GRNSFLDR // 2012

LAST SUNDAY, A BIG BLOCK OF GNARLY TRAIL TRAINING WAS TOPPED OFF OUT AT GREENSFELDER STATE PARK @ THE APPROPRIATELY TITLED GREENSFELDER CHALLENGE.  CHUBB TRAIL ASIDE, I CAN’T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO DIAL IN THE BODY AND THE BIKE FOR THE RELENTLESS POUNDING THAT AWAITS US @ SYLLAMO’S REVENGE THIS WEEKEND.  FURTHER MORE, THE RACE WAS PLANNED/PROMOTED AND PUT INTO ACTION BY TWO OF THE TOP ORGANIZATIONS THE STL MOUNTAIN BIKING SCENE HAS TO OFFER.  DRJ RACING AND GORC.  THE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT WEATHER AND COURSE, COUPLED W/ THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF US TO RIDE SWEET TRAIL MEANT THAT THIS WAS A MUST DO EVENT.

LIKE I SAID, THIS RACE TOPPED OFF A BIG 8 WEEK BLOCK OF TRAINING THAT HAS HOPEFULLY PUT MYSELF AND TWO TRUSTING COHORTS INTO PRIME CONDITION TO TACKLE GOALS FOR SYLLAMO THAT WERE LAID OUT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.  WE’VE PUT IN OUR TIME.  NOW IT’S JUST A MATTER OF MAKING IT HAPPEN.  WE’LL GIVE IT A GO TOMORROW, 8AM SHARP.

THE DAYS BEFORE THE GREENSFELDER TUNE UP WERE SPENT RESTING, MOSTLY.  I DID, HOWEVER, MAKE A TREK OUT TO CASTLEWOOD PARK TO DO A LITTLE MTB TESTING.  I REVISITED A LOOP AND A HILL CLIMB I HAD DONE BACK AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, BEFORE I SET OUT TO BEGIN SERIOUS WORKOUTS ON THE MOUNTAIN BIKE.  JUST LIKE THE 50 MILE TEMPO TEST I POSTED A FEW WEEKS AGO, THIS TEST GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO SEE HOW FAR I’VE COME IN THE DIRT, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT COUNTS IN MY WORLD.   HERE ARE MY RESULTS….CLICK AND COMPARE.

LOOP TEST #1   //   LOOP TEST #2

HILL CLIMB #1   //   HILL CLIMB #2

NOW FOR THE RACE…

I LINED UP AT THE FRONT OF A HUGE MARATHON CLASS, ONCE AGAIN ALONGSIDE MY SIDEKICK SCOTT PIEPERT.  SCOTT HAS TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HIS TRAINING THAN I HAVE.  HIS SCHEDULE HAS BEEN LOADED WITH RACING, WHILE MINE HAS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON LONG, GNARLY WEEKENDS OUT AT THE CHUBB TRAIL.  DESPITE OUR SEPERATE PATHS, I THINK WE ARE BOTH CLOSE TO OUR BEST AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON.  HELL, IF NOTHING ELSE AT LEAST WE LOOK GOOD…

THE START OF OUR RACE WAS REALLY FAST.  AN ALWAYS STRONG  MIKE BEST  LEAD US UP A GRAVEL ROAD AND INTO A ROCK/ROOT LADEN FIRST SECTION OF THE COURSE THAT FEATURED EVERYTHING  GOOD ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIKING.  I FELL INTO 4TH PLACE  ABOUT 20 SECONDS OFF THE LEAD, HEADING UP  A SMALL PACELINE THROUGH THE TIGHT/TECHNICAL GOODNESS.  I WAS OFF TO A GOOD START FROM A POSITION STANDPOINT, BUT IT BECAME QUICKLY APPARENT THAT I WAS RIDING WAY ABOVE MY THRESHOLD AND WOULD HAVE TO CALM DOWN A BIT IF I WAS TO COMPLETE THE RACE.  I LET A COUPLE RIDERS PASS WHILE I TRIED TO FIND A RYTHYM WITHOUT LOSING A TON OF TIME.   A FEW QUICK DESCENTS ON THE COURSE OFFERED SOME RELIEF, BUT WERE FOLLOWED BY SHORT, PUNCHY CLIMBS THAT PUT ME RIGHT BACK INTO THE RED.  I FINISHED MY FIRST LAP WELL OFF THE LEADERS AND WONDERING IF I WAS COOKED.

MY SECOND LAP, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS MORE OF THE SAME.   ONCE AGAIN, I FOUND MYSELF TUCKED IN WITH A GROUP OF STRONG RIDERS PUSHING A PRETTY GOOD PACE.  COMING UP ON 1HR INTO THE RACE,  I KNEW I HAD TO SLOW SOON OR MY DAY WOULD END IN FRUSTRATION.  I’VE LEARNED MANY TOUGH LESSONS IN MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING, NONE MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING HOW TO RIDE WITHIN YOUR LIMITS.  IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST GOAL IN ANY ENDURANCE EVENT IS TO FINISH, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND FALL OFF THE PACE.  I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT I CAN PEDAL ABOVE MY THRESHOLD FOR UP TO 90MINS, AFTER THAT I’M DONE.  SO, AS I CAME THROUGH THE START FINISH FOR THE SECOND TIME I GRABBED A FRESH BOTTLE, THREW DOWN A PEANUT BUTTERY LARABAR AND HEADED OUT ON WHAT WOULD BE A MORE RELAXED THIRD LAP.

I WAS ALONE ON LAP 3, WHICH WAS SOOO MUCH BETTER.  I RODE AT MY OWN COMFORTABLE  PACE, FEEDING EVERY CHANCE I HAD IN ORDER TO TOP THINGS OFF FOR THE HARD EFFORT I WAS PLANNING AT THE END OF THE RACE.  BY THIS TIME I FIGURED I WAS SITTING JUST INSIDE OF THE TOP TEN.  THINGS FELT BETTER AS I STARTED TO SETTLE DOWN.  COMING UP ON 2HRS IN, THE FITNESS I’VE BUILT OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS STARTED TO TAKE OVER AND I FELT LIKE MYSELF AGAIN.

I CAME THROUGH FOR MY 4TH LAP JUST AS THE CAT 1 RACE WAS STARTING.  I SLOWED SEVERAL TIMES TO LET THE FASTER/FRESHER RACERS THROUGH AND EVENTUALLY GOT IN WITH A GROUP OF THREE THAT I COULD HANG WITH.  HANGING IN KNOWING I WAS ON MY 4TH LAP AND THEY WERE ON THEIR 1ST WAS A HUGE CONFIDENCE BUILDER.  WE PUSHED THROUGH THE TREES, KICKING UP DUST AND PASSING SLOWER RIDERS.  BEING THAT WE WERE IN SEPERATE RACES, ALL I HAD TO DO WAS HANG ON THE BACK AND LET THEM PULL ME AROUND THE COURSE.  I FELT LIKE I HAD TO BE GAINING A BIT OF GROUND ON SOME OF THE RIDERS WHO HAD PASSED ME EARLIER.  I FINISHED #4 WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO SPARE.  ANOTHER BOTTLE AND I WAS OFF FOR ONE FINAL ASSAULT.

THE FINAL LAP WAS JUST ME AND THE COURSE.  I PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD WITH THE GOAL OF PICKING OFF TWO OF THE SPOTS I HAD LOST EARLIER.  MY LEGS WERE FEELING GOOD CONSIDERING I WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE EARLIER IN THE RACE.  AFTER SMOOTING THINGS OUT AND MAKING IT THROUGH THE TECH STUFF QUICKLY AND UNSCATHED, I FINALLY RODE UP ON AND DISPATCHED ONE RIDER WHO HAD OVERTAKEN ME EARLIER IN THE RACE.  THEN, ON THE FINAL CLIMB UP TO THE FINISH I CAUGHT AND PASSED ANOTHER, WHICH IT TURNED OUT  WAS ENOUGH TO PUT ME ON THE THIRD STEP OF THE PODIUM.  SCOOTER HAD ANOTHER STRONG RIDE AND ENDED UP 8TH.  VERY NICE!

 OVERALL I AM PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME AND FEEL GOOD HEADING INTO ARKANSAS.  I WISH I HAD STARTED THE RACE BETTER, BUT I AM HAPPY THAT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF MY RACE WHEN THINGS DIDN’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN AND FINISH THE WAY ALL ENDURANCE RACES SHOULD FINISH.  STRONG.  NEXT UP IS SYLLAMO’S REVENGE THIS WEEKEND!  THANKS FOR READING AND STAY TUNED FOR A FULL REPORT.  IT’S TIME TO PUT THE RUBBER TO THE ROCKS, PEOPLE.

BUSY / BIZEE / BIZZY

MAN, IT SEEMS THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO.  BETWEEN WORKING, TRAINING AND WEEKEND HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THERE’S NO TIME TO WASTE.  BUT, AT THIS POINT, I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.  STANDING STILL IS NOT AN OPTION.  MOVING FORWARD, HOWEVER, IS… AND FEELS VERY REWARDING.  HERE’S A SLIDE SHOW OF WHAT’S BEEN GOING DOWN…AND COMING UP!

LA // REESHA

LARISSA POWERS IS GOING TO RIDE HER BIKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.  FROM SEATTLE, ACROSS THE ROCKIES AND THE DAKOTAS.  THROUGH THE CORN FIELDS OF IOWA ALL THE WAY TO CHICAGO.  THEN, FURTHER EAST PAST THE STEEL MILLS AND INTO OUR NATION’S CAPITAL.  WASHINGTON, D.C.    3300 MILES IN 49 DAYS. 7 DAYS OF REST.  ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE.  THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.

SINCE DECEMBER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING W/ LARISSA ON BUILDING UP ALL THE NECESSARY TOOLS REQUIRED TO DOMINATE HER BIG RIDE, WHICH STARTS IN JUNE.

REESH WAS NEW TO THE TRAINING GAME,  SO WE STARTED BY WORKING ON HER FOUNDATION.  I GAVE HER AN INTERMEDIATE STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAM, CONSISTING OF SIMPLE COMPOUND MOVEMENTS / HIGH REPETITIONS AND A RIDING SCHEDULE TO WORK ON HER AEROBIC BASE.  WE TALKED A TAD BIT ABOUT NUTRITION, TOO.  SHE CAUGHT ON QUICKLY AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SEE GAINS.  AS A SCIENCE TEACHER AND NEWLY APPOINTED CYCLING COACH  AT MICDS, SHE UNDERSTOOD STRUCTURE AND PLANNING.  SHE  HAD ACCESS TO A TOP SHELF FITNESS FACILITY, WHICH MADE THINGS ALOT EASIER ON ME, THE ‘COACH’.  AND THE FACT THAT PART OF HER LIVELIHOOD DEPENDED ON HER BEING FIT ON A BIKE ALSO MADE IT EASIER ON ME, THE ‘MOTIVATOR’

RECENTLY, LARISSA HAS BEEN PUTTING IN A GOOD AMOUNT OF SADDLE TIME COACHING/RIDING/RACING W/ HER TEAM @MICDS.  THE INTENSITY OF HER WORKOUTS HAS GONE UP, TOO.  OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, SHE WILL BE PUTTING IN SOME BIG MILES AT A GOOD TEMPO TO PREPARE HER BODY FOR THE BIG RIDE, WHICH WILL REQUIRE HER TO RIDE LONGER AND FURTHER THAN SHE COULD EVER REALLY TRAIN FOR.  YOU DON’T TRAIN FOR EVEREST BY CLIMBING EVEREST, YOU KNOW.

CURRENTLY, RED HEADED REESH IS RIDING A/B 40% OF THE WEEKLY MILES THAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF HER ON THE CROSS COUNTRY TREK.  SHE’LL  TAKE AN ACTIVE REST WEEK SOON BEFORE BEGINNING THE FINAL PUSH INTO JUNE.   OUR ONLY SETBACK, AN ON THE BIKE VOMITING EPISODE, HAS BEEN REMEDIED BY A QUICK LESSON IN PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ENDURANCE TRAINING.  NUTRITION.  NOW THAT SHE IS FEEDING EFFICIENTLY FOR HER RIDES THEY ARE GOING MUCH BETTER AND SHE FEELS GREAT.  SHE IS GETTING REALLY CONFIDENT.  I AM GETTING REALLY EXCITED FOR HER  AND FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND SUCH A DOER OF BIG THINGS.

TO THIS DATE, LARISSA HAS RAISED OVER $8,000  FOR HER RIDE!  IN MAY, SHE IS RAFFLING OFF A SUPER COOL HAND MADE QUILT THAT WILL TAKE HER TOTAL EVEN HIGHER.  THAT’S A TON OF CASH TO ACCUMULATE THROUGH DONATIONS AND ALTHOUGH IT WONT BUY HER A NEW, CLEAN VENGE  IT WILL GO A LONG WAY IN FIGHTING DIRTY AIR.   YOU CAN FOLLOW HER ADVENTURES AND DONATE TO HER RIDE FROM HER COOL LITTLE  BLOG.

LARISSA RIDES FOR CLEAN AIR.

ONE FINAL TEASER.  I WILL MATCH ANY AND ALL DONATIONS THAT COME FROM READING THIS POST, UP TO $300.  LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.  GO REESH GO!!

THANKS FOR READING!

TESTING //  POSTING FORM

A FEW WEEKS AGO I POSTED ABOUT USING TRANSITIONAL WEEKS IN BETWEEN TRAINING PHASES TO REST AND TEST.  THE LV LUAU TOPPED OFF A GOOD 4 WEEK BLOCK OF TRAINING,  SO LAST WEEK I RESTED AND TESTED, REVISITING THE TEMPO RIDE I DID AT THE END OF MY WINTER FOUNDATION BLOCK BACK IN FEBRUARY. GOOD TRAINING WORKS.   I HAD THE 2ND  DAY WON BEFORE I EVEN PUT ON MY SHOES.  STRONGER BODY.  STRONGER MIND. CLICK AND COMPARE….

TEMPO TEST #1

TEMPO TEST #2

….ON TO PHASE 3.  THANKS FOR READING.

LUAU//

2012 RACE REPORT #1.  THE LOST VALLEY LUAU.  ST. CHARLES, MO.

THE STL MOUNTAIN BIKING SCENE WAS ON FULL DISPLAY LAST SUNDAY @ THE FIRST LOCAL RACE OF THE SEASON.  QMC’S LOST VALLEY LUAU.  SUNNY SKIES AND PERFECT CONDITIONS SHOO-ED AWAY ANY DOUBT AS TO “WEATHER” OR NOT THIS RACE WOULD HAPPEN, RESULTING IN A RECORD CROWD OF DIRT LOVING BIKE GEEKS.  I, HAVING RIDDEN AND  MARKED THE COURSE THE NIGHT BEFORE, KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY.

I JOINED IN ON THE 3HR MARATHON RACE  ALONGSIDE A BAGGY BIBBED DAVE DOMIAN AND A SOBER SCOTT PEIPERT.  45 OTHER RACERS AS WELL.

OUR RACE STARTED FAST.  SCOTT AND I MADE IT UP TO THE LEAD GROUP ONLY TO FALL OFF THE PACE ONCE WE HIT THE VALLEY AND STARTED UP THE FIRST CLIMB.  WITH NO GOAL BUT TO FINISH PAIN FREE, I TRIED TO FIND A COZY GROOVE AND SETTLE IN FOR A LONG DAY.

THE FIRST LAP FELT REALLY GOOD, BUT I WAS WORKING PRETTY HARD AND THOUGHT I’D BETTER DIAL IT BACK A BIT IF I WAS GOING TO FINISH W/OUT LOCKING UP.  SO AFTER COMPLETING LAP 1 AND STOPPING TO ADDRESS A BRAKE ISSUE, I CLICKED IT DOWN TO THE LITTLE RING AND SPUN ON UP OUT OF THE VALLEY FOR LAP #2.  IT WAS PROBABLY MY BEST LAP OF THE DAY.  MY NEW ROVAL’S WERE SLICING THROUGH THE SINGLETRACK AND CLICKING OVER NICELY IN THE POWER DOUBLETRACK SECTIONS.  SCOTT AND I WERE RIDING TOGETHER JUST INSIDE THE TOP 10, TRADING PULLS AND COMMENTING ON HOW SEXY WE LOOKED IN OUR NEW JERSEYS.  AND I WONDER WHY I NEVER WIN…

LAP 3 STARTED W/ A NEW BOTTLE OF FLUIDS AND A MOUTH FULL OF CLIF BAR GOODNESS.  I’M TRYING TO INCORPORATE MORE WHOLE CALORIES THIS YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THE ALMOST ENTIRELY LIQUID MIX I’VE USED IN THE PAST.  IT WORKED PRETTY WELL, BUT I’M THINKING A GOOD BIT OF BOTH IS THE WAY TO GO.

ANYWAY, SCOTT AND I SPENT MOST OF THE 3RD LAP RIDING TOGETHER.  HE WAS LOOKING PRETTY STRONG CONSIDERING HE HAD PUT IN 4HRS THE DAY BEFORE.  I WAS FEELING PRETTY SNAPPY TOO AND EVENTUALLY PULLED AWAY FROM HIM LATE IN THE LAP.  I STARTED TO THINK A/B WHERE I WAS SITTING IN THE RACE AND WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TO GET IN 5 LAPS.  IT WAS DECIDED  THAT I’D PUSH THINGS A LITTLE BIT ON MY 4TH LAP IN AN EFFORT TO GET IN A 5TH AND MAYBE SEE A TOP 5 PLACING.  AFTER CRUISING THROUGH THE START/FINISH I SUCKED DOWN A FLASK OF GO-GO COCA COLA(enjoy!) AND PROCEEDED TO GIVE THE COURSE MY BEST EARLY SEASON EFFORT.

  #4 WAS GOOD.  I PICKED UP A FEW SPOTS, BUT MY CHAIN WAS SUPER DRY AND MADE EVERY PEDAL STROKE SEEM JUST A LITTLE MORE DEMANDING.  THE SOUND OF 50 SOMETHING LESS THAN LUBRICATED LINKS SWOOSHING OVER AND OVER IS REALLY ANNOYING.

I MARCHED ON,  PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD. TRUE TRAINING. OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE.  TO MY SURPRISE, I DIDN’T FEEL ANY CRAMPS COMING IN THE LEGS EVEN THOUGH I HAD BEEN RIDING AT OR ABOVE MY LIMITS FOR ALMOST 3HRS.  MAYBE MY THRESHOLD ISN’T MY THRESHOLD ANYMORE.  MAYBE I’M STRONGER.  I CROSSED THE START/FINISH ONCE AGAIN W/ ABOUT 4 MINUTES TO SPARE.  LEGS/CHEST/FACE SPLATTERED WITH  MUD/DIRT. PURE JOY.  ONE MORE LAP AND I WAS DONE.  REALLY DONE.

MY 5TH AND FINAL LAP WAS A JOKE.  EVERYTHING I HAD WAS GONE.  LOST ON THE 4TH, I GUESS.  I  POWERED WAY DOWN EARLY IN THE LAP AND STARTED FEELING QUEEZY AND REALLY TIRED.  GAME OVER.  THE QUEEZINESS, I SUSPECT, WAS A PRODUCT OF TOO MUCH CAFFEINE.  VENTI AMERICANO.  THE TIREDNESS A PRODUCT OF NOT PUTTING IN AN EFFORT LIKE THAT IN OVER 9 MONTHS.  TIME OFF TAKES IT’S TOLL.

IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD TO KEEP GOING.  I WAS SITTING IN 4TH PLACE, BUT DIDN’T REALLY CARE AT THAT POINT.  I HAD DONE WHAT I CAME TO DO.  I LOST A POSITION COMING UP THE LAST CLIMB AND LIMPED ACROSS THE LINE IN 5TH PLACE.  TOTALLY DESTROYED.  TOTALLY RE-BORN.  THAT’S WHAT I GET FROM MTB RACING….

ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO KICK START THE SEASON.  SCOTT JUST MISSED GETTING IN 5 LAPS AND FINISHED 8TH.  GOOD JOB YO.  DAVE DOMIAN COMPLETED 4 LAPS IN 3:15.  PRETTY SOLID CONSIDERING HE SPENT THE PREVIOUS 10 DAYS BATTLING CHICKEN POX.  YES, CHICKEN POX….AT 34.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS IN THE BOOKS.  IM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AFTER ALL THIS TALK, WE’RE FINALLY STARTING TO FLOSS.  THANKS FOR READING…

IN BLOOM //

SPRING IS HERE EARLY.  THINGS ARE REALLY POPPING, LIKE 4 WEEKS BEFORE THEY NORMALLY DO.  PEOPLE ARE REALLY GETTING ACTIVE.  I SEE IT EVERY DAY AROUND THE CITY.  FOKS RUNNING, BIKING, PLAYING IN THIER YARDS.  I LIKE IT.   RIDE YOUR BIKE THROUGH FOREST PARK ON A WARM, SUNNY SATURDAY.  YOU’D NEVER KNOW WE WERE ONE OF THE FATTEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.  GOOD OLD ST. LOUIE….

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.  FULL BIKE PRACTICE MODE.  I SPUN AROUND MID-TOWN AND SOUTH CITY.  TRYING TO PUSH MYSELF, TAKE IN THE VISUALS AND STAY ALIVE.  MULTI-TASKING.  SIXTY MILES.  4HRS.  MY LONGEST BIKE RIDE SINCE RUINING MY KNEE LAST SUMMER.  EXHAUSTED.  CELEBRATING THE ONLY WAY I KNOW HOW.  ANIMAL CRACKERS + SHIRAZ.  GOOD PROGRESS.  GOOD TIMES.  GOOD ON YA!  THANKS FOR READING.

SPAIN IN THE BRAIN//

ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN DO EXRAORDINARY THINGS…

A FEW WEEKS AGO ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, JEN GOLDSTEIN, MOVED TO SPAIN TO BE A BIKE GUIDE FOR TREK TRAVEL.  SHE’LL BE GUIDING RIDE CAMPS ON THE ISLAND OF MALLORCA UNTIL THE END OF JUNE.  AFTER THAT SHE’LL BE CRISS-CROSSING EUROPE, PEDALING THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING SCENERY ON THE PLANET.  PRETTY COOL GIG, MADE JUST FOR HER.

JEN IS AN AMAZING WOMAN, DOING AMAZING THINGS.  I LOVE HER SPIRIT,  HER DRIVE,  AND HER ABILITY TO DREAM BIG AND EXECUTE.  IT’S CONTAGIOUS.  MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT I CAN KEEP UP WITH HER WHILE SHE’S GONE.  A PLAN TO VISIT HER THIS SUMMER IS ALREADY IN THE WORKS AND I’M GETTING SUPER EXCITED TO LOCK IT IN.   IN THE MEANTIME, HERE ARE SOME PICS SHE’S BEEN SENDING OF HER NEW SURROUNDINGS, AND ONE OF A REALLY BAD ASS MADONE.

PUSS PUSS // THE PERFECT STEED

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE SOMETHING MIGHT FALL YOUR WAY THAT BREATHES NEW LIFE AND EXCITEMENT INTO WHATEVER IT IS YOU’RE IN TO.  I’M INTO RIDING MOUNTAIN BIKES AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY HAVE ONLY ENJOYED THE SMALLER, 26inch PLATFORM.  OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS I’VE RIDDEN, RACED AND DONE PRETTY WELL ON MY SMALL WHEELED STEEDS, WHILE WATCHING THE MAJORITY OF MY LOCAL MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY SLOWLY EMBRACE THE 29er REVOLUTION.  I RESISTED THE GROWING DEBATE OVER WHICH BIKES WERE BETTER, PARTLY BECAUSE I WAS HAPPY WITH WHAT I HAD AND PARTLY BECAUSE I KNEW, QUIETLY, THAT MY PREFERRED WHEEL SIZE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE RENDERED OBSOLETE ONCE INDUSTRY TRENDS AND CURRENT TECHNOLOGY CAUGHT UP W/ THE BIGGER IS BETTER IDEOLOGY.  I ALSO KNEW DAMN WELL THAT EVERYONE I HAD EVER MET THAT RODE A TWO-NINER LOVED IT, AND NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING SMALL AGAIN.   SO THE TIME HAS COME AND I CAN SAY W/ EXCITEMENT THAT I AM  NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF A NEW SPECIALIZED EPIC 29er.  BIG THANKS TO HOCKEY STUD, DAVE BRESLIN AND MESA CYCLES FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.  W/OUT THEM I’D BE PERUSING THE BIKE ISLE @ TARGET FOR A STEEL HUFFY W/  REALLY RAD  REFLECTORS.

THIS IS THE BEST BIKE I’VE EVER PEDALED THROUGH THE DIRT, HANDS DOWN.  COMPARED TO MY OLDER BIKES, THIS THING CLIMBS BETTER, ESPECIALLY OVER OBSTACLES, AND HANDLES JUST AS WELL.  BUT WHAT REALLY BLOWS MY HAIR BACK IS HOW STABLE IT IS THROUGH THE ROUGH STUFF AND  WHEN DESCENDING.   THE FIRST TIME I TACKLED A  DOWNHILL I FELT LIKE I COULD’VE TAKEN MY HANDS OFF THE BARS AND COMBED MY HAIR.  I DIDN’T, OF COURSE, BUT THE THOUGHT OF PERFECT HAIR LED ME TO THE PERFECT NAME FOR THIS BIKE.  PUSS PUSS //.  ANYBODY REMEMBER THIS?

ANYWAY, I LOVE THIS THING LIKE A KID LOVES CHRISTMAS.  GETTING NEW  STUFF IS ALWAYS EXCITING, BUT THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.  VERY EXCITED FOR 2012.  SO MANY GOOD THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.  NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR OTHERS AS WELL.  KEEP READING AND WE’LL  SEE YOU ON THE TRAIL!

CONNECTING //

ONE OF THE REASONS I STARTED THIS BLOG WAS THAT IT OFFERED ME THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO I, UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD NEVER COME IN CONTACT WITH.  IT’S A BIG WORLD, BUT THROUGH THE MAGIC OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKING,  IT’S PEOPLE, AND ALL THEY HAVE TO OFFER, ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER BEFORE.  THESE ARE VERY EXCITING TIMES FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO, SHALL WE SAY, ARE A LITTLE ON THE SHY SIDE.

THE OTHER DAY I WAS CONTACTED BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED DAVID HAAS.  HE WROTE THAT HE HAD STUMBLED ACROSS MY BLOG AND LIKED THE CONTENT I WAS POSTING.  DAVID IS A WRITER, ROCK CLIMBER, AND AN AWARENESS PROGRAM ADVOCATE FOR THE MESOTHELIOMA CANCER ALLIANCE.  HE IS ONE OF THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO JOIN THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER THROUGH RESEARCH, AWARENESS, AND SPREADING SUPPORT TO THOSE DEALING WITH THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE.  MANY IF NOT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN EFFECTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BY CANCER.  I MYSELF HAVE LOST AN AUNT, A GRANDFATHER, AND CLOSE FRIENDS TO CANCER.  I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COPE WITH IT’S DEALING’S EVERY DAY.  THIER STRENGTH IS AMAZING.  I TRULY BELIEVE THAT, IN MY LIFETIME, WE WILL FIND A CURE.

DAVID ASKED IF HE COULD POST A SHORT ARTICLE HE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF STAYING PHYSICALLY FIT WHILE FIGHTING CANCER TO MY BLOG.

  YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO FOLLOWING DAVID,  SHARING HIS THOUGHTS  AND CONNECTING WITH HIS FOLLOWERS.  I HOPE THIS HELPS THE CAUSE.  ENJOY / SHARE / CONTINUE TO CONNECT.

TESTING // ONE. TWO. THREE

A GOOD TRAINING PROGRAM SHOULD ALWAYS UTILIZE A SOLID PERIODIZATION SCHEME IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL IS BUILT UP TOWARDS A SPECIFIC GOAL OR EVENT THROUGH A SERIES OF CYCLES, OR AS I LIKE TO CALL THEM, PHASES.  THE PERIODIZATION SCHEME CAN BE DESCRIBED AS THE WHOLE TRAINING PLAN, FROM START TO FINISH.  THE PLAN ITSELF IS THEN BROKEN DOWN INTO CYCLES, OR PHASES, THAT BUILD UPON ONE ANOTHER.  EACH PHASE SHOULD USE THE CONCEPT OF OVERLOAD AND RECOVERY TO PLACE MORE STRESS ON THE BODY THAN THE ONE THAT CAME BEFORE IT, CULMINATING IN WHAT IS CALLED A “PEAK”.  THEN IT’S OFF TO THE RACES!

 I LIKE TO BREAK MY PERIODIZATION SCHEME DOWN INTO 3 PHASES.  1) FOUNDATION  2) PREPARATION  3) SPECIFIC.  AT THE END OF EACH PHASE LIES A SMALLER PHASE, CALLED “TRANSITIONAL” IN WHICH I WILL REST AND TEST.  RESTING GIVES THE BODY TIME TO RECOVER AND ADAPT TO THE STRESS PLACED UPON IT DURING THE PREVIOUS PHASE.  TESTING GIVES ME A CHANCE TO TAKE INVENTORY AND SEE WHERE I’M AT GOING INTO THE NEXT PHASE.  HOPEFULLY, WHEN I REPEAT THE TEST AT THE END OF THE NEXT PHASE I’LL SEE SOME GAINS IN STRENGTH // ENDURANCE // STATE OF MIND.

AFTER SPENDING THE FIRST 6 WEEKS OF 2012 IN THE FOUNDATION PHASE(6-8hrs easy riding/week+strength training/cross training), I GAVE MYSELF 3 FULL DAYS OF REST, THEN TESTED ON THURSDAY WITH AN “ENDURANCE PACE” 50 MILE RIDE.  THE GOAL WAS TO KEEP MYSELF IN A GOOD ZONE ON THE FLAT STUFF AND KEEP A GOOD PACE WHEN THINGS PITCHED UP.  THE ROUTE WAS FAMILIAR AND MOSTLY FLAT, BUT ALLOWS FOR GOOD TEMPO RIDING.  NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER SPENDING 6 WEEKS DOING EASY RIDES, THIS HARDER ONE HURT.  BUT IT GIVES ME A REFERENCE POINT GOING INTO THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH  WILL INCREASE VOLUME AND INTENSITY.  WE’LL SEE HOW I DO WHEN I REVISIT THIS ROUTE AT THE END OF MARCH.

     HERE’S THE LINK

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/150117872