Hawkphoto

Well,

Here's is the maiden thread of our brand new forum...

I just started my serious training program for this coming season. It will be my first real racing season ever! I'm nervous and exited. It's amazing though to see all the changes in my body week after week... since June 2002, I've lost 18 pounds, and gained some very lean muscle!

My first race will be the Sea Otter Classic the first weekend of April this year. Originally, this was going to be an "A" race, but now that I've charted out my season, there is no way I'll peak by then, so I recatagorized it as a "C" on the first week of my Build 1 phase. I'm planning my peak to happen around the beginning of June. I figured, that as well as I want to do at the Sea Otter, there is no sense in messing up my plan for the rest of the season. Especially since it is my first one. I'm going to take my time and go by the book. ...See what happens.

Who else is training right now?

What are you goals, strategies, and motivators?

Mike

nathank

winter is just fitness maintenance for me. i cycle commute to work, so about 100km/week. plus, i hope to do some more weight-training this winter, but i have yet to really start ---- my all-body weight training dropped from 5-6 days/week 3 years ago, to 2 days/week 1-2 years ago, to 1 day a week last year, to once every 2 weeks the last 6 months - so i need to pick up again.

upcoming season i will probably not concentrate on racing, but concentrate more on touring and big rides and use racing as part of my training.

as a goal, a friend of mine has found a MTB race in the Alps in June i think that has 7000 meters of vertical! that's 23,000ft of climbing in one day! for comparision, most of the "Marathon MTB" races i did last year were 1600 to 2800m vertical and most US XC races have on the order of 600 to 1600m. as ultra-endurance is not my strength (i am sprinter and power climber) i am not aiming to win, but it is an accomplishment just to finish!

i guess i would also love to do the TransAlp Challenge race - the 8-day race across the Alps with 20,000m vertical, but i'd need financial support, so i'll only do it if it works out.

my exact plans are dependent on other choices as i am not sure if i will be staying in Germany or returning to the US or what...

dirtbikedude

I "Train" all year. Weather it is running cycling or lifting. The only preperation I do for my races is try to better my technical skills and my smoothness through turns. In the dh you can make up alot of time if you can get through the turns smoother and faster. Alot of riders can clear the jumps, drops and rock gardens but not many can rail through a turn and not loose speed.
My goal for next season is to place in the top 5 in CA. state series and place first overall in the AmatureCup at BigBear.
As for motivation, it just comes naturaly. I love to compete.

Slainte

dirtbikedude

Hey Hawk. My wife and I will be at the Sea Otter also. We should try and hook up. A word of advice, if you have not reserved a room you should do so now. The places there get booked fast.

Slainte

Hawkphoto

Matt,

I only live 45 minutes from Laguna Seca... home-turf baby!

I just applied for a media pass as well, but I'm not sure if I'll get an official one. They only give out 250 passes. But, regardless, I'll be shooting a lot of film that weekend and it would be really cool to get some shots of you on the DH course. Keep me posted on your class, start time, course, etc... This will be the first year I've even attended the Sea Otter. I've wanted to go for years, but it just never happened - I wasn't riding much then...

Peace,

Hawk

The Toninator

Our race season starts the last week of Jan I had all the intentions in the world of busting ass this winter to get better because I’m moving up to sport after placing top 10 in beginner BUT I’ve done way more drinking than training so I’m going to focus on the fall series as my competitive season.
But i am planing on Soloing at least 1 -12hour race (jan 25) and improving on my last 24 hour race 9th place on a 4 person team.

PeterG1185

Hey,
Glad to see that other people in here race. I just started last year and you learn a whole hell of a lot about who you are in races. I won one race in begginners class and am looking to race sport this coming year it's just a matter of getting my big ass off of the couch, i'll probably start training mid January after my x-mas break.


will show some pics when the site is up

The Toninator

this was on my way to an 8th place in an ambc MUD fest:

The Toninator

bad finish great shot. Had to trash frame after race:

Maelstrom 

Wow first time I noticed this new section. Due to the winters here I can't ride and the gyms here are fitness centres not really gyms. I am kind of left with what I can do at home. I have a steady diet of weights and time on my trainer. I am hoping to drop 10 to 20 pnds by next spring.

When I am riding I focus a lot on technical riding. This is only because I will get the cardio with time but almost every trail has some technical thrown in around here.

dirtbikedude

Aren't you observent Mael? jk

Hey Hawk. You will enjoy the Sea Otter. Rodies and mtb'ers all in one spot with one thing in mind, cycling. The atmosphere is great and every one is willing to help each other out(from my expieriance).
The weekend warriors get to hang out with the Pros and unless you know who is who it is hard to tell the differance other then by their apparel. Well, and the way the ride.

We will be up there the whole week to practice.
For some good photo ops on the dh you should find a spot near a drop or gap jump. There are alot of riders who just show up for the race and never even walk the course let alone do a pre-ride.
Damn it's funny when they come flying around a turn and see a gap of 15' in front of them.

Slainte

Maelstrom 

What can I say? Sometimes I just coast through life and bb's

fubar5

I'm using a program called PC coach, it is working out pretty well so far. I just want the training to be over the racing to start.