Siena – City of Enchantment

Siena, Italy is a well-preserved city of enchantment and wonder.  It’s first settlers date back to 900-400 BC.  Other than upgrading the store fronts to gelato joints, not much has changed.  The amount of effort put into keeping this city as it was hundreds of years ago — astonishing!  It truly is something right out of a fairy tale.

Hoofing Around the City

Although the main streets are crowded with tourists, it’s easy to find less populated side streets were the locals roam.  The city can be confusing to get around at first, but soon you will discover that you’re never truly lost.  Everything flows back into the Piazza del Campo, a large piazza where all the locals get together to hangout and/or see events.  From the Piazza, everything within the city walls can be walked to in about ten minutes.  If you’re a runner/biker looking to explore less populated routes, there is an abundance of beautiful country roads just outside the city as well.

Photo taken from our AirBnB balcony

The Contrade

Per Wikipedia:

A contrada (plural: contrade) is a district, or a ward, within an Italian city. The most well-known contrade are probably the 17 contrade of Siena whose representatives race on horseback in the Palio di Siena, run twice each year. Each is named after an animal or symbol, and each has a long history and complicated heraldic and semi-mythological associations.

Not only is each contrada its own district, each has its own museum, social hall, and fountain.  Finding all seventeen fountains becomes a magical treasure hunt and offers an exciting way to see the city.  These small, tight notched communities within the city of Siena gives this large metropolitan area a small-town aura.

What to see while in Siena

Churches Galore!

There is an abundance of awe-inspiring Churches to explore from the Duomo di Siena to the Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico and many lesser known Churches scattered around the city.  Make sure to dress appropriately for the Churches; men can’t wear shorts, ladies can’t wear short skirts or anything revealing shoulders.

Museums and other attractions

Other than the Churches, there are many museums to venture into as well.  If you’re already seeing the Duomo di Siena, I suggest getting the OPA Pass which includes everything surrounding the Duomo as well.  The Santa Maria della Scala is worth the cost alone.  For a more detailed list of attractions, I invite you to visit the site of my favorite travel blogger, Megan Collier – What You’ve Been Missing.

Nighttime Strolls

Taking a stroll through the city after the sun goes down makes you feel as if you are living in a different era.  At times, you’ll feel as if you have the city to yourselves as many tourists are already off to the bed.  The city is completely safe, so don’t be afraid to venture down dark alleys to reveal the magic this city offers.  Also, make sure to look up every once in a while to view all the intricate details of the buildings above.

Where to Stay

Accommodations vary from budget AirBnB’s to five star hotels.  Personally, I always prefer an AirBnB equipped with a kitchen.  Not only does this keep cost down for the accommodation itself, but gives the ability to prepare meals during your stay.  However, I understand the comfort of a hotel with room service, housekeeping, and a flexible check-in/check-out time.  My rule of thumb is if it’s only one night, hotel; extended stays, AirBnB.

Photo taken from our AirBnB balcony

Giving personal information

Please note that is it Italian law for guests to provide personal information like address, date of birth, and passport number to their hosts/hostels/hotels.  Hosts take a huge risk by not asking for this information which comes with hefty fine if caught.  However, since this information is required, I would suggest taking extra care when choosing an accommodation.

Eating out on the town

Choosing a restaurant

This is why you came —to eat!  Within the city, there are many, many restaurants to choose from.  There are couple of resources I like to use to select a restaurant.  First, TripAdvisor is king when it comes to restaurant reviews in Europe.  Don’t completely trust TripAdvisior though.  Ask yourself, does it look like there are locals at the restaurant, or mainly tourists?  The locals know the best places to eat, so follow their laid.  Also, if it looks trendy, in my experience that equates to underwhelming meals at overpriced rates.  However, if the restaurant looks like it hasn’t been remodeled for a couple of centuries, you’re in for a treat.

What to expect

Unless you’re at a pizza joint, menus are typically split up into antipasta – starters,  primi piatti - main course, secondi piatti - second courses, contorni – sides, and dolci -desserts. 

Primi piatti is where you will find all your pastas.  You can’t go wrong with gnocchetti or risotto which you are most likely familiar.  A pasta special to Siena is pici — a thick pasta that resembles fat spaghetti.  Most places will have pici cacio e pepe (pici with cheese and pepper) — sure to be a delight.

Primi piatti is where you’ll find meat entrees.  Admittedly, I haven’t explored too much since the main course is always enough, but anything with wild boar is going to be amazing.

Dolci for me is often tiramisu — no one restaurant does it the same.  Another treat is almond cookies.  If they bring small glasses and a bottle of brown-tinted liquid in it, you’re in for an experience.  This is vin santo, a 16% dessert wine.  It is absolutely delightful, so don’t shy away!

Antipasta and contorni are self-explanatory, so I won’t waste your time going into detail.

As far as drinks go, I strongly recommend ordering the house wine which typically comes in half or full liters.  If you want water, unless you ask for tap water, this is an extra charge.  I recommend ordering sparkling water — it’s okay guys, nobody will judge you whilst in Italy so indulge!

Eating on a budget

Want to enjoy Italiano but are on a tight budget?  Meal prices can be kept low by shopping the local grocery store, Conad City.  Looking for a quick Italian meal at the quarter of the price of restaurants, and have a kitchen to cook?  Here’s an easy Italiano diner!  Pick a Conad brand pasta of your choosing, and pair with a Conad brand sauce like the Pesto Rosso or Pesto alla Genovese.  Add a freshly made baguette, and a bottle of wine (hint: the best & cheapest wines are on the bottom shelves) —amazing Italiano cuisine — prego!  Oh, and the store-bought pizzas are amazing as well!

Other options

Although not an Italian cuisine, I cannot leave out how good the Indian food is ANYWHERE in Europe.  If it has “kebob” in the name, no burgers on the menu (this is key), and the staff are Indian themselves — prepare to have your mind blown!  These are fast food style restaurants, so expect to leave with a full wallet as well as a full belly.

Best places to eat

Looking for a couple “go to” restaurants?  Here a list of my top choices in a couple of categories!

Sit Down Dinner
Osteria Il Carroccio - Via Casato Di Sotto, 32

Quick Lunch
Prètto Prosciutteria - Via dei Termini, 4

Sit Down Lunch
Osteria Trombicche - Via delle Terme, 66

Quick Pizza
Le Prinipesse - Via S. Pietro, 49

Sit Down Pizza
Il Pomodorino - Via Camporegio, 13

Gelato
Gelateria Kopakabana - Via dei Rossi, 52

Indian (Kebob)
Siena Chicken Kebab - Via Camollia, 23

Drinks with a view
Vivace Pizza & Griglia - Via Stalloreggi, 62

Transportation

Getting to and from Siena can be challenging as there is no airport within the city.  The two main modes of transportation are train and bus from Rome or Florence.  Taking the bus is the most direct route of getting into the city.  The bus schedule is difficult to find online, so your best bet is to just go the bus station with your baggage and ask for the next available bus.  Buses run so often, you won’t be waiting too long.  Siena isn’t very big, so no matter where your bus drops you off in the city, it won’t be far from your accommodation.

Although I can’t promise these links will be relevant when you are traveling, here are some bus company options at the time of this writing:

Siena/Rome

• Baltour
• Flixbus

Siena/Florence

• Tiemme SpA
• Look for routes under extraurban
• 131R A is Siena -> Florence (rapid route w/ less stops)
• 131R R is Florence -> Siena (rapid route w/ less stops)

Breathtaking Siena

Siena is a breathtaking city with a lot to offer to anyone wishing to explore it.  Ask enough of your friends, and chances are you know somebody that has been to Siena.  More than likely, they will exclaim “I love Siena!” and will be happy to give you a more intimate viewpoint of the city.  I strongly recommend visiting this enchanting city yourself, as words cannot explain all its amazement.

Photos!

For a large array of random photos taken around the city, I invite you to visit my photo album Siena – City of Enchantment.  Of special interest, you’ll find several 360 degree photos!  Prego!

Living the Dream - My Crazy Lifestyle of being an Athlete with a World Traveling Family

Somehow, I have found myself sitting in my AirBnB in Siena, Italy on a cool, rainy afternoon with some time on my hands. Since it has been more than two years since I've published a blog, I figured now would be a good time. So why not give a quick update of my life, shall we?

That Biking Thing

I suppose I will start with biking - since that is the basis of this blog. Yes, I am still an avid mountain bike endurance athlete. That won't be changing for a very long time. Every year I continue to exceed prior results.  It feels good to be thirty-five and still getting faster — I've always been a late bloomer you know.  To ramp things up in 2018, I'm signed up for a six day stage in Spain during the Spring.

She Carried Him Nine Months — I'll Get the Rest

Training has changed drastically since now a days I have a training partner.  My two (nearly three) year old Nolan is usually in tow.  As an athlete Dad, I do what I have to do to get the job done.  Climbing up a mountain road with a toddler in tow isn't going to win me any "greatest father" awards, but with a trailer featuring a five point harness and roll cage he's safer than I am.  I also pick times of the day that are less busy, and select routes that it are less populated with vehicles.  You're gonna see the Instagram pictures, so figured I'd ease your fears.

Digital Nomad Extraordinaire

Another drastic change in my lifestyle is becoming a digital nomad — a person who works "remotely" via laptop and internet connection.  To be fair, I have blogged about traveling while working in various locations in the past .  What's new is the level has now reached a status worthy of  the "digital nomad" title.  Since my last blog alone, I have been (and going) to the following location:

• Lisbon, Portugal - One month, Fall 2016
• Milan, Italy - One week following Lisbon, Fall 2016
• Las Vegas, NV - One month, Winter 2016
• Miami, FL - One week, Winter 2017
• Santa Barbara, CA - One month, Spring 2017
• Oregon Coast; Missoula, MT; Livingston, MT - One month, Summer 2017
• Siena, Italy - One month, Fall 2017 (at time of writing)
• Palm Spring, CA - One month, Winter 2017
• Córdoba, Spain - One month, Spring 2018

Gotta Keep Moving

My wife Megan, Nolan, and I travel roughly half the year. This means when we are "home" in Golden, CO; we are scrambling to get things done for our next trip. This includes preparing our home as AirBnB hosts - an incredible endeavor that helps finance our traveling lifestyle.
Somehow, with the help of an incredible wife, I am still able to get in the required training needed to be an elite athlete.  And you wonder why I haven't blogged in two years!

#WorldTravelingFamily

So there you have it.  Digital nomad, husband to a travelhoic flight attendant wife, and athlete dad of #AdventureNolan.  I lead an extremely fortunate lifestyle, and my goal is to embrace every day I have.  Live, love, and travel! To keep up the craziness, follow me on Instagram -> @nathancolliermtbr

Race Report: Salida Big Friggin Loop (SBFL)

A Nervous Start

After racing for several years, I don't tend to get too nervous for races anymore, but the Salida Big Friggin Loop (SBFL) was different.  The SBFL is part of the Colorado Endurance Series, a series of bike races that have an underground feel to them.  The field sizes are extremely limited (most are no more than 74 riders), they are completely self supported (no aid stations), and there are no course markings so you are dependent upon a GPS to find your way.  No registration fee, no prizes, just a bunch of hardcore riders looking for bragging rights.

Nervously Waiting for the Race to Start (Mr. Kerkove on the left)

The thought of doing a self supported race made me nervous enough, but the fact that the loop was from Salida to Buena Vista (47.5 miles) and back to Salida (45 miles) with zero civilization between the two towns was terrifying to me.  From the time I signed up for the race in December, I couldn't stop obsessing over this race.  I lost many hours of sleep, but none more than the night before the race.  After months of obsessing though, as soon as I pushed my first pedal stroke to start the race, all of the anxiety faded away as my mind and body entered race mode.

The Race

The SBFL comes in two flavors; long loop and short loop.  I decided to do the short loop since this was said to be much easier to navigate and closer to the distance I train for.  The "short" loop was 89.3 miles originally, but days before the race we all found out that an optional segment of singletrack could be added.  The optional segment would take riders on Cotton Wood Trail and drop them into downtown Salida.  With this segment the short loop would become 92.5 miles, and anyone that took it would receive a 100 minute time bonus.  I decided this was the route for me.

Salida to Buena Vista

It was a 6:30am sharp start in Salida, and it was already getting warm out.  The start was the most enjoyable start I've ever done.  We all rode together neutrally for a good hour giving me time to chat with my racing buddies Ben Parman and Jeff Kerkove.  Both of these guys are fast as hell, and both were doing the long loop so I need not worry about them.  After the long neutral roll out, Jeff picked up the pace.  Ben and a couple other riders joined Jeff, and they soon pulled away from my still very sore/stiff legs from the Gunnison Growler I had raced two weeks prior.  Not to mention I was tired from not sleeping much the night before; luckily downing two Huma Chia Energy Gels in a row woke me right up.  I didn't try to chase.  This race wasn't about competing with anyone else but myself.  I put my head down and held a steady pace that I kept all day.

Neutral Rollout

The first climb out of Salida was a huge one starting with pavement (which was part of the neutral start) that turned into dirt road (were Jeff picked up the pace) and into the singletrack of the Colorado Trail which is ridden until you head east into Buena Vista.  Although I rode alone where the pavement ended and the dirt road started all the way to the Colorado Trail, once we hit singletrack I soon started picking riders off that may have pushed a little too hard early on chasing Jeff and Ben in the lead group.

The soreness/stiffness in my legs never went away the whole race, but it also never got worse.  I wasn't able to push hard, but at the distance I was riding pushing hard would have been a bad idea anyway.  I held a strong, steady pace on the Colorado Trail and just enjoyed the ride.  There was so much good singletrack to me ridden during this segment, and views were absolutely breathtaking.  It was easy to forget that I was racing at times.  It just felt like I was out for a big ride.  It's easy to get that feeling when you ride a bike as enjoyable as my SCOTT Spark 900.  Damn, I love that bike!

Once I made it to Buena Vista I made a stop at their local bike shop, Boneshaker Cycles, who had kindly setup a small aid station in the shop with water, sports drinks, and snacks.  The shop owner (I presume) let me know that I was the fourth rider to stop by, and I knew at least two riders in front of me (Jeff and Ben) were doing the long loop.  Therefore there was only one racer that could potentially be racing the short loop like I was ahead of me.   I filled up on water and was off right at 4 hours 30 minutes.

Back to Salida

The ride out of Salida started with the last bit of singletrack until hitting the optional Cottonwood segment near the end.  Honestly, I was happy to see dirt road after taking so much abuse on the Colorado Trail.  There was a lot of variation of "dirt" road to be ridden.  Most could be done with any vehicle, some only by a good all wheel drive vehicle (SUV/Truck), and some only could be ridden by an off road vehicle such as an ATV.

It was during a long, gradual, dirt road climb (the kind that could be done with any vehicle) that I felt myself losing focus.  I was 65 miles into the race I needed something more than an energy gel/sports drink.  I decided to take a KIND bar break.  It was one of their newest bars, a dark chocolate almond mint.  This bar is good any day of the week, but when you are deep into an endurance race it tastes AMAZING!!!  It was just what I needed to rejuvenate myself for the last part of the race.

It wasn't too long after my short break that I saw another rider far off in the distance.  Little by little on the gradual dirt climb I was pulling him in.  I wasn't sure if he was a racer or not since he wasn't wearing a hydration pack, and had on a wool athletic t-shirt with baggy shorts. I don't mean to discriminant as not all of use shave our legs and wear a team kit, but it just threw me off a little bit.  It wasn't until we reached a downhill section were I was able to still spin on my 2x11 drivetrain and he ran out of gears on his 1x11 that I caught up to him.

Once I caught up to this lone rider, we rode for a couple of minutes together both clearly happy to see anyone else out there.  I can't recall his name, but he was really nice guy from Durango and riding super strong.  He had hung with Jeff and Ben most of race; very impressive knowing how strong those two ride.  I could tell he was a little burnt hanging with those two beasts. He split ways with them when they turned off for the long loop and he turned for the short loop; thus he was the lone racer ahead of me when I left Buena Vista.  As we entered the last big climb, I was feeling strong.

To Cottonwood and Beyond

The last big climb was on a rutted ATV dirt road through aspen trees.  I upped my pace as much as I could without completely blowing up.  I didn't look back until the top, and by that time the lone rider was no where to be seen.  I didn't relax though as there was still the optional Cottonwood trail segment that he could still catch up to me on.  I knew I was about 15 minutes away from the trailhead so I downed a raspberry Huma Gel that contains 25mg of caffeine so it would hit my system right when I entered the singletrack.

After what seemed to be the longest 15 minutes in my life, I finally hit the Cottonwood trailhead.  At this point, the caffeine hit my system just as planned and I was ready to give it my all.  As stated early, the optional Cottonwood segment would give a 100 minute time bonus.  Jeff mentioned at the beginning of the race that the segment probably would take 60 minutes, so if it went as planned I would drop 40 minutes from my time.  Without taking the optional segment, you could finish the race in 20 minutes.  In other words, to make the optional section worthwhile I needed to do it in at least 80 minutes.

In the end, I didn't do the optional Cottonwood segment in 80, nor 60 minutes.  Between the caffeine and the adrenaline knowing I may be in 1st place, I sprinted the last segment in 55 minutes taking the win!

A Good Day on the Bike

I can't tell you how amazing it felt to take the win.  I went out there to race my race, and my race alone.  What I ended up with was a sub 9 hour finish over 92.5 miles, and 11,444 feet of climbing to take the win!  I found out that most riders, both long loop and short loop, skipped the last Cottonwood segment because they ran out of water.  Did I mention it got up to the upper 90's!?  Running out of water wasn't an issue for me as the over planner that I am had a 100oz hydration pack, and three extra bottles of water in anticipation for the hot weather.  Hell, I even dumped a water bottle during the second half since I knew I wouldn't need it and it was weighing me down.  There was one other person who did the optional Cottonwood, my buddy Ben Parman to take the long loop win!!!  Congrats to Ben on his big finish as well!

Ben & me on our Makeshift Podium!

Now that's a damn good day on the bike!  Happy Trails!

Celebratory Beer & Burrito

Race Report: 2016 Gunnison Growler

I said it to myself: break six.  I said to my friends: break six.  I repeated it over and over again in my head on race morning: break six.  In case you're not catching my lingo, break six means getting a time of under six hours in a race.  That was my only goal for the Gunnison Growler, and it turned out to be quite a lofty goal.

Race Morning & Start

It was a cold morning in Gunnison for the Growler.  Nothing unusual there as it's always a cold morning in Gunnison on Memorial day weekend.  Without even a countdown, the shotgun to start the race shot off startling everyone.  After a neutral start, the race began on a steep hill lovingly called "Kill Hill".  I paced myself perfectly to keep my heart rate down on that first big climb, but it still wasn't enough to keep me from overheating.  I was wearing a skull cap, and by the time I was nearly to the top I desperately needed to take it off.  I used a trick I've done many times.  I took off my helmet while riding uphill, held my helmet in my teeth, and went to take off my skull cap.  Everything would have went smoothly if I had remembered to take off my sunglasses first.  Unfortunately, I did not and my sunglasses went flying off.  After dismounting, grabbing my sunglasses, and hopping back on my bike I was left with quite a bit a ground to cover to catch up to the front.  I knew right then that it was going to be a long race.

Climbing "Kill Hill" Post Skull Cap Mishap

In the Thick of It

Even with my skull cap mishap, I was feeling pretty good.  In years past, the race would quickly transition from dirt road into singletrack making it hard to pass, but this year they started it with a much longer dirt road climb section so I was able to make quick work passing a large amount of racers.  I soon found myself within eye shot of Jeff Kerkove, a well known crusher in the endurance field.  I tried my best to catch up to Jeff to congratulate him on his recent engagement to another local crusher, Karen Jarchow (KJ), but the closest I got was still a bike length away.

Photo by Matt Burt

Even at that distance, I knew if I was keeping up with Jeff I was on a good pace.  I was able to hold on for about an hour before he finally rode out of sight.  That was enough to put in a good position before heading into Skull Pass, a mean two mile lollipop loop attached to the big thirty two mile loop.  Even for the best riders, there are some short sections where hike-a-bike is required on Skull Pass.  In years past, any time I stepped off my bike to hike my heart rate would sky rocket and I'd be winded for a couple of minutes.  This year though I have been hiking quite a bit with my wife Megan and my son Nolan, a twenty pound one year old, strapped to my back.  I was surprised that not only was I not winded, but I was running the hike-a-bike sections!

Photo by Dave Kozlowski

End of Lap One & Beginning of Two

After Skull Pass, I was at 1:40 and thought that if I could finish the first thirty two mile lap at 2:40, I would be sitting pretty good.  To my disappointment, at 2:40 I was still on lap one, and at 2:45, 2:50, 2:55.... Finally at 2:58 I rolled through the line to finish lap one.  After a two minute pit stop to shed some layers I started my second lap right at three hours.

Photo by Matt Burt

Endurance racing can be very emotional in the middle of a race when you still have hours to go, and I was feeling down on myself for not making lap one in 2:40.  I was still pushing, but I wasn't feeling overly motivated to push.  I thought that maybe I just needed a good shot of calories, so I downed a strawberry Huma Gel.  That did the trick, because by the time I got to Skull Pass for round two I was in a much better state of mind.  I completed Skull Pass just a couple minutes under 4:40.  Doing the math in my head (which is harder than you think four hours into an endurance race), I calculated that if I completed the last couple of miles about the same time I did on lap one I could still break six.  Right at 4:45 I downed a raspberry Huma Gel that has 25mg of caffeine so it would hit my system right at the last hour mark.  It was game time!

Photo by Matt Burt

The Last Hour

The last couple of miles of the Growler is a lot of mean technical sections and climbing.  You have to work hard for every inch.  I knew the pain that was coming, and I was ready to take the damage.  I over concentrated on the technical sections to clear everything I could while still pushing myself into blurred vision on the climbs.

Tech Section in Last Few Miles
Photo by Dave Kozlowski

I gritted my teeth, and counted every second.  Right at 5:57 I started the final descent.  Any concern for personal safety was out the window.  I knew I needed to complete that last section like it was an Enduro run.  After a brief, but scary couple of minutes of descending the finish line was in site.  I sprinted the last mile like a mad man.  With my head down, going full throttle I crossed the line at 5:59:40.  I broke six!

Full Throttle to the Line!

Mission Complete!

This was my third attempt at racing the Growler counter clockwise, the first two times ending in disappointing DNFs.  That made this victory even sweeter.  I was greeted by cheering team mates that I'm fortunate enough to call my good friends with hugs, and high fives.  I was also greeted by a sip of Colorado made Fireside Bourbon, and a growler for the Growler of Barrels & Bottles brew.  Hanging out while celebrating with friends made all the pain worthwhile.  I love my team, Pedal Pushers KIND Racing!

Seconds After Crossing the Line - Mission Complete!

Race Report: True Grit 100

Ah yes, the True Grit 100, a mountain biker's version of March Madness.  When I stepped out of the motel door at 6am in St George, Utah it was lightly misting.  I shivered all the way to the race start located in the neighboring town of Santa Clara.  After a winter full of multiple colds and trips back to the Midwest so family could ogle over my incredibly adorable ginger-son, my only goal for the day was to finish while having fun.

I was still shivering when the race started at 7am.  Being that cold may have been why I started out so fast with the head of the pack.  After a good half hour of pushing my heart into the red zone (aka zone 5), my legs told me it was going to be one of those days.  Once again, like every first race I've had for last several years, I was feeling a bit over trained.  What can I say, I'm really good at beating myself up during winter training; perhaps a little too good.  Despite cutting back on training, it still wasn't enough.   I really needed an extra week of recovery.  Just something to remember for next year.

Two things can happen when you're in a very long endurance race and your legs are telling you "not today"; A) You can accept that it just isn't going to be a "competitive day" and back off early so you can at least enjoy the ride B) You can bury yourself and have a miserable day.  One way or another, you ain't landing a top spot.  During the first lap, I wisely choose option 'A'.  I may have got passed a lot, but I always had a good enough gap to enjoy the downhills.  The True Grit has so many oh so good downhills too.  Lots of fun was had the first lap.

I completed lap one in around four hours, and started lap two feeling good when it happened; mountain bike race purgatory!  What is mountain bike race purgatory you ask?  It's when you have one or more racers who are fast enough to pass you on the uphills, and then ruin you downhills with their lack of skills.  Sure, you may finally pass them on the downhill, but by that time most of the downhill goodness is over.  There was two of them riding together in my case.  After they ruined one of my downhills, I couldn't let it happen again.  Between the gap I put on them on the last downhill I was able to salvage and pushing the pace on the uphills, I was able to ward them off for all the good stuff.

All the pushing the pace on the uphills to get myself out of mountain bike race purgatory put me quite a bit over the edge.  Luckily though, there is a long rolling section between the good trails in the True Grit 100.  I was pretty gassed, so I very slowly pedaled through this section.  When you're that gassed, that's when experience really comes in.  I've done enough endurance races to know that when you feel like you can't go on, you still have more in you then what you think.  It's a nice metaphor to life.  You can't quit when the chips are down; that's when you just have to suffer through and believe it's going to get better.  It did get better, and I was smiling again by the time I reached the last bit of singletrack goodness.

Any day you can complete 10k of climbing in 100 miles (85 miles technically on the Garmin) is a victory in my opinion.  Having beers while chatting with new and old friends makes it even sweeter.  I can officially check the whole True Grit 100 off my bucket list.  After a couple weeks of training in Vegas/Phoenix, I'll be back in Colorado preparing for the Gunnision Growler.  Come ride and be warm with me if you can!

Finding the Balance

Three, the number of colds I’ve had since beginning training in November.  The last one lasted one and half weeks, and took me off my bike completely during what would have been a tough training block.  Years prior, either two things would have happened; a) I would have buried myself trying to train through it b) I would have lost my mind from stressing out about not training.  This year is different though… it needed to be different.

A Bad Balance

I put a lot of pressure on myself the previous race season to succeed.  I had the notion in my head that I had to prove to everyone that having a baby (my son Nolan was born in January 2015) wasn’t going to end my racing career.  I pushed hard to compete, and ended up having the most successful race season to date.  It came with great sacrifices though.  Sacrifices that were far from worth it.  I defended my training so fiercely, that I pushed away my family.  The worst I can remember is a time I had just brought my wife home from the hospital after having complications from child birth.  She was tired and desperately needed to rest, but in my mind I needed to train more.  I insisted on hopping on the trainer rather than letting my wife rest after a long day.  That is only one of many times I let my training take too high of a priority.  Biking used to be my number one stress reliever, but suddenly it became my number one stress.  I had become a monster.

Finding Myself in Spain

The month I spent in Sevilla, Spain from mid-October to mid-November may have been the healthiest thing I’ve done in the last six years for myself mentally.  I had my victorious race year, but there was no enjoyment in my success.  My marriage was in shambles, and I knew that this trip was more than just a vacation.  I needed to re-analysis what was most important in my life, and try to fix the damage I had caused.  I elected to stay off a bike for the trip, and just enjoy life with my family.  Letting go felt good, and for the first time all year I felt alive again.  I thought about the previous year, and couldn’t remember one time I enjoyed being on the bike.  It had become too much about competing and less about the joy of being on a bike.

A New Path

I contemplated quitting biking altogether.  When I got back on a bike for the first time in nearly two months in November, I knew biking needed to once again become a stress reliever, not my reason to stress.  I needed to rediscover my love for biking, but not let it consume me.  Biking needed to make me a better person, not an intolerable tyrant.

Finding the Balance

Between sickness, and traveling to see family, I have taken more training days off than I have in my whole endurance racing career.  Will it make me slower this season?  I don’t really care.  Life happens, and if I stress myself out over not training so much that it affects my mood which affects my home life then maybe I shouldn’t be training at all.  Doing badly at a race isn’t nearly as bad as letting myself become the monster I was.  Who knows, maybe this new stress free lifestyle will make me faster in the long run.  I don’t know if I’ll make it on the podium this year, but I do know that I’ll be a lot happier.  I also know my family enjoys, and deserves a better me.

Product Review: Primal Helix Kit

As an endurance racer who competes nationally, I have spent some very long hours in some of the most unfriendly conditions.  Just last year alone, I raced 70 miles in the wet and hot conditions of Asheville, NC, several races in the dry and hot climate of Colorado, and one of the hottest weekends in the already humid North Dakotas during the Tatanka 100.  The temperature during the Tatanka 100 reached 96.8 degrees!  On top of that, I've trained in the cold, snow, sleet, rain, and whatever mother nature could throw at me.  When you're out punishing yourself in the elements, the last thing you want to worry about is an uncomfortable bib and jersey (kit).  I have tried many kits in my day, but none have impressed me more then the Primal Helix Kit.  In this review, I will tell exactly why you need to be in a Helix Kit too.

Primal's Grown Up Side

When you think of Primal, you may think of all the fun and sometimes hilarious jerseys like the jersey that looks like you're in a tux!  Don't let these fun club jerseys fool you though; Primal has a whole another side of high end apparel for the die-hard.  This is the realm that the Helix Kit falls in.

The Fit

Nothing is more humiliating then having to size up on a kit.  When your buddy weighs a buck twenty and has to get a medium, you know something is wrong.  Primal kits fit just how you would EXPECT a size to fit.  You wear a medium t-shrit and jeans, you're going to fit nicely in a medium bib and jersey.  That stands true for even their race cut (or what they call Pro Tour Fit) unlike other brands where you can hardly breathe in the jersey and the bibs are cutting off you circulation.

The Helix Jersey

Every single panel on the Helix Jersey is designed for a specific purpose.   The front and back panels are made of Primal's SLR Ion fabric.  This fabric breathes fantastically, is super antibacterial so you can stand your own smell fifty miles in, and has amazing moisture wicking capabilities to keep you dry, and stretches comfortably around the contours of your body without feeling constricting.  The side panels and two panels strategically placed on the upper back are made of Primal's AE Elite mesh fabric to allow even more airflow in the most critical areas.  Lastly, the sleeves are made of the Primal's Z92  fabric which stays tight for better aerodynamics without feeling constricting, is ultra moisture wicking for all the sweat coming with your armpits, and an extra bonus the texture looks super cool!  Even better, after a long year of racing and training, the sleeves still fit great!  No wind sock sleeves after only a couple of uses like other brands.  The zipper is full length exposed YKK which is super easy to zip/unzip even with full fingered gloves.  There are also three decent sized pockets in the back that are super easy to put stuff in and take stuff out.  For a guy who races without a hydration pack and a water bottle in his back middle pocket like myself, I can't stress enough how important this is: especially during a race!

The Helix Bib

Like the Helix Jersey, the Helix Bib is made up of several fabrics to ensure they will be best pair of bibs you've ever worn.  The majority of the bib is made of Primal's Vero fabric.  I personally love this fabric.  It has a little more thickness then other brands which translates to great compression fit, and can take a fall without tearing!  It's just enough thickness to wear with knee or leg warmers without having your crutch freeze on on cold days, but not too thick that it doesn't work great on the hottest days.  Even during the Tatanka 100 at 90+ as mentioned above, the bib felt great!  Once again, Primal uses their Z92 fabric where most of your heat dispenses out of your lower back.  The Z92 fabric is also found around the leg bands on the standard Helix, but is updated on the Helix 2.0 (see below).  The bib straps are made of Primal's comfortable Promesh fabric for a great fit.  All seams are flatlock stitched so you won't feel threads digging into you after a couple of hours on the saddle.  Most importantly, Primal's HX8 chamois is by far the most comfortable chamois you'll ever use.  It's entirely seamless, and so soft and smooth you may want a blanket made of it.  The chamois is also super antibacterial for those times you're in pinch during a stage race and you have to re-wear... yeah, they are that antibacterial.

UPDATE: Helix 2.0!

The Helix 2.0 Kit is everything I love about the Helix kit, but with laser cut arm and legs bands comprised of Primal's Pri-Flex fabric infused with silicone micro-dot technology for a no slip non-constricting tight fit!  Also, the stitching on the chamois has been updated as well for even more comfort.  It's not like I noticed the stitching before, but hey, I'll take it!  Just icing on the cake for the already awesome Helix Kit!

The Ride

It doesn't matter the weather, the Helix Kit feels amazing.  It's so comfortable it seriously feels like you're riding in the nude, minus a nasty draft of course.  You know that a kit is great when you don't even notice it's there even after being on the saddle for five plus hours.  NO discomfort from fabric that's too tight, NO threads from bad stitches being engraved into your skin, NO saddle sores from an inferior chamois design, NO bib straps digging into you, NO overheating even on the hottest and longest rides, NO fumbling to get items in and out of jersey pockets, NO fighting your zipper while unzipping and zipping back up in the middle of a race.... NO compromises!  ALL comfort ALL the time in ALL conditions.

Primal Customer Service

It's clear that the Helix Kit is by far my favorite kit on the market, but as a team manager who deals with a lot of sponsors I can tell that no product is good enough if the customer service is below par.  Primal is located in Denver, Colorado with employees who ride the same trails as I do.  Through my interactions with Primal, I am proud to call a few of them my friends.  The customer service is absolutely outstanding.  This is especially true through the customization process with an amazing set of representatives and designers to put your vision onto fabric like you had envisioned.  Let me tell you, nothing is more infuriating then team kits with sponsor logos that are messed up, and coloring that is way off from what you thought it would look like.  The Primal custom team will help you through each step of the process to ensure your satisfaction with the final product.  

Final Thoughts

I'm not alone in my opinion that the Primal Helix Kit is the best.  Just look at other endurance mountain teams like Topeak Ergon, Feedback Sports, and 92fifty who love their Helix kits as well.  If you're looking for a kit that can take some abuse and stays comfortable for hours on end, you better get yourself a Primal Helix Kit!

Find out more about Primal Wear Apparel on the web @ http://www.primalwear.com/

2015 Endurance Season Analysis

If I had to grade myself for the entire season, I'd say I was a solid B.  Let's go over my season races.

• Pisgah 111k - 15th Men's Open
• Not a very impressive season opener, but it was new climate/terrain for me. I also could have been a little fresher going into it.  I think I'm pushing myself too hard during weeks 8 & 9 of my training plan which is putting me into the red zone so badly that even a three week taper isn't enough.  This will be addressed in 2016. Grade: C

• Gunnison Full Growler - 23rd Overall
• With only a week after the Pisgah, my legs were still not 100%.  I could have used more recovery time between races.  This could have been a top ten for me.  I still did well considering. Grade: B-

• ERock Sunrise-Sunset (4 person coed) - 1st 4 person coed
• This was a shorter XC type racing style which isn't my forte, but did pretty awesome anyhow. Grade: A

• Bailey Hundo - 14th Overall
• I felt pretty good at this one, but I could have been closer to race weight.  The fact that I was beat by a 50-59 class rider when I'm suppose to be a open/pro class rider... needs improvement. Grade: B

• Tatanka 100 - 3rd Overall
• At race weight, and felt solid.  Was able to hold an impressive pace all day for eight hours and had some left to push hard at the end.  I was still forty-five minutes behind the leader, so obviously I'm still not there yet, but showing strong improvement.  This will be the benchmark for all races in 2016. Grade: A

• Laramie Enduro - 22nd Overall
• I'm not going to sugar coat it, I sucked (in my humble opinion) at my last endurance race.  My legs were stiff from the beginning of the race to the end.  I figured I'd push the pace or die trying since I had nothing to lose.  I blow up with twenty miles to go.  Tatanka just took a lot out of me and I slacked at taking care of myself for this last race.  Alright, maybe 22nd overall isn't so bad, but it was way below par for myself.  On a positive note, it still didn't hurt worst then any one race I did last year. Grade: D

Thoughts

I feel like this season was the season I was supposed to have in 2014.  I know I've been dwelling over last years' performance a lot on this blog, but let me be candid about it one last time.  My poor performance in 2014 fueled a fire inside me that I could not contain.  I put myself through hell training for this season.  I applied so much stress on myself that it felt like it was consuming me.  I put my heart, soul, blood and tears into being an athlete.  Having an entire season crumble like that left a scar within me that I can't describe, and can't expect anyone else to understand.  It left me doubting my abilities, and questioned if I should even continue racing.

I can't put into words how relieved I am to have a successful season.  It's like having a weight lifted off my shoulders.  There was a lot of confidence lost that needed to regained, and I feel like it took this season just to get back on track.  I'm feeling very good about my future career in the open/pro class and I finally feel like I belong there.  I'm already looking forward to next year!

Goals & Plans for 2016

I'm gravitating more towards the longer races these days.  Races that are 75-100 miles in length with 8k-10k of climbing are becoming my niche, therefore that will be my focus for next year.  

These longer races take a lot out me though, so I need to be better about spacing them apart.  A minimum of three weeks is required for proper recovery between races.  I also need to do better about recovering.  One thing I learned this season is that race weight is important, but not if it sacrifices recovering properly.  Longer spaces between races should give me more time to keep the weight down as well.

My plan moving forward is to race cyclocross up to mid October.  Rather than doing a more traditional base training session,  I will use cyclocross season as base training by sprinkling in some longer rides on weekends I'm not racing.  From mid-October to mid-November I will be in Spain with my family.  While in Spain I plan on running for my main training and may do some weight lifting.  Once back from Spain I'll do a couple more weeks of cyclocross racing before going right into my 100k training plan some time in December.  My first endurance mountain bike will be True Grit in mid March, and I'm strongly considering doing the Old Man Bike Rally again in February.  After True Grit, I will keep things going with a race or two every month until August.

Race Report: Tatanka 100

The Tatanka 100 quickly become a race I wanted to 'complete' to a race I wanted to 'compete' in when I learned it had been shortened from it's original 100 mile length.  After successfully completing the Bailey Hundo, which had similar mileage and climbing (10,000) with a top fifteen finish, I knew I could do well at the Tatanka if I felt as good I did at Bailey.  To ensure I went into the Tatanka in prime form, I lost a couple of pounds and decided to drop out of the Firecracker 50 midway to save myself for the big point-to-point in South Dakota.  I figured if I could complete the Bailey Hundo in under seven hours, I should be able to break eight hours at Tatanka which had a lot more singletrack.  What I didn't realize was just how brutal the riding was going to be.

The start of the race was at Mount Rushmore.  This was by far the coolest start of a race I've ever done.  Admittedly though, I was too much in race mode to truly take in the historical monument.  After a long road lead out, I was able to be the fourth to the singletrack.  Typically, races start out with a climb to spread out the field.  This race started with a fast descent. It made things interesting to say the least.  Let's just say I was very happy to be at the front of the pack.

In front on the lead out
Photo by Les Heiserman

I was in the lead group along with a friend, local Golden fast guy Kelly Magelky.  Knowing just how fast Kelly is, I knew I wasn't going to keep his pace all day.  Sure enough, on the first big climb he pulled away with two other fast guys.  That put me in fourth, and I had no intentions of chasing.  I should mention that at the time I only counted two ahead of me and thought I was sitting third for most of the day.  Come to find I was sort of right.  Kelly had been sick for the last two days.  He made it a long way before stopping at an aid station, fell ill, and decided to throw in the towel.  The fact that he even started and then held it together for so long is a testament of how great of a racer he is.  Sometimes unforeseen circumstances happen in a race, and you have to make the safest call.

Me with Jamie Lamb who took the win for the day
Photo by Jennifer Bush

As I climbed higher and higher on the first big climb it kept getting steeper, and more technical.  Near the end of it there was a lot of hike-a-bike.  I really, really hate hiking my bike in a race.  Even at a slow pace, it seems as soon as my foot hits the ground my heart rate spikes.  I know I lost a lot of time in that section, but after it was done there still wasn't anyone in sight behind me.  Luckily, that was the only spot in the race that required hiking my bike.  I appreciated that it was at the beginning of the race, and not the end.

Ugh! Stairs after a long hike-a-bike section!
Photo by Les Heiserman

When I pre-rode some of the trail on Friday in Sturgis, I noticed that a lot of it was overgrown.  I figured that not a lot of people rode trail in Sturgis and thought that trail closer to Rapid City was more ridden.  Come to find out, not many people ride ANY trail in South Dakota, or at least not on the Continental Trail #89 which the course follows.  There was a lot of riding through knee high weeds, or what you may call deer trail. The whole time I was hoping I didn't get a weed stuck in my derailleur.  There was also a fair bit of riding through fields with a path mowed through it in what I like to call cyclocross style.  Miles of ATV/Jeep roads with endless mud holes filled with month old standing water left my drivetrain and entire bike covered with mud.  Between the weeds and the mud, keeping my drivetrain clean and making well calculated shifts to not brake a chain was my top priority.  I'd say the whole race had about 30% of "true" singletrack, but the little singletrack that there was was pretty darn good.

Me and my dirty bike coming into an aid station
Photo by Jennifer Bush

Since I spent a lot of time on terrain that I considered "nontraditional" in at mountain bike race, it was tough to know if I was on the right path or not.  There was a couple of times that I blew right through a path I was supposed to turn, and I somehow spotted it at the corner of my eye before going too far.  After speaking with several other racers, it seems the mass majority weren't as lucky and ended up tacking on a lot more mileage because they got lost.

Photo by Jennifer Bush

Most of the day I rode alone, except for a short time when 92Fifty rider Richie Trent passed me.  Team 92Fifty is another local team with a lot of fast guys.  Richie was on a singlespeed and tearing it up.  I hung on for a little bit knowing if I could hold his wheel on the climbs it would help put a big gap on anyone behind me.  Let me tell you, it was a tough wheel to hang on to!  Eventually Richie pulled away.

After what seemed like forever, I reached the last big climb which was followed by a long ten plus mile descent with one last short steep climb in the middle.  I pushed hard on that last big climb.  I knew if nobody else passed me on the climb, I was fast enough on the downhill to hold my spot.  There were some blurry moments on that climb with insanely steep grades over really rocky terrain.  There was no way I was putting my foot down though, so I dug deep into my pain cave to clear each one.

There I was, on the top of the last climb with a long descent a head of me.  I thought about the countless team rides I'd been on with all my enduro racers where I'd scare the hell out of myself holding their wheel.  All I could think about was that I needed to rip this downhill as fast as I could.  It was time to go into ENDURO MODE!!!  I ripped down the singletrack going mach speed, and flew up one last short climb before going back into fast descending.  When I finally made it to the bottom, I only had a couple of miles of rolling terrain to go.  My enduro mode paid off as I passed Richie within the last few miles.

The last mile of the race was a flat bike path.  I hit the bike path with six minutes before my eight hours mark.  My mind was way too foggy to calculate how fast I needed to go to finish under eight.  All I knew was that I had to push hard and I dug deeper than I ever have.  It was a mile long time trial to the finish.  Hopefully there was nobody within listening distance from me because I was letting out some bellows that must of sounded like a dying animal.  All the hurting paid off though as I crossed the line at 7:57:55.8.

Giving it all I had to the finish
Photo by Taylar Applegate

Extreme happiness after breaking the eight hour mark
Photo Taylar Applegate

The announcer confirmed that I was third overall!  It was a long tough day on a bike, but by staying focused and just racing my own race I came out on top.  Third overall in such a hard race is a new career best for me, and one that I'll cherish for a long time. I still have a long way to the top, but it feels good to see a big progression in the right direction.

Photo by Taylar Applegate

SCHEDULE UPDATE

After such a hard effort at Tatanka, I decided to drop the Breck 68 this year.  Also, I've decided to swap the Steamboat Stinger for the Laramie Enduro.  Not only do the dates work better for my family, it also has a better distance and amount of climbing for my racing abilities.  After Laramie, it'll be time to train for cyclocross!

Victory tastes good!

Race Report: Bailey Hundo

Here's an excerpt from my race report of the Bailey Hundo from last year:

Things started out okay up until a broken chain around mile twenty. I burned through a couple matches to make up some time and got behind on my fluids. I started getting leg cramps around mile forty and was feeling the effects of heat exhaustion slowly starting. By mile sixty I was a ball of pain. Any hard effort left me winded. I was hoping I’d catch a second wind, but it never came. It just got worse. Near the end I was getting shakes like my body was going through shock. Never hurt that bad during a race, but after my DNF at the Growler I wasn’t stopping. My result was worse this year than I did two years ago. Another huge failure.

That last sentence. Another huge failure... that pretty much summed up my entire 2014. So far this year has been what I like to call the season of great redemption! Top on my redemption list has been The Bailey Hundo.

The race course for the 2015 Hundo was unlike the courses I had done in the past. Due to flooding, a main stretch of road the course followed was under water. The race board made some quick decisions, and modified the course to a two lap course instead of one big loop. It followed the same course of the shortened Hundito version of the race. This made the Hundo about ten miles shorter, but around the same amount of climbing, and a lot more singletrack. In other words, despite the course change, it was just as tough a race if not tougher.

The day started out hotter than usual this year. Typically, the 6 a.m. start of the Hundo called for arm warmers and knee warmers. After my warm up, I quickly ditched my knee warmers at the start line. It was going to be a hot one for sure. Thanks to an episode of the LW Coaching Show (LW Coaching is also my personal coach) featured on Mountain Bike Radio titled How to Start a 100-mile Mountain Bike Race, I had a crash course on how to start the race. I needed to hurt myself badly the first thirty minutes to get me on the singletrack as quick as possible. Hurt myself I did, and I was the seventh person to hit the trail.

After a hard race start, I took it down a notch, but not too much. According to my heart rate zone, I was climbing at zone 4.7 (the zones are from one to five) when typically I would have wanted to stay in a zone of low four or high three. My body was telling me it was okay to keep pushing, so I kept the hard pace.

I had a big motivator to help me keep pushing as well. My teammate Mark Wallace caught up to me about a hour and forty minutes into the race, and we rode together up to the last hour and half of the race. Since the course had changed, I had no clue what time I needed to shoot for, but Mark had it all worked out. According to his stats, breaking seven hours became the goal for the day.

Mark and I started the second lap right on pace. After hitting it hard during the first lap, I was a bit nervous I'd crumble during the second lap. I must have done something very right during training this year, because crumble I did not. On the contrary, I felt better than ever. So good in fact that I was pushing it on the downhills. I just couldn't help but take the harder lines that had features like rock drop offs. This is the great thing about the SCOTT Spark 900. Not only is it a super fast bike, but it is also so capable that it allows you to have more fun while racing. Not to mention you feel a lot less beat up during long races on this full suspension rocket ship.

Mark is on my tail!

After the first big descent, I nailed the first of three big climbs hard, made another quick descent taking all the "fun" lines, and nailed the second climb with a bit more fierceness. I was then down to the last mega climb to finish myself off. The last big one was a steep dirt road up to Wellington Lake, and then a long gradual dirt road climb to the top. There was a lot of teeth gritting with my eyes closed as I grunted my way up and over.

The last stretch was a couple of short climbs, and then a steep dirt road descent that went into one last climb before another short descent to the finish line. I knew I had to be on the gas if I wanted to break seven hours. I gave it everything I had, took some risks, and sprinted the finish. The official time was 6:58:56.50 which landed me seventh in the pro class, and fourteenth overall! Redemption accomplished! It felt very, very good to nail it at the Hundo.

Up next, THE Firecracker 50 on July 4th followed by the Tatanka 100 the next weekend, and the Breck 68 the weekend after that. Mega July!!! Time for me to recover, and conquer!