While it’s still early in the 2013/14 cyclocross season, I have already started to look ahead and start planning my 2014 mountain bike schedule. After just making a list of races that I would like to do, it’s clear that my interests lean towards ultra-endurance mountain biking. With an early season 100K on the horizon, I will have my work cut out for me through the winter. Last year, my time for the Wildcat 100K was 8:05:04.44, and I hope to improve on that. I am planning on returning to the Black Fly Challenge too. The Black Fly is a 40 mile Point to Point mountain bike race through the Moose River Plains of the Adirondacks. I race the Back Fly only one other time, but I thoroughly enjoyed the race. As long as the date doesn’t conflict with the Wilmington-Whiteface Leadville Qualifier, I will plan on racing the Black Fly. Last yeas was my second time racing the Wilmington-Whiteface, and it was the first time a 50K option was added. As soon as I saw that, I was in. Sure I’m racing much longer races, but 50K is a good distance for me. In 2013 I missed a podium spot by less than 1.5 seconds. This year, when I go back to Lake Placid, my goal is the podium in the 50K race. Mixed in with these races will be some shorter cross country races that I will be competing in, primarily for fitness. I don’t intend to race the full New York State Mountain Bike Series this year, just a few select races…but you never know.

This schedule is pretty aggressive for me. And all this is probably for the months of April, May and June. I’m planning like this to prepare for another race…the Fire Road Cedar City MTB Race in Cedar City, UT during  July 4 weekend. This is another Leadville Qualifier. I’m not attempting to qualify for Leadville, so the 60K option is right up my ally. Cedar City will probably be the most challenging event that I have ever done…4895 feet of climbing, but with a max elevation of 9541 feet. I have never raced at elevation before, and where I am, I can’t train for it either. So it will be a challenge for me. Hotel reservations are already made, so I’m all in.

Here is my Tentative 2014 Montain Bike Schedule:

• HRRT Easter MTB (MTB XC)
• HRRT Spring Endurance 2/4/6 hr (MTB Marathon)
• Wildcat 100K (MTB Marathon)
• Blackfly Challenge (MTB Marathon)
• Wilmington-Whiteface 50K (MTB Marathon)
• Fire Road Cedar City 60K (MTB Marathon)
• 24 hrs of Pat’s Peak (MTB Marathon)
• Wildcat Epic (MTB Marathon)
• ADK 80K (MTB Marathon)
• S.O.S. Mountain Bike Challenge (MTB XC)
• Windham Race the World (MTB XC)
• Belleayre Mountain All Terrain Challenge (MTB XC)
• Riedlbauers Round Top Rally (MTB XC)