And its not because of this video... but this is how I feel right now.
I raced the Route 66 sprint triathlon today up in El Reno, Oklahoma just west of OKC. Let me say it didnt go according to plan.. due to reasons out of my control. I've never been so close to winning a race.. especially one worth 100points. Heres my post from my training log with a quick rundown.
"So. Im going to give everyone a quick rundown. The best thing to do would be watch Fleebs interview when he gets that up.
Heres what happened. In a nutshell.
I came out of the water 2seconds behind first place. Passed him in T1 and started the bike w/ a :30 lead and in first place overall. When I pulled out of T1 there was a motorcycle cop pacing. So I just put my head down and followed. Fairly excited to be in first that soon in the bike. We got onto old RT66 and I was just cranking w/ everything I could. Still feeling good. Well I started to think DAMN. Where is the freaking turnaround. Well two things about me racing. First... I DONT use a computer of any kind. Secondly I dont EVER look behind me because I dont want to know how close the person behind is, especially when I'm leading. Well long story short the Race Director didnt make sure there were people or a cone at the turnaround. Their excuse? "We didnt expect you to be that fast" The only thing there was was a turnaround arrow painted on the ground and nothing else. No cars. No cone. Nothing else. The motorcycle I'm sure was also looking for the turnaround cone and he just kept going so I just followed him. I followed him until he finally turned around and gave me NO recognition. I just kept going. I kept riding till I got to the OLYMPIC turnaround. Which by this point I was going so slow that I could see it on the road.
I turned around and rode probably 15mph all the way back. I was SO irrate. Its a good thing I was alone at that time. I lost that race for reasons OUT of my control. If you try to say its my fault for not looking for the turnaround IM SORRY but you're wrong. You try looking for small painted arrows on the ground when you're going 30mph following a motorcycle.
Got back to T2. Did an interview w/ Fleeb WHILE IN T2 then started my run.
Overall?
138th outta 156 overall.
Age Group?
21st out of 21.
Had the second fastest Swim. 4th fastest T1. Second to the slowest bike. and ran a chill 21min 5K.
In the end I have to say the Race Director and crew were UNBELIEVABLY nice and apologetic (sp?). They comped me an entry into ANY event they do so that was nice... but doesnt give me the 100points I was going for."
Enjoy.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Criterium Rundown...
Now.. The moment everyone has been waiting for. Ha! A rundown of the crit I raced Monday...
So. Let me start from the very beginning. The night before, Sunday, Courtney and I were having dinner w/ mi amigo Scott and his wife. Well Scott brings up the idea of me racing the Texas State Crit Champs tommorow. I of course quickly said no way.. thats crazy. Well the further we got into dinner the better and better the idea sounded. PLUS.. I've done what I want to do this season, WHY NOT HAVE some fun now? (of course w/o getting injured) So I told him id probably do it.
Later that night I checked out the website and what not and decided to go for it. I love crit racing and the race was supposed to be 45min. What a fantastic workout that would be if nothing else! So the next day I would register at the race site and do my thing.
I talked to my friend Jeff that co-owns my LBS and he let me know that another rider from the shop would be out there and if I could help him out as much as possible.
So I show up around 3. The race was scheduled to start at 3:45. I purchase my one day license and register for the CAT 5 race.
Said bye to Courtney, John and his friend Alex and went off to WU. The course seemed way fast and had lots of sharp corners (with hay bails of course!!) and a few good straights. During the WU I ended up running into (not literally) the guy from my LBS. We chatted it up and I told him, if we're still together towards the end Im getting him the win at all costs. Me.. I could care less about a road racing anything. Im a triathlete till the day I die.
We line up and we're off. Its UNBELIEVABLY hot. Around the 2nd lap I noticed I was having some issues w/ my rear derailler. Couldnt really tell what it was just yet. well I came out of a corner wayyyy fast and actually came out of the saddle to accelerate and mashed while switching gears. POP. My chain is off. I pull off to the side to fix it as the pack flies by and a ref comes up behind me. He yells at me to go to the mechanical tent. that was my ONLY option. he didnt ask if I wanted to chase. So I quickly ride to the mech tent and the guy asks me what happened and then asks if I was in the chase group. I said yes. he tells me to jump back in the Peleton when they pass by and that that lap will NOT go against me. So when the peleton comes around (after only doing 1/3 of the course or less, becasue it was a figure 8) I jump back in and we're off again.
To make an 18mile race short me and my friend David (the LBS rider) took the 1 and 2 spots. I pulled him the whole time and gave him the gap he needed to win. When I knew we had it I let him go and cruised to 2nd EASILY. (if you want to know about the details of the race my RR will be up soon)
We started celebrating on the CD lap. Congratulated everyone and went to find John and Courtney. Well after the race Im standing around w/ David and this older man comes up to me. (obviously someone in control.. possible RD.. ref... Etc) WithOUT introducing himself or anything and in a rather RUDE tone he asks me if I understand that I did not get 2nd place. I said no. Well apparently they ruled my incident w/ my chain as rider error (for not having my derailler tight enough) and told me I finished the race a lap down... in 11th place. At first I could care less but the longer he talked with his tone the more irritated I got. He came over there with the attitude that i was going to blow up on him and that wasnt the case. So I asked him if I could see a rule book just to get a better understanding of what the ruling was. At this point he got unbelievably defensive and told me there was a rule book online. I said id like to see one now. He walks over to (im assuming) his truck and starts medaling around. at this point I was a bit frustrated so I go over and tell him dont worry about it. I was happy enough that my friend David had won. This guy continues to tell me I won 2 primes (lap wins... they ring a bell... and everyone sprints for the next lap.. you win the lap.. you get a prize) and I told him I could CARE LESS about the primes. I was there to win. I explained to this douche that I was told to jump back into peleton w/o penalty. I also explained to him that if Id been given the option to chase the peleton after putting my chain back on I WOULD HAVE.. and I WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THEM AND STILL DOMINATED. obvously a bit more irritated now. He asked if I wanted to talk w/ the head ref and I said of course. The ref comes over after the douche went and talked to him. I talk with the ref and he lets me know that it was my error. I said they had poor refs out there and that this was all politics. I told them they were un organized, and that I was happy a total NOOB like my friend David could win without penalty.
The politics were and are obvious. They didnt think I could win so they told me to just jump back in the peleton. First off... Im OBVIOUSLY a triathlete.. and I obviously shouldnt be racing CAT 5.. BUT I DONT HAVE A CHOICE. They make you race CAT 5 if you havent started 10 races. That was only my 5th road race start. Secondly I wasnt from some huge local shop that sponsors the event like RBM or Colonels... (not bashing either shop). I came out there with my ghetto bike... MDOT covered calf... on a ONE DAY license and they didnt like it.
I backed down and said fine. There was nothing else I could do and I knew if I kept it up id just get more irritated. I talked with David and we went over to get our prizes. (my primes) When we got over there i was given a big tube of Chamoise butter and $25 cash... David was give $25 cash for his prime and $45 for the overall win. Right there in front of everyone he gave me the $45 first prize. I was speechless. WHAT a nice guy. He said that I saved him out there and that he was thankful. I then gave him my $25 prime so he got $50 and I got $45 in the end.
We headed back to the finish area for the little awards ceremony and the State Champ jersey presentation to David. I stood back as the three "overall" winners stood up there and got their photos taken.
A friend of mine that was taking the photos whispered to me that they were gonna take a few more with me... So as soon as everything was done he told me to get up there and the actual top three got their pictures taken together.
All in all what a fantastic experience, but somewhat discouraging that, that is what future cyclists have to look forward to. Douche bags like that guy. On the other hand hopefully they'll meet someone as nice as David. I wouldnt take that race back for anything. It was awesome.
Best 11th place ive ever had.
_Jacob_
So. Let me start from the very beginning. The night before, Sunday, Courtney and I were having dinner w/ mi amigo Scott and his wife. Well Scott brings up the idea of me racing the Texas State Crit Champs tommorow. I of course quickly said no way.. thats crazy. Well the further we got into dinner the better and better the idea sounded. PLUS.. I've done what I want to do this season, WHY NOT HAVE some fun now? (of course w/o getting injured) So I told him id probably do it.
Later that night I checked out the website and what not and decided to go for it. I love crit racing and the race was supposed to be 45min. What a fantastic workout that would be if nothing else! So the next day I would register at the race site and do my thing.
I talked to my friend Jeff that co-owns my LBS and he let me know that another rider from the shop would be out there and if I could help him out as much as possible.
So I show up around 3. The race was scheduled to start at 3:45. I purchase my one day license and register for the CAT 5 race.
Said bye to Courtney, John and his friend Alex and went off to WU. The course seemed way fast and had lots of sharp corners (with hay bails of course!!) and a few good straights. During the WU I ended up running into (not literally) the guy from my LBS. We chatted it up and I told him, if we're still together towards the end Im getting him the win at all costs. Me.. I could care less about a road racing anything. Im a triathlete till the day I die.
We line up and we're off. Its UNBELIEVABLY hot. Around the 2nd lap I noticed I was having some issues w/ my rear derailler. Couldnt really tell what it was just yet. well I came out of a corner wayyyy fast and actually came out of the saddle to accelerate and mashed while switching gears. POP. My chain is off. I pull off to the side to fix it as the pack flies by and a ref comes up behind me. He yells at me to go to the mechanical tent. that was my ONLY option. he didnt ask if I wanted to chase. So I quickly ride to the mech tent and the guy asks me what happened and then asks if I was in the chase group. I said yes. he tells me to jump back in the Peleton when they pass by and that that lap will NOT go against me. So when the peleton comes around (after only doing 1/3 of the course or less, becasue it was a figure 8) I jump back in and we're off again.
To make an 18mile race short me and my friend David (the LBS rider) took the 1 and 2 spots. I pulled him the whole time and gave him the gap he needed to win. When I knew we had it I let him go and cruised to 2nd EASILY. (if you want to know about the details of the race my RR will be up soon)
We started celebrating on the CD lap. Congratulated everyone and went to find John and Courtney. Well after the race Im standing around w/ David and this older man comes up to me. (obviously someone in control.. possible RD.. ref... Etc) WithOUT introducing himself or anything and in a rather RUDE tone he asks me if I understand that I did not get 2nd place. I said no. Well apparently they ruled my incident w/ my chain as rider error (for not having my derailler tight enough) and told me I finished the race a lap down... in 11th place. At first I could care less but the longer he talked with his tone the more irritated I got. He came over there with the attitude that i was going to blow up on him and that wasnt the case. So I asked him if I could see a rule book just to get a better understanding of what the ruling was. At this point he got unbelievably defensive and told me there was a rule book online. I said id like to see one now. He walks over to (im assuming) his truck and starts medaling around. at this point I was a bit frustrated so I go over and tell him dont worry about it. I was happy enough that my friend David had won. This guy continues to tell me I won 2 primes (lap wins... they ring a bell... and everyone sprints for the next lap.. you win the lap.. you get a prize) and I told him I could CARE LESS about the primes. I was there to win. I explained to this douche that I was told to jump back into peleton w/o penalty. I also explained to him that if Id been given the option to chase the peleton after putting my chain back on I WOULD HAVE.. and I WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THEM AND STILL DOMINATED. obvously a bit more irritated now. He asked if I wanted to talk w/ the head ref and I said of course. The ref comes over after the douche went and talked to him. I talk with the ref and he lets me know that it was my error. I said they had poor refs out there and that this was all politics. I told them they were un organized, and that I was happy a total NOOB like my friend David could win without penalty.
The politics were and are obvious. They didnt think I could win so they told me to just jump back in the peleton. First off... Im OBVIOUSLY a triathlete.. and I obviously shouldnt be racing CAT 5.. BUT I DONT HAVE A CHOICE. They make you race CAT 5 if you havent started 10 races. That was only my 5th road race start. Secondly I wasnt from some huge local shop that sponsors the event like RBM or Colonels... (not bashing either shop). I came out there with my ghetto bike... MDOT covered calf... on a ONE DAY license and they didnt like it.
I backed down and said fine. There was nothing else I could do and I knew if I kept it up id just get more irritated. I talked with David and we went over to get our prizes. (my primes) When we got over there i was given a big tube of Chamoise butter and $25 cash... David was give $25 cash for his prime and $45 for the overall win. Right there in front of everyone he gave me the $45 first prize. I was speechless. WHAT a nice guy. He said that I saved him out there and that he was thankful. I then gave him my $25 prime so he got $50 and I got $45 in the end.
We headed back to the finish area for the little awards ceremony and the State Champ jersey presentation to David. I stood back as the three "overall" winners stood up there and got their photos taken.
A friend of mine that was taking the photos whispered to me that they were gonna take a few more with me... So as soon as everything was done he told me to get up there and the actual top three got their pictures taken together.
All in all what a fantastic experience, but somewhat discouraging that, that is what future cyclists have to look forward to. Douche bags like that guy. On the other hand hopefully they'll meet someone as nice as David. I wouldnt take that race back for anything. It was awesome.
Best 11th place ive ever had.
_Jacob_
Music video of the day/night...
This is from the OKC half mary. I carried my camera the whole 13.1 miles. It was fantastic. Enjoy :)
_Jacob_
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Four States and The State Crit Champs
Good news all around.
4th Overall at the Four States Triathlon. Good enough for 98 regional points.
Randomly signed up for and raced in the Cat 5 Texas State Crit Championships. Long story short I told a friend that rides for the same shop I do that If he's still there at the end that I'm pulling him and getting him the win. 2nd lap in my chain popped off coming out of a corner and I was told that it was an "epuipment" problem and to hop back in the peloton on the next half lap. I did so and my friend and I took the 1 and 2 spots. Total domination. After the race the "director" came up to me and with no idea who he was at the time he let me know that I had not completed every lap and that, that pushed me down to 11th place. The man was rude, and his attitude was totally uncalled for. When I find his name I will pubically call him out and let everyone know that he is the reason cyclists are often seen as elitists and snobs.
Other than that, David (the other B&B Bicycles rider) took 2 primes, I took, and we took the 1 and 2 spots. Overall, a fantastic day with unexpected results. Im happy I could help him to a state jersey.
Here are some fun photos taken the day of the crit! Enjoy.. Compliments of my brother. http://www.rilexphotography.com/
Friday, May 23, 2008
It's Not About the Bike...
So I've recently started reading Lance Armstrongs novel.. "Its Not About the Bike". What an awesome read. Calling it an awesome read is seriously not doing it justice. I've heard so many stories about Lance. Being a cyclist.. and an athlete, I.. in a VERY small way can understand how dificult it is to race in and complete much less win a major Tour. Reading about everything Lance has encountered gives such an insight into why he races the way he does and oddly enough helps me to understand why I do some of the things I do and race the way I do. In my eyes, Lance Armstrong will always be my larger than life superhero.
Training is starting to ramp back up and I got to race again since IMAZ. I raced the SMW Regional Championship in Texarkana, Tx last weekend and had some pretty good results. I took fourth overall and first age group. The race report can be checked out by clicking HERE. In the end I'm happy with my performance and got some GREAT points out of the race. I feel that that is the best I could have done considering I've really neglected my speed in the past few months. Now that I've gotten my KONA slot I feel I can focus on my second goal and that was getting my regional elite and taking first in the SMW 20-24 age group rankings. (If not top 5 OVERALL)
If you still havent checked out my training log on beginnertriathlete.com click HERE to see it. Since I dont update this daily or sometimes even weekely my training log is a great way to keep up with my endevours.
Thanks for all the continued support! As always its much appreciated! Hope everyone is doing well.
_Jacob_
Training is starting to ramp back up and I got to race again since IMAZ. I raced the SMW Regional Championship in Texarkana, Tx last weekend and had some pretty good results. I took fourth overall and first age group. The race report can be checked out by clicking HERE. In the end I'm happy with my performance and got some GREAT points out of the race. I feel that that is the best I could have done considering I've really neglected my speed in the past few months. Now that I've gotten my KONA slot I feel I can focus on my second goal and that was getting my regional elite and taking first in the SMW 20-24 age group rankings. (If not top 5 OVERALL)
If you still havent checked out my training log on beginnertriathlete.com click HERE to see it. Since I dont update this daily or sometimes even weekely my training log is a great way to keep up with my endevours.
Thanks for all the continued support! As always its much appreciated! Hope everyone is doing well.
_Jacob_
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Kona > Studying for Finals....
HA! Well. Here I am. May 7th and in the middle of finals week. So much has happened. Qualifying for Kona has finally set in a little more. Dont get me wrong... Its still surreal. Ive accomplished something that SO many people only get the chance to dream about. For me.. something that was ONLY a dream. About 3 years ago, when I started this sport, I couldnt have told you the distances to an Ironman... I was a clueless 19 year old. Over the years I have found myself through triathlon, not to mention multiple life long friends. To all of those friends, I thank you for your support and friendship.
So I've recently decided that next year I'll race IMLP again and try to get another Kona slot. I'm going to head up to Lake Placid this year to get some training in, hang out with my good friend Tyler and his dad, watch his dad battle it out for a Kona slot, Volunteer, then register for the 2009 race. Im excited to get to head back up there. Lake Placid is a wonderful place, and I cant wait to see Tyler again!
I've been having some great relaxed workouts. I've decided to bump up the aggresiveness of my training just a bit. Mediocre training leads to mediocre racing.. or how my friend Jody puts it. "Long slow training, leads to long slow racing..." So when if you check out the training log my runs and rides have been a bit faster, but overall it feels nice to push a little harder and work on that speed. Today I went out with some guys on the UTA CX team and it was awesome. The pace started around 7:15/m and went down to around 6:40/m. Feels nice to get pushed a bit and have some people to run with.
So I need to get an essay written before 5am, so off to get that done I go. Hope everyone is doing fantastic!!
_Jacob_
So I've recently decided that next year I'll race IMLP again and try to get another Kona slot. I'm going to head up to Lake Placid this year to get some training in, hang out with my good friend Tyler and his dad, watch his dad battle it out for a Kona slot, Volunteer, then register for the 2009 race. Im excited to get to head back up there. Lake Placid is a wonderful place, and I cant wait to see Tyler again!
I've been having some great relaxed workouts. I've decided to bump up the aggresiveness of my training just a bit. Mediocre training leads to mediocre racing.. or how my friend Jody puts it. "Long slow training, leads to long slow racing..." So when if you check out the training log my runs and rides have been a bit faster, but overall it feels nice to push a little harder and work on that speed. Today I went out with some guys on the UTA CX team and it was awesome. The pace started around 7:15/m and went down to around 6:40/m. Feels nice to get pushed a bit and have some people to run with.
So I need to get an essay written before 5am, so off to get that done I go. Hope everyone is doing fantastic!!
_Jacob_
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