shadow of my former self on the court earlier this week, I had a blast playing with and against the old crew. Marlowe, Bob, Tony, Len and this fancy guy named Cougar. After 3 games I was done and should have probably called it quits after the second game. It was just to hard to say no. Been doing a lot of extra stretching this week to keep the femur and tibia as far apart as possible to keep the pain down and it seems to be working. Still having issues walking down the stairs though. This was my reminder as to why I had to walk away from the game years ago. The muscle soreness is easy to deal with. It's the bone to bone contact that hurts like a mutha.<br /><br />I am really happy with how the summer went as far as riding and hope to start earlier next year. I am going to focus on returning to Yankee and Fort Custer, two races I have not done since 2007. Yeah I missed a few races this summer due to scheduling, father-in-law having heart attack and not renewing my license but I was pleased to see the level at which I was able to compete at the races I did do. 2 races, 2 podium finishes. Gives me motivation to train this off season thinking that I can still keep the big guns on my radar screen. Sure I may not win any races but I could become a regular podium threat again.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-9387072653263217732011-08-23T08:18:00.000-07:002011-08-23T08:20:09.044-07:00Going Solo . . . Maybury Time TrialIt seemed my alarm went off way earlier than I wanted it to. Had a hard time falling asleep the night before due to all the excitement of my first solo race in almost 3 years. It would be a Time Trial format but a good way to measure up. Soout of bed I rolled to start the day. Had packed most of the car the night before so it didn't take long before I was in my car with my waffles and tea. Couldn't of asked for better weather. As I drove to Maybury along 696 through Royal Oak all the classic cars were everywhere as the Woodward Dream Cruise was the same day. A little later down the road I was passing Farmington and thinking about Becky, Brian and Jim who were running the local 5K at 9:00am. My morning mission was to get to Maybury early so I could drive my car up to the staging area and unload before the crowd got thick. Plus I wanted to avoid the long registration lines. I was preregistered but Brian wasn't and because he was running the 5K and would be cutting it close to race I would be signing him up to make life a little easier for him.
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<br />As I set up the tent and such I started to think about the race. The field was 12 large but you know there'd be a few day of's to fill more slots. I was trying to be realistic with my goal for the race. Top 3 get medals but I'd be happy with a top 5. Heck I'd be happy to finish in the to 50% of my class. Being out of the race scene for a while I wasn't familiar with many of the names in my class but the two I did know posed a serious threat to my Top 5 finish. Jeremy "Dozer" Daum would be there as well as my long time racing threat Brad "Loco" Lako. Yes, even tho Jeremy and I teamed up just a month earlier for the Tree Farm Relay, we'd be racing against each other now as he really races for Trail's Edge. He'd matched my lap times at The Farm but the advantage I had was I am starting 30 seconds behind him so I get to be the pursuer, not the pursuee. The bigger threat tho was Brad. I'd be stupid to think I could match his power this early on in my return to racing. I had him favored to win so I planned to use him as a measuring stick to see where I stood against a guy who regularly sees the podium.
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<br />After setting up I went to the registration table and the first person I run into is no one other than Brad Lako. He looked the business. Probably 10 pounds lighter than the last time I raced against him. It was hard not to think about the fact that he was going to kick my @ss. Nevertheless it was good to see an old friend who has been behind me, pushing, to keep me riding during the time I have been away from this whole scene. After all the paperwork I went back to the team tent and relaxed and had my second breakfast which would be my last solid food until after the race. Not to much later Jon "Dubs" Wlodarczak and his entourage showed up. Like Jeremy, Jon rode the relay with us but he actually rides for a different team. However, after winning a medal together he is considered part of the pack. Personally I wanted him to race in the same class as Dozer and I but he's new to the whole geared bike thing so he planned to race Sport geared and then Elite/Expert Single Speed. He pitched his tent right next to ours and then told me to stop talking and go warm up.
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<br />Surprisingly I was more calm than I thought I'd be. Really the only thing I had riding on this race was to see where I stacked up. But it was Maybury, a very favorable course for my style of riding, so I knew I would have a slight advantage. During warm ups I ran into Jeremy, Elaine and her son John. Wasn't sure if Jeremy had obligations to Trail's Edge tenting but I told them to feel free to park under our tents anyway and pointed out where they were. Was glad to hear they wanted to hang with us as we all had such a good time at the relay. I ran into Brad and Jeremy again near the start line and chatted with them both. My serious conversation was with Jeremy as he would be 4th off in our class and I would be 5th. The objective for us was for me to try and catch him and for him to do his best to stay away from me. Yes, this is the normal plan of two racers but it was different with us as we knew each other and this would only push us to be faster.
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<br />At 9:05:00 Jeremy went of like a flash. Within seconds he disappeared into the woods. As I rolled up to the starting line the nerves were gone and the adrenaline started flowing. Plan was to attack hard right from the go and use the pavement/grass sections for regroups and prepare for further attacks. 9:05:30, I am off. The first climb of the course threw me off a little as it was a double dip off camber climb. I expected the first part but not the second. Oh well, I tend to do better when I don't pre ride a course. I mean it was Maybury and I could ride it blindfolded, the extended race loop sections were what would be a surprise to me. The second surprise was the right turn at the first pavement crossing. I expected to cross and go back in the woods but they had us turn right on the grass and ride down a hill just to make us turn at the bottom, scrub our speed and have us climb back up. No problem tho, that section gave me a visual of Jeremy and the other 3 guys in front of me and also let me know where the guy was who started behind me.
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<br />I could see I was gaining ground on Jeremy but I knew Jeremy would kick it up a notch when he saw me. This is exactly what we needed tho. He had already put a rider between us, Bici Libre, and now I had to take care of that business soon. It was a clean pass in the gravel road climb and as always when you pass some one in a TT format you need to make sure they don't hang onto your wheel so I pushed the pace hard for the next mile in order to drop him. Not to long after that pass I heard another chain clanking a stay in front of me and quite honestly I knew it wasn't Jeremy. No way would I catch him this soon. My 6 was clear so I stayed focused on the bike in front of me. It took a while but I closed the gap to the ACF Wolverine and made the pass before the trail spilled out to the pavement section. So all I had in front of me now was the entire Elite class, Dozer and one other from our class, Razo who is a solid rider as well. Of course this was the long pavement section where I was supposed to recover but I had just passed a Wolverine and needed to push the pace to make sure he stayed behind me. So I went low into TT position but grabbed a gel and liquid. I saw a glimpse of Dozer but he still had about 30 seconds on me. He was riding strong and even from the distance his pedal strokes looked smooth.
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<br />The entire second lap was a game of hide and seek between Jeremy and I. Felt like we were the only to people on the trail as I did not hear anyone else's bike except mine and his. Maybe I had tunnel hearing tho as I was focused solely on reeling him in. On the grass hill climb I was starting to feel the attacks in my legs. I could see Jeremy in front of me, closer than before but his hardtail was pulling away from my full suspension. Just then. Jon appeared out of no where and pulled up alongside of me. After a brief conversation he concluded that I wasn't working hard enough and to shut up and pedal. Brought me back to 2008 when I was doing the Short Track at Brighton and Todd Powers told me from the sideline I wasn't going fast enough and I needed to open it up and ride like I am capable of. Jon said exactly what I needed to hear and I was back in attack mode. I was now in full hunting mode....blood hound style.. Brian calls it smelling the blood trail. I saw Jeremy on some switchbacks and would take notes of a point of interest so I could count the gap between us when I got there. First it was 20 seconds, next was 35, then down to 15, back up to 20.....the first lap I came in just under 41 minutes and this lap was turning into a war. Attack, counter attack, attack, counter attack. I know he saw me every time I saw him and it was driving him as well.
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<br />I was running out of time to close the gap and was surprised but also proud of Jeremy for keeping ahead of me for this long. He was riding a hell of a race to stay out of my grasp. Then on the last pavement section I saw him. I told myself if I don't do something now I won't catch him. Less than 5 minutes and this race will be over. So instead of reaching for the bottle I shifted into the biggest gear I had, got low, hands close to the stem and pushed hard. The pain increased dramatically but I was closing in on him. Steady breathing, controlled pedal strokes and eyes focused ahead. As I entered the last single track section I rolled up onto his back wheel, so in the red I was unable to let him know I was there. After about 10 seconds he heard my bike and was surprised to see me. He was deep in the red as well but I manage to belt out a coupe things to him. "Almost done brother! One more short climb! Keep pedaling in circles!" He was losing his smooth pedal stroke and I didn't want him to blow before the end. He picked up our pace even more and we rounded the corner at the top of the climb onto the grassy two track standing on our pedals. I was still on his rear wheel when he shifted into his bigger ring on his 2x10 set up. We onlyhad 200-250 yards to go and I had lost sprints before with my 1x9 setup so I immediately shifted and took off. I was taking a gamble passing that early but he hadn't generated much more speed yet and we were only 150 yards from the finish. After the pass I never looked back and pushed for the finish. We came across the line less than 2 seconds apart and were so out of breath we couldn't even talk to each other for a few minutes.
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<br />It had been so long I had forgotten what it was like to be in that zone. Sure I had done some endurance relays but those take hours to unfold. You can train all you want but nothing compares to a solo race where the outcome of your day depends solely on the decisions you make. After we were able to talk, Jeremy and I couldn't shut up about the race. Course was about 19 miles long and we did it in around 1:21:00. We watched others come in, notably Mr. Lako and John Heft who we were both ghost racing against. We checked and checked the timing tent for the live results and waited for the day of guys to come in to see where we placed. As I was taking off my shoes Brad came over. "Did you see how you did?" I said no. He replied, "You got 3rd man!" I was floored as there was 18 total riders in our class for the day. I didn't have to ask him how he did, as I knew he would finish ahead of me, but I did anyway and he said he finish 2nd about 45 seconds ahead of me. The gap was much smaller than I expected which made me happier, however I was upset that he didn't win. I really thought he'd be setting the curve. Jeremy ended up taking 5th, missing 4th by 0.7 seconds! I know that 0.7 is was eating away at his insides but he beat the time of his friend John Heft and that marks the first time he has done that in a race.
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<br />After the award ceremony and on the drive home I reflected a lot and even got a text from Brad congratulating me again on my finish. He had to jet after our race and I let him know I picked up his medal for him. The Tree Farm Relay finish gave me a sense of accomplishment but this finish was much more rewarding. This made 3 for 3 on bringing home hardware at Maybury but this time it was in Expert. I had been waiting for this since missing this race in 2008, when I last raced Expert solo on a regular basis.
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<br />Next up, the Addison XC.
<br />Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-1775094503083538182011-06-20T10:37:00.000-07:002011-06-20T10:38:27.728-07:00New Label . . . . Same Great TasteAll new Pongo-Rantings can be found at:<br /><br /><a href="http://motor-club-6.blogspot.com/">http://motor-club-6.blogspot.com/</a>Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-29156746408463481182011-05-03T08:40:00.000-07:002011-05-03T09:05:41.778-07:00Great Balls of FireMan was that hot. Two weeks in Florida with the family and it was in the 90's all but one day we were there. Day we went to Magic Kingdon it was 95..... I sweat more that day than at the last 60 mile Stony Marathon I did. Thank god for Under Armor. Wore a sleeveless one under my t-shirt and it helped keep me cool-uh-cooler than I would have been without it.<br /><br /><br /><div>Well the 5th month of 2011 has started and I am close to all the goals I set for myself to hit by the time we went on vacation. Best part is I came back from vacation under 170 pounds......not sure how I managed that considering how I ate while I was down there.</div><br /><br /><div>While I was gone I missed some good races. The Pontiac TT, Yankee TT and Custer Stampede are all in the books for 2011. My boys Lako-Moto and Dubs had some great results while Chunk and "Tigerblood" Evans seemed satisfied with thier results. And the word on the street is that Ox is practicing for the annual Oreo Cookie stacking contest.</div><br /><br /><div>Hopefully the steady Spring Showers will let up soon because the skinny tire bike wants off the fluid trainer and I am ready to get the Schwalbes dirty again especially since they seem to finally be holding air now. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602521382440386946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWcPHb2v-goJ_uPLLZsbSK9soqkU5z4OrEmu6Ur9aF7Et2ZIks8TV8_EWcbH_dsY4Duyyo5xFsQUtqy01EVosJATxQUglUBsMC8E1V-XWjVyGUQZYWd20dm6tAoMuTLp_c_pjcQiLEqLZ/s320/untitled.bmp" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-62133596791231944162011-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:002011-04-11T09:30:57.513-07:00You're gonna do what?April 10<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>, lazy Sunday morning. Sydney and Tyler (m<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">y</span> niece and nephew) were over the night before and we were wore out. Sue had a doc appointment at 9:00 AM and I was hanging out with the kids. Chocolate milk and Pancakes for breakfast. Was supposed to get up to 80 and I had plans to clean the garage and the cars while the kids played outside. Ash was doing some homework before it got nice out, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Abi</span> was dancing to Pretty In Pink by the P Furs and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ciara</span> was being <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ciara</span> and coloring. 11:40 AM, phone rings. The In-laws want to take the girls to the zoo at 12:30. 11:50 the girls are fed, dressed and ready to go with snacks packed. 11:51 I get an idea. 11:52 I tell Ash the idea. 11:53 Ashton and I start rushing around to gather up all our gear to go ride at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">ILRA</span>. Neither one of us have been out to ride yet this year and our stuff was scatter from the front closet to the basement to the garage. He remembered everything he needed and even grabbed some of my stuff without being asked to while I was packing us foods and liquids for afternoon. 12:25 the girls are off to the zoo. 12:30 Ash and I are giving Sue a kiss good bye and are heading out the door to the trail. We head west on 696 and I say to him, "Dude, good work on helping us get out the door." He replies, "dad, I grabbed ROAM. Can I watch it on the way there?" I said, "Only if we can play the music loud." So we jam as I drive and he watches his favorite mountain bike movie. 1:15 we arrive at the parking lot trail head. We get the bikes out, do a once over which included raising his seat, some quick brake adjustments, lubing chains and airing up tires. We also rapped with the guy parked next to us that was about to take out his Surly <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pugsley</span>. I wanted to take it for a spin but Ash was all geared up with his helmet, gloves and pack and was ready to roll so I passed on the offer, hit the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">keyless</span> remote to lock the doors and off we went at 1:30. 3:30 PM we are back at the car and gearing down after an awesome ride together. Yup, my 8 year old rode for 2 hours which include a couple stops here and there for munching on some energy bars for him. We just cruised along at his pace and talked about riding the entire time. He rode great and even tackled some hills, ups and downs, that he couldn't or wouldn't do last year. Very proud of him. So needless to say the cars never got cleaned and neither did the garage. But I really don't think that was the best way to spend an 80 degree day in early April in Michigan anyway. Some quick cell pix of the ride: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594362474657158274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZguP_YMAR4SVErc2vgByRXwv9BUtVkzXpqvmn64PxCOdRcnNfKWDFtJnKloxVU-C7jyC1MXDGYFz8r7W-AKjCAVJJaT_hsdwiwhuKBpt76mXHHbe_ztck7ktchejLYNu9igFKcbX6riEm/s320/0410111433.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594362701937945298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKg3IrixgbX-SLq_4YsdvRGCsfC5UPmf2tYRdl4V_4wGSoEjYmVeweBwH_QUjIITmGJSp0VjDsWlXWFRdmmGcl2U-27KKL0MUrmwDTVHgyTdD5GWo6ayHlJZywOZWH5AXyLswR-iYBAZl/s320/0410111541a.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594362633231595682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulNmCYjBVxYPSGDEaDaHHlUTN8oDxAqLuNndsC1VUQ3XTHVPeoMZ26G-ZpwBeQc1xjQigmW7QNafg2la-I-7PaCXZdaXtMhFpjMmmeXYwdl33baFGUXmHN3flAHz5bew25zQGp6baeC8K/s320/0410111542a.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594362574673366866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-74-HEK2gufj1gJXxwz66ByvHZpCCjqeouHV0zZgpSoWx-BzMKE_94rAYViD9BP-BwrIZBroMr_y0KVzGCZpRNyJeDa3bA9cmDLbrkNxXH9-z-U7rNbUH27OG2Nt8v2SmvddW0ro2pFUS/s320/0410111541.jpg" />Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-70311650234493666942011-04-04T09:39:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:59:21.596-07:00Raining but at least it's getting warmerWell the first quarter of the year is over already. Training was going great until I got food poisoning last week which forced me to take 6 days off the bike. Seems I am the only person on the planet that can get sick fromeating hashbrowns. Can't ride if I can't eat. That really cut into my build period seeing as I am going on a 2 week vacation in less than 2 weeks and every session counts right now. But hey, no one is paying me to do this so I don't sweat it. Plus I just got an email last week that will force me to miss the 12 Hours of Stony which was going to open the race season for me. That leaves me with all of May to train now since there is nothing else on the schdule that catches my eye. <br /><br />Actually, after looking at the race schedule a little closer I may not be at a starting line until late June or early July now. I hope to take Ashton to a couple races before then so he can do the Beginner 11 and Under. The plan is to get him to the starting line once a month. He is really excited about it and has already asked me when his training starts. We are targeting the Brighton Stage Race XC to be his first race. We'll see if we can get a ride or two in before then. It will be hard with the Florida trip being so close and most of the trails still being closed right now. If not then the fort Custer TT will open his season.<br /><br />In less than two weeks and it will be 2 full weeks of no work for me and no school for the kids. Can't wait. Sunshine and swimming pools!Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-4121531074781715222011-03-09T11:01:00.000-08:002011-03-09T11:10:41.779-08:00"Where'd who go?!"What's up with all the changes you ask? Well, the tires on Team Signoutfitters.com are completely flat. So we are moving into 2011 with a clean plate. No official team or club name. No official team kits, or stickers, socks, towels, beer holder things....or all the snazzy swag that came with being part of the team back in it's hey day...or is it hay day...or hay dey? <br /><br />Anyway, the names you see on the right are the ones you'll see at the endurance races this year. So who knows what colors we will be wearing, if we will even match or if we'll even bother to brush our teeth or comb our hair before we show up. <br /><br />What matters is that we are still planning to compete as an unofficial team to keep the roots alive. So we'll see you all out there this season.....even tho it will be harder pick us out of the crowd. Just give us a better chance to sneak up on our opponents from behind....MU HA HA HA HA!!!Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-65280500166410016632011-02-25T11:47:00.000-08:002011-02-25T11:50:48.656-08:00The Good, the Bad and the UglySo ends February of 2011. I know, we have 3 more days left but Monday starts the next stage of training. I was planning on doing my last ride of the period tonight but I don't think my body is not going to let me. I may just lay on the couch tonight and going into a Coma for 8 hours. I think my body needs it. Let's review the <strong>Good</strong>, the <strong>Bad</strong> and the <strong>Ugly</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>Good:</strong><br />- Miles and ride times are up for the month. A little shy of where I wanted to be but still over the minimum so I am pleased with my progress.<br /><br />- Managed to test the waters on a couple morning rides. By April I'd like to be doing all my rides in the morning to make the transition for the warmer weather. I like riding in the morning much better because then i can go about the rest of my day without worrying whether or not I will have time to ride. I have done this in years past with positive results.<br /><br />- Lost another 3 pounds this month. Down to 171 lbs. Plan was to lose 10 pounds by April and I am down 9 for the year so far. I am at a very respectable weight that I could stay at for the season and not complain about carrying extra baggage on the trail. Again, I have been lighter but I don't have little noodle arms anymore and a roadie chest. Only issue is that the European Race Cut Team Kit is a little tight around the arms and shoulders. <br /><br /><strong>Bad:</strong><br />- Still need new brakes for the bike for this season. I really have to decide soon so I can get the bike ready for the season. I could be riding outside as early as April so i need to get my sh!t together. <br /><br />- Tires aren't holding air very well. The Schwalbes Racing Ralphs are awesome tires but I can't seem to get them to seal up. Have put so much sealant in them I might as well be running tubes to save weight. I am open to suggestions on this. If I can't get them to seal up soon I may make the switch to Kenda Karamas. I am not crazy about the tread pattern but I have heard nothing but good reviews from fellow riders on the Karamas.<br /><br /><strong>Ugly:</strong><br />- I am sick. Been popping Halls all morning and am on my second round of Dayquil. There goes my 120 min ride tonight. Plan to rest today and tomorrow and maybe by Sunday I will be ale to saddle up.<br /><br />- My car is still covered in salt. After this morning's snow fall we have had the second snowiest February in Detroit history since they started charting it. Five more years until I buy a snow blower. Promised myself I wouldn't get one until after I turn 40.<br /><br />So bring on March and the intervals that come with it. Monday starts my 6 Weeks of Pain program (Disclaimer: It's actually 7 weeks long. 3 weeks of pain, rest week and then 3 more weeks of pain) then after that it's TWO WEEKS in Florida with the family for some much needed R&R and when we get back the riding/race season will be in full swing.....which reminds me, it may be time to shave the beard.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-33132032729757106152011-01-26T09:06:00.000-08:002011-01-26T09:07:38.891-08:00The Beginning of the Beginning.2011 is already 26 days old and I am doing well in my progress to get ready for the season. Lets looks at some of the highs and lows for the month:<br /><br />Highs:<br /><br />I - Stepped on the scale this morning and saw 174. I have lost 5 pounds already this year. A good work out program and strict diet have helped. I am tracking everything I eat on the Livestrong website, and I mean everything. I encourage everyone to check it out - http://www.livestrong.com/profile/pongomoto/<br /><br />II - I seemed to have gotten my digestive system issues under control. After a year of ups and downs, it feels good to finally know what I can and can't eat for the most part. The new diet I am on has treated me well so far and I am not in a constant state of misery over the penalties of eating. I have had a couple small issues this month from testing certain foods but it's small in scale compared to what I used to have to deal with.<br /><br />III - The 6 weeks I took off at the end of last year has helped my feet. My left foot seems completely healed and my right foot is about 85% and holding up well to the program I am doing this month. <br /><br />IV - I am enjoying the cross training I am doing. I am back to doing weights again but what is really different is that I am not spending all my training time on the bike. I have been using the wife's fitness club grade elliptical machine. For those who don't know Sue a personal trainer. Anyway, the wife has tried in the past to tell me about the importance of cross training during the off season but I was always so bent on riding during my free time. So this year, mostly due to my foot issues, I am listening to my highly educated wife and giving it a try. She has a bachelor's in Exercise Science and has many certifications so really I should be listening to her. So what could have been a 350-400 mile month is turning out to be 200 miles . That's alright though because come the warm weather I will be able to ramp up my miles and ditch the elliptical and ride further into the season without the fear of the body wearing down.<br /><br />V - The Kona Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe is a solid ride and I cannot wait to rip the season apart with it. So glad I made the switch to the big wheels. Last October the bike was really good to me and I got enough of a feel from it to see how my 2011 season will be improved by having this bike. <br /><br />Lows:<br /><br />I - My tool around bike, Redline D640, that I use to scoot around with the kids and occasional jump at the parks has a frame recall. Bonus for a new frame but I really liked it so it's hard to see it go. 2011 was suppose to be the year I didn't make any roster changes in the stable but I have no choice. Redline says the frames are failing. So my new frame is in and I have to go give them my D640. Sigh. Haven't got the specs on the new frame but hope it's as good as the one I am giving back.<br /><br />II - Due to budget constraints I think I will be squeezing one more year out of my road bike. Talk about old faithful, man's best friends, whatever cliche you want to use, this bike had been my workhorse for many years. It has taken the bulk of my training miles and keeps going. I had to get another set of wheels for it last year, it's third set, and will need new cables again this year. Hoping the drivetrain will hold up but I may have to cave and get a new chain, rings and cassette at least.<br /><br />III - Lance......what's going on with this? Guy is back in deep water, past the bouies and it sounds like he'll need more than arm floaties to get back to the beach on this one. Sounds like he is going to spend more hours in the court room this year than on his bike. My take, well I have never been a huge fan of his. I think what he has done for cycling in America is great but as a person I think he's an ass. I would like to think he never doped and achieved all he did on his own but soooo many men have risen tot he top only to be found doping that it's hard to believe anyone. The biggest thought in my head is that for years he won the TDF and beat all those other guys, half whom were dopers, all on his own natural legs. Are his heart, lungs and legs really that genetically gifted? I really hope so for the sake of cycling in America.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7880224736245993611.post-26749493342392291732011-01-07T06:09:00.001-08:002011-01-07T06:09:55.602-08:00THE NEW YOU.....okay maybe just me.2010 was not a good year for me. My trail bike sat in the basement collecting dust from May 15th all the way until October 7th when I finally made it out for another trail ride. I still managed to rack up close to 2,000 miles on the road bike for the calander year but that's about half of what I had planned to do. After life started to get back together in the fall and I was riding more consistently again I came down with a case of plantar fasciitis in both my feet. The right much worse than the left. I fought it for a good month before I threw in the towel and realized I had no choice but to take time off the bikes, again, to rest my feet. During that time I went to see my Podiatrist and got new orthodics made for my everyday shoes and he is in the process of making a set for my cycling shoes as well. Bonus!<br /><br />So after taking much of November off and all of December I am back on the bike and rolling again.....at a very slow pace. 8 miles last Sunday. 10 Miles on Tuesday and 15 last night. Gotta start slow to make sure I don't sack my feet again. With the constant stretching and foam rolling I am doing okay and by February I should be able to start ramping up a bit. <br /><br />Before all this feet stuff this past summer and fall I went back to doing upper body workouts because I was getting tired of having spaghetti arms and a weak upper back, shoulders, chest, elbows, fingers, eyelids....you get the point. So I am happy to say I have gained some unaccidental weight in areas that I planned to gain weight. However, I also gained some accidentail weight in some areas that I didn't plan to. I figure I have about 5-10 pounds of excess cargo to drop before open season starts in May.....probably closer to 10. In 2008 when I was stupid fast, lean and actually fit into my European Race Cut Team Uniform I floated around 165 pounds. I was toothpick thin but a strong wind (along with my then 5 year old son) could easily knock me over. Well now I am closing in on 180, the weight I was when I retired from volleyball, I figure more solid 170 would be a good number to get back down to. <br /><br />So you are probably asking yourself, what does all this talk of Aryn's bodily parts and dimensions have to do with me? Well it seemed like a good topic and I haven't blogged in a while. And since I am the one that controls this blog page you are forced to read whatever I feel like typing about.<br /><br />Last, my goals or should I say goal for 2011. Only have one. Ride my bikes more. After work trail rides. Early weekend morning road rides. Rides with the kids and rides with all the people I haven't ridden with in a couple years. <br /><br />That's all I got people. No bells. No whistles. No baseball cards in the spokes. No signature closing sentences to my blogs. Just RIDE.Aryn Pongratzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065775061102645771noreply@blogger.com1