Rest Day?

I think it is time for one?

Rides:4 Consecutive Days
Avg. AHR: 126.5
Avg. Time:01:37:17
Total Time:06:29:11
Avg. Speed:17.2 MPH
Avg. Dist.:27.9 Mi
Total Dist.:111.6 Mi
Total Cal. Burned:5343

I have done more mileage then this in consecutive days, but it's the effort that counts. I did intervals, an all out ball busting rain ride (18.8 mph avg in the rain and wind), some roller repeats, and a long recovery ride. Over 6 hours and 100 miles logged this Memorial Day Weekend. Not to shabby for an amature. That is all.

RAIN Ride........

no, not the 160 miles, one way, one day, ride across Indiana that I am doing for a second time this coming July. BUT, I rode in the rain yesterday. In fact by the time I finished there was a full blown Tornado Warning in effect. I am hardcore?!@!?

Now, I am up at 5:30am with the hope of riding. NOT. It's a total rain fest. The family plans really only allow me this time, but the weather, as it was forecasted, is being a bummer. I am so bummed I think I will just stay up and stare out the window....................Later.

Something Different......

INTERVALS!! I have a significant HILLY ride coming up in mid June. I am talking about over 12,000 feet of climbing and 124 miles. I live and mainly ride in a giant corn field. This makes hill training difficult. Or is that impossible.

So, I feel like I have a decent cycling base built up and decided to try some intervals this morning. This is new to me, but I went for ONE minute all out efforts followed by THREE minutes of ride recovery REPEATED Five times. The route was flat with little wind.

INTERVALS = (1 min all out with 3 min recovery) x 5.

Warm Up=13:41 / 3.75mi

1= .43mi 25.8mph 162/197 HR
2= .47mi 28.2mph 146/174
3= .39mi 23.6mph 146/161
4= .44mi 26.5mph 152/170
5= .43mi 25.7mph 156/170

cool down/home=34:27 / 9.21mi

total ride was 19.47 miles in 1:07:52.

Some thoughts.....I need more warm up time and less cool down time. My HR numbers show that on efforts 2 thru 5 I had more to give. I hit a new max HR at 197 bpm. It really hurt and for at least a minute at a time I can be pretty fast.

That is all. Later.

Eddie Vedder.............

Treat Please!
Originally uploaded by aham23.

the dog, still loves me! I was surfing my Flickr account and came across this picture. What a great dog! Later.

All that complaining...............

.....and I end up logging two very solid cycling efforts this weekend. It was two rides for 79.28 miles with a 17.8 mph average. Not to pat myself on the back, but for May these are some very nice looking numbers.

How was your weekend?

Later.

NoMansLand..........

is where I seem to be stuck. I can't totally find my cycling legs and form. After yesterday's 5 mile run I realized I have totally lost my running legs and form. I am not running enough to maintain form, but just enough to mess with my cycling. What is a wannabe amature endurance geek to do?

Ride and Run More?!@?!

Later.

Finding My Legs......

or cheating the wind? Could be a combination of the two? Anyway, last weekends Century really was a toughie for me (see below). Add in the fact that I slightly tweaked my back doing some post ride stretching and it took me most of the week to recover. I only managed one run, but hey I was trying to listen to my body and take it easy.


It was NOT until Thursday, after a 30 miler, that things started to feel better. It was an easy effort where I just wanted to spin the legs and loosen things up. It worked. I had two great early morning rides this weekend and everything seems back on track. In fact, the legs were real good and produced 70 miles with 18 mph & 17 mph averages. The plan for next week is to log a few more runs.

I have to share a couple of pictures of my little one. It seems she may be ready for that Pink Giant Tricycle!! Happy Moms day to all the Moms!! Later.

Sufferfest..........

Complete and total SUFFERFEST!! My day was a bit of everything. Some fun, some pain, some wind, some pain, some doubt, some regret, and some pain.

I met up with 6 other BFNIC'ers around 7am at the ride start. It was cold and it was windy and it was only 7am. Part of the attraction for this ride is near the begining you get to do a loop around the Joliet Speedway. Yes, the race track where they run the big Nascar Event! It was cool. With a little help (wind) I took the final turn at 35 mph.

Then at mile 20 we turned East into the wind and I went dead. Yep, mile 20 and I was out the back with no hopes of ever seeing the great BFNIC again. Riding solo into a 20 mph headwind is NOT enjoyable. WAIT! A BFNIC'er flats and I am back in the mix. Yeah for me! :) !

Mile 35ish, after the first rest stop, had us back into the wind. We had seven strong riders all lined up in a tight single file paceline. Problem, it was into the wind and we were rolling at 12 mph.........yikes that hurts. At this point I am back at the end of the group trying to hang on for dear life. I am thinking there is no way these guys let me bail on them, but I just might have too. I may have to opt for the 5o mile option, the SAG wagon, or even worse, call the wife to come and get me. I was a mess.

As the route progressed southward we began to get a little break here and there. The crosswind was a toughie, but much better then the headwind. We started to get more tailwinds and the legs started to come out of their coma. At some point a couple of us stopped for a quick potty break and figured with the upcoming tailwind we could catch up. I had some issues though. My bike fell over while I was, uh, going and the seat post turned sideways. I had to fix it and this put me way back off the group. However a 35 mph pace (thanks wind) had me back with the group in no time.

The last 25 miles involved a wrong turn, getting dropped while spinning at 23 mph, and putting an attack in at mile 95 on the MUP. It's just how I roll.

The edge says it was 102.9 miles & a 16 mph avg with a 35 mph max. The winds were blowing at 17 mph on average with gust up to 23 mph. It felt stronger. See all the stats by clicking the link below.

Sudden SufferFest

The ride leaves me with questions; Why did I pop at mile 20? How did I manage to hang in there and actually finish strong? Why do I love the suffering?

Later.

Spinning........

This week was a toughie at work. In fact, work seems like it will be a toughie for me for a while. Good think cycling season is about to blast off!!!

Only two runs this week for 10 miles. The legs have been feeling tired. Plus, I have this weird left knee and leg pain thing going on???? With a 100 mile bike ride slated for Sunday, yes tomorrow, I thought it was best to tone it down a bit.

I went out for a nice 25 miler today and tried to spin the legs loose. I think I did and I think it helped. The ride tomorrow is the Joliet Sudden Century. It will be a lovely 100 mile ride on mostly flat country roads. With a projected WINDY Day of 20 mph ESE wnds my NINTH ride should result in massive suffering. I can't wait.

Later.