Sunday, July 16, 2006

National Champs!

I am a bad, bad blogger. The bottom line is that I have been home for a total of like 3 days in the last 4 weeks. Traveling, racing, and being stressed about getting work done has led me to ignore the blog......ok

So the big news is: I won the masters 40+ national time trial AND Cara and I won the Elite mixed tandem time trial! The masters TT has been a goal of mine for YEARS...so needless to say I was quite satisfied.

Between my last entry and now, I managed to win the Avery Trace time trial...then headed out and did the 5 stage tour of Ohio where I was top 10 on 4 stages and 9th overall....then we headed up to Elite nationals here in Seven Springs PA. I was 8th in the eilte TT...which was a good sign and my best elite TT finish by far (no pros this year). In the death march of an elite road race, I made it 3 of the 4 27 + mile laps then pulled the plug after coming off on the final climb of lap 3. This was very distressing for me. I had made the selection of 30 riders up to that point and all I had to do was ride around the course one more time for a top 25 finish.....but all I could think about was recovery for the masters and tandem TT wednesday, so I quit. It bothered me for a few days.....but now I believe it may have made the difference allowing me to win on wednesday....so I'll call it the best decision I have ever made.

OK...so I hope to get more details and pics up from natioanls, but for now I have to rest up for the final event of the festival: the masters tandem road race. My partner Ken Stamm and I were 2nd in this race last year and we want redemption!

a2