This race was located only a few miles from the house in Sault Ste Marie, Mi. It started at 8pm. A few weeks before the race the head track coach at LSSU, Jason Davis, talked me into running this race. At that point I was just starting to run consistently. I like to do some small amount of running during cycling season to get the heart rate up and to shake the legs out in the mornings.
The weeks going into this race I was only running 15-25ish minutes at a decent pace. It was about three weeks of running low mileage and the week of the Chain Drive Fest I only ran a few days that week. I was only doing this race because it was a local race and it was something different from the mountain bike races. My roommate, friend from MTU, and the head track coach were all running this race so I figured it would be fun to run a random 5k during summer. Since cycling is my main focus and running is just something I do as cross training, my prep for these races weren't as serious. This past week I was realizing why I have been sleeping so much and have been unable to push the pace during workouts and last weekends mountain bike race. I have had friends in the past few years go through very similar things and after they got their blood tested it came back that they were anemic. So unknowing what was going on yet I didn't think the race was going to go well. I was just going to run it for fun
The morning of the race I got up at a normal time (7am) and went out for a short shake down run since I didn't run the two previous days because of work and feeling ill. My 12 minute shake down run was painful. My knee that has been hurting the past week was acting up and I just felt sluggish. After the run we all just chilled and took the day easy. Including a 2 hour nap after after lunch was a good way to stay relaxed. Once 6pm rolled around we left the house for the 4ish mile drive to Sherman Park. We all got our number and talked to some friends. Around 7pm we hooked up with Coach Davis to do a warm up. I was only planning an easy 15-20 minutes. We were all ready to go before the start. I was feeling decent. I didn't do any race prep like I usually do the week going into a race. I took some Hammer Endurolytes pills a few hours before the race like usual and that's about the only typical thing that I do. I wasn't even that hyped up for the race. I was in a relaxed, chill, uncaring mode and didn't really care what happened. I figured I could go sub 18 min.
We all lined up for the race on a tight start line. Like usual I started just off the front to hold myself back from getting out to hard. As the race started and turned onto the street I got into a solid pace and quickly started working my way up to the front. Coach Davis took the lead from the start and took off. I got myself into third and ran the heals on the second place runner. I ran with him for the first 1.5 miles as we swapped positions. My friend Zach wanted to hit an opening mile of 5:40 so as I passed the first mile I went through at 5:41. As the course hit some gravel road I slowed down my pace because of the slippery road. I wanted to keep a solid pace from mile 2 to 3. Once I got off the dirt section and back on the pavement I picked the pace back up. The entire race I had coach Davis in sight which was a surprise. I went through mile 2 at 11:30ish. I started to freak out about not breaking 18 minutes. Once I got back onto the final section of the course I started to open up my kick. At this point I was in 3rd overall but I knew a runner was closing in. The last mile I didn't even look at my watch so I had no clue what my estimated finish time would be. I ended up getting passed just before mile 3. As I made the turn for the final section of the course I had no clue what the time was. There were people blocking the clock so I was just guessing I would be in the high 17's. As I crossed the finish line I looked over at the clock and seen the time. The time on the clock was a huge surprise. It read 17:15. At first I thought the time was wrong because there was no way I ran that fast. I have never ran a 5k that fast and the last time I even came close to that time was when I ran a 17:18 two years ago the the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber Chase. I ended up finishing 4th overall and 2nd in the 19-29 age group. Zach finished 3rd on our age group as well.
It's stupid and funny how things work like this. I had little to no running time in before this race and didn't do any race prep stuff. I just went out and ran the race for fun and ended up taking 3 seconds off my pr. It's funny how this works. Ever since I graduated high school and after I stopped running at the college level my running has been somewhat minimal and since then I have broke my 5k pr 3 different times. 2 of theses times is when I put in a little amount of running in with no speed workouts. It makes a person think what I could be running if I stuck to the running gig.
Final remarks on this race: This was a fun blow off event that when going into it I wasn't expecting much but ended up to one of those epic races. Coach Davis killed it, Zach who has been training for marathons the past few years took time off of his 5k pr, Pj did some quality recruiting during the race, and I did something that I think that shouldn't be done. It was a great event that is low key and fun for a blow off race with no pressure. We all had a great time.
About a few weeks ago I had an idea of possibly running indoor and outdoor track for the final semesters of my college life. Its possibly in the works right now so if this is going to happen once Iceman is done I will be able to take the next month to get ready for the Indoor season and do who knows what. So putting up the time that I did for this race on the little amount of training was a good showing in front of the two coaches that I could possibly be running for this coming winter/spring.
Just a shout out to those who support me
Mom and Dad
Hammer Nutrition
Spy Optics
Schwalbe Tires
Crank Brothers
Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival June 14, 2014
For the past year I have been told by many friends that the Chain Drive was the race to hit in the U.P. (besides Ore 2 Shore). So for the 2014 season I put it on my list of possible races to do. I know the course would be great because of the location being so close to Copper Harbor.
The day before the race my roommate and I made the 5 hour trip across the U.P. We arrived in Houghton at about 9:30pm. We were staying at a friends house so we first went there and dropped off the bikes and unloaded the truck. Our friend showed us the start sections of the course. We traveled across the bridge that travels to Hancock and around for the first few miles of the course. After looking at the opening sections of the course we made a quick Walmart run for some breakfast food.
The morning of the race I was feeling decent. I had to get up earlier than expected because I still had to get over to sign up early and get all of that stuff done before the rush came. It was a bit chilly outside for being June and the sun was trying to show it self but the clouds were winning that battle. About an hour before the start I started getting things organized. Put on my Breakaway Bicycle kit, stuffed the pockets with tools, banana and a water bottle. I was very unsure what bike I was going to ride till I woke up that morning. I chose to ride the full suspension bike because I know what I will do and I felt a bit more comfortable on it in the wet conditions. The only problem with this bike is that it can only carry one water bottle so I had a bottle of Hammer Heed on the bike and a bottle of plain water in the middle pocket of my jersey. I dislike using my camleback for the shorter races. I started rolling around the parking lot and just tried to get into that zone I always try to get in. I always listen to the Lacrae station on Pandora when warming up for a race.
The start of the race was a controlled start for the first opening miles. I've done plenty of races that include being in large packs but the roll out for this race was different. I wasn't very comfortable with being in the pack. I already forced myself to start further up front from what I originally like to. Once the race started everyone fought for positions, even on the roll out. Some people were up front when realistically they belonged in the back. Here's a tip for all you newbies, EVERYONE CAN GO FAST ON PAVEMENT. Once the cop car pulled off to the side the race was on and the front group shot out like a canon. We all tried to open up a gap before getting into the single track. Once we hit cemetery hill the pack blew up and there were large gaps. The hill was rough but it did what it was suppose to do and that was to break up the pack before getting into the woods.
I was feeling pretty good after the hill and just tried to get into a good pace. I connected with a few riders I recognize from past races and I rode with a group for a good portion of the race. A few of the riders in the group split off for the 16 mile race while the rest of us kept going with the 32 mile markings. The opening single track sections showed what real single track riding was all about. There was everything a rider could ask for, rocks, bridges, tree roots, and short climbs. The group just keep at a good hard pace and we made some passes on people who were having bike problems. The first half of the race was had a good solid pace. Probably about an hour in I made a charge on a two track section and passed a few riders that were struggling in the single track. I would go on and regret that decision. I had to back it off and recharge after the attack. Once I regained my speed the course was getting more and more technical. At about an hour and a half into the race I hit my favorite section of the course. It was a flow section that was full of single rollers, small doubles, and some small step up jumps. Normally on a 29'er I don't like hitting jumps of this nature but the full supension bike made it fun and I couldn't resist to throw a few whips over the doubles and step ups. I felt my motocross skills coming out. I could have rode that section all day but I was racing so I had to continue. I was riding by myself for most of the second half of the race. Within 10 miles to go the course stated to get technical with rock sections and bridges with drop offs on the back sides of them. Within 5 miles to go the course took you down a trail and then into a rocky section that had no true line to it. This led us across a creek that was over the brake rotors.
The last few miles of the race seemed longer than what they should have but that could have been because of being tired. The last section before going into the finish shoot was a gradual hill on the side of the road. I would come across the line in 2:22:05 for 32 miles. I would end up finishing 20th overall and 6th in the Male 19-29 age group. I'm not to happy with the result but it what it is and I can now focus on getting ready for Nationals in the upcoming month. This race was a good race to do because of the challeging course and quality of riders that come to a race like this. This was the first race after doing Hanson Hills 100 so it was a good test to see how my leg speed is and see what I need to work on before the National race. Rocky section, hills and sprinting are some things that are always on the list for training. The next month of training will be a good test for myself to see how much I can improve over a short amout of time and now that I'm giving myself a good size break before the next race it will give me time to focus on training and not having to prepare for a race every weekend. I have a good idea of how to make improvements. I just need to do what I know I need to do and just go all in. I know with the help from friends, family and sponsors that by time Nationals rolls around I will be feeling better and stronger than I have all season.
I want to give a shout out to those who help me along the way and those who push me to go faster and farther.
-Mom and Dad
-Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon
-Hammer Nutrition
-Crank Brothers
-Spy Optics
-Friends and Family
The day before the race my roommate and I made the 5 hour trip across the U.P. We arrived in Houghton at about 9:30pm. We were staying at a friends house so we first went there and dropped off the bikes and unloaded the truck. Our friend showed us the start sections of the course. We traveled across the bridge that travels to Hancock and around for the first few miles of the course. After looking at the opening sections of the course we made a quick Walmart run for some breakfast food.
The morning of the race I was feeling decent. I had to get up earlier than expected because I still had to get over to sign up early and get all of that stuff done before the rush came. It was a bit chilly outside for being June and the sun was trying to show it self but the clouds were winning that battle. About an hour before the start I started getting things organized. Put on my Breakaway Bicycle kit, stuffed the pockets with tools, banana and a water bottle. I was very unsure what bike I was going to ride till I woke up that morning. I chose to ride the full suspension bike because I know what I will do and I felt a bit more comfortable on it in the wet conditions. The only problem with this bike is that it can only carry one water bottle so I had a bottle of Hammer Heed on the bike and a bottle of plain water in the middle pocket of my jersey. I dislike using my camleback for the shorter races. I started rolling around the parking lot and just tried to get into that zone I always try to get in. I always listen to the Lacrae station on Pandora when warming up for a race.
The start of the race was a controlled start for the first opening miles. I've done plenty of races that include being in large packs but the roll out for this race was different. I wasn't very comfortable with being in the pack. I already forced myself to start further up front from what I originally like to. Once the race started everyone fought for positions, even on the roll out. Some people were up front when realistically they belonged in the back. Here's a tip for all you newbies, EVERYONE CAN GO FAST ON PAVEMENT. Once the cop car pulled off to the side the race was on and the front group shot out like a canon. We all tried to open up a gap before getting into the single track. Once we hit cemetery hill the pack blew up and there were large gaps. The hill was rough but it did what it was suppose to do and that was to break up the pack before getting into the woods.
I was feeling pretty good after the hill and just tried to get into a good pace. I connected with a few riders I recognize from past races and I rode with a group for a good portion of the race. A few of the riders in the group split off for the 16 mile race while the rest of us kept going with the 32 mile markings. The opening single track sections showed what real single track riding was all about. There was everything a rider could ask for, rocks, bridges, tree roots, and short climbs. The group just keep at a good hard pace and we made some passes on people who were having bike problems. The first half of the race was had a good solid pace. Probably about an hour in I made a charge on a two track section and passed a few riders that were struggling in the single track. I would go on and regret that decision. I had to back it off and recharge after the attack. Once I regained my speed the course was getting more and more technical. At about an hour and a half into the race I hit my favorite section of the course. It was a flow section that was full of single rollers, small doubles, and some small step up jumps. Normally on a 29'er I don't like hitting jumps of this nature but the full supension bike made it fun and I couldn't resist to throw a few whips over the doubles and step ups. I felt my motocross skills coming out. I could have rode that section all day but I was racing so I had to continue. I was riding by myself for most of the second half of the race. Within 10 miles to go the course stated to get technical with rock sections and bridges with drop offs on the back sides of them. Within 5 miles to go the course took you down a trail and then into a rocky section that had no true line to it. This led us across a creek that was over the brake rotors.
The last few miles of the race seemed longer than what they should have but that could have been because of being tired. The last section before going into the finish shoot was a gradual hill on the side of the road. I would come across the line in 2:22:05 for 32 miles. I would end up finishing 20th overall and 6th in the Male 19-29 age group. I'm not to happy with the result but it what it is and I can now focus on getting ready for Nationals in the upcoming month. This race was a good race to do because of the challeging course and quality of riders that come to a race like this. This was the first race after doing Hanson Hills 100 so it was a good test to see how my leg speed is and see what I need to work on before the National race. Rocky section, hills and sprinting are some things that are always on the list for training. The next month of training will be a good test for myself to see how much I can improve over a short amout of time and now that I'm giving myself a good size break before the next race it will give me time to focus on training and not having to prepare for a race every weekend. I have a good idea of how to make improvements. I just need to do what I know I need to do and just go all in. I know with the help from friends, family and sponsors that by time Nationals rolls around I will be feeling better and stronger than I have all season.
I want to give a shout out to those who help me along the way and those who push me to go faster and farther.
-Mom and Dad
-Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon
-Hammer Nutrition
-Crank Brothers
-Spy Optics
-Friends and Family
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)