All American Clash Race 3 and 4 in Minnesota

This week was kind of a wash for working out. I got one strength and one walking session in and zero running.  Oh well.  It's hot and I had crap to do.  

This week was all about traveling to the All-American Clash.  We went last year and had limited success, but a ton of fun.  We had learned a lot last year and were excited to go back and try some things we learned.  Plus, Andrew is just a different kid this year and much more competitive and the heavy classes are usually a little bit smaller, thus a little more manageable.  

We didn't get as much track family time this year and for that I am sad.  Usually, we all head back to the hotel at night and the kids swim their hearts out while we drink and talk.  We only got that one night and I miss that.  

We did get to the mall of America for a few hours and Andrew found the Lego set he had been wanting.  We got to see a little bit more of the mall this year, but still only probably a tenth of it overall.  You could seriously spend a whole week there and spend a small fortune and still not do everything.  

Practice day was a wash just like last year.  We tried set up after set up on the white car which is heavy Honda (HH) and nothing worked.  We didn't get any power; we couldn't get any more speed no matter what we tried.  We finally honestly gave up.  The Heavy 160 (H160) seemed good to go, so one practice session and done with it.   It's so frustrating to go year after year and just not see any changes or success in the Honda class.  I hear this is a common problem with Hondas and why many families move on to different engines, but it's so dang frustrating for us and for Andrew.  

It also doesn't help when your micron keeps dipping out and you can't get good data.  You can always hand time with a phone, but it can be a little off.  Sure, you notice big changes, but we are dealing with changes in the 0.000 range and that can be I hit the button wrong difference.  Plus, even though this track looks the exact same, they don't run near up to the wall like we do in Topeka for Honda and if you do, you scrub speed where at our track, it helps make your pattern more even and faster.    

Day one was a long one!  We had two heats of heavy Honda since there were 10 cars and Andrew was in the second heat.  Again, we just couldn't find speed.  The feature was much the same, no speed even though he tried.  That is on us and probably the dang engine that has been giving us signs it's ready to be done and needs love.  

Heavy 160 was a little better, however his teammate Noah had engine issues that didn't allow him to finish, so Andrew got a podium.  Not the way we wanted to win at all but what a cool trophy!

I just love this picture because even though our day wasn't the best speed wise, he learned SO much in both classes and had a great day overall.  We ended the day with pizza at the track and cupcakes to celebrate a sibling's birthday.  He really wanted to go swimming that night, but we were all sunburnt and exhausted and opted for a night in the hotel room, Olympics, and bed.  Someone had decided to build his Lego creation he had gotten at Mall of America at 4:30 am that morning and while that someone had slept all day in the trailer, that someone was still super tired.  

Side note, I had hoped I would just get to watch and not have to actually work since it isn't my home track BUT they needed someone to take weights and win photos, so Shanelle and I jumped in and helped both days.  I had learned my lesson last year to keep my face covered (I roasted my forehead last year and then pealed for weeks), but I thought I had enough of a base tan and SPF 30 on just in case (that was reapplied multiple times).  Neither helped and as I type this I am in still in pain.  OUCH.  I think the next track in the series also will need us to help, so I am advocating for a large umbrella if I have to stand all day and watch every single race for win photos.  I am doing everything in my power to keep this from peeling, but I feel like I am losing this battle for sure.  

One last note about day 1.  That night as we were all lying in bed, Andrew quietly asked what he needed to do to win.  He said he was tired of getting last place. I was shocked as he normally doesn't get that upset about losing, especially if it is equipment failure.  His dad and I talked to him about the pattern first off, but also the fact that most if not all of the other kids were older and running either free or on a ratcheting hub.  Dear readers, I can't exactly explain what that means but it's something about the rear tires.  Andrew likes to run locked, so his back end isn't squirrelly and that makes him slower somehow as the tires fight each other.  Tony and Andrew agreed to at least try ratcheting and see what happened.  Previously I will add, when we have tried this, it has really freaked Andrew out.  Again, for him to say he wanted to win is a big step for him.   I think he has gotten a taste this year and he wants it and for that I am so excited!

Day 2 started out again with a last place in the Honda heat race as he figured out the looser car.  He would start dead last in the feature P10.  I watched this kid work his way up to 5th at one point!  I saw passing!  I saw bravery!  I saw him spin out once and then come back and drive like he has never driven before!  He even got a call on him as that he caused a wreck and had to go tail end and worked his way back up to 6th.  He was going to finish 6th and the 2nd place car who had spun out and was at the tail worked his way back up and passed him on the last lap.  I will take it.  He battled the entire class because once again, he did not have the speed he needed and or wanted but still saw much faster times with a looser car.  For him to trust the process, to trust that we said his car would come to him was HUGE!  I am super-duper proud, and I think that confidence he had in that big class passing those older kids and battling is going to pay off big time.  It may not be a podium win but it was a win in my book.  

This also happened!  Noah, Andrew's teammate got 3rd in heavy Honda!  He also had battled his car really all year and finally found the speed and confidence he needed to get in the mix.  

Heavy 160 was a repeat of the day before, however, Andrew found some speed and challenged the 2nd place driver in the heats and stayed right there with 1 and 2.  While we hate that Noah had engine problems again, it was pretty cool to see Andrew get confident and push the car even though the other kids were ratcheting, or free hubs and Andrew was locked.  We again got third due to Noah's engine going away and another podium.

My overall take aways from the weekend:

1. Andrew battled and got delt a bad call but battled back no matter what.  The old Andrew never would have battled in the first place if he thought he didn't have a fast car and especially if he was sent to the back.  Yes, there were some DOT cars that got put behind him that gave him some positions, but he held them off and again the old Andrew would have gladly let faster cars pass to ride in the back if he perceived they were "better".  

2.  Andrew found some confidence in his fastest car (heavy 160) and pushed and could have passed for 2nd place but didn't.  Why is that good you ask?   The 2nd place car was an older kid that while Andrew's car was faster, would have possibly wrecked him to keep 2nd place.  I felt like it was better to let him know he was there and hope for a mistake that true didn't come, but still.   Sometimes parking it in the pits in one piece is the best solution.  

3.  While we battled set up, I never heard him whine or complain.  He just went out each time and pushed the cars as hard as he could to give his dad the most information.  

4.  This is my biggest one.  I saw and heard two things really that I have never heard him say or do.  One, he watched several races to get a feeling for lines.  He really saw this time how you can change your line to prevent passing, but not block, and that every track is different so drive them differently.  He also verbally claimed he wanted to do better and wanted to win and when we told him what he needed to do, he wanted to try it.  He has never been a fan of free or ratcheted hubs and would previously cry.  Is this the turning point for him? I've seriously waited for 6 years for this moment because I knew it was in there.  Let's hope it stays for the rest of the season.

Overall, it was a great trip minus the success on paper I guess you could say.  I know people have a hard time understanding how I can get excited about last place finishes or no podiums, but my kid is different, and I celebrate baby steps, not giant leaps.  We had fun with our friends, got to relax a tiny bit, didn't kill each other on the drive up and back, and saw so much good in all of our racers.  I can't wait to be back at our home track soon and see what this newfound confidence and speed looks like!  I also can't wait to come back again next year and see what all Andrew learned looks like a year later with even more confidence and age.   

Have a great week y'all!

All the doors

This is not the news I wanted to post but here goes.  Remember the whole foot in the door thing?  Well, it got shoved out and that door got closed.  Two doors closed.  Sigh.  I am trying not to let my anxiety get the best of me right now as we haven't exhausted all of the doors.  Some of the doors are scary though, and I am not good at this.  Some involve having family members being involved and y'all, I love my damn family so much and I don't want to burden them.  It's hard because they want to help, but I feel like these doors need to be ours alone.  Again, I will keep you posted.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers please for whatever is to happen.

I did three runs, 2 work outs, and some walks thrown in to wear out Ollipop!  I am just trying to do some sort of activity at least 5 days a week and call it good.  I will admit, I did like having two strength workouts back in the mix this week, but next week that just won't happen thanks to travel.   

This is random and I don't know if you do this, BUT does anyone else love their running shoes so much that they wear them all of the time?  Right now, I am at such low mileage that I don't figure it will break my shoes down that much.  If I wear my broken-down running shoes as my everyday shoe, they are too low stack height compared to my running shoe and I have foot, knee, and calf pain when I run.  If I get new running shoes there is such a big difference between my everyday shoe and my new running shoes that when I run, my body notices immediately.  Consequently, I've just been wearing my running shoes for everything to keep my body happy.  I know it's bad but you do what you have to do.  I have been looking for my next shoe but am having trouble finding a shoe that doesn't cost 180 bucks now (WHAT IS GOING ON WITH RUNNING SHOES???) that has everything I want including neutral, 6mm stack height, and a wide toe box.  Can I just order exactly what I need and have someone make it for me?  If I find the stack height i want, I lose the toe box width.  I swear 10mm in my Triumphs feels like wearing high heels lately, but that gets me the toe box width unless I go down to a 4mm or a 0mm which my body hates.  Sigh.  It's a never ending story.

We did have a fun but busy weekend.   On Friday night we went to see the new Twister movie and loved it.  We saw it at the IMAX theater and while it was loud and intense, it was very good.  I still will always love the original as one of my most favorite movies of all times but the special effects in this one were pretty amazing.  I do love the story line of the new one and can see them doing more sequels now.  

Saturday night we had a night race.   Night races typically aren't great things, but this one was just like the last one in terms of fun and no drama, and I am not mad about that at all.  I hope and pray our club has turned over a new leaf.  I'm not going to hold my breath completely, but I will admit, it's nice to end the night with a big smile on my face versus tears and puking (I'm not even joking, read some of my old blogs about night races).  Andrew did amazing again with a 2nd place finish in Heavy Honda coming back from being beat speed wise, but NEVER giving up, and that is what it is all about.  He is a very patient racer that is playing out to be a good thing in longer races.   To see him not give up and be defeated because we failed with set up is pretty cool.  He and the other car got lapped by the first-place car, but he kept battling and while he didn't get his lap back, he did pass the other lapped car.  He finished heavy 160 in a 3rd place battle to the very end with one of his fastest times ever in that class and car.  To see him push it when we do give him good set ups is super cool.  HIs passing timing is getting so much better and more fluid and I am loving the confidence we are seeing right now.  

I am truly loving this season and seeing the bravery and the skill that we knew was there all along.  So very, very proud of him and excited to see him continue to grow in driving and excited to see what the future holds.  

Have a great week y'all!  It's going to be a super busy one for me trying to cram in all of the experiments before we head out to MN for some All American Clash racing.  

Who turned up the heat?

Trying to stay cool and hydrated.  We are in the throes of summer here in Kansas after a brief respite of cooler temps and NO humidity.  It surely was nice while it lasted.  Do you do this?   I think wow, we've never had this happen before, this crazy weather, and then I go to my Facebook memories and here is me saying, wow, this cooler weather in the middle of July is so awesome!  Anyone, anyone?

I only got one work out class this week and two runs.  Thursday morning, I woke up with a splitting headache that led into puking.  I had to get it together, keep some Advil down, and get to work so I could hold onto my PTO for as long as possible.  I still was feeling pretty out of it by the time class time rolled around so I opted to hang out on the couch and not push myself to work out.

I will be honest; I have been taking Ollie running with me a little more than I normally would for a dog her age.  She is very tiny and fined boned, and we do lots of walking, so I am not concerned we are over doing it.  Right now, I am lucky to get 3 miles of my 4:1 with the heat and she seems fine with that.  I will continue to monitor her for soreness and any issues that might arise. I have consulted with my vet and he agrees, since most of my runs are on mostly gravel that this shouldn't hurt her at all.  She is go go go.  I thought Stella had a lot of energy and she said hey stella hold my beer.  She wants to go when it's cold, when it's hot, when I am 100 percent tired and not wanting to run or walk, pretty much every day all day.    She's smart with her body, will stop if she needs to cool down and will drink water if offered, no questions asked.  I need to find some sort of reflective coat or vest to try and help her stay a little cooler.  She amazes me with how smart she is and how much energy she has.   We HAVE to find a way to get her into dog sports!  Can someone put extra hours into the day please?

I will end on the best part of my week.  Every week we try our best to put the best cars and set up out there for Andrew.  All we ask is he drives it to his best ability and tries as hard as he possibly can.   Not only did he try his hardest, but he also made a two-car pass that was AMAZING!  

He was second in both races passing one of his friends and racing clean all weekend.  We had so much fun with such a great atmosphere at the track this weekend.  Walking from trailer to trailer, hanging out post-race, and just seeing everyone smile and be happy was so amazing.  All because one family left.  I'm going to enjoy this for as long as I can.  

Have a great week y'all!

It's go time BOOMTOWN 2024

Ah, my favorite holiday of the year.  Our little town goes from 5K to 55K sometimes 75K or more in one day, all to celebrate the birth of our nation and FIREWORKS.  We are known for our amazing hand fired fireworks display and it did NOT disappoint as always.  The weather was so amazing, and we were able to not sweat to death per usual 4th of July weather AND enjoy ourselves and each other.  Let's start with the beginning of the week first though.  

I got three runs done, one strength session, and one dance fitness session in this week.  Yes, you read that right, dance fitness session.  One of the ladies I work out with on Tuesdays and Thursdays teaches dance classes and she had a bootleg class where we could try it out.  While I had a ton of fun and was drenched in sweat at the end, I suck at any other type of dancing other than ballet.  My booty doesn't pop, my shimmying looked like me dying, and let's just say my sexy was uh, yeah not there.  I am glad we all had fun and had lots of laughs, but I think I will stick to lifting and body sculpt classes in the foreseeable future.  

We also took a little day trip to Abilene KS to eat yummy pizza, do some antiquing, and ride the rails.  We were hoping to see the steam train at Smokey Valley, but apparently it was under repair, so we had to settle for a diesel train.  I love these little quick trips to these cute little KS towns and learning the history of wherever we land.  Abilene is only an hour drive away with so much fun stuff to do and we will be back as we didn't even get in all of the antique shops on the main street.  

Then there was the 4th stuck in there as well.  We always invite our friends and family over and have lunch/dinner, drinks. parade fun and of course fireworks.  Here are a few pics from our day.  The boys shot off fireworks all day, we ate literally all day so much goodness, and just enjoyed each other's company.  That should be what it is about, family, food, and fellowship.

We ended the week at the dirt track where we got rained out but still had a great time seeing everyone.  We got to visit the local brewery and have some tasty beers and fries before they closed.  

I seriously need another week to recover from my 4-day weekend.  Have a great week y'all!

Welcome to Boom Town pre boom town

I totally believe when one door closes, a better door opens or the door you are meant to walk through opens.  We had a big major door close in our face this week. This was a door that we saw being shut a little over a year ago, but kept our foot stuck in so it couldn't.  This week they knocked our foot out and slammed it shut.  Neither of us are surprised, although we are both very hurt by it.  We have always believed in community, in investing our money here and not elsewhere, and we are being forced to go elsewhere.  Sometimes we pay twice what we would pay going somewhere even a town over just to support small businesses here.  We don't feel the support right now and it honestly hurts.  We did find a new door, and I know I am being super vague here, but we've knocked, they've cracked it, and we are working on opening it fully.  As soon as I know something one way or the other, I will update here fully.  Just keep sending those good thoughts, good vibes, prayers, and good juju our way.  We are not done fighting, we believe in our little business, and we feel that there are many in our corner that want us to succeed.  

On to the week!  Three runs, one work out, and lots of cleaning at the house getting ready for the 4th.  If you aren't from this area, 4th of July is huge in our little town because we become known as BoomTown!  We have the largest hand fired fireworks show in the county and it's 31 minutes of pure awesomeness.  Check out the pyro crew's Facebook page here.  They have several videos that are just amazing.  My favorite part of the show is purple rain and the shirts this year for the show are purple rain themed!  

We welcome our friends and family into our home and have a whole day of awesome fun.  I can't wait even though they are saying we may get rain this year.  The storms held off last year till we were done and back to the house.  Praying for that this year as well as the forecast doesn't look great at this point. 

No racing this weekend for the ginger racer, but we did have a busy weekend.  First up, we headed back the K for a Royals game with Andrew's buddy Cole.  We got seats in the outfield, and they were perfect.  We were close to all of the food vendors, the kid's activities, and in homerun territory.  We saw an amazing game with Salvy hitting a long dinger and the kids got to have a great time exploring ALL of the field.  They had fireworks post-game and the storms stayed south of us only spitting a little bit of rain as we were walking back to the car.  The best part was as we were walking in a guy that was dressed as a staff member asked if we were excited about the game.  We talked for a minute, and I told him that it was Cole's first game.  He said make sure that Cole was in his seat for the 5th inning. I figured he was just going to be on the jumbotron or something.  Well around the middle of the fourth they came over (Cole and Andrew were up playing) and they brought him not only a very nice bobble head but also a fanny pack and a certificate.  

We were all blow away and Cole was so excited when he came back to discovery his goodies!  

The next night we decided to be idiots again and have a late night by going to the dirt track.  Who knew we had one only 1 hour away in Clay Center????  All of our racing buddies decided to race there and it was so nice to see all of them once again.  The Soares family, the Beckers, the wood's family, the Dougans, and the Canadays all raced, and we got to cheer everyone on.  It was so cool to see little Brex win in Jr Sprints, to see Blainey be aggressive and move up multiple times in restrictor and to see Hank, Dustin, and Micah tear it up in A class and in non-wing.  We went home exhausted but with big old smiles on our faces.  Our cups were full with racing family love.  

Have a great week y'all! I am looking forward to a 4 day weekend and my favorite holiday of all!