Fair Hill Classic Mountain Bike Race

The Fair Hill Classic Mountain bike race was on Sunday 7/15/07. After my problems at Nesamniny a few weeks ago, I was not sure I even wanted to attempt this race, plus last Sundays pre-ride really put a hurting on my legs. The course is also one long lap so it was not really worth my time (an entire day) to photograph this race due to the layout. I had a million and one reasons or excuses not to race....but in the end I knew this would be my last (and first) chance to race on a mountain bike this year and would probably regret it if I missed it.

I have been racing the Fair Hill Classic since 1995, back when it was the C&D Canal Classic and moved to Fair Hill in 1996 (dates are from what I recall). I have raced every year except one (last year). Fair Hill is a race that I always see to do fairly well at - my best race was 2 years ago where I came in 3rd (Expert Vet I), 20 seconds behind Rick Mihills (Super Fast Cross racer - 2006 MAC Masters Champion) and 6 minutes behind Blair Saunders (Ex Canadian Olympian) who won our class.

This year I have not done any racing due to an ongoing back problem that locks up when racing making it impossible to breath and I loose all the strength in my legs putting my riding to a slow crawl. Recently my wife has been encouraging me to try some Yoga so 2 weeks ago I started doing Yoga twice a week hoping the excessive stretching and strengthening posses would help with my back. I seriously thing it has been helping - I still have some ongoing soreness, but I really think I am making some progress in reducing the severity of the pain. Hopefully with time Yoga will progressively help my back and be ready for cross season.

Fair Hill this year, learning from my mistake at Neshaminy, I decided to make sure I had a plan since the course was a 29 mile single loop with a lot of climbing...as well as there were no really good areas to drop out if necessary. My main goal was just to make sure I finished the race with a secondary goal of being in the top 10 even though in all reality this was my 1st mountain bike race of the year (2nd if counting my 1.5 laps at Nesamniny). Looking at the previous MASS race results I notice Robert Dudas (Wild Blues) was racing well this year and had a similar racing style as myself - starting off reasonable, pacing and keeping consistent lap times and finishing strong - I decided I would ride Rob's wheel at Fairhill to make sure I did not head out too fast and blow up my legs - kind of keeping me in check.

Expert Vet II's race starts and I found myself at the front 4th position. around the soft corner safely and up a short climb......THERE! right in front of me was Rob.....now normally I would have pass right by him as I was going faster, but I really thought the best thing was for me to stick with my plan - so I dropped right behind Rob and set out to race. Rob kept a nice pace, we got passed by a few riders at the very beginning once we entered the woods....but it was going to be a LONG and hard race so I just sat in and did not chase anyone.

Problems set in descending down the first rocky downhill....water bottle fell out of it's cage - no biggie as I had an extra on me and prior to the race I dropped 2 bottles off at the 273 bridge crossing :). Drop my 2nd bottle in the cage and notice my bottle cage was broken - now that's a problem. I now was going to have to drink the entire race from a bottle in my jersey pocket - ouch! Nothing I could do so just had to make due. Once everyone settled in, Rob and I started to slowly pass a lot of riders. Felling bad about being a wheel sucker I needed to help out Rob as much as I could and fed him all the course info, when we would be climbing, how long the climbs were, when we needed to pass, when not to pass, ect. Knowing the race course as much as I did, it was often tough to sit on his wheel as I know I could flow through many of the section a lot faster and smoother, but I kept telling myself to sit back for a while...it still a long way to go and I wanted to make sure I finished.

Crossing under the 273 bridge I went to grab my 2 extra bottles....Damn, missed the 1st one but was able to grab the 2nd. Now I had one full and one almost empty bottle with still 2/3rds of the race to go and having to drink from my jersey. Gonna be some trouble.

After crossing under the 273 bridge, sharp left and up the 1st major climb - The Punctured Lung, here I was felling pretty good and actually wanted to pass more than we did...getting a bit antsy siting back - to the top, downhill to the next climb. Once we started this 2nd climb I told Rob that some technical sections were coming up and I would take the lead since I know the trails (Drunken Sailor and then over to South Park). Rob said go and I moved around but he did not grab my wheel...I pass one other rider just as we were moving into Drunken Sailor and never saw Rob again. Feeling pretty good I rolled thru the Rollercoaster and Upper Ridge Trail heading into South Park.

Now about 1/2 way thru South Park (I swear it was almost the EXACT same spot at my last race here in 2005) my legs started to cramp - looked down at my computer to see 22 miles - DAMN! 7 mile to go. Time to sit back and spin a bit as it was still a long way to go with legs starting to cramp. Here I was passed for the first time by a guys rider. Water Stop #2 I grabbed a full, ice cold water bottle (Great Job to the Trail Spinners to offer full water bottles) drank as much as I could, put in in my jersey and started up the 5 bridges climb. I was able to contain my cramps by spinning up - thru Crack Head Bob I still had to spin a lot but was able to maintain a decent pace - not getting passed yet and gaining ground on a few racers in front. This is the way I road pretty much to the end of the race. Crossed over the Humpback bridge with a few riders directly in front...able to maintain without loosing much ground, but unable to gain. Now my legs were getting real bad and seriously though I was done - not going to make it to the finish. Every once in a while while pedaling one of my legs would straighten out and completely lock up and almost not be able to bend....sit and spin, sit and spin - Yoga was coming to mind - breath oxygen into the legs, breath to the legs.

Final few roller climbs to the finish some one was riding my wheel.....every rider I came up on I was still able to pass just trying to maintain a steady spinning pace. I knew this rider was just going to spring me at the final 100 yards and there was no way I could possibly sprint. Up the last climb passed another rider and another right after the climb (I was actually really surprised that I was still able to pass so may riders during the last mile to the finish being that my legs were almost completely locking up) - last 50 single track yards to the road up to the finish I just told the rider that was behind me for the last 1/4 mile to go around as I was not going to sprint them to the line.....and around comes......................Greg Ferguson - DAMN! What are the odds it was someone from my class. Fergie comes around and I just roll in the finish right behind him. In the end Fergie takes 5th bumping me to 6th. Kind of suck losing 5th in the last 30 yards of a race. Hind site I should of just kept my mouth shut and let the cards drop where they do instead of just giving my place away...not that it would have changed anything.

In the end 6th place was respectable especially since a lot of the big guns come out to race Fair Hill. Talked to Rob after the race to apologise for being a wheel sucker, but he was cool with it - actually said he liked it?

Last night I did all the post race thinking about what I could have done differently - could I have placed higher if I did not hold back so much at the first 1/3 of the race, what if I was able to drink more instead of having to drink from bottles in my jersey pocket, what if, what it....

Iron Hill is the next race which is local as well. Said immediately after FairHill I was not racing Iron Hill as I hate short lap races that do lots of laps, but I think I'll wait to see the course layout to determine if I'll race or not. Probably not as Iron Hill is a great course to photograph since there are so many access points and Iron Hill could be my last mountain bike to photographs this year.


Photos are from a few different races this year.

Later
MLK

Iron Hill Twilight Criterium and Preriding the Fair Hill race course

Saturday evening saw the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium which is part of the USA National CRIT Championship Series making a stop in local West Chester PA.

Races Consisted of Mens Cat 3/4, Pro Women's and Pro Men's
All I can say is "Wicked FAST! By the time the Pro Men hit the streets it was getting dark - 60 laps and they were flying right from the start - I really have no idea how they could keep up that tempo for the entire 60 laps, but they did.

Eventual winner Emile Abraham (Priority Health) and 2nd place Evan Fader (Battley Harley Davidson) kept away on a breakaway for 23 laps.


Womens Pro field came down to an at the line sprint where Cherrwine team rider Laura Van Gilder edged out Teresa Cliff-Ryan (Breakway Racing)


.....and a few more photographs from the race:
complete race gallery can be viewed here

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/345674/













Sunday I ventured out to pre-ride the Fairhill race course with Todd Forrest leading the group ride. Parking lot was full with a few different groups heading out as well. Our group probably started out with close to 20 riders....and in the end whittled down to around 8. Course was just as everyone described - no flow and lots of climbing.

In the end the course measures out to just over 28 miles, our riding time was 2 hours and 41 minutes...averaging 10.5mph. For me, toward the end of the ride I was just hanging on buy a thread trying to finish. I was definately hurting and felt the effect in my legs the following day. Still not sure if I am going to race Fairhill of just be content to do some groups rides now and again...Well see come Sunday.

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.