Just a few that I'll be attending...

I will not be doing this...
Bonelli Park (Pro XTC) March 10th - March 11th, 2012 - SAN DIMAS, CA

SIERRA VISTA (MBAA) - Mar 17, 2012

Weekend of March 24th, Bagels and Bacon Short Track or
Tuscarora MTB Enduro (MASS Endurance #1)

April 1st, Bunny Hopbrook, Middlebury Ct.(Root 66 #1)

April 22nd, Bike Line @ Fair Hill (MD) (MASS XC #1) or
Chainstretcher @ Blue Mtn (N.Y.) (H2H #1) or
Winding Trails (Root 66 #2) Farmington, Ct.

April 28th Cohutta 100. (NUE #1) Ducktown Tn. (I got a mention)

June 2nd, 2012 Kenda Mohican 100 Mile (NUE #3)

July 28th, Wilderness 101 (NUE #7)

August 19th, Hampshire 100 (NUE #9)

September 2nd, Shenandoah 100 (NUE #11)

There are a lot of gaps, I know. The one thing I've learned over the years is you have to allow for some flexibility. I don't want to say I'm going in one direction and midway decide to scrap the whole thing. I will be attending local and regional XC races. If I have the chance to win a series I may decide to go that route. I've set myself up so I don't have to decide what series it will be, If any. In between the big events I've picked, I may race every weekend or not at all. Hell, I may race twice in the same weekend. I may decide to go to nationals. I may decide to do some 50s. I may just race local events for fun.
Race hard, have some fun, keep it light, and let the path lead you to where ever it feels good. After last years bullshit and stress fest, who needs another year of that crap? -M

Wake up call....

OTB in the creek,

First of all....If your not having fun, it's just not worth it...

Gerry said to me sometime last week "What the hell ever happened to all of us just riding together?"
It's true... There was a time when you could just show up at a ride. It didn't matter what jersey you were wearing or what shop you were representing. Roadie or mtb'er. Or what clique you belonged to. Mtb rides of over 20 were common and these rides were fun.
Gone are those days. Everybody seems to be worried about series points or specific training intervals. Or worried about burning out too early. At what point did it become a sound training strategy to isolate yourself for months at a time all while staring at a power tap? No amount of intervals replaces the pain of hammering to keep up with a group or drilling it on a climb to maintain your position. When was the last time you felt the stress of having to "make" something or get the hell out of the way quick? Not by yourself, that's for sure.
Riding with others is fun and having fun keeps you interested and fresh. Going into a race season it's better to be having a good time and to be motovated than to be super tuned and completely burnt.
On Sunday I headed up to Ct. to meet with Charles, Josh and James. We played a little. Some on the bike fartlek. The trails at Case Mountain are sweet and to be with some like minded people for the day was refreshing. This is what it's all about.

This past week has taught me plenty. And I feel wide awake now:-)

Put away the Advil and give that boy some Pamprin...

With morning temps in the single digits and a total lack of time on the snowshoes this year (I'm not complaining), The gang and I decided to put the bikes aside and revisit the hike loop from hell. Four hours of fartlek was on tap. No mercy, run/hike. It's a total drop ride with this group, only no bikes. There is sure to be some bitching. Who would be the first to crack?

My better half. A female point of view...

You might be a redneck... Once the snow comes the trail becomes harder to follow...
On the ridge, the "trail" becomes a little less defined...

Greenwood Lake...
My favorite pic from the bunch...
It's steep and icy at points...
Dreaded but beautiful, Frost Heave...
Happy trails means I can open it up...