I've Been Hijacked!!

Stan Watkins, friend, mentor, VQ Godfather, Cat III Masters Racer for the Proctor Cycling Team and all around nice guy is out in Pa for Masters Nationals, doing the TT, Crit & Road Race in the 50-54 category. He has "hijacked" my BLOB so I can post his daily diaries, pictures etc. You can also leave comments for him, as he will be checking it as well, I believe. I will keep it as current as he sends the updates, and of course, his lovely bride Sue will be sending over photos as well. Please cheer him on, as he deserves it!

Thursday July 13, 2006-Brief TT pictures are trying to be posted! (pics are too large right now, I am trying to condense them in a smaller format to see if I can upload them)

Day 7: First the news you are waiting for – I finished 18th out of a field of 100 riders. Take a look at page 1 of the final results attached. Take a look at the names – several Olympic medal winners – national TT champion – multiple Nationals Road title holders and some guy from Peoria Bicycle Club. Finally I did not finish “behind Tom Doughty” – just kidding really. Tom is really a nice guy and he paid me several complements this week about my racing. Yes – I am proud of what I accomplished this week but I know I could not have done this without all my riding / training buddies back home. My buddy Jim finished strong on the last lap to take 22nd!

Day 6: Rest day after a very hard and fast championship criterium. I feel really good about how I raced yesterday even if the final placing does not reflect it. After a late dinner, massage from my #1 fan and a good nights sleep I woke up with good legs, no soreness and refreshed. To be at this level of fitness and peak form is really a great feeling – not that it makes it easier but it does give you confidence when you know you can hang with the big dogs. We decided on a tour of the most famous Frank Lloyd Wright house “Falling Waters” which was only 25 minutes from Seven Springs. After yet another great blueberry pancake breakfast (yes – I like’em) we headed to Falling Waters. This house (& guest house) was built for the Kaufman family from Pittsburg in 1935-36 and employs the Wright cantilever design over 2 water falls – it is spectacular in every detail. The Kaufman family owned Kaufman department stores in Pittsburg in the early 1900’s and the house was supposed to be built for $25,000 but ended up costing $150,000 (like 3 million in today’s money).
Got back to Seven Springs and Doug called to see if I wanted to go for a ride with the AMD boys? Without much notice I got ready, changed wheels, filled a water bottle and headed out. Evidently the AMD boys were anxious to ride and did not want to wait 5 more minutes before I could ride to where they were so I told them to go on without me. It was just as well because I could ride at my own pace and do the kind of workout that suited me. When finished I rode back to the start of the RR so I could meet up with Sue, Jim & Kathy to watch Bob Hayssen in his RR at 3:10. Bob’s race was delayed because of the late finish in the women’s 35-39 so that worked out great. I did a 1:15 ride and caught up with the back of the women’s and decided to try and encourage them to keep going before I went around to finish my ride. Bob did a super job hanging with the front group in the 1st lap and staying within the top 15 through 6 laps when they decided to cut short anyone out of the top 10. Bob got 15th or 16th out of close to 100 riders so a fantastic job by Bob!!!! The short RR course is extremely challenging with 900’ of climbing per lap and I don’t think Bob was too disappointed? Just found out Stathy is here and he raced (with Brian Haas) this morning in the masters men long course. His back has been a problem but he hung in there and finished. Brian had enough on lap one still recovering from his shoulder injury.
Now it is time to chill – have some leftover pasta for supper and relax. Get a nice long sleep tonight and have dreams about “believing”!!!!!!

Stan
Day 5: Big crit day – 40 laps around a motor race track and infield. Very technical on the infield part and wide open on the track as we learned from Doug’s race yesterday. We don’t race until 6:15 so the hard part is “cooling out” all day and trying not to think too much all the possible scenario’s that could unfold. Jim Sauls is quite nervous and we are trying to reassure him that it will be fine. There have been lots of crashes so far in the crits but we tell him that we are the last race of the crit championships so they will have everything worked out and safe by then. Chill out for not and get ready for a fast and challenging race. AMD has a big team in our age group and of course all the big names will be there. Robbie called just before we left for the race to give me a pep talk and “believing in yourself”. He is such an inspiration I could not help but feel a big boost in my confidence and knowing that no matter how great these guys were I am just as good!

The Race: WOW – that was one fast mother!!! The course was very technical and did I say fast. All the big hitters and teams are here – I am truly competing against the best in the country and I fear none of them! After a good warm up and double checking the Litespeed we took several practice laps around the 1.2 mile circuit. They made the course longer to avoid dangerous corners and rough surfaces so instead of 40 laps they tell us we are doing 33 laps that still keeps it a 75k. We should have objected and one guy did as the longer 40 laps would have help create a selection. My friend Jim Sauls raced with me although his head was not in it because of the difficult course and tight racing (he drops out in 10 laps). Bob Hysson, Sue and Kathy Sauls were our cheering section – I saw Doug at the end. Fast from the gun and no let up. My legs felt great and I settled into a nice tempo staying towards the front 10 -15 places most of the time. First turn into the infield all 67 starters try to dive in at once – not a good idea as we had out first crash before the 1st lap – Wayne Stetina (AMD Masters) and 2 other guys go down hard. Couple of good attacks by the Specialized team after 8 laps and I bridged to the 2nd one. AMD chased and shut it down and I settled in to recover. Several laps later the pace slows just before the turn into the infield so I attack and get a gap – one guys bridges up – then a guy from Specialized joins us. We work together for a lap but the chasers catch us and the field is really strung out. Sit in and recover and stay sharp looking for the next opportunity – this time with Doughty. I am on his wheels when he winds it up and I go for a heck of a ride – is he for real of faking for Bostick?????? None the less we go past the front group like they were standing still – then he shuts it down – it was a fake? A counter attack happens when we are back in the group, good move and I have enough gas to go with it – nice, nice! Maybe this one will stick – no dice - the field is too strong and talented. Recovered in the top 15 and heard Doughty say “nice racing Stan” as he was beside me. Last 3 laps and it gets even faster – crash in the middle / front of the pack on the infield as the guy completely flips and lands on his feet facing the racers coming at him. Now there is an image I will never forget! I maneuver around him but it costs me several positions so I jump on it as hard as possible to get back in the top 20. With 2 laps to go I take a quick glance at my SRM and it says 32 mph – then last lap and a big attack off the front. Bostick, Charlie Townsend and 2 others duke it out for the jersey. Bostick gets too aggressive finishes 2nd but is relegated to 9th. Now that was a race! Oh – I finished 22nd in a field of 67 and 52 finishers and I feel GREAT!

Stan

Day 4: After good nights sleep we got up to a leisure morning. After the great massage from Sue my legs are feeling great with no soreness from yesterday’s hard effort. We decided to go watch Doug’s Crit race at 9:15am. More rain today I fact it rained all night – glad I don’t have to race a crit in these conditions. The crit course is 25 miles away from Seven Springs at a motor race track where we use part of the oval and infield with several technical turns 1km in length. As we walk up to the track I see Brian Haas who has just watched Francine race the master women’s 40-44 crit. Evidently a lot of crashes in her race due to wet rough infield roads made worse by oily surface from the race cars??????? Brian gives me some insight as to how to ride the course and where it might be dicey. After the women’s race they try soaking up the oil / water area with floor dry.
Doug’s race was a good one with the best racers in the 45-49 age group. With 40 laps to race with attacks going off in the 1st 5 laps. It got really interesting at 20 to go with a lead group of 12 two guys on the same team (Specialized) launched and attack and stayed away the rest of the race for 1st and 2nd. After several crashes and bloody riders Doug hung in safely for a top 20 final. The field had been reduced by ½ by the end of the race. After The race the officials decided to change the race course to see if they can eliminate the dangerous corner.
The plan is to ride the RR course with Jim and maybe Tom this afternoon and hope the rain will let up a little. Will try out the 27 gearing and see how it feels then decide on using a compact crank.

Stan
Ps: We are hosting a VQ dinner tonight for Bob Hyson, Doug, Jim and Kathy Sauls.

Wednesday July 12, 2006

Day 3 TT: We get to the course 2 hours before my start for a couple reasons. We want to see Doug before his start at 12:56 and to have a calm approach to final preparations. A good solid (and timely) warm up is essential. The crowds of riders and supporters are impressive as demonstrated by the number of support vehicles I saw yesterday when previewing the course. Last count we had over 60-70 men competing in my age group 50-54. TIAA Creff is here for the U23 racers but we have not seen their director sportif Jonathan Vaughters yet. There are racers from all around the US with a true explosion of colors and sponsors. There is some reassurance from seeing the top men here that I race against in the mid-west and knowing I can compete with them head to head. Arrive at the venue with time to see how the start is staged and equipment changes the riders are employing because of the wet conditions. The rain has stopped and a little sun is poking around. After the warm up I see Jim Sauls (VQ Lake Bluff) at the start area and he is nervous about the wet roads and possible debris. He has chosen his road bike with clip on’s to ride the TT.
Great news – I have discovered a brand new pain threshold! My goal time if all things were clicking was 50:00 and my actual time was 54:00 flat for 22nd place. Not bad considering I gave it my all and only a slight delay getting into my small ring it was without errors. Jim Sauls ended up with 54:15. It feels good to get this 1st event out of the way and the nerves that go with it!
Now some good food and lots of rest – Sue promised a massage and then to bed early. Funny thing as soon as we got back to the condo the skies opened and started raining again. The U23 and tandem had the worst conditions today by far but still set new record times – better than the elite men last week. The future of American cycling is looking promising!

Stan

Tuesday July 11, 2006

Friends,

My therapy for dealing with all the emotions of a big event like this is to keep a log of what happens, observations, race happenings and oh yes – results. You won’t hurt my feelings if you choose to opt out of this “National Road log” as I will not be giving you a 3rd person perspective, glamorous replays of my fantastic abilities or any such nonsense. Just the plain and simple “here is how it went” and to share my experience with you. No excuses here – I am focused on doing the best I can against the best this country has to offer in my age group 50-54. Whether you know it or not you have all played a part in why I am here today and I will be thinking of each of you every time I line up at the start line!

Before we get started you need to know that I would not be where I am without the loving support of my biggest fan and love of my life Sue. Nothing I do on my bike will ever be as important as Sue is to me – period!

Day 1: Six+ hour drive to Columbus to stay overnight where I am writing this 1st entry of the log. Sure glad we are driving with all the stuff that “I needed to take”. The drive to Seven Springs is only 4 hours from here and we should be there by 12:00 – 1:00. I am concerned my coach Doug is not coming to Nationals after having a not so good TTT Sunday. Hope he does because that is the best therapy to cure a disappointment. We all have those moments (races / training rides) and it can really take a whack at your mindset. Robbie is unbelievable in dealing a disappointment in racing. He immediately puts it in the past and moves on to the present and future. The most positive upbeat guy you will ever meet. No bad on TV either? UPDATE: just received an email from Doug he made it to Seven Springs – drove straight thru with his buddy Tom Doughty Sunday night and has already been previewing the race courses.
I digress – sorry but not much to report on a car ride to Columbus. Plenty of time to think – not just a belief but I know I am capable of winning! Nervous – you bet. Scared – not in this lifetime!!!

Tomorrow Day 2. Thanks for reading and your good vibes are appreciated. By the way results should be posted here: https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=105 and the official web site for the Road Nationals is: http://www.7springs.com/bike/race.htm

Stan

Tuesday July 11th, 2006

Friends – thanks for the overwhelming response and I hope not to disappoint.

Day 2 – TT tomorrow: Good drive in from Columbus but the 55mph speed limit on the PA interstate 70 was a pain. Arrived Seven Springs at 12:00, checked in with a little sweet talking to the receptionist to get a nice condo with a great set up for the week. Called Doug and they (AMD Discovery Masters Tom & Wayne) have already ridden the TT course to test out equipment choices and gearing. Doug spent some time with me to go over the course, where to let it out, watch curves and where the nasty climbs are. Oh did I mention that the TT course averages 4% grade for 30K with several 15%+ sections – absolutely the hardest TT course I will ever do. My start time Wednesday is 13:49:30 with 30 second start intervals. Last count we had 60+ racing in the 50-54 age group.
I rode from the hotel to the course about 5 miles up and down roads that will also be used for the RR course. The TT starts in Laurel State Park which is a really nice place but I don’t plan on looking at the scenery. My goal today to look over the course, get a feel for the wind, climbs and technical aspect. Momentum has too be usedescentse maximum on decents to handle the steep climbs. After doing the out and back I decided to make some equipment changes. No disc rear wheel – switch to the Reynolds carbon with a 25 or 27 cluster. Some are estimating a 46:00 time will win this Championship but I think it will be more like 48:00 – 50:00 it is that hard! Came across Jim Sauls a fellow VQer’s from Chicago. Jim is super fit and he and his partner just set the best time at the 2 person TT last Sunday. To save my legs I called for a ride back to the hotel from Sue. We will get the parking area in time to watch Doug start and get in a great warm up. Good, long sleep tonight is a must!
So many thoughts colliding in head - the mental challenge is a huge factor especially after riding the course and seeing how hard it is going to be. No problem because I am going to have the TT of my life tomorrow – keep sending those good vibes my way!

Stan