Semi-annual Update

As the post hints at, this is what is apparently going to start becoming semi-annual updates to this thing. It's not a big deal since I mainly write to read again later when I'm 75 and laugh at myself.  The past year has been interesting to say the least.  Cross could have gone better, but I'll probably always say that. Even if I won every race by some miracle I'd probably still find something to be critical about with myself.  The worst part was that I was just feeling dead tired during the entire last race of the year at Cross off the Old Year in Shawnee, KS, and I couldn't understand why people were passing me that I usually finish ahead of.  I just chalked it up to being tired from a long year of riding and racing, or at least until I got home.  That's when I realized that my rear disc rotor was rubbing on the caliper pretty severely, and it was bad enough that the wheel wouldn't even spin around once before it stopped.  So not only was I battling the wind and cold, but I was also fighting my rear brake. I had switched out wheels and had to adjust my calipers before the previous race, so I must have just completely forgot for this race when I switched the wheels back.  Embarrassing, but oh well.

This year has been awesome and draining at the same time.  Aside from  my real job of being a professor, I have been putting a lot into training.  I don't want to include a name since our arrangement is more or less off the record, but I started getting coached in January.  I'll first say that not having to plan out my rides is amazing.  Simply looking at the calendar and doing what I'm told takes a lot of stress out of the process.  However, doing what I'm told is easier said than done since I've been getting worked over pretty hard with intervals!  I've already noticed a lot of positive changes after just over 2 months, so the benefits are showing and if I'm not faster than I've ever been this year then it just isn't meant to be.  I've always been pretty hot and cold on using a power meter since on my own it was tough to utilize properly, but now I'd be lost without it since being in the proper zones at all times has become such a priority.  I'm not saying riders shouldn't use power without a coach, but comparing now to when I used to do exactly that I feel like I was not using it to its full potential.

I've got a few races coming up in April that I may write something about, and I'll definitely write something about Dirty Kanza (maybe).  On 4/11-12 I've got the Hermann Gravel Challenge, which is a 2 day event that I believe works out to be about 100 miles each day.  There isn't a singlespeed category, but I'll be riding it anyway since it will help with DK.  I may be less competitive than I would be with people that can shift and really drop the hammer on the flats, but it should be beneficial when the end of May gets here.  I'm also doing at least 1 and perhaps 2 MTB races in April, so that will be fun.

As always, I'll try to be better about updating this for the entertainment of my future self!  Finally, here is a picture of Freckles to laugh at.