Fathers Day Neshaminy MTB Race - Retiring?

Guys Neshamniny MTB race was going to be my 1st attempt at racing again this year....to see if my back could handle racing again. I headed out to Christiana Spine Center 2 weeks ago and had a steriod injection (not as good as EPO) - everything was feeling fine, but racing would be the ultimate test. I have been questioning my fitness as my riding time is very limited and contains pretty much zero, nada, zilch, zippo efforts - I try and climb a few hills here and there, but intervals have been non existant this year.

So I head out on Fathers Day to North of Philadelphia - photographed the Beginners and Sport races....was a hot day. I tried drinking to stay hydrated as well.

Experts were starting soon so I geared up and preroad a small section of the start and finish areas. Lined up in the first row (I have no idea why) and realized I was starting this race different than any other racie in the past - I had NO plan! Usually when I race I have a plan of action. I know my physical abilities, I usually know the abilities of most of the other racers - their strengths and weaknesses, ect. But I went into this race so causal, with no fitness....I just had no plan of action. How I was going to ride - pace and attach at the end, fide a wheel and stay with it, ect.

It was a short field start and I went into the woods in a suprising 6th place - no "real" effert to get there, just a quick start and sat in place - kind of suprised where I was given the effert to get there. So into the woods was pretty quick but managable I held onto my placement and found myslef moving up nicely passing a lot of Vet I riders and vener getting passed myself - tried to keep my efforst sensible with no super hard and long sprints, just a nice fast sustained effort.

Now I'm 3/4 into the first lap I found myself suprisingly riding behind Greg Ferguson (Meredeth GPOA) who is a extremely fast rider....knew I had to be moving up in my group and figured at this point I was around 4th. Fergy bobbled on a skinny bridge and I moved around. End of the 1st lap I was in 3rd - Go Figure. At this point my back was holding out - a bit sore, but nothing severe.

Here is where I started getting grand delusions of the Photographer that never rides...1st race of the year and end up on the podium....kind of like the Lottery Fantacies everyone has. Quickly into the 2nd lap I pass the 2nd place Guys rider which now puts me in 2nd. WHAT?........and this is where my down fall begins......almost 1/2 way thru the 2nd lap I start getting severe leg cramps....which a few days later I figure might have been the cause of the additional back strain I was now having. I've been drinking a bottle a lap so it wasn't hydration. I think the lack of any intensity up to this race has caught up with my legs - not able to handle race stress. So I start spinning a bit to try and releive the cramps - no such luck - legs cramps are now borderline of locking up.

Passed by Robert Dudas (who eventually takes 3rd place for the day) and an two other VII racers.

I was able to maintine my distance between the two VII's infront of me but then I get the two pop-up voices on each shoulder - the competive one yelling at me to suck it up and don't be a pansie - finish the race. Last is still better than a DNF!

The other voice which is the voice of reason and reality is telling me I still have two+ laps to go and there is NO WAY I can finish two more laps with severe cramps.

What to do...What to do??

The voice of reason won out and as I was pulling out of the woods to start a 3rd lap I pulled out. Sat down by the water station, had a few drinks in dissapointment, slowly gathered up my water bottles and headed back to the car hanging my head in defeat!

So now what? Quite/Retirement from racing - Feeling my racing days are now officially over I head home - call my wife who gives me a hard time - reminding me that racing is what I've done...what I do. you can't quit. But physically my back was not able to handle the stress. I suck, I suck, I suck!

Sunday night feeling so frustrated I deleate all my ebay favorites related to cycling and auctions I was watching - possible new cyclocross frame and carbon tubular wheels - done, gone, finished. Marysville - NOPE not racing!

Now a few days later and after calming down a bit I am rethinking racing. Was racing with no plan my demise? Did I start too hard based on my lack of riding? Could I sit back and pace myself better? The comptive side in me makes it difficult to just sit back - could I do it.

So now I'm back and forth about if I want to give it one last attempt and race or not race the Marysville race in a week and a half. Just not sure. Still thinking thos one out.

Pictures above are a few from the race.

Full gallery can be viewed here:
http://www.mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/324647

Later
Michael

Back in the saddle....?

Just like everyone else with family committments, my riding time has become pretty limited this year - less than prior years and that is not saying much. I started out with two road races earlier in the year and since then have not raced. Reason is tri fold - back injury, limited riding time and spending more time with photography.....but in the back of my mind I thought I might give some racing a go come June - where there are four MTB races back to back to back to back.
My riding has been limited to a few short road rides at lunch during the week and usually one longer 1.5-2 hour road ride on the weekend (if I'm lucky)...and no intensity.

So now that we are getting closer to June and the possibility of racing every so closer I made an appointment with my back specialist for a back injection (not EPO but close enough for me) and thought I should really try and get out on my MTB and see if I can ride with the big boys. My "plan" was to attempt the Tuesday fast ride but that plan fell thru...so I hit a Thursday mellow ride with http://www.fatmarc.com/. Although this was an easy temp ride - it was a smart way to head into some riding as this would be only my 2nd mtb ride since there was SNOW on the ground!! Left the ride feeling perfectly fine. Good start!

Sundays ride was planned for a 4 park ride - which I was very nervous about - not sure if I would have the legs for such an event. Attendies were: Les the International Man of Mystery, Fitzy, Genital Ben, Chris H, and Craig. Long story short - 4.15 of ride time and 45 mile later and amazingly...some how I felt fine - not sure how or why, but I have pleantly of riding left in me. Plus this would end up being the longest MTB ride to date for me. Go figure?

So hopefully I can get in one fast Tuesday group ride prior to racing to gague some efforts and I'm ready to get behind the saddle once again to attempt at least one race....and hopefully a few more will follow.

...as far a photographs - here are a few from last Sundays "Escape from Granogue" Complete photo gallery is here: http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/320625

Been way.........too busy

Between photographing the Kennett High School Sports, mountainbiking, kids in soccer, vacation, family and home stuff....time has been at a premium.

Probably the best thing to do right now is just show a few photos from the last several weeks:

Greenbrier UCI Mountain Bike Race:

Great and exciting race - Todd Wells and Katie Compton won the Pro divisions. Velo News contacted me about using one of my photos in their magazine.......but I received the email 10 minutes too late and could not get back in time to meet the deadline. Maybe next time.

Direct link to the Greenbrier Photo Galleries:

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/248077

Vacation in Jamica:

Entire family spent a week in Jamica, our first time there. Stayed at the Beaches Negril Resort (HIGHLY recommended). As always - too short!

Girls Soccer:

My two daughters have been playing in the Hockessin Soccer league. Both are having a great time and doing quite well. Maeve has the mentality that could take her to team Captin one day. Very vocal and smart player. Ella could end up being a lead scorer, agressive and excellent ball handler.

Best games: Maeve 2 goals, Ella 2 goals, 2 just missed goals and a nice assist.

French Creek Mounain Bike Race: Race was held on Mothersday. I did not know the trails real well so I was rushing around trying to catch up with the lead riders at the next intersections. Missed the lead group a few times unfortunately.

Link to French Creek Race Photos: http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/248078

Next race will be Escape from Granogue and then I will be photographing the US Pro Tour road races in Lancaster, Reading and Philadelphia. I was able to obtain a full credential press pass thru Road Bike Action Magazine. They want me to photograph the race for them and want some photographs of the new Rock & Republic Racing team.

Later!

MLK

Swim, Bike and Run......yea a Triathlon

Up at 5:30 am heading to Landisville PA. I was asked to photograph the "Tri for Kids Sake Triathlon" this past Sunday http://www.hempfieldtri.com/ I have never photographed a Tri before and thought this would be a great learning experience for me, and hopefully a step toward doing more such events. It was difficult to say the least for a single photographer. Since this Tri would be run in a Time Trial format there woudl actually be three events running at the same time......how to photograph everyone in each event? Actually it's just not possible. I decided just to shoot pieces of each event and move with the racers as they switch events hopefully getting racers in at least two of the three events.

The day was georgous, but difficult for photography. The Sun was shinning just so bright that shadows were a big distraction to over come, but I am not goin to complain as I was finally able to wear shorts and a tee sirt. I decided to use a flash for fill the entire day.
The event was very well run and organized. Funny thing I noticed during the race was I have never seen so many people in physical pain and smiling and grinning from ear to ear the entire time. There were a lot of spectators cheering athletes, want to be athletes and those just there to try someting new...just cheering everyone on. I do notice that I find myself wishing I was in the race instead of photographing, but I have come to grips with some injuries that I have that I may just not be able to race anymore. Time will tell.

Day over? Nope I had also commited to shooting some of the MASS (Mid Atlantic Super Series) races. The Short Track races was scheduled for the prior week, but due to a Nor'Easter it was rained out and rescheduled for this week...same day......so off to Coatesville Pa for the Short Track MTB race scheduled to start at 12:30. Some great racing from all groups - beginner, sport and expert. Fast, hard, aerobic! A one mile double track grave road that was rund the same way as a cross race. Photos should be up for the Short Track race in the next day or two so I will follow-up with those photos.

Kirkwood Road Race

Tried my 2nd attempt at a road race this year - Kirkwood PA which is in Lancaster County. Great race location since it's only 20 minutes from my house. I've done this race twice before an it usually rains....but this year we were spared the rain and only had to deal with the cold.

Registering as usual takes longer than it should.
This week I learned from my bunder last week and registered for the Cat 4 race - I had soom time so I did a lap as a warm up - I surely do not remember all the hills from the last time I raced here - going to be a hard race!

Our race goes of at 9am ish right after all the Masters - 4 laps scheduled for ~ 28 miles. First two laps were unevenuful, no real attempted breaks - I was amble to keep with all the moves and surges. Kept my riding position exactly where I needed/wanted to be to keep out of the wind as I really wanted to try and stay with the main group to the finish. Everyone seems to be riding pretty well as there were no fatalaties, no yelling "#^%^" for bad moves. I was feeling very comfortible with my pack riding - but cautious.

Ahhh - the third lap - this appears to be my downfall - dropping in the third lap...and it happened again. An attack about 1/2 into the third lap and I was just off the back with lots of others. I was able to get back to within - believe it of not - 5 yards.....5 stinking yards, but I was toast, just could not close those last 5 yards.....I had to let the break go. Cooked, toast, fried, however you want to say it - those were my legs.

Done for the day!....or so I thought.

I jumped on a wheel of a guy from Kellys (Actually he probably saw me gasping and told me to grab his wheel) and we managed to get with a group of 3 FSVS riders. I started getting some life back in me and managed to work pretty hard on the 4th lap. I seemed to be a bit faster on the down hills and climbing so I usually took the lead here and managed to close a gap to another small group of riders and worked beyound them. In the end I was pretty tired and the FSVS boys finished ahead of me but I really didn't care. At this point it was just about finishing for another day.

I didn't drop out, worked hard, thought I raced pretty smart (beside missing the 5 yards). I have no idea on results, but I may actually look this week for a good laugh!

I Photographed the remainder of the race - missed the Pro/Elite finish. They still had 7 laps to go and I really had to be home. I wanted to try some panning this weeks using two flash units - one on camera on one remote in front of the group - but for some reason I could not getthe remote flash to work - going to have to re-read the instructions again. Murphys Law - Works 100% of the time in my basementwhen foolwing around, but try putting it to real use outin the field and it will never work. I'll get it figured out as I want to use this technique on the next mountain bike race.

Next race I will be photographing is the start of the MASS Mountain Bike Race Series - Relay race.

Strasburg Road Race

IN OVER MY HEAD!
So I went into this race knowing the above. I just recently moved up from Cat 5 to Cat 4 on the road and for what every reason I still do not know - I decided to race the Masters 40+ for my

1st road race of the season. I guess there is no better way to get into shape than being hammered in March. Snow called off the race last weekend and was rescheduled for this past Saturday. I get to the race which was in Strasburg PA, there was slight rain and the roads were wet - this is a given for the first road race of the season. Registering was SLOW - not sure why since everyone was to have preregistered - had enough time to do a quick out and back and headed to the start line. Recognized a few Cat 2's and 3's.....what was I thinking?
Race is scheduled for 5 laps for 28 mile.

We start off and pace is fine - nothing to demanding.......and 1/2 way into the first lap the attackes start. Come-on! My goal is to make at least one lap with the group! This is not going to help. No one gets away, but I can see the tatics being played by two teams. Sending guys off the front and 2 or 3 members sit in on the front slowing the group down. No one was getting to far away and at times I felt good enough that I would go off the front pulling the group back up to the leads. I figured I would not be there long so why not! The race pace picks up and I am suprisingly hanging with the lead - usually riding in the top 5 most of the time. Roads have dried out nicely by now.....and then 1/2 way into the 3rd lap a surge happens to chase an attacking group and I'm off the back never to find my way back onto the group. Pretty much my race is over - my lower back was sore at this point so I roll into the start/finish and pulled out at the end of the 4th lap. Figured I would now grab my camera gear and Photograph the rest of the day.

All photos of the race can be found here:

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/248104

I tried panning a few shots today and a few came out decent enough - definately a technicue that I need to pracfice on. Photography kind of went as

my race. I just did not seem to have a groove going and seemed to have some focus issues. I have not photographed any sports since the end of cyclocross season last year so my shuter fingers are a bit rusty.

New week I have decided to try and smarten up a bit and signed up for the Cat 4 race at Kirkwood - we will see if I can hang with the main group a bit longer - Photographing the remaining races as well.

Spring is (WAS) in the air!

Wednesday this week temperatures SOARED into the 70's, these are the type of days that it's impossible to not ride.

Headed out for my routine lunch time type ride - 1st stop was at the local golf course, there were a few players out, but not as many as I would have suspected (see my short sleeves :)

I also had to throw in a few photographs of my legs just to confirm I am wearing shorts - you will also notice that some of my photographs are a bit "odd", that is because I "borrow" my wife's Point and Shoot camera and the photos it produces are really not that crisp - so I often find myself touching these up a bit with some software to try and make them a bit more interesting.

Toward the end of my ride I cross the Red Clay Creek and with a nice sweat, the water looked very tempting - not quite yet, but soon enough.

The bad thing is I had my first road race
scheduled for the Sunday in Lancaster PA and it
has been cancelled to to SNOW - yea, you got that right, it is snowing right now - actually ice
pellets right now - roads are a complete mess.

Races is scheduled for next Saturday so at leas that will give me a chance to delay my immanent implosion.