Date: 2009-07-18
To: TN SENIOR OLYMPICS-TIME TRIAL
Miles today: 0.0

Sat.July 18thToday is the TN SENIOR OLYMPICS 5k (3.1miles)CYCLING Time Trial event.I drive down I-65 to the Franklin, TN area where the CYCLING events will be held...in Arrington,TN...I've ridden the course a few times this year...but never turned any good times for the rides...my best time was 9:11 on this course this season.My "personal best" time on this course is 8:34...But, my weight (i'm @ 210...which is 15 lbs heavier than I've ever been entering the competition)has been a problem this riding season...just cant seem to lose those excess pounds!I arrive @ the "staging area" abt 615am....only 2 or 3 other competitiors are here...I sign in...there are 5 in my age group (55-59 age group) category this year...2 newcomers...I take a few photos as other CYCLISTS arrive...I talk with Gordon Hampton, (Director of Williamson Co.Parks & Rec.) a bit while the cyclists continue to arrive & take a photo with TSO executive director Christine Dewbre...(our annual photo op)Thomas Gee ("the Fastest Man in Tennessee"!)arrives...(i'm in the same age category as Thomas again this year)I meet a couple of the other competitors: Bruce Pearson from Kingsport,TN &David Lavelle from Germantown,TN (near Memphis)As the 7:30am start time approaches many of the Cyclists ride back (1 mile) to the start line...Several registered cyclists havent shown up....(but I wasnt so lucky...all my age group showed!)I warm up the legs...by riding several times to the bottom of the hill...the climb...which is almost 1 mile up....a slow grade hill...(my weakness...but, i have been working on that)7:30am rolls around & the Williamson County Parks Dept...in charge of the start & finish lines...arrive...Gordon Hampton starts all the riders @ 1 minute intervals...I start @ 7:42am....I'm off.....pedal...pedal...pedal!1/4 mile....on the straight-away.....i hit 25 mph....slow.....dont wanna use all the JUICE here.....then i notice i'm in my BIG RING....then i hit the hill...i stand up on the pedals....pedal...pedal...pedal....i sit on the saddle....gear down into my middle ring.......gear down....i maintain a 15mph average on the climb.....better.....ahhhhhh.....come on!pedal!....pedal!...pedal!....i hit the top of the hill....start gearing UP!.....then its downhill.....keep pedaling....i hit 35....37...39.....40.....(i need to kick it in HIGH gear...to make up for my S-L-O-W climb up the hill...)pedal!....pedal!...pedal!....my legs start to ache....I cant stop now....i turn the corner & see some Parks workers urging Cyclists on...shouting: "RACE!"...pedal...pedal...pedal...i've slowed to abt 20mph now....after topping out @ 40mph downhill....keep pedaling...dont let up!...I hit the 1 mile to go mark & crank....I AM WORN OUT!...BUT, cant stop now....pedal!...pedal!...pedal!I hit the Finish line & look down @ my cycle-computer it says 9:01....Darn!....i thought i wuz doing so well....Oh well....maybe all the other guys were slower than me (with the exception of Thomas Gee, of course!)...but who knows...I ride back to the staging area...to await results & the awarding of the MEDALS for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishes in each age group...After all times were calculated....the Winners in the 55-59 age group are:                  THOMAS GEE   GOLD w/ a 7:20 time                  David Lavelle Silver a 8:52                   Bruce Pearson Bronze a 8:58like i said...my time was 9 mins & 1 sec...NOT good enuff for a MEDAL but it WAS my best time this riding season on this course...Close...but, NO CEE-GAR!Tomorrow is the 20k (12.4miles)RoadRace....Maybe I'll have better LUCK then!