2014 William and Mary Tidewater Winter Classic

The Virginia Beach Wheelmen took four riders to compete in the Cat 3 race.  All of them had goals to accomplish and something to prove to themselves.  For John Gray and Tim Shockley it was a chance to test some early season fitness and see if they could get into a break a do some work at the front of the pack.  Mike Tamayo has spent the winter attached to a trainer trying to get rides snuck in between work, a two year old and a brand new baby who arrived earlier this month.  Joshua Goyet has been building fitness back for the last several months after returning to the bike following a back injury.  The distance was going to be the challenge for both Mike and Joshua.

All four Wheelmen finished the race and felt good about their accomplishments.  They mixed it up in the breaks, assisted with the chase and even had parts in the final lead out.  When it was all over, although not on the podium, the Wheelmen were thrilled with the start of the 2014 racing season.

John Gray 11th

Tim Shockley. 15th

Mike Tamayo. 32nd

Joshua Goyet 35th

On a personal note for me, this race was big.  On the third of 5 laps I decided I was going to pull out the next lap.  My back was a little sore and I had not trained the distance. Really I was using a built in excuse.  I rode up to Tim and let him know my intentions.  When we came through again and I heard the bell, I changed my mind.  I am making a comeback to the sport after taking off last year and really fighting this back injury for the past 3 years.  It is not a comeback if I had dropped out of the first race of the season.  I ended up finishing strong on the front for the lead out in an attempt to keep it safe for my teammates.  That was my victory.

BCCX 2013 Results

Here are the results for the 2013 Bennett's Creek CX race.  I will also post some pictures later.

2013 BCCX results

Thanks Kurt Kinetic!

On Saturday my trainer felt odd. 

Two cracks on my Rock n Roll trainer. One on each side of the weld on the top frame. 

Two emails later here it is Wednesday. 

Brand new top frame. If you are in the market for a new trainer take a serious look at Kurt Kinetic. Great trainers and excellent support. 

Progress Mixed With Setback

One hour prior to my first session of Rolfing, my back started to ache after picking up a heavy object.  Not hurt, but not comfortable. I went ahead with the session.  My first impression of Rolfing is pretty good.  I really felt like she was making positive changes in my posture. However, due to the soreness in my back from lifting the object, I can't feel a difference. Actually I feel like I have taken a step back. 

Two days later I'm feeling better but not where I was.  My next session is next Sunday. My thought is to take a picture BEFORE each session. If my posture changes after each session but goes to crap in the following week than it probably was not worth it.  I did take a picture a couple of weeks again and the focused on changing my posture myself. 

The one on the right was my posture two weeks ago.  The one on the left was my posture just before going to my first Rolfing session.  Next week I will take another and compare it to the most recent and the first one to see if any changes are noted.  Of course I want physical changes to be noted, but I am primarily concerned with reduction of back pain.  

The Next Stage to Fix My Back

For me, this year, I have more or less given up on the racing season. My back continues to be a problem. This injury has gone on for more than two years. I guess by definition, it is now chronic back pain. I have not given up hope and I am still seeking treatment with the hopes if correcting this problem.

What is my problem?

First: if I were not a cyclist then I really would not have much of a problem. My primary issue is numbness in my left foot while riding. This occurs about 30-40 minutes into every ride.

Second: at times my foot will go numb while standing or walking. Not very often any more, but it still happens.

Third: occasional back pain.

This injury does not effect work or everyday living. It really only effects working out. Cycling, running, strength training and other workouts are hard to do for the length I want to do them.

The reason for this post is to set up a diary for my next treatment endeavor. Tomorrow I start with a massage technique called Rolfing. Rolfing is specifically designed to correct posture due to gravity. My posture is terrible and could easily have been the reason for my back injury. I will post posture pictures of myself though this process along with updates on how I am feeling.

Why New Year Resolutions Fail and How to Make SMART Goals

The ball dropped, a new calendar was purchased and it's the time of year that everyone asks "where did the year go?".  It can only mean one thing, if the year changed, so must you.  Time to make those New Year Resolutions.  What is your resolution that is going to make 2013 a stellar year?  Last year a poll was conducted on the most common resolutions, here are the results:

37% stated they intend to lose weight

18% stated they don't make resolutions

12% stated they wanted to spend more time with friends and family

12% stated they were going to get out of debt

7% were going to quit drinking or smoking

 Missing off this list but related to losing weight would be going to the gym more or simply getting more fit.  The bottom line is resolutions fail because they can never really succeed.  If you resolve in 2013 to quit smoking or drinking, and on 12/31/13 you have not been sober or tobacco free for at least several weeks, then you can say your resolution was a success.  If however, you resolve to lose weight in 2013, then you must be more specific in order to measure success.

Resolutions are nothing more than goals.  Most people think setting goals are easy, but in fact they can be quite challenging.  In order to set goals you must be SMART.  This goes for professional, personal and athletic/competition goals.

• S- Specific.  Goals must be specific.  Getting in better shape is non-specific.  Running a mile in under 6 minutes is an example of a specific goal.
• M- Measurable.  In order for a goal to be successful you must know when you have reached the benchmarks or the goal itself.  Instead of having a goal to lose weight you must set a number to reach.  This number could be pounds lost or inches around the waist.  Regardless you must know when you have reached your goal.
• A- Attainable.  Think of this as being capable of achieving your goals regardless of outside influences.  Those individuals who say they have a goal, or resolution, to spend more time with friends and family might do everything in their power to achieve that goal, but friends and family might be too busy.  Athletes should choose goals that can be obtained regardless of the competition.  I know it sounds strange, but if your season goal is to win Nationals and you train hard, show up on race day, and end up getting out sprinted or team tactics played into a different outcome, then you have set yourself up for failure.  You did everything possible but the day did not go your way because of influences beyond your control.  Instead set a goal for a sub 1hour 40k TT, or a PR on a 10k run.  You can still strive to win Nationals, but it shouldn't be your season goal.
• R- Realistic.  I am 36 years old.  I should probably start thinking that my goal of an Olympic gold medal is not very realistic.  For weight loss goals, regardless what you see on the Biggest Loser, long term weight loss of more than 3 pounds a week is not realistic.  You want your goals to challenge you, but not make them impossible.  Shoot too low and you will reach them too fast.  Shoot too high and you will get discouraged and give up.
• T- Timely.  Your goals need to be time sensitive.  Set smaller goals leading up to the big goal.  For weight loss you might have an overall goal of 25 pounds to lose.  Set a date to lose this weight.  It would be realistic for you to lose this weight in 8 weeks.  If you have a spring break trip planned, use that date as benchmark date for your goal weight.  

Whatever resolutions were made while raising a toast with friends and family, look at it closely and use this system to refine them and make them SMART goals.  Good luck in the new year.

Return to the bike after back injury....slowly

The problems with my back forced me to take some time off.  After the Franklin race in July I hung up the bike.  I tried for a while to get things back to normal with very little success.  I finally went to get an MRI.  It revealed bulging/herniated discs, spinal stenosis and arthritis.  That explains my problems.

Physical Therapy was not really an option for me.  In all reality they could not do anything that I wasn't already doing by myself.  However, with a confirmed diagnosis, I could target my problems with more confidence that I was doing the right thing.

Since the MRI I have had some really good progress.  I'm by no means healed, but I'm getting there.  I have targeted the bulging/herniated discs with extensions exercises and inversion therapy.  Day to day activity does not bother me.  Running is good, rowing is good, but I still get pain in the back and numbness down my leg when I ride, Versa Climber and Jacob's Ladder workouts.  Much of that is due to changing my posture and my muscles becoming tired quickly because they are being used differently.

While on the bike, my piriformis and QL on my left side get tight, tired and that is what causes the pain.  I have decided for the time being to limit my rides to trainer rides.  This allows me to ride, focus on posture and when I get tight, sore or numb, I can get off the bike to fix the problem.  I get back on feeling fresh again.  I will continue this format until I can ride with out pain for at least an hour.  This same protocol will be used for cross training activities like the Versa Climber and Jacob's ladder.

I am optimistic that I will be back to my old self soon.  Maybe not for a early season start, but by May I feel I can be competitive again.

I know many cyclist suffer from back issues so I will continue to post here to give information about what works and what does not.