Results of the 2008 Open

On Nov 8th, Austin, Jacob and I played in this year's 2008 Open. On Friday we played our ladder event. We get seeded and based on how we play can either advance our seed position into a higher division, or get put where we were seeded if we lost. The guy on our table who was an unknown and seeded at the bottom, made his way all the way to the top to play James but ended up in the A Division. At first he looked not that good, but he would toy with the other player just enough to stay ahead. His name is Jeff Hone and he moved here from California. He's an older guy who claimed he hadn't played in many years. Well he still had it.

Jacob and Austin didn't advance either. Austin played in the D division and Jacob in the bottom one. There were over 60 people in the tournmant, so there were 6 divisions (Open, A, B, C, D and E) I played in the B division.

On Saturday I was in a group with Bryce Parkinson, Matt Pugmire, and Varhese Pallathu. The other guy in our group didn't show. I first played Bryce. I knew it would be tough, but in the last several tournaments I was able to squeek by. Not this time. He was more consistent on his loops and I had been out of practice enough for him to slaughter me 3 - 0. I then played Matt and lost 3-2. Then to Varghese 3-1. I was disappointed, and humbled, but knew I deserved it for the neglect I've given the sport over the summer giving way to swimming and biking.

Jacob won a game from someone, but lost all his matches. He's a great sport though. He had fun and wasn't upset. Austin took first at his table and advanced to the semifinals. The semifinal round was a single elimination with the other half of his division. He lost to Javza Gaav 2-3. He was pretty upset about that, but not as bad I've seen him in the past. He's getting better at controlling his disappointment.

We didn't stay to see who won the divisions, we just took off cause it had already been a long day. Cathi came on Friday night with the kids to watch the first hour. It was really crowded and the kids tried to watch a movie on my laptop, but it was too loud and they couldn't hear. Next time we all need to be more in practice to expect any kind of success at a tournament. I'm worried about Nationals next month. Better start hitting with the robot!

2008 Utah Open

Austin and I took 3rd in the Class A Doubles. Austin was in the D Division and made it to the semifinals but lost in the first round of the semis.

I was in the B Division and was 0-4 so I was a bit disappointed, but not surprised given that I haven't practiced at all this summer. Jacob was able to win a couple matches, but not any games either. Austin is getting quite a bit better.

We were able to leave the tournament at 12:30 so I had the rest of the afternoon so I went on a ride:

Distance: 37.6 miles
Time: 1:55
Avg Speed: 19.6 mph

Went out to the end of the causeway out at antelope Island and went back to the gate and back again. Good ride except I had a flat tire that didn't have a hole, just didn't tighten the inner valve very good.

Bonehead!

This afternoon I headed to 6200 S State in Salt Lake on my Bike. We were going to meet Cathi's family at "The Cheesecake Factory" at Fashion Place Mall.

I made it 400 N and 200 West when I hit something and instantly got a flat in my back tire. I stopped and a construction staple was in my tire. I pulled it out and replaced the tube. Then continued on. When I got to 100 S and 200 W I noticed I had a flat again. I also noticed that my sunglasses case had spilled out of my saddlebag. I felt in there and my wallet was gone! It was in there when I replaced the flat, and when I took off I didn't zip it back up! What a bonehead. Just then a black truck came by and the guy yelled out, "You dropped your wallet back there!"

He turned around and went back to get it while I ran along side with my bike since it was flat. Back at North Temple it was in the road. I gave him $20 (There was over $70 in the wallet along with all my cards and ID). He noticed I had a flat and asked if I needed a ride somewhere. I figured if I hurried over to Tomax I could call Cathi and she could pick me up on the way down. I caught her and then went downstairs and did some rowing for 5 minutes, several sets of lifting and felt like I got a full workout considering my biking was cut short.

The headwind coming in was constant at around 20 mph. It was terrible.

Distance: 30.1 miles
Time: 1:47
Avg Speed: 16.89 mph

The backup tube shouldn't be one that already has a hole in it. Also, zip up your saddle bag, you bonehead!

My strategy for consumption during Halloween

Cathi set a goal to not eat ANY candy this Halloween. I don't think I can go quite that far, but my strategy is to chew every piece of candy in small pieces, also considering let the chocolate melt in my mouth rather than just down the candy in large amounts.

If you take it slow and take smaller bites, it will last longer and/or will result in less candy being eaten.

Plus I'll be swimming/biking like a madman on Saturday to burn most of the calories taken in on Friday.

Stopped at Bike Wagon's warehouse

Yesterday morning I emailed Dale Majors. He's my friend from my ward growing up that plays at the club on Fridays. He started a business many years ago called bikewagon.com. I emailed him asking about some winter shoes for riding in. He said I should try some windproof covers for the shoes I have. I stopped by his warehouse on the way home at 2100 N. Redwood Road in SLC and I was surprised how big his business really is. He gave me a good price on the shoe covers as well as some gloves.

The ride home the rest of the way was good:

Distance: 31.2 miles
Time: 1:38
Avg Speed: 19.1 mph

I tried the gloves and shoe covers this morning and the shoe covers were good, but the gloves were not. By the time I was 4 miles into the ride my hands were already freezing. I even put my thick leather biking gloves over the top and still froze. I ended up stopping at the Farmington station and taking Frontrunner the rest of the way. My hands were so cold. Guess I'll have to stick with my goretex winter gloves. They're thick and air proof.

So today's ride was much less than I wanted. Plus I can't remember exactly what I did, but I hit the inside of butt against the top of the frame and have a sore bum. I'm behind on hours this week cause of the riding in to work, so I'm going to have to take the FrontRunner home and bike from the Layton station. With Halloween tomorrow, I can't rely on Friday being a makeup day on hours. Need to get home at a decent time so the kids can have plenty of time trick or treating.

Stats:
Distance 13.7 miles
Time: 51:12
Avg Speed: 15.67 mph

Took frontrunner to Layton and then booked it home:

Distance: 6.1 Miles
Time: 16:55
Avg Speed: 21.64 mph

Riding in the dark

I've ridden in the dark before. It isn't fun, but usual the real pitch black darkness only lasts for an hour or so cause I don't leave too early. Well today I left at 5:30 and it was dark almost the entire time. It was terrible. I had to deal with the huge glare of oncoming cars headlights when I was on the east side of Legacy Highway in Bountiful. That made seeing the yellow stripes on the trail very difficult, so I had to slow way down so I could feel comfortable with where I was going. I didn't want to ride off the trail when it curves.

Why is it colder just before the sun comes up? The temperature was pleasant until I got to South Bountiful. There was a light blue hue right above the horizon of the mountains. In Farmington I replaced my winter gloves with my bike gloves because my hands were too warm. But when I got to South Bountiful I had to switch back to my winter gloves. My feet this time didn't get numb till I got to South Bountiful too.

Distance: 31.0 miles
Time: 1:53
Avg Speed: 16.46 mph

Terrible performance, but it was cold and dark so I'm not gonna get upset with that. Should have a much better ride home. Get to leave at 3:30 pm so it should be nice.

Still cold

I put duct tape over the hole in my shoe and in the main vents in the toe, which was better, but still had very cold feet this morning. Everything else was warm. Need to look into winter bike shoes cause Bikers edge didn't have any shoes without the holes and vents.

Distance:31.0 miles
Time: 1:43
Avg Speed: 18.06

Bike home was much better:

Distance: 31.0 miles
Time: 1:34
Avg Speed: 19.79 mph

It was warm this afternoon. Had to pull my sleeves up on my peppers. No wind to deal with and went hard.