Southern Hospitality

Found some other photos of Southern Cross. Here I am finishing the race, a slight uphill to the finish line after the cross section, right into a barn with heaters, chili, cookies and Yazoo beer (brewery in Nashville, TN). Other reports rolling in indicate the second half of the climb (after the sharp right turn at the volunteer truck) is not considered a route or even attempted by the locals.

Race Report

The rain began to fall as we awaited the pre-race meeting. Mulberry Gap, GA was a beautiful setting, tall old growth forest, most notably the pine-outdoor-forest-trout-clear stream smell. The race started with a "parade lap" through the cyclocross course and then shot out onto the first downhill gravel/mud fire road section. (On the drive down, Hank and I decided to ride together, have fun, ride a hard steady effort, but don't race.) The amazing streams and scenery made you forget for a moment you were screaming downhill, around fast turns and depending on you line - getting mud thrown all over you. The downhill led to a short road section and then onto "the climb".

"The Climb"
The climb started gradual - seated climbing, easy to spin gearing - the pace we settled on was challenging and shortly we began to pass a few riders here and there. At lower elevations on the climb the terrain was reasonable - a compact dirt gravel road, interspersed with potholes. I checked my HR periodically and made sure I got in some nutrition on the early portion of the climb, there were a few mental lapses where I told myself I was going to hard (especially not having any way to calculate where on the climb we were) but Hank was there encouraging me to get on his wheel and on we went. The climb began to level off, the temperature was dropping and we approached a volunteer vehicle - assuming this was the top of the climb - wrong, wrong, wrong. Sharp right hairpin turn - the road shot straight up (and so began the section only passable by 4 wheel drive vehicles - as told by the race director at the start). The climbing continued, I was searching for every gear possible, out of the saddle pumping hard - this continued: the climb would level off, you would tell yourself you were at the top and sure enough, straight back up you go. One section we rode through fog with about 20 feet of visibility going up, up, up. other sections there were small streams of water in gullies from erosion and melting from the snow and ice at the summit.

On the descent, you went screaming down switchbacks for 7 miles. My triceps were sore from not only the climbing, but from the jarring of the gravel road on the descent, I was flirting the line of being in control of the bike, while not really being in control. The race finished back by the cabins, another cyclocross course lap highlighted by an uphill scrambled requiring you to shoulder your bike and use everything you had to get up the side of the beginning of the mountain.


On the drive back a random gas station in TN had Fat Tire.

The hardest and most enjoyable experience on a bike. -A.

What, it's not 2 degrees outside, why not?

Last ride today in prep for Southern Cross on Saturday. Unfortunately, no chance to ride tomorrow, early morning swim, work, then a long drive to GA, hopefully arrive before midnight. I've got laundry and a pile of dishes calling my name, check back later for the race report.
-A.

The Picture - big, small, I don't know you decide

Two weeks of training down in the new year, and the feeling is overall confidence and enjoyment. I look forward to getting in the water - asking coach for more swims - and enjoying both riding outside when the weather seems bad - but is ridable - and running through the snow, ice, rain and whatever mother nature throws our way. Finally got around to registering for New Orleans 70.3, just before the registration deadline, and can't wait to test out the new ride when Time Trial Tuesday starts back up.

Southern Cross is 6 days and a road trip away, looking forward to trying some southern barbecue, hanging out with friends, meeting new people and hopefully riding in above freezing temperatures. Until then, it's business, it's business time, and there are a couple of leftover sierra nevada celebration ales calling my name.
-A.

Roads

Gravel road ride to Lake Hope from last week (me on the left) - not in the pink and yellow, though the visibility paid off when it got dark, minor ill-communication on the return route.

Check out the picture quality of an iphone (not in my possession)
-A.

Trainer Time

Don't forget your booties, it's coooooooold out there! More trainer time is in store for this evening, I do recommend the Conti Home Trainer Tire, besides being bright orange and very flashy, it resists heat build up and break down relative to a traditional used road tire on the trainer, and provides additional motivation to train - how flat will the surface area (of the tire) be, by the time the weather changes - or a least reaches temps consistently above freezing. Last week an easy gravel road ride turned into an adventure - darkness, ice patches, freezing temps, multiple dog chasings, and of course a good dose of hill work - it was all well worth the experience in the end.

A little dissappointed with the Duct Brand Window kit - plastic wrap for cheap apartment windows, used to increase heating efficiency and make you living space more comfortable with less energy...sustainability, green, energy efficiency - yeah!, the stuff stayed put for about 1.5 months - more proof wal-fart is taking over the world or a good reason to ride the trainer to heat your apartment.
-A.

Feed the Dynasty

Feed the dynasty: on a dry erase board in the aquatics center, the current training motto for the winter months - what exactly does it mean? I have no idea. But it is the perfect answer for all things training, or any response when you don't have a good answer or quick witty comeback.

"Hey, what are you doing today? I have a tempo run later, want to join?"
A: No, way, I have to feed the dynasty.

"Dude, this ride is epic."
A: No, we are just feeding the dynasty.

Others news: stumbled across an interesting article on the BCS and why Utah should be national champions.....http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3815656

Freezing rain in the forecast for tomorrow, time to improve my bike handling skills.
Feed the dynasty
-A

I'm Not Big on Intro's or Goodbyes

New Orleans 70.3 is 13 weeks away and I'm letting the cat out of the bag: Kettle Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips - amazing. My arms feel like Ron Burgundy from my current swim volume - okay, my entire upper body, and gearing up for Southern Cross.

Southern Cross is a 50 mile race in northern GA - includes gravel roads, an average 5% grade 10 mile climb on the above mentioned gravel road, and a few circuits to mimic a cross race (I think?). Found a very steep long gravel hill to climb, while winter training up here in Athens County - what, you don't head north to train for the winter?

Ran into my buddy Craig who is gearing up for a win at the Derby Half Marathon - yes, win, he is that fast. Its good to surround yourself with individuals who want to train, eat, and sleep - in no particular order.

Can't have a blog without pictures, and can't have pictures without a digital camera - the digital shall be returning soon.

Kettle Brand: Salt and Vinegar, don't forget
-A