But Cam and I are not the only one's getting into the fall racing scene. My sexy, preggo wife even ran the Hood River Harvest Fest 5K at 6 mos pregnant! Cam and I ran support for her and he actually rode his bike for the 3.2 miles! Amy pushed herself to the finish - still has the competitive spirit while pregnant - determined to beat a girl that caught her near the finish. Amy passed her with 100 yds to go!
Camden has been tearing up the bike races now that he has his training wheels off! (check him out shreddin' Post Canyon mtn bike trails: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NDMHRTy2hQ) The Kiddie Cross races at the Crusade are great! The only problems he has is the barriers are almost as tall as his bike, so he needs a hand clearing them. Some of his races have been HUGE too!
He takes them very seriously!
I could not be more proud of him. Watching him do the run-ups and passing kids a full foot taller and still on training wheels!
Hopping back on his bike - while still running - and then cruising down the hill again with no fear!
He pushes himself so hard - and not one crash has even made him hesitate jumping back on the bike right away.
And the best part - every race ends with a winners ribbon and of course the picture with the Clydesdale! At the end of every race, the first thing he asks is: "Can I race again, Dad?"
I've really enjoyed these races too. The amount of racers in each field is huge and you are racing against 150-200 racers on any given Sunday.
The size of the fields can make for a bad start position as they call you up in random order by number. The picture below, I was in the last group of a 170 racer field. I did well and passed almost 120 guys to get to 36th place. I finished in the top 18 last weekend so I should be in the front call-up for now on so hopefully I can get some good finishes.
Our team - Mountain View Cycles - shows up for each race in full force with the "team" RV (actually Karl's) It has been fun to be part of a team like this. We are like a big family and all pitch in to support each other and families at these events.
I really like cyclocross as it is a good combination of road and mountain biking. It really helps with your handling skills and your fitness levels.
The races are just 45 mins long, but I can see why so many people call it "45 minutes of Hell" as it is max pace right out of the gate. Slow down for just a second to catch your breath and five guys will pass you!
He even took to the climbing wall they had. It was supposed to be for kids 5 or older, but again, his cuteness got him in. He climbed to about 10-12 feet off the ground before he decided that was too high and got to come down on the rope. 
Later in the day we took off to Rasmussen Farm to meet up with some of Cam's friends and to pick some pumpkins. The weather had turned a bit drizzly but it cleared up enough for the corn maze and some pumpkin bowling. Cam got to pick out 3 pumpkins for us all.
Oh, I also had to go to the armpit of our country this month (Las Vegas) for a trade show. A co-worker of mine and I took off one morning and went out to Red Rocks for a little climbing. We did Cat in the Hat which is a 5 pitch climb with some great views. It is a shame such a beautiful place is so close to such an ugly place!
The size of the fields can make for a bad start position as they call you up in random order by number. The picture below, I was in the last group of a 170 racer field. I did well and passed almost 120 guys to get to 36th place. I finished in the top 18 last weekend so I should be in the front call-up for now on so hopefully I can get some good finishes.Our team - Mountain View Cycles - shows up for each race in full force with the "team" RV (actually Karl's) It has been fun to be part of a team like this. We are like a big family and all pitch in to support each other and families at these events.
I really like cyclocross as it is a good combination of road and mountain biking. It really helps with your handling skills and your fitness levels.The races are just 45 mins long, but I can see why so many people call it "45 minutes of Hell" as it is max pace right out of the gate. Slow down for just a second to catch your breath and five guys will pass you!It is a constant sprint! The courses are bumpy, hilly, technical and you are off the bike, on the bike, running with your bike, hurdling obstacles, sliding in mud, spinning in loose gravel all while elbowing for position, trying to pass, trying to keep the guy from passing you from behind, sprinting for a better line. It is painful, hard, crazy and some of the most fun I have ever had on or off a bike!! I love it and hope to be racing along side my two boys one day!
We also had Harvest Fest in Hood River this month. After Amy did her 5K we went down to the event site by the water and took part in the festivities. Cam was determined to have a fresh apple and one of the vendors thought he was sooo cute, she just gave him one. I guess you can pay for things with just your looks if you are as cute as he is!!
He even took to the climbing wall they had. It was supposed to be for kids 5 or older, but again, his cuteness got him in. He climbed to about 10-12 feet off the ground before he decided that was too high and got to come down on the rope. Later in the day we took off to Rasmussen Farm to meet up with some of Cam's friends and to pick some pumpkins. The weather had turned a bit drizzly but it cleared up enough for the corn maze and some pumpkin bowling. Cam got to pick out 3 pumpkins for us all.
Oh, I also had to go to the armpit of our country this month (Las Vegas) for a trade show. A co-worker of mine and I took off one morning and went out to Red Rocks for a little climbing. We did Cat in the Hat which is a 5 pitch climb with some great views. It is a shame such a beautiful place is so close to such an ugly place!Here is Ryan, geared up at a belay station where he top-roped me up one of the pitches:
Well, bye for now. I'm sure we'll have lots of great pics from Halloween and the 2-race weekend in Astoria, OR still to come this month!
Well, bye for now. I'm sure we'll have lots of great pics from Halloween and the 2-race weekend in Astoria, OR still to come this month!
