Hillside Pug#2 SLEESTACK n CHAKA

HILLSIDE WAS HARDER BUT LESS STRESSFULL THAN THE FIRST RACE. I led the whole first lap and was feeling fuel'ed.... The race was 15 minutes longer in total but lap 2 was brutal hike-a-bike. I did the no water experiment again. Between no water and all the HIKE-A-BIKE...... I relate pace/movement of lap 2 a cross btwn SLEESTACK & CHAKA. Hike hike hike, mush mush mush.....me chaka, CHAKA, me chaka. oooooooooh, sleestack so scary. those we the days! CHAKA's outfit. That would be nice at race 1 when 0 degrees! Not sure what else to say. The experiment worked, I suffered good. The two rides in two weeks does not cut it for race prep either. I'm in better shape than last year, happy with results. No gym, no riding, no time, no surprises. results Larry seems to have the Winter mush mush mush heavey pug advantage. Next race is the PUG finally race and the big party. Good times. you--> PUGFEST'09, Feb 15th or watch LAND OF THE LOST.

2hr 15m of Hillside Race -0 Degrees F’

2 winter laps at Hillside in "0" degree Fahrenheit weather. Good times, who knew. To remember I’m going to write a bit more. PRE-RACE: 10:00AM arrival. Wandered between car and fire. Layers & duct tape heat pack process avoidance tactics in play. Cold out. Repeat, cold. Said hello to Pramann. He mentioned, “do Arrowhead135.” Ha! I shared I’m too nervous. I was wondering to myself, “I'm going to race today?” After some hello’s between car & fire warm ups layer prep began. I proceeded to drip nasal spray in my eyes. WHOOPS, no wonder it stung! The other little bottle worked, ah eyes better. Next was blistex on nose, ears, face, & forehead. Whew, got that right. Upon stuffing the mitts in camelback fluids started spewing all over the car. I couldn’t shut off because heat packs & duct tape kept water valve open. Crap. Still Cold! Decided to drink a lot more. After some additional tard water spill decided to bag fluids on trail. It was going to freeze anyway. 36oz of water mixed with ½ scoop heed & ½ perp down the hatch. Five minute warm-up didn’t work. Three toe warmers for each foot wrapped in duct tape was comforting as was thick neck gator. No glasses or goggles as they just fog in a slogfest. Ready; 3 gels in pocket, no water & no warm-up. My internal thoughts we’re, I’m lean, light & ready to hike-a-bike. THE REAL SITUATION AHEAD: A full 2 laps on 3 inches fresh snow over semi-ice base. A couple non-LCR however mainly LCR goofs/buds out to torture each other. Zilla had 5/8 studs and Colbert 3/8 protrusion on normal pug tires. Patterson 2.6 or so Klondike’s on pug like rims. The rest had normal pugs. Miller ran 29’er 32x20 skinny. Yup, 0 degrees & sunny. Future un-known. THE RACE: Colbert took the bait & passed me just before trail entrance for lead out. I wanted to go in 2nd or 3rd. It was bound to be hike-a-bike with many lead changes. Colbert & Zilla with studs we’re gripping much much better. I hiked/ran much more on first lap than 2nd. Anyway, once Colbert got tired Zilla passed us on a climb, then we chased. And Chased. Coldbert fell back and I chased, and chased. I caught Zilla for good in sec4. Zilla was scoring points on all obstacles and teeter alike. Fresh tracks to witness. I was obligated to take the long skinny near end of lap 1. Zilla followed. No point. Frickin good times. Lap 2 was tough on skinny tire mayhem. I offered lead over but Zilla said I’m ok. Tired of leading I threatened to crash, he threatened to spike ramp me, I threatened to crash real bad off trail, but it didn’t happen. After a full lap together Zilla fell back (section 4). I finished race for a win without Colbert, Jimmay or Pramann sneaking up. Zilla had the race - instead bonked!! Coldbert & Jimmay had good showing, heck just finishing…...what an event. Feet warm, neck gator was off & on face, layers worked, no gels used, no bonk AND did I mention it was ZERO DEGREES F outside!!!!! results

A- A- A+ A+

Seems like I just finished and now starting J term Saturday! Oh well A- A- not bad. Today's ride to Theo and back was A+. 12 degrees and I was comfy everywhere. I'm good for a few hours no problem. Hillside Sunday Jan 2nd 11:00AM bound to be a total beatdown hoot!! Pre-rating A+. This Sunday is the re-scheduled 1st race of 3 Winter Series Hillside races. Check the weather in store....

Snow Covers Ice, Rock n Water

Snow covers ice, limestone caves are created with water too? Oh details of quality surfaces. Ever climbed a stellar cave like Vacouver Isle, Horne Lake? I climbed right of gent pictured....up to slot then out and up cave on those bomber holes. Sweet memories.

Anyway!! Biked to Theo looped a beauty lap today. Saw one chucker on PUG, we had first tracks. Once again bagged log clean. Fresh tracks as proof. My camera is broken hence abstract picture distractions.

Nightcrawler to Snowshoe not Austrailia

Saturday- arrivied in Leb lot before 7:30AM. Lot empty. First quiet solo lap very hard as I sunk 1/4 inch the whole lap(on pug). Twas a thick shag carpet ride no matter what the tire pressure. Lap 2 with LCR gang was freaky...no more small ring...no more work. WOW. It froze solid and went from punchy work to crunchy in an hour. Lap 2 some of us trudged farther into X, 2pin & Fox completed. Sarg marched XX after Scott & Ray stomped. By end of lap 3 I was worked. Amy went for a ride with Teel to Theo. My plans to hit surly brewery for first time thwarted. I had to head home to kiddo's so Amy could ride, it was only fair. Amy & I topped the day off with a snowshoe (she used her xmas present). Nice lake mtka hike with her sister & husband. Good times, good sushi & more exercise!! Today I'm riding Theo w/my pal Joel. Since he's from Australia now & hasn't been on a pug, we'll show him Sota snow treats to re-aquaint w/MN nICE (picture). Next weekend Pug Race #1 at Hillside. Oh about "nightcrawler", saw a live one at Leb!!

Let it Snow

Murphy last wknd was a 3 hr workout. Yesterday Theo stomp, shovel & sled-pull worked well with Alta & Leo. Theo was awesome fun last night on PUG. South hwy 55 loop messy, North is good to go. Happy Holiday's.

Theo Pug Video's