Valleys and Peaks

I heard there are other heroes among us. Steve (left) and Perry (right) tended to injured Sean and Laura respectively in 2 different close pavement encounters (aka "valleys"). Glad to know they are doing well.

I have been sleeping for a week. I have pulled myself outta bed long enough to eat, ride, shower, eat again then back to bed. Wow, I feel GREAT!

Bill n Tim picked me up for our "pick a park" mountain bike ride Wednesday afternoon. We all are doing Shenandoah 100 and need dirt miles. We landed at New Quarter Park in Williamsburg and did loops and had laughs.

I was still in my foggy sleep mode as I pointed out to them that the longest summer day was upon us and how all days march toward death from that point forward. And how, after a person is 21 or so, the body is no longer in build mode, but shifts to death mode, slowly dying, how the body is either building or dying, never just being. (Tim said, "Thanks a lot for telling me that, Liz") It's like peaking for an event over the course of a race season, how before it, the body builds, it peaks for the event (if you're lucky) but then after it, declines. It can only hold the height for that moment, as with most things I guess.

I am working a bike camp this coming week, so I will say good bye to my peak sleep week for the year. (above photos by BJ Samuel)

Busy but fast

(left, Wayno and Greco compete in Cat 3 State Champ Crit. Greco goes on to win the race of 40 competitors. Photo by BJ Samuel.)


I don't mean to sound corny here, but there are heroes among us. Think of those who have big old jobs, like Wayno contracting for Dept of Homeland Security and Greco working for a law firm, who also have tight (and cool) families with young and happy kids, and still manage to place well in Cat 3 events. I have noticed that Cat 3 is the category where career and family men usually stop, but competing there is pretty demanding since those heading for 1 and 2 have to spend a good chunk of time developing in 3's. Greco won the event yesterday, has two second place finishes and other top 10's this season.


It's just inspiring I guess.

Call to arms

(right, Recognize anyone? Pictured are racers and support crew for 2 Canaan relay teams circa 1998.)


Tripower has deep roots in mountain bike endurance relays. JB recently sent a call to arms to revive the relay spirit. I dug through the archives and found some images that may motivate some of us to get involved with Virginia events coming such as 12 hours of Cranky Monkey at Quantico and 18 Hours of Goochland near Richmond.




These 2 were part of the first generation of solo 24 hour racing. Nolan and Mann were both Tripower members when they competed in the solo category at Canaan:



















Here are some images of those who were my teammates during the 3 years that I did 24 hours of Canaan. We formed composite teams from several clubs in order to get the best results. To be honest, I don't even remember the names of a few of those pictured below. 24 hours goes by quickly, afterall:



















(Top image: front row--Lori, Jonathan, James, Paula; back row--Dan, Pat, Kevin, Lance, Jordan, Marc)