Sacramento Cyclocross Series/Norcal Championship

11/15/14 - I was looking forward to doing my first cyclocross race, even though it was race 4 out of 8 for the series. I felt great at the start of the 14 and under class that I was in. When the race started I was mid-pack. I had 30 minutes to do as many laps as possible. The course was slippery, with off-set corners and super wet bridges. It also had a pair of squid boards for a carry over obstacle. I went back and forth with a kid that's been racing the whole series. I finished 6th out of 12 in my class. I thank Hank Mini for the incredible advise he gave me.

12/7/14 - I was really looking forward to race 5 out of 8 (my second race). When I got there I saw two of my team mates from Placer Foothills MTB Club - Kurt and Nathan. I also saw the president of Team Roseville Cyclery - Sara Heuston. I also saw two Team RC racers - Joy and Janell.It's nice to see people I knew. I had a terrible start, which wasn't too surprising. I loved that days course but the thing I didn't like was the four barriers in a row. The thing that was special about the course was that it was right next to the Sacramento River. I ended up getting 3rd out of 9. I again thank Hank Mini for the awesome advise, also Julie Young (O2 Fitness) for the off the bike workouts and Paige Ramsey for the technical riding skills.

12/14/14 - I was anticipating this race so much I could barely stand sitting in the car for almost two hours. When we got there, it was socked in with fog and was super cold. I had to get a USA cycling license for 2014 to race this cyclocross. This was my third race. As I pre-rode the course, I noticed that there were steep, muddy hills and only two barriers but there was four steps to run up. I got lined up, the announcer broke us up into age categories - 17/18, 15/16, 13/14, 11/12 and finally 9/10. I was put into the 11/12 because it's a USA cycling event, which I knew from the website. When I started the race, it was short lived chaos but I got a great start which is very surprising. When I was on my second lap, my front tire slid out and I fell. I was lucky that I crashed the corner in front of the barriers. I ran to the barriers and hopped over them but when I tried to ride off I felt that my chain was off. I stopped to fix it when another racer stopped to help me. I am so thankful that he stopped. When I finished I was happy to be done, When I looked at the results and saw that I got first, I was so happy. I AM THE NORCAL CHAMP! I thank Hank Mini for the training on Saturday and orange bicycle shop (Roseville Cyclery) for the incredible bike. My mom made a YouTube video of the day Norcal Championship

1/4/14 - This was the second race of the weekend (NY duathlon on Saturday). Some of the Team RC racers, Janell, Hank and I were racing. I did four warm up laps and raced five laps. I got a good start and was 5th-7th. I kept a good pace for most of the race. The course had about 270 ft of climbing per lap and had really tight corners. I also raced through pines, orchards, and vineyards. I finished the race and got third. I was proud of two things 1) I got third and 2) I didn't crash. Thanks to Clint and Jennifer Claassen for the race series and Roseville Cyclery for the sponsorship and team. Hank and Janell also got third in their races. 

1/17/15 - THE LAST RACE!I'm so sad that it's the last race. When I got to Old Sacramento, I knew the area because I just went on a field trip 1-2 months earlier. The temperature was about 45-50 degrees. Also, the course was hard because it was really off camber, had lots of sand sections, steep hills and LOTS of squid boards. I also had to go over train tracks. The last obstacle was the cobbles through the finish line. I did 4 pre laps and felt like I had a slight advantage with the climbs. When I started the race, it was the best start I've had all season. 

The older kids passed me at the corner but I tried to hang with them, I failed a little bit. When I got to the sand section, it was hard to find a faster line. The sand was about 1-3" deep in some spots and 3-6" deep in others. When I turned around to look who was behind me, I saw 13 yr old Leo right behind me. He was right on my tire but I pushed a gap in some of the sections on the course. I was able to hold him off to the finish line. I got third and my prize was a train whistle. 

We stayed after and watched some of the womens race because Kara LaPoint and Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Women) were racing. That was fun. Thanks to Sac CX, I love the races and will keep on doing them, Roseville Cyclery and Team RC. You Tube video of the rest of the series 2014 Cyclocross

SPOONER, FLUME, RED HOUSE California Dreamin' Beach Boys and Beautiful...

Granite Man Sprint Triathlon

GRANITEMAN 

Spint Triathlon

9/21/14

I was looking for a sprint distance triathlon and decided on doing the Graniteman - 400 yd swim, 6.5 mile bike, 2 mile run. I started swimming with the ALT Dolphins swim team in June. In August, when the Dolphins season ended and school started, I had to swim before school. I rode my bike 4.7 miles to the pool where I would swim 500-900 yards. On the weekends, I would practice my open water swim at Stumpy Meadows (before it burned) and Granite Bay. I also rode my mountain bike a lot.

The morning of the race, I was worried about smoke from the King Fire but it was fine. I set up the transition and then got on the turbo trainer for about 20 minutes. Then I went down to the water. I was nervous about the swim because my swim is not the strongest. 

I started in the front row but 20 yards into the swim my legs locked up because I was nervous. I had to flip over on my back and do backstroke for a few feet to catch my breath. About halfway through the swim, I started feeling good. There was a current pushing me off course. I came in about 16-20th out of 36 people. I had some old shoes down at the beach and I slipped them on and started up the beach. I passed about 10 people jogging up to T1. The only other 19 and under was a girl named Emily. She is the 11 year old Tri4kids female champion. She was the second one out of the water and first into T1. She was a phenomenal swimmer and a great competitor.

I had a quick transition, washing the sand off my feet in the bucket of water we set up and getting my bike shoes, helmet and backpack on. I only passed a couple of people on the bike. I caught Emily about halfway and we went back and forth with another racer for about 1.5 miles and then I pulled ahead a little bit. I came in about 10 seconds ahead of Emily. T2 was rough because I set my shoes up wrong and still had sand on my feet. Emily left T2 first and was about 50 yards ahead of me.



I felt really good going into the run. I was able to catch Emily and we passed a lot of racers. She and I went back and forth. On the last hill, I did a mini sprint and was able to open a small gap. I sprinted across the finish only 5 seconds ahead of Emily. My run time for two miles was 14:54, the second best run time. My total time was 54:16 - 6th overall. I was the only 19 and under male.



This was my first sprint triathlon and I liked it. I think I can improve on the swim and T2. Thanks to TBFRacing for all of the races they do and Roseville Cyclery for the awesome bike.



Here is the youtube video my mom made:   GraniteMan Tri

Tri4kids 2014

#1 - 6/1/14 - I was excited to start the 2014 TBFRacing triathlon series. I had a new road bike and I had been training with Tri4kids. When we started the swim, I was in about the first 3rd of the group. I set up with no socks and no towel in my transition area but I couldn't find my bike. I finally saw it in the 11-14 yr old area. On the bike, 2nd place was right behind me and he stayed right behind me on the run. Then he passed me when the trail went from dirt to gravel. I passed him back where people slow down to save energy for the sprint finish. When we came across the line I was first but it was a sprint finish.

#2 - 6/14/14 - This was the first time my parents didn't go with me. My grandma took me. I took a picture of the transition set up at home to get it right. I had a new transition set up for race #2 and I was nervous about that. On the swim, I was about mid-pack. The new transition worked really well for me. On the bike I passed 2nd from the first race before the turn around. I was first in my class on the way back and passed some people from the older class. My transition from bike to run wasn't impressive. I couldn't get my left shoe on. The back that is supposed to go up on your heel wouldn't stay up.  After my second try, I just left it and went to my run. I sprinted the finish ahead of 2nd by 34 seconds.



#3 - 7/13/14 - I felt good coming into the third triathlon. I was hoping to continue my winning streak. I got there earlier than usual. I did breast stroke and freestyle to warm up my legs. I wasn't nervous at all because I was comfortable on the swim, transitions, bike and run. I'm most comfortable on the bike because of my Giant TCR from Roseville Cyclery.

When I came out of the water, I was in the top third of the group. This time my transition was faster than the last ones. I had some competition on the road bike. He and I went back and forth until the turn around spot. Then I sprinted up the hill and was able to drop him. When I was tightening up my speed laces at the bike to run transition, they came apart, so I had to run with my shoes untied. When I came in from the run, I sprinted really hard to pass another racer who wasn't in my class. I set a personal record, beating my old time by 20 seconds.

#4 - 8/3/14 - I was sad that it was the last race of the series. I still have another race but it's a stand alone event. I had some friends at this triathlon-Kyle, Gavin and Andee. It was Andee's first triathlon. I had a bad start on the swim because I was in the second row instead of the first. When I came out of the water, I was the last part of the middle group. Another problem was that in transition I couldn't get my bike shoes on. When I went out to the bike course, I was the 4th ten year old. One of the boys ahead of me was the competition from the last race. When I finally passed the first in my group, I knew the other three weren't too far ahead. When I caught the first 10yr old, we just came to the turn around spot. I made an attack on the uphill and dropped my competition. I had a strong run and was still able to sprint at the finish line. I took nine seconds off my best time.

Bike Course Photos by CMDvta PhotoEyeWorks

Series Champion - Last year I won the series champion but never won a race. This year, thanks to Tri4kids and Roseville Cyclery, I was able to win them all. I had some great competition this year. I am going to try a sprint distance adult triathlon this fall.

Prairie City Race Series

I raced the Prairie City Series in 2013 and finished 8th in the beginner men 13 and under. I was hoping to be more competitive this year.

Race #1 4/2/14 - The junior races didn't start until until the next week so I raced in the beginner men 14-17. The reason I wanted to race anyway is because I just needed to get the familiar with Prairie City and the feeling of racing is a great feeling to me. I got a really good start, which is unusual for me. I like the two laps because the distance is to my advantage. I finished 8th out of 19.

                                                             At the start of the 13 and under male race

Race #2 4/9/14 - I was looking forward to racing in my catagory 13- beginner men.  I had another good start which led to a good finish. The course had uphills which is part of the reason I finished well. Second place was a friend I had picked up from racing, Khy Kinsey. I finished 1st out of 11.

Me and Khy after the first race   

                                                                            Me and my friend Brandon

Race #3 4/16/14 - I was hoping to continue riding strong. On the pre-ride, I noticed that the course was flatter than it had been. I got another good start but blew it up. Khy got around me and I struggled to pass him the whole race. A sprint finish and Khy beat me by 00:00:25. We were now tied in the series.

Race #4 4/23/14 - I missed this race because I play minors baseball and there was a game.

Race #5 4/30/14 - I missed another race because I was playing baseball. My friend Khy won both of these races.

Race #6 5/7/14 - I was nervous to race because of the drop two. I needed to get podium to be competitive for the championship. I had a second place start and was behind Khy.  He had a huge lead and I couldn't focus on him because I had competition for 2nd.  I got passed once and caught up to 2nd on the hill. I tried to catch up to Khy, wasn't paying attention and accidentally got off course. There was another rider who followed me. When I saw that I was off course, I stopped and let Khi go by so I would be back in position. I ended up getting 3rd.

Race #7 - 5/14/14 - I wasn't really looking forward to race #7. I wasn't sure I would do well because I was sick on Tuesday, the day before. I had stomach pains. Khy crushed the first part of the course. I was third, then Khy crashed. Josh crashed in another corner of the race. My sickness didn't effect me at all and I ended up getting first.

Race # 8 - 5/21/14 - I was looking forward to race #8 because I was healthy. I got a fine start and was 5th. I passed three people before the single track, except for Khy. Khy and I went back and forth a few times before I was able to pass him completely. My bike had a mechanical issue towards the end of the race. I recovered from it and got 1st. I beat second by 15 seconds and third by 1:15.

Race #9 - 6/4/14 - I was kind of sad that it was the second to last week. After a week off for Hangtown, it felt really good to be back at Prairie City again. It was really hot. When we started Khi was in front but then I passed him before we left the start area. On the long downhill, he passed me back. I stayed on his wheel the whole race but couldn't make a pass on the back half of the course. When we came across the finish, Khi beat me by less than a second.

Race #10 6/11/14 - I was super nervous about the last race of the series. I was also excited about the last race. When we started, Khy got a horrible start but caught me on the second start stretch. We battled for 1st until I passed him. When I did, I came unclipped and he passed me back for 1st. Khy pulled a lead on me about halfway through the race. I didn't feel good mid-way through. Three quarters of the way through, I had to battle with third to keep my second place position. Me and third sprinted through the second to last section before it went down to single track. Down the last stretch, I out sprinted 3rd. Khy beat me by 11 seconds and I beat third by 1 second.

Awards Ceremony 6/15/14 - At the awards ceremony I got second in the series with 345 points. Khy beat me with 349 points and there was a three way tie with Josh, Leo and Walter all getting 333 points. I won a $50 gift card at the raffle and had a lot of fun this series.
I would like to thank Mom and Dad and Roseville Cyclery. I would also like to thank Brian, George and Big Rick for announcing and setting the courses.

You can see a race video my mom made here:Prairie City Race Series 2014