Skip Rogers couldn't have planned it any better.

Competing in his first Summer National Senior Games, the Cranberry Township resident couldn't believe his good fortune - but there also was a lot of hard work in the details.

"The whole idea with it being in Pittsburgh and being from Pittsburgh my whole life was exciting," said Rogers, who won two cycling events and placed in the top four in four events.

"To have friends and family to see me was great. And it got better because it was in North Park. I got to sleep in my own bed," Rogers added.

Rogers won the 5K and 10K Individual Time Trials, was third in the 40K road race and fourth in the 20K road race, all in a span of five days.

Rogers, 51, who works in financial planning for IBM, advanced to the Games this year from a qualifier at Shippensburg last year.

"(Triathlon competitor and Zelienople resident) Tom Murray told me about this," said Rogers. "He was training for the Ironman, so I tried and qualified for it."

Rogers is a U.S. Cycling Federation Category 3 rider and a member of the Allegheny Cycling Association. He also rides for Fox Velo, a Butler race team.

Rogers certainly invested a lot of time and energy to prepare for the 2005 Games. By his own account, Rogers rode nearly 17,000 miles and competed in 80 to 90 races.

"It was a two-year dedication," said Rogers. "It was a lot of work."

That paid off right off the bat in his first race June 7, when Rogers won the 10K time trial race against the clock.

Rogers' time of 15 minutes, 47 seconds not only won him his 50-to-54 age group, it was the fastest of all competitors.

The following day, Rogers earned a fourth-place ribbon in the 20K road course.

"The difference between first and fourth place was one second," said Rogers. "I was trapped on the inside late in the race, but then I took off."

Last Friday, Rogers was able to grab gold again, this time of the 5K time trial in 7:04. His time was the sixth fastest ever recorded in the Senior Games.

"I thought my best chance was the 5K time trial. I told people if you come to one race, come to that one," said Rogers. "I didn't know how I'd do. I'd never raced a course for time. I just put the pieces together and it turned out great."

Last Saturday, Rogers wrapped up his racing with a third-place tie in the 40K road race, Mac Martin, who would win the triathlon the following day, cruised to the victory while Rogers battled his way to earn a tie for the bronze.

Rogers, who has raced competitively for the past seven years, already has his eye on the 2007 Games, which will be held in Louisville, Ky.

"Without a doubt this is a great experience," Rogers said. "I watched a 75-year-old woman throw a shot put. Where are you going to see that?

"I saw friends play volleyball, I saw Ping-Pong. This is a good celebration for the city. And I hope they got a lot of praise," he added.

Rogers said he hopes to qualify and get a chance to come back for more. He certainly likes the way it makes him feel.

"This was the only race I got to go to where I'm the youngest," said Rogers. "Usually, I'm the old guy."