TJ Woodruff ONLINE

Getting back out on the mountain bike for some real riding is a sure shot way to up the motivation levels and find some extra fitness for the season’s final races. I joined up with some of the locals in hopes of finding some epic riding; I was not disappointed.  I’m convinced that thin mountain air makes for the most incredible riding. Perhaps it’s a lack of oxygen reaching the brain that explains some of the euphoria associated with such alpine singletracks… Thursday’s ride was so incredible that I went out and did the same thing on Friday and it was still blowing my mind with every turn of the cranks. Though my legs were feeling heavy this morning, there was plenty of motivation on hand for a successful interval workout. The thin air no longer seems so foreign to my body and if not physically acclimated yet, at least I’m learning to cope. May your rides also be an adventure everyday. Keeping it Real, TJ

With a break in racing, I also gave myself a break from updating things here online.  THe national championship at Sonoma was a good experience despite the unexciting course and sweltering heat. Placing 33^rd and 30^th in the xc and stxc respectively, were hard fought results. The highlight of that weekend was surely watching Chloe and Jenna battle for the women’s U23 title. Jenna came out on top, but both have qualified to race at the world championships in New Zealand; what an opportunity…

Since last weekend I’ve been training again and it was nice not to pin on any numbers this weekend. I honestly can’t remember the last weekend that I didn’t race or the last time I trained for more than one day in a row. Yesterday capped off a nice four day block with a four hour mountain bike ride in the mountains. It’s been almost a year since my last voyage like this and I had forgotten how enjoyable it is out there.

With nearly three weeks at altitude I should be somewhat acclimated to the low pressure we are all about to experience at Brian Head for the next stop on the Norba circuit. This was the first pro race I entered and the experience is still fresh in my memory. You can read about this experience here. Perhaps this time I’ll fair a little bit better with the pace.

All for now; it won’t be so long until my next post.

‘If our brains drive us towards human accomplishment, then motivation is the fuel for the engine.’ –loose quote from the iMax film, Wired to Win.

TJ

This weekend’s come and go faster than ever before. Getting here in Wednesday meant that I got in four laps of the xc course before Saturday’s four lap race. I had everything dialed on this fast and flowing course that is a total gas to ride.  With a third row call up I was able to have a nice start and I was riding top 30 for the first twenty minutes, but I could feel that the pace was just a bit ‘hot’ especially when at 7,500 feet. I lost some ground finishing out lap one and on lap two but hung in there for some stable lap times to finish out the second half of the event. Race time was 2:35 so it was one of the longer races which contributed to the fatigue factor.  It’s so hard to nail down the right pace when all the climbs are so broken up, a huge learning game for sure, but I’ll figure it out one of these times. XC result was 48th in a largish 100 rider field.

Short track is really something that I somehow hate to love. I love the intense, close quarter racing, but it is so frustrating trying to negotiate through all the traffic of the first couple of laps. The efforts required to move up leave me drained and unable to do anything for the remainder of my time out there. Today’s course was quite short, just over 1:15 per lap, so this meant that the most all of the field once again was pulled before the bell lap sounded.  One of these times I’ll couple my good start with some sustainable power and hang in there longer than my usual 12 minutes… I guess that challenge is part of what makes short track exciting and frustrating all at the same time.

All for now; westward we go! Keep it Real,  TJ

It seems as if I just came here to Mankato from the WORS race in Wausau, but actually a month has past and we are all doing the same things once again. I’m taking care of some things while there’s still an internet connection while everyone else is stowing things in the RV and washing bikes.

My time home was a much needed chance to recharge and prepare for the madness of another NORBA RV adventure. Of course there were the endless number of lose ends to tie up before leaving, but the week was quite relaxing. I got in some hard training before yesterday’s WORS race so all systems are go for the next two big weekends.

I was pleased with how Eau Claire ended up even though I know that I’ve got a lot more in me. It seemed as though I was reaching a terminal velocity in the tight twisty singletracks while the lead group managed to open up small gaps. I was going about 90% effort in there only because if I pedaled any harder I only hit more trees… I was able to gas it on the flat open stuff and really go fast, so it is good to know that the legs are surely there.  That’s all I’ll be needed for Deer Valley anyways.

I best finish up here inside and help get this show on the road. Another adventure awaits so stay tuned for roadside details. Keep it Real,  TJ