First run back

I saw Dr. Picklesimer at Eastover Foot and Ankle and he gave me a compression-like sleeve to go around my ankle and the go ahead to start "running" again.  I say "running" because I need to start by just running a mile slowly and very slowly build from there.  I was again surprised that I was ready for this next step, I thought running would still be a little ways off.  This past Thursday was my first attempted run, unfortunately I couldn't seem to run without limping (limping and pain were the two things Dr. P told me that should make me stop running), I only got about 150 yards or so from the front door before turning around.  I wasn't overly disappointed with this because I didn't expect to be running quite so quickly and that at this point all of my training is focused on 2013, my fitness fell off too much while my ankle was healing to have any races where I'm going to be at the level I was earlier this year.

I made my second attempt at a run on Saturday.  This time I was able to run without limping and with no pain (there was some discomfort, but no pain) and I ran all of 3/4 of a mile, probably at nine minute mile pace.  I was very happy to be able to run again, but it's a really weird to be happy about running less than a mile at 9 minute pace, when just two months ago I was able to run 12 miles at 7:15 pace.  But I do realize this is the way it has to be for now and the only way to come back is to come back, building back up slowly, even if it's hard to fathom being happy with a 3/4 mile run.

Mess of a race

Last weeks summer series race was at North Meck park was an interesting experience.  Got up there no problem (which isn't always the case with having to go north on 77 at rush our).  Started getting ready, and realized that I had locked my keys in my car . .. oh sh!t !!  So after asking around no one had a way to get into my car.  I  also started asking if anyone had an extra pair of small shoes that I could wear during the race assuming I couldn't get into the car before the race.  Someone suggested I call AAA and ask them to send someone to open the car, which I did, but they might not get there before the race started.  Wayne Holden had an extra pair of shoes, unfortunatetly they were about 2 sizes too big, but they would work.  About 20 minutes before the start of the race here comes the AAA service guy:

It was great that he got there so quickly, he got to work and within 5 minutes my car was open. . . awesome!!

All of this "fun" meant esentially no warm up, which given my level of fitness it wasn't really going to make a big difference.  Got a good start, actually got into the wood third, some of the other guys got in each others way.  As the first lap progressed I got passed several times, and that's when I started to POOR down rain, unfortunately my glasses became completely fogged up (except for the far right of my right eye, so to really see I had to turn my head really far to the left).  At this point I pretty much gave up trying to place well and I was just going to ride out the rest of the race.  I was pretty happy when Neil called the race do to lightning after 2 laps.  What a mess of a race.

2013 Specialized Road Bikes with pictures and weights

Have a number of things I'll be posting about in the next week or so ("fun" at the airport, recent races, plans for 2013, progress of my ankle to name a few).  But in the mean time:

As with Specialized's mountain bike, Bikerumor has also post an extensive preview of 2013 road bikes (including cross and tri), with many pictures and weights.  I haven't had a whole lot of time to look closely at everything and as a result don't have a whole lot to comment on, although if you like black. . . you'll love the 2013 line-up.

2013 Specialized Mountain Bikes. . . Pictures and Weights

Thanks to Bikerumor for posting a ton of pictures of almost the full range of the Specialized $2000+ mountain bikes for 2013, include weights as well.

Here's the link to all (or almost) all of the Specialized mountain bikes for 2013.

-Not sure about the carbon (black), blue and orange, Stumpjumper FSR Expert EVO carbon 29er, but almost all the other bikes look pretty sweet, hard to go wrong with black and one other color.  I especially like Stumpjumper FSR Comp EVO alloy 26, 2013 Epic Comp Carbon, Camber Comp Alloy and Enduro Expert.
-A lot of murdered out (all black) bikes, which based on the 2013 Rockhoppers we've had, will look AWESOME.
-Epic Expert Evo still looks like a tremendous value for light weight 29er full suspension at 23 pounds 12 ounces, not to mention you can upgrade the wheels and seatpost (and other things) to make it even lighter.

From source, here at the shop, it looks like Specialized is really behind the Sram gripshifters, and full XTR groups this year.

I'm sure there will be more spec's and details coming out soon.

More to Preview from Specialized for 2013

Since I posted yesterday more bikes and equiptment have been shown on both Bikerumor and Bikeradar.  Here are some links and comments on what we've seen, I will skip over things that I commented on yesterday, here's a link to that post (there is also a link at the bottom of this post):

Bikeradar's preview of 2013 Specialized mountain bikes:
-The Enduro get tweeked, with a more efficient pedalling suspension and an autosag rear shock.  The S-works version weighs 25.9 pounds, pretty incredible for an all mountain bike with 160mm of travel.
-Epic's will move to 29" only, not too surprising since last year I think they only have two 26" versions.
-The Epic Marathon will come with a carbon front triangle and seat stays, where as the 2012 Expert only hade a carbon front triangle.  I am a little surprised they will come with X0 grip shifts, one good thing about that is that they'd be easy to switch out for trigger shifters if that's what a customer prefered.  I can't tell for sure, but based on the picture it certainly looks like they will come with carbon rims (don't look shiny enough to be alloy).
-The Stumpjumper hardtails will all go 29er for 2013, and like the Epic will introduce a Marathon version to be between the Expert and S-works, which appears to have the same components as the Epic Marathon (including carbon rims and grip shifters).
-The Carve will move from 80mm travel forks to 100mm, which I think is great given that this is an extremely raceable frame and will give riders many more options if they want to upgrade their fork down the road.

Bikeradar's extensive article on the 2013 Crux's
-Specialized will offer the Crux (their cyclocross race bike), in a ton of sizes, and options (alloy, carbon, rim brake and disc ready).  Almost makes me want to get back into cyclocross just so I can justify getting one of these super cool bikes, but I know I can't, it would be just too much racing during the year between that and mountain biking, triathlons, and Xterra races.

Bikerumor's preview of 2013 Roval wheels
-Specialized will be releasing carbon clincher road wheels in 40 and 60 mm depth, both available either for disc  or rim brakes.
-Specialized will be making a new carbon mountain bike wheel that won't have a bead hook to mount the tire on, Specialized found after testing the bead hooks aren't needed.  This makes the wheels much less expensive to make and as a result the Roval Control Carbon 29er wheels will be only $1200 a set (still not cheap, but relatively speaking way less expensive than carbon alternatives) and money well spent based on my experience with the Roval Control SL's, for the dramatic diffference in stiffness and handling.

Link to yesterday's post on the first look at Specialized 2013 bicycles.

First look at Specialized 2013 bicycles

Bikerumor posted two extensive articles with a lot of pictures and information on many of  the 2013 Specialized bicycles.  Some things were expected, some things were unexpected.

First a look at a preview of the 2013 Specialized mountain bikes.
Highlights and thoughts:
-The S-works Enduro will come with the super wide range 1x11 gearing, this seems like the perfect bike for the new Sram XX1 drivetrain, it will also come with some beefy carbon fiber wheels.
-Cambers get a updated with a lowered standover height and a autosag rear shock, and Specialized has dropped the 26" Cambers and it will be a 29er platform moving forward.
-It appears as though there were be several more Epic models for 2013, including model(s) with 1x11, and adding a Epic Marathon 29er which will be between the Expert and S-works model (and could quite possibly be my ride for 2013), I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's almost exactly the setup I am riding:  the Expert frame and Roval Control SL carbon wheels.
-For those who think mountain biking isn't enough suffering Specialized will offer the Stumpjumper 29er EVO which will be a 29er rigid bike.

First a look at a preview of the 2013 Specialized road bikes.
Highlights and thoughts:
-Specialized will offer an update of the Roubaix: the Roubaix SL4 the same bike that Tom Boonen used to win Paris-Roubaix.  This will include the COBL GOBL-R seatpost which includes a sharp bend and an elastemer to offer even more comfort.  If this would be strong enough to use on a mountain bike it would be very interesting use on one, my guess is it wouldn't but you never know.
-There will be at least two Roubaix Disc brake option for 2013.
-The Venge appears to be unchanged (although color and component spec's might be different for 2013).
-Carbon Crux for those CX riders will be available, and looks really sweet.

Overall some really interesting things on tap for 2013 from Specialized.

First Race Back

Yesterday I rode at Renaissance for about a half hour to make sure my ankle could handle mountain biking and to get at least a little comfortable on mountain bike.  My ankle held up well, no noticable pain.  Bike handling was pretty good, given the lay off, could tell my fitness was way off:  my heart rate was really high given how hard I was going and I was out of breath, something that rarely happens unless I'm racing.  As a result of it going well, I felt comfortable doing the race this morning.

Showed up pretty close to the start of the race, I wasn't going to warm up very much, because with my lack of fitness I didn't think the cost (being tired) was worth the benefit (being ready to go hard right from the start).  Unfortunately, at least in terms of points for the Summer Series, there were a bunch of experts there, so I wouldn't be able to get some cheap points from there not being many people in the race. 

At the start I took it very easy and very willingly settled into last place.  All the experts pulled away pretty quickly, I was committed to not going out too hard (and later blowing up).  I felt my bike handling was pretty good, and got better as the race progressed.  My fitness was clearly way off, which was clear with how quickly everyone pulled away, but I did what I could given my fitness. I was able to maintain a pretty even pace and while being pretty tired at the end, I felt like I got about as much out of my fitness as I could have.  Overall I was pretty happy, my fitness needs just needs to come back, which much of it will come back quickly, the last 10% of my fitness will take quite a bit longer.

Ankle. . .getting better

Monday went to Dr. Picklesimer at Eastover Foot and Ankle for my 3 week follow up.  I had still been having some fatigue and swelling, but it certainly had been going in the right direction.  After some evaluation I was shocked to hear from Dr. Picklesimer that he thought I was ready to go ahead and start riding (and more surprisingly racing) mountain bikes again.  I really thought it was probably going to be another couple weeks before I'd be able to do that.  He also said I was ready to be out of the big boot I've been wearing, and into a much smaller/more comfortable brace.  Additionally, he said that I'd probably be able to run again in about 3 weeks.  I was so excited to hear such good news.

This isn't to say that it's all better, just that it's making progress.  I'm planning on going mountain biking this afternoon and make sure it's feeling ok, and then plan on participating (not racing) in the Summer series race that was reschedule to July 4th morning.  Don't tell anyone, but I'm hoping almost no one shows up for the expert race and I'm able to get some points with a really slow time.