Let me introduce to you the 2008 Team Wheaton Franciscan Master 4/5 racers that I have had the privilege to race with. This is a group that with only 2 WCA races remaining, 4 are almost a lock for podium finishes for the year 2008.
From Left, Glen, Andy, Rudy, me (Doug), and Mike waiting for a race to start.
Andy Reiland (Oreo), the leader of the group who always had words of encouragement. Oreo is a lock for 2nd place in the 2008 50+ age category. Oreo’s favorite comment all year was “This is a Doug course” even if I really knew it wasn’t.
Glen Stroik (Engine), the new proud father in 2008, who sacrificed himself early and often in 2008 for the better of the team. Engine has had a strong push in the latter half of the season to potentially finish 2nd in the 40+ age group.
Rudy Byron (Dr. B), one of the best sprinters, and most humble gentleman I’ve ever raced with. Dr. B will finish the season 3rd in the 30+ age category.
Mike Hulan (50 inch), one of the more inspiring stories of the year as he put many, many hours of training to reform his body and only got faster as the year progressed. Unfortunately, his season ended a bit early at the Elm Grove race.
John Grisa (HP), another cagey veteran, whenever he chose to race, his presence was always known, and he is stronger than he will ever admit too. He recently wrote a story that explained his unfortunate encounter with a very, very larg branch during the trek 100. Buy hey, he got to meet Lance Armstrong because of that enormous branch.
Jim Saueressig – I can never pay him back for dragging me around the last lap at Denzer, my favorite course. I just want to know if they can move the Denzer course to Dousman where hills don’t exist.
Greg Franken, one of the best time trial racers I know.
Dave Hartig, Strong and more than willing to slow down the pack behind him to help his teammates in front.
Than their is me, 13 Pin, how I got that nickname is an event I want to forget. My first race was at Waukesha Superweek in 2004, arguably one of the more technical courses in the state. After the 2nd lap in which I found myself riding on the sidewalk, I was following another racer, when all of a sudden on a straightaway he went head over on his bike. I went down with him and found out a short bit later that my arm was broken. The wife basically ruled out racing for quite some time. Shhh…but I still can’t believe she let me race again!!! I’ve been very quiet writing on the web site for several reasons. 1, I’m a numbers guy, writing is definitely not my strength. 2. With a 1 year old son, finding time was almost impossible. 3. I don’t believe in talking about my race successes or making excuses for my failures. So back to the nickname, 13 is for unlucky, and pin since I’m known to spend more than my share of time rolling a bowling ball in the winter.
Before 2008
2007 is when it began again, I had an itch. No, don’t call me Brett Favre!! I was a regular at the Wednesday and Saturday doc rides and really enjoyed the speed, but was honestly still scared of crashing. I decided to try racing again with a bit of encouragement from Oreo, but I needed to be a bit more selective to ensure safety. I chose Whitnall Park for the 2nd attempt at racing and glad that was a very safe day for me. Even though I finished off the pack and about 50 of 70 racers, I was thrilled to make it through. I continued attend races, get blown off the back of the pack until the Grafton race. Most of the early part of that race I was just struggling to hang on, I decided to get into the middle of the pack and next thing I knew I was riding strong and in the top 15. I held on to my first pack finish and my confidence was getting stronger. The next day in Fon Du Lac was a small field and the pack stayed together. This is when I began realizing sprinting was my strength as I stuck the last corner and pulled off a 3rd place finish. I was still a bit freaked about crashing as in that race a few of my teammates were pushed off into the grass but fortunately no injuries. I can go on and on about the 12+ races I did in 2007, but my confidence was building.
Off-Season 2008
My first major commitment to racing began with my purchase of a computrainer, and a training week with all the hard core racers in sunny Arizona. I rode hard, kept the weight off and was all set to go to Arizona and show these guys I could keep up. That didn’t exactly go as scheduled, I got pretty sick 2 days before departure to Tucson, I didn’t spend anytime getting the bike ready, and was a complete mess. I can only thank all the guys for helping me get the bike up to snuff and after 2 flats the first day, was pretty down (eventually 5 flats for the week, but who was counting). Eventually by the end of the week I was able to get somewhat healthy and my best ride of the week was a century (100 miles). I’m was sure all these guys considered me a train wreck.
My Goals 2008
Oreo and I spoke of the off-season and upcoming season several times over a few cold ones (water of course). Oreo kept encouraging me that nothing short of a WCA podium finish would be a let down. But I looked at it a bit different, a podium finish and keeping the rubber on the road would be a dream come true. Oreo took it one step further, saying dude, you can win this thing with a bit of luck, now get to work. I couldn’t help but get excited when he talked like that, but I quickly would shake my head and re-iterate, just be safe and maybe win one race. In the end, my goal was in-fact to improve on my 9th place finish in 2007.
My First 2008 WCA Race.
Who is this guy some were probably thinking. Well I sure didn’t know who that guy was because I shocked myself and the look on Dave Eckel’s face was priceless when he found out the results of the Master 4/5 race. It was in Madison, the Great Dane #1 in which the weather was terrible, 40 degrees at best and 20mph winds. I will be the first to admit, I’m a wimp in cold weather. You can read up on the first Wheaton win of the year on Oreo’s early season write up. But I had taken the field by surprise, with the effort of Engine clogging up the pack, I sprinted out to a 100+ yard gap with less than 1/2 mile to go, held on by a few feet for a dream victory. I intended for my hands to be held up high crossing the finish line, but I honestly had no idea how to react. But this was the beginning of the real story of the team. Without Engine slowing down the pack after my attack, I would have never built up that lead nor held on. Thanks Engine, I owe you big time. The amount of team work that guys did all year for the sprinters (Dr. B and myself) can never be overstated.
The rest of 2008
As the season went on I went through my struggles, non-stop sick, always tired and worn out. But I showed up to every race ready or not, I wasn’t admitting it though if I wasn’t really ready. I found a full season of racing is significantly more difficult than I would have thought. Eventually in June, I finally figured out a pattern of resting and training that saved the body from over-training and fatigue. I was able to pull off a few more wins as the season progressed and many top finishes. After a win, I always made sure to tell Oreo, just 1 more win. The feeling after winning a race can’t be fully explained. But that phrase, take them 1 at a time, is similar to any other sport, but what I would do to win 1 more race!
I found myself after the first third of the season leading the 30+ in points in the WCA standings. Eventually Kudos’s has to be given to a very talented racer that has held a small lead over me since. I usually refuse to mention racers from other teams (Brian Karpen). Brian along with Engine and Oreo did the most lead work this season. They kept the pace up and strung out the field to set up the sprinters. Only problem was Brian was a sprinter as well, so I must say”@!#%#$”.
About the mid point of the season I saw an open window for my teammates to hopefully join me on the podium at the end of the season. I pressed hard for Dr. B and Engine to make as many races as they could. Early in the season Dr. B’s schedule made it difficutl to be at races regularly. Maybe I had an effect because they were their each and every week the 2nd half. After a few weeks off and the birth of Engine’s first child, he was a regular also, and so were mother and child. Both Dr. B and Engine surged in the standings and are in great position with only 2 WCA races remaining.
Humboldt Race Superweek
Dr. B, Oreo and I were at the Humboldt Superweek race. That was the first time I realized all the fun adventures of racing, camaraderie and the special season of the 4/5’s was almost over. This race was the only Superweek race that many of us were competing in for the master 4/5’s. Unfortunately this year most of the master 4/5 Superweek races were held in Illinois. I wish I would have scheduled time off from work for many of those races as Brian Karpen was not racing during Superweek. Maybe I could have been a winner, but honestly it wouldn’t have been the same without my teammates. As most racers know, Superweek is the pinnacle of the racing season, but for those of us that have not missed a race, some of us are worn out a bit more than others.
At Humboldt it was a smaller than usual field at 33. Before our race the Superweek organizers were late and I had a chance to ride 4 or 5 laps before the rirst race. The first corner is one of the tighter turns that I’ve seen all year (about he same as the last corner at Grafton). For sure this corner would be the danger zone and racing single file was almost necessary. This sharp turn goes into a rough road and the only uphill stretch. Here is where any break is going to take place. The rest of the course is relatively easy with a right hand turn and downhill going into the finish line. You also would be going into the wind for a sprint finish.
In my warm up I really didn’t feel very good, typical of the last week of training. So I was a bit concerned that I wouldn’t be able to do my part for the team today. My race plan was to stay in the top tier and hope their weren’t too many attacks, than try to win the field sprint. Right off the gun 2 guys took off on the inside, hit the first corner clean and were sprinting up the hill. I had started on the outside, saw the move but saw it too late. I hit the corner in 3rd but couldn’t catch their wheel. I tried my best to close the gap or keep it close but I was only able to keep the gap at 3 to 5 seconds range. Unfortunately nobody else seemed to care they were off the front and i got stuck pulling the first 2 laps. Being a sprinter, that was too much, I had to pull off and hope for the best. Dr. B and I chatted for a second as we knew one of the guys in front, we knew he could hold the lead. What to do? For the next 10 laps (of 20) nobody seemed to want to pull or close the gap. At this point it was already too late: the gap went up to probably 40 seconds to 1 minute. One guy did a solo attack and he rode the rest of the way alone in 3rd. I’ve had a lot of good races this year where I have been able to just do a so called Sunday ride and sit in the pack without getting tired: today that was not the case. Not because the speeds were so fast, actually this was one of my slower races of the year, but because I am just worn out and I over trained a bit after whitewater. It was really showing as my heart rate was probably at its max threshold the entire race. I was able to go back to my original race plan and just hung around 4 to 10, after all I had no choice. Oreo did a monster pull for about 4 or 5 laps going into the last 2. He tired to close the gap but it was just too late. But what he did was stretch out the pack and open it up for the sprinters. Going into the last lap 2 guys took off and built a little lead going into the first corner of the last lap. I was probably 10 feet behind them but didn’t mind. I wanted a small gap because I was able to take the corner at a very high speed without slowing down. One thing I’ve noticed about the 4/5’s is not many of the guys have the guts to go all out into corners, this has become something I’ve been very comfortable with all year. Because of that I closed the gap and was barely pedaling up the hill. At this point the two front guys were almost in al all out sprint. I was doing some serious wheel drafting and not working as hard as they were. I was able to hold 3rd in that group going into the last corner, after the last corner I immediately went around the and began my sprint. Somehow I was able to take the field sprint over another teammate of mine Dr. B by no more than a few feet. 4th was my finish today. Let me tell you, I’m thrilled with that especially after how bad I flet the entire race. As I sit here now, this is the most worn out I’ve been after a race all year. Time to rest and prepare for Cedarburg race next week.
Many Thanks to our Supporters!!!
Racing is a major commitment for not just us with the training time and traveling, but it is a major commitment for our families. I spent a handful of weekends not home, not with my wife, and not with my son. I can’t explain what they have given up to support this crazy hobby that we are so addicted too. I know our families understand how much this means to us racers or there is no way I would receive the support I do. I am so glad that Angie has been able to make most of my races this year, it always brightens up my race when I go by and see them cheering.
Also I have to thank the support the team get’s from our sponsor, “Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare”. They have mad a major commitment to the racers on our team and I am very, very proud to be wearing a jersey representing them. Thank You Very Much!!!
In Conclusion
I wrote this article to thank many people, and give insight to one of my races. And of course, to thank my teammates for all they have done for me and others on the team. Andy, Glen, Rudy, Mike, John, Jim, Greg, and Dave. Thank you for making this experience one that I will remember the rest of my life!!! Personally I believe this is a very special group, and hearing the comments from other teams such as “What are the Wheaton guys plannig today”, “I think they are the only team that works together as a team”. That is special to be recognized not just from each other, but from all the other racers and teams.
Now let’s go win some more races!!!