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Up In the Air

Rest Week

This is my last week of base training before I start the build phase of my training. First US Cup race in DuckTown TN is about 2 months away. The Schedule for the Mid Atlantic Super Series was released today. I'm kind of bumed about it though, 4 of the xc races fall on the same days as US Cup races. That brings up a choice go to a race that's close, where I can do well and win money or travel really far, probably get my butt kicked, win no money, but maybe some UCI points. I will chose the second one, wouldn't you? I wonder just how big the fields will be at these US Cup races. Hoping to get my new bike sometime this month, hopefully the snow will be gone by that time and I can make it out on some none snow covered trails. That's enough for now.

What can Brown do for you?

Bike: Riding was going good despite two weeks of sub freezing temps, then sickness hit. Not bad just some nasal congestion and sinusitis ( home diagnosis), decided to take some time of the bike to get better hopefully it works, I should be hitting about max base miles now. Im so pumped for this year!

School: Classes are good, I find supply chain and marketing both interesting, Astronomy seems easy and also interesting, HR mgmt kind of a drag, Earth interesting ll we talk about is global warming, and Mass media Communications is all right No TV kind of keeps me out of the loop.

Work: I worked 11hrs last week and made $35, union dues and taxes blow, Good news though I passed my Mgmt aptitude test ( College starting to pay off), Will be moving up to part time Supervisor. I'm really excited about this. Good parts of it are; I will have more money and gain lots of good experiences for on the resume, have an excuse to live in State College for the Summer, and no more physical labor. Bad News more hours ( less then 30, salaried so no OT either), little vacation time this summer.

If you havent noticed I stopped writting in complete sentances.

I really need a cammera, maybe with the new supervisor salary.

New Year Update

Well its 2009. I just got back up to State College and was welcomed by 6 inches of snow. I did my training indoors today but rode the cross bike to the book store. It tares right through the snow. Oh yea, I ended up spending $420 at the bookstore and I may have to go back. My last few days in Chambersburg I was focused on ICE training. This is top secret training but I will share. ICE training is a workout that I do do in the winter to improve my technical skills. It involves waiting for an ice storm to cover the trails, rocks, and logs in ice, then you go and try to ride. I did this the past two days at Mont Alto and had lots of fun, I only fell once and that was on a fire road. If you can ride the rocks when they have a layer of ice on them, it makes it easy when there dry, same for logs. It also helps you smooth out your cadence because any sudden jerks will send the bike sliding. I may try to go mountain biking tomorrow in the 6+ inches of snow we have. Riding today reminded me a lot of ridding in the soupy mud at collegiate nats, maybe this year I wont get dropped in the muddy sections. Classes start on Monday, shouldn't be to bad I have a nice schedule this semester done by 12 everyday. I also need to find some work again, unless UPS decides to hire me back after peak.

My plans for 2009 are to race the Kenda East Coast National Series, along with all the other local races, and hopefully Nationals in Colorado (last year for U23). Well that's it for now, I really need to get a camera so I can add more pictures to this blog, that will have to wait till I have a job.

Caminito del Rey

Awesome video
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1438490562
info on the area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caminito_del_Rey

New Race Series

I don't know if anyone has been following the status of the US Cup but this Final plan looks really cool. This should mean that it can be a realistic plan to do every race in the national series, well east coast series. I don't know what the MTBing in Vegas is like but still should be an interesting place for a championship.

http://www.velonews.com/article/85659/new-american-mtb-series-for-2009