Thursday.

Got out for a about an hour-and-a-half zone 2 spin today. A very welcome road ride after my experience in Maryland. I am very fortunate to be able to ride in an area like where I live...minimally traveled back roads that go for miles and miles.

I'm now off tomorrow as I'm travelling to Charlotte N.C. to visit some friends. I'll likely get out for a descent mountain bike ride Saturday morning...with minimal rocks...I'm pretty pumped about that!

I'll report from the road...until then...

Peace!

Rained out.

Patapsco Valley State Park...some great riding just outside Baltimore Maryland...

Unfortunately, my mountain bike never left this position while I was there.

I had to resort to a very forced rainy, cold, and windy road ride which was not fun considering the amount of traffic and limited space on the roads. It was that or nothing...and I rarely take the nothing option. With all that time I needed to spin...so spin I did...for about two-and-a-half hours. It did the job.

I'm bummed that I had two days straight with nothing but time and bikes and I got rained out almost completely. Never-the-less, it was a fun trip, and I'm thankful to have some time in the saddle.

Peace!

Rain.

I'm sitting at Barnes and Noble just outside Baltimore waiting for the rain to stop. It's raining big time out here! Doesn't look like the mountain bike will be coming off the bike rack...way too much water and mud around here. Good thing I brought the road bike for back-up. Should be able to get in a couple wet hours before the end of the day. :-)

Peace!

Sunday.

Manged to get out for a 25 mile zone 2 ride today. Why do I mention zone 2...because now that I have a solid number of base miles on the bike...I'm turning my training toward specific efforts at specific times in specific heart rate zones. This should help me take the next step in my training...well...at least I hope so. I'm a little skeptical about this whole heart rate zone stuff, but according to what I've read it should help.

I'm off tomorrow...then on for two very solid days of riding Tuesday and Wednesday. I'll also use the time off of work to compose a proposal for some local businesses I plan to ask for sponsorship for the LIVESTRONG Challenge Ride.

I'll report on the riding conditions in the Baltimore area after my Tuesday rides.

Peace!

TGIF!

I'm glad it's Friday for a number of reasons...first...I'm now off of work for 10 days. Second, I had a ride planned today. Once again time was not in abundance so I only managed to get out for a 30 miler. I decided to make it a good 30 miles by getting the heart rate up to about 80% effort and keeping it there the entire ride. Legs felt incredibly strong and could have kept going for much longer...but I had to shut it down so we could take the kids to the first carnival of the year...fun stuff I tell you...fun stuff. :-)

I'll take tomorrow off and then be back out for another road ride on Sunday. I'll use the day off to prep the mountain bike for the trip to Maryland. Got the inside scoop on what areas to hit up. Sounds like there is a variety of terrain at my disposal...and multiple hours...needless to say I'm pretty pumped!

Peace!

Easy spin.

Managed to fit in a quick easy spin today. Only went out for about an hour due to time constraints. The legs felt incredible! This past weekend put a hurting to them, and they responded in kind...almost laughing that we only spun for an easy hour. They are hungry for more...and more I will give them...in due time.

Next ride will be Friday...not sure if it will be mountain or road just yet. I have to say...I love having the choice again...not having a mountain bike for a while really sucked. Now I have two fast race machines...all I need to do is get to the level that I can really put a pounding to these bikes...getting there...slow and steady...the goal is to be able to ride 100 miles with ease...the plan is coming together...must be patient. ;-)

Peace!

The details.

Ok, the site is back up and I have a few minutes to update.

This past weekend was flat out awesome!!! There were 8 of us, 4 guys from the North Carolina crew, and 4 from the New England crew...we all came together and had an absolute blast with one another, riding, telling stories, and just overall having fun being with one another.

It was fun to get back out on the mountain bike for sure!! I can honestly say that I missed it. I love the road bike, but there is just something about being out in the woods with nothing but a bike and a few buddies tearing up some great trails. We are already planning another trip for later this year...back to Tsali in North Carolina...a great place to ride with some fast flowy single track!

As for my training...I've been off since Sunday spending time with the family and working. I'll be back on the bike tomorrow morning...the road bike...then switching back and forth between both bikes this weekend as I plan to hit up Allegrippis, as the report is that it's fast and flowy like Tsali. Unfortunately my mountain bike buddies will be out of town...so I'll be solo at Allegrippis. Might be hooking up with a few people for a group road ride though...so that will be cool.

I have a trip to Baltimore with my wife planned for next Tuesday/Wednesday as she has a conference to attend. We will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary while down there...with plans for a killer seafood dinner together...it should be awesome!! In addition to our anniversary celebration...is the celebration of having two entire days to be in the saddle...that's right...two full days of riding!! While Jeanine is at her conference...I'm taking to the saddle for as long as my body will let me. I will be contacting a local bike shop for some good road and mountain routes as I'll likely take both bikes with me. I can't wait!!!

Updates to follow...

Peace!

Mountain Bike Madness!

The website is not working for me so I can't get on the blog to update. I'm resorting to mobile blogging to provide a short update.

The mountain bike trip was awesome! 8 guys, three days worth of riding, and lots good times. We ended up going on 4 rides, three in the Rothrock area and one in the Coopers Gap area. Not sure of the total mileage...I judge these rides by amount of pain, not by the amount of miles. On the pain factor it was a 9. I need a few days of rest before I ride again.

I'll provide more of an update once the site is back up.

Peace!

Getting ready to...

get my dirt and rocks on!!! That's right, it's time to switch saddles, time to get in touch with my inner mountain bike karma...that means there should be bear sightings...because when it comes to mountain biking and Bear's...I'm a magnet! My perspective on Bear's has changed quite a bit since my first encounter with that Cinnamon Bear a few years ago. I was scared you-know-what-less then...not now...I've run into two other Bear's since that time...and now I almost welcome the opportunity...after all...they are one of nature's greatest creations...and to be able to see them up close without losing your life is pretty darn cool. ;-)

Anyway, preparations for the mountain bike madness are in full swing. First ride is tomorrow afternoon/evening. I'll report back once we get things rolling...literally...

Peace!

Yesterday's ride blew...

Literally! It was majorly windy...not good conditions for what was supposed to be an easy spin. Never-the-less, I stayed out and amassed a hard earned 20 miles. My legs are now sore...more sore than I'd like them to be considering the hammer-fest that's coming up this week...but hey...if it don't hurt...you ain't' doing it hard enough...right?!?!

So, on a more serious note...during my ride yesterday I managed to catch a spot on the road that was shielded by the wind, that had amazing scenery, and lasted for about a minute...and during that time I had a moment of true appreciation. A moment when I thought about how lucky I am to have all that I have...beautiful family and friends...secure employment...financial security...and a love for two wheels spinning on the road with nothing but the power I provide. Don't get me wrong...I've had my struggles, tragedies, bad times, etc...but I tend to be a forward moving person that doesn't get bogged down by things for very long.

Today I was thankful...thankful for everything life has to offer...thankful that I'm in a position where I can help raise money for cancer research...thankful that I raised $1500 so far (I often get frustrated that it's not more)...thankful that I got to honor my wife...the mother of our two beautiful children...thankful that she gave time for my bike ride on her day (Mother's Day)...thankful that my kids are curious and I can help them experience all that life has to offer...and thankful that I think of others and say and do things to wish them well.

This seems appropriate today...

"Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value." -Albert Einstein

Peace!

Friday.

Today was hill climb day...a day I look forward to...until I hit about the third or fourth climb and it starts to hurt. I totalled 15 climbs in all...some steep and gnarly...some more gradual. I usually pick three to four hills of differing length and grade...and repeat each one four to five times.

I seem to be a rain magnet lately. Today started off absolutely beautiful...then right about ride time the clouds rolled in and on my third climb it started raining. Par for the course in the spring time I guess.

Time for a little recovery tomorrow, then a moderately paced ride on Sunday in preparation for the mountain bike fest.

Peace!

Hump Day.

Got out for a moderately paced 20 mile spin today. Nothing too serious...just enough to open the legs up and get them stretched from this past weeks big mileage workout. This week is more about specific efforts than it is mileage. Today was a moderate short ride...Friday will be hill climb intervals...and then another easy spin on Sunday. Why a week with short specific rides you might ask...because some of my best buds are coming to town for a mountain bike extravaganza next week...so I need to settle down a bit and be specific so I'm ready to hammer the trails for 4 days straight!!

I am pumped for the weekend...it will encompass many things...first and foremost...fun with friends! In addition, it will also serve as great training as we'll be on the bikes for 4 days straight on some gnarly trails in Rothrock State Forest. The legs and lungs should take a good pounding...which makes me smile. I know, I'm kind of sick in that way...but I like it!

Ideas are abound in reference to fundraising for the LIVESTRONG Challenge!! The word is spreading and folks are looking to help me out...it's really awesome. Once things come together a bit better I'll share some of the plans.

Ok, I'm out until Friday (the day of pain).

Peace!

150!

I did it...I achieved my goal of 5 days, 5 rides, totalling 150 miles!!

Today's ride was supposed to mirror yesterday's ride, but that didn't happen. I saw some signs out for a charity ride the other day...a charity ride around a loop I usually ride...so I figured if the timing worked out I'd go out to support everyone, ride around at an easy pace, make some friends, donate a few dollars to the cause, and just have a good time at a cool event. Yeah, turns out I showed up to a slug-fest! Apparently they time this event, so it's basically a race. I showed up 5 minutes before the start, unregistered, asking what the deal was only to find out I had to sprint to the starting line if I wanted to do the ride...so I did...still thinking it was an easy pace ride. Did I mention that it was raining?! So, I show up at the pack of riders (probably 12) getting ready to start, tell them my situation...and they cheer with enthusiasm because I came out in the rain...yeah...then I find out it's a race format. My legs were just about spent from the previous 4 days worth of riding, but I figured what the heck, I'm here, might as well see how it goes. They start, I decide to start off slow, see what the pace would be like...one guy just takes off...he was clearly ready for this event. I'm riding second for the first mile or so...wondering where everyone is because I'm really not pushing...and a three guys pull up behind me...start small talk...and I am immediately relieved, feeling as though this isn't a cut-throat event. Yeah...not so...they pushed the pace until we hit the first climb...I decided to stretch the legs and see what they had left in them...I pass all three guys going up...and they catch back up when we leveled off as the legs let me know they were in no mood for this. I decided to cool it and just ride with the other three guys for as long as I could. We ended up doing two laps for a total of 10 miles...not really a big deal at all...but considering how tired I was and how ready these people were...I had to push pretty hard and my legs just didn't like it at all. I decided that since this was my last day of riding before a few days rest, I'd push through the pain as long as I could. So we hit the climb starting the second lap and again I charge up leaving all but one guy that made a mad sprint just before the climb...one of the other two guys catches me on the flat...and we start talking about the guy that took off...he didn't want him to get too far away...I agreed...so we paced him for about a mile...and then I pulled up next to the other guy and said let's go get him...and took off...I passed him on a long gradual uphill...the other guy held back...I'm now in second place with about 2 miles to go...I'm pretty excited...until my legs starting shutting down...they had had enough...not even being willing to hold a steady pace until the finish...the guy that held back caught me...asked if I was gonna push him to the finish...and I told him no way...I'm done...go for it...and he did. I finished third...not bad for an event I was clearly not ready for.

I will say this though...I really enjoyed the "racing" experience...big surprise there huh?! It's in my blood. If all goes well over the next month and a half...I might have to try this out for real at a cat 5 road racing event. Rest assured if I sign up...I'll be ready for that event. ;-)

Saturday.

The weather cooperated and I managed to get out for a quick 28 mile ride today. After yesterdays ride in the rain, I was really hoping it would hold off today, and it did. The legs were sore but still had plenty of life left in them so I pushed the pace and did some good hill climbs. I'll likely do the same ride tomorrow...which will put me at 150 miles for my five day stretch. A good accomplishment, but still not where I want to be for that many days of riding. I constantly have to remind myself that I'm making progress and that results take time...because I often want to see major results fast...and that just doesn't happen. I'm on track to be where I want to be, just need to practice a little patience.

Tomorrow morning there is a collegiate road bike race in State College that Alex and I are going to check out. He loves just about any kind of racing, and as a curious three and a half year old I like to help him experience every avenue of sport/racing there is so he can make a decision what he likes when he gets older. Then it's game on! I can't wait until he becomes passionate about a sport, be it traditional, auto, or other...I'll be behind him 100%!

I'll try to take some pictures to post tomorrow.

Until then...Peace!

The Big Five O...

I managed to get in my ride to Lock Haven today in the midst of rain and wind almost the entire way. It turns out the ride was only 34 miles, so when I arrived, I kept going to round out the ride to 50 miles. Distances above 30 miles always bring forth a great sense of accomplishment for me. I am now at 95 miles for the last three days...with plans to tack on another 55 this weekend, time and weather permitting of course. :-)

After my ride I went to lunch with my wife and a bunch of her colleagues...it was nice to meet everyone...great group of people. My wife's colleague Josh never made it out to meet me today...it just didn't work out for his schedule. We made an agreement at lunch to get out for a nice ride very soon. I'm excited to do that as he is a super cool guy and I enjoy riding with others.

More updates to come this weekend. Stay tuned...

Peace!