More IMMI Indoor

Mark Virture from Seattle has shot over 3000 photos for the entire meet. One of those are for the time trial. I've created an animated GIF so we can see the motion in sequence. I have no video of the meet so this is as much as I can get close to action since I missed most of the indoor races Ruri took part in.

More IMMI outdoor photo

I worked out my Marathon time from the photo time stamp (Christ has taken over 2000 photos, which included the start and finish of almost everyone). My unofficial time is 1:28:10, which is 9 minutes faster than my last Marathon. This translates into 17.8 mph, or 28.5 km/h. This time, apart from chasing a few small breaks, I was in a pace line 95% of the time, which showed on my improved time. I can say now that I enjoyed the Marathon even in the midst of it as riding the paceline made is much easier and fun. I noticed my blister about two lap to go, so I adjusted my form so it doesn't hurt as much. Then my left calf muscle started cramping at half lap to go. Too late to give up, also I'm not really feeling that painful, so I just kept going, then started sprinting about 50 meters from the line....bad mistake, Roger Olson (who obviously didn't have cramps) just zoomed by me about 20 meters to the line....I'll get him at SFIM:-)

One photo of me in paceline, and one trying to catch a break.

Inline March Madness Indoor

Ruri took part in the entire indoor races, from Thursday's Novice, Friday's Standard, and Saturday's relay, time-trial and open. It's good that she had the opportunity to see what different races are like. It was quite draining obviously with heats etc, especially for the pool relay, each of them are quite long (she had to skate with Sophomore). Here is a few snapshots I got from our team website. I'm looking forward to Mark Virture's website for better photos.

Inline March Madness

This is the first time Ruri has go some where without us. Our coach and teammate took good care of her where I was in Huntsville Alabama..I flew directly back to Sacramento (wrong airport as I found out, should have flown to Mather airport rather than Sacramento International) and checked into the wrong hotel (our team stayed at somewhere else, not the event hotel). I was just in time to see Ruri's final events on Friday. The photos are not in for the indoors so I'll wait for a few days to get more photos to write about Ruri's races as I was not there to watch it. However, on Sunday, I took part in the Marathon event, and I think I did well (don't know the time yet as they didn't use timing chip). Here are a photo of me in paceline and at award ceremony.

Outdoor season

The rain finally stopped, and time to skate outside. This Saturday, Ruri had her first outdoor lesson from W&S. Hopefully we can keep this going throughout this season. This Wednesday, Ruri will go somewhere by herself without us being with her. She will travel to the March madness invitational with Coach Debra and Maria, I'm right now in Huntsville Alabama, but will join her Friday. I will also race on Sunday Marathon.