Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, let's go racin' boys.

CycloNauts Criterium at Stafford Spring Speedway was next up on 5/26/2012.
I raced in the 4/5 45+ race at 10AM. The race was on a classic 1/2 mile Nascar oval asphalt track with a chicane through the infield to have a left turn thrown into the mix. It was a fast race reaching 29 mph on a flat track for several laps. I hung in climbing and falling through the field as opportunity arose leading a little but never in the back. It was marred by a couple of minor crashes but otherwise a fairly clean race for a 4/5. I think 4/5 races bring out the worst aspects of both groups and end up being fraught with peril. On the last lap I decided to take a leap of faith and shoot up the left side of field to lead out for about 400 meters. I shifted up and poured on the coals. I figured it was safest at the front because no one could crash me from the front of the field. As it turned out 9 of us crossed over the line together across the track as the guys from behind sprinted for the finish. I took 8th. My best result thus far in a road race or a crit. I might have done better but underestimated the effort I could hold in a sprint waiting a touch too long. Next week I'm at Ninigret for the RI Senior Games. Again a stage race in a day. 5k, 10k, 20k, 40k.

Racing and stuff.

It's been a bit so some race updates are overdue, here we go.
 Raced the Blue Hills Classic on 5/6/2012. Ran fair had fun. The climb at the end of each lap was tough on me, not because of the slope or the length but because of the pace the group rode up it. I held on for a couple of laps then lost the group for the last lap. Russ Maynard dragged my tired ass around the course for the last lap and a half, we crossed the line together with me ceding the position for 29. I finished 30.
 Sterling Classic Road Race on 5/12/2012 was a carbon copy rerun of the Blue Hills except the players were slightly changed. This time I chased and caught Ken Thompson while Greg Wise climbed past me at the finish on the hill. I finished 29.
 Next up was the Connecticut Senior Games. I signed up for the 5k TT, the 10k TT, the 20k crit, and the 40k crit. It was kind of a stage race in a day. We started with the 5k. I timed at 7:28 for 3rd and a bronze medal. Next up was the 10k, timed at 15:44 for 7th.
The crits were in a 2 for 1 format. The 40k was split such that the 1st half (20k) was a race itself. Some riders choose this time to exit and just compete for the 20. I chose to do the both events so after the finish sprint for the 20 I stayed in for the remainder of the race for a 40k total. I was one of 2 cat 5's in the 20k and the only 5 in the 40k. The crits were a cat 1-5 race. I finished 15 in the 20k and 16 in the 40k. Not too bad and better than I expected to do with a largely cat 3 race. Overall with the bronze in the 5k TT I am invited to the national senior games in Cleveland for 2013.
More later.