By guest KIT blogger, Dan Butler Breathe deep, hold it, then explode. Three seconds to the turn, two seconds to the next straight, three more seconds to the next turn, two more seconds back through the finish line. Lap one is done. Just twenty-nine to go. That pretty much describes the first lap of an indoor inline short track speed skating race. The track is a one hundred meter flat oval with four small orange cones denoting the turns. Oh, and you have driven six hours through a snowstorm to get up at five a.m. in order to race. The rink is still cold and there is still the remnant of the odor from the public session the night before. As you breathe deep in order to hurl yourself around the track you can sense the Chucky Cheese atmosphere and orange and blue carpeted walls around you. Yet, you are there to race and you focus on the next turn instead of the Sour Patch Kid you stepped on that almost brought you down like a Ferrari on a road made of banana peels. Twenty years and three months of training for this event makes you persevere through pain that […]
By guest KIT blogger, Dave Andersen Motivation. Where the hell does it come from and how come some folks have so much? I’ve been in the endurance and racing game since 1977. I can vividly recall many times throughout my athletic career where I was so motivated to achieve my best shape and results. At times my motivation to athletically succeed had consumed me, for better or worse. During my high school cross country and track years I was thoroughly driven and wound up with 72 races under my belt. My childhood American heroes, Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter, were on top of the running world and a beacon to my younger self. After high school and some wayward years I was back running. In a 2 year span I raced 35 times and set most of my fastest running times from 5K to the marathon. I trained with other young like-minded athletes and recall we all derived motivation from each other and the group dynamic. Alas, an injury and the desire to do other things squelched my motivation. A few years later it was back. And it was back with a vengeance! From 1990-1995 I raced 153 times, everything […]
By guest KIT blogger, Dave Andersen Here we are in mid-August and I can feel a “peak” coming on! Many of us that race (tri’s, marathons, or cycling) have big races coming up. I’ve been racing for 35 years and many of those years have culminated in a big season-ending goal race. This year, for me, it’s the 4-stage, 4-day Green Mountain Stage Race and I gotta tell you, I’m ready to PTHD. The cycling season in New England started in April and it’s been a long and steady progression of fitness for me. Amazingly, at my age, I’m still setting personal records in my interval sessions and hill repeats. This is not only a result of this year’s training plan but from an accumulation of a lifetime of endurance training. You might say, I possess Old Guy Power. I’ve competed in 25 marathons, 6 Ironman triathlons, many multi-day bike races, and about 500 races in all. I’ve done about all I can do to devote time evenly to my fitness, family and work. Bottom line is: It’s an exciting time when the big end of season races roll around so enjoy it to the max! Unfortunately, all good things, […]
By Keep It Tight On one beautiful weekend in early June, several members of the KIT crew got together to conquer Mt. Greylock and the surrounding hills in Western Massachusetts. Here is a description of the bikes (and the people) that participated in this event– made possible by our loving and supportive wives. Matt Kraus, aka JD, rides the full carbon Giant TCR. Coming from a strong cross background, JD requires a bike that handles well, allowing him to promptly lay down the smack on most terrains, from long climbs to twisty, off camber stretches of road. His cross skills allow him to handle pavement imperfections with ease, resulting in a super-smooth pedal stroke. Kyle Smith, aka The Piker, is the only devoted racer left in the crew. His Gaulzetti Corsa aluminum frame is specially suited to meet his sprinting requirements. A pure race machine, this handmade American frame is stiffer than most of its carbon counterparts, providing a quick acceleration over rollers while sparing energy needed for a vicious attack. More images of on this d’lish bicycle can be found here. Gustavo Cinci or “The Gus” also rides an aluminum Gaulzetti Corsa. Its super tight and comfy design allows […]