Anniston, AL SERC 8

The SERC race in Anniston, AL has become a permanent fixture on my racing schedule over the last few years...all though the course is not my favorite nor the kinda course I'm good at, I still really enjoy the pain! I really hadn't planned on doing it this year but was talked into going by Max and B rad...not much talking was needed. It was an awesome weekend with really perfect weather for this time of the year...considering on top of Cheaha Mtn you may really never know what mother nature is going to throw at you.

This year the course was a little shorter than last year but still very challenging! I was having a pretty good day from the gun...went into the woods about 7th, passed a few riders as they either went down or blew up...I even was able to climb fairly well, good enough to keep the leaders in sight...then things settled down...this dude from Atlanta Pro Bike and myself were yo yoing on the second and 3rd lap until my fucking chain broke...FUCK...i did have what i needed, popped in a quick link and was able to get back on the bike with only losing about 3 minutes...but I just couldn't ever get back into a rhythm...it really sucked...I had about 3 stumbles on the last lap which lost me several minutes and lots of energy...then, as I started the last climb, I realized I had knocked off my Garmin on one of the bobbles...I panicked...wasn't sure what to do...I got off the bike and thought...I've lost the race might as well go try and find it...then thought...hell I'll never find it...so I got back on the bike and finished up...7th place...BOO, should have been 5th!

Here are some pics to enjoy...I'll upload more when I can...

Max off the start!

Big Glenn form BOR...



B rad rounding the corner on lap one!


Our boy Betz on the podium in 4th

Max on the podium in 2nd!

4th weekend!

Good times....

Sometimes you have to be creative with the stories you tell your better half about biking...

For the 4th, my In Laws were heading to the beach for a few days...sounds like fun...but there were going to be 10 folks...8 adults, 2 kids...Fun...yes, comfortable...no, biking...no!

So, I decided I would try and get out of it and I did...while I was doing this maneuver, I began to make plans for a training weekend!

B Rad and I decided to head to the Nox and get some old fashion training on...

Camped out at Choctaw Lake Thursday and Friday...great facilities!

Plans were: Friday = 3 laps of the race course...34 miles, 3500 ft of climbing, 3:30 rt...great workout; Saturday = 24 mile loop, 2000 ft of climbing, 2:30 rt...another good workout!

Plans were hammered out just as planned! We did git some rain at the end of the ride on Saturday and while we packed up but no biggie...

Sunday, I decided to try out a road loop that I had been wanting to try out for awhile...Red Bluff!
It's an area that has great climbs and low traffic...Max and I left out after the Tour coverage went off...25 minute drive and off we were...unfortunately, we missed our turn and rode out to Monticello...ended up doing an out and back that was about 45 miles and about 2400 ft of climbing...going to redeem myself this up coming Saturday and going to try and do the entire lap!

No pics, wife had camera...I;ll get some this weekend!

SERC on Raccoon Mtn

First SERC race for me this year and I have been very excited about this weekend! I'm treating this race as a training race with some emphases on it. I trained like norm right up to the weekend and was just going to go out and do my thing.


B rad and George/Jerry came up as well to the race. So we all hooked up at the staging area to get the pre ride on...good times! We also had a friend join us from Baton Rouge, Jason Betez, who also rode with us. Pre ride was fun, about an hour 5 ride time and 12 miles...great course...lots of rocks, some climbing, some blazing fast sections, and a little pavement.



Ate dinner with George/Jerry and B rad at the Cracker Barrel and them off to clean the bikes and get some sleep.



B rad had been battling a cold all week and decided not to race...as during the pre ride his HR was reaching 160 BPM while we were taking it easy...probably a good decision!

Jerry and I just before my race...

Race Day...I love/hate the few hours leading up to the race...filled with butterflies and anticipation...warmed up for about 25 min with Betz and then got the game face on...we had about 20 racers in my class, so it was one of the largest fields I had been in this year! Game plan was to start easy and roll into a rhythm...and it started off just like that...I think I was about 8th position going into the single track. I moved around a few guys ans tried to get in a grove...it worked like I wanted it to...1st lap rt was about 55 min, about a minute off the lead group of about 4...second lap went pretty good too...was able to stay steady through the woods and only dropped about 3 minutes...3rd lap...uh oh...was starting to feel the effects of the first 2 laps and was slowing...about the middle of the 3rd lap, where the big climb was, is where I got caught by the rider behind me...finished up in 7th.

Starting line jitters

GOOOOOOOOO!

Feeling good on 1st lap!

Overall I am pleased about the finish...I just have to find a way to not die on the last lap! I cramped so bad towards the end my left leg completely locked out...it fucking hurt!