As my second year as a licensed Semi-Pro and racing in the Pro class at local races I can't say 2006 brought me any results that I was really happy about except for the US Open. Like every year I raced I would maybe ride once a week, and then go race on the weekends. By the time September rolled around and classes started I wanted nothing to do with my DH bike. In fact I didn't touch it for the rest of the season and sold it as soon as I found a buyer. I was honestly really burnt out from racing, and was walking away every weekend unhappy with my results. When I look back now I think I had the tools to podium at most of the races I attended but I had to refine them and really make them work for me. In the 10 or so years I have raced I have always done relatively well, and feel that I am a talented rider but I never put the effort into to making the physical part of racing part of my game plan. In short I didn't train, and relied solely on my "skill" to race. Unfortunately it took me until this summer to really figure that out.
In the previous years that I raced I wasn't very fit, and certainly wasn't strong, in fact I was a bit fatty and more or less weak, yet I still did reasonably well, and as a Junior was one of the top racers in the North East. This summer I went up to the Bromont World Cup to spectate as it had been quite some time since I had been to a race and couldn't pass up the opportunity as it was so close. What a great time I had and while I really enjoyed watching, something struck me up on the mountain while I was watching the racers come down. Now not to sound cocky, but as I watched the back 40 or so qualifiers come down I really wasn't impressed by how fast they were going, and felt that if I got back on the bike and started racing again that I could get to, at the very least, the speed of those riders. I felt and feel that I have the skill but just needed to refine the tools that I have.
Back again now to 2006. I was burnt out on racing, and didn't feel fit. I started some minor weight lifting in the fall of 2006 in order to become stronger but mainly to look better and be more fit. In November of 2006 myself, my Dad, and Brother stumbled upon a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym. I did Kempo Karate for 5 years or so when I was young, but martial arts pretty much left my mind and I hadn't had much interest in it since then. I started training at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school and was immediately hooked. From November of 2006 to the end of August of 2008, besides school work, and work, this is where my time was devoted to. I began doing Muay Thai as well, and getting more into the MMA side of things. I didn't really have any desire to actually fight, but I did enjoy learning and becoming more skilled just for personal use. The summer of 2007 and 2008 were my first summers in 10 or so years that I wasn't racing every weekend, and boy was it awesome. At the end of the 2006 season I did hold onto my trail bike, I used it once in 2007, and sold it in June of 2008 only to buy a new trail bike shortly after and start riding again. The one thing that the BJJ really did for me was show me how to train. Over the past 2 years I have taken nutrition classes, and engrossed myself in books learning about weight lifting, power lifting, and kettlebell work. The two years off from cycling really taught me a lot, and I really learned about dedicating time both to training and to school work.
This past summer after purchasing a new trail bike and riding again I realized how much I loved mountain biking. This is certainly a sport that will always have my heart. But after going to the World Cup, I knew that I had both the mental and physical aspects now to become a much faster racer than I used to be. Now weighing roughly 10lbs less than I did when I last raced, but with 20lbs more muscle I have much more power over the bike. As well I completely believe that I can become one of the top racers in the US, and I think mental stability is a huge part of becoming successful in any sport. I learned this very much from my BJJ training and competing. In BJJ tournament you have to walk in knowing you can win, if not your losing before you have even started.
So that is a brief overview of what I have been getting into these last two years after I stopped racing. Thanks to my student loan I have a new DH bike and am looking forward to the 2009 race season greatly. My training is currently in full swing and I am working with James Wilson over at mtbstrengthcoach.com In addition to my training I am trying to get my nutrition in better line so that I can chop off a few more pounds come race season. Lastly I will be working part time for the Fellowship of the Wheel (FOTW) next season as a trail builder, so this will afford me great opportunities to always be able to get a ride in and train.
The plan is to try and update this daily or at least every few days with training notes now, and riding and racing notes come the season. I'm super pumped for the up coming season, both to be back on the bike and to see old faces at the races again. Cheers.
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