Yesterday

My ride home last night turned out to be interesting. I took a longer way home to get a little extra time in the saddle. As I was riding up one steep hill, a dog came after me from across the road. This dog is big and bouncy and probably friendly, but you never know. I was going to keep riding when I heard a motorcycle coming from behind, I slowed, knowing that if the dog came after me, he would likely be t-boned by the motorcycle. I waved my arm to the left to motion to the motorcycle that a dog was there. He slowed down and rolled up next to me, he continued to go as slowly as he could. I hesitated for split second, until I realized that he was blocking for me. I got pedaling and the dude on the motorcycle blocked for the whole 100yrd length of the dog's property, really cool!!

Then I went up and over the next hill, just over the top, as I was getting speed again, I almost t-boned a rabbit!!!

And finally, as I was descending that same hill, I saw that oncoming traffic had slowed to a crawl, with one car flashing headlights, often a warning to oncoming traffic to watch for danger in the road. It was pretty dark by this time as the sun had set and the sky was overcast. Then I saw the reason for the caution. There was a pile of leaves all the way across the road, about 6 feet wide, and 2-3 feet tall. All the way across the road, and two dudes with blowers, blowing them out of their yard into the ditch on the other side of the road. Weird.

Yesterday, ( in the post: The Swank), I mentioned that I had a change of perspective. A couple of people mentioned that I should not give up, don't be discouraged etc. I guess that I failed to communicate that I am not at all giving up. I have started training and expect to do better than last year. I already feel stronger!! But, I am not going to entertain the idea that I could beat the likes of Jeremiah Bishop on a 50-100 mile race. ( obviously if he had a bad day, flatted, etc. I would finish before him, but I think you know what I mean.).

So, no worries, you will see me out there next year, duking it out, going for the hole shot, digging deep, but not overdrawing the account!!!

Have a great day!!!

The Swank

Saturday I met Heather out at Cove Creek to do some trail marking and find out exactly where I was supposed to be for the race on Sunday.

We were both overdressed as we headed up out of the cove onto the ridge line. There was not a cloud in the sky, the sun was warming the forest quickly without leaves on the trees to provide shade. It was a perfect day for a leisurely ride through the woods. We stopped every so often to hand Kenda tape from branches, especially at trail or road intersections. We were out there for about 3.5 hrs. Nice easy riding.

Sunday, Rhonda and Jubal joined me. They were going to hang out at the start/finish while I went out to direct the racers. I headed back up the trail to Daniel's Ridge, double checking the route markings as I went. I got to the intersection a little early so I sat down to wait. It took about 45 minutes for Sam Koerber, the eventual winner to come by. By noon all of the racers had passed and the sweepers showed up around 12:20pm. I packed up and headed down Daniel Ridge to Farlow Gap trail. I hung out with a small group of folks by the creek while we waited for some folks to heckle. Sam came by, still in the lead.

I headed down the trail to the rest stop, double checking the route markings as I went. After hanging out there for a little while, I decided I should not let this warm weather and the chance to ride Cove Creek trail again, slip away. So I headed up the long dirt road to Cove Creek and headed back to the finish line.

Rhonda and Jubal had volunteered to help there. Jubal was calling out numbers as racers came in, and Rhonda was taking names. I was happy that they had found something fun to do.

It was great to sit around and chat with friends that I have made over the past two years of racing. The mountain bike community is a group that I cherish and as I stood there after dark, looking around at the faces, it was good to be among like minded individuals.

A Revelation:
As I was standing in the middle of the woods, watching the top riders cruise past, then the middle of the pack, fighting for a place in the middle, then lastly the people who were out there doing it, either because they lost a bet, or they wanted a challenge, I had a revelation.

I'm never going to podium in an open category, ever. There are lots of people who are faster than me. They have coaches, more time to train, and the talent of racing for 10 plus years. I'm not going to beat them so I'm going to stop trying. Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to stop racing, and training and giving 100%, but I am going to re-assess who I am and what I want from the sport. I have limits, and I have spent the last 3 yrs fighting those limits. I know my limits, and know what I am capable of, so I'm going to train for it and get out there and do it.

So, just know that when you see me out there, ( or if you are so fast you don't see me out there), I am out there because I want to be, and I am going to be pushing, and grinding away, because I love to be out there, and I love to be out there with like minded people. And I'm going to do the best that I can, and train hard in the rain, snow, or sun. And I'm going to get stronger, and hopefully ride faster and still challenge you. And when I don't come in in the top ten, I'm going to be satisfied, because that's how it worked out!!! (so, don't stop looking over your shoulder, I'm still back there somewhere).

Long live, long rides!!

Have a great day.

It's Friday

Finally. This week has dragged by. The past 3 weeks have. This past week went a little bit faster. Time usually seems to go by faster when I ride my bike on a regular schedule.

I'll start that again in December. I remember last year getting started with a scheduled training plan in November, and by March I was ready for a break. But with the Cohutta 100 in April, that did not work too well. So, I'm gonna ride some without a strict schedule for November and then get down to it in December.

New Leaf Adventures just announced that the Cohutta 100/ Big Frog 65 is on April 24th this year. I plan on signing up for the 100 miler like I did last year. Last year I ended up doing the 65 miler because the Wednesday before I barfed my guts out half the night for some unknown reason.

This year I am making long rides a priority. No excuses. I also won't be helping to build an addition this year so I'll have some extra energy.

The Farmer's Almanac is forecasting a colder than normal winter this year. Good thing I'll have the Super Secret State of the Art Training Center up and rolling. I'm thinking about adding an espresso bar with barista and massage therapist. I thought about a hot tub but that uses a lot of energy, I might look into a wood burning hot tub some day.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to 2010.

This weekend is Swank 65, it is filled up but come on out and volunteer, heckle,spectate etc. I'll be out there helping out!!

Have a great day.

Imbalance

This word has been stuck in my head for several weeks now. It's one of those things that I am chewing on and I have realized that it has a lot to do with pretty much everything.

In life, we need balance. For instance: in endurance racing, a person needs water, not too much or they wind up with a condition that is too difficult to spell at 6am. Also, not too little or they get dehydrated. And the amount can change due to external circumstances which include but are not limited to temperature, exertion, and diet.

On the bike, if one leg is pedaling faster/ stronger than the other, this creates an imbalance. If the handle bars are slightly twisted to one side, this creates an imbalance.

At work or on a sports team, if one person is not carrying their load, or not communicating, or complaining instead of working to reach a solution, this creates an imbalance.

At home, same issues, if one person in the family is not doing their part to contribute to the common good, there is an imbalance.

We must seek to be balanced.

Balanced does not always mean comfortable though. Like getting up early to exercise, or have some alone time. Seeking balance will push your limits and that is rarely comfortable, but often worth the discomfort.

Look to nature, you see balance everywhere. A constant was created and woven into everyday life that we can look around and see with our own eyes. Look at the ants, whatever you believe about the age of the earth, the ants have been collecting food every year, getting ready for the season ahead. Watch them, and learn from them.

Have a great day.

2010

My 2010 training starts today. It's 33 degrees outside and I think I might regret it, but I'm going to get back on the bike today.

Most training plans tell a person to set some goals for the season before the season begins. I suppose one common goal is to win a race. That would be cool and all, but my focus this year, again, is going to be to finish my race!!

In the past, my attempts to go fast and win have resulted in the opposite result. So, I'm going to continue my plan of approaching a race calmly, riding well, and finish.

My goals are to challenge myself, to do the best that I can with the time that I have to train.

And my ultimate goal is to spread the word about the "Power of Bicycles".

Thanks to people who support me in this mission ( listed in the left hand column), I'll be able to do that again in 2010.

One thing that I really learned about last year is the importance of intensity in training. I didn't realize until late in the season that I was not approaching this aspect correctly, or at all really. Once I added that in, I saw myself getting faster and stronger.

Something else I did was shorten my training cycle to 3 weeks instead of 4 weeks. I started taking a rest week every two weeks instead of every three. This seemed to serve me well and let me recover better from my longer more intense rides.

Another thing that is difficult from now through March is getting long rides in. With Rhonda working every other weekend, it is close to dark by the time she gets home. I can still ride with lights, but the the ol' fear factor comes in to play. Boo! So, I'm going to need to get creative with my time. I hope to have my super secret state of the art training center complete within a month. Then I'll be able to spend some hrs on the rollers..... ( I've never ridden the rollers more than 45 minutes, anyone have a small tv/dvd player they want to donate?).

Well, here is a toast for the 2010 season!!

Have a great day.

Scenarios

When I am faced with life's many decisions, I like to have the chance to chew on what I should do. What is the appropriate response? What will bring about change? How will it or could it affect those around me?

I play through the scenarios in my head...all of the scenarios that I can think of. I play them and replay them. I make changes and play them again. Looking at it from one angle then another.

What will benefit me? What will cause damage?

Which decision will benefit the greater good? The greater cause?

I rewind in slow-mo, then fast forward, soaking it in and letting it marinate in thought. I ponder. I wonder.

Sometimes this process takes minutes. Often times it takes years. At times a piece is missing, and I have to go back with a mental fine tooth comb and search. Other times I let it rest in the back of my mind. Periodically looking at it like an unfinished book collecting dust on the shelf. Knowing that I need to pick it up, open it and finish, at the same time knowing that now is not the time.

Only after I have gone through all the scenarios available to my wandering mind can I move on. And when the situation has passed, sometimes I move on without looking back. Sometimes I re-run the situation in my head. To watch it again. To see if I did everything I could to do the right thing.

And then I move on. I always move on, at some point. Sometimes this takes minutes, sometimes years, but I always move on. I don't have the energy to stay there. I move on.

Have a great day!

The Training Begins

November 2, 2009 marks the official start of training for the 2010 season. I am super excited. I was slated to start riding today, but instead I'm going to incorporated some cross training in the form of rest. Rest? Already? Yes, I have a head cold. Blech. Not the best way to start the season, but that's how it goes.

I worked outside in the raining and chilly weather Friday night and Saturday. The good thing is I made major progress on my new top secret state of the art training facility. I have to work on it in stages as the I get the money for supplies, but hopefully it will be ready to go in a month or so.

Have a great day.

Siren Stuff

Brendan has a new prototype he is working on. It is "hawt". Check it out: The Siren's Call



Have a great day.

Warmth

Yes it is fall, yes the leaves are turning all kinds of vibrant colors, yes we have had snow at higher elevations and yes it is supposed to be 69 degrees today!!

I love it here.

I also love to ride my bike. I never thought that I would be fine with taking two weeks off the bike, but it has not been that difficult. That said, I also realized this past week and a half, how much I like to ride. Not just as training, but to get out and enjoy the wind on my face. The sights and smells of the forest. Seeing other people out there doing the same thing. I love it.

Last week I said that I was going to start riding again this week. I was feeling relaxed and so put it off another week. I figured that if I was not jonesing too badly for a ride, then I was due another week off. I think one thing that has helped me stay relaxed and not pressured to train/ride is that I have not registered for any races yet. I do have plans but having not actually paid money, there is a lack of motivation.

That all changes today. Details later.

So it begins. 4 more days off the bike and then some base miles. I remember last years base miles. Nice easy pace. I felt great. Not fatigued like later in the year when I try to balance fatigue and fitness. But the base miles, I really enjoy. More like touring than training. Fun stuff!!!

Have a great day.