Date: 2010-07-24
To: TSO 5K Cycling TT / PowerWalk
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday July 25thToday is the TN SENIOR OLYMPICS Cycling 5K event in Arrington,TN (just 7 miles outside of Franklin,TN)I've been riding & hill-climbing in preperation for this event...I leave the house @ 5:30am...& arrive @ the staging area, Arrington Christ Church...@ 6:30am....there are already abt 20 Cyclists here...prepping their bicycles...I check in & talk with Gordon Hampton (Director of Williamson County Parks & Recreation Department)..Great Guy!...I get the #17 to put on my bike...this is also my time I'll be going off the starting line...event starts @ 7:30am....so, ...my start time will be 7:47am..There are 49 cyclists registered for this event...a few no shows...I clip in the pedals & ride to the START Line a mile back down the road...Thomas Gee (in my 55-59 age group)goes off first @ 7:30am....He is FASSSSSST!my time approaches....5...4...3...2...1....GO!I'm off....pedal...pedal...pedal....i hit 20+ miles an hour....then 25 miles per hour...before I hit the climb....this clime is abt 6/10 of a mile...& its a slow 6% to 8% grade for the whole climb...i hate these long climbs....they are my enemy...(that & the 30lbs i shouldve lost before this event!)I reach the top of the hill....i am riding super slow....(abt 13 mph)then i hit the top & stand on the pedals to pick up the pace & gain some time back.....pump!...pump!...pump!....downhill....I hit speeds in the upper 30s....I'm breathing super heavy...trying to catch my breath after the climb....now i CRANK IT!....downhill...hitting 40 mph....pedal...pedal...pedal....I notice abt this time my saddle has bent in a down position that I can barely sit on it....pedal!...Pedal!...pedal!....i hit the 1 mile to go point...& my legs are about gone....i've dropped to less than 20 miles per hour....i need to cranmk it....but the ENERGY is not there....1/2 mile to go....i can see the Finish line..I stand on the pedals & get my speed back up...25+ as i cross the line...but...I dont think its gonna be good enuff...I peek @ my time...9:10...not very good...(my best time on this course is 8:36...a few years back)I grab some water & ride back to the staging area...talk with the other cyclists..7 in our 55-59 age group...I came in 4th outta 7 riders...not good enuff for a MEDAL...but CONGRATS to Thomas Gee (Paris)who grabbed GOLDDave Lavelle (Memphis) took SILVER& Tom Crow (Dickson) took Bronze.Congrats to ALL the winners...I participate in the 1 mile PowerWalk this afternoon...Stay Tuned!...............................................................................Headline:...."JAYBIRD" takes SILVER in the 1 mile POWER WALK! I arrive back in Franklin,TN @ B.G.A. campus the site for all the Track & Field events...I sign in & grab a bottle of water...I meet my same age bracket (55-59 age group) competitor, Robert Sweibel (from Orlinda,TN)& his wife...The women competitors race first & then the men...(there are 46 total competitors signed up for the 1 mile Power Walk)The men line up @ about 5:30pm...& the starting gun goes off...& I break away....I take the lead...by abt 10 paces...i stay out front....much to my dismay...because I KNOW i cant hold this pace....lap one time: 2:31...i have to slow the pace....I DO....but no one is passing me....i dont dare slow & take a look....i keep a high pace...but slower...no one is coming after me...but, i hear Robert say a few times..."NO RUNNING, GUYS!"....does he mean me?....am i breaking into a jog, a slow run....i check my knees...they seem to be okay....i stay on pace....lap#2 5:02....i slow a bit more....Man!....i'm gettin' TIRED....i still hear Robert yelling about "NOT RUNNING"....i hear footsteps & speed up a bit.....lap #3... 7:59...i slow my pace even more....& abt that time...here comes a dude from Clarksville (Rowan LaBarre)...passing me...like i wuz standing still.....ouch!.....then here comes Robert.....we make the last turn...& head down the final stretch & i'm outta gas...no more left in the tank...i cross the line 3rd overall (out of 46 competitiors) with a time of 11:02.30 (a NEW BEST TIME for me!...my previous BEST time was 11:25...)I get Silver Medal for my age group...Robert Sweibel gets Gold.Tomorrow:...the 1500 meter Race Walk!Stay Tuned!...& dont forget to check out the photos!