Tailwind MTB Series Race #1 Pontiac Lake

April 27, the morning of the first of a series of rides by a group called Tail-Wind Racing and we have 8 races during the summer on all sorts of different mountain bike courses through the state of Michigan.  This will be the 5^th year of my doing this series and I made some great friends over the years in this series.

In the last 5 years of racing, I have tried many disciplines; Mountain Bike, Road, Criteriums, CycloCross, Time Trial, I was even put on the track on a ‘fixie’ here in eastern Michigan once….all disciplines are a lot of fun in different ways, but I have concluded that the one I like the best is MTB.  So I have committed to this MTB racing series and it is off to the trail head at Pontiac Lake for the first MTB race of the season.  Temperature is low 40s and the sun is trying hard to take a stand (no rain—thank you!).

Showed up at the state park and ran into Gary S. (an independent rider) and Edwin H. (rides with  Wolverine) both of whom are solid riders and consistently kick my butt on any given day.  The legendary (70 plus year old) Neil Sharphorne rides by, stops to say hi and tell us about his trip to California and doing the SeaOtter (sounds like a blast).  I walk to the race organizers’ bus to pay for the season and get my number for my bike.  Great to see everyone has wintered well.

The group lines up for the 2 lap 18 mile race , happy to get the ride underway since it is so cold and there is a brisk wind in the open field-encouraging us to get into the woods where we belong.  It is 1pm, we launch.  Criteriums teach you a lot about being in a group of type-A’s and keeping your cool, jostling for position and a couple riders cutting in front of my front wheel are all part of the race.  There were a group of 5 of us who worked at a good pace up the first few hills, toward the back of the course, where it gets more wide open and more downhill, I was getting gapped.  At about mile 7 of the first lap, Gary went by me-always the gentleman with his British accent.  “Keep it up” he says.

I finished the first lap in just under 55 minutes and alone.  On the second lap, I started to work the front third of the course knowing that it would be easy to blow up on the first few hills.  On the back half of the course, I knew that if I wanted to podium at all this year, I needed to get used to- and get good at- the downhill flow of these courses…so I opened it up as much as I dare.  I was pushing it hard, not 100 percent on the edge (but then I am getting older) and with about 4 miles left in our last lap, I had reeled in Gary.  (Admittedly, he had done the rust shaker the day before, or I would never have caught him.)  I was happy to see that my second efforts paid a small dividend before the race was over.

My second and final lap was 57 minutes and I finished 10^th out of 12, so not a great top ten finish.  But this series is an interesting format in that it is all about accumulating points. Racers will come and go, we will have ‘cycling snipers’ parachute in and walk away with all top three finishes on their home track, and then never see them again, so it is good to race the whole series.  I raced today on my ‘old’ full suspension FuelEX even though my Superfly is ‘tied up in the barn’ just waiting to go get some!  I am looking forward to being confident enough to let the hard tail do its work….soon.  Trek is a great bike, the engine is the operator’s role.  Go WSI Team Active!

Jack Miner

Notre Dame Cycling Classic - Race Report

Should be noted this was a collegiate race, but I wore my WSI stuff. Had no idea that was unsavory/against the rules, showed up and the USA Cycling guy asked me if I had anything else to wear. I didn't so he let me race anyway like a true first world anarchist.

I've done a few crits but this was my first road race. It should be noted that I probably logged less than 200 miles indoors this winter due to this thing called "running" (training for a marathon). When a few of my friends asked me to go, I was reluctant but caved. It turned out to be blast! I ended up making the beginner mistake of riding with the breakaway and pushing as hard as I could go for the first 1/3 of the race, then dying and falling back. I got passed many times to count.

I finished 21st out of 32nd and every second hurt, but its what my legs needed. The gods of cycling frowned on my running choices.

In regards to the course, it was pretty flat with only 400ish feet of climbing. It was pretty rough through many sections of the road, and a pothole the size of a small lake was located after a turn. Saw a guy eat it, wasn't pretty. It was really windy, which meant you could pull for a solid 40mph then drop down to 18-19 when you turned a corner.

All in all it was a great race and a fun time! Looking forward to this season!

Taking Advantage of the Snow (and my Snowshoes)

Race #3 of the year was a 5k snowshoe run in Rockford this past Saturday. During the mass start I was able to avoid a runner's crash and burn taking down 3-4 other runners giving me an opening for 3rd. I was able to stay strong in 3rd place, only giving way to a few snowshoe less runners. Why they started with the snowshoe race I'll never know??????

Keeping my pace until the finish I was able to capture 1st in my division and 3rd overall with a time of 31:10. Not blazing fast but a solid finish for being on Snowshoes.



-Chuck

 

Bigfoot Boogie Snowshoe Race

It was a beautiful day in Traverse City, MI on January 17, 2014.  Weather was a little overcast with temps in lower 20, no wind and lots of snow.  Snow is important when you want to use your snowshoes!  But running in your snowshoes in heavy snow is a big challenge.  The race started at 9am and we all were ready.  The key (besides training) is know how to dress.

This year is our 3rd year of running the Bigfoot Boogie.  It is a lot of fun if you like cold, lots of people on a single track and lots of snow.  The Bigfoot Boogie is a 5k or 10k race in snowshoes around the Vasa Trail at Timber Ridge.  The 10k is a two loop.  The trail is on the groomed Vasa trail but most is thru the woods on single track.  If you want to pass someone there is effect of running in deep snow.

I started the race too far in the back of the pack.  Note to myself when people are lining up be sure to be lining up in the correct place.  We all had to move over to the start line (which was marked Finish line).  When moving over I moved back too far.  I should not be so nice and become passive aggressive, but didn't want to look too pushy.  Anyway, I thought once we start I can pass most people since the Vasa Trail was wide enough.  But I think others had that same idea and I was not able to get around poeple before we started the single trail.  The snow was deep and not packed at all.  I had been running in our hayfield and it was not packed or groomed.  There were a lot of snow drifts in our field and at the time of training I was very upset that I had to run thru those.  But as I was running the race I felt comfortable, but not as fast as I wanted....I just couldn't get around those people.  When I did pass, I had to go outside the trail which was about a foot deep and that took a lot of my energy.  So I did my best....waited til I had a chance to pass on the Vasa Trail.

I did the first loop with lots of people around me or infront of me...but then on my second loop it was just me, the snow and the time clock!  I keep thinking I must be last I must push on.  I ran the whole thing but the big hill...yes I had to walk up it.  But most of the people who were in front of me were walking also.  They were the last of the 5kers and they moved to the side and cheered me on.  That really helped me focus back on the trail and made me run again.  I wished I had done better.  Don't we all say that once we finish - well I know I say that.  I wish I had done one more training run, one more leg press!  one more bike ride - I have a real job and a family that takes time away from this excerise stuff.  Oh well it is what it is!  I did it and I finished.  No I didn't get the big Big Foot man but I did finish 2nd in my age group and finished in the 58% in womens and 68% over all.  I got a cup full of chocolate candy and husband that said GOOD JOB I am proud of you!

Here is Chuck Brenner and me before the race started.



Jana Turpin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a Way to Ring in the New Year...

So Sara and I finished off the year with a 5k in Detroit on New Year's Eve. The race was on Belle Isle which always provides cold and windy conditions. Not a lot to talk about a 5k race other than run and run fast. We finished together in 22:50. Sara finished 2nd in her age group and I took 12th in mine.

On January 4th we started the new year with a 50k at Yankee Springs "The Yankee Springs Winter Challenge". We couldn't have asked for better conditions for a winter challenge. The wind was mild and the sky beautiful blue with bright sunshine. Footing was tough and the hills were just as bad. We had to do two 25k loops of a combination of the mountain bike trail and the Chief Noonday trail. After our two loops and nearly 7hrs of running we reached the finish. Sara placed 5th in the women's division with a finishing time of 6hrs, 23min. I took  3rd in my age group with a finishing time of  6hrs, 55mins. What a great way to start off the new year and looking forward to even more races in 2014!

~Chuck

Tiffin, Ohio YMCA indoor Tri

My name is Shayne Thomas and I am new to the team.  First of all, I want to thank WSI Cycling and Team Active for allowing me to join the team. Many of you know me through Eric Cook and our triathlon adventures.  I am an age grouper, typically racing Master Clydesdale-fat, old, (and ugly).  I usually stick to Olympic and Sprint events in Ohio. I was able to get an age group win at the Cedar Point Sprint Rev this fall-(only because Eric chose to do the half).  Joining the team has given my training new focus.  There are many good cyclist and triathletes in my area, but, no comparable community to what Team Active has been able to build in Battle Creek.

As many of my fellow triathletes do in the winter, I have moved inside.  I ride a Trek Madone, purchased at www.Teamactive.com. shoes and trainer from there as well.  Graciously, my daughter allows me to ride in her ballet studio in our basement.  www.shaylathomas.com.  The only stipulations are that I have to mop up the sweat and use my own Pandora station-usually AC DC.



Part of the joy of multisport is helping other athletes get involved.  Twice in 2013 I have strayed from doing an individual event in order to participate on a team. This has served to introduce aspiring athletes to multisport.  For the New York Triathlon I participated on Team Sad Dads as the swimmer.  Jumping into the Hudson for my buddies was worth it, because, one of my teammates has already registered for his first triathlon in 2014!!  This week was my second attempt to get friends turned on to triathlons.  My friend Pam was an accomplished cross country runner and her boyfriend Steve was an All American swimmer. They wanted to attempt a triathlon in 2014, however, were overwhelmed by the thought of the logistics.  I agreed to serve as their cyclist on Team Wolfpack for some local races until they got a feel for multisport.  We did our fist training event at the Tiffin, Ohio YMCA indoor triathlon.  We got a second place finish and are looking forward to a spring team triathlon with fall individuals for each of them.  Happy New Year and may your 2014 race calendar be full of races with friends!!



 

Dashing through the snow......

On Saturday, December 14th, WSI Race Team volunteered their services at the inaugural Tinsel Toes 5K on one of the snowiest days of the season so far. The snow was falling all day leading to 4-5 inches of accumulation by race start. Running in the snow is tough; riding in the snow is even tougher. But what would a winter run through the lights be without a little snow? Almost 400 runners braved the cold and snow to participate. The WSI Race team led runners along the streets of Downtown Battle Creek and the unplowed linear path through the 5k course lit with beautiful Christmas displays. The lead runner finished in less than 22 minutes despite the snow. He even gave the bikers a run for their money on the unplowed paths, at times passing them. It has been rumored that Rudolph was also spotted on a bike that night!

A huge thank you to J.J. Ramon, Dwight Dunisick, Mike DeGraaf, David Goff, April Parrish, and Charles Elder for answering the persistent call of a crazy race director guiding the way “through the white and drifted snow.”



This event was a fundraiser for Girls on the Run of Calhoun County. Almost $8,000 was raised for the cause by this event!