First race weekend

So i went down with my teammate Ty to race Tuscalussa. It was a twilight crit on sat. night and a 70mile rr on sunday.The crit went decent. We missed the winning 3 man break, but i got 3rd in the field sprint with a broken cleat so i was content. I really suffered in the crit, but i guess thats expected for my 1st crit of the year. It was good prep for speedweek. The rr on sunday was hard. Just constant attacks.....Nothing got away til the last lap and we missed it again. But we came in the top half of the field. I felt better in that race. Even went on a solo flier for around 12 miles. On the one long hill in the race i felt good as well so i think my climbing has improved this year......Chatt. is next race, hopefully i can come up with a good result in that.

Back home

So Im back from the dessert. The training was great, but the weather was probably better. It was good to train with some good friends as well. The coolest part had to be riding up mount Lemmon. It was like 90 degrees at the bottom but by the top there was snow! I put up some pictures.

Im racing this weekend in Alabama....I'll get an update up after that,

aj

AZ

So im here training in Scottsdale. The training is great and the dessart is beautiful. Words can't describe it, ill make sure to post pictures. Its currently day 3, we have over 12 and a half hrs already. I think we plan on getting like 28hrs in. Today we did 100 miles, a ton of climbing, and it was hottter then hell. I'm def. feeling good and ready to start racing.
Ill post later with some pictures,
later,
aj

Life

So a few days ago an event happened that made me really think about life, death, and my passion. David Meeks, a local rider, was hit by a car and was killed. This is the first person i personally knew that was killed in such a fashion. I have had family members pass away from sicknesses but I had time to prepare and accept thier fate. But this was differant. It took me by complete suprise and made me sick. I didnt know Mr. Meeks to well, but we were def. on a first name basis. He was one of those guys who has been around and riding ever since i started cycling. He was always happy and loved what he did. He would put on these epic mountian training rides that me and my dad would occasionally do. I'll def. always remember him.
RIP David

So this event really made me relize the value of everyday that we live. I think we are all guilty of getting into a daily habbit of taking everday as a giving. This made me relize how every ride, every day at school, every night with my friends, every day with my family could be the last. Life really is beautiful. Every emotion we experience is great. Even when I am down, I now relize that i'm alive, that i'm living and that every day is what i make it to be. I had a track meet this past Saturday, and before my race i was so nervous. But something came to me. As i was sitting before my race nervous as hell i took a second to relise the beuaty of competion. Sports make us feel more alive then almost anything else! I mean I went from nervous, to hurting during the race, to a high of winning the race. I often think of the meaning of life. I think one reason we are alive is to experience the great emotions of life. Love, victory, pain, joy, saddeness..........they are all great emotions that make us feel alive as ever. And I never took the time to relize it until recently. Live life to the fullest and try to enjoy everyday, every ride, every moment. I know I will enjoy them more then ever now.

1st race

Wasnt much of a race for myself. Terrible conditions and a flat 15 miles in the race sums up my day.....However our team took first and third! Big man Butler finished 1st! Other news is that i got my cat. 1 upgrade.....next step is PRO!
lata

aj