MJCF Training Camp

Well I am finally back home in Billings after a long but nice weekend. I think I this week will be a record for how long I have been home for, 4 days, WOW! I left last Thursday for training camp in Highwood, MT for the Montana U23 team. I left Billings in 60 degree weather and no wind to Highwood where there was 25 inches of snow, but unbelievably none on the road.

The camp started Friday with a cold and windy ride where we re conned the road course for this weekends Belt Omnium. The course looks to be pretty tough with 6 major climbs ranging from 500 to 800 feet, with many 200 to 300 foot climbs in between. Definitely a climbers course as the last climb is the most decisive at just over 800 feet totall. This road race will take place 2 hours after completeing a 10 mile time trial with a 1 mile climb in it. Later Friday night after a big dinner me, Wyatt Hatch, and Clayton O'Leary went into Great Falls and I ended up meeting an awesome girl named Mary and her friend Annie, also very cool. I took them bowling and then ended the night. The following day we re conned the time trial course and took the ride further, riding to a town called Fort Benton, where Annie is lives, and did some good climbing there as well. We were fortunate to have a rider from one of the top ametuer cycling teams join us for our ride, Dan from team Ride Clean. After Dan totally annialated us, we had another big dinner (thanks to Mrs. Hatch) and went into Great Falls again. I went and roller skated for my first time with Mary, her sister, and friends. Had a great time, and an embarrassing one with my awesome roller skating skills. NOT!!!

Sunday was the final day of team training camp and Dan joined us again. We went and did the road course again and me and Dan did repeats up that final decisive climb working on form and knowing the climb. That wrapped up the MJCF training camp. I want to thank Dean Hatch for following us in the car on all the rides and him and Mrs. Hatch for accomodating me for the weekend at their house and preparing meals. It was a great training camp. I am now home for 4 days before I head back up to Highwood on Friday for the Belt Omnium which starts Saturday morning with the 10 mile time trial and then a 60 mile road race. Thats about it until I the end of the race on Saturday, so bye for now.