Olympics - lessons learned

Some Jamaican sprinter ought to change his first name to Lightning.

Several relay teams ought to learn to pass the baton properly - sharing is important.

Some young Kenyan Marathoner might have set the World Record (not just the Olympic Record) had he any competition pushing him (so much for tactical racing for medals); finishing just 2 minutes 6 seconds shy (5 seconds/mile) of Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie WR who himself ran the 10K instead, passing on the marathon because of the pollution threat.

What we really learned is despite the worlds attention, China will continue to oppress and suppress its people and the rights we take for granted. Hopefully for the people of China they will have tasted a difference from the influence that the Olympic tourists brought to them and light burning desire that will continue to bring about change from within. What are their leaders afraid of?

Talking legs

Not much into trash talk, and mostly let my fitness do the talking for me, though lately I've felt like a Buster Keaton movie - a silent comedy; so agreed Ian Tubbs (winner of today's Carnation LWV's series race).

100 days

Wife flew her last flight on the MD80 today as she now goes into semi-retirement awaiting a DEC 1st training date for 737 training. MD80 goes into retirement officially on AUG 24 or 25th with some special send-off by the Company on the 28th. After several thousands of hours over 17 years myself, with my wife flying the last 12 years (with a 3 year sabbatical for maternity leave), I can say that it'll always hold a special place in both our aviating memories, especially the dozen or so times we flew as crew together - so far as we know the only husband & wife combo to do so (at least at Alaska).

5 straight

On the bike for 5 straight days this week before taking today off - sleeping, chasing kids & then flying all day (though not all three at the same time).

Training rides and goofing rides at home and on layovers (LAX & SFO) with an actual RR in NORCAL which was very fun even if I didn't get to finish it. Turns out the pace was behind the schedule I needed to feel comfortable to jump back in the rental for the 1.5 hour drive back to SFO; so I dropped after 2 laps (48 miles) and went to the hotel to get cleaned up.

Also the race flyer said "The last ½ mile of Cantelowe is a steep twisty decent; use caution!! All of the roads are narrow; if you can’t stay to the right of the centerline, stay home." So I didn't stay home, but was hoping that the lead in to this descent was a long gradual climb, alas this was not the case, it was as twisty & steep as the other side - fun even though my little clown bike doesn't do to well on tough climbs since it's not very stiff (didn't help that my chain was skipping either). I'd fall of the back on the way up and chase back on - if there's one thing this bike loves it's corners.

I thought the other odd thing about this particular race was that there was no rolling enclosure OR a USAC Official following most of the races. Some fields had a moto guy following but I don't know how they made the determination who got one and who didn't? But with the rural roads and the self-officiating of the field taking care of things maybe those aren't always necessary!

So with a day off today I'll be back on the bike tomorrow in Fairbanks dodging grizzlies and moose for 6 outta 7 days - definitely ending the week with my biggest hourly and mileage totals (which I don't keep track of anymore).

$2.50/minute

Actually more than that when you add up the day - but the price just to race the Kirkland Crit this evening was pretty hefty considering I only lasted 12 minutes. If you add in the the cost of just the gas for the 2 round trips from Gig Harbor - 208 miles (7.5 gallons o'premium gas, another $30+) - plus the Narrows Bridge tolls ($5.50); the cost more than doubles.

It was supposed to be a relaxing afternoon visiting the M-I-L (who lives up the hill from downtown Kirkland) followed by the family coming down to watch the evening Crit which starts at 7:30. However just prior to 5:30 I walk down to the car to get my kit bag to get ready and discover it MIA. DOH! I left it back at home. Grab my B-I-L as a car pool partner and off we go. Make the round trip in 1:47 and to registration with 12 minutes to spare. Sign the USAC release the wife filled out, hit the can, and out I go to line up.

No warm up - I am so screwed!.

Race starts and I am in the middle of the group of 40+ racers and nearly every corner we hit I'm going backwards in the field. With a crash after the 5th or 6th lap the race splits momentarily behind me and slows slightly - phew! As I try to catch my breath and the rear group rejoins the pace again quickens and I'm once again drifting. I feel no effect of drafting the racers ahead of me - and I cannot accelerate to close any gaps, let alone on the very slight uphill section. I decide that it's not worth the effort to stay in the race and (with my sorry tail between my legs) pull out with 63 minutes remaining.

As I roll up to the family cheering section I notice that I'm wheezing like I just smoked a carton (which even as I write this I still notice), though I'm barely breaking a sweat. At my age the lack of a good warm up is a big hit to the system. I may be able to get away with it in a road race if the pace isn't too hard for the first half hour, but in a Crit where the racing is right from the get go I can't fake it. Coupled with the fact that my training is down to once or perhaps twice a week if I'm lucky; but even then I should've been able to at least hang with the main field.

So it was a still a good night to spend spectating as teamie Shawn Ongers was in the group of 6 that lapped the rest of the field, and AJ spent a lot of time & energy trying to go away solo. Teamies Chad & Alec also were DNF's. Congrats to Tubbs for the win, as Shawn took a spill in the last turn wiping out any chance for any finish line sprint drama. Not a great night to the Gin Optics boys (though Shawn took the Gear Push TT earlier in the day so not a total waste of a trip from WW).

Though I do have one sliver of satisfaction knowing that I was not responsible for any crashes or involved in any either was a definite plus, as well as not being the first guy to call it quits was a bonus as well.

I think that'll do it for '08 season, see ya all out racing next year.......

Olympic RR

Saturday's race Podium predictions:

Gold - Valverde

Silver - Contador

Bronze - Leipheimer or Bettini

Valverde & Contador will ride away from the breakaway group on the penultimate climb and Valverde will use his superior sprint to out-distance Contador. If Betinni (who mysteriously was MIA in the TdF instead choosing to ride with Boonen at Tour of Austria) is in the final mix he will use his savvy skills to take 3rd. Otherwise it'll be Levi as best of the rest. Due to the time difference it begins live at 8:30 PM PDT.

2-speeds

In Beantown after the all-nighter. Started out for a ride toward Plymouth and discovered my rear derailleur wouldn't shift from the smallest cog, so I basically was reduced to the front 2 chainrings. Approaching Quincy I ran into the gust front of a thunderstorm and did a quick U-turn and raced it back to the hotel where it's now flooding the streets and lightning up the sky. Phew!

It's hard to get angry at a naked cyclist

So the next ride is set for AUG 17th, get out and ride hard; and you Critical Mess folks might learn a thing or two.