Mixing Fun..

The double double race weekend did not happen as planned. Not solely due to reasons stated in my previous post though.

Saturday was the Gobbler Hobbler. The 4th edition for me. I was running this one solo with no little speedy buddy to chase and no family to cheer. This is an out and back course that is nothing but flat. Weather was a huge factor last year, but not this year. Forty-five degrees, Sun & no Wind when the gun went off at 9am.

I really wanted to see a 4 and 5 on the clock. In other words I wanted my 3rd personal record in four races. A bit greedy for a cyclist don't you think? My last 5 training runs leading up to the race were solid. They felt good and I can tell I am oh so close to finding some running form. However, this cyclist doesn't / hasn't / won't / can't log enough running miles to be so greedy.


BAM. I found a pacer. In fact, I found two pacers. First, a guy who was targeting 7 minute miles. Second, a familiar female runner running consistent 7:15 miles. The dude dropped off at mile two after a mishap through the water station. He was fading anyway, so I grabbed on to the FF (familiar female).

I started to fad as I usually do around mile 4. FF was fading a bit too, but still out front. As we hit the 5 mile marker I pulled up next to her and said; "Are we going to see that 4 and 5 on the clock." She replied with "I hope so!" and with that being said I stepped on the gas.

Official time was 45:43 for a new 10K personal record. Miles 4 and 5 were 7:22 miles, but I finished strong with mile six @ 7:11. Very satisfying effort.

Sunday was suppose to be the Red Eye 8K, but I was having some odd knee pains Saturday night and decided to skip it. It goes down as a DNS. My fall racing season has been a solid one with 3 PRs in 4 races.

Sunday wasnt a total wash. I mean, a sore knee can't stop a cyclist :). I logged 38 cold, wind, & slow miles on the Giant. Man, I need to find more bike time while these 40 & 50 degree temps are still around.

C or R ?

We had such crappy weather in October. Something like 16 days of overcast with little sun light and 25 days with precipitation. The cycling efforts were few and far between while the running efforts picked up.

November is here with it's time change, shorter days AND beautiful October like weather. It has left me wanting. Despite being oh so close to feeling good on the road running, this nice weather is messing with my plans.

This weekend is looking perfect for two early morning rides. However, its 18K weekend for me. Saturday is the Gobbler Hobbler 10K and Sunday the RedEye 8K. Already signed up and ready to go for both. The Gobbler Hobbler is a nice little race with a flat out and back course. I have done it the past three years and normally the weahter has been cold, windy, & crappy. The RedEye is a new race for me, both event wise and distance wise.

I may skip the 10K in favor of a group ride Saturday morning. If my normally group is still rolling out? Maybe I should just make this a Double Double weekend. Two running races and two afternoon bike strolls? I do enjoy a good challenge.

Anyway, I had an expensive lunch at Panera with custom wheel guru Psimet yesterday. Stay tuned for details and clarification on how one can combine expensive and Panera. Later.

From the Zone.

PR Fun

race number three of my 09 fall running series has yielded PR number 2 for me. i am likely going to, maybe already am, pay for this one.

i ramped up the speedier efforts the last two weeks in an attemp to, uh well, run faster. going into the run i had some tight hamstrings, which i dont normally experience. i did not have good vibes as i warmed up. things were tight, popping, snapping, cracking, and so on.

plus, i really need a lot more base miles. any base for that matter. i didnt run all summer and only have 150 miles in my sneaks this year. yet, i am running faster than 2007 when i set all my running PRs and did a little thing called the Chicago Marathon. something has to give, possible my left knee.......?

the race was the Canal Connection put on by the Starved Rock Runners Club in Utica, IL. normally a great downhill run along the I&M Canal Path with a slight uphill finish in downtown Utica. unfortunately, part of the path was flooded due to all the recent rain. the route was now an out and back starting and finishing in Utica. It made for a congested course, but otherwise no big deal.

my target was 7:30 miles. we went out a bit fast since i dislike running in crowds and wanted to hit the path out in front of the masses. i say we, because my little running buddy and life long pal was with me. he is sneaky fast and regularly runs sub 8 minute training miles, something i rarely do. i was hoping to stay with him the entire way......

we approached the turn around and started seeing runners coming back in. you know the really fast folks. despite being a little sick, my little buddy seem energized by the leaders. he gradually picked up the pace and as we made the turn back he hit the gas. i have seen him do this before, in 2008 at the Soldier Field 10 Mile Race where he left me in the dust at mile 8. this time i hung on.....almost that is.

at mile 4 i felt like i hit the wall and was slowing signficantly as he zoomed away. the opposite is true if you look at my splits. i maintained my pace well. he just decided to go go. this is where his proper base building pays off and mine doesnt.

in the end he got me by 40 seconds and just missed his 45 minute goal. me, i smashed my previous 10k PR of 47:17.

so where is the speed coming from? i dont think i am in better shape then the Fall 2007. no way, no how. what i am better at is suffering. i am better at being at my limit for extended time. i may be almost comfortable at my limit which could mean it is no longer my limit. that is cool.



Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Canal Connection 10K

time after time

i am getting older.

i am not getting slower.

in fact, i am 4 seconds faster.

i headed out to the local high school track this morning and ran a mile. no prep, no training, just doing it. the end result was 4 seconds faster then the last time i did the birthday mile, 2007, the year i ran a marathon.

older, not slower, even just seconds, they make us feel good. later.

Mr Duathlete......

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Scarecrow Scramble 5k

Shared via AddThis


....or maybe not. later.

Group Ride = Done.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Saturday Group Ride

Shared via AddThis

Double Double

some of you do this all the time. some of you do this at the same time. me, not so much.

Saturday morning looks to be cold and wet for the group ride. this means the turn out will be small. last week it was 35 degrees, sunny and very calm, but only four riders showed. it was cold for sure, but very doable and in another month we will be begging for these conditions.

so, with this fair weather bunch i could be riding solo. i will be there at 7:30am that is all i know.

later that day i plan to participate in the Scarecrow Scramble. this will be my first time doing this event and on paper it looks like it could be a nice family affair. my little princess is signed up for the 50 yard tot dash too!! she is super fast, just ask her.

sure the double double is not all that impressive considering the time gap between and the run only being a 5k. that being said, i normally don't do anything in a group easy. if anyone shows for the group ride it's on. if a dude in a vampire costume passes me on the run, it's on.

uh, the double double, it's on. later.

It's time to say.....

Goodbye. It is tough but the moment has come. The road is splitting
and paths must seperate.

So I say goodbye.

Goodbye shaven legs.

Goodbye peak fitness.

Goodbye Tuesday Night Worlds.

Goodbye most awesomely odd tan.

I will miss you. I will wait patiently for your glorious return. Later.

PR

i love a good challange. yesterday was my hometown 5k race. back in 2006 this was my first "race" and longest run. yes, 3.1 miles was a long effort back then.

i was not really sure what to expect this year. with only 100 running miles in my sneaks i figured it would be uncomfortable. the distance isn't an issue and my fitness is solid with 3300 cycling miles to date. however, running with speed can hurt. especially if you haven't attempted to do so in over a year.

i was running with my best friend since high school. he is a fast little dude who has really taken to running this year. i just wanted to keep him in my sights. i did that until the very end. plus, my left leg did not fall off or explode.

21:57 was the time and a PR by 35 seconds. not to shabby for a middle aged cyclist.

Leadville, The Movie.

Elite Upgrade

Elite Upgrade, originally uploaded by aham23.

just like late season 2008, i am tweeking my fit as the 2009 season nears an end. so, in order to get my arse better situated on my toupe i have this; Thomson Elite Seatpost, no setback.

psimet.com delievers the goods once again.

I'm not snoring....

It's Friday and that means I have the afternoon off.

One of my last of these Friday Summer hour days.

It's raining. I will still ride. I will get wet.

It's likely I will enjoy it immensly. That is all.

Powerful Toys...........

DNS

did not start the Dairyland Dare. sometimes life knocks and you have to answer the door. no worries. later.

Saddle Up

it is Dairyland Dare time. this should be a very interesting effort for me. since my glorious return from Colorado my time on the bike has been less, but good. no climbing work, but plenty of hard efforts and group rides.

although, last week and this week a thing called life has jumped up and bit me in me arse. i have only three rides, with last nights Tuesday Night Worlds effort being extremely poor.


yet the 200k of the DD is calling this Saturday.

Elevation Gain: 14,988 ft
Total Distance: 130.1 miles
Average Grade: 4
Rest Stops: 6


me being me, i want a better finish than last year, which was 8:23 ride time / 9:38 total time. i know, whine, complain, sandbag, but still expect to be better. ah, that is the way of the roadie.

we have solid bunch from the BFNIC heading up to Dodgeville Wisconsin for the ride. some of the best climbers our little gang has to offer. if they don't drop me like its hawt i should have comrades to attack shop hill road.

i also plan to keep a look out for Super Climbing Tri Girl and Minneapolis.

roll out.

Quality Time

last year as July ended i was burning out as i attempted to join the 700 club. you know, 700 miles of cycling in one month. the legs were dead. the IT Band was barking. i fell just short, in fact a ride short, since i took a couple days off to recover.

last summer July and August were about quantity.

fast forward to July 2010. i just finished my last ride of the month and have 434 miles for July. these are good miles. some of the best i have ever ridden.

since returning from Colorado i find it hard to trudge out solo on the old flatland routes that i call home. instead, i have been hitting up a couple group rides. the Tuesday Night "Worlds" ride is short and fast. the Saturday LBS ride is longer, but a step below in speed, when compared to Tuesday.

both are challenging and contain several stronger rides than i. i am having fun with them and the obvious progress i am making. endurance has always been my thing on the bike, but my recent tangos with speed have me thinking........

Rewards Program

i think i need one of these. why? well, i recently surpassed 10,000 cycling miles. 10,203 to be exact, which is how i like it. this little cycling obsession started in 2006. i think this milestone deserves a reward. who is with me??

jus sayin.

Looking Back

Looking Back, originally uploaded by aham23.

Still looking back at my Colorado trip. What a great time. I snapped this picture as I neared the summit of Cottonwood Pass at 12,000 feet.

The Return

Family vacation time is over. With only 4 rides in July I am well
rested and ready. Ready for what is the question??