No Calvin's Challenge for 2008

For me, the three previous years I have spent twelve consecutive hours on a bicycle eight days before Mother's Day. This year is a different story with my absence at this year's Calvin's Challenge, which is under different management this year. I am glad to see someone stepped into fill the shoes of promoters after John and Ann McKinely and wish them the best of luck of continuing a great event. I do miss being at the event but it is best. With my time in school winding done, I am busy and don't have the time to dedicate to the event. Plus, I am trying to concentrate on my regular racing for a little bit.

Calvin's is the one of the two cycling event that I can say I have grown up riding the event (GOBA is the other but I haven't done it since I was 15). I did Calvin's for the first time at age 14 where I did 107 miles and set the 10-14 age group record that has been beaten. I consider that my hardest year although I did the my smallest mileage amount that year. The reason being is I was inexperienced and didn't train like I do now days. It might be my proudest Calvin's taking in those factors. The next time I did it I was 16 and came in a bit more experienced and was able to complete 199 miles and set the 15-19 age group record. The following year, at 17, I manage to spend over 200 miles with the big boys, including Mark Heckman and Danny Chew, finished with 242 miles, to smash my record from the previous year, and meet Bennet. I spent the next two years in absence to concentrate on my regular racing. I returned in 2005, age 20, with the UC Cycling Club in hopes of trying to help of setting a new overall record, but it wouldn't be a reality due to 25 mph winds all day. I road 242 miles and finished tied for the overall win with Bob and Adam on the tandem and Danny 'Million Mile Man' Chew. This might be my most memorable Calvin's because of helping Adam get through his longest day on the bike in such rough conditions. 2006 will probably be know as the year of the super bonk. That year, I greatly misjudge my energy efforts and had a big bonk hit me at about 220 miles into the event. I manage to survive to the finish with a small amount of recovery to ride 256 miles. With luck, I managed to remain tied for the overall win that year and I tied Mark Heckman's 20-24 age group record. In 2007, John and Ann decided to do their last Calvin's. Initially I told John and Ann I wasn't going to be in attendance, but when I found out what the UC boys were planning, I wasn't going to let them do it with out me. The UC boys set a goal of trying to get a new overall record set. We met nearly perfect conditions for the opening six hours and road 140 miles in the opening six. Then a storm struck with strong winds that would last throughout the rest of the day. I missed out on the overall win because my stomach felt like it was full the rest of day, and I had a hard time eating or drinking in the later part of the event. I managed to break Mark Heckman's 20-24 age group record only a week after he won Athens Twilight (arguably the biggest non-national championship criterium in the nation). Over the years, I have been fortunate to have my dad there for support every year.

I do intend to return to the event someday. When I do return, it will more than likely mean I have begun to take ultramarathoning more seriously. I may do it just because I miss Calvin's and make it my only ultramarthoning event for that year. If I do it while taking ultramarathoning more seriously, it will mean I am working on trying to qualify for Race Across America (RAAM).

Ciao