The first weekend of May is always the May Day Biathlon weekend, with youth racing on Saturday and adult racing on Sunday. Addy entered the youth competition on May 1 for the second year, and he was ready to strap it on with the youth of Burke County on his still-new Redline. The fact that, at only 7 years of age, he is able to wear one of my Velosports jerseys indicates that his bike is soon to become his too-small Redline.
The 7-to-10-year-olds dash off the line at the start of the 0.8-mile running leg.
Despite a near-death experience during the running leg, Addy sprints to the transition area to mount his bike. Mom ran along for encouragement/pushing/dragging.
Any 7-year-old big enough to carry his mommy on his back can bring the hurt. Despite being at the back of the field after the running leg, Addy unleashed the power in his massive thighs during the 1.6-mile bike leg and stormed back into the race.
Any 7-year-old big enough to carry his mommy on his back can bring the hurt. Despite being at the back of the field after the running leg, Addy unleashed the power in his massive thighs during the 1.6-mile bike leg and stormed back into the race. Rounding the final turn before the finish line.
Like mother, like son. On the strength of his bike leg, Addy took 5th place.
Racing over the Lake James dam during the 19-mile bike of the adult biathlon on Sunday, May 2.
Amy bettered her time from last year, stopping the clock at 1:32:35 and winning the women's 30-34 age group. She was also jumping for joy at winning a neon green Camelbak as a door prize. I came across the line at 1:27:33, good enough for second in the men's 40-44 age group.
Wednesday, May 5 was the first race of the year in one of our favorite events, the Lowes Time Trial series. Above, Amy was all business as she exited the pit garage.
This year, it's personal. Ready to duke it out for time-trial bragging rights on Lakeview Acres Road. Amy drew first blood, finishing in 25:39 and taking 2nd in the women's Cat 4 division. My time of 26:05 landed me in 14th among Cat 4 men.
Our friend Paul entered his first road race the same evening.
Amy entered her first omnium on May 14-16, the new Tour du Life in the High Country of northwest NC. The first leg of the omnium was the Beech Mountain time trial, which Amy is getting ready to start above. Amy finished the 5-mile hill climb in 36:33, taking 7th place in the women's open division.
The following morning was the second stage of the Tour du Life omnium, the Boone Road Race. As with any route in the High Country, the 35-mile circuit boasted copious amounts of climbing, including a mountaintop finish atop George's Gap. Above, Amy gets ready to set out from historic Cove Creek School with the women's open field, among whom she would finish 11th.
Having missed the Friday time trial, I jumped into the fray on Saturday morning, looking forward to race on some of the same roads that I began cycling on as a student at ASU 20 years prior. However, a lack of fitness and an unfortunate crash by a fellow competitor combined to leave myself and two others far off the pace after 16 miles, at which point I pulled out of the race, choosing instead to head to a cookout to scarf hot dogs. Lack of fitness... hot dogs... hmmm...
The final stage of the omnium was the Newland criterium on Sunday morning. The 1-mile circuit featured a long rise culminating in a 12% legbreaker before descending to the start-finish area. The brutal course took its toll on many riders that day, myself included. I finished 9th in the Cat 4/5 Masters division.
Out of the saddle and powering over the steepest part of the course. Amy finished 12th in the Newland crit and 7th for the overall omnium. However, this was in a women's open division, which includes not only Amy's cat 4 division, but categories 1-3 as well, meaning Amy was competing against the most experienced women racers. She was the second-highest placed Cat 4 racer in the final omnium standings.
Ring of Fire action on May 26. I raced again in both the Masters and Category B (Cats 3 and 4) races.
The Ring of Fire has started a women's open race, and Amy finished 6th on this night. She also sprinted for an unofficial win among the women in the earlier Cat C men's/women's race.
OK, so I think I'm pretty much caught up. My next report will be of our fascinating journey to the sandhills of NC over Memorial Day weekend.
Racing over the Lake James dam during the 19-mile bike of the adult biathlon on Sunday, May 2.
Amy bettered her time from last year, stopping the clock at 1:32:35 and winning the women's 30-34 age group. She was also jumping for joy at winning a neon green Camelbak as a door prize. I came across the line at 1:27:33, good enough for second in the men's 40-44 age group.
Wednesday, May 5 was the first race of the year in one of our favorite events, the Lowes Time Trial series. Above, Amy was all business as she exited the pit garage.
This year, it's personal. Ready to duke it out for time-trial bragging rights on Lakeview Acres Road. Amy drew first blood, finishing in 25:39 and taking 2nd in the women's Cat 4 division. My time of 26:05 landed me in 14th among Cat 4 men.
Our friend Paul entered his first road race the same evening.
Amy entered her first omnium on May 14-16, the new Tour du Life in the High Country of northwest NC. The first leg of the omnium was the Beech Mountain time trial, which Amy is getting ready to start above. Amy finished the 5-mile hill climb in 36:33, taking 7th place in the women's open division.
The following morning was the second stage of the Tour du Life omnium, the Boone Road Race. As with any route in the High Country, the 35-mile circuit boasted copious amounts of climbing, including a mountaintop finish atop George's Gap. Above, Amy gets ready to set out from historic Cove Creek School with the women's open field, among whom she would finish 11th.
Having missed the Friday time trial, I jumped into the fray on Saturday morning, looking forward to race on some of the same roads that I began cycling on as a student at ASU 20 years prior. However, a lack of fitness and an unfortunate crash by a fellow competitor combined to leave myself and two others far off the pace after 16 miles, at which point I pulled out of the race, choosing instead to head to a cookout to scarf hot dogs. Lack of fitness... hot dogs... hmmm...
The final stage of the omnium was the Newland criterium on Sunday morning. The 1-mile circuit featured a long rise culminating in a 12% legbreaker before descending to the start-finish area. The brutal course took its toll on many riders that day, myself included. I finished 9th in the Cat 4/5 Masters division.
Out of the saddle and powering over the steepest part of the course. Amy finished 12th in the Newland crit and 7th for the overall omnium. However, this was in a women's open division, which includes not only Amy's cat 4 division, but categories 1-3 as well, meaning Amy was competing against the most experienced women racers. She was the second-highest placed Cat 4 racer in the final omnium standings.
Ring of Fire action on May 26. I raced again in both the Masters and Category B (Cats 3 and 4) races.
The Ring of Fire has started a women's open race, and Amy finished 6th on this night. She also sprinted for an unofficial win among the women in the earlier Cat C men's/women's race.OK, so I think I'm pretty much caught up. My next report will be of our fascinating journey to the sandhills of NC over Memorial Day weekend.
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