EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS- 2006 Year in Review

EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS

Endure, Excel, Acheive

2006 The Year in Review

2007 Year in Review

I feel I had a successful racing season in 2007. I am quite satisfied with my
results for most of the events. There are a couple of exceptions but overall
it was a good season.

In January, I did the San Diego Brevet Series 200km (125 6,500 feet of
climbing on my fixed gear. I was dropped early on as we descended into
Rancho Santa Fe. I expected it. I caught and passed plenty of people later
in the day. By the time I got to Fallbrook (Mile 80ish) I was in the lead
position. I did the 125 miles on two water bottles. I still had plenty of
power left over as I climbed Torrey Pines at mile 120. I finished 2nd, a
good result considering I was alone and the three lead riders worked
together. I wasn't in good form yet. But my first Ultra was complete on a
Fixed Gear.

In February, I did the Butterfield Double Century. I did it on my Fixed
Gear and helped Brandy complete her first double century. It was my first
double century on a fixed gear and I had no trouble completing it. At no
point did I feel the fixed gear was too much.

In March, I completed the Solvang Double Century for the first time. I was
choosing my doubles based on what I thought I could do on my Fixed Gear.
It was Brandy's second double century.

April I did the Mullholland Double Century (200 miles 16,500 feet).
Overall it was a great event for me with a good result. I had a goal of going
under 14 hours and I did that with a time of 13:49 I took 1 hour 43
minutes off my time. Although, I took that much time off I dropped 8
places to 19th. MDC was the first of three climbing centuries for the
King of the Mountains Challenge.

The following day I did the Mullholland Century Challenge 112 miles
with 12,000 feet of climbing. It was a great weekend of climbing. I
ended up with 312 miles and 29,000 feet of climbing for the two days. I
wish I had the ability to train like that more often.

In May - competed in the Breathless Agony Century. 114 miles 12,000
feet of climbing. Another successful event. Breathless Agony. 11,000 feet
climbing in first 73 miles. We climb to a max altitude of 8,443 up to Onyx
Summit. I had a great day on the bike. My goal 5:45 and top 30. I did even
better than I expected. In training I had done the course in 5:51 so I thought
5:45 was doable. I finished in 5:40 and 21st place overall and 7th out of
144 in 40-49 age group

Also in May Heartbreak Double Century 200 miles 16,500 feet of
climbing. My goal was sub 14 hours I finished 13:28 for 5th place. I'm
quite happy with the end result but the process to get there was one of the
most challenging days on the bike in recent memory.

In June-- I crashed out of the Eastern Sierra Double Century at mile
70ish. I was so exhausted from working the previous week and on the
Friday night before the event. I arrived late the night before the event and of
course they all have early starts. It was my first ever DNF. It was also 10
days before Race Across America.

Also in JUNE 2007 I competed in Two Person Race Across America. It
was an extremely tough event for me. My partner seemed to be able to fall
asleep immediately after his pulls. He helped our team when I was having
my troubles. I struggled for four days with no sleep. By day two I had a
cold and then I had hemorrhoid issues. My partner DNF'd with about 400
miles to go with a blown Achilles tendon and I finished the event. Now that
is a perfect example of teamwork Rick Schulze was there for me when I
was struggling and I brought it home so that the both of us could call
ourselves Official Finishers of Race Across America--- the toughest
bicycle race in the world.

In July 2007- I concentrated on training for my goal event of the year the
Furnace Creek 508. I commuted from Huntington Beach to Encinitas
about 3 times a week on my Fixed Gear. The goal was to ride as much as
possible on the Fixed Gear leading up to the event. The commute was 130
miles round trip.

In July, August and September 2007- more concentrated training for the
Furnace Creek 508.

In October 2007 Furnace Creek 508 I completed the "toughest 48 hours
in sport" on a Fixed Gear. It is a 508 mile non stop bicycle race through
Mojave and Death Valley Deserts and points beyon. Don't be misled that
because it goes through the desert that it's flat. In fact there are 35,000 feet
of climbing. In 33 editions of the race there have only been 7 riders to
complete the course on a fixed gear. This year there was a 44% DNF
rate. Interesting fact-- all the fixed gear riders that have attempted the 508
fixed have completed the event. I guess that means only those with the
fitness and mental toughness are brave and tenacious enough to enter and
complete the 508 on a fixed gear.