Boulder Beer Race

A hard week of training culminated in the Boulder Beer Road Race Sunday. I was feeling pretty tired from the weeks efforts so this was basically prep for the Deer Trail Road Race next weekend. This was 7.4 mile circuit race with 2 big hills each lap, click here for the course Profile. Andrei and Shuka joined me at the start line, so we had 3 Swifties. The race started as normal with nothing of note happening until the 3rd lap when there was an attack up the first hill. I just sat in and let everyone else chase. Andrei and Shuka had great position the whole race sitting around the top 20. At this point I wasn't feeling good, and was already thinking I was going to have a hard time hanging with the main pack as the group went on. I was sitting about 40th on the way back when there was a huge crash. I luckily was able to avoid it because I was sitting so far back, and chased back on within a few seconds. Between laps 3-5 there wasn't really anything happening, which allowed me to drink a lot and eat a powergel and drink and Enervitene Cheer pack which gave me my second wind. I was able to move up some and get in with Andrei and Shuka. The 6th and final lap saw a few attacks on the first hill, with nothing going as it all regrouped on the downhill. Coming down the last downhill, Andrei attacked stringing out the field which allowed me to move down the right side from 35th place to 12th. I was now just waiting for an attack on the last hill. Sure enough a guy from Spine & Sport attacked at the bottom and a Vitamin Cottage guy covered. They had 100 ft gap, but they were a long way from the top so I stayed patient and waited for someone else to bring it back. I ended up hopping on the wheel of 2 guys trying to bridge. By this time we were down to about 15 guys and we caught the 2 leaders just after the crest. I was sitting 5th wheel when a RMRC rider counterattacked on the left side and I hopped on 3rd wheel behind Louisville Cyclery guy in the last 300m and that is how it finished. I tried to come around the LC guy but I was spun out in my 12, I definately needed an 11. He got me by a wheel and I held on for 3rd. I was pretty pumped with this result as I wasn't feeling my best, and It is a definite boost of confidence going into Deer Trail. Shuka finished ~22nd and Andrei 33rd, which was great for the team as we all made the main group and were able to work together helping with positioning. Here are some pics from the race. First 2 pics arn't of my race, but give an idea to the views and course. The last three are. I'm in the orange kit and white helmet.

Bad Kitty

Mountain lion attacks boy on Boulder trail
By Kirk Mitchell
Denver Post Staff Writer

Boulder - Members of a 7-year-old boy's family drove off a mountain lion that attacked him on a trail on Flagstaff Mountain late Saturday.

The boy, who was not identified, was walking last in a single file of eight family members and friends near the Crown Rock trailhead about 6 p.m. when his father turned and saw the lion on him.

The lion seized the child by the head and dragged him toward the woods, family members told Jason Blumen, a supervisor with Pridemark Paramedic Services, at Boulder Community Hospital.

They shouted and struck the lion with rocks and sticks, said Tyler Baskfield, a spokesman for the state Division of Wildlife. "They did everything possible to defend the boy from the lion," Baskfield said. "You've got to fight back with everything you have if you're attacked by a mountain lion."

Authorities said the boy had injuries consistent with a mountain lion attack including claw marks on his leg and puncture wounds on his jaw and head.

"The family showed unbelievable courage and bravery," said Blumen. "It was the family that ultimately scared the animal away, and I am 100 percent sure that they saved his life."

Blumen said the boy, who was later transferred from the Boulder hospital to Children's Hospital in Denver, is doing "remarkably well." Family members, who declined interviews, issued a statement saying he was in stable condition. The family's home town was not available.

Dean Paschall, division manager of visitor environmental services for the city of Boulder, which owns the popular recreation area, said the boy suffered facial lacerations and bite marks on one leg.

"This is something that is extremely unusual," Paschall said. "The mountain lions here are very accustomed to human beings. They don't look at humans as their natural food source."

Claire Solohub of the Division of Wildlife said traps were being set and baited with road kill to catch the lion. Search dogs and officers with guns and flashlights were combing the area. "Whenever you have wild animals and people living together, we can't always control what happens," Solohub said.

Baskfield said the cougar, if found, would be killed in the interest of safety because it's possible it would strike again.

"The mountain lion may have been confused and thought the boy was prey because of his size," he added.

Baskfield said authorities are considering restricting access to trails on Flagstaff Mountain until the mountain lion is found.

Boulder resident Chuck Corwin, who frequently hikes in the area, said he has never seen a mountain lion there, but the animals have had so much interaction with people that they're not afraid of them.

"It's going to happen every once in a while unless you kill every mountain lion in the state," Corwin said of Saturday's attack.

Although cougar attacks are rare, mountain lions have killed people in Colorado - three in the past 15 years.

There are an estimated 5,000 big cats in Colorado. Males can grow to more than 8 feet long from nose to tail and weigh up to 150 pounds.

Pledge of Allegiance

My friend Emina Kadric went through her naturalization ceremony yesterday. She sent me the following pictures. We joked about all the national history she had to learn that I had forgotten. I believe most Americans take for granted their freedom and liberty, but seeing how happy Emina was, made me realize how great we have it. I'm extremely happy for her, because it is no small feat, and she can now enjoy the same priviliages I was born with.

Oredigger Classic Part 2

Well my time put me in 24th for the Hill Climb. I'm coming to the realization that climbing isn't my stregnth. Danielson did it in 16:02 (new record) 2 minutes faster than anyone else. Next was the Coors Tech Center Crit. It is a 1.6 mile loop with a few sweeping turns and two that were 90 degrees. It also has a 150-200 ft climb each lap and the finish line is at the top. When I got to the race, I found out that they weren't running it as an omnium, so no overall points. Anyway the race started fast as always and I stayed in the top 20 most of the race. I didn't have any teamates so I planned to just sit in the whole race. Each time up the climb guys were getting spit out the back. I spinned up it in my small ring to try and save my legs for the last couple laps, while others were grinding out there big ring. I felt good the first couple laps and we were down to a group of 30. There was a small break of 4 that got off the front after a prime, but they weren't organized, so I just sat in. 2 laps later we were all back together with 3 to go. On this lap a guy attacked hard up the hill and had a good gap, it took us a lap to chase him down. At this point it was single file for the top 15 guys. Setting up the last lap Spine & Sports team moved 4 guys to the front for a leadout. I hopped in 7th wheel. I was feeling pretty good, but was trying to stay patient. S&S started their leadout way too early and 200 meters before the climb there was only 2 guys left so they slowed and a second leadout came in on my inside, boxing me in. Not much I could do at this point, but wait for things to break up so I could move around. I hit the climb in ~15th place and hammered in my big to the top. I rolled through 8th. This course suited me well. I was pretty happy with this result. I had a hard week of training, and this was a C race for me. Next race for me will be in 2 weeks, as I'm trying to get in some good training hours for Deer Trail.

Props to James for his strong finish in the HC, smoked me.

Oredigger Classic Part 1

Today was the first stage of the Oredigger Classic. It was a hill climb up Lookout Mtn. Lookout is roughly 4.1 miles long with ~1500 ft of climbing. I got there about an hour before my start time and rolled up to the registration booth to get my number. The guy in front of me was all decked out in a Discovery kit at which point I noticed it was Tom Danielson. I guess he was wanting to add another hill climb record to his resume. I think the record is somewhere around 16 minutes. I preregistered so that I would have ample time to warm-up, however, it still took 20+ minutes to get my number. This cut my warm-up down to 12 minutes. Since I didn't get a good warm-up, I took it easy at the start, and finished strong. My goal for this season was to do this climb sub 23 minutes since 25:25 was my personal best last year (not good). I think my time was 23:07. I think this will get me into the top 20. I was pretty happy with this time since it is ~2:20 off my time last year and this was only the second time I've ridden it this season. Since most or our races are either crits or rolling in the early season, I haven't focused on climbing at all, so this was a pleasent suprise. I also picked up my Zipps yesterday, with these on my bike I feel fast, even if I'm not.

"City of Syrup"

Final two pharmacists sentenced in 'syrup' case
For filling phony prescriptions, they get prison terms of 10 and 12 years

By MELANIE MARKLEY
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

The final two of six Houston pharmacists convicted in October of conspiring to fill fake prescriptions for painkillers and codeine-laced cough syrup were handed prison sentences Wednesday.

John David Wiley III, 41, and Anthony Dwayne Essett, 39, were among the six pharmacists convicted of dispensing 2,500 gallons of promethazine with codeine, a highly addictive cough suppressant known on the street by such names as syrup, lean, purple and drank.

The trial helped illustrate why Houston became known as the "City of Syrup" among some members of America's rap culture. The drug's popularity even gave rise to a distinctive, Houston-bred style of rap music.

The six pharmacists also were found guilty of money laundering and filling phony prescriptions for 1.7 million pills of hydrocodone, a synthetic narcotic widely known by the brand name Vicodin.

They also were convicted of conspiracy to illegally dispense the drugs.

Wiley and Essett are co-owners of I-10 East Pharmaceutical Services.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Wiley to 10 years in prison. Essett received a sentence of 12 years and seven months, and was fined $312,000.

The four other pharmacists convicted in the trial were sentenced earlier.

Otukayode Adeleke Otufale, owner of Med Stop Pharmacy on Hillcroft, was sentenced to 10 years.

Isaac Simeon Achobe, owner of American Choice Pharmacy on West Bellfort, received a 63-month term and was fined $5,000.

Chicha Kazembe Combs and Andre Dion Brown, co-owners of Mason Road Pharmacy in Katy, were each sentenced to 10 years.

According to testimony, the six pharmacists knowingly accepted fake prescriptions from Dr. Callie Hall Herpin, who pleaded guilty and testified for the prosecution.

Also named in the conspiracy were Etta Mae Williams, 47, Karen B. Williams, 40, Darryl Armstrong, 41, Paul Henry, 40, Omar Fahie, 24, Eric Craft, 38, and Will Bailey III, 36.

The remaining eight defendants are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

Koppenberg

Koppenberg

Well I was hoping for wind to help break the pack up today, because the road was in such good shape, and I got more than I asked for (30+mph). Large field of 105 made the early start. Started on first row followed Matt, Jeremy, and Ty's wheel the first lap. They kept us in good position good position going into the climb (17% grade). I felt good first 2 laps. By the start of the 3rd lap we were down to 25. I was sitting towards the back of this pack and figured I better mover up prior to the next climb and ~5 guys were getting dropped each time up. I shot forward about 200 meters before the climb straight into the head wind (big mistake). Worked hard over the climb sitting 3rd. I sat up with a guy from 5280 to recover as a guy on our left attacked about where the finish line was. I was smoked at this point (HR 188) as a couple of other guys started chasing I just couldn't hold a wheel in the 30+ mph cross/head wind. I chased and got back on thanks to 40+ mph decent heading down marshall road. I caught the pack about 500m before we hit the gravel again. At this point we were single file and the guy in front of me opened up a gap, and that was it. We chased, but got no love from the headwind. finished up 21st with the winners in sight. Finished 1:46 off the winner with a time of 49:09. Made a couple of mistakes on the 3rd lap that cost me. Learned alot and had fun. Ty had an awesome race and rolled in 18th 30 seconds in front of me. He looked strong. I think he has been doing secret ninja training in his basement at night, because he says he hasn't been riding. It was nice to have a teamate to work with most of the race. Thanks Jeremy G. as well for helping close a gap on the 1st lap so I didn't have to.