Topham Racing

It took me a little longer than I thought to get around to writing this post. With the bitter taste of Wolverine Ridge now out of my mouth, I can comfortably write about what was otherwise a year of significant improvement for me.

After last year’s season, I read Joe Friel’s “Mountain Biker’s Training Bible.” I was desperate to find a road map to do better. Although I ultimately concluded that I could not possibly devote the time necessary to fully develop and implement the kind of training regimen Friel advocates, I did take away the basic principles, and they helped me improve. One thing that I did do, was list some goals for the 2008 season. My goals were simple: 1.) Place in the top 3 in one or two races, and 2.) Finish in the top 10 in my group for the season.

These goals say a lot about where I was at the end of last year. Finishing in the top 3 seemed like wishful thinking, and finishing in the top ten for the season, while it seemed possible, also seemed like something I would need to work pretty hard to accomplish. Of course now it is all part of recorded history. I won two races, finished second three times, and third twice–and I finished second overall for the season. I exceeded my goals and then some.

Plaques and ribbons are nice, but I think I have noticed the improvement even more these past couple of weeks when I have been riding primarily for fun. I have experimented and tried some things just to see if I could do them. Tonight for example, I left my house in my Big Ring and climbed the west side switch backs of the BST to the first radio tower without ever shifting out of my big ring. To put this in perspective, three years ago I could not climb even half way in my granny gear without stopping. A couple of times I even almost puked. I find these little accomplishments even more rewarding than the race victories. That is what makes this sport so addictive: it is a process of continuous improvement.

It is unavoidable that the improvement spills over into other parts of your life. Three years ago I had plenty to complain about. I was out of shape, I ate horrible toxic food all the time, there were a lot of things going on at work that were just plain stupid, etc. etc. Three years later I can honestly say that I have made massive improvements in all of these areas and more. Does Mountain Biking deserve all the credit? Clearly there were other contributing factors, but Mountain Biking helped a lot. It helped me get in shape, and all those miles gave me time to think about how to improve other things.

Looking forward to next year, the goals almost seem obvious. I would like to place in the top 3 in every single race, and I would like to finish first overall for the season. If I can accomplish both of those goals, I will move up to expert and give Daren another person to beat.

This isn’t the way I wanted the season to end–in more ways than one.

I felt good going into this race. I was well rested, and I rode a pretty good small lap to warm up. I felt great, although I did notice my heart rate seemed to be higher than it should be for the intensity of my warm up. If figured it was nothing–maybe the altitude.

I started off really strong. As the point leaders, Jay, Keith and I got to start out in front of everyone else. That was kind of cool. The hole shot was pretty much just a duel between me and Keith. I never see Jay during this part of the race, but I know he is just turning perfect circles and waiting for me to get tired. Jay has now discovered this blog and Keith’s blog, so we have to watch what we say.

I finally edged out Keith for the hole shot and took the lead. I held the lead almost all the way up the first climb up Sage Draw. Stan and I traded places a couple of times, but I felt like I was in control. Then, just as we started the first descent, I felt this horrible cramp in my side. I tried to ride through it, but I never seemed to be able to get my strength back. Rider after rider passed me. All I could do was try to ride through the pain.

I started to worry that Keith might win the race and I might do so poorly that Keith would overtake me for second place overall in the points. The cramp started to ease up a bit and I started pedaling hard to see if I could find someone from our group to pass. That was when I saw Keith on the side of the trail, wheels up, fixing a flat. There was no point in going fast now. Just finish, I thought, and don’t get hurt. This course is so dangerous that getting hurt is a probability if you go fast–not just a possibility.

So I finished 8th Place–the worst finish of the year for me. No ribbon, no podium, no nothing. Just two hours of physical and mental anguish.

Now for the best and the worst part of the race. The best part was that Jim Harper came out of nowhere to have a great ride and win the race. Jim is a solid competitor, but he hasn’t done better than 3rd all year, and he is usually around 5th or 6th. He definitely had something the rest of us didn’t yesterday.

The worst part was that Keith’s flat was the result of a high speed crash, and that was only part of the damage. Keith injured his shoulder as well, and ended up coming in 12th, which put him 3 points behind Jim for the season. So Jim edged out Keith for the 3rd place overall title. I don’t want to take anything away from Jim, but I would have liked to have seen Keith hold on to third. Actually, I left the awards party thinking that it probably would have been better if Keith had beat me for second and dropped me to third. That would have been more reflective of his season.

In a week or so I plan to post a recap of the 2008 season. I learned a lot this year, and I want to get it down in writing so I can remember what I learned. As for Wolverine Ridge, I have raced there twice now, and they have been the worst two races I have ever had. This most recent race left me with more questions than answers. Does the altitude affect me that much? Should I run different tires on this course? Do I deliberately do poorly in the last race of the year in order to motivate me when I am riding the BST in December and hitting the weight room? Is Jay really going to move up to 50+ next year or stay in 40+ and keep beating us younger guys? Is Stan going to race the full season next year and blow us all away? Is Mike going to bring Burt out of retirement when he starts winning races? Is Jim going to be the one to beat in St. George?

Like I said, more questions than answers. At least I have a few months to think about them.