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Angel Food (Ain't) Cake
MON, 30 JUN 2008
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 My company, Storage Solutions, had a group outing to tonight's Angels game. We left after the 7th inning stretch and the Angels were down by 3 or 4. Good tailgate pre-game, good people, bad night for the Halos.
Before we left to get to the game, we checked online to see if we could bring food/snacks. I wasn't looking to carry in a large pizza, but I did want to bring peanuts and water and some candy.
Well, it seems the Angels purposefully omit mentioning on their website food is allowed. The give the okay to bringing in bottled water (no soda) but somehow fail to mention anything about food. I had to Google around and finally came upon the Ticketmaster (aka SurchargeMaster) site for the venue where it at least implies (but does not say) food is allowed. It says, "NO BULK QUANTITIES OF FOOD ARE ALLOWED."
I guess they figure if they don't tell you, you won't figure it out and instead of bringing your own peanuts you'll shell out (haha-pun) for their doubly-expensive ones. We took a chance and brought our peanuts and Cracker Jack and water and it was no problem. A lot of people in line had Subway sandwiches and they were let in, too.
I wish they'd stop playing games and just tell us what the policy is.
I'll tell you about how Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (MBGP) went tomorrow.
-adm
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Photos Added
THU, 26 JUN 2008
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 I added a few new photos to my CYCLING page.
I also added a photo to the San Pedro GP story below. It shows what I wrote - me sitting up with my hand in the air and everyone else sprinting to the line behind eventual (perpetual?) winner Karl Bordine (5 Star WVO) who beat out Raul Frias (Vitamix/Sixtufit) and Rudy Napolitano (Rock Racing).
-adm
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San Pedro with Pedro
MON, 23 JUN 2008
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I participated in the San Pedro Grand Prix Pro/1/2 yesterday, the Elite State Championship race. I'd say I raced except I really wasn't racing. I was more or less just there.
I hadn't done this race before. I wasn't sure I'd like the course given the long stretches and sharp turns on each end. It turned out the turns weren't too tight and the wind not too bad.
It was just me and Peter "Pedro" Andersen for our team. Peter did a great job of winning the field sprint for 3rd in the 35+ race. Sadly, his great finish did little to inspire me for this race. He seemed to still have plenty of gas.
Peter asked, "How are you feeling?" I responded, "I'm not." The heat (no ocean coolness in San Pedro) wasn't doing anything but killing me, and for a reason I couldn't figure out, I felt flat, like a can of soda left open all day. I couldn't blame the course.
I rode top half of the field to start and never warmed up or felt good. At around 45 minutes, after a hard effort to bridge a gap, I sat up, rolled back, and nearly called it a day. However, the pack was strung out enough that once I finally caught my breath and decided I should continue, I was still able to catch a wheel. After that moment, I started to feel better, but never good, and floated frop top 10 to last ten in the pack, over and over again.
I kept spying Peter up the road, mixing it up well. I felt terrible that I couldn't help, especially after he'd already put in a race.
Rock Racing and 5 Star WVO exchanged attacks. Nothing lasted long. 5 Star WVO lined it up with 3 laps to go. Their train kind of derailled before the last lap and Rock Racing tried to take over. I couldn't find the energy to move up like usual with 1 to go. I was 20 back around the last turn and avoided a big pile-up on the left. Strangely, after dodging bodies and bikes, I found myself looking down the road with a potential top 10. But when I got up to torque it to sprint, I heard a TWANG and couldn't get it going.
My rear wheel blew a spoke and the rim was rubbing the brakes a ton. I threw up my hand and a bunch of guys blew by me - safely - thank you very much. I think I rolled in around 20ish. I didn't see where Peter ended up. Come to think of it, I didn't go back to see if he was at the bottom of that pile or not. I should call.
I got back to the car, chugged a bottle of water, a bottle of Cytomax, and a can of soda (fizzy, not like my legs).
Photo by Ken Brant - KennyBZ.com
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Cycling Page: Updated Sponsors
Wed, 15 JUN 2008
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I finally put to good use all the time I've saved not waiting to appear on the podium after races.
I updated my CYCLING page with current team info and sponsors.
And yes, while I have no podiums so far this year, it hasn't been so bad. I've just had to choose between riding and racing or bloggin about it.
-adm
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Weight Problem
Wed, 07 MAY 2008
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The bad news is I'm heavier than I should be if I want to be really competitive. The good news is the donuts and ice cream haven't pushed me to new highs... yet.
 
This first chart shows the 7-day average of my morning and evening body weight as measured by the same electronic scale over the past six years.
The story here is I'm currently weighing in around 148.25 pounds, am the heaviest I've been in 4 years, am 4.0 pounds above my lowest weight at this time of year, and am nearly 5 pounds heavier than my lowest recorded weight.
The second chart shows the 7-day average of my morning and evening body fat % as measured by the same electronic scale using biolelctric impedance analysis (BIA) over the past six years.
The story here is I'm currently at 10.5% body fat, have the most body fat in 4 years, am 1.5% above my lowest % at this time of year, and am 2% fatter than my lowest recorded %. And although 2% doesn't sound like much on its own, 2% of 148 pounds is 3 pounds. I'm carrying around 3 extra pounds!
I had this data for some time but finally looked at it carefully and it's already caused me to go from two donuts and two scoops of ice cream to one each.
And knowing is half the battle!
-adm
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Torrance, Pontius
SAT, 03 MAY 2008
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More quick race recaps:
1. APR 20 - Torrance Criterium - After taking a beat-down at Garrett Lemire, I was glad to have a local crit for an easy drive and hopefully easier race. Good rest and some of the improved training I've been up to kind of paid off. For the first time this season I was affecting the race, not just surviving it. I chased Christian Valenzuela (SuccessfulLiving.com) around like a shadow while keeping a keen eye on the handful of Rock Racing guys in the mix (Sergio Hernandez, Sterling Magnell, Austin Carrol). As a result, I was in or quickly on top of all the breaks. Unfortunately, it came down to a field sprint and someone went down into turn three. I had to hit the breaks and settled for a 12th place finish. Money was 10 deep, so I missed out on cash but was glad to see some good legs and racing from myself for once.
2. APR 27 - Chuck Pontius Crit - I so very happily skipped Devil's Punchbowl Road Race the day before. Valencia was hot but there was a breeze in the air to keep it tolerable. I had teammates in the race: Lance Coburn and Peter Andersen. Both guys had already done earlier races. Peter was in an early break that looked like it might stay off. He later told me there was too many guys skipping their pulls. After that break caught, Peter and I made the second and ultimately final break of the day. Chepe Garcia (Toyota-United) was the guy who kicked it off. I struggled early as Chepe drove the pace. A few guys fell off, but some more came across. We started working well, then not, so our group of 15 or so guys nearly got caught at around 15 minutes to go. When we got 5 laps to go our lead appeared to be enough and the jockeying started. At turn 4 heading into 1 to go, a LiquidFitness guy jumped. I hesistated and so did everyone else, and he ended up holding us off for the win. I didn't bother trying to look for Peter, or him for me, as we were both pretty gased. At least he had a good excuse. I managed to get 8th in the sprint, but well off the six guys ahead of me. Peter was 12th. Lance did his faithful blocking duties back in the field.
Woohoo! My first top 10 and money in a Pro/1/2 race all year.
-adm
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Speed Race Blogging
THU, 20 APR 2008
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Speed Race Blogging starts now:
1. Skipped Ontario on 24 FEB in favor of lounging about the house or something. All I know is I didn't race and didn't ride.
2. Did CBR's Dash 4 Cash Crit on 02 MAR. Did fine in the 30+. Was in a break with my former teammate Chris DeMarchi (5 Star WVO). I nabbed one lap for $20. I thought our group of 10ish would stay off but too many guys weren't doing their share. We got caught, there was a big crash at two to go (or one to go?) that took out my teammate Lance Coburn. I dodged the flying bikes and bodies, rolled in for 10th. Karl Bordine (5 Star WVO) did his usual; flew up the side on the last lap and won handily.
I started the Pro/1/2, did about an hour and decided I sucked and was tired and went home. DNF.
3. Did my team's race, the Tour de Murrieta Pro/1/2 on SAT & SUN 08-09 MAR. The crit was fast, I was participating but tiring, at four to go, I was behind a pile-up in turn 1, got nailed in the calf by someone's something, and cramped up. I couldn't continue, no free laps, I technically DNFed but thought I had a good race otherwise. Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's) stuck it to Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United) and Antonio Cruz (BMC) for the win.
Sunday's road race was a tough one. Guys were dropping like flies. I managed to hang on and finish 35th. Up the road was a break of 15 or more, and it was Karl Bordine (5 Star WVO) who got the jump on the break for the win.
4. LA Circuit Race on 16 MAR. I was actually feeling good about this one. Rock Racing brought a boat load of dudes including Tyler Hamilton. My team brought me. El solo. Was doing fine until I started to have issues with my chain or pedal. No free laps, but I couldn't keep going with the problem. I pulled out and found a frozen link on the chain. Justin Beope, 5 Star WVO Director, let me use some tools in the van. I got the link loosened up and jumped back in a lap down. No chance of making it up, I just got some training in. I stayed out of the way for the sprint, but with a 12t rear, I wouldn't have had a chance on that downhill at 45+ MPH.
5. Skipped another weekend of racing 22-23 MAR which was Del Mar and Ontario. I think I watched TV.
6. Totally glad to have the field fill before I could enter the San Dimas Stage Race Pro/1/2 (28-30 MAR). I would have been killed. Ended up being a nice weekend.
7. Chose Redlands over the Anthill Crit on 06 APR. Great, freakin' fast race. All the guys who couldn't handle the stage race did the crit and put the hammer down. Three lapped: Hilton Clarke (Toyota-United), Matt Shriver (Jittery Joe's), and Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing). I was sitting about 20 with 2 to go and there was a wipe-out on turn one (sound familiar) and I ended up moving about 20 spots back as a result. Had no legs to move up the rest of the way and that's where I finished; 36th.
8. Wasn't really interested in the SD Cyclovets Omnium so I got crazy and went to Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix (13 APR) instead. I was originally going to do the Isla Vista crit the day before, too, but the I never made hotel plans after I couldn't get into GLMGP cause it was full. I got luck and unlucky when I called to see if any spots opened up. One did, I got in, I skipped Saturday to save legs for Sunday, and it ended up that I would have needed to save for a lot longer than that. I only lasted 35 minutes in the very fast, very hot race. I had fun watching the rest unfold. SCNCA.com has 78 guys listed as finishing. I only recall about half that. Maybe I should have jumped back in.
On the training front, I am getting in four days a week now. Tuesdays at El Do, Thursday nights at Hughes, Saturdays wherever, and Sundays wherever if not racing or TV+couching.
El Do has seemed incredibly sketchy this year. I keep thinking about it and wonder if I'm losing my nerve. I think the issue is there are a lot up recently upgraded guys or 3s who aren't good bike handlers and a lot of the final laps aren't fast enough to weed them out. I much prefer surviving to banging it out in a training race, but so many people take El Do too seriously. I yield to them in favor of survival.
That's it. I think I hear my pizza calling.
-adm
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