Art O’Connor

I don’t even know where to start.  This last weekend (which started on Wed. for me) was crazy stupid amounts of fun.  I loeaded up the big stupid truck (B.S.T) and headed south to Kanab to meet up with Swill and Lorita for some canyoneering fun.  Also along for the ride Ian, Kurt and Uncle David (Chief of the Wheredafukowee tribe).  The base of operations was Grandma and Grandpa’s house where we were treated to the finest home cooking imaginable.  The weekend went something like this.  Huge breakfast at Grandma’s, running around the desert having ridiculous amounts of fun, a huge dinner with rowdy banter at Grandma’s, fall into a coma by 9pm, repeat. Check the pics, they don’t do it justice but its a start. 

Spending the holidays away from your family can be a depressing proposition if done wrong.  Not the case this year.  I can’t thank Swill and Lorrie enough for inviting me on this trip and sharing this weekend with their family. 

I am off to Kanab for a few days over slot canyon fun, overeating, and fart jokes with the Swill and Lorita.  Not sure if the VZ wireless card will get a signal down there or not, hence the early Turkey Day wishes.  I am not a huge fan of most Thanksgiving food but I like the sentiment of the day.  It is good to take some time and think about all the good things in life.  Thanksgiving is the start of the Holiday season which for me means my Mom will start calling me early in the morning singing Christmas carols and that is what I am most thankful for this year.  Getting to hear her sing (off key) Christmas music.

Well I almost called it.  I knew Gallagher had better races in him then his results were showing.  Closing down a gap on Dale Knapp on the last lap of a big race is something not too many people can claim, but that is exactly what happened yesterday.  I was getting live updates from Slohran and SLC ex-pat Kelly Ryan during the race yesterday.  Sounds like if the lap was a little longer it would have been a done deal.  Check the results.  Utah crossers are no joke.  I wish I could have been there but I think I made the right choice saving my back. 

I think John and I have had similar seasons.  I feel like my fitness is right on but for whatever reason (bad starts mostly) I have not had the results I have been hoping for.  I know they are coming.  Last year at Nationals I had one of those days that you dream about.  Great start, great legs and everything just flowed.  Will lightning strike twice?  I think so.  I am in better shape, my head is clear, the crew at Spin Cycle have my Kona dialed and I have a great support system of good friends behind me.  The time is now, I gotta throw down.

In the words of Sleevie today was/is epic.  Start the day with a mocha at Two Creeks to top off the tank.  Next up motor pacing.  I love to motor pace.  There is no better workout to squeeze out that last 2% and get that leg breaking power. 45 minutes at 35mph on knobbies.  Worked?  Yeah.  After saying goodbye and thank you to my kick ass driver I put another hour and a half in the bank.  Out on the Bacchas Highway I saw a small herd of elk chillin in the sun.  Sweet. 

After the ride I went to pick up my car and was treated to an amazing home cooked meal (with brownies!) and Space Ghost on DVD.  Seriously does it get much better?  Oh yeah, Chimay at The Bayou tonight.  I really wanted to do the USGP this weekend but my back had other ideas.(Hopefully Gallagher can throw down and pop the win I know he is capable of) Hard to complain after a day like this though.

Rock On

No race to ride in
A rare Saturday for me
I will swill some beer

A lot of the people I care about are dealing with some pretty serious shit lately.  My Mom , Abby and her foot, DrX’s ticker, Bart and Sager with the assclowns at USADA.  Bunch of shit for sure.  My mom is doing better.  Her platelets are finally up and she is getting stronger by the day.  Abby’s surgery went much better than expected.  They were able to replace the bad bone with Gore-Tex, friggin’ miracle if you ask me.  With any luck she will be skiing this season.  DrX while not throwing down like he wants, is able to train and will soon resume his post as gate keeper of the pain cave. I look forward to many more seasons racing with him.  Bart and Sager, man I really feel for those dudes.  Through gross incompetence these guys are being strung up and their reputations questioned while the real dopers are getting away with it.  Total bullshit.

The amazing thing about all of these people is the class and determination they have all shown in dealing with the crappy hands they have been dealt.  You all inspire me and I am honored to know you.

Modern medicine is an amazing thing.  We are lucky to live in the time we live in.  Not too long ago the cancer my Mom has would have been a death sentence.  DrX and Abby would have to give up the sports they love.  Yet that same medicine, those same miracles of technology can be perverted and misused by the lazy and greedy for personal gain at the expense of others.  It is sickening that people would inject drugs that are designed to save lives just to ride a little faster, jump a little higher or whatever.  It is sickening that because of the actions of these liars and cheaters, the performance and charector of every elite athlete is now in question.  It is sickening that Vino can miss a test in the middle of a Grand Tour that he ended up winning and he recieves no sanctions, yet  (no disrespect intended guys) journeymen pros racing at the regional level get suspended for missing a test that the very groups we are counting on to clean up the sport are to incompetent to even inform them they have been selected for testing.  Sickening.

I would encourage anyone reading this to send feedback to USADA (using their handy online form) and let them know how you feel about this joke of a system they have in place.  After you do send the link to a few friends and have them do the same.

Rock On

Yesterday was a good day.  I always get pretty geeked up for the State Cross race.  I got there early to help Slohran set the course.  It looked like it might rain/snow and I had my fingers crossed.  Sadly the rain held off.  DrX hooked me up with some kick ass tuna.  Holy crap that stuff was good!  The Tuna Bomb has reached new heights.  Thanks Dr.

I am watching the C race and noticing the Rock Star is not here again.  Anyhow I turn around and see Julie talking to two people who look vaguely familiar.  She is doing this weird head twitch and I figure it is just a side effect of her wasp sting.  So I go back to watching the action.  Someone taps me on the shoulder and I turn around to see non other than my “brotha from anotha motha” Mr. Ride Trash himself Swill and his fabulous wife Lorita.  I am floored.  Two of my favorite people in the world have come all the way from Santa Barbara to see me (and Julie) throw down.  First the tuna and now this.   I am super motivated now.

Since I have been racing out of state so much I have very few points in the Utah Series which means no love on the call up.  No worries I have been at the back for most of my starts this year.  There was like 20 feet of straight road before it starts to turn, then it is about 3 minutes of single track.  I passed a few guys on the road then settled into the parade pace in the single track.  I could only watch as the leadrs hammered away and I was riding in Zone 1.  By the time we hit the open road on the back side I could not even see the leaders, I have some work to do.  I got in a group with Bryson Perry, Thomas Spannring, and Mitchell Peterson.  Those guys were killing it!  I was not sure if I would be able to hang, but since I had so many people cheering and cracking whips for me I would not give up.  We eventually made contact with bunny advocate Sam Kreig and by the last lap it was just Sam and me.  We had been working each other over pretty good and I was looking for any place I was a little quicker than him.  He gassed it hard on the side walk on the last lap and that was it I could not respond.  I rolled across for 5th, in a lactic acid haze.  I went deep into the pain cave today and dropped my flashlight.

After the race I scarfed some killer fish taco’s with the Ride Trash crew.  That evening I helped a friend seal some windows and ate a killer home cooked meal with some even better company.  After dinner we met up with Rock Star and the Ride Trash crew at the Red Door for some cocktails and belly laughs.  What a great day.  I don’t know what I did to deserve such great friends but I will take it.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to a great day that reminds me how lucky I am.

Don’t like the weather?  Wait a minute.  Yesterday was a good day for a rest day and today is a good day for a pre race blow out.  Hopefully tomorrow we will get some (a lot) of rain or snow for the State Cross Championships.  Hopefully the Rock Star will show.  Check out the new blog from DrX.  When the Dr talks you should listen.

Here is my contribution to poetry Friday:

Bad bones and cancer
they cant keep you down for long
soon your soul will smile

Last week I am at the widget store selling widgets to the mouth breathing masses.  This lady comes in and asks me how much for this widget.  The conversation goes like this.

“Hi, how much for this widget?” apparently the big sign that say $799 is invisible.

“Well that one is $799 today.”

“Oh I have this coupon for 10% off” she says and hands me the coupon

I look it over and see it expired in September of 2005 and say ” I am sorry this coupon expired 13 months ago, I will not be able to honor that.”

“What do you mean?” she asks indignantly

“Well I say (resisting the urge to stab her in the neck with my pen)  when we issue coupons they are only good for a certain amount of time.  In this case had you come in anytime before September 30, 2005 we would have been happy to give you 10% off this item.”

Confused look.  “So what are you saying?”

With visions of dragging her to the door by her hair I reply “What I am saying is that I will not be able to give you the discount on this widget.”

“So how much is this widget then?”

“$799″

“So how much with the coupon”

“With that coupon it is $849″

“What?  Why is it more now?”

“Disposal fee”

“Disposal of what?”

“Your worthless coupon”

“Can I talk to a manager?”

Damn I wish I had a trust fund….