Boone Roubaix

Anyone interested in doing this with me. WWW.BOONEROUBAIX.COM . Just consider it a Saturday training ride.

Key West Half Marathon

This week I went down to the Keys to thaw out and race my "hometown" marquis running event, the Key West Half Marathon. This race was once ranked in Runner's World's top Half Marathons and attracted a few thousand runners, however with competition from the Tropical 5k and Half Marathon now held the same weekend up in Miami, the Key West race has dropped to about a thousand runners, but still attracts a competitive field. Coincident with the race this year was the Key West Food and Wine festival, which somehow I managed to conjure up the discipline to avoid.The weather started off calm, overcast, warm (74 degrees), and humid (88%). By the second half of the race, a squall came in from the southwest, and the temps dropped to the mid 60's with a 20knot wind blowing in from the starboard beam, though the rain passed us to the north. I executed my race plan (which was based on heart rate) well, but missed my goal of a sub 1:45, ending up with a 1:47:51 and 8th place in my age group. The post race festivities were great with a sumptuous spread of tropical fruits, yogurt, bagels and pastries (including fresh chocolate brioche) provided by Dante's restaurant and music by my buddy Gary Hempsey's band. If you're looking for a great half marathon to run next Jan, or an excuse for a road trip out of the winter, definitely consider this race.

Race for Humanity

Steve and I will be in Florida the weekend of February 13-14 and we are planning on doing the crit and the road race in San Antonio that weekend. Is anyone else planning to be there?

National DUATHLON Championships-April 25th, VA

I have held/booked 4 double rooms (5 rooms including ours) for the Duathlon National Championships scheduled for April 25th in Richmond, Virginia. I will be sending a personal email to those of you whose name i registered these rooms in providing registration numbers.
Rooms are booked for 1 night--April 24th, departing 25th. Please call the hotel directly and add additional night(s) as you see fit. The hotel and all race expenses will NOT be reimbursed by TEAM headstrong.

Here is the hotel information:

Crown Plaza Richmond Downtown
555 East Canal Street
804.778.0900

Currently these double bed rooms are held as follows:
1. Reynolds
2. McDougald
3. Stratton
4. Weinacker
5. Maddox


FOR EVENT INFORMATION:
http://usatriathlon.org/news/2009/10/08/registration-open-for-2010-usat-national-duathlon-festival-championship/28140

FOR REGISTRATION:
For registration details and complete event information, please visit http://www.duathlonnationals.com/.
* 2010 USAT Duathlon Age Group National Championship.
*"What is the name of your triathlnon or college club?" Enter "TEAM headstrong"
* Register BEFORE February 28th for discount. Fee is then $75.
* Enter your USAT license number OR you can purchase 1 day license the morning of or posibly day before the event--on site.

Email me directly if you have questions or require additional clarification.

ASSAULT on Mt. MITCHELL-instructions

All of you should have received a PINK post card inviting you to register for the Assault on Mount Mitchell scheduled for Monday, May 24th. Here is what you are required to do to register:

*Feburary 2nd @ 6:00am (open through Feb. 15 @ 12:00PM EST. But...this event will fill up and close quickly).
Go to www.active.com and enter your appropriate information INCLUDING "TEAM headstrong" (note: TEAM is upper case, headstrong is all lower).
Your invitation number is just above your name on the pink post card--typically a 5-digit number.

*Print your receipt. TEAM headstrong will reimburse you when you finish the race but you must submit this receipt for reimbursement.

*Please advise when you are registered.

UWBL

Check out the web site!! We have sprint points as a team..........Bird man must of been cookin'!

I got my Assault warning in the mail this week, do we need to sign up through the web site or did Christina get us some slots?

Pre Season Training....

Rumor has it Giselle was putting in some impressive times on Paris Mtn this week, before the cycling Gods decided to give us all a reprieve from early winter pain..........

Me.... I am heading out to do hill repeats so I will be able to hang on to her wheel come spring.....

DU NATIONALS - APRIL 25TH

Although not designated as a 'team event', the Festival is getting a lot of attention from team members. It will be held in lovely downtown Richmond, Va and comprise 5k run/38k bike/5k run. Committed are KP, Weinacker, Teenie and I. KP has been having visions of Team Headstrong on the podium receiving the all new TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP award along with the $500.00 in prize money.

Team's get points for individual accomplishment and .5 points for each participant. We will need some help and looking through the ranks for runners, we are recruiting:

Randy
Lara
Stratton
Joe
Tom
Giselle
Ed

We need ya!!! Please go to the USAT website adn check it out. It fully subscribed last year so, we will be registering in hte next week.

Hope you can join us!

Oh, yes. Check the latest schedule for a great tune up race, Powerman Alabama, on March 27. More on that later.

USA CYCLING

I hope you are all getting signed up for your licences. Bird pinted out we are not listed as a mountain biking team and that is true. However, when you go to sign up for mountain bike race, you will note that Team Headstrong is a choice.

Please remember to list your team on all races. Some running races do not take that info, I realize.

Winter Work...

I thought you'all might be interested in what I do when I am not riding....... this is a walnut dining room table I built for my daughter...... my design, but it is a variation on a mission style piece...... it is 80"x42"x31.5"

and this is a cherry burl coffee table/bench I made for her new house....

PARIS MT TT - 1/31

YOU MUST REGISTER on www.pre-reg.com no later than Wed PM......$15.00. Later registration will not guarantee your time is with the team.

Our times will run one after another.

Confirmed:

Lara
Weinacker
Bird
Tom
Beth
Teenie
RM
Gillespie
KP
Giselle
Joe (already done)

Team Headstrong: Welcome to the blog

Team Headstrong: Welcome to the blog

I am glad everyone is riding and running so well (except me). Also I have never been happier
to miss the oppertunity to ride on Saturday! I stood out in that mess for a couple of hours thought of all of my dedicated team mates and how much better you all will be because of your suffering!!!!

Charlotte Short Track

Raced a short track mtb race today in Charlotte, in super muddy conditions (see photo). This was the second in a five race series, in case anyone is interested in trying it out. The race is kinda like a crit, except everyone is on mtbikes and most of the race is offroad (with road and gravel sections). The loop is less than a mile, and the Cat 1/2 women race for 45 minutes. Normally, the course is not very difficult......add 12 hours of heavy rain and it becomes a bit more treacherous. Lucky for me, I kinda like the mud. I got first and finished over a minute ahead of 2nd (she was a pro, so that made me feel kinda good). Hopefully Sam will come out to the next one and give me a run for my money.

PARIS MT TT - 1/31

We are set upo for 10 starts:

I have:

Giselle
Teenie
Beth
Gillespie
KP
Weinacker
RM
Bird

I need your response:

Agenda:

Meet at Leopard Coffee in TR at 10:30
TT
Ride around
Return to Leopard at 12:30
Hot choc and coffee and "team meeting" ......that means social fun!

YOU ONLY NEED TO BRIG $15.00. I HAVE YOUR REGISTRATION HANDLED.

UWBL January 23rd, 2010

A cold, damp, monochromatic morning set the tone for the UWBL this Saturday. The A's were heading out for the Battle of Waterloo a 108mile sojourn heading south towards the coast.

Giselle, KP, Kristin, Joe, Perry and I headed out with the A's, although Giselle, KP, Kristin, Perry and I were going to ride out about 35miles and then U-turn and make our way back. Perry backed off early on the ride and joined the B's, while the rest of us tried to stay out of the wind and on the wheel in front of us.

Giselle and I rode at the front taking pulls while KP and Kristin tried to stay comfortable in the pack. Everyone rode well out. And we did our U-turn at Hickory Tavern. Joe opted to stay in for the long haul (Joe how did it go).

The 4 of us rode back at tempo..... and would have gotten 70 miles in if I hadn't missed the LEFT turn onto Bracken Road...... that cost us 7 miles, 4 climbs, a bit of frustration and I am sure some choice thoughts from the group. Oh well.... I really wanted to get in 4+ hours today......

Giselle road very strong, Kristin had alot of spin left in her legs and KP was right there thinking about lunch......

Great group.... good ride....

Downtown 5K

I was standing at the start and emboldened knowing 6 of my teammates were soon heading out on the UWBL. It was not Miami Beach out there this AM.

TEENIE - Big PR at 22:40 and 2nd in her AG. This was a return to run race form for Teenie. She used strong training and prep last week at Houston to lower her PR 29 seconds. This is really impressive as I would judge she is still developing her aerobic fitness. How fast can she be?

RM - PR at 22:30 and 2nd in AG. I was glad to beat some long time serious runners but had hoped for much better time. We started at Soby's and the uphill form the River past the Drive Stadium was painful. It was evident my legs had not recovered in the 6 days since Houston. All good though.

Our biz partner, Jim Landino from Pennsylvania, ran and it was real joy having him as we are VERY close. Twenty five plus years together and a ton of mutual admiration can do this! he's the BEST.

Can't wait to hear about the UWBL.

RM

UWBL Jan 23rd.....

OK... If memory serves me well, the Battle of Waterloo heads out the same as the Ware Shoals ride and does a store stop there....... (~mile 40).... We can make a call at that point on "going the distance" or turning off and heading back north....... I will have a route back for us...... one note is if you/we continue on from that point there is no short cut back and we would be better sitting in the pack...

I am driving up from Atlanta and will be at starbucks at 9:30 then come by Headstrong up to the start. We should exchange mobile numbers so if someone gets shelled ...

After UWBL this Saturday...

Weinacker and I are planning on going to The Bohemian Restaurant after UWBL this Saturday (it's on the corner of Stone Ave and N. Main St). Some of KW's friends will join us. Thought it'd be nice for anyone/everyone else to join us. Meet there around 3:00?

Never been there but I heard they have really good home-made veggie burgers!!

Yumm-O

Dupont - 1/25

Yes, this is Monday! Teenie and I are wanting to do a ride at Dupont......3-3.5 hours??

Beth/Bird....hoping you can come?? and anybody else.

RM