So, I’m going to get back on track with this blog stuff. Got some encouragement from a relative Easter Day. I will get a few photos in one of these days too I hope.
Here’s a bit regarding my races – how things went and what I learned.
1. April 3 -Bellevue, NE – place 5th out of 8. Moving up 
) Learned that I should know whether there is a turn immediately after I “sky” over a jump and if there is hold back on the “sky” part. Didn’t wreck though.
2. April 10 – Sylvan Island, Rock Island Illinois – I quit. Learned that if I go completely balls to the wall on lap one trying to keep up with those faster than me that I’ll be toast in lap 2. Also learned that it is too easy for me to let a rude Sport class guy racer tick me off and wreck my attitude. Work on attitude. Also learned 3 days later that mud from a poison ivy infested area (even if none yet visible) that splatters onto one’s legs, body will cause many little itchy poison ivy blisters too – aarg!
3. April 17 – Bone Bender, Lawrence Kansas – huge accomplishment. Got 5th out of 8 again I think. Was a 3 hour race on singletrack. Some of it VERY rocky. Was pleased with my effort, my ATTITUDE and how I handled many of the rocky sections. Learned that if I stare at the one place in the rocky crossing that I want to avoid I will hit it instead of avoiding it. That resulted in some bumps scrapes and bruises on my left leg hip and arm. Lesson 2 was that shifting weight off the back wheel as go up a greasy slope right when the back wheel is on a wet root will result in a wreck as well. That one took care banging up my right leg, ankle and hip. Also learned that even though get super tired and beat up, mountain biking is still the best 
4. May 1 – Decorah Time Trials, Decorah iowa – Got 5th out of 7. Are you noticing a pattern of placement here? You might also be noticing that none of them, except the “I quit” race, involve a last place finish. See, I told you I’m moving on up! Learned I can race even when it is only 40 degrees, cloudy, and 90 million mph wind. Thankful that we were in lots of trees.
That’s all the races to date. I have some more this month and then I head out to Pennsylvania for the Transylvania Mountain Bike Epic. I have butterflies! Working on rehearsing positive thoughts so there isn’t room for negative thinking. It is going to be an awesome week! Bike and recover. Repeat x 7 days. Don’t have to try to fit in that pesky job
Ride free )|(
Karmen
May 1, 2011 at 8:43 PM
Good to see you back. I just noticed that you were going to do the Cheq 40 last year but didn’t see a report. I’d like to hear about.
Landon
May 2, 2011 at 8:40 AM
Nice report and a very good month of racing. Sounds like good progress and lessons learned. It’s going to be fun following you in the stage race – good luck
John
May 2, 2011 at 7:42 PM
Glad to see you’re blogging again…I can tell you love it (the biking, not necessarily keeping the blog up-to-date (LOL) Hope you have a good time in Pennsylvania!