46th Entry - August 17, 2007

Yes I am still alive. With the final 3 nationals in a 4 week span, I have been on the road a lot. I even got to start working again with more time taken up. First was Vermont where I rode to a pretty solid 9th place. I was in 7th for most of the race but faded a bit in the last lap. It was a long race with tons a climbing and lots of mud to make the rocks and roots very slick. I drove out there with Melissa, Owen and Ava so after the XC we headed to N.C. for the next national. Guess what? It rained 5 out of the 6 days we were there and made the course a muddy good time. It was dry the night before my start and the morning of the race, but it let loose an hour before and during the race to make it the muddiest race in a long time. The descents were very technical and slick but a good time. An 11th place was all I could muster, but happy as I left nothing out on the course. A bad crash and a mechanical might have cost me a few spots, but that’s racing. With mud in the eyes and blood on my legs, even after a nice hot shower, we hit the local Mexican restaurant by Beech Mt. for some great chicken tacos. It was great to have my family out there with me as I have missed them lots this year. With a week off to rest and train, the 10,000 feet national finals was the last big race in the U.S. In that week off I was lucky enough to get the new 2008 Salsa Moto Rapido set up and was able to race it in Colorado. It was nice to have a dry race and really open up the legs on some long climbs. The legs and the new bike clicked together and I pulled off an 8th place even in the thin air. I did do some hill training the weekend before with the 4 minute climbs and 500 foot peaks in Minnesota. After fighting allergies the first 3 nationals and some bad finishes, I still ended up 13th overall and 10th American. Now I will finish up the season racing around the Midwest and I will wait to see if I get named to the Olympic long team (8 riders to move forward for the 2-3 spots). I hope to see some local people the next month as I have missed racing around here. I will be in Duluth this weekend and Seely,Wis next weekend. Take care and have fun riding. JH

45th Entry - July 15, 2007

Sorry it has been so long since the last entry, no excuse just lazy. This one is for Mark Rahn at QBP. He has been a huge supporter of mine this year, thanks Mark! Being on the road-traveling, racing, and training, having a family with two kids, and working once in awhile can really tire a guy out. Proof of that was at the St. Felicien World Cup where I had to DNF after half the race. I pulled out just so I wouldn’t kill myself for the rest of the year. The legs were like jell-o. The week before went a lot better up at Mt. St. Anne where I finished 53rd and felt pretty good the whole time. It was a very fast field as I was only 5 minutes out of the top 20. I also finished without getting lapped. There can be no let up at the World Cups, it is all out for 2 hours. Both races were very physical courses with steep climbs and lots of rocks and roots. I took 5 days off the bike after St. Felicien to rest up for the Nationals at Mt. Snow and N.C. I leave with my family on Monday to drive out East, it should be good fun. The best part is I don’t have to fly to these ones and deal with all of the crap that comes with it. Last weekend I helped out at a local race in Mankato and handed out awards to the 18 and under classes. There were not a lot of young racers, but good job to the ones out there battling the heat. Local hero Paul Hanson took it to the expert field with a very nice win. With some good rest and training this week, I should be ready for the hills and rocks of the East. JH

44th Entry - June 17, 2007

Just a quick update from the road. My last two races have gone pretty well. One week ago, while still in Europe, I skipped the Switzerland World Cup race and did a UCI 2 race in Austria to pick up some UCI points and to get a good hard race in without 200 racers. It paid off as I rode to a soild 3rd place out of 45 racers and felt pretty good the whole time. The course was a short lap with tons of steep
climbing, 8 laps and 90 degree weather took a toll on most of the racers. After the race it was a long flight home to check in on the family before I headed for Utah for a National. I went into the weekend with not much riding because of all of the flying, so I knew it was going to be tough on the body. The legs were pretty heavy the first lap, but after that they came around and I kept catching guys
and had a good 10th place even at 7500 feet. The tough part about the race was I was only 30 seconds out of 6th place and only .5 seconds out of 8th, but was still happy. I will be home for 4 days this week to get some good riding in and to get well rested for the next WC in Quebec this weekend. I hope everyone's season is going good and I hope to see some of you soon at the races. JH

43rd Entry - June 7, 2007

Just a few updates. With all of the work to get ready for my three week trip to Europe,I forgot to thank all of the junior racers who came out to the first MNSCS race. It was a pleasure to hand out some extra prizes to some of the top finishers. I can remember being that age and to win anything was super cool. My next stop will be the Mt. Kato race in July. I hope to have a lot more prizes to hand out. Down the line at some of the later races I will be at, I hope to have some big prizes, such as MP3 players and bigger bike parts. I would still like to see some more young racers, so bring out your friends and introduce them to mountain biking. For more info about what I am doing, check out the MNSCS web site. Another local note, way to go little Sam O for his first expert win. It will be something he will never forget. To this day I remember my first expert win. Believe it or no, it was in 1993 at the age of 16 at Quadna Mt. in Hill City, MN. It was me and the two studs of the early 90's, Scott Hebel and Randy Baily that got away from the rest of the pack and I think with one lap left, I took off and never looked back and the rest is history. Look out for Sam for years to come because they just might start coming a bit easier for him, since he has tasted victory. Lastly, I have a change of plans for the last weekend race in Europe. We decided to skip the WC in Switzerland and stay in Austria to do a UCI 2 race. I feel like I can win it with a smaller field and pick up some big points heading back to North America. I also feel like it will help to race a full 2 hour race instead of starting in the middle of 200+ racers and possibly get pulled an hour into the race. You need to win the small battles before you win the big war, so by getting some more points will only help me in Canada with smaller WC fields. My next stop when I get back will be Utah then back to back weekends in Quebec for two WC's. Thanks for reading and gutan taag (spelling?) or good day. JH

42nd Entry - June 4, 2007

Two weeks down and one to go. My three week trip to Europe has been fun but interesting, not knowing German it can be a good time. The racing has also been pretty cool. The first week was in Germany with the first World Cup. We got there Wednesday and with the long flight, a rest day was in order. After a good night sleep I was ready to check out the course. The weather was perfect and the course was in great shape, with short steep climbs and fun technical single track I was really looking forward to the race. It was another huge field with 210 crazy racers, my call up was a bit higher than Belgium so that was nice. After a few more days of riding, it was race day and of course the skies just let loose about hour and a half before start time and made the course just a mess. It started fast like always and with all of the mud you couldn't see a damn thing. It was a short loop so you had to ride hard so not to get lapped,but with all of the traffic the back guys were in a traffic jam, again. The down hills were just full of people jacked up on wieners and beer, so the atmosphere was amazing. There is nothing like racing in front of 15,000 people on a 5 mile lap. Feeling good everything was on track, but the leader was way out front and I only got in 4 laps out of 7, but still finished 94th. We decided to stay in Germany for the rest of the week and head to Austria for UCI 1 race for the weekend. We got in Friday night and was able to do a few laps Saturday morning. The course was kind of like the Germany race but even shorter laps, 4.3 km. It was an awesome course with a descent through a rock tunnel and lots of steep climbs. It was held in a tiny village, but a few thousand people came out to watch. The race went good as I ended up 7th out of 65 and picked up some UCI points. Tomorrow we head to Switzerland for one more WC race on Saturday, then it's back to the states for the national in Utah. So overall the trip has been good, but I am looking forward to coming home to see Melissa, Owen and Ava. Thanks for reading. JH

41st Entry - May 23, 2007

Nothing like some home cooking. After being on the road for most of the spring I had a two week stint at home. Included in the two weeks was the UCI race at Maplelag. I was very excited to race at home and in some Minnesota woods. The pro race had a pretty small field, but a fast one. I went into it still fighting my allergies, but felt great and went on for the win and some huge UCI points to move me way up in the world rankings. The race started fast as the Trek boys pushed the pace, but by half way through the first lap the legs came to life and I felt great the whole race and it was a huge confidence builder. It was also important I got the points as I leave tomorrow for rounds 2 and 3 of the world cup races in Germany and Switzerland. I will be there for three weeks with Utah and 2 more world cups in Canada when I get back. Feeling good and looking forward. JH

40th Entry - May 12, 2007

At this point last year, I had done one national race. This year I have three plus one world cup and the Sea Otter. It feels like July if it wasn’t for my damn spring allergies. This year has been pretty interesting with all of the air miles and my body not feeling 100%, I went to California for two nationals hoping to get things back on track, it didn’t happen. From the plane ride out, to the day I got home I was blowing my nose and coughing up some nasty stuff. The first race I could hardly breath the whole time and finished around the mid thirties. The course was pretty bad, as the race was on cow trails and gravel roads. I just stayed out there for the week, so I decided to stay up at Big Bear and do some riding. Now that is mountain biking. It is too bad we can’t race there anymore. My thought was to get into some clean air and it would clear up my system. I think it helped, but I was still clogged up come race time. The first two laps went great, I was in the top 12 and feeling good, but the snot was flowing and by the third lap my body was just not getting enough air and I pretty much shut down. As the last two laps took almost 20 minutes longer that the first two, I suffered into the high thirties. After that race I was pretty sure I never wanted to race again, but the next day on the plain ride home coach and I talked it over and I went into see doc. After some new allergy meds and some massive snot balls forced out of the nose I am feeling a little better, but as I sit here today writing this, I still am feeling the spring effect. Maplelag is tomorrow morning so I hope racing on MN soil I can build a bit of confidence for the up and coming world cups in two weeks. April and May have always been tough for me because of the pollen in the air, but I am looking forward to the heat and clean air of the summer. JH

39th Entry - April 25, 2007

I now do believe in having a little luck. I am starting to feel stronger as the racing continues but if you have a mechanical or eat some food that does not agree with you, the race will not fall into place. My last two races are evidence of that. At the Sea Otter, the first 3 races went well and I was feeling it going into Sunday, but I woke up not feeling all there, but gave it a go and after one of two laps I called it a day. I was really upset as I usually do pretty well there in the long race, but I had to look ahead for the next weekend towards the mother of all races, the world cup in Houffalize, Belgium. If I never race again, I can at least say I raced Houffalize where 25,000 crazy fans line the 5 mile loop yelling the whole time for every one of the 230 pros racing in the race. I now know why the UCI wants most of the races in Europe after last weekend. As for me, back to the luck thing. I was 216 out of 230 called to the line and after fighting for my life the first half lap things started to go great and I moved my way up to about 130 going into lap 3 of 6 and feeling ready to keep going up. THEN the word a racer never wants to hear- mechanical-yep, my new disc brake loosened and came off the rear, so I made a pit stop and 5 minutes later I got 2 replacement screws, but something else happened and my pads were rubbing the rest of the race making it feel like my brake was half on. Literally feeling like I was pulling a brick I was going up the climbs about half the speed and feeling it, so I got pulled with 2 laps to go. I did still finish 165th and got a few UCI points, but once again I was very upset. Feeling like I am in race shape now, I am looking forward to this weekend and next as I have 2 more nationals out in Cal. Three days home, saw my family, and washed my clothes I will be on the road for another week and a half. Watch what you eat, check over that bike and always wish for that bit of luck you need to get you through the race and everything you do in life. JH

38th Entry - April 4, 2007

The first trip came and went as fast as you can blink. One week out in 85 degree weather was nice and it felt good to hit the dirt again. I got some good riding in, got my tan lines back in full effect, saw a Phoenix Coyotes game and even snuck in a race for good measure. O yes the race, well if you love riding in the FLAT desert for 40 miles this would have been the race for you. Surviving the length, heat (90 degrees) and thorns were the game plan for the day. No flats, drank seven bottles, but ran out of steam with ten miles and one lap left equals 22nd place and room to move up from here. I am one who always races into the season, so things weren’t too bad. I did feel good the first 2 hours so that is a plus. 103 starters and just over half finished. The new Salsa Moto Rapido worked great with my new DT Swiss disc wheels, Thompson stem and seat post and Selle Italia saddle also were great additions to the bike. I came home to winter but get to leave in a week for the Sea Otter out in Cal, until than its winter clothing and Minnesota training. JH

37th Entry - March 27, 2007

Well it’s time to head west for the first race of the season. I am looking forward to the race, but it is hard to leave the family for a week. It will fly by and once I get there it will be fun. My grandparents are out in Arizona, so I can spend some time with them. The course should be fast with some steep climbs, so that could be good for me. Just a quick note on the MNSCS races, I am sponsoring 5 of the races this year for the 18 and under categories. Info about it will be posted on the MNSCS web site soon and I will fill you in on it more when I get back. Let the season begin, JH.

36th Entry - March 18, 2007

With all of the training I have been doing this year, I finally ran into my first roadblock. Last Tuesday I woke up not feeling too great and by the end of the day I felt like a truck hit me head on. My daughter Ava and wife Melissa were sick over the weekend and apparently I caught something from them. Once in the house it seems like it hits everyone before it leaves. I did take a few days off, but am back at it again and feeling pretty good. I now just suffer from a little cough. It was hard to interrupt the training but with the season so long and no races yet, I knew it would hurt me more to train through it. I leave for Phoenix in one week and want to be healthy. It will be nice to be in the warm weather and clear my system out before the racing starts. This week will be busy with a lot of stuff to go over and round up before I leave for the first race of the season. I will need to make a list so I don’t forget to do everything, from going over the new bikes to shaving the white hairy legs. I hope everyone’s training is going well and I am excited to get racing. Be safe and stay healthy, JH.

35th Entry - March 5, 2007

I can’t believe it is already March, and with the snow and cold we have been having it feels like January. I am in the last stages of getting the new bikes ready for the long race season, also I am stocking up on parts and energy bars. Trips and flights are being scheduled for the April races. I will be out in Phoenix for a week before the first national race to get used to the warm weather and to check out the course, can’t wait. Two weeks after that will be the Sea Otter which is always a fun race. My training is going great with my second phase going strong. I have been on the inside trainer 3 times a week doing some hard workouts by the way of watts. It is something I have never done before but it is going good and I am feeling pretty strong. I would like to thank Piotr Bednarski at gotraining.us for all of his help with hooking me up with the sweet program and for Norm for his help during the workouts. I just had another fundraiser last Friday and we raised a lot of money to help me out this year. Thanks to Melissa my wife who ran the whole thing, to Amy Hockert for being the MC, to Kris Carlton for sponsoring the food, to QBP for the facility, to Will Hanson and Rob Hall for being my right hand men, to MacLayne Casey at threeoaksmassagetherapy.com for the free massages, to Tami, Kathy and Kris-the crew who helped run the show, and to everyone who fought the snow and came out for a good time to support me. Well off to rest, JH.

34th Entry - February 17, 2007

Man what a week of riding! From Thursday to Thursday I was on the bike about 27 hours and I don’t think it ever got above zero degrees and most of the time it was 10-15 below zero not counting the wind chills. Everyday was a challenge, but everyday went great. Only a little frostbite on the tips of my fingers from the first long ride, but I learned and wore an extra glove the rides after. On one of my long rides I was thinking that there are not too many places in the world where you can ride in temps ranging from 25 below zero to 100 degrees and that is not including wind chill and humidity. With those factored in, it is more like 50 below to 115. Well in the metro area of the Twin Cities you can. In both extremes you have to be well prepared. As a favorite, it is hard to choose so I will stay put and get the best of both. With less than 2 months before the first national the training is right on and I am feeling great, so I can’t wait. Well if you live where it is cold, get out and ride and have fun. JH

33rd Entry - January 30, 2007

As I was doing a ride in 10 degree weather the other day I was thinking of all the things you need to do on a long ride in that kind of cold. The biggest challenge for me was how to keep my 3 bottles from freezing. I always have 3-4 layers on when I ride in the cold so I have started to put 2 bottles in my outside jersey pouch and 1 inside the front of my jersey next to my body. I just unzip it to get my bottle and rotate the bottles when one empties. I also make a few stops over the 4-6 hours I’m riding to drink and eat because of my big gloves. You never want to forget to do that this time of year. Hands and feet are another challenge once it is below zero. For the most part, I have no problems but I have been doing this for years. If you are just starting out make sure you wear 2 gloves, one light glove and a heavier one. That way if you need to do something just take the big glove off and your fingers will stay warm. Another benefit is that when they sweat, the small glove absorbs the moisture. A winter biking boot is highly recommended with a small booty over that for your feet. If either your hands or feet still become cold, there’s nothing like a short jog during your ride to warm them up. Lastly when it is windy and below zero, try some trail riding in the woods to beat the cold. You work a bit harder than being on the roads and you are out of the wind. I had to do that today as I road at Lebanon Hills for 4 hours today and tomorrow I am planning a longer ride there. The trails are in great condition and you stay plenty warm. Enjoy the winter riding, as it is very rewarding. JH

32nd Entry - January 21, 2007

It figures, my “official” day of training started last Monday and I woke up to a fresh 7 inches of snow, not ideal but I can deal with it. I don’t mind the powder on the bike paths and gravel roads, but the wet mess on the roads is the part I could do without. I got about 18 hours of good riding this past week and a couple hours of ice skating. Yes, I have pulled out the old hockey skates for some good workouts on the local pond. I brought my son, Owen, out a few times and I got the feeling back of years ago when I used to play hockey. It is a great way to get some short power workouts. The next few weeks will be much of the same, with 3-4 long rides and some skating. It has felt awesome to get back on the bike and I am getting so pumped for the season to start. My first race will most likely be the first NORBA national in Arizona so tough training will be key leading up to the race. Until then I will enjoy training in Minnesota, through the cold and snow dreaming of the hot dry desert. Rubber side down, watch for the slick spots and easy on the turns. JH

31st Entry - January 6, 2007

Hello, I am still alive. With no races to talk about I have been lazy with my updates, sorry. I don’t have much down time with work, riding and the kids, so it has been hard to find time to get on and type. As the new season starts and I back work down, I will try to update and write more. With that said, I had a great trip to N.C. last October and got some great training in. When I got back I took November off and with this very warm weather have started riding a lot already. I am really looking forward to this race season, the hard training, the travel and most of all the fun! I am planning on updating and changing my web site so stay tuned for that. I have a few sponsorship things going on as we speak and all are very positive. I will be posting my schedule and plans soon on my web site. I look forward to seeing everybody in a few months at the races and good luck with training. Thanks for checking up on me. JH

29th Entry - September 2006
9-19-06

After doing races all year long, local and national, I always get nervous for the Chequamagon 40. Maybe because it's a tough race for me, I always want to win, and I have a ton of family up to watch it. Whatever it is, every year is great fun and I always get close but only have one victory, 11 years ago! This year was no different as the fastest field I have ever seen showed up ready to throw down, including JHK-one of the best in our sport. It started like every year with a lot of racers who can ride fast on pavement trying to get up front, making the 3 miles of road a challenge. But when we hit the grass the real racing started. Guess what? Dougy Swanson lead us out with a LONG line in tow. Being 3rd through Rosies behind JHK and Doug, I took a pull. The pace did slow up a bit until the 1st ATV trail where Doug, JHK, and Travis Brown got away. I got with a good group of about six once the speed picked up, but we were unable to bring them back. Feeling pretty good and thinking how I was going to, at best, get 4th on the day, with 9 miles to go I finally got my race legs and took off leaving my riding buddies to claim that 4th place. As I came flying off the Berkie on to the last ATV trail, pops informed me that Travis was only 20 seconds ahead. With 6 miles left I put my head down knowing the podium was possible. Plus, I had the group I just abandoned coming to get me. With 2 miles of gravel still to come I knew it would be tough but I was feeling strong and with only 2 miles to go I caught and flew by Travis who was having a great race. With only a few hills left it was the sweet down hill into the bowl of screaming fans and a nice fought 3rd place, as JHK won it and Doug had some bad luck to hold on for 2nd. The group I was with came in about 30 seconds back of me, boy I am glad the legs held on. Brain Matter came in 4th and Travis held on for 5th. Great race guys, it was fun once again. Also thanks to all my family who came up to cheer and help watch Owen and Ava. I did think about hooking up the Burley, but 3rd would have been tough. Great job to all the racers. JH

28th Entry - September 2006

9-12-06

It has been a while since I haven't had to write about a past weekend race so I thought I would dive into something else. Racing bikes has been a part of my life for 15 plus years and I have raced all over the country, pretty much every where in the Midwest and even in Australia at the Worlds. I have raced on some of the fastest, muddiest, dustiest, rockiest courses and have climbed the longest climbs in the world. I have won many races and felt great, told myself I am done with racing after feeling like crap, and had a few mechanicals with the bike allowing me not to finish. With all of these challenges, doping to get faster has never crossed my mind and never will. It is sad that every week a different racer is admitting to it or testing positive for something illegal and getting the headlines in the magazines, while the clean racers are killing themselves for a little press time. It really upsets me because I race against these jerks. Over the last 5 years I have been beat by a number of dopers, but have had the privilege to race against true pros like Ned, Tomac, Sauser, and Frischknect to name a few. I'd like to put myself with these guys on a smaller more local scale, but have bigger goals over the next few years after a good National season. I won my first local expert race 15 years ago and still win, sometimes easily, around the Midwest but I have never won a pro National race. If I never do, so be it, but I will try to get faster, clean! My drugs are hard work, hard training, eating well, and resting as much as I can with work and 2 kids. With little money in the sport I love, I wonder why I still do it. I guess I like to push my body. Although some racers have earned a great life just to race a bike around the world. In the big picture, racing is such a small part of my life and should be in every racers life. With family and good health, I have bigger things to think about. Saying that, for what I have done I feel very lucky and I will always be grateful to my sponsors and my supporters and I will do my best to represent myself as best I as can, plus win a few races. Thanks for reading, good luck racing, have fun riding, but do it clean. JH

27th Entry - September 2006

9-5-06

This past weekend ended a five weekend string of some fun racing. The first two weekends were the last two NORBA Nationals and the last three were in the midwest. My travels took me out west to the mountains twice and to some of the best riding in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I felt good with some solid races against the top guys in the U.S., even at 10,000 or so feet and then came back home to collect three wins in a row. It all came to an end over the Labor Day weekend up in northern Minnesota at Maplelag Resort. When we got up there Friday night around midnight it was pouring down rain, so as Melissa waited inside the cabin I ran our sleeping kids in to her trying to keep them dry. I was planning one racing Saturday morning but a late start to the morning had me watching the others in the TT. With it still raining and the short track that night, I was glad I didn't have a bike to clean. After a long warm up it felt good to open the legs up as Doug Swanson and myself road away from the field in the mud, he got me by 2 seconds. The skies cleared up for the XC race on Sunday but was still slick in the woods so I threw on the mud tires and had a good race by taking the win. The next week and a half I will be focused on getting ready for the Ache. 40. Lastly congrats to Jake Richards for winning his first beginner race, he will remember that one forever. Mine was 18 years ago at Spirit Mt., man I am getting old. I hope he enjoys racing and sticks with it over the years. JH

26th Entry - August 2006

8-29-06

Well it has been an exciting couple of weeks as I landed my first big sponsor. Argus, a European camera company, is my first substantial sponsor. I'm excited to have them on board. The money is going to allow me to take a month off from work and train in the mountains for a few weeks at the end of this year and again at the start of next season. I feel training hard in the mountains will help me for next year. The longest climbs where I live are only about 5 minutes. This past weekend I was at Devil's Head Resort in Wisconsin for the WORS Cup. It is a super D, short track, and XC with an overall winner at the end. It went good as I won all 3 races and the overall. The courses were really fun and challenging with an Eastern feel to the XC course, with lots of climbing and plenty of rocks and mud. Hats off to WORS for a great race. It was also fun to do a midwest race because my wife was able to come with and invite some of our friends to come see what mountain bike racing is all about. Thanks to Chris and Sarah for coming Saturday to watch the fast short track and Jim and Alissa who came Sunday for the XC. This weekend I am off to Maplelag for another weekend race. It is always fun to go up and do that race. I also like it because it means fall is near. It is crazy the year is almost done, with only a couple races left. After this weekend it will be Cheq. 40 time and then St. Cloud. Hope to see you at one. JH

25th Entry - August 2006

8-21-06

Well the final standings are in- I finished 9th overall and 6th American in the NORBA National series. I am really happy with that and pumped for next year. With that said the next 2 months of racing will be in Minnesota and Wisconsin which will be nice, I love the fall in the upper Midwest. This past weekend I raced one of my favorite courses up at Spirit Mt. in Duluth. It is actually the place I won my first bike race as a beginner about 18 years ago. It was fun yesterday as we took on 3 tough laps with lots of climbing. When I got there with the family and saw a lot of fast guys, I knew it was going to be a good race. I started off pretty slow but felt really good as I went and ended up winning. Thanks COGGS for a great race. I leave Friday for a weekend in Wis. to race in the WORS Cup at Devils Head. JH

24th Entry - August 2006

8-14-06

It felt like yesterday when I wrote about the first national. Man the year flew by. I got back yesterday from a crazy weekend. It started Thursday not knowing if we were going to fly or drive. We had tickets to fly but all the media made it sound like we would be delayed although we got through like nothing and only 20 minutes late into Denver. The next day we headed towards Snowmass near Aspen to check the course out. Once again it was very high, so one lap then back down to 5500ft in Glennwood Springs. I liked the course a lot, two long climbs with sweet fast descents. We only did two laps on a 12 mile loop, but it took about 2 hours. The race went off like a gun, it took me a mile or two to get going but felt great after that and finished 12th. Only a minute from 7th place. Not bad for a low lander. I think I ended up 9th overall on the year. My goal was top 10 so I am right on track. With a few more local races left I am already looking forward to next year. Congrats to the Ore to Shore finishers, I missed going. I will be at Spirit this weekend, I can't wait. Over and out- JH

23rd Entry - August 2006

8-7-06

Now I know why there are not that many trees at 11,000 feet, because there's not that much oxygen up there. Trees just stand there, too. Try racing at that altitude- especially when you live at 850 feet. That was the challenge I faced at NORBA #5 in Brian Head, Utah. It was one 27 mile loop, so I didn't preride the course on Friday when we got there. I stayed at 5300 feet in Cedar City but did go up Friday to check out the start and finish. The course itself was great fun but NORBA screwed up again as only a handful of people were able to watch the race with the course layout. Hey, how about a National race in the Midwest again to make it a true "NATIONAL" series? With 5 west of the Rockies and 2 out East, it is a bit unfair in my opinion. I've been putting up with it for years so I just need to learn to deal with it. The race went pretty well as I ended up 18th. The course had 2 long climbs and they went well but the short power climbs is where I felt the lack of air. I have not seen the overall standings yet, but they post all the results and standings on norbanationals.com. The mountains and sight seeing was incredible out there. I even saw a big bull elk. One more National this weekend and once again in the high mountains. Snowmass, CO is where it is at, after that a few local races and the season wraps up. Time flies. JH

22nd Entry - July 2006

7-31-06

Man, the end of July already and what a hot one it was. I did a nice long road ride yesterday, 4 hours 15 minutes to be exact, and went through about 10 bottles of liquid. I was lucky because pops came with on the motorcycle and carried all the bottles. I felt really good the whole ride even in almost 100 degree heat. It has been awhile since I did a long ride like that, with all the racing it hasn't been on the training schedule. I can't stress enough on important it is to drink a ton in this weather, even if you have to stop and buy some. It will make a world of difference in how the ride goes and how fast you recover for the next day. Well feeling good and well rested, I am looking forward to the last 2 nationals. I leave Thursday for Utah. Keep cool JH.

21st Entry - July 2006

7-25-06

A couple weeks away from racing called for some good hard training. Last weekend I headed up to Duluth with Melissa, Owen, and Ava. On Friday morning we headed out and when we got to highway 23 I jumped out of the Tacoma (of course I stopped long enough to take the bike off) and took off north for Duluth. The ride from Askov to Duluth is great and the road is in really good shape with a nice shoulder. Sixty five miles later I was there. We stayed up by Spirit Mt. as that is where my ride Saturday was going to be. With the hard pace and the hot weather the hotel was a great sight to see because I had some ice cold water waiting for me. Nothing like some water after sweating like a pig on the bike for 3 hours. I was lucky enough to be able to try the Power Tap computer on this ride. It is very interesting to see your watts with your heart rate and speed. I get to use it for a few more weeks and may get one for next year. After a little rest, a night in Duluth rewarded Owen with getting to see a huge ship going under the bridge. He was pretty excited about that. After a good supper, I was excited for my mountain bike ride the next morning. In my opinion, Spirit Mt. is the best race course and the best place to ride in the Midwest. It has long and steep climbs with fast and technical singletrack. I knocked off 5 laps, feeling a little better each lap, I could have done 5 more laps but I had to get back to check out of the hotel and get the family. Anyone looking to race there, August 20th is the MNSCS race. I'm looking forward to that one. After lunch in Duluth, we headed south for home. All and all, a fun couple of days. I also want to thank the sponsors helping me out this year. QBP, Salsa, and Jagwire have helped out with the bikes, parts and some money and MacLayne Casey at ThreeOaksMassageTherapy.com has helped me with some great massages this year and if anyone is interested check his site out, he really knows is stuff and will help you and your body feeling fresher after hard races. Lastly the month of August looks very busy as my schedule looks like this: the 5th in Utah for NORBA#5, the 12th in Colorado for NORBA#6, the 20th at Spirit Mt. for MNSCS#8, and the 26th and 27th at Devils Head for the WORS Cup. I will try and stay on top of my updates. I usually do my race results first, so check those out under the races tab. See you on the trails. JH

20th Entry - July 2006

7-17-06

Another long weekend in the books. Two races in three days, plus 3,000 miles in the air. It started Wednesday with a flight out to San Fran. I was really looking forward to the National Championships until I road the course on Thursday in Sonoma. It was a big ring, wide open race with lots of road. I prefer more up and down in the woods. Come Friday I tried my best, but it was only good enough for 16th place, although only about half of the 70 racers finished. It was fast but bumpy and tough on the body. After the race I headed back to San Fran to catch an early flight the next morning back to very hot temps. It is always great to see my family after a weekend gone. After a short spin on the road bike, I began drinking lots of water for the race on Sunday. It was MNSCS #6 down in Red Wing and hot it was. It was 2 degrees short of 100 and had a tropical like humidity. After 2 hours of racing I hung on for the win after feeling pretty sluggish and I think I lost about 10 pounds. I can't remember the last time I sweated so much. With two weeks off, I am looking forward to bringing my 10th place overall into the last two NORBA Nationals. One in Utah and the finals in Colorado. Keep riding. JH

19th Entry - July 2006

7-10-06

I finally found a few minutes to sit and write. I have been home three days over the last two weeks. With family time up north, a wedding in Chicago, and NORBA #4 out in Utah, it has been none stop. I took some time off the bike after the World Cup race in Quebec and felt fresh going into race #4. Park City, Utah has some very fun riding and they sent us on some of the best. It is nothing like the East, as it is a lot faster and not so technical. The climbs weren't that bad, but I needed to be riding them fast so not to get past. The start went good and I hovered around the top ten the whole race. It was pretty hot so drinking a lot was key. No cramps this race so that was a huge plus. The altitude was not much of a factor because I stayed down in Salt Lake City where it is about 2500 ft lower and just went up to pre-ride and race. Overall it was a great race finishing 11th overall and 7th U.S. rider out of about 95 pros and after 4 races I sit in 10th and 6th American. With two days home to see Melissa, Owen, and Ava and get some clean clothes, I head out again on Wednesday for the National Championships in Cal. I am excited for this race because it is only U.S. riders and the course is more like a Wisconsin race, so it should go good. I will also be back for the Red Wing race and Sunday, so I hope to see a lot of people out there. JH

http://www.thisweek-online.com/2006/June/23fmbike.html

http://www.startribune.com/1244/story/539327.html 

18th Entry - June 2006

6-27-06

I guess flats or bike problems are just part of the deal when you race over big rocks and threw mud. I have had good luck over all the years of racing, but there is always that one race that just doesn't work out. As I was in Quebec for the World Cup race this past weekend, I suffered two flats and had to run to the tech zone to get a new wheel, but it was to late. I ended up getting pulled after 3 laps when the leaders got close to me. The laps were really short and you get pulled if you are going to get caught. It was fun while it lasted, fun course and great weather, just not long enough to test the waters. The highlight of the weekend was the drive back to Maine at night when we saw about ten different moose on the side of the highway. It is so remote up there. With this weekend off, I have two big races in July to get ready for, the next NORBA in Utah and the National Championships in northern Cal. June was a great month of racing, and hopefully I can keep it going for the rest of the season. JH

17th Entry - June 2006

6-23-06

I am finally feeling fresh and recovered after last weekend. I had a pretty easy week of training and a great massage on Tuesday. The massages I have been getting this year are really speeding up my recovery. I would recommend it to anyone racing a lot. MacLayne Casey is the guy helping me out this year. He was out at Afton last weekend giving free massages and would love to work with more cyclists. He will be at some more races this year if you are interested or he has a web site you can also check out, it is ThreeOaksMassageTherapy.com. Well off to pack for the flight out to the Northeast for the World Cup race. More rocks, roots, and mud. JH

16th Entry - June 2006

6-20-06

What a weekend of racing! Thursday I flew out to Hartford and drove up to Mount Snow on Friday morning. Pre-rode the course Friday afternoon and raced Saturday at 3. I got to bed about midnight, got up at 3am and drove back to Hartford. Flew out at 8am and arrived in Minnesota at 10am. Got to the truck and headed to Afton. I arrived with my wife and kids already there. I said hi to them and lots of other people and at 12:30 my manager had my bike ready for a quick warm-up. Finally at 1:00 the second race started. So that's one busy weekend. The national went pretty good with a very strong field, I finished 18th and the 10th U.S. rider. If you like to ride over big rocks and roots while riding threw some mucky mud here and there with lots of climbing, head out to Mount Snow, Vermont and you will be in paradise. Afton is a tough course, but coming from that the day before it felt pretty tame. The first 2 laps of 5 I was fairly tight, but the last 3 laps I really came around and finished strong with a great win. With little sleep and long travels, I was pleased with how I felt because it was pretty hot and well over 2 hours long. I guess when you have been racing as long as I have, your body can recover pretty fast. This weekend I will be up in Quebec for the World Cup race on Sunday. It will be another tough race, but I am looking forward to it. Thanks for reading and take care. JH

15th Entry - June 2006

6-12-06

My call up was a lot sooner, which was better but I don't think, with the 20 minute climb at the start of each lap, it mattered as much. The second stop on the national race calendar was in the mountains of N.C. The course was just that, one long climb with a technical, fast downhill. It must have suited me as I pulled off a 10th place overall and gained some confidence going into this weekend in Vermont. I now sit 9th after 2 races. The weather was perfect and the conditions were even better. Also, the flight and the drive up was problem free, so it made for a great trip. That area out there is just beautiful. The 3rd stop this weekend will be much the same, as the course is similar and the weather forecast is the same. I will also try to make it out to Afton on Sunday. My flight gets in at 10am, so if everything works out, I will be there. Also, if you don't know I am posting my results as soon as possible after the races. You just have to go to "races" and click on Race Results. One last thing, I have made a wristband like the yellow Lance ones but black with tire knobs on it. It looks like a little tire and I am selling them to help out with travel but the great part is I will be donating a portion of every sale to MORC. I have other things in mind to help out the junior racers at the MNSCS races, too, if I can make enough money on them. I will have more info on where to buy them and how much, posted soon on my web site plus the MORC site. I am very excited about these. Thanks for reading and stay tuned. JH

14th Entry - June 2006

6-5-06

13th Entry - May 2006

5-22-06

With so much racing on the local scene last year, it was a bit weird not going to one this past weekend. I actually kind of missed not racing, but I will be at the 2nd MNSCS race. I even had a good excuse too, I was at my cousins wedding that Owen was in. It was neat to see the little guy in a tux. He was a little shy, but got through it. Even without the wedding I was not planning on going to the races. June and July will be super busy with two local races, four nationals and one world cup race, so a weekend with the family was in order. Training is going well. I feel a lot better than I did last week. On Sunday I met the old man over at Terrace Oaks in Burnsville. It is in great shape with no crowds like leb. Not as long of loops but still fun. I should be out at Buck on Thursday night for a few good laps. That's where it all started for me about 18 years ago, so I would like to do a few more races before it's gone for good. See you out there. JH

12th Entry - May 2006

5-15-06

When you compete in a sport such as cycling and you are outside, you have to get used to racing in any kind of weather. Such the case the last two weekends for me. Dry, dusty and hot in southern Cal. to wet, muddy and cold in northern Wis. In the spring you see it all, especially racing in different parts of the country. This past weekend I was up in Cable Wis. for the good old Classic. With alot of hours on the bike during the week, I knew I would have to fight through the race, but that was the plan. Of course Swanson had to show up and make it even harder, but it is always fun to race with him. Just like almost every race we do together, we were alone off the front. I kept him in sight for about 10 miles until he was going harder than I wanted to. So I road the last 14 miles by myself coming in a pleasing 2nd in 1 hour 47 minutes. All together I think about 300 hearty racers were out there battling the elements. After fighting a head cold and training and racing in a lot of wet and cold weather, an easy week was in front of me. After cleaning up and a hot shower, I headed back to Stone Lake to the in-laws for a great deer supper. What did you expect in Wis? I will not race for the next 2 weekends but will have plenty of hard workouts. My next race is the 2nd MNSCS race with June and July packed full of nationals. Good luck to anyone racing this weekend in the 1st MNSCS. JH

11th Entry - May 2006

5-8-2006

The first national starts out like all the others, a trip to the airport. Since they are all to far to drive to, the "national" racing opens up an hour from LA. Getting there Thursday late I decided to sleep in the next morning. With a good breakfast we headed to check the course out. After some food and building the bikes, I jumped on the Moto Rapido. The race had a WORS feeling, in that it was at a park in a busy community so I had to search for good roads to warm up on. I did, and after an hour I hit the trails. It was a good course. It had some steep climbs but nothing super long and the downhills weren't that technical but really sandy and rutted After a lap I decided to run the hard tail. After a night of rest and pasta, race day was here. About 100 pro men were ready to test the waters and being called up about 75th, I knew I had some ground to make up. Riding into the race, because I was dealing with a lot of traffic, I pushed lap 2 and 3 making my way up to the low 20s. The last lap I felt a bit tired but finished strong in 23rd in about 2 hours 15 mins. Not bad for the third race of the year but first long mountain bike race. Overall I felt good and watched the heart rate so I wouldn't blow up. It is still early season for a boy from Minnesota. Well the next national I will be called up 23rd and I still have a month to train for it. This weekend I will be up in northern Wis. doing the Cable Classic on the Dos Niner. For training this week, I am doing 4 really long rides. The race will be part of the one Saturday and then I will rest a bit the following week. See ya on the trails.  JH

10th Entry - May 2006

5-1-2006
 

The first day of May ends 4 days of rain. You know what they say spring showers.... Saturday was one of the days, so I knew what to look forward to down in Decorah, IA. This race is always one of the first I do and many a times I have battled the super slick, off camber down hills. A few years ago I even ended the race in a snow storm, but always a blast. The course really suits me and winning the last 5 or so years, I wanted another. Always wanting to start late( they send racers every minute) I rolled away one and half hours after the first racer, but as the rain continued it got sloppier which was fine with me. I knew I had my mud tires on so no worries. The first guy I passed was my dad on the single, it is the only race he does all year. With lots of steep climbing, it left good to open it up and 48 minutes later I came in with the fastest time of the day. Tim Norrie came in 5th with alot of IA boys finishing in the top 20. With the first national this weekend I road hard but didn't kill myself. I did feel better than the last race so I think I am coming around some good racing legs. It is a great race and hats off to the guys who run it and build the trails. I recommend this race to anyone. Info and results are at www.decorahia.org. Well Thursday I leave for Cal. and my first national in 3 years. Looking to feel everyone out and just move up in the standings for a long season of racing.  JH

9th Entry - April 2006

4-24-2006

Saturday I headed down to Plattville, Wis for a challenging time trial and that it was. It had it all: lots of climbing, fast and technical descents, twisty flats and even a couple of creek crossings. Early season racing calls for 4 hours in the car one way to find what you need. The 13 mile course took me just over an hour at 1:01, which I was told was faster than they thought anyone could do it so I guess that was good. Overall I felt pretty good, but I knew it was April. The Moore brothers came in the next 2 spots with solid rides. For a small race they had a pretty good size showing, maybe 30-40 racers plus a crazy downhill the next day. Well, a similar race this weekend down in Decorah. Always a great time. Thanks for reading. JH

8th Entry - April 2006

4-19-06

Well the first race is out of the way and hopefully soon forgotten. It was good to show up and see a lot of mt bikers there, the Swansons, the Mankato group, Sam and Eric O, and of course Hollywood. Not that I was looking to win it but I thought I was going to feel a little bit better than I did. I knew it would be hard with all of the hard training I have been doing, I didn't prepare like I usually do. It didn't help that Brandon Gavic was kicking our ass in the lead group. I felt okay for the first 1:45, but the last lap I just stayed in a comfortable range with my heart rate. Another mt biker who had a great race was Brendan Moore, watch out for him to pull off some big races this year on the dirt.The O brothers had great races too in the B race with Sam taking 2nd and Eric coming in 7th. Well a week of recovery is under way and I am feeling pretty good. I think I will skip the Durand race and maybe head down to Platteville, Wis for a really tough time trial race. I am looking forward to some trail riding. Back to being a dad for awhile. JH

7th Entry - April 2006

4-14-06

Well another season about to start. Lets see, it will be my 15th or 16th year of full racing. I can't remember exactly but it's a lot. My hard training is finshing up here and I will start to back down my intensity as the racing picks up. I find I get plenty of hard riding with 1-2 races a week. Tomorrow it's the first race to open the legs up or suffer like a lot of first races. No pressure it's early. A few weeks ago a guy I work with hooked me up with a massage therapist that I am going to be working with all summer. I have had 2 massages so far and they have been great. My flexibility has really improved and my legs are feeling very rested. He is doing a great job. His name is MacLayne Casey and he has a web site and is looking to work with so more bikers this year, it is www.ThreeOaksMassageTherapy.com, check it out if you are looking. Doug Larsen is someone else I would like to thank. He has designed my new proposal and it is awesome. He also races mountain bikes so he knew what I was looking for. If you are looking for any design for the web or advertising check out his site at www.pressreadydesign.com. I always like to let people know who's helping me out. Next time I write I will have some race updates. JH

6th Entry - April 2006

4-3-06

If I could give any advice to young racers or anybody who trains and races a lot, it is to eat or drink something within 15 minutes after your workout. Energy bars, fruit, nuts, pretzels, or a sandwich work great. If food does not agree with you try fruit juice, gels, or a good energy drink with protein. I usually have a few of the things I listed. I learned the hard way after a race almost 3 hours long in 1997. I got done and I had no way of getting anything in me for a few hours and it killed me for a few months after that. Now I never go to a race without stuff to snack on and tons of water. Enough to hold me over until I can get a good meal in me because we all know the race venues don't always have the best food selections. It is easy to remember when you get home from a training ride but after a race is very important because you have gone so hard and have lost a lot of nutrients. So pack those coolers this year with your favorite snacks and plenty of water, and leave it all out on the course because you will have all that good food to refuel with. JH

5th Entry - March 2006

03/28/06

Have you ever done an interval on a bike at 105% for 1,2 or 4 minutes? Well it is uncomfortable hard but has to be done. That is the stage of my training right now. I have not done many of these in the past but I think they are needed. In a race you may ride hard but you still need to ride smart so you have something left at the end but these intervals you lay it all out. I hope by doing these when I am racing it won't hurt so much when I need to go fast. Two weeks left. On the family seen my little girl is now walking. Ava is 13 months and chasing big brother Owen all over the place. It is amazing how fast kids learn new things. Before I know it they will be riding after me on their bikes. The other big news is Owen is learning how to go "potty" and doing a great job. Yes, one kid almost out of diapers. Their is nothing better than coming home after work or a ride to two little ones who think you are the greatest person ever. If you already have kids or plan on having kids some day, play and be with them as much as you can because you will become a instant hero. Well off to catch some zzz so I can do it all over again tomorrow.

4th Entry - March 2006

3-17-06

Ahh Minnesota! Just when I thought I was out of the woods with the snow and cold, we get hammered with a foot and half in a week. I don't mind it to much, other than the sloppy mess on the roads. Oh well, I will train through it like always. The past 4 weeks all my rides have been 3-4 hours, but after this weekend they will be a lot shorter but harder. So if is going to snow the shorter rides won't be so bad. I am going to skip the Sea Otter, but am looking forward to the first few nationals. It will be great to get back at that higher level after a few years away. I just can't give up this racing thing. Once you have been at a high level, you just want to get back there for another push. I have a lot of people helping me out in a lot of ways, so that makes it exciting also. Can't do it on my own. With that said, I would like to thank the team working with me to allow me to focus on training and resting. You guys are the best. Well off to make some pasta with chicken and veggies. Mmmm, fuel for the engine. Jeff

Entry - March 2006

Well training is in full swing. As you can see on the main page I have been riding in some cold weather. The pictures and ride were up by Grand Rapids, MN at my in-laws cabin. When the Toyota Tacoma, Halln a family of 4, arrived Friday night there was almost a foot of fresh snow on the unplowed gravel roads (thank goodness for 4x4) and maybe 5 degrees, so I knew a tough ride the next day awaited. I got up the next day to -15 degrees but ready to put in my 3 hour ride. The good news was the roads were plowed. Knowing I wanted to ride easy I had to ride just hard enough to stay warm. It was an awesome ride and the pictures tell the tale. I love the cold! We have some good leads on sponsors, but are always looking for more. I am able to cut back at work a little bit more which always helps the legs. I have 2 months before the Nationals, I should be ready. I am riding a lot of easy miles and it feels great. I should start the hard training in about 2 weeks. I know it has been a while since I last wrote but I will try to write once a week from now on. If anyone needs to get a hold of me or just wants to chat, you can email me at jeff.hall@jeffhallmountainbiking.com. Happy muddy trails.

2nd Entry - December 2005

12-7-05

Well I think everything is finally getting squared away and i am starting to learn all of this high tech stuff. Okay only a month has past since the racing ended and i am already to start training again for next season. It is exciting to see all the race schedules out and knowing it won't be long until i am on the line waiting for the gun to go off. I will start getting back at it in a couple of weeks. I will begin with some snowshoeing and skating outside, with some stretching. Two or three weeks after that I plan on putting some easy long miles on the gravel roads around my house. The Sea Otter will be the first big race of the year so i have until April to get ready. I hope everyone has a great holiday and eats lots of good unhealthy food one last time before all the training starts. It is a big year around my house this year because my oldest son Owen is figuring out this Christmas thing so it will be lots of fun. He already helped put ornaments on the tree, that's why they are all on one branch. Thanks for checking in. Hopefully soon I will have more new things up. Happy muddy trails.

1st Entry - October 2005

Hello everyone, 

You are reading my first entry on my new website. I am trying to get with the new age-even though I don’t have a cell phone yet. Well, the 2005 season is almost in the books. I only have one mountain bike race left, which is the Iceman in November. The tough part about that is I have one more month of eating healthy and training, but I am looking forward to the race. It should be lots of fun with lots of fast guys showing up. I heard a few national guys are coming, but I think us Minnesota and Wisconsin boys will show them how it’s done. The year went pretty well. I ended up winning the MNSCS and the WORS series. Every race I did this year I was always in the hunt, even if I didn’t win it. Not bad for a guy who is working and has 2 young kids. I also did my first two road stage races, which were pretty fun and fast. 

I would like to thank all of the beginner, sport, and comp racers who come to the races every weekend and really just race for pride and for the love of the sport.   If it weren’t for you, there would be no races-you keep the sport alive. So I hope to see you all again next year for yet another year of hot days, suffering on the hills (and we wouldn’t have it any other way). Well, thanks for reading and I will be writing when ever I can to keep everyone updated about the upcoming season.  I will also be having training tips and lots of other tidbits so check back often. 

Happy muddy trails.  - Jeff
 

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