Skipped running yesterday. The 4 hour nap I took told me maybe I was a little tired. Almost went for a quick run last night but decided it would just be padding & streak chasing. Got out this AM early, had to cut it short though since the rain was coming in.
Had an interesting thought while I was running. Amber keeps asking what i'm training for. Honestly don't know besides training. That got me thinking about training vs. racing. I used to be a huge believer in racing yourself into shape. By shape I mean top end fitness. Which for me takes about 13 weeks of training first. Then I could cut back on the miles, be it running or riding, and race myself into top shape. Now I lean towards racing gets in the way of training. I like to race but I think I like training more. Strange I know.
Another thought I had was about doping & training. Doping has pretty much completely put me off on PRO cycling. I don't get much enjoyment out of watching it any more since the cloud of doping is always there. Suspensions are a joke since the suspended rider almost always comes back to racing. The adaptation is made while on drugs. You can't take that away from them by suspending them. I would imagine most suspended riders train & recover. If I was a suspend PRO racer I'd spend my suspension training huge volumes & focus on recovery for the whole suspension. Then when I came back I'd have the benefit of the adaptation & racing I made while on the drugs & the benefit of all the quality training I was able to do while suspended. Sounds crazy but I think this has become common practice. Look at all the suspended riders that come back & win races straight out of the gate.
I think to remove Doping one of two things has to happen. Automatic life time bans or bans on training while suspended. Give the rider a two year suspension. Ban training for the first year of the suspension. The rider couldn't train for a year & would loose most if not all of the adaptation he made while training & racing on his drug of choice. Then he'd have to train another year to get fit enough to maybe rejoin the peloton. I'd say that go along way as a deterrent to using drugs. Since right now a 2 year ban is a licence to train.
Neither of these will happen so PRO cycling will probably end up eating its self.
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Please stop raining
My 4 days off have been less than productive. Pretty much rained non stop. Parts of the Ozarks are over 10" in the last 4 days. Years past I would have loaded up & gone boating for 4 days. Being a family man now that isnt really an option I'd use. Plus add in the logistics of being a 1 car family. Needless to say my boats still are covered in dust. No boating for me.
I logged onto the Arkansas Canoe Club Forum to see what was happening & perhaps grab a ride. After I figured out my username & password it told me I hadn't logged on since 11/24/2006. Guess I'm a bit out of the loop. Time to dust off my boating resume & find some people to boat with I guess. If you read this & boat get a hold of me. I'm rusty but have a few skills left.
I've kinda managed to dodge the rain & get in some runs. I'd title this week of training as craptastic at best. I ran home Sunday from work which wasn't too bad. I was running with the knowledge that I had the 2012 F1 opener waiting for me on the DVR, which helped tons. What was weird was my run time to work was exactly the same as my run time home. Couldn't do that again if I tried. Anyway run commuting was successful enough I plan on doing it some more.
Mon afternoon after I woke up went out as soon as I got up to try & stay ahead of the rain. 10 miles later I was dry but tired. Kind of the beginning of the end of the week before it started. Tuesday was a tempo run. My normal tempo run is an out & back. Of course at the turn around it started raining. This did nothing for my motivation or speed. Plus I had to wait for a damn train. Not my slowest time but far from what it should have been.
Wednesday was supposed to be a 14 miler. My legs were crap from the word go. I almost bailed super early for 4 miles. I kept my head in it & slogged out 10 miles. The take away is 2 10 milers in 3 days. Th e downsides are too many to mention. The only real positive is that when I hit the driveway it started raining. Which meant if I had kept at it for the whole 14 I would have had to run at least 4 miles in the rain. If that happened how I was feeling would have meant a couple miles of walking. Which would have pretty much ate up the last of my moral for the week.
Today I woke up feeling all of my 90 years. Hobbled around, zero motivation. Amber went to the gym mid day so I had a reason too postpone running. I managed to get my shit together enough to run 7 miles with 5x800m with 800m recovery. Not the track workout I had wanted but still classified as my first "speed" workout of the year.
Watched Free Practice 1 on SpeedTv Streaming. Not really much to learn besides McLaren is playing to Hamilton's ego setting him up for the fastest time over Vettel. The Mercedes are fast & I'd be surprised if they didn't get a podium this week. Bottas stepped in for a drive and out paced Maldando at Williams. Saw that coming from a mile away. Lotus is showing some pace. Grojean was fast once again even with a wheel problem. Sauber did their normal FP1. Don't be surprised with another double points scoring weekend; they are #3 in the constructors. Ferrari is a big fat hmmmmm. HRT needs to throw in the helmet already. I could drive my Volvo around the track faster.
I logged onto the Arkansas Canoe Club Forum to see what was happening & perhaps grab a ride. After I figured out my username & password it told me I hadn't logged on since 11/24/2006. Guess I'm a bit out of the loop. Time to dust off my boating resume & find some people to boat with I guess. If you read this & boat get a hold of me. I'm rusty but have a few skills left.
I've kinda managed to dodge the rain & get in some runs. I'd title this week of training as craptastic at best. I ran home Sunday from work which wasn't too bad. I was running with the knowledge that I had the 2012 F1 opener waiting for me on the DVR, which helped tons. What was weird was my run time to work was exactly the same as my run time home. Couldn't do that again if I tried. Anyway run commuting was successful enough I plan on doing it some more.
Mon afternoon after I woke up went out as soon as I got up to try & stay ahead of the rain. 10 miles later I was dry but tired. Kind of the beginning of the end of the week before it started. Tuesday was a tempo run. My normal tempo run is an out & back. Of course at the turn around it started raining. This did nothing for my motivation or speed. Plus I had to wait for a damn train. Not my slowest time but far from what it should have been.
Wednesday was supposed to be a 14 miler. My legs were crap from the word go. I almost bailed super early for 4 miles. I kept my head in it & slogged out 10 miles. The take away is 2 10 milers in 3 days. Th e downsides are too many to mention. The only real positive is that when I hit the driveway it started raining. Which meant if I had kept at it for the whole 14 I would have had to run at least 4 miles in the rain. If that happened how I was feeling would have meant a couple miles of walking. Which would have pretty much ate up the last of my moral for the week.
Today I woke up feeling all of my 90 years. Hobbled around, zero motivation. Amber went to the gym mid day so I had a reason too postpone running. I managed to get my shit together enough to run 7 miles with 5x800m with 800m recovery. Not the track workout I had wanted but still classified as my first "speed" workout of the year.
Watched Free Practice 1 on SpeedTv Streaming. Not really much to learn besides McLaren is playing to Hamilton's ego setting him up for the fastest time over Vettel. The Mercedes are fast & I'd be surprised if they didn't get a podium this week. Bottas stepped in for a drive and out paced Maldando at Williams. Saw that coming from a mile away. Lotus is showing some pace. Grojean was fast once again even with a wheel problem. Sauber did their normal FP1. Don't be surprised with another double points scoring weekend; they are #3 in the constructors. Ferrari is a big fat hmmmmm. HRT needs to throw in the helmet already. I could drive my Volvo around the track faster.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Creative Training
With my work schedule its hard to get a lot of miles in. I'm kinda maxed out at 50-55 per week. I've been kicking around the idea of running to work. This being a transitional week & I'm back on weekends I figured it was time for a test run.
If it isn't too bad I'm going to try & run commute a couple times per week. Will give me 7 miles each way. That should let me bump my mileage up. I'd like to try a hundred mile week just for the Hell of it. Haven't done that since college. 110 was my all time max.
I doubled up on the amount of food I brought to work last night so didn't have to lug that. I did forget to bring an extra set of clothes so had to bring that but those fit in my GoLite running fanny pack. Next time I'll plan better so I carry less.
Had a pretty good head wind which made the hills at the end of the run hard. I think I managed around a 7:30 avg. Will have to wait till I download the file.
Now the interesting part of the test. Working all night & then running home. All the hills are in the 1st half going home so have that going for me.
My Damn head phones lost sound in one side again. I don't know why but that is how all my headphones die. This was a cheap pair & it showed since they barely lasted a month or so. I've had 4 or 5 pair die this way I'm the last couple of years.
If it isn't too bad I'm going to try & run commute a couple times per week. Will give me 7 miles each way. That should let me bump my mileage up. I'd like to try a hundred mile week just for the Hell of it. Haven't done that since college. 110 was my all time max.
I doubled up on the amount of food I brought to work last night so didn't have to lug that. I did forget to bring an extra set of clothes so had to bring that but those fit in my GoLite running fanny pack. Next time I'll plan better so I carry less.
Had a pretty good head wind which made the hills at the end of the run hard. I think I managed around a 7:30 avg. Will have to wait till I download the file.
Now the interesting part of the test. Working all night & then running home. All the hills are in the 1st half going home so have that going for me.
My Damn head phones lost sound in one side again. I don't know why but that is how all my headphones die. This was a cheap pair & it showed since they barely lasted a month or so. I've had 4 or 5 pair die this way I'm the last couple of years.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
transitional week
Yesterday was my first run in 10 days. Without mincing words it sucked. I lost a bunch of fitness being sick. Plus I'm not 100% over it yet. Still have an annoying cough. Today though was 100000x better. Was actually able to cruise with a 7:13avg. Even dropped 2 miles under 7.
Instead of writing this week off I'm going to call it a transitional week. No long run just runs to get back in the swing. Then I'll make the next 3 weeks really hard. Lots of Fartlek & long tempo runs. I'll shoot for 3 maybe 4 key workouts per week. My average per mile pace has been steadily dropping. Hopefully after this month it will be around 7:10 for most runs.
Instead of writing this week off I'm going to call it a transitional week. No long run just runs to get back in the swing. Then I'll make the next 3 weeks really hard. Lots of Fartlek & long tempo runs. I'll shoot for 3 maybe 4 key workouts per week. My average per mile pace has been steadily dropping. Hopefully after this month it will be around 7:10 for most runs.
Friday, March 09, 2012
The wheels on the bus fell off & caught on fire
I knew it was going to happen but didn't want to jinx myself. It happened anyway. IT being getting sick. Spent all 4 of my days off suffering. 2nd night back at work & feeling a little better but not 100%. Definately not well enough to ride to work or run yet. Not the recovery week I had planned. Had to skip my planned 18 miler Sunday. That kinda sucked.
Now both the kids are sick. Hopefully Amber doesn't get sick. Or I pick up another bug before getting healthy. There has been a pretty nasty bug going around at work & Mia's school has strep going around.I need a bubble.
On a positive note being sick has kept me off coffee. Not a drop since last Friday. Plus I've been sleeping tons. Though sick sleep doesn't really count. I am up 16.5 hrs in SleepBot. Highest I've seen since starting using the app. I slept over 9 hrs today. That has to be a daytime sleep PR for me. But again sick sleep doesn't count.
Not sure yet what the next 4 week cycle will look like now. I'm guessing at least a week, maybe 2 will be building back up from being sick.
Now both the kids are sick. Hopefully Amber doesn't get sick. Or I pick up another bug before getting healthy. There has been a pretty nasty bug going around at work & Mia's school has strep going around.I need a bubble.
On a positive note being sick has kept me off coffee. Not a drop since last Friday. Plus I've been sleeping tons. Though sick sleep doesn't really count. I am up 16.5 hrs in SleepBot. Highest I've seen since starting using the app. I slept over 9 hrs today. That has to be a daytime sleep PR for me. But again sick sleep doesn't count.
Not sure yet what the next 4 week cycle will look like now. I'm guessing at least a week, maybe 2 will be building back up from being sick.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Today's run worried me a bit
Todays run was a little too easy. Easy in it was too effortless. I even mentioned to Amber when I got home that maybe last week had not been hard enough. I’m too fresh for being 4 days into week 4 of a 4 week training cycle. I should be tired & ready for a rest, not cruising sub 7 min miles like they are nothing.
Looking at my Garmin file is even more interesting. I had to stop for traffic just shy of half way into my run. In 5 secs my HR dropped 15 beats. Yes this is a good thing but it makes me wonder if the extra rest the last two weeks was too much rest. Oh well there is nothing I can do about it now except enjoy it while I can.
Next week is a recovery week then another 4 week cycle of training. Less volume, more intensity & cross training. Still don’t know what I training for besides just training. But like they say racing gets in the way of training anyway. I work the last for days of this recovery week, not optimal. Optimal would be work the 1 st 4 days then off the rest of the week. That way I can focus on my sleep during my work days and start ramping up to training again when I’m off. Oh well got to work with what you have. I am going to schedule a trip to the chiro for a tune up & a massage. I have a few niggles I need to try & get rid of.
I just got done reading Running With the Buffaloes. Been meaning to read it for years but never got around to it. It is about CU’s 1998 cross season. So some of the Seniors names are familiar to me since they were Freshman my Senior year of college. It’s a good book but makes you wonder about the system CU used then. They ended ’98 with a lot of broken runners. But college running is like that. You either get stronger or broken not much middle ground.
Looking at my Garmin file is even more interesting. I had to stop for traffic just shy of half way into my run. In 5 secs my HR dropped 15 beats. Yes this is a good thing but it makes me wonder if the extra rest the last two weeks was too much rest. Oh well there is nothing I can do about it now except enjoy it while I can.
Next week is a recovery week then another 4 week cycle of training. Less volume, more intensity & cross training. Still don’t know what I training for besides just training. But like they say racing gets in the way of training anyway. I work the last for days of this recovery week, not optimal. Optimal would be work the 1 st 4 days then off the rest of the week. That way I can focus on my sleep during my work days and start ramping up to training again when I’m off. Oh well got to work with what you have. I am going to schedule a trip to the chiro for a tune up & a massage. I have a few niggles I need to try & get rid of.
I just got done reading Running With the Buffaloes. Been meaning to read it for years but never got around to it. It is about CU’s 1998 cross season. So some of the Seniors names are familiar to me since they were Freshman my Senior year of college. It’s a good book but makes you wonder about the system CU used then. They ended ’98 with a lot of broken runners. But college running is like that. You either get stronger or broken not much middle ground.
Friday, April 22, 2011
The weather is killing me
Have managed to get in two quality days of running. Hopefully I can keep up the good runs going into the duathalon series. I do need to get in a 5K pretty quick to see where I'm at. Next weekend I'm planning on hitting one & see if I've been making any progress.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday Update
Its been awhile since I've posted so I figure I'd better update. Last week took a rest week after two straight weekends of MTB racing. My body took a beating as well as my Kona. Getting old is not conducive to MTB racing.
I also started my new job last week. Well Kinda of. Part of my severance stipulation was I had to work three days @ the old place & two @ the new. This week it was the reverse; two @ the new & two @ the old. I got a free pass thanks to the holiday so all ties are now done with the old defunct company(I hope). I'll be making less money but the commute is a little shorter & the place is climate controlled & fairly clean. A real selling point bonus for a guy in maintenance. It's nice not to have to dress in all my Carhartt's to stay warm & it will be even nicer not to sweat my ass off all summer.
I got the first mow of the season in last Monday. It has begun my seasonal fight with the weed whacker. Technically I didn't weed whack last week but if history shows anything I'll have to fight the weed whacker all season. To make things even more interesting I'm going to put out a garden this year too. Hopefully the last freeze is done & I'll get it going this Saturday. Just what I need more yard work. Yeah! Actually I'm pretty excited about fresh home grown veggies.
Training: A recovery week means FTP test this week. Got that out of the way on Tuesday. One whole watt increase. I know massive but a watt is a watt. Wanted to get in a nice ride today but the weather isn't going to cooperate so it looks like more trainer time. No racing this week. Next week hopefully will be another MTB race in Neosho @ the Tour de Tick. Then another week or two off & off to the Syllamo Revenge. A 50 mile MTB race isn't too bright but I got given a free entry so its hard to turn down. Plus I already got my first stupid move of the year out by racing in the mud & snow two weeks ago so its open season on stupid Scott tricks.
I also started my new job last week. Well Kinda of. Part of my severance stipulation was I had to work three days @ the old place & two @ the new. This week it was the reverse; two @ the new & two @ the old. I got a free pass thanks to the holiday so all ties are now done with the old defunct company(I hope). I'll be making less money but the commute is a little shorter & the place is climate controlled & fairly clean. A real selling point bonus for a guy in maintenance. It's nice not to have to dress in all my Carhartt's to stay warm & it will be even nicer not to sweat my ass off all summer.
I got the first mow of the season in last Monday. It has begun my seasonal fight with the weed whacker. Technically I didn't weed whack last week but if history shows anything I'll have to fight the weed whacker all season. To make things even more interesting I'm going to put out a garden this year too. Hopefully the last freeze is done & I'll get it going this Saturday. Just what I need more yard work. Yeah! Actually I'm pretty excited about fresh home grown veggies.
Training: A recovery week means FTP test this week. Got that out of the way on Tuesday. One whole watt increase. I know massive but a watt is a watt. Wanted to get in a nice ride today but the weather isn't going to cooperate so it looks like more trainer time. No racing this week. Next week hopefully will be another MTB race in Neosho @ the Tour de Tick. Then another week or two off & off to the Syllamo Revenge. A 50 mile MTB race isn't too bright but I got given a free entry so its hard to turn down. Plus I already got my first stupid move of the year out by racing in the mud & snow two weeks ago so its open season on stupid Scott tricks.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
With this wind it must be Kansas?
Holy Crap I thought the SPR had been picked up & plopped down in Kansas. 20-25mph winds with gusts to 35+. Normal everyday winds for KS, suckfest for me. I did use the block headwind from the West to get in a 20 min FTP test, identical to the ramp test results(actually thought it might be lower). No wonder Tilford is so damn strong after fighting winds like that for 90 years.
Good ride all in all except for the 45 minutes or so when the sun went into hiding & I would have killed for my vest or a section of newspaper(your not wicked old school if you have to ask what its for). Halltown, Lawrenceburg, BFE dirt road near Comet to make TK happy. Actually the dirt road was the highlight of the ride. Ripping downhill with a tail wind on 23's equals big shit eating grin. Then over to Phenix, down to just east of Ash Grove, to Center(wind damage to the church), back side of Bois D'Arc via Mountain Lion Conservation Area, then Elwood & home. All that for 107 kilometers, wind made it seem farther. Actually topped out not far from the southern arm of Stockton lake. Never ridden all the way up to it might have to do that in the near future.
Good ride all in all except for the 45 minutes or so when the sun went into hiding & I would have killed for my vest or a section of newspaper(your not wicked old school if you have to ask what its for). Halltown, Lawrenceburg, BFE dirt road near Comet to make TK happy. Actually the dirt road was the highlight of the ride. Ripping downhill with a tail wind on 23's equals big shit eating grin. Then over to Phenix, down to just east of Ash Grove, to Center(wind damage to the church), back side of Bois D'Arc via Mountain Lion Conservation Area, then Elwood & home. All that for 107 kilometers, wind made it seem farther. Actually topped out not far from the southern arm of Stockton lake. Never ridden all the way up to it might have to do that in the near future.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
WTF! IHTW
I got off work early Friday so went out to enjoy the sun before picking up Mia. I knew I should have tacked on another hour or two since I woke to snow this am. Supposed to hit the dirt roads of Polk county this AM but looks like a slight postponement might be in order.
Friday 1:30pm
Saturday 7:00am. I Hate The Weather!
I think it might be time to retire my Sidi Dominators circa 1994. With a new pair of Sidi Dragons circa 2009. Though I think Amber may flinch at the $500 price tag. If I get the same life out of them it works out to $33 a year. Not too bad.
We're kid-less this weekend to go to the Pub Crawl to help the Ding Dong the sister in law celebrate her 21st. Actually it was Thursday & I think shes still hung over. LOL to be 21.
Friday 1:30pm
Saturday 7:00am. I Hate The Weather!
I think it might be time to retire my Sidi Dominators circa 1994. With a new pair of Sidi Dragons circa 2009. Though I think Amber may flinch at the $500 price tag. If I get the same life out of them it works out to $33 a year. Not too bad.
We're kid-less this weekend to go to the Pub Crawl to help the Ding Dong the sister in law celebrate her 21st. Actually it was Thursday & I think shes still hung over. LOL to be 21.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Sunday part 2
Had a hard tempo day on tap for the day's ride. Put the Kenda Kwik 700x30C for some Frisco Trail Wattage time. Soft conditions, a strong wind & a rear tire that was going soft(found this out when I about stack it in a turn) saw me go mushroom cloud at the end. I'm now averaging about a flat a week for 2009.
Wish I could have seen the wall of water that deposited the limbs up there. That's about 10 feet of the water surface.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Pics
Warm enough in February for shorts? No razor rule in the winter is in effect regardless of global warming.
Another North Side long carless farm road. Smooth as butter pavement.
Halltown to Center
Season one TIAA-CREF hat today.
NRA hot spot.
I'll be shocked if this thing ever floats.
Dogs still love me.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Flight of the Phenix
Another descent day so rolled out for a few hours before the SuperBowl. Decided the Phenix loop would be a good ride today.
Rocking the Team USA hat in honor of World's Day. Also Sporting the Ear Grips. Very nice to keep your ear holes warm & cuts down on wind noise for the ear buds.
Phenix Quarry
A lot of frozen water in a big ass hole.
The beauty of living on the North side of the SPR is the solitude of kilometers & kilometers of empty smooth farm roads. Rolled the last few kilometers with Ken Norton. He was out for a solo training ride. He's pretty psyched about his Jr. Team. Not so psyched about his long list of injuries he suffered last season.
Rocking the Team USA hat in honor of World's Day. Also Sporting the Ear Grips. Very nice to keep your ear holes warm & cuts down on wind noise for the ear buds.
Phenix Quarry
A lot of frozen water in a big ass hole.
The beauty of living on the North side of the SPR is the solitude of kilometers & kilometers of empty smooth farm roads. Rolled the last few kilometers with Ken Norton. He was out for a solo training ride. He's pretty psyched about his Jr. Team. Not so psyched about his long list of injuries he suffered last season.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Knobbies
I finally broke down & pulled the semi slicks off the MTB & put on some real knobbies. Thanks to a "flextime" like system I was able to bail early Thursday to get in some dirt/mud time in just shorts & a jersey in January!!
Sometimes you have to like Global Warming.
It wouldn't be a ride @ Sac without a flat. Took about 45 minutes. Sections are pretty muddy so its easy to pick up the beloved thorn.
After a good couple of hours. Its a start on my build up to the Bone Bender. Hopefully I can get on the MTB once or twice a week before March. I guess trail conditions will dictate that.
The knobbies(we'll call them that for now since I have several sets to try before determining what I'll stick with)worked pretty good. Great for the dry loose conditions, but sucked in the mud. Clogged too easily. Its been a long time since I've been on a really good MTB & the Kona is F.U.N.! to ride. I would bet in a short track it would be incredible, though way to fast for me. I need to sit down with the R7 manual & learn a little more about it to get it dialed better. I bottomed it out a few too many times. Just my current lack of knowledge on "modern" MTB technology.
Mia is at Nanny & Granddad's house this weekend so its a mommy & daddy weekend! Plus I get a chance to hang out with my two wheel BFF(Amber's word's).
Sometimes you have to like Global Warming.
It wouldn't be a ride @ Sac without a flat. Took about 45 minutes. Sections are pretty muddy so its easy to pick up the beloved thorn.
After a good couple of hours. Its a start on my build up to the Bone Bender. Hopefully I can get on the MTB once or twice a week before March. I guess trail conditions will dictate that.
The knobbies(we'll call them that for now since I have several sets to try before determining what I'll stick with)worked pretty good. Great for the dry loose conditions, but sucked in the mud. Clogged too easily. Its been a long time since I've been on a really good MTB & the Kona is F.U.N.! to ride. I would bet in a short track it would be incredible, though way to fast for me. I need to sit down with the R7 manual & learn a little more about it to get it dialed better. I bottomed it out a few too many times. Just my current lack of knowledge on "modern" MTB technology.
Mia is at Nanny & Granddad's house this weekend so its a mommy & daddy weekend! Plus I get a chance to hang out with my two wheel BFF(Amber's word's).
Monday, August 11, 2008
40 days till CX season
Went to KC for a 3 day training camp with my Slimen team mate Kyle. Consistent boner moves got me 14th, 17th, 17th. Friday was a great course, super technical, my kind of crit course. I muffed up the sprint a bit but got complimented on my cornering after the race. Pure cross skills & the ability to turn off your brain.
Saturday was epic! Rain, mud, slick roads, switchbacks, power climbs. Pure cross. I was pretty stoked that cross came a little early. Set myself up perfect in 10th just before the climb. Got swarmed @ the turn before the climb. panicked a little & tried to compensate by going up in my big ring. Boner move on my behalf, very cat 5. 
Sunday went ok, not really a course for me @ this time in my season when everyone else has been killing it in crits all season & I'm just in my April. I was bridging up to the break that stayed away. Saw that me & the guy I was trying to bridge with were being caught so sat up thinking the break would be caught too. Nope been there, done that should have known better than to sit up before actually being caught. Should have kept drilling it & caught the break. Another boner move. Did feel fine all day after 3 days of racing. The numbers showed 23x over 950watts, with 9 of those being over a 1000 watts. Not too shabby for a skinny old man after 3 days of racing.
Emitted for content
Saturday was epic! Rain, mud, slick roads, switchbacks, power climbs. Pure cross. I was pretty stoked that cross came a little early. Set myself up perfect in 10th just before the climb. Got swarmed @ the turn before the climb. panicked a little & tried to compensate by going up in my big ring. Boner move on my behalf, very cat 5. 
Sunday went ok, not really a course for me @ this time in my season when everyone else has been killing it in crits all season & I'm just in my April. I was bridging up to the break that stayed away. Saw that me & the guy I was trying to bridge with were being caught so sat up thinking the break would be caught too. Nope been there, done that should have known better than to sit up before actually being caught. Should have kept drilling it & caught the break. Another boner move. Did feel fine all day after 3 days of racing. The numbers showed 23x over 950watts, with 9 of those being over a 1000 watts. Not too shabby for a skinny old man after 3 days of racing.Emitted for content
Friday, June 06, 2008
Another anniversery of sorts
2 years ago was the day that change my anatomy forever. oh well shit happens.
On to bigger things. Didn't ride into work this AM. It didn't take much to change my mind but the 40 mph winds & following deluge were enough incentive to go back to bed for an hour. Last night the winds were 30-40 mph sustained. Totally wrecked me. The last 8k of my commute went straight into the wind. I was pedaling my ass off & only going 14kph. Crazy! I did have a cross to tail wind @ one point for quite awhile. I thought I had set a 5min PR but just fell short. I'm discovering that two a days messes with your Perceived Exertion. I think I'm nailing it & really I'm just futzing along. The tiredness in the legs sneaks up & fools you. My commute in the other morning I thought I had put in a pretty good effort only to discover my average heart rate was 116. I'll write that one off as a recovery ride. All things considered I'm starting to like getting my training in by commuting. You rack up the kilometers & if your careful you can get the intensity in too. Now I just have to commute in on the internet junk a few times before I have to race it. The hills by Fantastic Caverns will be a ball on that over geared lead weight.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
click, click, click
The Excalibur has been making a clicking noise that has all but drove me out of my mind. If it wasn't for the Inno I would have lost my mind a few weeks ago. I've pulled the pedals, changed the saddle, adjusted bolts, pulled the BB, tightened crank bolts, & just about everything imaginable to get the annoyance gone but all to no avail. Then one day riding home from work a light bulb came on. What if the noise was the seat post flexing inside the frame? So taking some of my own advice I hacked off the excess & crossed my fingers. Guess what? No more annoying click, click!!!
How freaking Pro is this??
Now the Excalibur is sporting a Scottish flag as will all my other bikes.
How freaking Pro is this??
Now the Excalibur is sporting a Scottish flag as will all my other bikes.Tulsa Tough is just around the corner. It was the last race I did before I broke my collarbone. I think its fitting it will be my first road race back; the Joey @ State crit in '06 doesn't count since I was still hurt. It'll also be the first time sporting the Slimen kit. I'll be going into it with a heavy commuting load but having not raced since Nationals its time to feel the burn again.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Bike Fit
Some of you have heard me talking about my "56 cm CX' bike that isn't a 56. Turns out it's a 54 cm. No big deal they say down size for CX anyway. What frustrated me was how much effort I put into trying to make my pit bike match my race bike. The measurements are close but not exact. I keep tweaking so by Nationals I might have them dialed. I did stumble on this on another site which linked to Park bike fit. A nice article with a chart. Having a bunch of bikes this is going to be handy. I have been tossing the idea around of making a jig to simplify matters for myself. I hear Eddy Merckx had one.
Need a trailer? I hear they are great for parties.
Hope Green Beans is alright. He attacked a car & lost.
This is my recovery week, thank God! Not been on the bike or my feet for that matter since Saturday. I suppose I'll get out today for an easy spin on the SS'er. I've been riding it at least once a week. This winter I plan on getting in quite a few Kilometers on it. I even have a Fixie conversion planned for it. It will be Uber Ghetto so I'll share it when done.
Next Thursday is the 13Th Annual Turkey Trot 5k. This year will be my 6Th year in a row. It's become quite the outing for my family. My whole family including in-laws do it now. I was going to try & break my personnel best Turkey Trot(17:29 in 2003). But Jingle Cross is 2 days later so I'll just float it & try & break 20 min. I'm less than 30 days from Nationals so need to focus on the bike not the run.
Need a trailer? I hear they are great for parties.
Hope Green Beans is alright. He attacked a car & lost.
This is my recovery week, thank God! Not been on the bike or my feet for that matter since Saturday. I suppose I'll get out today for an easy spin on the SS'er. I've been riding it at least once a week. This winter I plan on getting in quite a few Kilometers on it. I even have a Fixie conversion planned for it. It will be Uber Ghetto so I'll share it when done.
Next Thursday is the 13Th Annual Turkey Trot 5k. This year will be my 6Th year in a row. It's become quite the outing for my family. My whole family including in-laws do it now. I was going to try & break my personnel best Turkey Trot(17:29 in 2003). But Jingle Cross is 2 days later so I'll just float it & try & break 20 min. I'm less than 30 days from Nationals so need to focus on the bike not the run.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Training what not
I had a pretty good week of training even though it was only 3 days this week. Hard to sandwich recovery & rest in with intervals. I took the obligatory day off on Monday to lick my wounds from my beating on Sunday. Tuesday was so damn windy I decided I need consistency in my intervals. To get it I broke out the wind trainer & the 2006-2007 World Cross Championships. The wind trainer is BORING but you can be consistent. Wednesday I broke out the practice barriers.
I threw this on & rode over to the local park.
Once set up(a pair) I did 3 10 minute efforts @ around 80% making sure I went over the barriers @ least twice a minute. Harder than it sounds when you throw in tall grass for drag. Thursday I broke out the knickers & braved the wind for some endurance training. In an attempt to save my legs a little for this weekend I even skipped my run. This weekend is the first of back to back double doubles. Two races a day for two straight days. It will either kill me or make me fly. This weekend I plan on "floating" the Masters races & race to train. We'll see how that works out after the gun goes off.
I've been negligent in posting Mia pics. These are from last week. With the mild temps we got out & played with the dogs. No outside time this week with the weather & Mia starting to get a cold.
"Playing" ball with the dogs. More like keep away from Mia.
I distracted the dogs so she could get the ball.
This is from the storm last week that produced the tornado's North of town. We could see the wall cloud blow by our house. Cool to watch but bad for the people it passed over. Did anyone get to see the Space Shuttle pass over Tuesday night? You could make out the wings with powerful binoculars.
I was reading an article the other day that got me to worrying about my protein in take. It said for my weight & activity I should be getting almost 135 grams of protein a day. I added my intake up & its only around 100 grams. Going to do some more research before I bump up another 30+ grams. 135 seems like a hell of a lot.
Lots to do today to get ready for this weekend. Sounds like I'll have some company on Sunday but not on Saturday. TM if you promise not to beat me in the 3's on Sunday I'll loan you a set of TUFOS so you don't have to worry about getting a flat.
I threw this on & rode over to the local park.
Once set up(a pair) I did 3 10 minute efforts @ around 80% making sure I went over the barriers @ least twice a minute. Harder than it sounds when you throw in tall grass for drag. Thursday I broke out the knickers & braved the wind for some endurance training. In an attempt to save my legs a little for this weekend I even skipped my run. This weekend is the first of back to back double doubles. Two races a day for two straight days. It will either kill me or make me fly. This weekend I plan on "floating" the Masters races & race to train. We'll see how that works out after the gun goes off.
I've been negligent in posting Mia pics. These are from last week. With the mild temps we got out & played with the dogs. No outside time this week with the weather & Mia starting to get a cold.
"Playing" ball with the dogs. More like keep away from Mia.
I distracted the dogs so she could get the ball.
This is from the storm last week that produced the tornado's North of town. We could see the wall cloud blow by our house. Cool to watch but bad for the people it passed over. Did anyone get to see the Space Shuttle pass over Tuesday night? You could make out the wings with powerful binoculars.I was reading an article the other day that got me to worrying about my protein in take. It said for my weight & activity I should be getting almost 135 grams of protein a day. I added my intake up & its only around 100 grams. Going to do some more research before I bump up another 30+ grams. 135 seems like a hell of a lot.
Lots to do today to get ready for this weekend. Sounds like I'll have some company on Sunday but not on Saturday. TM if you promise not to beat me in the 3's on Sunday I'll loan you a set of TUFOS so you don't have to worry about getting a flat.
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