Centurion Cycling - Canada

Thanks for checking in again!

I have been laying low the past week+ as my body does it's best to recover from the beating that was the Village of Blue Mountains Centurion Event on September 19th. The event was put on by NA Sports, the same group that owns Ironman Canada and used to run Lake Placid, California, Wisconsin, Florida Ironman events before selling them to the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC runs/owns Kona and the brand "Ironman") I emphasize the organizer because Graham Fraser and his team put on the best events period. I have raced his events and events that are not his, and by far his are the best!

The event is set for the masses, 25, 50 and 100 mile options through the steep hillsides of the Niagara escarpment in Collingwood. The point being to bring every level of cyclist together to enjoy an epic day of bike riding. This met that goal and was impecably organized. Many of the Ontario riders I race against throughout the year, usually really tight with race fees and such, commented how they so received their money's worth from the $110 race fee vs. half that fee for Ontario Cup races. MEaning, Ontario racing really does suck. We had OPP escorts, helicopters, feed stations, safe roads, incredible roads, great course, buffet food, timing chips, swag bag, rock bands...list goes on. Ontario racing you get fined, cursed, shit courses. It's why our team goes to the US and Quebec to race a lot. Ontario racing = training!

Anyway, as for my race, it was the last of a long season and I did everything I could to try and break up the group and get away over 100 miles. I didn't succeed. I cracked so bad I almost fell off my bike at 101 miles. The race was long, I didn't account for that and cracked bad. I finished 26th on the day but should have been up front top 5. Humbled, lesson learned in bike racing...don't do the work, that's someone's else's job!

Great event, highly recommended.

Click on this link for my power file from the event: I spent 55% of the time above threshold; 20% at max...over 5 hours that adds up!!! Hence, the cracking and sudden darkness-:)

I can't wait for Graham's team to learn and grow the event. Talk is already started of a hill climb TT the day before with combined time winning stage race type format!! If anyone can do it was excellence, its his team.

Starting 2010...Hawaii...and the Great Gatsby!

Last year I waited until January 2nd to get serious about training and it cost me 8 pounds. That extra 8 pounds took an extra 6 months to get off, I felt like Jan Ullrich. Never again, can't happen.

I just finished a 3 week "train to train" cycle. 23 days of at least 30 minutes of exercise in 24 days (not including the daily hour walking the Great Gatsby!) Some days were 5 hours like last Saturday's ride, others were a 30 minute cruise along lakeshore or 30 minutes of running on the bruce trail. I even swam, yes swim practice, and enjoyed it. This week is a down cycle recovery week and some physio. I have only gained 3% of my weight back; room for 2% more maximum. I'll save that for the holidays (or this beer).

Next week I start proper with a macro 2 month cycle through to the holidays. Strength, agility, and a whole whack of swimming. That will set me up nicely and ahead of last years cluster start and certainly not starting behind the eight ball at 172!

Hawaii always inspires me to train, I have to keep it in check so as not to burn out but man, holy running Crowie. that was really killer to watch online, truly amazing.

oh, and a picture of Gatsby 'cause really, is this not the cutest dog EVER?