Can a three hour race be considered epic?

Andy doesn't think so, but I felt like can be after attempting to compete in Southern Cross on a singlespeed with a way too big of gear on. I feel like if you have to walk your bike up a mountain for more than 3 miles, it can be considered epic.
The race was awesome and a ton of fun. The 12 mile climb wasn't too bad for the first 9 miles, but the last 3 were so steep and muddy that I couldn't push my gear over any more. Luckily for me Will Black, who was also on a SS had a bigger gear than me so we were both walking/jogging with our bikes. If you want to see something funny watch a couple of guys attack each other while carrying or pushing their bikes in cycling shoes up a muddy mountain. It is a sight behold for sure.
All in all it was a super fun weekend and some really good training...
Here is the write up about. I love the picture of Rich drinking beer in his team kit. He is making his sponsors proud.

Snow Days

This morning we southerners experienced "treacherous and whiteout conditions" the schools were cancelled, roads were closed, and everything shut down. Since I no longer have television I seemed to miss the "news flash" about the severe weather and drove into work on these horrible roads.

This was my backyard which led me to believe that we were in a winter weather advisory. If you look closely, there is some of that white stuff out there.

Today just reinforced how lucky I am to be living in the south. This comment showed up on my facebook wall and it made me think of all my friends and family up in the homeland.

Mark,
We are missing all things Mark Hekman up here in Rochester Hills, Mi. You did the right thing by moving south though as we have doubled our annual yearly snowfall for the season and winter aint over yet. I think we normally get 17 inches annually in metro Detroit and we are up to something like 45 as of yesterday. Lots of shovel use, ...actually my favorite is slowly being worn through the bottom. Anywho, I still have managed to get out and ride about a dozen or so times this year, of course I have to have spikes on my tires, four layers of clothing, chemical toe and hand warmers, lobster mitts, and lots of lights. My neighbors must think the Gay, Eskimo circus has come to town when I go rolling through the neighborhood with my electric blue tights and blinking lights, blazing headlamp, and tires sparking on infrequent patches of bare asphalt. Gotta Love Biking in Michigan!!!!

Ciao, for now
Papa Tony

What I really need is a picture of Papa Tony in that getup...


The weather down here hasn't been all that great, I had to remove a pair of gloves to take this picture, I am not sure whether I was showing off my cookies or my sweet spinaci aerobars which have elevated my fred level to a new all time high.

I rode a ton last week (a ton being 20 hours) and I was fortunate enough to have this guy entertain me for some of it. He rides with his hands on the tops like this all the time, I don't know why it annoys me when he does it, but it just does. I think me being 30 is making me grumpy.

Here is a classic example of us being bored and trying unsuccesfully to be funny.


This weekend I am going to go do "southern cross" which is a dirt road race in the GA mountains. I am excited and looking forward to getting some good pics which usually means I won't ever post them.
Enjoy the weather wherever you are...

I found another college photo

Yes it is sunday and I succesfully survived another week of training. The volume is pretty high right now but it feels good be riding on a consistent basis. I get to see tons of church signs. This one is this weeks winner.


The rivers were high this week and I did manage to get through these high waters. This one required hiking over rocks and yes I was wearing my road shoes.

This one I did the classic "unclip and pick my feet up as I can and hope my momentum gets me through it" I went to fast though and the spray up soaked me.


Burger graduated on friday from the PetSmart Puppy School. If you look closely you can see me choking him to get him to stand still. He is totally Marley from "Marley and Me" Its uncanny.


This could be the best mispelling of Hekman ever.

wherethehekhasmarkbeen

is the new name of my blog. Since it is a new year and it is my resolution to update again, I have decided to start slow and not tell all my stories at once. I hope to be updating more frequently now as I don't have television anymore so no more American Idol, Biggest Loser, Real Housewives of Orange County, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Real Housewives of New York City, Americas Next Top Model, or any wedding show you can think of...its going to be a long winter.

I am back to training and just won my first trophy of the 2009 season!!! Good thing I was the only one on a singlespeed, and yes I did get thirsty and drink it, whoops.



I was up in MI for Christmas and New Years and since there was 50 inches of snow I decided to get some serious cross-training in. This is how the MIganders roll and it is a riot.



My favorite part of MI is getting carted around downtown by the drunken pedicab drivers. This guy wasn't drunk, he just looked like it.

I hope someone still checks this blog and if you do, HAPPY 2009.

I got assaulted today

with a hotdog and then a 32oz Dr. Pepper.
I was riding home from work today and someone threw a hotdog at me and followed it up the finger and a nasty grin. I brushed it off as no big deal as my emo music was making me feel calm and sensitive. 3 miles later however some other carful of kids threw a FULL 32oz Dr. Pepper at me and it hit me on the shoulder, they didn't have their timing right as they had to stop at a light right away; I was enraged this time and ripped out my frame pump and held it above my head as I was screaming at them, unfortunately for me I forgot I was riding a fixed gear and as I was holding that pump so high I forgot to pedal and was bucked off my bike only to chest plant the handlebars and fall over sideways as everyone was looking. I am okay and it was a spectacle to say the least.

So I would like to thank all the faithful commentors on my blog as I was thoroughly entertained by them.

I have been up to a number of things.
Here are a couple of things that have happened since I last posted.

I survived Mexico, barely. That was the fastest and hardest race I have ever done and I am glad that I did it.

I went to Vegas where the Toshiba Santo team protected Yosvany's lead in the USA CRIT series and helped him win the Overall. We also managed to win the Team Overall and I won the Laps Led Comp. It was a succesful series for us. Vegas also marked the official end of my season and the first season that wasn't ended by an injury.

I signed a contract for next year with the team formerly known as Time Pro Cycling and will now be known as Premier Sports Partnership. I am really excited to race for this team and with these guys.

After vegas Aliza and I got tattoos, a new couch and a labradoodle all in 3 days. Our dog is awesome and his name is Burger.


Our cat, Bugs, destroyed Burgers eye the first night we had him so he had to wear this collar for a week.

My sister and family came to visit for the weekend. We had an awesome time and it was so much fun having people come visit.


I went for a hike with Aliza and this guy which was supposed to be an hour and a half but ended up being 5. I did realize that my skin is lighter than white.


Other than that I have been doing a little bit of cross, working full time at Paceline and finding what kinds of foods taste good with Ranch dressing...oh yeah and eating these:

Catching up

Catching up
Vuelta Mexico is rolling along. We have done three stages so far and
raced 660k in three days. It has been hard and fast. Yesterday was the
longest stage and I was set up awesome for the sprint only to flat
with 1 k to go. It was pouring and the run into town was all downhill.
It could have been the scariest experience of my life. There were
crashes everywhere with guys sliding on the pavement for forever
before they stopped. We all survived unscathed.
Today is a short circuit race in the town of Guadalajara and then the
climbing starts tom. Hopefully the rain will stop one of these days.

Sent from my iPod

Vuelta Mexico stage 1

Vuelta Mexico stage 1
Our day was crazy!! It started with Dan getting stung by a scorpian
when he went to put his shoes on this morning. He survived thank
goodness but it was scary!!!!
Then Procick crashed so hard and had to get in the ambulance and
abandon the race with a couple broken ribs. Yuck.
There were probablly 8 nasty crashes today over the 200k. We did the
stage in 4 hours thanks to a mild tailwind and the saunier duval team
(now Scott American Beef) setting an insane tempo. It was so fast and
my 54 x 11 was not even close to big enough. I guess I could spin more.
Anyway a group of 5 got away from the gun and stayed away by 30
seconds. I was mixing up the field sprint but got caught behind
another crash. So most of us survived although I got my front wheel
caught in a vertical sewer grate on the way to the hotel and it sank
down to the hub and I went over the bars. Thank goodness I was going
slow.
I Love the insanity of racing here. It is almost comical. The race is
good as we have good hotels and good food for us.
Tomorrow starts with a 20k climb right away. Hopefully I will make it
over otherwise it will be a long day as it is another 200k stage.

Sent from my iPod

Guess what I am up to?

I am going to Mexico, and no they don't have snacks there so I am coming prepared this time.
The race is Vuelta Mexico and it is a pretty serious race. Here is the website. I am hoping to post reports kind of frequently but don't get your hopes too high.

It's September already

and almost time for cross.
Aliza and I are coming up to the homeland this weekend. There is a
couple of good crits up there and we are looking forward to a cool
little road trip.
The race is Saturday downtown GR at 3pm so if you are around, come
watch and then it will be party time after.

home

I am home!!! I have been gone since the beginning of August and it feels really good to be back in North Cackalacky.
Chris Thater was good, I made the winning break but took the last corner way to fast and had to grab way to much brake and lost all my momentum and that was all she wrote. I ended up sixth.
I was on the road this road trip with Frank and Yosvany. We had a ton of fun and even mangaged to take a romantic roadtrip to Niagara Falls. They had never been there and they were really impressed at looking at water.

I am home this week and then going to South Carolina for the USPRO road race on sunday, then to Atlanta for 10k Classic, then I go to MI for the Priority Health Classic.
I love driving...

This is how we roll.

Had to fix the van ourselves before heading out for thater. Didnt even have time to change out of chamios!
USA CRIT race tom in Binghamton NY should be fun. I used to do this race when i went to Ithaca college so it is good to come back and do it. I dont think anyone will recognize me now as i used to have A TON more hair.

Sent via AOL Mobile Mail on T-mobile

This is what I looked like the last time I did Chris Thater

Bahati is one quick dude.

Here is Frank killing it for me.

Oh yeah, 90 mm rims rock!!

Better than last year.

Better than last year.
This past weekend was the US Professional criterium championships in
Downers Grove IL. I have never done the pro race before and the
amateur race was where I broke my heel last year.
It was a surreal experience doing this race as I have watched it for
years and years and always dreamed of doing it.
The toshiba team consisted of frank, Yosvany, and myself. We were a
little outnumbered as many teams had as many as 9 guys. Frank and Yos
absolutely slayed themselves for me and I managed to get on the podium
for 3rd place!! It was awweeesome!!!
We are now driving back to MI for a few days before heading out to
Binghamton NY for a USA Crit race on Sunday.
I know the posts have been a bit sparce and I will try to be better
but don't count on it.

Sent from my iPod

Rochester TT

If only I was 4 seconds faster in the TT, I would have moved up like 4 spots. Shouldn't have shown all my sweet moves at the wedding...

catching up

Wow, it has been a while since I posted. I am not quite sure what I have been doing but I feel like I have been really really busy.
After Venezuela I was home for 2 days before departing for Las Vegas. I went to Vegas with UH for her brother, Taylor's, wedding. It was SO much fun there and I enjoyed getting to know her extended family and got some quality clubbing and pool time in as well. I left my bicycle at home, which felt good. I did get some good exercise in by dancing like a white boy from MI and we also went for a hike in red rock canyon.
I was in Vegas for 4 days and was home for only 18 hours before I was racing again. Last week was a week of criterium racing down here called the Crossroads Classic. I raced 5 crits in 6 days and it was a riot. It was a good week and I felt incredibly fresh all week. Must have been all the Red Bull and Vodkas in Vegas. Anyway in 5 races I went 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, and 8th. In that order!!! It was a steady downward progression!! HA! In my defense the races got a touch harder as the week went on.
Now I am in Winston-Salem hanging out with my two cuban teammates. We leave on thursday for Rochester NY for a 3 day race there this weekend. From Rochester we are going to Grand Rapids to hang out until Downers Grove, and then going back to MI until we drive back to NY the following weekend. So Mom and Dad if you are reading this can you put up my whole team for 2 weeks? HA!!! (they know already stop your "tsk tsk" ing).
Here is something I discovered. Life Lesson #1:
If you wait long enough to do something, someone else will do it for you. Case in point. I LOVE coffee and so does my good friend Jim B. I don't have a coffee grinder and Jim comes to visit a lot, he finally got so fed up with me not having one that he got me one just for when he comes to visit. Thanks Jim.

Procrastination Works!!!

Life Lesson #2 Here is what Optygen is good for:


Now that I found out I can still type, maybe I will post more frequently...

Venezuela

Venezuela
almost loves us. Frank missed the win by 2 mm. It was so so close.
We had a great race. Frank was 2nd, Yosvany was 5th, I won the mid
race prime, and we got third in the team comp.
Well worth the trip. Although I am starting my 5th 12+ hour trip in 8
days.

Sent from my iPod

Venezuela

Venezuela
almost loves us. Frank missed the win by 2 mm. It was so so close.
We had a great race. Frank was 2nd, Yosvany was 5th, I won the mid
race prime, and we got third in the team comp.
Well worth the trip. Although I am starting my 5th 12+ hour trip in 8
days.

Sent from my iPod