THE RAMSBOTTOMS: Update: 11/11/09

Keeping with typical fashion it is now time for an update! Rounding out the month of October was an interesting weekend of cycling with both a MSG cross race and the annual running of the 12 hours of the Hill of Truth. My ultimate plan was to drive to Johnson City to do the cross race and then drive back to Knoxville and course marshal for the 12 hour race from 7-11. Well I got 7th out of 32 in the CX4 race and then stood in the pouring rain and darkness watching very few racers.

The following weekend was the Swank 65! The first Swank 65 I did was in 2006 and after 7 hours and 20 minutes of riding I got pulled from the course due to darkness with about an hour or two of riding still to go. After that I swore I'd never do it again but never is a long time. So after a bit of shit talking by my "friends" I signed up just mainly out of spite but more out of curiosity to see where my fitness was lurking. I mean its not like I'd trained for this other than a couple cross races. But maybe the handful of 30 minute efforts could be just the right amount of training for one of the hardest races in these here part. Besides I didn't ride for 4 months prior to my first Swank.

My goal for this years Swank was to not get pulled, to ride with glory across the finish line, and then curl up and die. I finished 49th out of 136 with a time of 5 hours and 6 minutes. I had two sessions of complete leg lock up that I some how rode out of once I got up and started to move again. I have to congratulate Shawn for his hard fought 10th place finish against a stacked local field.

On a more important note we are about to enter the 3rd trimester! The nursery is coming along and is already the nicest room in our house. The little beastie is already banging on his mommy's belly like a drum and for me, feeling his little kicks is beyond description.

It's Picture time!

1/2 of the Swank 65 parking lot