A quick update at the end of the year

Wow 2019 is almost over already!

We have had a busy year with many highlights topped off by becoming a USA citizen just before christmas.

I am now a USA citizen!

I hope all my friends have had a great year and festive season.

My training for the Landrun double has been progressing nicely.  The running is going better now I am a few weeks in, it's actually fun to run again. The cycling is, well it is just always fun once I get out on gravel. 

Obviously with an event that can have such varied conditions as Landrun setting time goals is mostly out of my hands, If I get good conditions I would be over the moon with a 12.5hour combined finishing time however that is with near perfect conditions which can't be guaranteed. Therefore I am looking to just finish both events with no major body problems or mechanicals, and my training is geared towards that. 

As I get closer to the events I will dial in my kit a little better but right now it is looking like I will be using a camelbak chase for the running event and going probably with just two waterbottles on the bike and not using a camelbak.

New tyres for christmas 38C
but more like a 35C, seem to roll pretty well too

Sunrise rides never get old :)

Always nice out here, even
better when there is almost no wind.

I had been running in some hoka shoes but I am not sure about them so I switched out to some Saucony shoes. It is still early miles in them but they feel lots better. I want to get a few longer runs in before committing to that.

New shoes :)

Dirt running

I am also sending in my biking shoes for repair as one of the boa lace eyelets failed on them, hopefully I will have an update soon as to if they can be repaired.

Ooophs :-/

With just over 10 weeks to go before the Landrun double it's all go go go here. Until next time, have fun everyone.

Gobble Cross - OKGPCX - 10th November 2019

The last cross race of the OKGPCX series was held in Stillwater this weekend. It was perfect racing conditions. Warm not to hot, a mostly dry course and a great atmosphere. 

The course 

Errrrm I didn't actually ride most of it, but it looked awesome. It was technical with a couple of run ups and a barrier. There were also what looked like some great descents, although I will fully admit I didn't actually ride any of them. Why? Read on and I shall tell you. 

Fiona's race

This week there were actually some girls for Fiona to race with and a really big field.

Juniors race 

The race started and Fiona was chugging along as everyone else rode away from her. She made it through the first couple of mud pits unscathed and rode the first descent. She did great around the rest of the course, I actually caught her running one section which she hasn't done before :) She finished the race with two laps and in 3rd place, with a huge smile on her face.

All smiles 

My race

Owing to watching Fiona's race I went into my race without a sighting lap, not to worry I had seen most of the course from the other side of the tapes and was wasn't worried. We set off and full gas as per usual, around the first hairpin and things were looking good for me. I was feeling strong and the course really seemed like it was going to be a good one. Then disaster I got a flat tyre. Sealant was spraying everywhere and my tyre was flat before I even managed to stop. I pulled over and checked the tyre, I had a slice through it around 10mm in length. Oh well race over. I had no spares with me, they were all in the car. 

After leaving the course and telling the officials I was out I headed over to find Fiona. She was waiting for me at the top of one of the little climbs ready to cheer me on, she was very confused that I was not still on course. 

After getting some food we headed over to the podiums for Fiona's podium.

Rocking 3rd Place

Then I took a walk over to see what I had run over. 

Can you see it? 

Not sure if it was this exact piece but
 I removed what I found from the course. 

Another tyre bites the dust 

Fuck you Strava no it wasn't :) 

The Strava for what it's worth

Amateur Cross - OKGPCX - 27th October 2019

Another week another cross race in the Tulsa area.

This week we ventured to Chandler Park in North West Tulsa. The park sits on top of a hill but fortunately the course was mostly flat. 

We had a significant amount of rain on Thursday and Friday. This for me is always a worry with regards to riding off road, as the ground here has lots of clay in it, so it doesn't drain well and as it starts to dry out it gets super tacky.

The course

The course was around 1 mile in length. The start was not part of the main course, we started on a paved section with a 90 degree left turn into a hill where we cut out a section of course on the first lap. 

From the finish line we headed into a 180 degree left hand turn and back slightly up hill to a 180 degree right which was squared off. There was then bumpy down hill section into a left and slightly uphill section. We then did some weaving in and around an open area before a drop down then climb back up. Next was the first wooded section with more twists and turns before we hit a little singletrack section then it was out across a long power sapping straight, through a chicane and ditch and into some more woods. We twisted and turned in the woods then popped out onto a paved section of trail before a short climb into an off camber section of the course before a big mud section and onto the finish straight.

Fiona's race 

Fiona was the only girl present in her age group and got to start with the boys in the Junior 9-14 age group. She got a good start but was at the back of that group by the first turn. 

Due to the drying nature of the course the juniors got the short end of the course, the mud was as tacky as it would get all day. 

The mud Fiona was dealing with. 

Fiona plugged away at the course but was having to walk a couple of sections, due to mud build up. 

Cheering her on whilst she rode the course. 

Maybe next year we will get her on a cross bike which should cut through the mud a little better. 

She completed one lap and was pulled, it had taken her 18min. 

Finish line and exhausted

On the plus side though, she did make the top step of the podium and at this race she actually won money. 

Podium :)

My Race

Once the call up's were out of the way, I was on the second row we were off. The charge down the course to the first corner was as frantic as ever and I hung back a little to avoid any pileups. We crossed up and over the little hillock and joined the main course, through the mud holes and across the finish line it was all pretty frantic for the first part of the lap as people jostled for position. I was sitting around 15th place I think but the guys on the front hadn't dropped us yet, that soon changed though. 

I got behind a guy and we rolled around the course, the guy wasn't going as quickly as I wanted to so I put a little effort in and passed him. Over the course of the next nine laps to the finish I proceeded to pick my way through the field ahead of me. My legs felt good throughout the race and I found the course fun to ride, it wasn't technical and there was no dismount to deal with. It was a lot easier than what Fiona had to race on that is for sure. 

In the end I was out sprinted and ended up in 8th place, which I am totally stoked with. 

Seth beating me into 8th Place

Unfortunately I can't make the next race but I am looking forward to the final round of the series in Stillwater. Hopefully my legs feel as good as today and I can get another top 10 position. 

Also Amanda filmed most of my race, here it is.

The Strava

Rock the Mohawk- OKGPCX - 20th October 2019

This weeks exciting cross race was held in Mohawk park in Tulsa. Read all about last weeks race here. 

The course

I really enjoyed the course, it reminded me of the courses I used to race in Alaska at Kincaid park.  We started partway around the course so I will do the course description from the finish line. 

From the finish line we had a couple of 180 degree turns then a run up with railway sleepers to force the run up. Next it was into a 90 degree right and then a 180 degree left onto an off camber section with sweeping turns onto a straight paved section (this was where we started). After the straight we turned back through some fast turns under some big trees. Next was a 180 degree turn into an off camber section with a few more 90 degree turns for good measure.
Following this there was a short flat section with some more 90 and 180degree turns into a short climb with a 180 degree turn before dropping into a sand pit. A few more sweeping turns, into another 180 turn, then onto a bridge and we hit some singletrack before heading into more tight turns up and down a small incline then it was through a couple of small ditches before a few more tight turns under trees and around to the finish line. 

Fiona's Race

Fiona didn't have a good day, I think that she overheated but she could also be fighting a bug of some sort. She wasn't feeling great before the race and toughed out one lap then called it a day. It was so sad to see how upset she was at the end. I'm just proud she started. 

My Race

I was not expecting much from this race, I have had a few heavy days of training on Thursday, Friday then on Saturday I rode the G3 race 3 (read about it here). I did manage to get a preride of the course in and I'm glad I did, at least knowing there was a singletrack section helped. They did the call ups for the riders with the most points so far in the series and we filled in the space after this. Then we were off. I was not trying for the wholeshot (who am I kidding I don't have the legs for that). But come the end of the first straight I was somewhere near the back. 

I spy pink socks

I think I am in 19th here

We hit the off camber section where someone ahead of me (Cody I think) hit the deck. We all managed to get past him ok and soon enough we were into the sand section. I had tried and failed to ride this in practice but thinking what a shit show it was likely to be in lap one I wasn't to worried about riding it. Coming into the sand I saw an opening, I chanced my luck at riding it and passed around 3 people, I was now feeling pretty good about riding the sand.

I was pushing pretty hard to stay ahead of the guys behind me and lost the wheel of the guy in front of me, oh well. Next was the singletrack section and as we left that I had lost the guys behind me but still not caught the guys in front. I was then passed by Cody, I guess don't leave any opening as people will take that gap. I chased hard but didn't want to go to deep to early. 

Chasing always chasing
this is the start of lap 2 I think

I chased hard and caught back up to people just after we went up the steps for the first time. I did almost hit the deck though going up the steps. 

Feeling good

Oh no miss step

Lets hope this works

Sometimes you get lucky

On lap two I was getting into my stride and passed a couple of people, I passed a couple more on lap three. When I passed Sheridan, I'd forgotten that there was a hole on the course on the side I was going to pass him on, fortunately I was able to bunnyhop it. My race seemed to go pretty well after this.

Sure my dismount technique is still terrible. 

Hand order Nick! 

but I at least still use my tongue to balance. 

Tongue balance is key!

I was able to ride the sand on all but the last two attempts and I loved the corners. I ended up in 12th place which is way better than I was expecting. I think on less tired legs I could have made the top 10. I will say that I was fortunate that Seth hit the deck on the last lap as I was unsure I was going to be able to catch him. 

It is horns up for Oklahoma isn't it?

Horns Up for Oklahoma right?

Go me 12th place

The Strava

G3 Race 3 - Guthrie to "Luther" and back

It's G3R3 report time, catch up on race two here and race one here

This weeks race seemed to come around really quickly, I have been slowly ramping up my training for Landrun double, mileage tracking can be found here. This means I have had a pretty heavy tail end of the week for me.

Thursday was running intervals followed by two hours of zone 2 on the bike. Friday was an "Easy" long run though it didn't feel that way.

As we lined up at the start of the race I wasn't sure how my legs were going to respond. I was excited to try and ride with John Lynn who was down from Colorado to see his son. We rolled together through the neutral roll out then the pace increased and that was the last I saw of John :)

John is in that front group... Bye John :) 

My legs were feeling pretty good though and I settled into a tempo ride. Fortunately for me Jeremy Black was there with me and we rolled out a good pace. With a couple of ladies (Heather and Rhonda) and one other guy.

Love riding with Jeremy :)

Allowing others to lead :)

After a few miles in we caught up with a group whom had turned the wrong way? I have no idea to be honest but there were four guys and they pulled away from Jeremy and I along with the other three riders. I chose to maintain my pace rather than go into the red so early in the race. Then I had to stop to pee, Jeremy choose to stop and adjust layers and we rolled on together after being passed by multiple people.

The roads were great though, as we were flying down one of the many inclines we came to a corner, as we rounded the corner the road became really soft. There were a group of riders stopped aiding another rider. I later found out that it was a teammate Aaron who had gone down in the sand and unfortunately broken (smashed) his collar bone. I hope you recover quickly Aaron.

We continued cruising around and before we knew it we were at the aid station at the vineyard. We stopped to get some water, not that I really needed it. Then we were off riding through a loop of the vineyard before hitting the roads again.

Well I have never done this

Fun with friends

As we headed north there was very little wind and we were once again riding great. The roads were pretty and the company fun. Before to long we were crossing a walk section on the a bridge. I once again needed to pee, WTF body? I had hardly drunk anythink. Oh well Jeremy, soft pedalled and I caught up with him removing vegetation from his derailleur.  We continued on and then on one of the hills we caught up with Jackie Chastine. She had had an off earlier in the course and seemed frustrated and a little dazed. We rode with her for a few miles before she told us to go on.

A few more hills and a long headwind section and we turned back west.

I was having a blast! 

That lovely red dirt

More straight roads for a change

Cool b road

Always having fun

We were flying and catching and passing people. It was a lot of fun. Then on one of the descents which was particularly rough I heard a rim strike. I thought I had gotten away with it but a few miles on the front tyre was very soft. I waved Jeremy on and added some air. Around 1/2  a mile later is was soft again. I threw a lot more air in and continued on my way. Then I came across Jeremy and Corey who were fixing Corey's tyre. At this point I decided to put a tube in my tyre as it was soft again. I couldn't see any leaks and still had sealant in the tyre so am at a loss as to what is going on with it. Oh well that is to work out for another time. A huge thanks to Jeremy who loaned me a CO2 and inflater as I had failed to pack my CO2 inflator.

Flat fixing club

By now I had a tail wind and was enjoying the last few miles back to the finish, my legs felt fantastic and I'm sure without the flat I could have caught a few more people.

I passed Corey who had gone flat again, he had already called in a ride so refused to take my offer of another inner tube. 

I crossed the finish line and got to have a chat with teammates and friends who had also completed the race. Then I was off home to check on the beautiful Amanda who has unfortunately got Shingles. TLC is the order of the afternoon. 

Tomorrow I get to race CX again!

Results 

I will add later.

The Strava