that ride...

every year there is always one ride where it all seems to come together. you know, the weather conditions, the mind, the body, and the bike all just click together. i am not looking to prematurely end my season, but Saturday's ride was that ride.

i decided to be crazy, get up at 4:50 am, and head up North for the Spin Doctor's Saturday group ride. this is a well established club known for serious riding with speed. ColorChange, from BikeForums, is a memeber and does this ride every week. i was also meeting up with Psimet for the ride AND to pick up the my long awaited new wheel set.

i was out the door at 5:20 am and arrived at my destination in S. Elgin just prior to the stated 6:15 am roll out. the group was smaller (7 or 8 total) then i anticipated with Psimet and I being the only non members. we rolled out at 6:20 am.

i was told this ride is fast. a club training ride is a bit different then a normal Saturday stroll in the park. it is a bit hardcore with pacelines, designated sprints, attacking, bridging gaps, and so on. i was a bit nervous at first as i am a notorious slow starter. i held my on the first 20 miles. i took some pulls, short ones, but i did my part. i didn't want to blow up......too early.

around mile 18 we took a quick natural break. at this point they were stating that this was the fastest first leg they had done all year. interesting i thought. the two new guys must be doing something right.

after the stop the effort picked up. there was a designated sprint that i took no part in. i was not aware it was coming which left me positioned too far back. the next pull i took put me in a little pain. i pulled too long. in fact, just as i was getting ready to move over and back, the group flew around me on the left. lesson learned for me. get your arse off the front before blowing up.

i should note that during the second leg i had a brush with a motorist. i was left of the paceline working my way to the back after a pull. instantaneously, i hear car back and bet buzzed by a Mustang. he was flying down the road close to 50 or 60 mph. everyone else was pretty pissed about this. it was close, but it was so fast that it didn't really shake me up. later Psimet stated he thought he was going to have to make a call to my wife and that the driver actually swerved toward me.

back to that ride. i ended the ride strong. i was able to chase down a few attacks, grab a wheel or two of some attackers, and finish the ride out front with one other rider. i didn't have superhuman legs and the effort hurt like heck at times, but i rode well. plus, i had a ton-o- fun riding with this group. i even think i got yelled at?!?@!

as i rolled back into town with the attacker (my just made up nickname for him) he stated we were at 22.3 mph average for the ride. the fastest they had done that ride all year. the two new guys did indeed hold there own. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

Final Stats show it was a very zesty effort for 50 miles at a 22 mph average pace.

lately i have been a mileage whore. i hit the wall at the end of July chasing 700 miles. i turned myself inside out getting that very number in August. it is very satisfying to see the benefits of those miles and efforts. for a bit there i was just stuck in the mud.

later.

done.

i am about to pop open some beers. i expect a congratulatory phone call from Pat any minute now. later.

im not saying. im just saying.

i once dreamed of being granted membership into a certain club. i thought my acceptance into the club was a stone cold lock, a done deal, a sure freaking thing. then something took place. something smacked me in the pie hole.

since the smack down i have not spoken of these events or the club. i have ridden 674.8 miles to date in the month of August. tomorrow is the last day of August. i plan to ride my bike tomorrow. i am not sure, but maybe 25.2 miles sounds good.

that is all.

i said stop me....

i love cake. next, i love ice cream. after that it is pizza.

this past weekend was the princess party for my little princess who turned three. we had, well, princesses, gourmet cake, and pizza. as usual, someone (pointing the finger at my lovely wife) ordered way too much. we had leftovers galore, cake and pizza, not princesses.

as a group cyclist and runners are some fit folks. when compared to the general public here in the States we are down right skinny, healthy, sexy people. you know it's true. as a group we are also a bit odd. it doesn't take much to make me feel like a fatty patty. it could be two days off, a night of binge drinking, a visit to Taco Bell, and so on.

where was i? oh yes, cake and pizza. for three days straight i have eaten pizza and cake for every meal. EVERY meal i said. it had to stop. so, last night i tossed out the remainder of the pizza, which was about 1/3 of a large. i took care of the last pieces of cake too. alright, i ate the rest of the cake. did you see the cake? think of the best damn wedding cake you have ever had and times that by 10. plus, it was like $80 bucks, you can't just throw it away.

next year we need ice cream to go with the cake.

later.

somebody stop me...

i love cake.

that's gonna leave a mark....

Dairyland Dare, the numbers.

8:23 ride time / 9:38 total time.

131 miles

15.6 mph avg - 51 mph max

134 avg HR - 172 max HR

Dairlyand Dare, the stories.

**edit: finished 14 out of 63 riders who completed the 200k (and then some) route. with a little hill specific training and shorter rest stops i could be a pretty good climber. :) later.

Double Ds

the Dairyland Dare is this Saturday. this is my first time doing this ride. i have done hilly rides before; the 2007 HHH (200k & 12000 feet of climbing) and a couple trips to Cross Plains, WI this season (62 miles & 6000 feet of climbing), but saying "before" is the problem.

the DD 200k is advertised to bring 133 miles and 14,988 feet of climbing. it is suppose to be relentless. short and steep all day long. nothing of significant length, but did i mention short and steep. i am guessing 10% to 15% inclines will be slapping me in the face all day.

the thing is i have not done any hill training or hilly ride of significance since June 29th. my area is flatter then flat. corn field flat. sod growing flat. flat as the rear tire on my last ride flat.

i am in trouble. it will hurt for sure.

that being said there are still open spots for this ride. get over to the DD site, register, and get your butt to Dodgeville, WI for some fun with the BFNIC gang. fun being left open to interpretation of course.

later.

the hurt box....

a couple weeks ago Psimet asked me if i would be interested in a bit of racing. not the hardcore Criterium style, but a 50K 2 man time trial. the BFNIC has the racing bug for sure. a lot of the group can be found hammering out 20 mph midweek rides or 25 mph crits on the weekend. feeling a need to change things up i said for sure.

a 50K all effort is no joke. even with a partner it was still 31 miles of serious suffering. you don't get to ease into this kind of effort. it's go go go go go go go from the start. i knew this going in and was mentally prepared for it. physically, the legs were not as fresh as they could have been. i rode 38 rolling miles on Saturday around the Starved Rock State Park area. plus, i have been battling some dead legs lately. so, i knew i needed to get things warmed up before toeing the line.

our start time was 9:21 and guess what, i didn't get warmed up enough. the course was a 15 mile loop. it was an instant struggle for me. i found it hard to hold Psimet's wheel. i wasn't far off it, but i needed to be inches from it since he was in full TT gear/setup and i was rolling my normal roadie gear/setup. the legs were screaming at me; "Why didn't you warm us up!!!!" i hit my max heart rate of 183 bpm at mile five!!

Psimet was strong. he instantly took to tracking our pulls and barking out at 1 minute intervals to rotate. i knew he would do this and it was a solid plan. i felt a bit bad that first loop. a couple times i dropped off his wheel. he would finish his pull and look for me to take my turn. having to close that small gap to take my pull cost us time. add in the fact that i was surging to the front and we had a bit of a yo yo effect going on that made it hard for us to find a rhythm.

the more and more i ride i realize that i may be a better distance rider then speed demon. as we started lap 2 i felt better. the legs were still burning, but i was able to hold the wheel and take better pulls.

that last lap was fun. we suffered into the wind and up some rollers heading back West. prior to making the last right turn for the final 3 miles i was hurting real good. i was planning to pull off and let Psimet power us in. however, we made that turn and what did i see???? four riders up ahead. it was the dangling carrot. i didn't stop pulling until we chased them down. Psimet then took the lead and powered us home. i fell about 2 bike lengths off his wheel, but was standing, sprinting, and giving it what i had left.

we don't have the official times yet, but Garmin had me at 1 hr 23 minutes, 22.3 average mph, and a 167 average heart rate. i think this is my fastest ride and highest average HR to date. even on hard efforts i rarely spend prolonged time in Zone 4 (80%-90%), but i was in that zone for 27 miles of this ride. no wonder it hurt so good.

so, i have raced this season. next up is the Dairyland Dare 200k and 12,000 feet of climbing. different kind of ride, but same hurt box. good times.

Race Stats

later.

652 Club....

or not. after running my mouth about knocking out 700 cycling miles for July i hit the wall. not the wall, just something more like a knee wall. mentally and physically i am tired. it is an odd tired though. doesn't feel like the late season cycling burnout.

i just cant party like it's 1999.

with four off days behind me i still aint right, but better. i can feel the IT Band trying to sneak up and bite me. damn you 2007 Chicago Marathon! i see more stretching and a new foam roller in my future.

all the crying aside, i will be back on the bike today, tomorrow and the next. it is what i do when i can do it.

July Rides: 15
Avg. AHR: 128.7
Total Time: 35:43:08
Avg. Speed: 18.3 MPH
Total Distance: 651.9 Mi
Total Cal. Burned: 32110

later.

21 or 35 ?

ouch. that one is going to leave a mark. two days later and i think i may still be slightly drunk??

another summer and another Jimmy Buffett Concert has come and gone. it was a new venue this year, Toyota Park in Bridgeview. nice stadium park, but i much prefer the tailgating and lawn section at the old WhatEverItsBeingCalledNow Amphithere in Tinley Park.

they really had them packed in like canned sardines.

the concert was, well, Jimmy Buffett. he did his thing and we did our thing. he tossed a nugget or two, with playing Last Mango in Paris being the best.

this year i think i went a little to far. i would like to offer up my official apology to any and all that my drunken actions offended.

aham23 is sorry.

sorry to you, mr coconut bra man for asking your manbra size. sorry to you mrs school teacher grass skirt wearing lady for suggesting we get drunk and screw. i am not 21 anymore, that is for sure.

finally, i am on day two of a planned 4 day break. the JB Induced Coma and some nagging aches and pain are really dragging me down.

later.

wasted away again...

my speak of such an excellent cycling month has seemingly upset the cycling Gods. no, not Lance Armstrong, but the ones who control the cycling universe. they dish out pain & suffering. they keep a roadie in his place.

i have been dragging some serious arse the last two days. i know, TWO DAYS, can you believe it. normally i have to be tied up, drugged and taken on a forced vacation to see two consecutive off days. the 700 Club and title of July Mileage Whore may have to wait???

plus, i got some other things going on this weekend. it is that time of summer again. first, it is my 10 year anniversary. i love you baby!!

let's get drunk and screw!

you guessed it.....it is that wonderful time of the year when Jimmy Buffett makes his return to the Chicago Area. someone i know is a big fan and we go every summer. sometimes we go twice. the party scene at his concert is crazy fun. so, i go and we party like it is 1996 and we are at a Phish Concert.




later.

700 Club

July is shaping up rather nicely for me.

if the family, the weather, the man, and the body cooperate i just may top 700 miles for the month. just may, but you never know.

to date i have 11 rides for 530 miles at a 18.4 mph pace. distance is good, but i need to be faster. want to be faster. must get faster. i like going fast.

later.

A Picture Is Worth............

.....a 130 pounds.

12/31/2005

june 2007

RAIN. the pictures....

happy campers at 6am getting ready to head over to the start.

should the sky be this dark at 7am?

done.

RAIN. the report....

first, much thanks to Team Psimet for guiding us to and from RAIN via the Starship Psimet. Mrs Psi and Little Psi were troopers and provided us excellent SAG. it was much appreciated.

this was my third RAIN. while my mileage was about the same as last year, i think the training & riding efforts have been better, so i was feeling good going into the 160 journey.

we woke up early to some nasty looking skies. very dark with consistent bright flashes of lightning. rain at RAIN....i thought....this should be fun. we arrived at the start early and got a nice spot near the line. eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. with the start of RAIN the rain started.

miles 0-40:

fast & flats. twitchy & itchy. we were rolling with the lead group. riders were flatting left and right. to my right Psimet. to my left it NVR (hey, anyone seen NVR?). shortly after Psimet flatted i decided to drop to the back of the lead pack. despite the conditions (you know, the obvious need to take it easy) riders were all over the road and very impatient. i felt like this could get ugly and wanted none of it. i hung on to the back of the fast pack until mile 25. it was just time to get real and slow it down a bit. this was about the time the rain stopped. the skies remained ominous though. i rolled solo into the 1st stop.

miles 40-60:

we rolled out fully loaded (me, Psi, JT1, Scummer, & Voldemort). the sun was coming out and one could feel the heat & humidity rising. it was going to be very muggy. we pretty much stuck together during this stretch. it was these miles where Psi admitted he was hurting. maybe we shouldn't have rushed him out of the 1st stop :innocent:.

miles 60-90:

rolling into and around Indy we could see a lot of standing water and flooding. we just missed some nasty weather for sure. this section was fun. Scummer power pulled, then went off roading, then more power pulling, then a flat. i rode into lunch slightly ahead of our group. like last year i was really needing the break...........and Oreo cookies.

miles 90-130:

Oreo cookie power. after one samich and 12 Oreo cookies i departed the lunch stop solo. like Psi mentioned this always seem to be the toughest stretch. you pass the 100 mile mark, but realize you have 3 hours to go. the heat and humidity of the day are peaking. it just gets nasty. a couple things kept me going; i hit the century mark at 4 hours 53 minutes, a sub 5 hour 100 & my fastest ever. looking for and dreaming of route 40 kept me going. searching the DMB catalogue in my head for that song Psi & i sang at the rollout, kept me going.

miles 130-160: I can ride my bike with no handlebars. No handlebars. No handlebars.

the pain cave was sucking me in as i rolled into the last rest stop. most of the riders there appeared to be in the same fashion. i didn't stay long. i didn't eat much. i did snag a brown sugar poptart for the car ride home!

i pretty much rode the second half of this ride solo. only getting passed by 2 riders. around 150 i started computer watching. "damn you Garmin Edge, click those freaking miles off already." at mile 158 a lady blew past me on the descent into Richmond. i had passed her group just prior. i thought good for her. no i didn't. i jumped on it and descended into town catching her as she celebrated prematurely. i didn't take the foot off the gas until the turn to the finish line. i got issues.

Eat, drink, and be merry.
For tomorrow we die.
Eat, drink, and be merry.
For tomorrow we die.
'Cause we're Tripping Billies.

my third RAIN was epic. they all have been in some way or the other. from first timer, to perfect conditions, to the pain cave. i will be back next year.

congrats to everyone. way to fight the mind and body Psimet..................AND WIN.

MB Edge Stats

my ride time = 7h 55min for a 20.2 mph avg.
total time was just over 9 hours.

*edit* unofficial slash official RAINride.org time is 9 hours 3 minutes. that puts me 151 out of 911 finishers.

later.

RAIN

one way. one day. 160 miles.

Holiday Resting.....

i think not. time off from work means more time on the bike.

last weekends poor effort up in the hills of Wisconsin had me bumming. then i couldn't get out Wednesday or Thursday for any rides and i was pouting. i started checking stats from last year and this year to date. it seemed i was no better and no worse. flat lined.

on the 4th i did the JBC Metric. a 62 mile ride, but i decided to ride to the ride as it was local. the legs were good. i was at the front and off the front all day. into the wind i was very strong. it was a totally flat and fast ride, but the wind was a bit nasty. i finished the ride faster then last year. just what the doctor ordered.

after 140 miles this weekend (180 this week), late nights & holiday cheer, i am tired. i still need to find a way to change things up and advance my cycling abilities. some fast group rides. more climbing. more time trial type efforts. intervals. racing(?).

one way, one day, 160 miles, is next Saturday. it should be fast and furious.

later.

calm and steady....

after yesterdays 63 miles with 6400 feet of climbing i have decided that my climbing needs more work. trying to follow The Goat on this route of his further drove home the fact.

i was all over the bike on these climbs. wasting way to much energy and effort. i was up. i was down. i was rocking. i was grunting. i was spitting. i was suffering. i was like that muscle guy at your local gym using the free weights while sounding like a heard of elephants. no one wants to work out next to that guy.

it all can be corrected. i will follow and study and practice.

all was not lost on this ride. i did feel strong at the end and i did see a 54 mph max speed on the last descent of the day.

how about some numbers talk? despite being on a love boat quarantine for 13 days i am near 500 miles for the month of June. the sky is the limit for July. this week is the crucial week for me and RAIN. one day, one way, 160 miles is fast approaching.

later.

this is weird...

since the Udder Century, back on 6/1, i have had a small cycling related issue. we shall refer to it as The Issue. it is a small thing, but a thing that could slam the brakes on a season. while i sort of have it under control i have to laugh when i think about what i am now doing and what i have done to fight The Issue.

to date i have applied Balmex, Neosporin, Baby Powder, Destin, Wet Ones , Equate Triple Antibiotic Cream, Chamois Butt'R, & Assos Chamois Creme on and around the area of The Issue. i have never ever been so aware of and paid so much attention to this particular area The Issue calls home. never, ever, ever.....

i have treated The Issue, but only time off will vanish it for ever. this is not in the cards for me. i am also treating what i believe is the cause, old lycra & possible poor fit.

i ain't messing around with the lycra either. out with the shorts and in with bibs. the best of the best, Assos. when it is all said and done i will have two pairs, the Equippe and the top of line F.13 S2. take that Mr The Issue. toss in some lower end every day bibs and i will be lycra short free forever.

as for fit, the only thing i changed over the winter was my saddle height. i jacked it up just a bit. i do not think this is the issue, but may make some small changes in saddle placement. small increments are the key. i really think the culprit is worn out chamois.

i think i had a point here????? oh yeah, this is weird. i thought that as i looked up and into the bathroom mirror while partaking in my new post ride ritual. wipe the area with a wet paper towel, then a Wet One, then stand with legs spread and allow to air dry, then 20 to 30 minutes of stretching and recovery, then a shower with more cleaning of the area, then more standing and drying, then application of cream & baby powder.

don't even get me started on the trimming.

later.

Vacation Action.....

me snorkeling

me swimming with killer stingray

me holding the wall up at 3am the night before debarkation

the end

first night, before even boarding, the in-law love is flowing.

me, on a boat, needing a drink.

pretty please.

oh yeah.

the end

debarkation

To unload, as from a ship or an airplane.


thank gosh almighty.

the love boat captain has returned.

now, where is my freaking bicycle?

how much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

this is the question that must be answered. 15 days off the bike. 15 days i said. at least, the legs should be fresh..............................????

later.

you can just call me......

the Love Boat Captain.

i will miss my bike.

and my super start to superior cycling fitness.

that is all.

later.

Double or Nothing....the pictures

the BFNIC gang ready to roll.

climbing Barlow Road

i am second wheel here. almost to the top and almost dead :)

fudge rounds from the grocery slash craft store never tasted so yum yum.

you see that hill to the right? that is the highest point in Southern Wisconsin, Blue Mound State Park. this is me trudging my way towards it.

the Double or Nothing Weekend has come and gone. however, someone tell my legs that, cause they are barking mad at me.

i think the weekend can best be summed up with numbers.....

Saturday: Double or Nothing Ride. 4:15 am wake up. 6 hours in the car. 4 hours 9 minutes of ride time for 63 miles and 6000 feet of climbing.

Sunday: the Udder Century. 5:00 am wake up. 2 hours 30 minutes in the car. 5 hours 5 minutes of ride time for 100 miles and 3000 feet of climbing. this was a 19.7 mph pace and a personal best ride time for a century. not to mention it was a day after this flat lander busted his butt climbing hills in Wisconsin.

last week i was on the bike for over 14 hours and totalled up 248 miles.

wow, that is a lot for one week. get this though, i loved every minute of it and wish it could have been more. good times man. good times.

later.

i love cycling.

i have this life long friend. he was doing some sprint tris and into mountain biking. late 2004 i got a mountain bike. it was hard. hard on the body. i had no skills, plus i was fat and angry..... i know, you know this, but hang in there.... June 2005 i got a Trek 1000 and got the bug. in 2006 i dropped 70 lbs. i got new the Giant TCR C2 in August 06. i rode over 2500 miles that year.

i thought this was my start. it was not.

last weekend, as we drove back from the Soldier Field 10 mile race, i am talking to my buddy of some 20 plus years about cycling......yes, the life long friend mentioned above.....i am trying to explain why i love riding my bike. i cant really do it in a manner that satisfies me. however, he seems to get it.

now i am trying to figure this out myself and it goes something like this:

me - "I never watched it on TV" .
him - "Sure we did. As kids we met up at my house and watched Lemond all the time."

oh yeah, i would ride my Schwinn Traveller racing bike over to his house to do just that.
i have always been a roadie. he has just been hiding inside me for some 20 years. :)

now you know.

later.

ps: this is Double or Nothing Weekend. 5/31 = 62 very hilly miles in Wisconsin. 6/1 The Udder Century (100 miles). back to back hundos (100k and 100 miles). good times.

finishing leap....

holiday racing....

finally the Midwest gets some Spring time weather. seventy degrees and sun never look sooooo good.

so, i ran a 10 mile race on Saturday. first, let me say the event was 100% outstanding. a must do for all Chicago runners and wannabes (like me). i am a bears fan. running through the tunnel onto the field with the Bears Fight Song playing was something i will never forget.

now, what about my Too Little Too Late training plan? it worked.

i ran this race because my two buddies, who talked me into the 07 Chicago Marathon then backed out, wanted too. don't get me wrong the event was awesome, but i should be in full cycling glory this holiday weekend. NOT taking the entire week off from riding.

my plan was this, ride myself into excellent cardio shape and run two times a week to get the legs/body ready for the pounding. it worked.

i have not had a run over 5 miles in 2008. i have not run more then three times in any one week. heck, i don't think i have ran over 10 miles in any one week this year. i have been riding.

i felt good on race day. we went out at 9 minutes per. at mile 2 one buddy was dropping back. i felt good and stuck with the fast buddy (every group has one). around mile 5 we picked the pace up to 8:30 minutes per. ok, he picked it up, but i was feeling good. i was not sweating profusely or breathing heavy at all (meaning unlike him).

at mile 7 my little buddy and me grabbed some water. unfortunately, his was spiked with instant speedy steroids. he took to the grass to pass a large group of slower runners. i did the same, but he never slowed. i looked down and Mr. Forerunner screamed at me 8 minutes per mile! i thought for sure he would slow, but he never did.

i like to win, to be the best, to be the man (at least in my circle of life), but this made me happy. my friend of some 20 years, who in recent times has been over weight and out of shape, was doing something special. after seven miles of running (9 minute pace) my little buddy turned on the jets and took off. last May i would guess he couldn't walk 10 miles. did i mention this was his first running race??

he clocked in at 1:26:54 for the 10 miles.

around mile 7 my legs started reminding me that this was my longest run of the year and i had not logged enough miles to run a 10 mile race at this pace. so, i popped a Hammer Nutrition Gel and trudged on.

as i said the finish was oh so cool. what i remember the most was how small the stadium felt from the field. the seats seemed to be on top of the field. man it was cool.

i learned a couple things from this race. i was able to RIDE myself into excellent cardio shape to run a sub 9 minute per mile race. training with and running with life long friends was extremely fun. i love being abnormally physically fit. no, i am not talking about you, the amature endurance athlete. i am talking about mr normal man with a 9 to 5, 40 plus hour a week, desk job.

official word:

• 10 miles in 1:28:58 for 8:53 per
• 2262 overall out of 5000
• 350 in the 30 to 34 age group
• 1455 of all males

for recovery i rode 30 miles today. the day after the race.

later.

who you crapping ?

seriously..........?

who the heck thinks they can log 7 miles a week as prep for a 10 mile race? who are you? please post a comment on how you do this??

i will post my comment on Sunday, after i do just that.

ok, ok, ok, it is not like my non running days are spent watching Ellen and eating pure 70% dark chocolate bars. ok, ok, ok, some of my non running days are spent doing just that.

so, i have the Soldier Field 10 Mile Race this weekend. the finish is on the Bears 50 yard line. supposedly, the jumbo tron will be one and you can see yourself hit the finish line. cool!

sure i have under trained by "running standards" but i have logged some very aggressive miles on the bike. this summer is all about the bike. in fact, i have a big weekend of cycling coming up next weekend so, i will not let this put that in harms way.

i will do my best. i will attempt to finish in front of my two back-out-of-the-marathon buddies. that is just me. one of them is fast and one of them is me. i like the challenge.

later.

blog therapy ?

no, not mental. what, do you think i am some kind of quack who believers in Quackery and needs his blog for mental well being. Silly rabbit, trix are for kids.

i am talking about hamstring well being. i blog up about my aches and pains then two days later the hammy is all Kool and the Gang. ready to take on the world.

maybe it is Karma? oh uh. i take back the first paragraph.

moving on. i am continuing to embark on my Too Little Too Late training plan for the upcoming SoldierField10. the cycling is going well. the running is getting better, but still low on quantity. if i am healthy i should be able to run the 10 miler without issue. it will be slow, but you gotta take the good with the bad.

You hear that, Mr. Aham23? That is the sound of inevitability

later.

hello hammy?!@?

i have been riding my bike and i have been enjoying it...............A LOT!

so much i have put of thinking about, well training for THIS.

this would be the Soldier Field 10 Race on 5/24. ten miles with two friends. the same two friends who talked me into the 2007 Chicago Marathon then backed out before they even got started with training. i am not bitter. i just want to stomp them into the ground at this race. :)

however, i can't run. ok ok ok, a bit dramatic, but when i do i hurt. first it was the left IT band. now it's the entire left leg. the left hammy is really tight after my 5 mile run yesterday. i need some hammy stretching suggestions from my running experts.

why is my leg hating on running??

did i mention i have only been running once a week and this race is two weeks away? uh oh. me thinks it will be me getting stomped!

i have been riding which has me in decent physical shape. the last ride was a thrasher. i went out on my flat and fast route and did just that. considering it is early May i am very happy logging a 40 mile ride with a 18.4 mph average. i should see some fast numbers come August.

later.

me and the gang

BFNIC
Originally uploaded by aham23.

some of the BFNIC bunch hanging out before heading out on the second loop. im in the red "flappy" jacket.

see that nice little road twisting and turning upward in the background? good times this ride was. good times for sure.

the Classic Report

i now have a new favorite 30 mile loop. well, with my wrong turn it was 43 miles on the first loop, but it was still awesome.

the Saturday warm up ride with Tim was 24 miles, 3000 feet of climbing, 25 mph wind & a 50 mph decent. it was fantastic. seriously, i loved every minute of it. Tim is this master of everything. this means he can navigate his way in a strange land without maps or fancy electronic devices while keeping an entertaining conversation the entire way. i learned two things on this ride; if you are wearing a number 7 diaper its time to start potty training AND if you say "Last one to the top buys the first Spotted Cow" you better be ready to go, because Tim will be gone.

Saturday Stats

Sunday did not let us down. it was sunny, clear and calm at 7am. sure it was cold, but once properly geared up i barely noticed the temps. like anticipated the ride blew up quickly with the first hill. it was an in your face violent wake up call.

five or 6 guys formed the A group and shot up that hill. i was off the back of that group with Tim and a couple others. my legs knew it was April, but my head wanted to play like it was August. i chased and that was my downfall. i was chasing guys that if i did catch i wouldn't be able to stay with. we did meet up with them again due to some construction blocking the road, but my time with them was short lived. then i fell off the wheels of Time and Jose which left me solo. i had hope and direction though as i had them in my sights through the beautiful peaks and valleys of the route.

i was hurting and eventually lost sight of the guys in front of me. out came my map, i mean que sheet. i didn't bring the map. it appears i am a poor navigator as i made a wrong turn. about two miles the wrong way i decided to turn back. i did, but there were two riders coming my way. they had the map and felt we were on track. three of us couldn't be wrong? uh, we were. we descended into a small town on hwy 92 and quickly determined we were well North of New Glarus. we asked some locals for directions and with their help and that map decided on an approach. we didn't back track as we tried to pick the shortest route to NG.

we added 8 to 10 miles to the first loop and two kick arse climbs with this detour. i rolled into the park to see the A Listers still there waiting. i felt kind of bad that my miss turn may have delayed there departure, but then figured they would take much joy in dropping me again anyway.

i rolled out for the second loop with the mountain goats & jack rabbits. this loop also starts with a pretty nasty hill. guess what, i was off the back. at the bottom of the decent i spotted Tim slowing up and waiting for me. we made an executive decision to take the offered short version of the second route to avoid complete spontaneous combustion. lucky for me Tim had the map and was able to guide us effortlessly.

short didn't mean easy. this short version of the second loop had several decent hills including a killer one at the end. one i had struggled up yesterday as a matter of fact. however, i took this last challenge fairly well and felt good as i made the final decent into town.

for me it was 60 miles, 5000 feet of climbing, lots of suffering and lots of fun.

Spring Classic Stats

New Glarus, WI is a great location for a ride. totally different from my normal flat rides amongst the cornfields. i look forward to getting back up there.

today, the legs are still pretty sore. for me, this was a pretty violent early season effort. the trouble maker (left IT band) is pretty tight, but livable. i need to log a run or two this week and plan to be back on the bike this weekend.

later.

BFNIC Spring Classic

the first big group ride of the year is this weekend. unlike last year, the ride is taking place in Wisconsin AND the weather forecast is NOT looking good. this means, hills, cold, wind, rain, and maybe snow. this could be real ugly.



this is what i looked like the last time i tackled a ride in Wisconsin.




wish me luck. later.

take that..........

....giant quads. this weekend was Passover so that meant 7 hours of driving in a 24 hour time span to visit the in-laws.

we rolled home around 2:30pm on Sunday. it was beautiful out, 70, sunny, and light winds. we unpacked then the wife looked at me and said "Get Gone." i did.

the legs were slow and unresponsive from the start. so i punished them. i sprinted up every roller and into every headwind. when you ride out in the open plains even a light wind provides difficulty.

i thrashed the legs and ended with 40 miles at a 17.7 mph average pace. i stopped for 27 seconds (damn Sunday drivers). considering this was my 7th ride of the season i am very happy with the results.

peace out.

the run down........

last year at this time i was just getting ready for my first major cycling event, the BFNIC Spring Classic. i had only 3 rides under my belt, but was coming off a successful hilly half marathon and a winter filled with running. i had almost 270 running miles under my feet, which equalled some 40 hours of running.

this year is not last year.

the IT Band injury i sustained back in December basically shut me down, running wise. to date, i have 12 runs for 38 miles. the IT Band is 90% and i need to pick the running up as i am slated for the Soldier Field 10 Mile Race in late May. that being said, i have 5 outside rides so far and almost 30 hours of trainer time. i am finally feeling like i am getting back to a decent fitness level. we shall see if the all this tortuous trainer time was worth it when i roll out for the 2008 BFNIC Spring Classic next weekend. this years event is up in Wisconsin and will provided a much more difficult route then last year. especially difficult given it is so early in the cycling season and i don't see too many (or any) hills on my training rides.

movies. i have been watching movies. have you?

Underworld - 3 stars. blu ray. repeat. decent action flick. do they ever run out of bullets??

Dan In Real Life - 4 stars. blu ray. new to me. surprised me. not your normal romantic comedy. well worth a rental for sure.

Dreamgirls - 2 stars. blu ray. new to me. blah.

Man On Fire - 5 stars. blu ray. repeat. Best PQ and Sound i have experienced. great acting, story, & editing made this really enjoyable on my setup.

I Am Legend - 3 stars. blu ray. repeat. the movie could have been great. could have.

Rumor Has It - 2 stars. blu ray. new to me. cute girlie movie.

Superbad - 0 stars. blu ray. new to me. i didn't get it. i normally get this and enjoy this kind of stuff, but not this one. only made it 45 minutes into it.

I, Robot - 3.5 stars. blu ray. repeat. great PQ & Sound. CGI is good. story is good. Smith does well with this type of roll.

later.

for the record....

......i like dogs. i even have a cute little doggie. remember, he is Eddie Vedder, the dog, and i love him.

i feel like these statements needed a public forum. why, you ask? cause someone thinks i don't like dogs.

i have logged five outside rides this season. i have encountered dogs on four of them. big dogs chasing me, jumping at me, darting in front of me, and even rubbing my rear wheel.

the two border collies (yes two dogs at the same time) were the scariest, until yesterday. it was a pit bull, cross bulldog, cross boxer that chased me. the fat little turd almost took me down as a cute little girl on a tricycle yelled, "Don't worry he wont hurt you." he actually brushed my back wheel as i sprinted off.

later.

itch it.........

please mother nature. i really got me a scratch that needs some itching! stop hating on us cyclist!!

i got out for a rode ride this past Saturday. the sun was out, but it was not warm and it was not pleasant. the temp was 40ish, but with the stiff 15 mph wind out of the East it felt like 30ish.
PLUS, i did my best to sabotage the effort with a little Friday night movie night with the wife.

it was Dirty Dancing, the 20 Anniversary BluRay DVD. HER CHOICE. it is like her all time favorite movie. we watched it with the pop up trivia on. kind of like when VH1 use to do Pop Up videos where little boxes pop up (duh) with facts about this and that.

for example; did you know that Val Kilmer was the first choice to play Johnny Castle? he turned it down because he did not want a career type cast as a hunk. the next choice was Billy Zane ( the bad guy from Titanic), but he could not dance worth crap. then came Pat who was a classically trained dancer trying to get into acting. the rest is history. did i mention it was HER CHOICE?!@?!

i had to drink a bottle of wine to get through it.

back to the ride. i suffered. i was wiped out at mile 17. the last 10 miles was directly into the wind. it was cold. the legs were burning. i was suffering and i loved every minute of this 37 mile ride.
---

MOVIES

3:10 To Yuma -- 3 Stars. New To Me. BluRay. slow start. decent middle. crazy over the top end. Christian Bale carries the movie.

Da Vinci Code -- 2 Stars. New to Me. Standard DVD. for a long movie it really was blah. i mean take a freaking stand one way or the other. Hanks was poor. the leading lady was solid. whatever.

Oceans 13 -- 2 Stars. New to Me. BluRay. kind of a fun no brainer popcorn flick. kind of.

Dirty Dancing -- FIVE FREAKING STARS (i love you honey). Repeat. BluRay. the worst looking bluray i have ever seen. very poor PQ. but hey, it's dirty dancing.

later.

how many?

man, i have seen a lot of movies lately. can you blame me though, i have a movie theater in my basement!

anyway, the official movie marathon is over, but the movies roll on.

No Country For Old Men -- 4 Stars. New to Me. BluRay. everything in life can not be all neat and tidy. somethings are ugly. they start ugly and end ugly. great acting and a most excellent movie. outstanding picture quality as well.

The Bourne Identity -- 4 Stars. Repeat. HDDVD. who knew Matt Damon could pull this off? not me.

The Bourne Supremacy -- 4 Stars. Repeat. HDDVD. who knew he could do it twice? not me.

The Bourne Ultimatum -- 3 Stars. Repeat. HDDVD. best story and action of the three, BUT someone fell in love with the on the shoulder camera. it gets pretty annoying on a 119" screen.

Gone Baby Gone -- 1 Star. New to Me. BluRay. who knew ben affleck sucked such arse? well, i did. he directed this piece of crap. a movie trying to be complicated for the sake of being complicated. the subject matter is a toughie too. plus, i get it, Boston folks like using the "F" word.

in other news. winter is still here. my knee is better. my IT Band is better. i am only running once a week, which is why i am better and that bums me. i am logging some good hours on the trainer, but have not gotten into any intervals or fancy training. i would rather be riding outside and wish i could be running more. i am not on course for total domination of the 08 BFNIC cycling season and that too makes me sad. i think that sums up my Wednesday.

later.

15, 16, 17, & my knee

15. Spiderman 3. Three Stars. BluRay. Repeat. i love this series, but this one is my least favorite. needed more venom and less crying. PQ is grainy, but it is suppose to be.

16. Kill Bill II. Five Stars. Regular DVD. Repeat. one of my favorite movies of all time. it is violent and kung foo goofy, but that is the point. Micheal Madsen is brilliant.

17. Training Day. Four Stars. BluRay. Repeat. from the opening scene Washington is fantastic. PQ was very good.

the run came to an end last night. i had a stellar two weeks of movie watching though.

on to my knee. it has been a bit bothersome lately. the IT Band is better and the knee jumps up and smacks me in the face. i don't get it.

my first ride of the season was yesterday. twenty-four fabulous miles in 30 degree weather. i loved every minute of it, but it seems to have pissed off the knee. its very tight, just below the knee cap i get sharp pains when i squat. i know, don't squat.

why oh why must you still haunt me Chicago Marathon?

13 & 14

i don't want to give the wrong idea about my movie preference. i like all kinds of movies. from the Notebook to Saving Private Ryan to Pulp Fiction to Dumb and Dumber to Star Wars. so does the wife. we normally watch together. this week she is busy. thus, i am on a solo movie watching binge. i am trying to limit my choices to movies that she is not all that excited to see (new or repeat).

the second criteria is that i prefer the movie be in high definition (1080p = BluRay or HD DVD). some of the choices rank near the top of a so called "BluRay/HDDVD Reference Quality List" from AVSforums. the best picture and sound one can experience at home. i want to really see and test out my system with these choices.

ok, done with that.

13. Casino Royale - 1 Star. BluRay. picture quality was stunning. this aint your daddy's james bond. he looks like a UFC fighter. he bust thru drywall and gets his nuts busted. it's bloody & violent. the scenes are long. the movie is way too long. it's BAD. (N)

14. Spiderman 2 - 4 Stars. Blur Ray. my favorite of the three. great superhero movie. the picture quality was a bit disappointing. spotted some pixelation & had some audio dropouts. (R)

(5 star rating system. N=New to me / R=Repeat for me)


on the workout front, i did a core workout last night during Spidey. if i get my ride back soon, it will be trainer time the rest of the week. maybe even a little ride outside?!@?! if she stays locked up in the shop then running it shall be.

later.

back to back

with the bike in the shop and 5 days of rest I HAD TO work it out. so i ran. Saturday and Sunday runs of 3 miles. i was slow. it was fun and my left leg neither fell off nor spontaneously combust. i call that a success.

weather forecast have upper 40's in the future for us Midwesterners. i see an end of the week ride in my future. do you?

as you may know i have a movie theater in my basement. it has been up and running for two weeks now. i have been watching movies when ever i can, which has been often. some i have seen, but i am revisiting them in High Definition (BluRay or HDDVD). the high def movie experience is incredible. i had no idea how crisp and clear a movie could look on 119 inch screen. every movie lover should experience it.

i am going on a movie marathon. one a night for as many nights as i can swing. i started this past Saturday and my schedule shows my nights free up to this Saturday. i am guessing everyone wants to know what i watched and what i thought :) ?!@? so, that is what you will get.

let me catch you up to date with a list, in order of viewing, since the AMJ Cinema opened.

1. Gladiator - 5 stars. one of my all time favorites. the acting and action is outstanding.(R)

2. Devil Wears Prada - 3 stars. BluRay. i can admit i liked it, but i was drinking.(N)

3. Martix - 5 stars. HDDVD. wow, i love this movie.(R)

4. Ratatouille - 3.5 stars. BluRay & stunning. a rather involved story line for a cartoon.(N)

5.The Notebook - 3 stars. the wifes favorite. again, i was drinking.(R)

6. Fast & Furious - 2 stars. HDDVD. cars, hot chicks & hot dudes.(R)

7. Pleasantville - 3 stars. should have been drinking.(N)

8. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - 2 stars. BluRay blew me away. too much jack for me though.(N)

9. Martix 2 - 4 stars. HDDVD. great action from start to end.(R)

10. Matrix 3 - 5 stars. HDDVD. the picture & sound is amazing. i forgot how good this one is.(R)

11. Memento - 4 stars. guy pearce is most excellent. the back words story is cool.(R)

12. Count of Monte Cristo - 3 stars. another guy pearce vehicle. the wife loves it. it entertains.(R)

(5 star rating system. N=New to me / R=Repeat for me)

tonight will be night 3 of movie marathon. i have some options, but dont want to spoil my next post.

later.

i see you.......

....spring and cycling season.

winter is coming to an end. it has been a blur for me. this is a good thing. this basement finishing / home theater project has taken over my life. i have been obsessing over it since November and while i still am, at least i am enjoying the benefits now. it really turned out most awesome and i can say that i am fully responsible for that!

i say the obsession was a good thing because this winter has been a toughie in the Midwest. i am glad i kept very busy. otherwise, this IT band injury would have been the end of me. i just cant run with any consistency.

i have been logging 3 to 4 hours a week on my trainer and knocking out some core workouts. i am a cyclist, but i love the added fitness level running brings me. i love the consistent 150 bpm heart rate that running yields. nothing like it.

my bike is in the "shop" getting its pre season tune up. i ran Sunday, besides a tight hammy it went well. this week will be kind of a recovery week, but i hope to get in one more run and some core work. i need to catch up on some sleep too.

wow, the above is seriously boring. :) come on spring, we need you to bring some excitement.

later.

the movies

plateau...............

and pissed about it. four runs since 12/1/07. no running this month. i use the stupid foam roller. i stretch. i use the stupid foam roller. i stretch. i still have issues.

it may be time for a visit to the doctor as for the past three weeks i dont feel like i am progressing. i mean, it should eventually go away, right? i am not even running for gosh darn almighty.

i am speaking of that evil doer, the left IT Band. it feels better then it has, but the burning and ache is still there. in fact, it seems to have migrated into my buttocks? what the heck is that all about?

having a desk job does NOT help. by the time afternoon hits the thing is crazy tight and burning. yeah, i get up and walk around as much as possible. yeah, i even take some time to actually shut my office door and stretch. yeah, that was kind of a shameless brag that i have an office with a door.

i have issues with doing nothing. i have been hitting the trainer 3 times a week for an hour each time. i have been doing my core workout once a week and plan to ramp it up to twice a week as the season approaches. i just cant do nothing.

this thing doesnt effect my cycling like it does the running. however, it will be a factor. when i want to push it on the trainer, or say on a ride with 20,000 feet of climbing, i can feel it tighten up. the pain obviously limits my ability to go hard. i am at a loss.

this is my blog and i have approved this crabby post.

later.

get on with it.........

man, this basement obsessing is really taking up a lot of my time. it is fun though. construction is projected to be complete in two weeks. i should have all my equipment up and running a couple days after that. the grand opening of the AMJ Cinema should be in about 3 weeks then. good times.

alright, lets get on with 2008. i have plans to cycle and cycle a lot. there will be some running if and when the left IT Band allows it.

so far i have filled my 2008 calander with these events:

• BFNIC Spring Classic, 4/27. A 62 mile ride in New Glarus, WI this year. No goal, but to enjoy. (ok, and to keep up with Recursive)
• JBC Sudden Century, 5/4. First century (100 miles) of the season. Goal is to survive the wind.
• Soldier Field 10, 5/24. A ten mile run with the finish on the 50 yard line! Goal is to stomp my buddy. The same buddy who talked me into, then backed out of, the Chicago Marathon.
• Udder Century, 6/1. Another 100 miler. Goal is sub 5 hour ride time.
• JBC 4th Metric, 7/4. A 62 mile ride I use for RAIN training. This means fast and limited stops.
• RAIN, 7/12. One Way, One Day, 160 miles. Goal is to better last years most excellent time.
• Dairyland Dare, 8/16. The big ride for 08. It's 300K (186 miles) with over 20,000 feet of climbing. Holy Crap Batman. Did I just type that!?@?
• Psychos Century, 8/24. I may go for the 124 mile route this year.
• Psimet Invitational, 9/27. 100 miles with the BFNIC gang.
• Harvest 5k Run, 9/28. Not sure if it is doable a day after 100 mile ride, but I like challanges.
• Gobbler Hobbler 10k Run, 11/8. I love the fall running season. I hope the body cooperates.
• 3000 Cycling Miles for the year.

i think that about covers it. there will be some fun training rides up in Wisconsin for sure. maybe a cycling race in August? maybe a few more Fall running events? right now i am focused on my basement, buidling my cycling base, and my basement.

peace out. later.

shaken, but not epic......

i think i have shaken the funk, but i have no 2007 epic recap post for fear it may bring back the funk.

so, you get the cliff notes recap:

• Cycling Mileage = 2151 miles.


• Running Mileage = 801


• Trainer Time = 5 hours 38 minutes


• Knocked out 12K feet of Climbing and 130 miles at the HHH in June


• Knocked out a fast for me wind aided 160 miles at RAIN in July


• Spent 224 either cycling or running.


• Achieved a fitness level I have never seen before.


• Got hurt.

i think that about does it for 07. oh wait, there was that little running thing i did in October. yes, i successfully trained for, ran, and completed the Chicago Marathon in what i have been told were extremely difficult conditions for such an event.

that last one gives me a lot good vibes. it was a tough road as i put family, friends, and cycling on a the back burner for most of the summer. i could not have done it without the support of my family and friends and thank you so very much. another is not likely in my near future, but what is near?

the plans for 2008 are this:

CYCLING MY ARSE OFF

the leg is feeling 90% better and it is time to get back on the bike, er, trainer.

i am still obsessing this basement finishing and movie theater project. it is what i do. go full tilt. it is coming along nicely. peace out. later.

epic, just not yet.

2008 has started off strangely for me.

first, back on 12/1 i stressed out my left IT Band. well, the 800 running miles i logged last year, including the 12/1 run, has it burning like a mutha. it's an odd thing and i am still dealing with it. lots of time off, the foam roller, the stick, and lots of time off has it feeling better.

at times it has been a bit depressing. for two years i worked out. TWO YEARS. i love cycling in the summer and running in the winter. it sucks when your body (or damn leg) will not let you. i am dealing with it.

next, something else that rarely happens to me, an extended sickness. for the last 13 days i have been battling, along with seemingly everyone else, a nasty flu / sinus thing. i am talking thick and green head hurting stuff here.

i know, cry me a river, blah blah blah. you all want the epic 2007 recap post. it is in the works, just not yet.

finally, i have been very busy with a most fantastic home project. we are having our basement finished. there is a dedicated home theater in the plans. i am talking 110 inches of screen folks. i pulled and installed over 1000 feet of low voltage cable for the home theater space this weekend. i enjoyed every foot.

check out that flickr thingy on your right for some exciting pictures. yes, the exciting part was a joke.

later.

shake the funk.....

it is time. i must shake it and shake it real good. the funk that is. not my junk. unless, shaking the funk inadvertently shakes the junk? i will have to get back to you on that one.

on 12/1 i ran a solid 7 miles. on 12/2 i logged an hour on my then new trainer. since then i have been dealing with an awful burning and twingy left iliotibial (IT) band. while i experienced some minor issues with this during marathon training it was never this bad. this little bastard is even messing with my knee.

so, i shut down the running. heck, i basically shut it all down. the holidays can do that. thinking about this i just realized this is my first extended break from "working out" in the two years since i become obsessed with "working out." prior to this i considered 3 days off in a one week a break. ?

anyway, i picked up one of those mythical foam rollers from target and after one session with it the leg felt better. i continue to roll it out and it is getting better, but still an issue. you should see me rolling around on this thing. it is not the easiest thing to do and it hurts like heck and i look like a dork (so the wife has proclaimed!). maybe a YouTube video is in order?

i did not clear the 3000 miles of cycling and running i had lined up in my sites in November. however, i did get back on the road with a little 3 mile run on New Years Eve. it felt really good to be outside and running. this jaunt put me over 800 miles running for 2008. not bad for a cyclist.

yesterday, i took part in my New Years Day tradition and ate Taco Bell for lunch. a lot of it. it reminds me of where i was and where i am. long live the Bell.

before i can fully shake this funk i first my wrap up 2007. that means the 2007 wrap up blog post is forthcoming. then the 2008 goal post. then and then and then and then and then and then.......

later.

what was i thinking?

i just realized i have failed to wish the blogging peeps of the internet world any holiday best wishes.

so, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

stir crazy

13 days since i have logged a run. 10 days since i have log any trainer miles. lunches at Smith & Willensky, Wildfire, & Ditka's, that included some Frogs Leap and Stages Leap, massive steaks and massive deserts, all before 2pm. not to mention the cookies and chocolates and muffins and crap that keeps flowing into our office. topping it all off is that burning sensation i have. no it aint pride or guanaria. its freaking Iliotibial Band Syndrome.

so, i am done with the self imposed break due to the self diagnosed injury. i can not do it. i picked up the mythical foam roller all runners speak of. i hope it turns my frown upside down. i used it yesterday and wow my leg muscles are sore. i plan to give the trainer a go at it this morning. then roll the legs out. then ice. then come back here and whine like a little baby some more.

have i mentioned my down time has been consumed by thoughts of high end home theaters? my basement project is under way. see the pics HERE.

later.

On A Break.....

one of my favorite episodes of Friends was "The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break." that show use to make me giggle. i know, it's hard to believe, but it did.

anyway, i am down for the count. i was taking it easy last week with no running. since the first weekend of December i have been dealing with a sore, tight, burning left IT Band. it is really uncomfortable when i am sitting and/or doing nothing.

after a day of nothing i thought a little treadmill run would be in order last night. wrong. despite warming up and going slow at mile 1 i felt a sharp twinge. i was done at mile 1.85 after only 20 minutes. normally this thing works it self out and loosens up. not this time.

after two years of training for this and that and just enjoying being in great shape it is time for a break. 2 years, 4500 cycling miles, 1200 running miles, 70 lb weight loss..........it is time and i am officially on a break.

A week of NOTHING....

well, that is a bit of a stretch. however, this past week is the first since July that i have not logged any runs. not one. is it that marathon depression in full swing? is it the cold and crappy weather turning up my S.A.D. earlier then normal? is it that burning left IT Band? the one that has been screaming at me for two weeks? who knows??

i was thinking about all this running i have done this year. i spent some 30 weeks of 2007 preparing for two running events. the March Madness Half and the Chicago Marathon. that is more then half of my year. yikes, that is a lot. especially for a cyclist.

so, i think i need a break. its hard for me, mentally, to take breaks. i love being fit. i mean being really fit. hopefully some time off these next couple of weeks will launch me into 2008!!

wait, when i say rest i dont mean nothing. just less. see, i got this new cycling trainer that i need to break in :)

the white stuff....

i am not a big fan. in fact, i could do without winter. however, i live in the Chicago Area and it does snow here from time to time. so, i make the best of it.

i have this fancy $1000 dollar snow blower that i purchased almost 2 years ago. i have used it four times maybe. today seemed to be a perfect day to bust it out. three inches of fluffy snow on the ground and my morning free, but i decided against the blower. yep, i thought it would be a better "workout" to shovel my drive and walks.

what the heck is wrong with me?

Two Things......

I may have found a bit of motivation. I am closing in on 3000 cycling and running miles for 2008. That would be 2151 cycling, 781 running, and 12 brisk dog walking miles (back off they count. Eddie Vedder, the dog, is faaast!).

Workouts: 212
Total Time: 247:17:35
Total Dist.: 2944.3 Mi
Cal. Burned: 212669

Next, this winter, in my quest to dominate all that is and will be the 2008 BFNIC cycling season, I will be riding a trainer. Not just any trainer, but the infamous Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. I know you can NOT wait to read my tells of hours upon hours spent spinning in a stationary fashion.

Later.

Nothing.....

I got it. Nothing. I am burnt out. My IT bands are screaming. I want to ride, but it is Winter. This is my blog, but there is NO crying in fitnessland. That is all. Later.

2:42

2006 Gobbler Hobbler 10k = 49:59 and a distance PR.

2007 Gobbler Hobbler 10k = 47:17.

Put that in your running pipe and smoke it.

Later.

We Got The Funk.......

Sick, Uninspired, and Unmotivated.

Yeah, I know, who wants to read about my woes. Quick question though; did you think of Joey Lawrence or Keanu Reeves when you read Woe (whoa)? For me it was Keanu, but not the Bill & Ted version, the Matrix version. You know, when he is standing on that rooftop, after just doing something totally amazing, then stares into the camera and says, "Whoa."

O.K., a good thing is that besides being a bit sick my body is in good shape. Post Marathon I have logged a couple of bike rides and ramped the running back up to 20 miles a week. The speed is slowly coming back too. I feel good.

I have the Gobbler Hobbler 10k this weekend. I am looking forward to besting my 2006 effort. It is crazy to think that last year this 6.2 mile run was my longest ever. After that I hope to run one more 5k or 10k before brunt of winter rolls in.

I have some thoughts for December motivation too. Currently I have trudged 2882 cycling and running miles this year. I want 3000. I may knock this out by doing a December-A-Thon. WTF, you say? That would be running every day in December no matter how far or short. We shall see.

Finally, get over to SixPeeps.com and check out the most excellent progress Mark has made on his weight loss journey. Further proof that you do not need a gimmick diet or workout to drop weight. A healthy diet combined with exercise, hard work and dedication can give you the results you want. Also, check out Mark's site. He is a true artist with his camera.

Later.

My Fitness Resume

has goggle thought of everything? are they planning to take over the internet world? i think one day both google and starbucks will rule the world together.

oh, i created a really cool (to me at least) googlepages page (is that one too many pages?) listing my cycling and running accomplishments. i dig tracking crap like this.

The Resume

that is all.

later.