Most Beautiful Ride of the Year

Was Saturday, after watching Maren run in Menomonie. I rode home on the quiet back roads through Spring Valley, WI. Sun shining, with the colors still near peak. Several canopied roads with falling leaves. It just doesn't get much better. My only regret was no pictures.

Someone Has to Be Last

A rare opinion piece.

Cross in Minnesota is growing, but the "A" race is not.

The "A" race at Minnesota cross races this season have been on par or smaller compared to 2007. This is mostly due to category changes. Last year, some Cat 3's were towing the line in the "A" races, where their only option is the "B" race this year.

The main reason I am noticing this is because last season, I was finishing in front of more people, where this year I am always fighting for DFL. I don't think I have lost my step, just competing against a smaller and tougher field than last year.

Inevitably, It's brought me to consider downgrading to a Cat 3. However, won't this just shrink the A race further. Someone has to be last. I'm going to keep taking my lumps, and stick with the A race. Any Cat 3's want to take the plunge into the 1/2's like Thorlson, Haugh, and Helbrecht have this season?

Jordan First Overall Cyclocross Win

Jordan wins the C Race

1st and 2nd Place, after the final set of barriers on the last lap.

Jordan won the C Race at Sunday's Big Ring Flyers Cyclocross Race in Hudson, WI. He had managed two 3rd place finishes in C races this fall, and was hunting for the win.

He didn't get his normal good start, but by the end of the first lap, he was with the lead group of 5. Eventually, Jordan took the lead and pushed the pace. Only Synergy's Caleb Goltz was able to match his pace. On the final laps, Jordan kept pressing, opened a gap on Goltz, resulting in his first C race win.

Click below for photos from the C race and 1st B race.

Big Ring Flyers Hudson CX

Maren Sets Personal Best 4K Time

Maren set a personal best 4K time of 18:31, finishing 25th out of 88 at the Big Rivers Conference JV Girls Championships. Both Carla and I were so proud and relieved she had such a great final performance.

She had no episodes during the race, just a lot of nervous energy prior to the start. Carla and I ran all over the course to make sure we would be there if she fainted again. In doing so, I finally got some great photos of her running.

This was her last cross country race of 2008, although she intends to keep practicing with the Varsity girls. Her cardiac holter monitor did not show any cardiac anomalies, so now she is wearing an cardiac event recorder for 30 days. They've already ruled out some of the more dangerous problems like Long QT syndrome and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopothy.

Look Out, Maren is Driving now

You get your permit in WI at 15 and a half. 6 more months till she can drive solo. WI has another law that prohibits drivers under 18 from having more than 1 other person under 18 in the car with them.

Maren's Holter Experience

Maren wore a holter monitor for the past 24 hours. It captures a 24 hour ECG stream from 5 surface leads on your chest.

The good news is she had an fainting episode during cross country practice, which got recorded. Hopefully the data will provide some answers.

One of the leads is exposed up by her neck. She didn't like people asking what it was. Today she's wearing a scarf.

She's a bit nervous about possibly needing a device like an implantable pacemaker or defibrillator. I'm doing my best to calm her fears, and assure her that it would allow her to continue running, and not restrict her lifestyle.

Carla asked me what if she needs a device, and the doctor doesn't want to put in a Medtronic device. Simple answer, get a different doctor.

Jordan's Final Cross Country Meet for 2008

Still sporting the ankle brace. It hold his ankle at a 90 deg angle.

(L-R) 1st through 10th

Hudson Boys Win the Team Title

Hudson Middle School swept the podium again, this time in New Richmond. Same finish order as last time. Ryan 1st, Alex 2nd, then Jordan 3rd. Hudson boys also won the team competition with the lowest score of 25.

Score: 46 to 19

2008 Race Wins:
Jordan = 46 wins (including 14 since breaking his wrist at the end of July)
Jimmer = 19 wins

Barring the entire A race field crashing out leaving me solo, my win count will stop at 19 for 2008.

Another Setback for Maren

Maren passed out again at her cross-country race this past Saturday. It was worse this time, in that she was out for long enough where people came to her aid to revive her. Very scary.

Carla was waiting for her at the finish line, but Maren never came. A few nervous moments later, she arrived via a golf cart, pale as a ghost. If Carla wasn't there, they would have put her in an Ambulance.

Back to square one. She was very well hydrated, and had plenty to eat, so it doesn't appear to be nutritional. The EKG didn't show any abnormalities, so the next step is a stress test.

She's a trooper, and is not ready to give up on running.

Twine Ball and Wirth Classic CX recaps

Jordan in the Woods at Twine Ball

Fast over the barriers at Twine Ball

Attacking the Hill at Twine Ball

Beautiful Fall Colors at Wirth

Light attendance at Twine Ball, even lighter than last year. People missed riding a fast, fun course on a beautiful fall day. Props to Zim and his crew for a more forgiving course than last year.

To contrast, HUGE fields at the Wirth Classic. 100+ in the C race. Less, but not much less in the B race. Probably around 30 in the A race.

I got lapped 2 times by Dewey and Patty Cakes in both races. I don't feel like I'm going that slow, until the fast guys go blowing by me. I always try to move aside (critical on this weekends single track courses), but they come up so dang fast.

Actually, I think just about the whole field lapped me both days. Not planning on downgrading to a Cat 3. I'll just wait 3 more years until I can race Masters 45+ and do the B race.

Jordan has started paying his entry fees. This weekend, he won $30 at Twine Ball for finishing 3rd overall in the C race, and then won a nice pair of Tifosi sunglasses for winning the younger juniors at the Wirth Classic.

Jordan has now won a total of 3 pairs of Tifosi sunglasses. The whole family now wears them, except Jordan of course. He wears Oakley Radars, which he got for his 13th birthday.

Wirth Classic CX Photos

Non-professional photos, primarily of the B race. Feel free to download them for free. Click here for photos.

Sorry, didn't stick around for photos of the results.

Twine Ball Cyclocross Results

Click for photos of Twine Ball CX Results.

Cycling Stuff Giveaway

That's right. Free stuff! Preferential treatment afforded to LSC teammates and close friends. Email me: j dot cullen at sbcglobal dot net, or find me at one of this weekend's cross races.

L/XL Giro Helmet - Free!

M Bell Helmet - Free!

Shimano MTB Shoes - Womens Size 39 - Free!

Shimano Road Shoes - Womens Size 38 - Free!

Exustar MTB Shoes - Size 38 - Free!

AXO Road Shoes - Size 36 - Free!

Lake MTB Shoes - Size 36 - Free!

Championship Jerseys

All Jordan's hard work paid off this summer in the form of 5 2008 championship jerseys. The 4 on the left are his Wisconsin Cycling Association Junior Male State Championship Jerseys (Age 13-14 TT, Road, and Crit; Age 15-16 Crit). The 1 on the right is the WISPORT White Jersey for Best Young Rider under 19. Congratulations Jordan on your success. I've got to give props to both WCA and Wisport for providing these excellent jerseys.

Hudson Cyclocross - A Modern Classic

Jordan finished 8th overall out of 43 C racers (1st younger junior). I used my tail gunning technique to perfection in the A race. I finished close to last, including getting lapped by a flying Bjorn Selander, not once, but twice.

Jordan Storming the Beach

See if you can guess when I was running the beach.
Muddy and Happy

Corcoran CX Results - not DFL

I sucked at Corcoran, but not as bad as the results show. I finished 4th from last (26th), right behind Spencer, not DFL as the results show. I'm sure I'll be DFL at some point this cross season, just not today.

A Race:

B Race (It says C, but trust me, it's B):

C Race:

Hey Wah, Wanna Race?

You've got 2 more cylinders than I do, but I've got 280HP to your 270HP.

Apparently cyclists like VW wagons?

Maren Stays Upright at Chi Hi

Maren had no issues at the Chippewa Falls Cross Country Invite at beautiful Lake Wissota state park. Normally, the girls run 4K, but they run 5K at this meet. It was a challenging course over rolling terrain through the woods. Maren finished in a respectable 24:16. Carla was nervous until she saw Maren headed for the finish. I don't know who was more relieved there were no issues, Carla or Maren? I knew she could do it. I was simply proud after her race.

Hudson Podium Sweep

The top 3 finishers at the Ellsworth Middle School Cross Country Meet

L-R: Alex (2nd), Jordan (3rd), Ryan (1st)

Jordan's first cross country meet - 3rd place

Jordan was sidelined again this fall from cross country running with Achilles tendinitis. He's in the process of getting orthodics, and had to stop running until he gets them next week. That's why you see him wearing an brace on his left ankle (along with the brace on his left wrist).

The coach asked if he'd be willing to run in the meets, even if he can't come to practice, and he said OK. His first meet was Tuesday, where he finished 3rd overall of around 150 middle school kids (Jordan is a 7th grader). Hudson middle school ended up taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall for the boys. Go Raiders!