Jungle Recap

Cat 3 40-49 1st

I was going to bed after a long day but reading Willy's recap made me remember today's race and got me excited again so here is my recap.

Got to the race optimistic about a podium after Friday's pre-ride. That was key. Did 2 laps with Robson and Chris26er. First one was OK as pace was mild. On the second one Robert pushed the pace on the tech sections and I went off the bike some many times I can't even remember. One of them left me w/ a really sore wrist and a bent RD:cry: I knew then that on race day I had to try to get there with time to that section sloooowly.

I got a bit late to the start line today and there was already a solid first line formed, which was a bummer for me as I was going to try to push it on the first part. In the end I added a post to the start line by going half way into the woods 😀 This worked well and I was able to get a clean start and pulled out in front in the first sections. I thought I was going fast but very soon I started hearing other riders behind me. Specially, top dog, as Willy named him, who was chatting me non-stop: (you're going too fast, wait for me? sure...). This put me a bit nervous and I went down in a stupid way. Got up quickly as I see the group getting close, just to go down again 20 yards from there, right in front of Luke (btw, I hope he pulled the trigger before I went down🙂 ). Got up again and now I have a train behind me😡 but I managed to hold it together until we reach the Otter climb and there I started to pull away a little.

From there it was just pushing on every section I could (mostly pavement🙂) and being careful on the tech sections. I started passing riders from the previous classes and everyone was good until I got to one guy of the 30-39 who didn't want to move. I ride his wheel for a bit and then tell him "On your left when you can". Nothing. Then I see a spot coming up where I could pass, so I say "on your left" and I go for it but the guy closes the door as he says to me "I'm fine, I'm fine" :hmmm: Maybe it's my heavy Spanish accent... In any case, now I'm riding very close to him take the first opportunity and when he falls off to a side on a big rock I make the pass.

After that was tempted to relax the pace going into the last single track before the finish but I knew Willy was going to be good on the tech part and didn't want to appear on his radar (or in anyone else's for that matter) so I tried to keep the pace up. Good thing I did b/c he and Dave weren't too far away.

Considering this is has been the most challenging course for me (at least the tech sections) it was a great day: no injuries, no broken bike, had fun and got a podium. Can't ask for more.

Segundo
 
wlee said:
After pre-riding sat. morning I felt real good going into the race the only part I did not care for was the start or everything before warthog, I figured the fast guys would be gone so I knew I had to hammer down at the start if I had any chance of doing well, if I blew up so be it. We take off and my goal is to stay on Dave`s wheel (Mtnrider) but I can`t hang, best I can do is 4 th wheel and he is second wheel. Me and him have some very memorable moments racing and today I want to add another.We come out into the short paved section before warthog and I feel great to my amazement and can tell he is hurting a bit and I make the pass and now I`m third wheel, uncharted waters for me , I start ripping through warthog and top dog in my class who is second wheel is holding me up :hmmm: so either I`m on today or he`s not but he will not let me pass, I must of asked him 10 times. When we come out of warthog and get to that short steep climb its got a slow rider walking up so top dog gets off, so here we go first dismount and I run up and top dog is still walking into the entrance of otter slide climb and Dave is on my wheel so I yell at him to get on or get out of the way cause i`m coming and first place who is Segundo is pulling away.And when Segundo ( Pampa) goes he is GONE. He finally lets me go and I start ripping up otter slide but Dave is still close and near the top of the fence line climb he says on your right Willy and I cant believe it all that work for nothing and he passes me with percy now on my wheel. First thing I think of is what Steve 336 said to me , make a pass and make it stick., so much for that .I start going down that hairy section and I could see he( Dave ) is a little cautious so I put it in the big ring and pedal down and pass Dave on the left and start getting to my favorite part the trees.Steve336 will be proud of me now 🙂 I get through the first section with no problem and when we get to the rocky section where there is nothing but rocks I go over the bars. Not good bike lands on the derailler side but get up take off and no damage. At this point I realize that i`m still in second and podium is mine and no sooner that I think that I clip 2 trees but save it by grabbing them and remember reading Pixie`s post about only riding it at 85 % and back it down a notch or I`m going to screw up my first podium. As I get to the last paved section............Here comes Dave hauling so there go that thought and go back to 100 % into animal chute which felt like it took forever to get up and everytime I make a turn good ole Dave is 2 switchbacks behind and coming but today its my turn and keep grinding up and out and when I get to the tree which I always go over I turn around and see no one behind me and decide to be a WUSS and walk over it cause with my luck I`ll probably crash and break a coller bone or something and blow my first podium so its wuss time, get over it and stand and pedal the rest of the way to the finish! My first podium!!!!!!!!!!!! Second Place.
I would like to say Congratulations to Segundo ( Pampa) on his second victory And also congratulations to Dave Schwartz ( Mtnrider) on his third place and for pushing me like he did, we had some great races together and today did not disappoint.
Also thanks to Town Cycle for putting together a great race.Next up Ringwood then its up to Cat 2 were I`m sure I`ll be very humbled.
___________
Willy
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Congratulations Willy! You were no kidding when you said you like this course. I'm glad I pushed it until the end 😀
 
Its nearly the end of the race . . half way point . . 3rd lap and I go down hard after my handle bars hit a tree. I looked down and saw my thigh/knee ripped open. . UGLY didn't know if I could make it to my car so I cut the course, rested and got home.. 60 stitches later I'm fine but the pain meds havent worn off! its going to be a rough Monday. Congrats to all you fast racers!
 
The plastic surgeon who stitched me up thinks we all are CRAZY and he said that I lost the race but won "Biggest Laceration of the Week" at Overlook. Can't wait to see his bill!
 
JH Habitat, good times on all fronts

To preface the day, here is my journal entry from SAT:

"Realized today that I just f*cking really like to ride my bicycle in the woods. And… racing almost destroys it for me? Some courses, yes, but I like the woods to almost get AWAY from competition, to get away from everything associated with racing. I like riding with friends, laughing and smiling and filling the lungs with life, to find myself as I explore the trails. As a roadie, the woods have a powerful zen effect on me. Today at JH, guys were jackhammering around, and I was just CHILL, had no interest. And I’m getting faster and better at going fast in the woods, but I’m lacking that true MTB racing gene.

"I came upon other guys trying to pick lines in a rock garden, and I just stopped and whooped it up and laughed and practiced til all of us got it. I really don’t like plowing max speed through rock gardens, just don’t enjoy it – it’s almost excessive and purposeless. I just love riding over rocks, feeling the quiet art in it and feeling embedded with nature in a way? No need to f*cking hammer. I dunno. Like at Blue Mountain, I’m riding with the leaders and I see the big rock and I think WALL RIDE!!!!!!!! 🙂 and I am a narrow nanosecond away from jumping out of formation to ride this f*cking rock like a rollercoaster. If I have to clip out in a race, I want to go back and do it again, lol. I almost don’t care about the race going on around me – it just doesn’t matter.

"Just had this quiet epiphany in the packed woods today. I’m still gonna race tomorrow and race hard, but I don’t think I’ll ever be a cut-throat MTB racer, not in my genetic make-up. I’ll save the Gladiator School sh*t for road and cross. MTB, this is my time to get AWAY from all that sh*t and enjoy, you know? JH, Blue, Ringwood, I feel like we’re almost desecrating and destroying these beautiful trails by plowing through everything, like we’re raping the woods, wasting the day, not treating the surroundings or experiencing them the way they should be treated or experienced. And THIS is coming from a cold-blooded killer roadie, lol… But it was nice to make this connection today: the mountain bike, first and foremost, is my friend and outlet, not a form to showcase my riding anger or dominance over others or how fast I can spit through a rock garden. Just my two cents here.”

Okay, sentimental moment over... So I raced the Cat II 30-35... As a roadie, I WILL KILL YOU TO WIN. But in the woods, that switch is just NOT turned on. Started near the front. Guys want to pass. Hey-O, I just pull over and let 'em pass. No worries, mate! But just had a blast in those woods, love the MTB vibe, just a terrific juxtaposition from the road... Hootin' and hollerin' and smiling all day, was able to charge back nicely in the end, my shifting mangled and limping home, ended up 5th, not far from 3rd... As a roadie, just need more laps out there!!! Like, let's do 5 of 'em!!! 🙂

But the prefatory matter at hand is NOT my ride...

THREE Elite Endurance athletes took home State Championships today, Kirt Mills among them -- that dude was hauling ASS as he passed me near the end, gave me shivers, knowing he was on his way to winning THE biggest race of the year, something we talked about all year -- Kirt, You. Are. The. Man.

Pre and post-race, just being out there with my athletes, rooting, hollering, feeding, congratulating, watching, understanding, even just listening, just bringing pure raw positive energy, just exuberant enthusiasm, bringing sincere affection, I see how it affects these riders, and it's a wonderful dynamic. I'm learning, the more I do this, that I really am much more Coach than Athlete... and that is 100% okay with me -- and this is saying a lot, as I'm 30 years old, in my athletic peak.

Today at the State MTB Championships, my race almost didn't matter? Seeing all these athletes kick ass moved me tremendously, and it motivates me to become a better and better coach. The potential feels almost limitless, how much we can feed off each other, both athlete and coach... Potential is a scary thing, and it's very hard to fill to the brim, but sitting here right now, I have never been more driven to get the best out of each and every athlete I coach... And it's just the start of great things to come...

Congrats to all who raced. Great times to be had out there by everyone, no matter how you finished. Look forward to seein' y'all at Ringwood and then at the start of the 2011 campaign. This roadie has been turned to the Dark Side!!!

Kenneth Lundgren
 
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I raced...I finished. No need for war and peace from me. I recorded myself crashing. I actually hit my face on the big rock and came away with just a scratch. The crash must have looked horrific because the rider behind me stopped and didn't believe me when I said I was OK.

Click on the image to watch the video:

 
Pampa said:
Congratulations Willy! You were no kidding when you said you like this course. I'm glad I pushed it until the end 😀
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Thanks Segundo it sure was fun out there today.You are now Top Dog in our class and you have earned it.
______________
willy
 
Alive and kicking!

This was my third race - 4th if you count the DH40. I have always struggled with rocks and used to freeze up, most of the time just walk and get on with my ride...but recently, something “clicked”…

I only recently rode at JH - Labor Day weekend with the Campmor ladies, and managed to come out alive - and smiling. I'm finally learning to let my bike do the work and not fight it - after all, it's a 29er...that's what it should do...

I registered for the race, wondering if I would regret it. I knew there would be some familiar faces at the start to keep me smiling and laughing - which they did. My goal for the race was 1) to finish and 2) no injuries. I didn’t get a chance to re-ride the course, but Patty (Pedals) called me Saturday and told me the areas we already rode and what I should expect.

I was more relaxed at this start than Lewis Morris and KVSP...and when we all started, I knew that I could eventually make my way up...I took it easy through the beginning – happy to see familiar faces out on the course (Luke and Ellen)…I managed to get ahead of what I thought was 2 girls in the beginning...on Otter Slide I got hung up a few times on the climb and kept telling myself, "you can do this, you cleared it last time"...I powered up the climbs and met up with another girl, who I passed before Goat...

I thought I was in 3rd place - and could safely get through Goat...I rode as much as I could...even went over the handlebars at one point...got up, quickly looked to see who might have saw it...and got back on my bike.

The last stretch was tough for me - but I managed...as I came around on the road, I saw Sheryl (allygadget) before the tunnel, who brought a huge smile to my face...and as I crossed the finish familiar faces cheering me on (thanks Mandi!).

I had a blast on this course - it really challenged me and I was able to accomplish all my goals - and even place 2nd! I think I'm still glowing from the race - but now starting to feel the bumps and bruises from getting friendly with the trees and the rocks...😛
 
I was that close....

Lesson learned from JH:
1. Run big beefy tires
2. If you burp your tire, stop and put air in it
3. Always listen to the voice in your head
4. Never stop concentrating on the RACE

As with most of us my race started the day before. I hit the park Saturday morning for an easy run around again. Did the race course and hit some other fun stuff for an hour and half. My rear wheel was annoying the hell out me; the hub was making this aweful creaky sound. I've destroyed 2 of this exact same hub before so I wasn't about to use it for the race. Once home I switched over to my Bonty XXX rear wheel. It had a nice beefy 2.2 mounted up, but for some reason I thought the 29-3 was running good (not a beefy tire) and switched over. THe whole time the voice is saying' "why are switching tires, leave the other mounted, it's too easy." Damn the voices.

Race starts with Walker TJ Jackson ripping off the front as I knew he would. I didn't want to get mired too far back since I know I can move thru Warthog. It's a battle on the jeep trail just before we hit the ST; the elbows were out and there was some bumpin and rubbin. Hit the ST in 4th not bad. My HR was up there but not mega red. The pace was not too fast, though I could see Brian Kelly pulling away in 1st. TJ was in second and seemed to be fading quickly, Dave D pulls around him, I get his wheel and do the same. Somewhere near the end of the run I lean into a turn and catch a rock and burp some air. Not major just a bit. I hang in third thru the entire Warthog as I can still see Brian just ahead of us.

As we approach Otter Slide, Dave is taking the right line on the entrance which runs sorta bad IMO. I go left, he bobbles, I blow right by. OK good, 2nd place. My climbing has been questionable this year so I was checking the rear biiew mirror the whole wasy up Otter. I was gapping the field. Run the whole top section pretty clean but feel my tire bottom out a couple of times. I take a forward position on the bike and back off the speed a bit in the rocky stuff. Just after the road section on top I see that I have pulled up to Brian. On the top section (???) of Goat he stumbles and I get by. I do everything I can to get a gap. That damn tire is too soft, I have to go easier than normal. I manage to eek out some distance but on Animal chute we are a couple switch backs apart and yell to him my back tire is going down I may need to pull over.

I never stop to top of the air and go thru the finish area just under 36 mins in 1st. I back off on the second lap always noting the feel of the back tire. It seems to have stabalized at level I can ride. I had a plan to stop and hit it with some CO2, my voice was clear on when a where we dould do it. 2nd lap goes by 1:13.40 still in 1st and decent gap. Warthog, Otter, cruise control sets in. PLan to stop by the openeing in the fence - best placce to see all the riders coming and going. I catch Brian Lariviere just before this spot... The voice wasn't there to remind me. Get thru goat, tire hanging in there. Last sector before the road. Now I'm thinking State Champ 2miles to go, can't wait to call my wife and tell her. Momentary loss in focus and hit one of those razor sharp rocks and fssssstttttt. "NO, NO, NO" I was 50 ft from the end of the trail and hitting the road to Otter Slide (with one more short section).

I hesitate. Do I re-inflate or throw in the tube. I start to prep for tube and RF comes by and hits me with CAfe LAtex idea. I switch to re-inflate. Bad idea, blow the CO2 out of the tire as the bead is already loose. OK tube goes in. Looks good, except all the damn sealant on me. Hit the CO2, bead not set, tube blows right out the side of the tire and wheel. At least it didn't blow completely. I spend at least 1 minutes getting the air out so I can reseat it. Get it set; shit no more C02, no pump. I suddenly become a crack head by Penn Station. "could you spare a CO2, CO2, anyone" Someone happens to drop a CO2. Get it re-upped and off I go. I moving but my will was broken. 5th place CAT1 SS.
 
ellenserruto said:
Its nearly the end of the race . . half way point . . 3rd lap and I go down hard after my handle bars hit a tree. I looked down and saw my thigh/knee ripped open. . UGLY didn't know if I could make it to my car so I cut the course, rested and got home.. 60 stitches later I'm fine but the pain meds havent worn off! its going to be a rough Monday. Congrats to all you fast racers!
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Ellen, sorry to hear that you cut your knee. Hope you feel better soon.
 
If you are a Cat2 racer that lost your Oakley glasses...I turned them into the registration tent.
 
ellenserruto said:
The plastic surgeon who stitched me up thinks we all are CRAZY and he said that I lost the race but won "Biggest Laceration of the Week" at Overlook. Can't wait to see his bill!
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Ellen-- Sorry about your injury.Hope you heal up fast. 🙁
 
Cat2 50+ 2nd

This a a fun race, and my first time on the podium!

My plan was to try and ride within myself for lap one, and then open up as best I could for lap two. I was about mid pack at the start, and coming out of the woods into the first paved section before Warthog I passed a few riders and jumped on the wheels of Dave and Mark in my class. I followed those guys through the rocks by the dry stream bed, where they got hung up taking a right line around a tree as I took the line to the left, and rode past them. I really didnt want to be in the lead at that point, as I tend to go too fast and blow up, but as I cleared a couple of the rocky sections past there there I realized they weren't behind me so I kept pushing past other riders up otter slide, and then down fenceline, fish, etc. I thought I was way ahead until I popped out of one of the tech sections onto a 180 degree turn on to uphill pavement and Dave roared past me, laughing cause he caught me 🙂 I chased him back up the pavement section and stayed with him up animal chute, and when we came past the first lap marker we were at 43 min.

We rode together through warthog, having a nice chat and recovering a bit. There was no one else around at that point. When we got to the otter slide climb, Dave waved me on to lead. I started pushing up that climb, and when I got the top Dave was not there, so I just pounded it out, hoping he wouldn't catch me like the last lap. I got down goat cleanly, and then up animal chute cleanly, and came across the finish line at 1:29 for 2nd place. Very cool...I liked the course and was pleased to be able to podium for once!
 
My race was a fun one. I went out on lap 1 on Roger's heels and shortly thereafter my teammate Brian jumped around and got on Roger's wheel. We pacelined lap 1 with a nice group of 4 - 3 Bulldogs and Roger. Into lap 2 gaps were opening and Brian pulled off as his cleat was loose - and he was killin it! So now it was Roger, myself, and then Steve not far behind. I caught some traffic in a tight section and decided to sample the ground with my face and went OTB. But popped right back up and stayed within sight of Roger. My ankle was sore and I was banged up a bit but I stayed on it and buried myself. The rest of lap 2 was a blur and I hit lap 3 hot. I saw Roger ahead on the twisties but by this time he had a minute plus on me. So I just kept the killer focus and just went harder and harder again. I kept on it but bobbled here and there and lost a little bit of time. It felt for a while like I was out there solo - well just me and the falling acorns. No one behind and no one ahead. I saved up a bit of juice and hit the switchbacks hard and wrapped up my race for 2nd place. Just under 3 behind Roger and 2+ ahead of Steve.

This gave me 2nd in the State Championship as the original podium was all NJ anyway and even better it's locked up the series win!!! What a great day. Congrats to all that raced and thanks to Town Cycle for a well run race and all of their effort.
 
Congrats Ryan on a great season. To state the obvious, to manage this with the adversity you were faced with this season is impressive. Well done!
 
What was up with those acorns? Holy crap I was gettin pelted up on top.

Also, big thanks to the whole Town Cycle crew. I love the fact that they really changed up the course. It was faster than I expected and really challenging. Special thanks to the scoring crew who QUICKLY fixed a minor numbering problem with the CAT1 SS pre-reg racers. They totally stepped up and took care of it without missing a beat.
 
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Norm said:
Congrats Ryan on a great season. To state the obvious, to manage this with the adversity you were faced with this season is impressive. Well done!
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Thanks man! I really appreciate it. Yea it's kinda crazy for sure. When I have a bad day out there I kinda get depressed until I realize that I could have been dead a few months ago. Then I get all cheery again 😀

Thursday will be two months since my embolism...wow.
 
Cat 2 SS 4th

Saturday-
Started off by heading up to Windam Mt. on Saturday to run in the Warrior Dash- A 5k military obstacle course. I did that with NJ-XC-Justin, who orphaned his MTBs for marathon running. Seeing how I haven't run in 25 years I knew this was going to hurt. Start was 1.5 miles zig-zagging up the slopes with 2 obstacles thrown in. Cleared the first one (tires) with no problem, up more mountain to the second - walls about 4' tall. Side hurdled the first, grabbed the second wall, planted feet and blew out my knee. About 4 years ago I crashed on my bike and tore my ACL and Miniscus, had it looked at but never fixed. So great, I have 2 miles to go and I'm hobbling along. Hit wall 3 and just manage to roll over it. Limping and running I start heading uphill again, decide to slow to a gimpy hobble. Finally see the 3rd obstacle, pipes. Great, crawl through on my hands and knees. Made that and the course finally started down. Down a ski slope with matted grass that 5000 other people ran before me. Nice and slippery. Got down with huge stabbing pains in my knee, finished in 42 minutes, Justin I don't think even broke a sweat and finished in 30.

Sunday-
Woke up feeling like I just lost a bar fight. Limping, almost toppling over whenever my knee decided it didn't want to stay together anymore. Load bikes, get there. No way I was missing the Jungle, I love that place. Ride around to warm up, meet up with Matt from TC. Push the warm up a bit, legs feel like logs, not a good sign. BS with bunches of peeps. Line up and go Matt from TC get the shot and is going hammers to hell, he's got another TC rider behind him, BMX gearing dude was 3 and I grabbed 4. Legs really starting to get heavy and we're not even through the single track by the train yet. Got up by the photogs, lost my line on the way down the hll and almost killed the photog by the tree. Warthog went good, Matt was still leading the train, on the climb up Otter I see he's starting to crack. Pass him and grab 3rd wheel.

Tires feeling a bit washy going down fence line, oh yeah, forgot pump at home, damn. That gets in my mind now. I hate squishy tires on rocks. After one turn that I hear my front sidewall folding over I decide to air up. CO2 both wheels and lose 2 spots to Marty's and Campmor. Joquine from Marty's rolls up next laughing since he thinks I mech'd out (something I usually do). Grab bike and run ahead of him, jump on and bomb down the rocks. Lot of work to do now. Catch Campmor on the way down Goat, 4th wheel again. I stay ahead of him until we start to climb Chute. Near the top he almost has me, Saturday's fun is starting to rear its head. He bobbles and I make my break.

Lap 2

The photog I almost killed moved to a safer location. On Warthog I just start pacing myself trying to recover and save whats left of my legs. I hear racers coming from behind, good no single speeders. Give them the lane. Getting toward the end I see Campmor is gaining. Mental figuring says he is faster on the roads,hills and non-tech. Climb Otter ahead of him or right on his tire and the next battle will be on Chute. He takes me at the top of Otter. Starts pulling away on the fenceline grass. Start to point down and I'm right on his tire. Pass him just after the road and throw more coal on the fire. On the singletrack after goat my death hook barend finally grabs a tree. Off bike sideways, ass over head, CRACK- damn my fingers hurt. No time to worry about that, have to get going. Climb road, single track, no Campmor good.

Hit Chute and put the power down. Oh no, a twinge in my legs. Then some more. Stand up and try to pedal, thanks to yesterday my standing and pedaling looked like some type of hunchback dance. Legs are revolting fast, and I still have the whole damn chute to go. Ride as much as I can run/ carry the rest. Have to save whats left for the road leading up to the finish. Hit the top of Chute and pedal best as I can. Thinking I took either 3 or 5 not sure which.

After a nice long while the scores are finally posted, Joquine Tells me I got 4th, first for the State! I go over to see for myself, yep 4th, 2nd in state though. I was hoping for top 5 when I left in the morning and I got it.

Not bad for the abuse of Saturday. Still not sure if I broke my fingers or just super sprained them, big rasberry on my right hip, right knee all scraped up. Right knee starting to tighten back up not hurt as much. Still limping like my foot was cut off.

Now full steam ahead for Cathedral Pines. Might do the Warrior in Oct. Day after CP is the Tough Mudder:hmmm:. Recover for a month or two and start training for next season....
 
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