2011 Race Schedule Preview

This year winding down and only the slight possibility of a cross race looming in the future. So as promised this week I guess I will touch on a few events that Iv got marked on my calendar to do this upcoming season.

The first and definitely most important and best race is The Bricks at Campbell Criterium. As you can probably guess this is a race we are doing or best to get together and host here at Campbell the last Saturday in January. Although there is still very little details I can give at the moment keep an eye out in the next month or so as Im sure Ill be talking a lot more about it.

The next thing on the schedule is the Spring 2011 Collegiate Road Bike Season. These races will begin mid February and last through the end of April. At the moment we are definitely going to make it to the three races in state at Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest as well as the Conference Championships at Virginia Tech. We are working hard to raise money in order to make it to as many races as possible however with 10 races on the schedule if we make it to half Ill call it a success in our first year. As with Mountain Season this fall Ill be trying to give detailed reports every week throughout the season.

Before road season wraps up however, On April 2^nd I will be taking a weekend off to attend my favorite race from this past season the 6 Hours of Warrior Creek at my home trails in Wilkes County, NC. For all of you who are reading this and making out your race calendar accordingly this event will not be able to make your list. October 1^st the promoters offered a discount entry fee for 24 hours and after 36 hours the race was sold out. Then out of the kindness of their hearts they offered an additional 50 spots which sold out in less than a day. That should give you some idea how awesome this race is in only its third year. Im going to really enjoy myself seeing as how it will be the last time I get to enjoy this race with entry fees going to $750 dollars (estimated) next year.

The next few races on my schedule I have full intentions of doing but for factors out of my control, such as money, I may not make all of them.

First is another event in my hometown put on by the BMCC at the Dark Mountain trails. On May 28^th I will be competing solo or maybe duo in the Burn 24 hour Challenge. Yes a 24 hour mountain bike race. Im scared but excited. Iv went to this event for the past couple years as a spectator and always said next year is my year but this year im buckling down and really committing to doing this race. It an awesome atmosphere on trails that I know like the back of my hand and love to ride more than any other Iv ridden around the state and now Maryland and West Virginia. There is just something about the trails BMCC puts together that make riding and racing fun for me rather than some trails Iv raced that would be fun to ride but just seem to kill you while racing. Im sure the trails wont be as much fun after about 10 hours but Im looking forward to a challenge like non Iv ever faced before.

Moving into June Iv got marked on the calendar the Tour de Cure for the American Cancer Society. This is a charity ride that my team participated in last year but I missed out on because of the LSAT. I did get to do some of the behind the scenes work pre-race but this year im looking forward to getting out and riding a century for my girlfriend who has type 1 diabetes.

Further into June I have marked probably the most indefinite race of my current schedule. Iv been looking at the Blood Sweat and Gears race more and more and really like the challenge it presents. Obviously with a race of this magnitude I only hope to make it through without getting pulled on my first attempt. This is a road race with over 13000 feet of climbing in 100 miles starting in Valley Cruces and going through Banner Elk and back. Lance Armstrong has trained here for the tour de france in the past and so the race attracts many top road riders from around the nation. Honestly Im not sure if Im up to this big of a challenge yet but im hoping to put in a lot of mile this winter and get some good race training during the collegiate season so we will se when it gets closer to time.

Staying on the same subject the last endurance race I have planed for 2011 will be in late July with the Hurt Pain and Agony ride put on by the BMCC. This road ride starts near my house in Traphill, NC and winds up the parkway. The race is 66 miles for a metric century including a 6 mile 1700 foot climb up to the parkway. This race is torture im sure but it looks a bit more doable for me than the Blood Sweat and Gears race. Plus I hope to have rode this route several times before the actual race with the start being only 15 minutes from my house.

One question though Why are all road race names so menacing…Blood Sweat and Gears, Hurt Pain and Agony…do they even want people to come to the races? Moving On.

My Season will once again conclude with Collegiate Mountain season hopefully in 2011. I will be graduating this year and hope to attend law school possibly here at Campbell. However at whatever law school I attend I intend to race collegiately. Things are looking good for Campbell next year in mountain and I hope we can finish on the podium in D2.

As you can see most of my races that aren’t collegiate are endurance events whether on the road or mountain. Honestly I believe this suits me the best. I enjoy just grinding and pacing myself to perform for a long time. I enjoy the long sustained effort more than the mad scramble of an XC race.

So there it is. I cant promise I wont slip in an XC race in the Charlotte Summer series again or a short track race but these are the main events on my schedule and they should be on your as well.