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Phillips Ridge Trail.

This summer has been ideal. I've had more time at home during June-August than ever before because I've been 100% focused on the NUE Series. Even though the travel load is still heavy, the NUE series expansion into more western locales has allowed me to board airplanes less.

Ferrin's Trail, Jackson, WY

The race I have been looking forward to the most all year is this coming Saturday. The Pierre's Hole 100 stages out of the Grand Targhee Ski Area right down the street from my house in Victor. Even though I already have 4 wins in the NUE series, it's personally very important to me to show up and support this race and the expansion of the series to my neck of the woods. When else will I get to sleep in my own bed and race an NUE? Most importantly, I need a quality course/singletrack fix before I numb my mind/body/soul with the Leadville course next weekend. The Pierre's course will definitely suffice.

Snow King Singletrack, Jackson, WY

Pierre's will be tough. We're talking 16,800 feet of climbing and most likely a 10-hr day for me. But that day will include so much sweet riding, so many amazing views and heck, I get to be out there with so many of my friends, I can not WAIT to race! Because it's a rough and very tough 100 I'll be racing my Edict for the first time this year in an NUE. That first of 4 trips down Mill Creek will have me singing the full squish's praises, grinning from ear to ear. That should compliment the crying for my momma feelings during each of the 4 trips up the heinous 18-20% climb out of Bustle Creek.

Showing Dejay and Eddie the local goods on Teton Pass

The best part about having a big race close to home is that all your pals want to come stay. It's been camp Carey around here for a few weeks and it's been a blast. Especially because Nate has been away for yet another 10-day stint with Giant, having good company has been nice. I took Namrita O'Dea home with me from the High Cascades 100 and she's been a super good sport keeping up with my exciting (i.e-very boring) pro lifestyle. She's upped her tolerance for cold-stream soaking to a full 13 min. Eddie and Dejay showed up a few days later and now it's a full house of the type of folks I love most.

Nam tops out on Snow King

Playing host is pretty dang fun. It opens your eyes to new possibilities and gives you a fresh perspective when you have to choose the best of the best of your trails, local hideaways, national parks and tourist traps for your visitors. It also reminds me that I'm fortunate to live in such a beautiful place with very nice singletrack.

Sunset from my deck

The tough part about being home and hosting bike racers is the temptation to go out and ride too much. That's exactly what I have been doing. I didn't know it until after, but training peaks told me that I rode 21 hours the week after High Cascades. Oops. Oh well, totally worth it with views and trails like this:

Me, loving the Snow King wildflowers

Mathematically, it seems I sealed up the 2011 NUE Overall Series win at High Cascades, so the pressure is now off. I set 2 goals for my season: win the Trans-Sylvania Epic stage race and the NUE series overall. Done and done. Now what? I still have an ambitious calendar, but can now enjoy a more relaxed approach to it all all while recharging for the next 2 objectives: Marathon Nationals and then a full cross season. Until then, I'm signed up for the Leadville 100, the Odgen 100k and the Park City Point to Point. Lots to do, very little pressure.

To confirm: yes, I am doing three 100-mile events in 4 weekends and the last one is Leadville. I'll have to write a whole other post to explain my approach this year. In the meantime, I'm going to satiate myself with super sweet single track for 10 hours this Sat. to make up for next weekend's high altitude road race.