Vintage Mark

Great old photos of Mark! Cycling is clearly a lifelong passion for him. I could have posted some really embarrassing photos of him, but feared that he would retaliate on his blog with some scary pic of me from the 80s or something!

I have MUCH more where this came from (including some classic mullet shots), so if you'd like blackmail material, just shot me an email and name your price!

Snow, Everywhere Snow!

Today was the first snow day of the season. There is nothing as peaceful as waking to a fresh blanket of snow on a Sunday morning. Everything seems so still and calm. I love seeing nature so untouched. Of course as the day goes on it's clear that nothing stays still for long.

One of my favorite things in the whole world is watching my dogs lay fresh paw prints in the snow as they excitedly explore the new white wonder that wasn't there the day before. They each have a different reaction. Buster barrels through the snow - leaping and jumping and running his muzzle through it. Louise toddles around - slowing checking things out and getting snow bits on her face that blend in with her little white westie fur. And...Athena. Poor Athena. She charges out with the rest of the dogs but then quickly realizes how totally cold it is outside. She gingerly tiptoes through the snow then when her curiosity of this new white stuff is squelched she's done! She bolts back into the house never to go back out in it again (really, I have to leash her and drag her out). Time to dig out her sweaters and jackets!

The pic is their pawprints in their very first outing in the new snow...Louise's on the far left, Buster's down the middle and Athena's well, she starts down the middle but goes down the far right. It's also interesting to look at the prints...Lou prints are sure and steady, Buster's are 2 per step b/c he ran down the stairs and Athena...you'll note all four paws as she very cautiously bunny hopped down. Exactly their personalities...too cute!

Speaking of tracks in the snow...today was the first cyclocross race in the snow...so Mark was happy to lay some tracks of his own.

Happy Snow Day!

Done!

Mountain Bike season 2008 came and went. Rain outs, travel, heat, gas prices and a serious case of burn out made this a short season. I only attended 5 races (of 6, I think) and didn't have to tag along on any serious road trips.

I remember heading to the first race at Clinton Lake, I said to Mark, "I really don't think I'm ready for this". He agreed. I am not sure if it was a continued case of the Winter doldrums or if I was sensing his burn out or what...but the 'mountain bike thing' never really kicked in.

When he raced, he raced great...and I know he genuinely enjoyed it when he actually got out there and hit the trails w/ the guys... and the Heartland crew ALWAYS put on amazing gigs...but this year he seemed 'unattached'. That's the best way I can describe it. I got the sense that it wasn't just Mark either. I think the horrible Winter that took over Spring sucked up a lot of enthusiasm that's usually reserved for the sport.

While I didn't clock as many spectator hours on the MTB trails this year, I've been told that 'spare time' will be cashed in during Cross season.

I came home the other day to find Mark standing in the garage all googly-eyed working on his spare cross bike. That look, coupled by the goofy smile on his face, instantly let me know that there will be NO burn out for Cross season. In fact, I think the countdown is on until the mountain bike gets hung up...10 more days to be exact!

Funny, but I think I am actually ready for Cyclo-Cross season too. Something about brisk air, misty mornings and crunchy leaves on the ground are very appealing right now and has me saying, "Hang it up and hand over the cowbell!"

Vai Vai, Go Go!

The leading group from our vantage point watching stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia. "Front Row" is an understatement.

Spring is here! (and so are the Dandelions)

Spring is FINALLY here! Everyone is so relieved that it's warming up after a totally drawn out, cold, miserable winter. We have had a lot of rainstorms however which have completely derailed Mark's racing. Just about every race has been canceled.

With the race canceled today, Mark's found good use of his 'extra' time. It seems eradicating dandelions is almost a combat sport...especially when you have a yard the size of a football field!

Guess dandelions are the price you pay for warm weather. For Mark's sake, I hope the next few weeks see less dandelions and more racing.

Really? It's Race Time Again?

It's started again. Mark's Mountain Bike season has started...sort of. The weather here isn't really cooperating. It seems we just can't 'spring' out of winter. First race, postponed, second race - well, that's a whole story in and of itself - and third race, postponed.

Driving out to the race last weekend, I told Mark that "I wasn't mentally prepared for race season". He said he wasn't really either. Apparently not many people were...including the race promoters. There was a start delay and other bumps that had them off to a rocky start. It was still a nice day to be outdoors...weather was actually pretty nice so I was happy for the excuse to just sit in the fresh air.

I think everyone is soooooo sick of winter that we're all just sort of stuck in winter blahs mode. I'm so sick of it, I might (stress on the 'might') just welcome my foe, the cicada! For those of you that know me well, you know that's pretty drastic..and a little melodramatic!

Anyway...ready or not, racing is back...I'm just wishing Spring was back too.

Riding Into A New Year...

This last weekend was the last race of the 2007 season. It was fun and it was real, and maybe a little real fun. I still think that riding your bike in winter weather is a crazy thing to do, but it is fun to watch.

Now that it's over, I will miss seeing the same ol' cycling diehards and the energy of Roger's pumping music...what I won't miss is bundling up, standing outside in subzero temps and sloshing through mud and snow.

As Mark hangs up his cyclocross bikes on a really good season (he placed second overall and I'm really proud of his accomplishments), I get to 'hang up' the wool socks, long johns, turtle necks, mud/snow boots, gloves and cowbells (I still think I should get some kind of award for doing a stellar job of cheering him on while risking frostbite - it should be noted that risking frostbite is totally opposite my CA girl DNA). ;-)

I'm looking forward to having our weekends free and flexible for awhile. We can take a few months off from the bike scene and hopefully we'll find time on the weekends to relax, slow down and explore a little. At least we don't have to 'race' into the new year...and that's a nice feeling.

You Ain't Seen Crazy Yet

National Cyclocross races were this weekend. The weather was typical cross weather...cold. Very cold. It snowed on Saturday for Mark's Mens 35-39 race which made it somewhat miserable to be a spectator and probably equally miserable for the racers. The sun made an appearance for Sunday's Elite Men's race which made it more pleasant for spectators, but a complete muddy mess for the guys racing. (Note the differences in the videos - first one is Saturday and second one, below, is Sunday - both in the same location on the course).



I posted earlier about how crazy this sport is, this weekend was a 'case in point'. Ice, snow, mud, muck...yuck! Riding your bike as fast as you can in extreme conditions is insane to most, but these guys know how to do it and seem to love it. The fans do too...watching this national race was really fun. Especially watching the Elite race where some of the best racers in the sport show up. Tons of people, tons of cheering and I'm guessing probably a record-breaking amount of cowbells clanking. Lots of intensity, lots of energy and lots of fun...even if it was well below the freezing point.

Mark raced great and I'm really proud of him. He placed a very respectable 16th out of 97 or so racers in the Men's 35-39 and hung in there w/ the best of them in the Elite race. He may be crazy, but he's good at 'crazy'...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Crazy Is As Crazy Does...

As a CA native, I find the sport of CycloCross slightly insane. 16 degrees? riding on snow and ice? riding up hills/down hills? hurdling over barriers? Crazy!!!

But as I stood out in the snow all bundled up I felt oddly nostalgic for my snow skiing days. It occurred to me that riding your bike in the snow is not that far from strapping skis on your feet, swooshing down a mountain, hitting moguls at tops speeds and dodging other skiers and trees. I suppose if you hit a patch of ice you'll get slammed to the ground equally hard in both sports. At least in cyclocross they wear helmets!

Here's a video of Mark from today's race, the KS State Championships. He took 3rd place.
Way to go, Crazy! ;-)

Back to the Races

Back from Italy and back to the same ol' grind. I'll write more about Italy in future posts. It was a great trip and while it's great to be back with the dogs, I do miss 'la dolce vita'. We've been back 3 weeks now and not only are we back to work, home life, midwest living...we're 'back to the races'.

Cyclocross season has started and I've already had a decent dose. Two races under my belt and I think I get it. It's definitely a different scene than mountain biking - new crew of racers & bystanders, pumping music (although I think I got an overdose of Paula Abdul on Sunday's race), play-by-play announcers and clanging cowbells. It was reassuring to see the return of the BIG ORANGE GORILLA that ended the mountain bike season. Good to see some things are the same as mountain biking!

Orange You A Big Gorilla!

MTB season isn't over until you've stood under a giant orange gorilla!

The Larsen Family has a new yearly photo contest..."Most Random Photo Award". The goal is to take a pic of yourself in the most random situation. This is definitely worthy of an entry!

This is Mark after the Lunatic Fringe MTB race in Smithville, his last of the session...we're just glad there was a giant gorilla to help commemorate!

First Mountain Bike Season Behind Me...

Mark may be standing in first place on the podium, but I think I'm deserving of my own award...I've completed my first mountain bike season as photographer and 'water replenisher'. Mark and his friends have done a great job of introducing me to the sport and making me feel a part of this rogue, traveling band of cycling enthusiasts. I've been places I never would have gone and seen things I never would have seen...lakes, parks, small country towns, rows and rows of corn, a giant orange gorilla (I'll elaborate on this later) and so much more.

Mark has wrapped up both Heartland and MidWest Fat Tire racing series by winning his category, so we get to reclaim our Sundays. Time to focus on Cyclo-Cross I'm told. Just when I learn the ins and outs of mountain biking, I am thrown into another new sport. I'm actually looking forward to it! MORE COW BELL!