Last month Fat Cyclist announced that he would be organizing a century ride that goes nowhere.
So I signed up, since I haven't signed up yet for anything Fat Cyclist has put together (including his LiveStrong Challenge team) and the 100 miles of nowhere can be good training for my "epic solo" ride that I'm planning to do June 13.
The cost is $75 with all funds going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. As SWAG, I'm getting a cool t-shirt, two Garmin Slipstream water bottles, a tube of DZ nuts chamois cream and various nutritional products. And I also get to ride 100 miles on a very small course.
Initially, my plan was to ride it all on the trainer. But there are two problems with this plan:
1. I have no way of know how far I've gone on the trainer. Sure, I could mount an odometer to the rear wheel, but that's kind of a lot of work.
2. Trainers are boring. Painfully boring. But, that's kind of the point. That's what makes the 100 miles of nowhere unique.
So I've devised a new plan. A better plan. And a backup-plan.
Plan A:
Ride laps around the 2-mile loop at the office park where I work. Since the 100 miles of Nowhere happens on a Saturday (May 23), there will be virtually no traffic whatsoever there. I'd load up my Honda Element with snacks and drinks and take breaks sitting on the tailgate. (If anybody wants to swing by for a visit I'll be parked in the Shops at Rossmoyne parking lot (near the Subway).
Plan B:
If the weather stinks, I'll have no choice. I'll have to set up the trainer. But if the weathers not too bad (i.e. no sideways rain) I can set it up on the deck so I can see the TV and enjoy a cool breeze instead of the stagnant air of the garage (which really isn't so bad - in the wintertime).
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Speaking of Magazines
Last week I sorted through the 100 or so back issues of my various magazines; Outside, Trail Runner, Runner's World, Bicycling, Mountain Bike, with a few issues of Men's Health and Backpacker thrown in. (Those are listed from most favorite to least.) Mostly, I just checked each magazine for articles I might want to save it for, like if there was an especially good core workout outlined or a plan for "your best" half marathon. I also tore out some ads that I thought would look good on the wall of my cube. (My personal favorite is a Yakima ad with a "coach" saying, "Too tired to ride? I've got something for you," and holding up a baby's pacifier.)
For starters, it's funny how hindsight is 20/20. I chuckled at the "Congratulations Floyd" ads from his 2006 Tour de France. I also noticed a lot of ads featuring Jan Ulrich, Alexandre Vinokourov and Ivan Basso.
I also enjoyed revisiting Dave Zabriskie's interview of Floyd Landis from a 2006 issue of Bicycling. It really looks like Bicycling and Outside seemed to think Landis would win that Tour de France (and he did - for a little while) during the months leading up, even though neither outlet would make that a firm prediction.
My favorite article is from the February 2007 issue of Runner's World. What's fortunate is that it turned out I had two copies of that issue - it must have been just as I began my subscription and I bought one newstand and got one in the mail.
It was a fairly short interview with ultra runner Tim Tweitmeyer. What's missing from the online version is one of the pictures - he allowed Runner's World to publish his 1996 Quick Diaries log. Basically it's a year-at-a-glance perspective of his 1996 training. It was interesting to learn how he peaked and which months he just used for "maintenance miles."
I'd post that up here, but A. I don't have permission, and B. the copy I cut out is pinned up on my cubicle wall.
For starters, it's funny how hindsight is 20/20. I chuckled at the "Congratulations Floyd" ads from his 2006 Tour de France. I also noticed a lot of ads featuring Jan Ulrich, Alexandre Vinokourov and Ivan Basso.
I also enjoyed revisiting Dave Zabriskie's interview of Floyd Landis from a 2006 issue of Bicycling. It really looks like Bicycling and Outside seemed to think Landis would win that Tour de France (and he did - for a little while) during the months leading up, even though neither outlet would make that a firm prediction.
My favorite article is from the February 2007 issue of Runner's World. What's fortunate is that it turned out I had two copies of that issue - it must have been just as I began my subscription and I bought one newstand and got one in the mail.
It was a fairly short interview with ultra runner Tim Tweitmeyer. What's missing from the online version is one of the pictures - he allowed Runner's World to publish his 1996 Quick Diaries log. Basically it's a year-at-a-glance perspective of his 1996 training. It was interesting to learn how he peaked and which months he just used for "maintenance miles."
I'd post that up here, but A. I don't have permission, and B. the copy I cut out is pinned up on my cubicle wall.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Week Log: April 20-26
Tuesday: Run 4.0 miles, 36 min. Nice mid-day lunchtime run before the rains come.
Wednesday: Run 4.0 miles, 36 min. (see above)
Thursday: Bike 15.7 miles, 57 min. Windy, but felt pretty good.
Friday: Run 5.0 miles, 47 min. Lunchtime run (yes, I snuck an extra mile in).
Saturday: Bike 47.6 miles, 3:00 HOT day. Also got a little lost.
Sunday: Run 3.0 miles, 31 min. Had planned to do the MAF test, but my legs weren't really up to it after yesterday's ride.
Total: Run 16 miles, Bike 63 miles.
Sometime soon, I'll have to start riding my bike more than twice a week. Especially, since I'm signed up for The 100 Miles of Nowhere. But I have to imagine putting in 47 miles in 85+ degree heat gave me a good start.
Of course, I have the Pittsburgh Marathon next week that I'm going to have to deal with first. I'll have a preview up Thursday or Friday. If I remember - something I've not been very good about lately (remembering).
Wednesday: Run 4.0 miles, 36 min. (see above)
Thursday: Bike 15.7 miles, 57 min. Windy, but felt pretty good.
Friday: Run 5.0 miles, 47 min. Lunchtime run (yes, I snuck an extra mile in).
Saturday: Bike 47.6 miles, 3:00 HOT day. Also got a little lost.
Sunday: Run 3.0 miles, 31 min. Had planned to do the MAF test, but my legs weren't really up to it after yesterday's ride.
Total: Run 16 miles, Bike 63 miles.
Sometime soon, I'll have to start riding my bike more than twice a week. Especially, since I'm signed up for The 100 Miles of Nowhere. But I have to imagine putting in 47 miles in 85+ degree heat gave me a good start.
Of course, I have the Pittsburgh Marathon next week that I'm going to have to deal with first. I'll have a preview up Thursday or Friday. If I remember - something I've not been very good about lately (remembering).
Friday, April 24, 2009
What I Learned on Last Night's Bike Ride
After work last night, I finally got out on my bike. It was in the high 50's and a little windy, but proved to be quite educational. In fact, I learned a few things:
1. My right leg doesn't behave the same as my left leg does. Or maybe the shape is different? Because my knee warmer stays put on my left leg, but the one on the right leg bunches up. I tried to fix this a few times, which must have looked strange to the Jeep Wrangler that passed me while I had my shorts rolled up, trying to adjust my leg warmer.
2. Tree branches blend in well with the road. Especially large ones that are in areas without any trees around. That you are heading towards at 25 mph. And you just barely avoid.
3. If you don't think about your speed you don't get as tired. I'm notorious for trying to keep a certain average speed. I used to regularly average 18 mph on this same route that I've been averaging less than 16 lately. But yesterday was windy, so I decided speed didn't matter since all I would do is wear myself out fighting "invisible hills" and I still averaged over 16 mph.
4. Molasses cookies make good bike fuel. Okay, I only ate one before I left, but I felt great!
1. My right leg doesn't behave the same as my left leg does. Or maybe the shape is different? Because my knee warmer stays put on my left leg, but the one on the right leg bunches up. I tried to fix this a few times, which must have looked strange to the Jeep Wrangler that passed me while I had my shorts rolled up, trying to adjust my leg warmer.
2. Tree branches blend in well with the road. Especially large ones that are in areas without any trees around. That you are heading towards at 25 mph. And you just barely avoid.
3. If you don't think about your speed you don't get as tired. I'm notorious for trying to keep a certain average speed. I used to regularly average 18 mph on this same route that I've been averaging less than 16 lately. But yesterday was windy, so I decided speed didn't matter since all I would do is wear myself out fighting "invisible hills" and I still averaged over 16 mph.
4. Molasses cookies make good bike fuel. Okay, I only ate one before I left, but I felt great!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Good-Bye Bicycling
A few weeks ago I got a notice saying that my subscription to Bicycling magazine is due to run out after the August issue. I plan to let it expire. But before I tell you about how much I don't like Bicycling magazine, let me tell you some good things that they've done.
With their magazine, that is. I could bore you with facts about Biketown and Biketown Africa, but I'd rather give them some kudos for some of the changes that their new editor, whose name at the moment escapes me, has made.
Like dropping Style Guy. If I wanted to read someone pontificating on the value of bibs versus baggies, I'd read BikeSnobNYC.
And she gave BikeSnobNYC a regular column. But if I wanted to read BSNYC, I could always just read BikeSnobNYC.
Also, I commend her for giving cycling attorney Bob Mionske a regular column. Knowing the rules of the road and knowing what the law is for cyclists is invaluable information.
But the problem I have with Bicycling, is that it doesn't cater to fitness cyclists. Okay, maybe I'm not really a "fitness" cyclist since I do have a purpose for my riding besides just staying trim. But I'm also not a hammerhead that averages 20 mph on his easy days. Often it seems that if you're not racing, you're not really cycling.
That's also backed by their exclusion of any bike that costs under $2,500 from their reviews unless it's a cruiser or for your 13-year old kid. Some of us don't have $2,500 to spend on a bike because we have mortgages and electric bills to pay. And really, if you're not racing, you don't need to spend $2,500 on a bike.
I'm also a little disappointed by Mountain Bike that's included with my subscription to Bicycling. Maybe that's just because I don't know the difference between free riding and cross-country. I thought mountain biking was about riding knobby tires on trails, but there are so many sub-categories, it's impossible to keep up. Maybe that's why I'm such a lousy mountain biker? So I've tried to read Mountain Bike, but it simply doesn't hold my attention.
There are also a few articles you can expect every year. The January-February issue will have on the cover somewhere "New Year, New You" (also true of Runner's World) and every summer you can read "Ride Your Best Century Ever" and somewhere in-between you can learn how you can "Lose Five Pounds Now!" But there's a general lack of human interest stories (with the exception of the amazing Jock Boyer article a couple months ago and the regular "toot-your-own-horn" Biketown stories).
It just seems like Bicycling has lost touch with the roadie on a $1200 bike who can't keep up with the pack at the local "citizens" race. Or maybe I'm just more of trail runner these days than cyclist...
With their magazine, that is. I could bore you with facts about Biketown and Biketown Africa, but I'd rather give them some kudos for some of the changes that their new editor, whose name at the moment escapes me, has made.
Like dropping Style Guy. If I wanted to read someone pontificating on the value of bibs versus baggies, I'd read BikeSnobNYC.
And she gave BikeSnobNYC a regular column. But if I wanted to read BSNYC, I could always just read BikeSnobNYC.
Also, I commend her for giving cycling attorney Bob Mionske a regular column. Knowing the rules of the road and knowing what the law is for cyclists is invaluable information.
But the problem I have with Bicycling, is that it doesn't cater to fitness cyclists. Okay, maybe I'm not really a "fitness" cyclist since I do have a purpose for my riding besides just staying trim. But I'm also not a hammerhead that averages 20 mph on his easy days. Often it seems that if you're not racing, you're not really cycling.
That's also backed by their exclusion of any bike that costs under $2,500 from their reviews unless it's a cruiser or for your 13-year old kid. Some of us don't have $2,500 to spend on a bike because we have mortgages and electric bills to pay. And really, if you're not racing, you don't need to spend $2,500 on a bike.
I'm also a little disappointed by Mountain Bike that's included with my subscription to Bicycling. Maybe that's just because I don't know the difference between free riding and cross-country. I thought mountain biking was about riding knobby tires on trails, but there are so many sub-categories, it's impossible to keep up. Maybe that's why I'm such a lousy mountain biker? So I've tried to read Mountain Bike, but it simply doesn't hold my attention.
There are also a few articles you can expect every year. The January-February issue will have on the cover somewhere "New Year, New You" (also true of Runner's World) and every summer you can read "Ride Your Best Century Ever" and somewhere in-between you can learn how you can "Lose Five Pounds Now!" But there's a general lack of human interest stories (with the exception of the amazing Jock Boyer article a couple months ago and the regular "toot-your-own-horn" Biketown stories).
It just seems like Bicycling has lost touch with the roadie on a $1200 bike who can't keep up with the pack at the local "citizens" race. Or maybe I'm just more of trail runner these days than cyclist...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A Season Ends
Last night was the last night of my bowling league for the 2008-09 season.
The season's end is always a surprise because we never get a season-long schedule, we just show up Monday night and see what lane we're on this week and the next week. This week there was no lane assignments for next week, so that's how I know the season is over.
And a good piece of me says "good riddance." I spent half the season trying to get some kind of consistency in my approach and hook. Finally, I changed the way I grip the ball on my approach and it gave me a big, sweeping hook that allowed me to add a couple more pins to my average before the end of the season.
That average is a 168, my lowest average in three years, when I averaged 165 the year I first learned to hook the ball. This is also the second year in a row that I've failed to score a 600 series.
But on the other hand I got my "healthy rewards" gift card reloaded last week and have enough to buy a new ball, which I've been itching to do for a while, but haven't made bowling enough of a priority to do so. But since this new ball is basically "free", I feel a little less guilty about it.
So maybe this summer I'll find a little time to spend at the lanes, getting used to a new ball and come back next fall to give that average a boost.
The season's end is always a surprise because we never get a season-long schedule, we just show up Monday night and see what lane we're on this week and the next week. This week there was no lane assignments for next week, so that's how I know the season is over.
And a good piece of me says "good riddance." I spent half the season trying to get some kind of consistency in my approach and hook. Finally, I changed the way I grip the ball on my approach and it gave me a big, sweeping hook that allowed me to add a couple more pins to my average before the end of the season.
That average is a 168, my lowest average in three years, when I averaged 165 the year I first learned to hook the ball. This is also the second year in a row that I've failed to score a 600 series.
But on the other hand I got my "healthy rewards" gift card reloaded last week and have enough to buy a new ball, which I've been itching to do for a while, but haven't made bowling enough of a priority to do so. But since this new ball is basically "free", I feel a little less guilty about it.
So maybe this summer I'll find a little time to spend at the lanes, getting used to a new ball and come back next fall to give that average a boost.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Week Log: April 13-19
Monday: Run 4.0 miles 37 min. Lunchtime run around the office park. Left IT band is starting to flare up again. Nothing serious, just letting it's presence known.
Tuesday: Bike ~11 miles, 45 min. On the trainer. My first trainer ride in a long time. Wasn't so bad. Maybe the "Century of Nowhere" is still in the cards.
Thursday: Run 4.0 miles, 38 min. Another lunchtime run, but my IT band feels a little better.
Friday: Run 4.0 miles, 37 min. Third lunch-run of the week. Two days in a row might have been a bit much - IT band is a little achy again.
Friday: Bike 23.1 miles, 1:23 Weather like we had on Friday deserves a bike ride. I can tell I'm not in "cycling shape" because my calves cramped a little when I sprinted through a couple lights.
Sunday: Run 9.0 miles, 1:45 One lap around Pinchot State Park. Nice to play on the trail and in the mud.
Total: Run 21 miles, Bike 34 miles.
Good week overall, but would rather be getting more (running) miles in. But I can't push it now, Pittsburgh is two weeks away and the last thing I need is to have one of my IT bands blow up on me. (Each seem to get sore at different times. Weird.)
The good news is that other than my IT band issues, I feel like I'm as fit as I've ever been. My eight miles at Pinchot today went quickly with my heart rate (for the most part) kept under my MAF. (Which reminds me, I should do a MAF test sometime this week.)
Tuesday: Bike ~11 miles, 45 min. On the trainer. My first trainer ride in a long time. Wasn't so bad. Maybe the "Century of Nowhere" is still in the cards.
Thursday: Run 4.0 miles, 38 min. Another lunchtime run, but my IT band feels a little better.
Friday: Run 4.0 miles, 37 min. Third lunch-run of the week. Two days in a row might have been a bit much - IT band is a little achy again.
Friday: Bike 23.1 miles, 1:23 Weather like we had on Friday deserves a bike ride. I can tell I'm not in "cycling shape" because my calves cramped a little when I sprinted through a couple lights.
Sunday: Run 9.0 miles, 1:45 One lap around Pinchot State Park. Nice to play on the trail and in the mud.
Total: Run 21 miles, Bike 34 miles.
Good week overall, but would rather be getting more (running) miles in. But I can't push it now, Pittsburgh is two weeks away and the last thing I need is to have one of my IT bands blow up on me. (Each seem to get sore at different times. Weird.)
The good news is that other than my IT band issues, I feel like I'm as fit as I've ever been. My eight miles at Pinchot today went quickly with my heart rate (for the most part) kept under my MAF. (Which reminds me, I should do a MAF test sometime this week.)
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Secret to Six-Pack Abs
Strange that I should be posting on this, since last fall I declared that I was pretty much giving up on getting six-packs.
Normally a post like this is just an ad for P90X or some sort of acai or other fat-burning product. But this is no such thing (because nobody will pay me to post things like that - or this for that matter).
But I've been bowling this winter, and bowling (for a right hander) really develops your right biceps, shoulder and chest and the left side of your abs. So much so, that if you look carefully, you can see a bit of a "three pack" developing on my left side. I'd take a picture, but I'm pretty much it's too nuanced for you to see it in a photo.
But even if it isn't a "three pack" my abs are definitely more developed on the left than the right. So I realized, if I could bowl left-handed, I could even out this muscular imbalance and have a pretty ripped body. From bowling!
So why don't we see a lot of ripped bodies at our bowling centers? I'm guessing that few bowlers go out and run 20-30 miles a week as well to burn off that excess fat that is hiding their abs. In fact, I think I may be the only one. So cardio is important.
I only bowl once a week (for three games) so this should be enough to develop your abs. Bowl three games right-handed and three games left-handed. It might get expensive, and your left-handed games will probably really stink, but you're abs will get ripped. Okay, maybe not ripped, but they will get toned.
I thought about working out a bowling-equivalent exercise that would do the same, but I've already quit strength work for the time being, and would rather just ride my bike.
Normally a post like this is just an ad for P90X or some sort of acai or other fat-burning product. But this is no such thing (because nobody will pay me to post things like that - or this for that matter).
But I've been bowling this winter, and bowling (for a right hander) really develops your right biceps, shoulder and chest and the left side of your abs. So much so, that if you look carefully, you can see a bit of a "three pack" developing on my left side. I'd take a picture, but I'm pretty much it's too nuanced for you to see it in a photo.
But even if it isn't a "three pack" my abs are definitely more developed on the left than the right. So I realized, if I could bowl left-handed, I could even out this muscular imbalance and have a pretty ripped body. From bowling!
So why don't we see a lot of ripped bodies at our bowling centers? I'm guessing that few bowlers go out and run 20-30 miles a week as well to burn off that excess fat that is hiding their abs. In fact, I think I may be the only one. So cardio is important.
I only bowl once a week (for three games) so this should be enough to develop your abs. Bowl three games right-handed and three games left-handed. It might get expensive, and your left-handed games will probably really stink, but you're abs will get ripped. Okay, maybe not ripped, but they will get toned.
I thought about working out a bowling-equivalent exercise that would do the same, but I've already quit strength work for the time being, and would rather just ride my bike.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The IT Band Hokey Pokey
Quick anatomy lesson: the IT band is a sheath of tendons that runs from your hip and attaches to the tibia (hence the name iliotibial band) just below your knee. Sometimes this gets inflamed, especially if you're a runner.
Quick personal history: Last fall I went into the JFK 50 undertrained because of inflammation in my left IT band. I saw a doctor and got things cleared up enough to run the JFK 50, but not nearly at the level I could have if I had gotten in the training I needed. After JFK, I took a couple weeks off and with regular hip strengthening exercises and stretching, I finally ditched the ITBS (iliotibial band syndrome) in January.
Fast forward to February. On my mountainous long run in February of 24 miles, the IT band in my right leg started flaring up. It was okay for a while, but at Hashewha Hills 50K it kicked up again, badly. So much so I couldn't even attempt the 50K HAT run in March.
Now, it's been over six weeks since Hashewha and my IT issues in my right leg are finally gone. For over a month I hadn't run more than 13 miles in a week, until last week when I finally got a 20-miler in as my last long run before the Pittsburgh Marathon.
But on Thursday of last week, during my lunchtime run I noticed a little ache in my left knee. Then yesterday when I was running during lunch I noticed the same ache, a little more pronounced. My left IT band is flaring up. I will still be able to run Pittsburgh, but you can bet I'm starting treatment on this thing NOW.
To summarize. Last fall, I had IT issues in my left leg. In the winter, my right IT band flared up. And now in the spring, my left IT band is hurting again. It's the ITBS hokey-pokey.
"...and that's what it's all about."
Quick personal history: Last fall I went into the JFK 50 undertrained because of inflammation in my left IT band. I saw a doctor and got things cleared up enough to run the JFK 50, but not nearly at the level I could have if I had gotten in the training I needed. After JFK, I took a couple weeks off and with regular hip strengthening exercises and stretching, I finally ditched the ITBS (iliotibial band syndrome) in January.
Fast forward to February. On my mountainous long run in February of 24 miles, the IT band in my right leg started flaring up. It was okay for a while, but at Hashewha Hills 50K it kicked up again, badly. So much so I couldn't even attempt the 50K HAT run in March.
Now, it's been over six weeks since Hashewha and my IT issues in my right leg are finally gone. For over a month I hadn't run more than 13 miles in a week, until last week when I finally got a 20-miler in as my last long run before the Pittsburgh Marathon.
But on Thursday of last week, during my lunchtime run I noticed a little ache in my left knee. Then yesterday when I was running during lunch I noticed the same ache, a little more pronounced. My left IT band is flaring up. I will still be able to run Pittsburgh, but you can bet I'm starting treatment on this thing NOW.
To summarize. Last fall, I had IT issues in my left leg. In the winter, my right IT band flared up. And now in the spring, my left IT band is hurting again. It's the ITBS hokey-pokey.
"...and that's what it's all about."
Monday, April 13, 2009
Two Left Feet
On my long run Saturday, I decided the finally test out my new Drymax Maximum Protection Socks. I had ordered these well over a month ago and because of their price tag ($23.95), decided to wait for the best opportunity to try them out.
A 20-mile long run on the road seemed like the best opportunity, so I pulled them out and put them on. That's when I noticed something:
A 20-mile long run on the road seemed like the best opportunity, so I pulled them out and put them on. That's when I noticed something:
Yep, two left socks. A lot of the higher-end running socks are right-left specific and for some reason they packaged two lefts together, and I got the lucky package. So if somebody out there got two rights, let me know and maybe we can swap.
FYI - I went ahead and wore them anyway, and even though I had an existing blister from the same shoes, I can report that I got no new blisters wearing these socks!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Week Log: April 6-12
Monday: Run 7.5 miles, 1:17 IT band is still feeling pretty good, but I'm enjoying this near-perfect weather.
Wednesday: Run 4.0 miles, 38 min. First lunchtime run in well over a year. Nice thing about being back at the Mechanicsburg office is the ability to squeeze in a workout in the middle of the day.
Thursday: Bike 16.0 miles, 1:00 Another windy day (has spring always been this windy?) but I felt pretty good.
Saturday: Run 20.0 miles, 3:43 Had to wait out the rain to get my run in, but it was so worth it. For the first time ever, I ran over 12 miles on the road without regular walk breaks. I only walked on the occasional steep hill, changing out my water bottles and at my rest stop after around nine miles.
Totals: Run 31 miles, Bike 16 miles
I think I'm finally past this whole IT band thing. I'll continue the stretches and exercises, but it feels good to back! I kind of wish I had a little more time to train for Pittsburgh now that I'm feeling well, but as every athlete in the history of the world has said "it is what it is" and I feel that my training is adequate for Pittsburgh (though not ideal).
I'm thinking now that a marathon PR will be likely, 4:00 might be a stretch. But I'm at the point when any additional training won't help me much, but there is definitely a psychological boost in having that 20-miler done and be recovering very well (legs aren't even sore today!)
Wednesday: Run 4.0 miles, 38 min. First lunchtime run in well over a year. Nice thing about being back at the Mechanicsburg office is the ability to squeeze in a workout in the middle of the day.
Thursday: Bike 16.0 miles, 1:00 Another windy day (has spring always been this windy?) but I felt pretty good.
Saturday: Run 20.0 miles, 3:43 Had to wait out the rain to get my run in, but it was so worth it. For the first time ever, I ran over 12 miles on the road without regular walk breaks. I only walked on the occasional steep hill, changing out my water bottles and at my rest stop after around nine miles.
Totals: Run 31 miles, Bike 16 miles
I think I'm finally past this whole IT band thing. I'll continue the stretches and exercises, but it feels good to back! I kind of wish I had a little more time to train for Pittsburgh now that I'm feeling well, but as every athlete in the history of the world has said "it is what it is" and I feel that my training is adequate for Pittsburgh (though not ideal).
I'm thinking now that a marathon PR will be likely, 4:00 might be a stretch. But I'm at the point when any additional training won't help me much, but there is definitely a psychological boost in having that 20-miler done and be recovering very well (legs aren't even sore today!)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Not Much to Say
There's not a lot going on here, so I don't have much to say. But in honor of my fondness for bananas, please enjoy the following:
There's a minute and 45 seconds you're never getting back!
Happy Easter!
There's a minute and 45 seconds you're never getting back!
Happy Easter!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
8 to 5
This week, I finally started in my new position at work.
It came as kind of a surprise, because I was told several weeks back that because the economy, etc., etc., that it would be a while before I could move back to the Mechanicsburg building.
So in the meantime, I settle in, buy new tires for my commute bike (which I won't be using due to traffic in Mechanicsburg) and gird my loins for another five or six months in New Cumberland.
Then this past Tuesday, I got the call. My manager called me from San Francisco to tell me that I was finally moving. On Monday. So I had all of three days to pack up, and prepare for my new job. Not that I'm complaining, these days it's good just to have a job, never mind moving into a job that is even better!
But the really tough part is switching from 7:30-4 (with a half-hour lunch) to 8-5 (with a full hour lunch). Since Beth works 8-5, having me work a different shift was nice because we weren't tripping over each other in the morning, and I would usually be finishing up my evening run or bike ride at about the time she got home.
Now I get home at about the same time she does and in the morning, I still get up earlier, but I find my self dawdling for about a half hour before I really need to go. (Gives me a chance to do stuff like blog sometimes.) But now I feel like there's fewer hours in the day - probably because of the full hour lunch.
Having a full hour for lunch does give me a chance to get a run in, or run home (I live only about 2.5 miles from work) to do some church business or read blogs. But it also means that I'm home a half hour later and Beth then gets home right after me, so it's not so easy to just take off on a run or bike ride.
Who knew that half an hour change in shift would require such adjustment?
It came as kind of a surprise, because I was told several weeks back that because the economy, etc., etc., that it would be a while before I could move back to the Mechanicsburg building.
So in the meantime, I settle in, buy new tires for my commute bike (which I won't be using due to traffic in Mechanicsburg) and gird my loins for another five or six months in New Cumberland.
Then this past Tuesday, I got the call. My manager called me from San Francisco to tell me that I was finally moving. On Monday. So I had all of three days to pack up, and prepare for my new job. Not that I'm complaining, these days it's good just to have a job, never mind moving into a job that is even better!
But the really tough part is switching from 7:30-4 (with a half-hour lunch) to 8-5 (with a full hour lunch). Since Beth works 8-5, having me work a different shift was nice because we weren't tripping over each other in the morning, and I would usually be finishing up my evening run or bike ride at about the time she got home.
Now I get home at about the same time she does and in the morning, I still get up earlier, but I find my self dawdling for about a half hour before I really need to go. (Gives me a chance to do stuff like blog sometimes.) But now I feel like there's fewer hours in the day - probably because of the full hour lunch.
Having a full hour for lunch does give me a chance to get a run in, or run home (I live only about 2.5 miles from work) to do some church business or read blogs. But it also means that I'm home a half hour later and Beth then gets home right after me, so it's not so easy to just take off on a run or bike ride.
Who knew that half an hour change in shift would require such adjustment?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Junior High Retreat 2009
I spent this past weekend just across the Pennsylvania New York border at the Junior High retreat with seven of our youth and one other leader. The bad news is that other leader wasn't my wife. The good news was that she was pretty good at keeping the kids in line (that pretty much made me their favorite).
The tone of the trip was set when the other leader one of the boys had the following exchange with the other leader (Sue):
"I'm starving!"
"Didn't you eat before we left?"
"Yeah, but...I mean, I'm starving for donuts!"
For some reason the kids think Junior High Retreat should be a giant junk-food-fest. I never bring any, because the kids bring more than enough to share and they're usually sick of it by Sunday.
Since our youth group is relatively small, we bunked with the group from Glenview Alliance. They have a hilarious youth pastor named Chris and some pretty crazy kids. It was from them that I heard the second hilarious exchange:
"Did you bring your lightsaber with you?"
"I was going to, but my mom unpacked it."
Trust me, it was funny at the time.
The big concern for me was the weather. If it was rainy all day Saturday how could I keep the kids busy indoors without losing my own mind. More importantly, how could I keep the kids from going outside to play in the rain? Fortunately, with the exception of a few sprinkles, the weekend was pretty dry.
Saturday started early and I had managed only a few hours sleep. It turns out that we had some camp staff bunking on the floor below us and they didn't have to abide by the same rules as we did. So in addition to my guys keeping me up until 1:00, I also had to fare with a fair amount of thumping and yelling from downstairs at about 5:00 AM. I was not a happy camper.
Friday night was also the point where I had this exchange with a seventh grader:
"Jeff, do you have a sharpie with you?"
"No, sorry. What do you need a sharpie for?"
"Uh...nothing."
Four cups of coffee Saturday morning and our bunk's victory in the "Lake Champion Challenge" got my energy back up again and our free time was taken up by not one, not two, not three...but five of the seven kids we brought doing the ropes course, including three of the four girls. When I watched them do it, I kind of wanted to puke, because I do NOT like heights. Forget that I'm taking a bigger risk riding my bike down the road than being harnessed in on this course roughly fifty feet in the air - it looked SCARY, and I wanted no part in it. But my hat goes off to the kids who did, I was impressed.
I think I did a pretty good job wearing the boys out on Saturday, because our cabin was quiet after lights out and I slept really well that night. Okay, maybe it was the fact that there was tons to do and the guys were never bored.
Sunday morning I told them that they could have written all over my face and I would have slept through it. Maybe that was a mistake.
The four hour drive home was fairly uneventful and I didn't have to make the kids clean the van like I did last year, so overall it was a success. And I don't feel bad about missing my running and cycling workouts. Because I am SORE from disc golf, basketball, lack of sleep and the exertion it takes to keep up with 13-year olds.
The tone of the trip was set when the other leader one of the boys had the following exchange with the other leader (Sue):
"I'm starving!"
"Didn't you eat before we left?"
"Yeah, but...I mean, I'm starving for donuts!"
For some reason the kids think Junior High Retreat should be a giant junk-food-fest. I never bring any, because the kids bring more than enough to share and they're usually sick of it by Sunday.
Since our youth group is relatively small, we bunked with the group from Glenview Alliance. They have a hilarious youth pastor named Chris and some pretty crazy kids. It was from them that I heard the second hilarious exchange:
"Did you bring your lightsaber with you?"
"I was going to, but my mom unpacked it."
Trust me, it was funny at the time.
The big concern for me was the weather. If it was rainy all day Saturday how could I keep the kids busy indoors without losing my own mind. More importantly, how could I keep the kids from going outside to play in the rain? Fortunately, with the exception of a few sprinkles, the weekend was pretty dry.
Saturday started early and I had managed only a few hours sleep. It turns out that we had some camp staff bunking on the floor below us and they didn't have to abide by the same rules as we did. So in addition to my guys keeping me up until 1:00, I also had to fare with a fair amount of thumping and yelling from downstairs at about 5:00 AM. I was not a happy camper.
Friday night was also the point where I had this exchange with a seventh grader:
"Jeff, do you have a sharpie with you?"
"No, sorry. What do you need a sharpie for?"
"Uh...nothing."
Four cups of coffee Saturday morning and our bunk's victory in the "Lake Champion Challenge" got my energy back up again and our free time was taken up by not one, not two, not three...but five of the seven kids we brought doing the ropes course, including three of the four girls. When I watched them do it, I kind of wanted to puke, because I do NOT like heights. Forget that I'm taking a bigger risk riding my bike down the road than being harnessed in on this course roughly fifty feet in the air - it looked SCARY, and I wanted no part in it. But my hat goes off to the kids who did, I was impressed.
I think I did a pretty good job wearing the boys out on Saturday, because our cabin was quiet after lights out and I slept really well that night. Okay, maybe it was the fact that there was tons to do and the guys were never bored.
Sunday morning I told them that they could have written all over my face and I would have slept through it. Maybe that was a mistake.
The four hour drive home was fairly uneventful and I didn't have to make the kids clean the van like I did last year, so overall it was a success. And I don't feel bad about missing my running and cycling workouts. Because I am SORE from disc golf, basketball, lack of sleep and the exertion it takes to keep up with 13-year olds.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Week Log March 30 - April 5
Monday: Run 4.0 miles, 38 min. Needed to squeeze this in before bowling. It felt pretty much pain free - definite progress.
Tuesday: Bike 33.1 miles, 1:55 Tried out my new bib shorts and new gloves - both were excellent! Also, it was my longest (and fastest) ride of the year. The rear end is still adapting to sitting on that seat, but I'll get it toughened up in plenty of time for my epic ride in June.
Thursday: Run 7.1 miles, 1:12 IT band never hurt, just got a little tight. I think odds are good that I'll get my 20-miler in next week.
Total: run 11 miles, bike 33 miles
The Junior High Retreat foiled my weekend plans and although I intended to do a nine-miler this afternoon, I just didn't have the energy after spending the weekend with a bunch of high-energy middle schoolers.
But the fact that my IT band felt so good after the seven miles I ran on Thursday makes me think I'm just about set for the marathon. I'll get one solid week of good training in this week and start the taper. Hopefully I've retained all that fitness I built up in preparation for the HAT run (which didn't happen for me).
Tuesday: Bike 33.1 miles, 1:55 Tried out my new bib shorts and new gloves - both were excellent! Also, it was my longest (and fastest) ride of the year. The rear end is still adapting to sitting on that seat, but I'll get it toughened up in plenty of time for my epic ride in June.
Thursday: Run 7.1 miles, 1:12 IT band never hurt, just got a little tight. I think odds are good that I'll get my 20-miler in next week.
Total: run 11 miles, bike 33 miles
The Junior High Retreat foiled my weekend plans and although I intended to do a nine-miler this afternoon, I just didn't have the energy after spending the weekend with a bunch of high-energy middle schoolers.
But the fact that my IT band felt so good after the seven miles I ran on Thursday makes me think I'm just about set for the marathon. I'll get one solid week of good training in this week and start the taper. Hopefully I've retained all that fitness I built up in preparation for the HAT run (which didn't happen for me).
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Dream Adventures
This month's Outside magazine is one of the best issues I've read. It's the 2009 Adventure Issue, and if you want to see what's in it, you can go here.
The adventures people went on got me thinking about what I'd like to do, given that I had the time and resources. I took into account my abilities, so no "climbing El Cap" or "swimming the Bering Sea" here. But here's a quick list of some of my dream vacations:
1. Mountain biking in St. George, Utah. Originally this was "Mountain biking in Moab," but Dug insists that there or more and better trails in St. George. So, St. George it is.
2. Through-hike the Appalachian Trail. Not something I'll be doing anytime soon. Without any backpacking experience, and it being unwise to leave my wife and soon-to-be-born child for a three to six month stretch, this one is a little far-fetched right now. Maybe when I retire.
3. Circumnavigate Iceland by bike. Iceland has a famous road that runs all the way around the island that is famous for great riding. It might require a couple nights in a tent, and it may take a while, but it would be wicked fun.
4. Fish for peacock bass in the Amazon. This is a trip that I would love to take my dad on. Peacock bass are supposed to be the pound-for-pound fightingest fish out there, and when they get up around twenty or thirty pounds, that's a lot of fight! Besides that, you never know what you'll catch out of the Amazon - huge catfish, toothy piranha...it would be a blast!
Looking at these now, it seems like the fourth would probably be the most likely to happen - it would only be a 10-14 day vacation and it would be a lot easier to find someone who would go with me (I know a lot more people who fish than ride bikes) it would just be a matter of price...and getting to Brazil.
The adventures people went on got me thinking about what I'd like to do, given that I had the time and resources. I took into account my abilities, so no "climbing El Cap" or "swimming the Bering Sea" here. But here's a quick list of some of my dream vacations:
1. Mountain biking in St. George, Utah. Originally this was "Mountain biking in Moab," but Dug insists that there or more and better trails in St. George. So, St. George it is.
2. Through-hike the Appalachian Trail. Not something I'll be doing anytime soon. Without any backpacking experience, and it being unwise to leave my wife and soon-to-be-born child for a three to six month stretch, this one is a little far-fetched right now. Maybe when I retire.
3. Circumnavigate Iceland by bike. Iceland has a famous road that runs all the way around the island that is famous for great riding. It might require a couple nights in a tent, and it may take a while, but it would be wicked fun.
4. Fish for peacock bass in the Amazon. This is a trip that I would love to take my dad on. Peacock bass are supposed to be the pound-for-pound fightingest fish out there, and when they get up around twenty or thirty pounds, that's a lot of fight! Besides that, you never know what you'll catch out of the Amazon - huge catfish, toothy piranha...it would be a blast!
Looking at these now, it seems like the fourth would probably be the most likely to happen - it would only be a 10-14 day vacation and it would be a lot easier to find someone who would go with me (I know a lot more people who fish than ride bikes) it would just be a matter of price...and getting to Brazil.
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