2016 Akron Half Marathon

 

 

2016 Akron Half Marathon Finish

 

This has been a very difficult year in training for me.  I started out the year with a separated Shoulder and have been spending most of my time helping taking care of a family member with cancer.  To top if off in August I went to the ER for having chest pains. The good news is after several test the doctors were unable to determine the cause of my chest pains and I have been cleared to exercise again.

 

I spent the 7 weeks prior to the race not running or cycling just walking a few days a week.  For those of you who recall my 12 Week Marathon Training Plan I present my 12 Week Half Marathon Training Plan.

 

 

I knew going in that my time would be my slowest Half Marathon but I was very happy to be able to run again.  I was going stir crazy sitting around doing nothing.

 

 

 

On my way to the race I drank a bottle of Hammer Nutrition Lemon-Lime HEED since it was a relatively warm 66 degrees at 5:00 in the morning.  My fueling plan for the day was to follow what always works for me in training and racing.  I carried a bottle of Lemon-Lime HEED and Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem. I also carried several Endurolytes to prevents cramps and Hammer Gels.  My plan was to take Endurolyets and Gel once an hour. As usual I carried several extra Gels to share with my fellow runners. Around mile 11 I gave 2 Hammer Gels to Helen McWilliams who set the Guiness World Record for fastest marathon dressed as a chef.  She had complete chef outfit on and Carried a 3 kilo stock pot.




I started out the race slow and felt good and was surprised to see I ran negative splits with my fastest mile at 11-12. Considering I did not train the way I should I was very pleased with my time of 2:18:37.

2016 Funk Bottoms Gravel

 

This was the 6th edition of the Funk Bottoms Gravel race.  Along with PW and Potenza I was one of the founders of FBG in 2011.  What started out as a training ride  for Gravel Worlds has turned into a growing event, with this year having our largest starting field. Starting over the winter I scout out new sections of gravel roads in the area to make the course slightly different each year.

 

2016 Funk Bottoms

 

This years route was the most challenging yet with lots of long gravel climbs and descents.  Due to several factors my riding this year has been way below my standards. With 7,500 feet of climbing I knew it was going to be a long day. This was the first year I did the 100K and not the 200K.  By doing the 100K it was easier for my finish line volunteers to record times and places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-race final instructions Photo: Katie Eno

 

Start of neutral rollout Photo: Katie Eno

 

The race started with a 2 mile neutral rollout until the first hill and then it was game on for everyone. Last year with good fitness I was able to finish second in the 200K, this year was another story.  I had suffered from some heart problems over the winter and have been helping take care of family members with serious health issues. I was more in the taking a scenic ride through rural Ohio than racing mode. The first part of the race to Killbuck was nice and easy rolling along with a few other riders.  When we pulled into Killbuck I suggested the other rides get water since it was hot and a long 33 miles to Glenmont with next water.  I had gone through one bottle of my favorite mixture of Hammer Nutrition Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem and Lemon-Lime HEED 

 

Even though my fitness was lacking knowing the course would be a big help. Hammer Nutrition once again sponsored the race with all riders getting some Hammer Gels and Endurolytes before the race.   Since I designed the course this year I knew on advance where the secret checkpoint would be along the way. The secret checkpoint would be between Killbuck and Glenmont and would have plenty of water and Hammer HEED.

 

Around mile 30 on the TWP 324 climb a fellow racer was walking his bike with a flat.  He had suffered from multiple flats and was out of tubes, so I stopped gave him on my spare tubes and pump.  This gave me a nice 5 minute break before continuing with the second half of the race.  This year the secret checkpoint was around mile 40 staffed from volunteers from the PCL-Ohio Chapter.

 

Stopping for a few minutes for water at the checkpoint did my legs in.  I started to get dead legs and cramps on the next climb. After slamming a bottle of water and a few endurolytes I felt better. The afternoon heat had kicked in and my day had become a just keep moving slowly and not stop affair.  I ended up finishing in 5:52 about an hour slower  than I would have like but not bad considering my lack of fitness this year.

 

Finished 66.7 miles in 5:52 Photo: Katie Eno

 

 

 

 

2016 Black Fork Gravel Grind

Saturday April 30th was the first year for the Black Fork Gravel Grind a 30 mile "race" in Loudonville, OH. At the start they said it was not a race. When you have 120 cyclist doing a mass start on a challenging course with a 12 pack of Four Stings on the line for the first finisher, it quickly turns into a race. I was originally going to pass on doing the race as I had not been doing much training.  I was suffering from heart arrhythmia and was just cleared by my cardiologist to begin training only two weeks ago.  Fellow 765 Racing team member Paul was unable to race and was able to transfer his entry to me.

Photo: Matt Simpson

Photo: Matt Simpson

 

 

The Black Fork was a short 30 mile race with roads that I was very familiar with.  Since I'm used to doing much longer races than 30 miles I knew there would be a fast pace from the start. Several of the roads have been on previous editions of the Funk Bottoms Gravel race. The first mile everyone stayed together on Wally Rd and when we made a left up the first climb on Valley Steam Rd several rides dropped back and a few took off. The roads continued to be big climb followed by fast descents with only a short break on the flats or asphalt before the climbing continued.

 

 

Photo: Matt Simpson

 

Photo: Matt Simpson

Photo: Katie Eno

Photo: Katie Eno

 

My Fueling plan would be to use Hammer Nutrition products that I use during all of my training and in racing.  I carried my usual mix of Perpetuem and HEED in my bottles. Around the half way point we came to a easy road section and it seemed like a good time to slow down switch out gloves and grab a Hammer Gel.

 

Photo: Katie Eno

 

 







I would end up about 2 minute back from the winner and finished in second place. I was hoping for a top 20 and was very pleased with my finish. Thanks again to Hammer Nutrition for the continued support.

Photo: Matt Simpson

Scouting Cleveland Cobbles

Its almost time for the Cleveland Cobbles ride.  I've been spend time riding and scouting out the brick roads in Cleveland.

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2015 Year in Review

 

 

2015 5867 Miles

 

January 346 Miles, longest 101.5 miles

 

February 224 miles, longest 103.9

Road Apple Roubaix 4:37 1st Single Speed

 

March 603 miles, longest 104.1

 

April 684 miles, longest 102.4

Amish Country Roubaix DNF

 

May 836 miles, longest 107.4

Mohican 100 12:05

 

June 655 miles, longest 70.1

Funk Bottoms Gravel 4:40 2nd place in shortened 200K

 

July 904 miles, longest 102

 

August 674 miles, longest 149

Gravel Worlds 10:47 29th Mens Open

 

September 400 Miles, longest 60.8

 

October 408 miles, longest 116.8

ROGR 8th place with Team 765 Racing

Cleveland Browns Dawg Pound 5k 18:15

NEOCX SSCX 7th Place, Cat5 17th Place

 

November 122 Miles, longest  25.7

Bills Bad Ass 50K trail run 6:20 30th overall

 

 

 

Road Apple Roubaix

 

Amish Country Roubaix

 

Mohican 100

 

Funk Bottoms Gravel

 

Gravel Worlds

 

The ROGR

 

NEOCX

 

Bills Bad Ass 50K

 

A crash in November at the fields in Broadview Hts practicing for the cross race would result in a grade 2 separated shoulder. The result of being off the bike for 6-8 weeks would bring an early end to my season.  I am looking forward to representing Hammer Nutrition again for 2016, and racing with 765 Racing.