The race began at 7am in Round Valley. The pace was high but not out of reach to stay with the leaders. Once we left Round Valley it picked up a bit and I found my self at a bit more conservative cadence, trying to settle in. It wasn’t until I got to Snowpark at Deer Valley that I began to feel comfortable and really find my form. At that time I was hanging on the back end of a top ten finish. A handful of really fast guys were up the trail setting the pace and keeping it hot.

I felt pretty good about how the race was going so far. I had a feeling that my race would play out a bit like last year. As soon as I reached Silver Lake, I’d be able to pick up the pace and start finding my way towards the leaders. I found some good legs and started picking through the pack. My time split through Silver Lake was quick and not far off the leaders. Looking forward to the climb to Shadow Lake, I continued on with the same effort.

As quickly as I came on, I found my self off. Off the trail and headed in the wrong direction. I began to question the route because it has been a while since I had seen any trail markers but at the same time there hadn’t been any other options. When I finally came across a trail marker something didn’t feel right. I knew that this particular section was part of the downhill from last year. I rode a few minutes in three directions, asked a bunch of people on the trail if they had seen any racers. None of them had seen any. Another clue that I made a huge mistake somewhere about 30 min. ago. I began to retrace my steps and again realized just how far off I was.

By the time I got back on course I was out of water and food. Had I kept my eyes on the trail I would have been at the top of Shadow Lake and on my way to the feedzone. I pinned it. Turning myself inside out. At the top of Shadow Lake I had such bad hot spots in my feet I stopped and ran to the lake to dip my feet and releave the pain. shortly after that I ran into BZ who was stopped fixing a flat tire. We chatted a bit while he finished his repair then made our way to the feed zone at the base of Park City resort.

At the feed zone I refueled with any thing and every thing I could find, then set out to finish the race. By now, the excitement from those cheering me on was fueling my legs and keeping my spirits high. Unfortunately, that would not last. As I climbed Spirro towards Mid Mountain, I realized there was no amount of Carbo Rocket, gels or peanutbutter and banana sandwich that would do me any good. I made a decision at that moment that was harder than finishing the race its self. I pulled over and sat under a shady tree. I was done. My insides wanted to come out and there was still a lot of trail to cover.

I began to make my way down Spirro, back to the feed zone. Along the way I ran into BZ who decided to give the cramping legs another shot. He somehow convinced me to turn around and finish the race with him. Less than a mile later his legs ceased up and we would both decide to abandon the race for a second time. This time my mind had already dropped completely out and I was happy with the decision.

Since then though I’ve been beating my self up over the event during the race. To have something you’ve been looking forward to for so long and really excited about and even more, to be on good form and getting stronger only to be crushed by a silly mistake by yours truly. How much more of a dummy can I be! I know its just another bike race and there will be plenty more to follow. I’m looking forward to those and even better form in the future. But I really let my self down in this one. It’s personal. I’ll get over it.

Big thank you to Jay, Shannon and everyone else who made the Point 2 Point possible. It is an amazing race that was very well marked and hosted like no other. Thank you all very much. it was wonderful. See you next year and maybe I’ll pay better attention to the bright orange trail markings.

First and foremost, HYDRATION is the most important factor. During the pre-race meeting there was a Dr. who spoke about general bike safety in hopes of preventing any injuries. He mentioned one thing that I thought was rather odd. He cautioned everyone to be careful about over hydrating. With that I know what he means and yes, it is very possible. I think personally I take it to the limit nearly every race. I drink a lot. But to shout it to the masses right before the race starts. Not the best idea. I assume there were a few folks already stressed about what to drink, when to drink it and now they were told to not hydrate too much. Thankfully the temperatures were pretty cool for an August afternoon and there were a lot of feed stations along the course.

My issues came when I ran out of juice in my bottles. After hearing about how many feed stations there were on course I decided not to wear the Ausprey, and stick with bottles. Not a bad idea, but I should have known better and gone with the usual. All bottles Carbo Rocket. Instead I did one Carb Rocket and the other water. It’s always nice to have the option of water on board because it helps cleanse the palate from the gu’s, blocks, and other calories you consume. For me though, I was craving more Rocket and less H20.

As far as gels go, I brought along with me some GU Roctane. I’m a firm believer of gels, but caution you to use them wisely. You can easily over eat with gels and the result will crash the system before you can do much to fix it. I like sucking back a Roctane maybe once every hour, give or take 15 min. In an endurance event though, it’s nice to mix it up with some blocks instead of gels.

For the 100K I tried the smoothie flavored Honey Stingers. These are by far the best tasting blocks ever. They’re amazingly easy to eat while riding and did I mention how yummy they are? This was the first time I’ve used them in a race situation and to tell you the truth, I don’t think I noticed much of an energy source from them. I think though it was so mild compared to other blocks I’ve used in the past that I thought they didn’t work. When in reality, I think they just have a very slow release on the system. Not sure if I’m convinced with them yet.

Food is also something that needs to take a major consideration. For me, I tried out the classic peanut butter/banana sandwich. I used one slice of bread with some Skippy all natural, crunchy PB, with some sliced bananas. Folded it over once and cut it in half. This made my day. It was actually pretty easy to eat and helped settle an empty stomach. The key here is eating when the riding is fairly mild. You’ll waste more energy trying to chomp down a sandwich or even swallowing a drink if you’re in tough spot on the course. Pick the spots on the trail that don’t require a lot of physical demand to pedal the bike to eat. You’ll save a lot of energy and enjoy the food much more.

The legs felt pretty good considering the time spent on the bike earlier that week. I’m getting really excited for the P2P this weekend. It’s by far the best single day mountain bike race I’ve ever raced and I can’t wait to see how much stronger the competition is this year. Just need a little assistance in the feed zone. S-DAY and Forrest (my dad) will all be in Bear Lake on the family vacation.

I’ll miss this little one at the finish line this weekend.

The best part about the trails was that every time we set out for another lap or two, we had the opportunity to take out a new steed, which made the testing purposes more meaningful. The loop was so good that even though there are a wide variety of trails to choose from, we kept grinding out the same trails with each new bike.

When we showed up at Trek HQ, I had a few major objectives in mind of bikes I wanted to test. Being a bit of a racer I had to get my hands on a Top Fuel 9.9 and of course, really put some time in on a Superfly. There were a number of other bikes also put on the checklist as well including the Trek Remedy, Fuel EX, possibly one of the new Speed Concept bikes and if there was time, why not a Session 88 just for fun. The truth is, “just for fun” was an understatement for the entire demo. It was amazing.

My first venture on The Farm was on the popular Trek Top Fuel 9.9. It’s said to be the best XC full suspension race bike ever. If you look at some of the results over the past few years you might just believe it. From World Cup and National victories, to appearances in many other monumental races around the world. This was the bike Lance used to win the ever-famous Leadville 100 in 2009.

It didn’t take long to settle in to the Top Fuel 9.9. As we pedaled the paved road towards The Farm, I did what any pilot would do before takeoff. Checking through my cockpit, making any needed adjustments and getting aquatinted with the lockout switches. I’m a bit of a minimalist and the 9,9 is far from simplistic on the handlebars. It’s not complicated by any means and it’s all about the performance, but it does take a bit of getting use to when you’ve never had that many cables routing to the bars.

We made out way to the trailhead and the excitement began to build. I had no idea what I was in for. There was lots of buzz around Trek World about how cool these trails really were. We made out way up a short climb on a dirt road that paralleled what looked like a nice set of dirt jumps. A nice quick rhythm section at the top followed by some bigger table-tops and a huge wall ride near the bottom was quickly added to my to-do list. Soon we found our way to the trailhead and began to rip some sweet, tacky Wisconsin single track. The 9.9 was quick and nimble. It whipped in and out of the trees with little effort and when I put a little muscle into the climbs, she zipped perfectly to the top. The bike seemed to have really good balance. I felt very confident in its ever move and took to some of the features without a hitch. It was very apparent that this was not only a fast race bike but it was also a sweet trail bike too.

The 2011 bike comes stock with the new XTR 2X10, which seemed to work great. It does lack the crisp shifting of XX but as a whole, the system worked great. The Bontrager carbon wheels are the icing on the cake. Not quite as stiff as my Edge or Reynolds, but the ride quality is hard to beat. There’s really not much I’d change on this bike if I were to purchase it from Bike Fix. Trek did a very nice job specking it out with all the race essentials that make it a light, fast trail/race bike.

The next bike I checked off the list was the Trek Superfly. Formerly the Gary Fisher Superfly, now it dawns the Trek logo and can be found under the Gary Fisher collection, by Trek.

My first experience with a 29er was a number of years ago at the 24 hours of Moab bike race. I barrowed Tolberts, Gary Fisher Rig, to race on a single speed ridged team. With Kenny Jones, Chuck Gibbson and Josh Wolf. Lap number one for me was not only my first ride on a 29er but also my first time riding a single speed. Despite having no suspension fork, I noticed right away that this bike, mainly because of the wheels, was going to be fast. It was the perfect course for a ss and an even better course to try out the 29″ wheel revolution. I was sold. Since then, I’ve stuck to riding super light 26″ carbon hard tails, which in my mind are also the best XC race bike ever. But, I have quite frequently though that a carbon 29er would be pretty sweet.

That being said, I took to the trails on just that. The new Trek Superfly is a fully stocked race bike. XO componentry, and some pretty light weight scandium wheels, the bike is an extra tall super nimble racehorse. The second time around trails I was a bit more familiar with some of the features. The carbon 29er handled most all of them with ease. The big step-up and a few of the drops were busted out with ease. I did take a pretty good digger though on a big wall ride. Not enough speed combine with slick wet tires, didn’t quite stick to the nearly vertical wood beams that made up the large wall-ride corner. Regardless, the Superfly kept shredding the trails like a champ.

At one point, I opened it up to a pace that would resemble a pretty intense effort in a race. I noticed that when you got the bike rolling there was nothing that could get in it’s way. Pulling out of a few tight and slow corners, it actually accelerated much better than I anticipated. I was very impressed and would defiantly include this bike in my armory of racers.

Taking a small brake form the racers to add a few more inches of fun factor, I jumped on the Trek Remedy 9.9, for a few laps. If you’re looking for a bike that rips the DH similar to a freeride bike but also have the ability to climb back to the top, this is the one for you. I was way impressed with the Remedy and it’s ability to actually ride as a trail bike. It simply rips.

Because Jim’s Trails are so buff, it’s really tough to pull out the full test on a bike like this but with the various adjustability of the front and rear suspension, I think the Remedy would be a great bike for those looking to push the envelope a bit more as well as join your buddies on a nice trail ride from time to time. It’s a bit more than the complete package of a bike, but that’s also coming from a “racer” who’s been spending a lot of time on a carbon hardtail. I’d love to have one of these in my quiver, but if I were the type of rider putting in some decent and consistant hours on the bike, I may tone it back just a bit. Something like the Fuel EX.

The Fuel EX seemed to be one the best all round trail bikes I’ve ridden. It was pretty spunky and quick on the draw yet it had just enough slack in the head angle, and travel in the suspension to really soak up all the bumps, both big and small. The beauty about this bike is the rear suspension, dual air chamber. When you’re ripping the trail at speed, because you really can on the EX, you can trust that your rear wheel, will always be in close contact with the ground and there will be no quick bounce back that other shocks and suspension designs tend to do. Wheels on the ground = good traction and stability at all times.

By the time I got around to riding the Fuel EX I was loosing opportunity to ride anything else. I was okay with that because I felt like I put in a few really good efforts on some very solid bikes. I was hoping to spend some time on the dirt jumps on board a Scratch, but as I mentioned, my time was running out. Instead I dropped the seat slightly on the Fuel EX and went for it anyway. I wasn’t let down. Before my eyes, the Fuel EX became a sweet dirt jumper and was soaring high above the table-tops and ripping the berms like a champ. It was that good, that I ended up lapping the jumps quite a few times. Not bad for a bike that’s considered an XC/Enduro trail bike.

Over all each of the bikes were amazing. It’s tough to pick just one as the clear favorite because I think a lot depends on your riding style and trail options For me, the Top Fuel 9.9 was clearly the bike that stood out above the rest. It seemed t be the very best option for the riding and racing that consumes most of my time. It’s the full, light weight racer package as well as a killer trail bike. The carbon wheels make it a sturdy steed that can tackle nearly any trail that rolls under its tires.

“Most people take every opportunity to make an excuse… I’m making every excuse to take and opportunity.”

The one I’m talking about is SDAY. Over the past few years she has truly turned her life around in so many ways. She’s an entirely new person and has an amazing outlook on life. In the balance of being a wonderful mom, taking care of the dog and cat, doing all the house work and keeping food on the table; she also puts up with me.

Just the other day, SDAY and two of her awesome friends headed to the pool for some laps. Between them they had like a bazillion kids to take care of so they took shifts in the pool and watching the kids. Well done ladies! SDAY started it off by packing Layla up in the Chariot and pedaling to the pool, swimming the laps and then pedaling back home. I think she even went for a run with the Kashi that day as well.

From early morning runs to late night cleaning efforts, to pulling off everything in between; this triathlete-supermom is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thank you SDAY. Keep up the outstanding work and know that I’m supporting you 100%.

I’ve been there before. When training sessions seem to drag on and on. When our real lives seem to take over our professional athlete status, causing us to loose time on the bike and you just don’t care. When you wake up for an early ride and secretly hope that it may be raining so you can have something other than yourself to blame for sleeping in. When the power in your legs took the vacation you though about and didn’t bring your along.

For me, when I’ve found myself in any of these types of seniors I’ve always tried to step away from the bike or any type of structured training plan for a few days. Sometimes even a week or more is necessary though. It’s never easy. Riding our bikes is more than just a way to stay fit and ready for the next race. It’s an aspect of life and even though it can seem like a job, it’s a really good one that you never hope to get tired of. But sooner or later, you will.

The main problem dealing with burnout is that there’s no one solution that works for everyone. Just like training, racing, diets or even warming up, we’re all on a different page and what works for me may not be the solution for you. Regardless, I’ll share some experiences I’ve had that may help if you’re dealing with this now or run across it in the future.

Simply the best option that has produced the fastest rebound in the past was to take a few days off the bike. Hang it up completely. To sit back, try to relax and remove my thoughts from training. After a few day’s I’m pretty hungry to get back on the bike or at least outside and do something athletic. If I do get back on the bike I try to hit up some rides that I haven’t done in a while or rides that I know I’m really going to enjoy. I try to stay away from the trails or roads that I’ve been pounding over the past few months before I hung it up. If I can’t access those types of rides, I find time to get out with the family or the pup on a hike. Hanging with the family in the mountains is a great way to freshen it up and there’s no better motivation to ride cool single track than to spend a day walking on it.

Another tip is to get out with as many good friends as possible. Check around for group rides from the local shops or find a weekend when no one is racing and throw something together. A few weeks ago I hooked up with nearly twenty riders for a 4.5-hour shred feast through the mountains of Park City. I wasn’t dealing with burnout myself, but just spending the day pedaling with some friendly folks boosted my already high spirits.

You can also reevaluate your training schedule. If you’re keeping a riding journal look back and see what it was that brought you down. If you’re still itching to train for an upcoming event, mix it up a bit more and avoid the hill intervals or what ever it was you spent so much time doing before. Try to relax and spin things out. Focus on riding like you did when you were young. Not because you need to peak for an upcoming race. Do it only because you love it. Don’t let training and racing become another full-time job that you have to punch in and out on a daily basis.

Relax, step away from the bike if you can. Mix it up with other activities instead of hours on the bike and know that if you do step away, what you leave momentarily will always be waiting for you when you return.

Throughout the interview I was asked quite a few questions about my cycling career and what it took to become a professional. Many of the questions Nick asked helped me reflect on my past and how much work it’s actually taken to be a competitive cyclist. There are a lot of things I’ve sacrificed in life just so I can ride my bike. Because of this I’m sure there are opportunities I’ve missed or and folks I could have met that would have made me a better person in one way or another. But in the same breath, I don’t think I’d change it for the world. From the places I’ve been and trails I’ve ridden to those I have met throughout my cycling career, I feel very fortunate to be where I am today.

I’ve had the opportunity to race against some of the fastest cyclist in the world, both past and present. I’ve made friends and contacts along the way who’s kindness will last a lifetime. But more importantly, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the true person I am inside. As much as cycling means to me, it’s really just another thing I enjoy doing. Racing happens to fall into the mix from time to time and success will come and go. That’s my general attitude. I do it because I love it. I tend to have a pretty casual attitude about bike racing and I think that’s what’s helped me to stay in the game for longer.

I’m personally indebted to those who have supported me from day one. To those who have shouted “GO KDAY” from the sidelines and to those who have made big impacts on cycling through their knowledge and innovations. There are a number of you out there that I adore and look up to.

Thank you for contributing to my life.

Last weekend started out just right. For a long time now I’ve been making an effort to include a ride up Farmington Canyon to the top of Francis Peak on the fourth of July. A few years back it was mostly a solo effort which isn’t something new. Most of the time it always is. But with the interest of some good friend who rally the troops, the past few years have been with good company. Eight strong rallied up the road last Saturday. Would have been ten but two decided to get a 30 min. head start because of some early holiday plans. It was an excellent ride to say the least. Much better than the day before. I was cursed with massive headwinds for most of the mornings ascent which made for an interesting push to the top.

After 5K of climbing and watching Nate Page rally through a deep and sub-archtic river, it was time to meet the crew from Bike Fix for the Kaysville parade. They had already represented their patriotic enthusiam in the Centerville parade and fed thousands of screaming kids delicious candy. Little did they know that good old Kaysville doesn’t mess around when it comes to parades. It was much longer and packed even tighter with wild and crazy fans.

I rode wheelies on the Trek District, while Eric rode is Project One Madone. His wife Brooklyn on a crusier, my bro-in-law on his Surly Steamroller and good friend Robbie on a Trek Remedy. Ian and family manned the truck and trailer where we had a nice selection of Focus, Trek and Ibis eye candy. Kids love wheelies and so do I.

I made a special stop to the best looking young lady in the crowd. This little one caught my eye and even shed some tears after I left her waiting. The only thing better than my smiling wife was our little one, who looked just beautiful in her new 4th of July outfit.

JULY 6th

What better way to spend the day than with the little one. We started thing off right cooking em up in daddy’s waffle maker. Lady likes to hang in the kitchen while I cook waffles, dance and sing. Then we eat. After breakfast we hit the road. 45 miles and one nap later we got home just in time for lunch. All the while SDAY was decorating hundreds of cupcakes for the evenings big event. It was one year ago that we met our little girl for the first time. The day she was born. She was just as amazing then as she is now.

About an hour before the party started, we were rushing around the house making final touch-ups and getting everything set for the back yard birthday jam, when I found a way to get out of all the work. Taking the trash out I found the sharpest piece of glass in the whole bag and managed to brush it against my leg. The result.. a four in dig through the skin, right down to the muscle. didn’t hurt or bleed much really. The skin curled right up in there and made for an interesting sight. Thanks to a good buddy I got a piggy-back ride to the car and headed for the local Insta-care. When I strolled through the doors I told them that my daughters first birthday party starts in 30 min. and I need stitches. Stat! They rushed me through the doors and a dozen or so stitches and one tetanus shot later I was headed back to the party.

SDAY threw an amazing party. The cupcakes and decor was superb, but most of all our friends and family that were able to drop by were simply the best. It wasn’t really about throwing a huge party of a one year old girl. It was about inviting our closest and best friends to say thank you for your support and love to our family. It’s been one amazing year.

I’ve always been interested though when it comes to what people eat, mainly during heavy training loads and before races. Not because I’m looking to find a new edge or trying to find some magic water, but more out of curiosity. When it comes to professional cyclists and their diets, there are a number of idiosyncrasies that seem a bit over the edge. For most of us I don’t think it needs to be a scientific experiment by counting calories, weighing things out or skipping tasty treats. But on the other hand, it shouldn’t be something you just shrug off because you put in four hours on the bike. All things in moderation are good principals to follow.

I had a discussion with Alex G while riding Muller and we both seemed to be on the same page. There are a lot of folks out there that put too much stress into what they consume. Eating healthy can be tough. There are simply too many delicious and not so healthy items out there that tempt our taste buds. Eating sensibly is more of what you should focus on. Portion size is huge. Pun intended. There are many times where my needs have been met but because there was still food on my plate, I continued to pound it down. Training yourself to recognize when you’re full can take some time and that’s why so many experts recommend eating lots of small healthy or sensible meals throughout the day. Being able to graze throughout the day helps reduce the probability of getting too hungry and then fulfilling it all in one meal. We all know what that feels like.

Remember that food is fuel. Think of it as that and it will help you manage your cravings or temptations that can lead to over eating, or stuffing yourself with useless calories. After all, you’re a finely tuned machine. Just like an exotic sports car, you’d never put 7 Eleven gas in the tank before you head out to the races.

Here’s a recipe for an excellent source of fuel and a nice mid day snack. I found the original on one of my favorite sites, Eat Better America and modified it a bit. KDAY Racing Power Cookies. They’re delicious and not bad when you’re putting in a long day on the bike.  

In a medium mixing bowl combine the following:
1 Large Banana
1/2 Cup Chunky Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Honey
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

In a seperate larger bowl mix the following:
1/2 Cup Wheat Flour
1 Cup Rolled Oats
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Pre-heat the oven to 350. Combine the two bowls and mix thoroughly.
Place desired size cookie clumps on the baking sheet about 1″ apart.
Bake 14-16 min.

Because of her running zest she got the itch to run the famous Wasatch Back relay race and with the helps of some good friends, pulled together a solid team of stellar individuals. She also roped me into it. Excited for the competition, the chance to hang out with good friends, loose a lot of sleep and crash on the lawn of a high school in Kamas, I decided it would be worth it.

Looking back, actually training a bit more would have helped reduce how much my legs hurt after the race and the following day, but it wasn’t anything a nice commute to and from work on the bike couldn’t fix. I could have also learned a bit on how to pace my self. My plan for each leg was: Get it over with. I’d ramp it up until I was a bit uncomfortable then back off a bit. I figured that was close to what I could sustain for a few miles. It worked just fine, but my legs we’re still blown pretty bad after the race.

As for the other rock stars in our van, well they pretty much did what the needed to do to make our team finish the race nearly two hours a head of what we expected.

Lori: She took it DEEP on her last leg of the race. At sometime around 2:00 or 3:00 am she ran 7.9 miles of a “Hard” (that’s an understatement) route to finish off her Ragnar experience. She looked fresh and ready for more when she crossed the line as if she had just begun.

Natalie: In addition to being the best navigator from the way back seat (which was VERY helpful. At least someone knew where we were supposed to go and what was next) She was also super solid on every single one of her legs. Consistency is her game and every time she delivered with a full tank of speed with a smile and when it was all over she trucked it home by herself for a full day of family events. I wonder if she ever got any sleep.

Dayna: You’d think she just got back from a training camp with team USA. I nearly missed my first transition because she was ripping the trail so fast. And to think she was doing all this with some sever IT band issues and giant blister on her foot. Well done speed-D. Plus she wasn’t afraid of putting down some quality food at the Polar King in Oakley. Thanks for sharing your Oreo Shake with all of us.

Layne: Layne knows a lot about space. You should ask him sometime. He’s also a man among men. He brought it home on ever leg he ran. From burning up the DH coming off of Avon Pass to ripping it up the climb to East Canyon, Layne still had enough energy to keep the van laughing with his quick wits and good lines.

SDAY: The girl that continues to amaze me. She’s come a very long way and for her to take on the longest combine legs of our van with her second time out on course being one that’s you couldn’t pay me to run, she simply did an amazing job. Truly an example to me of what hard work and determination can accomplish. If only I had her drive, who knows what I could do on the bike.

As for my running career… well I don’t really see one in the future, but I’d be happy to get in on the Wasatch Back or another event like this with the same crew any time. You guys all rocked! And a big shout-out to the team in Van 2. Didn’t get to spend much time with them but from what I heard, they all put in more than a solid effort and finished us off amazingly strong.