Lead Wheel

That would be the metal. Here I have a photo I took of the lead Elite racers out of the grassy start chute and around the first turn before shooting into the forest. Note how I was sure to include all the sponsors. I couldn't get my front tire hub rebuilt in time for some reason, so I used the front tire from my wife's bike. She thought that romantic... that her spirit would be with me and I would do very well. Though only one of several variables the difference in the wheel was very noticeable. I think I like a slightly thinner front tire too. I weighed in only slightly lighter than last race. Am perplexed by my weight issues.

Though promises of rain loomed the WORS Reforestation Ramble was very successful. Alterations were made to the marathon format per the counties request I understood. Some muddy spots but very enjoyable. A brief shower during the Elite/Comp/Sport race was barely noticed. It was my best race and best finish to date this year. I finished the Rhinelander Marathon race last year with a similar field and the exact same result. Though not a full 20 miles (12.8 miles) the course worked to my advantage. The mass start left me far behind the leaders as we bunched up in back. I worked the terrain hard and kept pushing the entire way through. Small climbs, up shifting over the tops and flying down the other side. The last third of the race chasing and overtaking two other racers in my field. The one arbitrarily called 'Wally' held me up in some single track again. Not quite fast enough myself to get around him cleanly, I passed him in the double track. He fought hard to get in front of me before the next section of single track, but I wouldn't have it. Left him in my dust, or mud in this case. Though there is plenty of comradery among the racers since I really don't know any of them well I think it would be rude to mention their real names on my blog.

I'll have appointed a new designated nemesis for this year since the original will have a tough time catching up. Though positions in the series standing have jumped around drastically for some, I have stayed in 5th place after each race. I could very well finish 5th, if not 4th, for the season. Since the top three competitors seem a big step beyond most in my field that would be an accomplishment. The one I'll call 'Wally' set himself up pretty with his good finish in the Subaru Cup Omnium, in which I didn't compete.

I recently reconnected with an old friend of mine from Italy, which made me very happy. I was actually invited by another friend of mine to race in Korea this last weekend but couldn't afford the airfare. Looks like a beautiful course. Quite a mega event in itself. In the garden the holly has yet to take off. I was wondering if this tall small daisy like flower was actually a weed. My friend I'm helping has it in his garden, which is more like a nursery, and he was wondering the same thing. He promised me a slew of lilacs for our church garden.

Lots of race pictures to be up soon. I tried to splice my video clips together but you/tube failed to upload a spliced version so I had to upload each clip separately.

The local trails at Hoyt Park along the river have either been washed away or covered in a soft fine deep sand due to the flooding. Wish I had had my camera with me.