Ouachita Challenge "Tour" Entries

Looks like Carolynn and Christopher have decided not to participate in this years Ouachita Challenge. I have two "Tour" entries that I am selling.

A super fun event and some great trails. The "Tour" is on Saturday, April 4, 2009.

2009 Objectives

Below is my tentative spring/summer event schedule for 2009. Will also attend some training events like Spring Fling with my team (Cow Town) and some running events to build my running form for that summer/fall Ironman. Basically the spring is all mountain biking and then triathlons including some Xterra's. Also will hit some road races and crits to work for the team when needed.

1/31 - Polar Bear Plunge and/or Cancer Thon
2/14 - Psyco Wyco Trail Run
3/7 - Devil's Revenge Duathlon (promoting)
3/14 - Bone Bender 3/6 Hour MTB Odyssey(promoting)
3/28 - Black Locust Duathlon
4/6 - Ouachita Challenge
4/25 - God's Country Duathlon (promoting)
5/2 - Xterra Gator Terra
5/31 - Kansas City Triathlon
6/7 - Rhetts Run
6/20 - Xterra Dawg Dayz
6/21 - 3 Legged Dawg MTB Championship
7/16 - NORBA National Championships
8/15- Xterra BOLT (or Leadville 100 if I get in...)
9/19 - Redman Triathlon (Ironman)

Still unsure about some of my objectives. I am trying to become more realistic with my objectives, but I also want to push myself. When you factor in family, work, injuries, etc. it is hard (at least for me) to set goals that I can fully commit and still lead a balanced life.

Carolynn, Christopher and I also want to go to the Grand Canon this year. We will see if we can get that planned. I know that place books up quickly. We might have to wait until 2010.

If anyone is interested, I have compiled a 2009 event schedule which is a work in progress. File can be found on http://groups.google.com/group/cowtowncycling Also, feel free to join the group if you like.

Bone Bender Flyer

A Look Back on 2008

I have been thinking a lot of about my objectives for this next year. What do I really want to accomplish in my life (Family, work, racing, etc...)? Also, where do I want to be in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years? And can I get there....

First a recap of the good and bad for 2008:

The Good:

• Celebrated 15 year wedding anniversary to my wonderful wife Carolynn
  
• Got a promotion at work - Senior Systems Administrator
• Promoted a very successful cyclocross series
• My sister Jacqueline graduated Law School and passed the Florida Bar.
• Won Single Speed division in the De Stad Cyclocross series
  
• Won the 2008 Commuter Challenge
  
• Won a Hare Scrambles race on my first try (after a 16 year layoff...)
• Set the fastest night lap at this year Rapture in Misery 12 hour.
  
• Completed my first 100 mile mountain bike race - Cohutta 100

The Bad:

• My little brother John Jay Locke passed away.
• Having my Colitis come back during the summer.
  
• Very poor cyclocross season in general with only a couple good events.
• Pathetic showing in my Ultra MTB events (Ouachita, Cohutta and Firecracker 50)

Still working on my objectives for this year. I have always been one to set goals and work towards accomplishing them. Some of the goals are unrealistic based on my current work load, fitness and health. What happens is I end of not meeting some of these goals and end up feeling bad about it. I guess I need to really look at my current situation and set objectives that I realistically can meet. Challenge myself, but realize that I am not 20 years old anymore....

Old School Florida

I just love the Florida Keys. It has not changed much over my life span. Plenty of sunshine, calm warm waters, lagoons, plenty of nature trails, sandy beaches and sunsets to die for....