Memorial Day Weekend

Good evening, I just got home after leaving this morning before 7am and I have never been this tired. A very hectic weekend filled with a lot of good memories I'll keep forever. A few grad parties and Hannah and Tyler's wedding on Sunday night, as well as a bike race Monday, another grad party, and a cookout to wrap up the weekend. I'm just now sitting on the couch upstairs, ready to start another week, full of promise of new opportunities.

I raced this morning in Waterford, about 2.5 hours from Kalamazoo, and it was absolutely scorching outside. We raced on a car race track which was very fun and cool, but the black-top pavement brought the temperature up at least another 15 degrees, so I wouldn't be surprised if while we were racing it was well above 100 degrees.

I think a flaw in my preparation is my lack of confidence. I feel like that may be the one thing I am missing before I hit a good turn of results, I'm hoping I can get over that soon so I can see some nice finishes in the next couple of weeks. I feel like I set myself up to defend, I tell myself that I am just going to hang on to the main group and not get dropped, and I think this is hurting my results. I have the fitness to hang with most of these guys, and I need to realize that it is alright to be hurting. I need to come with more confidence to these races, maybe push the pace a little bit, chase some attacks, see what happens; rather than just sitting back and letting the race come to me, I think I need to go out and grab the race by the throat.

I think I'm scared of doing work out front, so I generally have been sitting in and that is never a good plan for me and it is taking me until now to realize that. On every single Thursday Night Ride I do a good deal of the pace making and those always go very well for me. I think good preparation is key to doing well at these races. Last night, the night before racing on the east side of the state at 11am, I went to a wedding, and I wasn't completely sure until we got there, but they served free beer and wine and I took full advantage of that. To go nicely with the beer and wine, I also danced my little heart away to all of my favorite songs, I saw a lot of old friends, I think I may have fallen in love (don't bet too much money on this), and I had a wonderful time. I rode home with my parents and slept at their house until about 3am this morning, drove back to my place, and left about 6:45 for the race. I didn't get hardly any sleep between 3-6:30 either, I'm going to blame this on the race not going quite as good as I expected. Overall, a very fun time and I'm looking forward to the rest of the weddings this summer.

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series Ann Arbor, MI 22nd Cat 4/5 (40)
5/6 Kalamazoo Half Marathon Kalamazoo, MI 13th (27) AG (M 19-24) / 249th (1392) Overall
5/7 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st "B race" (9)
5/12 Tiger Lane Crit, Memphis, TN DNF Cat 3/4
5/20 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series Ann Arbor, MI 6th Cat 4/5 (25)
5/28 Waterford Hills Circuit Race, Clarkston, MI 13th Cat 4/5 (38)
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

The race this morning was very good considering the poor preparation and the intense heat. A break of about 6 or 7 or 8 guys got away towards the beginning of the race and the second group on the road which I was in was never able to pull them back. This is where I think I need to be braver and more aggressive and more confident. When I go to these races that I've never been at before and I'm not sure whether a break will stick or not, I think I need to start chasing these guys down and try to get in a move myself. I hung on to the second group on the road pretty well, there were a couple times where I felt like I couldn't really breathe, my heart rate was above 200bpm, but I quickly got myself back together and relaxed and caught a wheel. I really didn't have too much trouble hanging on to this group; like I said, I think I need to start challenging myself a bit more, try to hang on to a break. I finished 13th today, out of near 40 I believe, which I'm pleased with considering the circumstances. I was second wheel of my group coming around the final turn into the finish and I thought my sprint was better today. I really took my own line and think I may have moved up a couple positions. I do think I still need to finish through the sprint a bit better. That last pedal stroke or two I actually completely stopped pedaling and just threw my bike, I don't think this is a good tactic.

 Result sheet from the race on Monday! 13th/ 38!

 Congrats Hannah and Tyler! You two are perfect and your wedding was perfect and I'm so happy for you!

How could I forget!?!?! My roommate Madi and I watched Janae, Jack, and James Misner and we had an absolute blast with the kids. Mr. Misner and his wife Julie have raised the most adorable, well-behaved children! Looking forward to spending more time with them.

Ending the weekend on a positive note and the next couple weeks on a positive feeling! Ankle feels great, body is healing up well, feel like I have a good grasp on things, had some very good talks with people who are very important to me this weekend, all is well! Time for some results!

Cheers! CE

Movin' Up!

Today I raced in Ann Arbor after a strange week. Arrived back in Kzoo from Knoxville on Monday and Tuesday night my mother and I went to urgent care to check on my ankle. I suppose we were scared of maybe a fracture or ligament damage. Turns out just a sprained ankle; which I assume I can't really hurt worse, so I've been riding on it and not really taking it easy.

Tuesday I took off from the bike, and went to the urgent care at night. Wednesday I went for a nice ride, started slow and took me a while to get out of town, and I ended up doing the Thursday Night Old Mill ride and it got much faster once I got North of town. Once I got back to Kzoo, a couple friends from Pedal were having a drink at Gonzo's and I stopped and joined!

On the TNR we rode up to Old Mill in Plainwell. It was a good ride up, and once there I had three beers. Drinking beer tastes especially good after/during riding bikes, it also works much better if you know what I'm sayin'. After the very fast and punchy ride back down to Kzoo, I went to dinner with J'son and some other friends to Gonzo's again. I had two more drinks then rode home in the dark. It was fun riding slow in the dark, as long as the lights on your bike are decent, it was a fun experience.

I then took Friday and Saturday off the bike, trying to make the ankle feel a little better as it is still pretty sore. Ice helped quite a bit, and I'm not too concerned with the ankle going forwards. Sunday I drove over to Ann Arbor for the last race of the Spring Training series and it went very well. I had a bit more confidence this time; I knew the course, I was feeling fresh, the ankle didn't hurt too much. The race started slow, just as I thought it would, and just as I thought, there were a couple moves that came back within the same lap. The race continued like this and I was with the front group until the last lap. After the first 90 degree turn, a guy made a move and he actually won the race solo, with a bunch sprint for the next positions. I feel like I positioned myself well coming into the final turn, about 8th or 9th and on the inside. I was thinking to myself, "I'm going around these cats on the inside and lets see if  something happens."

So again, I got the positioning part down, I just need to work on the sprint. I still don't have that killer-instinct that I think it takes to win a race. I need to start going all out on the sprint, maybe even using a harder gear, I think I was spinning out a little bit. Keep the weight back so the back wheel doesn't come off the ground as much, and just go. I'm not good at it yet, but I'm sure all these races will help. I was also told by two different people at the race how to pin and place my number. Good things to know, a little embarrassing, but looking forward to getting it right next time!

I'm very happy today, as I think I got around 6th place (results haven't been posted yet). Very much looking forward to these busy next couple of weeks as far as bike racing goes. It will be important to watch the diet and make sure I'm riding every day but taking time off when I need it. I'm very hopeful and very happy.

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series Ann Arbor, MI 22nd Cat 4/5 (40)
5/6 Kalamazoo Half Marathon Kalamazoo, MI 13th (27) AG (M 19-24) / 249th (1392) Overall
5/7 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st "B race" (9)
5/12 Tiger Lane Crit, Memphis, TN DNF Cat 3/4
5/20 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series Ann Arbor, MI 6th Cat 4/5 (25)
5/28 Waterford Hills Circuit Race, Clarkston, MI
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

Also big things are happening in my life and I'm very excited about that as well. We are still in very early days, but I think big things might change soon, and I'm very excited for a new chapter! Stay tuned!

Cheers! CE

High and Lows

How am I doing?
If I was any better it'd be illegal.

That's not quite true. I've decided running the half marathon last weekend was not the best idea. It may not have even been a good idea. I was told if I ran too hard I might just hurt myself and it seems I might have done it. Above my ankle it seems like a muscle is pulled or something like that, but anytime I put pressure on my left ankle it is just about the worst thing ever.

I raced bikes on Monday, the day after the half marathon and I did pretty alright. I did most of the work during the "B" race and we averaged just above 22mph I think. Coming around the last lap I got behind a strong rider. My plan was, he would keep the pace fast for the last lap and I would just sit in and save some energy for the sprint and it seemed to have worked! I made a move coming around the final turn and I finished in first by a millimeters. Thinking back, I think I could have gone harder in the sprint, I still haven't mastered that all out-ness of a true sprint finish.

This was the sprint finish on Monday night. I made the move first and Hayden was coming from behind me but I must of just got the bike throw pretty spot on. Looking forward to more of these races on Monday nights! Not racing tomorrow; I need to let the ankle heal before it affects the rest of this season, and I'm driving 8 hours back to Michigan tomorrow, actually stopping to help a friend move into a new house!

What worked in that race on Monday night I thought was the finish. I made a move early and even though I thought the sprint could have gone better, I am very happy with the decision I made to make a move so early. I think that will be key in races in the future.

Tennessee trip has been super fun, but a lot of traveling has got me pretty wore out. Thursday night I drove to BG to stay the night, then Friday I drove down to Nashville to see Sarah Noe, which was wonderful and we had a blast! Saturday I drove down to Memphis to race bikes, which went very poorly, we aren't going to talk about that here. Memphis was a long drive but I did get to see the Mississippi river, which was large and very cool. I thought more impressive though was the Tennessee river. On the way to Memphis I crossed the TN river and it was absolutely huge! It was very pretty and the coast of the river was all trees and there was no development on the banks of the river, I wish more things were like that.

I drove back to Nashville Saturday afternoon and met Clay and Madi. We hung out at Clay's house for a while then went downtown Nashville. I always have second thoughts about going out to bars but everytime I go I really enjoy it! The bars in Nashville were a neat experience, just about every one had a live band, and it was very interesting to me that most of the people at the bars were older, not college kids like I'm used to seeing. Stayed the night with Clay and Madi Saturday night and drove to Knoxville Sunday, where I'm staying the night tonight. It's great to see Haley and Parker and Aunt Nancy. The kids are so much older now and graduating high school next week, my fondest memories of these kids are when they were 10 ish and its great to see them all grown up.

I'm hiking tomorrow morning with Parker and then driving the 8 hours back home. I have a job shadow with the accounting team at Advia on Tuesday which I'm very much looking forward to, and then I have Wednesday and Thursday off, and I can't help but think I might go on another little trip!

So my ankle hurts very bad, I think enough where I need to be very concerned about it. I mean I pulled out of the race in Memphis after two laps, part of that was due to the extreme heat but I could barely turn the pedals. I hope I can get it healed up fast, I'm hoping my roommates can help with that. Hopefully I'll be ready to go again for the Thursday night ride, but I really need to hit the training hard because racing in Memphis was a bit of a shock and disappointment after such a high of winning that race on Monday.

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series 22nd Cat 4/5 (40)
5/6 Kalamazoo Half Marathon 13th (27) AG (M 19-24) / 249th (1392) Overall
5/7 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st "B race" (9)
5/12 Tiger Lane Crit, Memphis, TN DNF Cat 3/4
5/28 Waterford Hills Circuit Race, Clarkston, MI
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

I'm hopeful, and can't be focusing on these little negative things. I've had a great trip and am super excited for the rest of summer. This is the first time where I feel like I don't really have a plan and it scares me a bit. I think I'm going to take the next couple days very easily, get everything in my life organized, heal up, and hit it hard from there.

Cheers! CE

Kalamazoo Half Marathon

I think I should say this up front- I'm not a runner and I don't want to be. The Kalamazoo Marathon was this morning and I ran the half for the second time, the first time since 2011, and I can't feel my knees. I started out too fast probably, in true Charlie fashion, as I stuck with the 3:30 marathon group until we got downtown and then they went away.

Running through Red Arrow golf course, the 1:45 half marathon group caught me and I was with that group until we got into Parchment, then they popped me off the back and the rest of the race I was just chasing people until I couldn't match their pace. I had a couple cups of Oberon going up the big hill next to Kindelburger park, the best decision I made all day!

The stretch of neighborhood into Spring Valley Park was the toughest and slowest, my knees ache with the constant pounding of running on pavement for 1 hour and 50 minutes. Here's to hoping I can recover from that and get back on the bike tomorrow and racing in Martin at the speedway. I finished ahead of all the people I wanted to finish ahead of that I knew, pretty pumped about that. My goal was to finish in under 1:41, and I got dangerously close. From all the thoughts of walking I felt during the run, I'm very proud that I finished the entire 13 miles without giving up, perhaps this proves how mentally tough I am getting

Hoping I never have to run again, at least for the foreseeable future, I'm fast on the bike and I'd like to keep it that way.

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series 22nd Cat 4/5 (40)
5/6 Kalamazoo Half Marathon 13th (27) AG (M 19-24) / 249th (1392) Overall
5/7 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st "B race" (9)
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

I ran this week instead of riding, and I didn't particularly enjoy it but I am impressed with the level of fitness I've maintained. I did ride once this week on the Thursday night ride, and man was I fast. The fast ride was just myself and two other people, and I did most of the pace-setting. We decided we wanted to go up 6th street, my first big climb this year, and it was tough! I held onto Tory's wheel like my life depended on it, and I stuck on, super pumped about that. For not riding all week, I felt very strong and I hope I can chase that feeling.

I'm racing in Martin tomorrow night for the first 131 racing series race, and I'm super stoked about that! I think this series will give me a good insight as to how to race, and provide invaluable experience so my race results will improve!

I'm heading down to TN on Thursday to visit some friends and a little high altitude training, super pumped up about that too.

I think for now I'm going to try and recover tonight and be ready for tomorrow night!

Cheers! CE

Heavy Legs

Today I raced over in Ann Arbor and I had high hopes. I trained well this week and ate well this week, the results just aren't coming. The race started fast today and I struggle to stay on the main pack the first few laps. I managed to hang on to the main field and slowly grew into the race, as every break was pulled back in almost immediately. I hung out towards the back of the group and at times made some efforts to move up towards the front. Coming around after the first lap, I found myself in the front doing all the work; wasn't too big a fan of that as it was very windy today. I didn't have the legs to be a major player in the race today, and its hard for me to tell why. I rode well and actually got a flat on Wednesday, I rode well at the TNR on Thursday and took Friday and Saturday off, which may have been a mistake.

Going into the final lap I was actually first wheel and about half way thru the lap I was still first. Someone came around me and I got on his wheel and I remember saying to myself, 'Charlie, you're in a good spot, make something happen'. So now I'm in second coming into the last turn and the uphill sprint to the finish, and I came around the outside of the turn and that was a mistake. Everyone came flying around the inside and I didn't have any legs for the sprint. I was in much to hard of a gear and couldn't really turn the pedals to get any power.

I made it a point during the rides in the week to sprint with a higher cadence and an easier gear, but somehow I completely did not do that today, and that was a big mistake. I would have placed much better if I had been in a better gear. I need to just find a wheel I want to stay on in a sprint situation and just hold that wheel! I believe I finished around 15th, but the results have not been posted yet.

This week I am going to stay off the bike, except for Thursday, and run! I'm running the Kalamazoo half marathon on Sunday; after having not run for a few weeks! I plan on running around 4 miles on Monday and Tuesday, taking Wednesday off, running around 8 on Thursday morning. On Friday maybe 5 or 6 miles, a light jog on Saturday, and race day on Sunday! I don't feel particularly ready.

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series 22nd Cat 4/5 (40)
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

Things I learned
--------------------
Easier gear for sprints, have to be able to turn the pedals when the legs are heavy
Don't take days off before a hard effort
Find a wheel in the sprint and stay on it!

Again, I'm still looking for a result that I can hang my hat on. I feel it is coming, but with that being said, I'm not super confident in my bike racing, a good finish will change all that I hope!

Looking forward to a week of recharging the bike brain! Half Marathon next Sunday will be super awesome to see all the people come out, and will probably race at the Martin Speedway on Monday May 7. Then I'm leaving for Tennessee on Thursday, stopping first in BG to hang out with Betsy and new friends! I'll leave right after the TNR with my bike and get to Tennessee on Friday to see Sarah Noe and ride in the mountains. For now, I think I'll finish the rest of my homework and then forget about school for a couple months!

Cheers! CE

Is School Done Yet?

Good evening,

I am very tired and I have a lot of homework and I won't have much time to write tonight. I raced at Notre Dame today and I can't help but feel a little disappointment beginning to set in. I think it is important for me to realize this is only my second race this season, and I have a lot more ahead of me. In today's race there were some tight corners and two tight turns at the very beginning. Elliot was at the race as well and we lined up for the race behind everyone, so we never really had a chance to get in the lead group. I'm sure if we would have started more towards the front and were able to get through those first few turns quickly, we could've hung with the front group, it was just not meant to be today.

I finished with the third group on the road, coming in second in the third group, probably around 10th overall, although I haven't seen the results posted yet. I'm not super thrilled with this, and I felt like my level of fitness today merited a better  result. Elliot made a move coming around the second to final turn and it worked very well, as I was not able to get around him in the sprint, so I'm thinking I should make a move early coming towards the finish and I don't think anyone would be able to get around me.


4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

Things I learned
---------------------
Try to start towards the front, give yourself a chance to stay with the main group
Make a move early towards the end and keep the speed high, no one can get around you

This was the beginning of the race, don't let this happen again

This was the last sprint, Elliot made a nice move around the last corner and I was never able to catch him, close though!

Looking forward to next weekend! I'll be leaving Kzoo around 4 Sunday morning and racing at Mooresville, hoping for a good result as that course has a tough climb and may play to my strengths.

*Update (4/26): Couldn't register for Mooresville so going to Ann Arbor on Sunday to race!!

Cheers! CE

Lessons

Weather!

I hate rain and I hate snow and I hate cold and for some reason it is the middle of April and we are getting it all. I was pleasantly surprised to show up in Indy yesterday and it was a touch warmer than Kzoo, about 50 degrees. As the race drew nearer, the temperature kept going up and the rain stopped and the sun came out. A beautiful day for racing. Today I was to head over to Ann Arbor, which I'm not sure I could have raced because I don't have a collegiate license, but also the weather is just terrible. I have a creeping feeling of anxiety as I feel race season is already slipping away from me, but I must remember I'm hoping to be able to get to a lot of the Monday night races, and I still have more races scheduled!

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN
*4/29 Mooresville Crit, Indianapolis, IN
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI

*It's a 4 hour drive and the race is at 10am

As long as I get Mondays off at work or at least out by 5, I'll be doing a lot of the US-131 series races at Martin Speedway! I plan on doing 5 or 6 of those, maybe more, plus the 6 races here are about 12!

Yesterdays race in Indy was interesting. Before the race, I lost a lot of confidence and told myself to just hold on. Do everything I could to stay with the main group and hope for something great to happen. I warmed up well, for about a half hour, and then I stopped at the start/finish line and I was just about the first guy there so I started the race in the front, which was nice. Confidence came back quick as I realized I could stick with these cats, the race started pretty mellow, which was to be expected.

The race quickly moved to being fast and there were a lot of attacks, each move was dragged back to the main field rather quickly. A large team out of Indy was in this race and they were setting the pace well, and keeping the race fast, so no breaks could stay away from the field. As I pedaled near the front of the main field, watching attack after attack fail and come back, I thought no move was going to make it; just stay towards the front and out of trouble and there will be a bunch sprint at the end.

With this in mind, I still chased after a few attacks, I wish I would not have now. I was thinking, maybe just maybe if I guessed right and got in a move, maybe it would stick to the end, none of the moves I jumped on lasted more than half a lap. Thinking nobody was going to breakaway, I happily sat on some wheels in the main pack, biding my time to make a move at the finish.

About a little over half way through the race, 4 or 5 guys did make a move, and it stuck! One of the guys from the big Indy team was in it, so they weren't doing any of the chasing anymore. I stayed put in the main field, thinking this move would eventually come back but it never did. I think the main field, including myself, realized this group wasn't coming back with about 3 laps to go, now it was about being the best of the rest.

On the last lap, and all the previous laps, as soon as the group made the final curve into the finish, the wind just blasted you, it was awful. Coming around that final corner on the last lap, I was sat probably about 6th wheel but I was in the middle; boxed-in. Something I won't let happen again. I couldn't really go all out on the sprint because I had no where to go. I finished in 12th with the main pack, and after having learned some things, I'm very excited for races to come.

Things I learned
--------------------
-Don't chase after small moves, you'll do too much work and the move comes back almost immediately
-In the bunch sprint, get on the outside so you have some room to move up
-Find someone who looks strong and follow his wheel the entire race

Looking forward to racing at ND next weekend, I have some more insight as to how I should race, and I'm hoping for a little better result than yesterday in Indy. Still good yesterday, it was a learning experience and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more!

Cheers! CE