Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde.

That would best describe our weather in March. It goes from 65 and sunny one day to 40 with snow flurries the next. No worries though, the 40 with flurries JUST so happens to be a day off the bike and in the office...and what do you know...the next time I'm due to ride...it will be in the 60's and sunny again...I'm not complaining.

So I was able to get out for a relatively quick ride on Saturday before the family birthday party function. It was threatening rain but never happened. I clicked off 30 miles (with some great hill climbs) before arriving at the party. I was smart and put clothes in the car before Jeanine left with the kids so I could change when I got there.

I was going to ride on Sunday but decided it would be a family day instead. I had racked up 126 miles on the bike since last Sunday and was feeling like we needed to have some fun as a family, so I canned the ride, even though I REALLY wanted to be out. Funny, when I think about totalling up 126 miles in a week, it sounds like a lot, but it's really not. This is all part of the plan though...to build slowly and come on very strong for June, July, and August. I can feel my legs and lungs getting stronger by the day....very cool!

I have dropped 10 pounds since I started. I'm now at 179.6. It feels good to moving closer to my goals. Now if I can just get this fundraising deal to catch up. It is not easy work getting people to donate money, especially in this tough economic time. I have a few pledges for donations that haven't come in yet...I feel good about the promises, but won't rest until we get closer to the goal. :-)

Peace.

Friday.

Howdy folks. This update is going to be brief as it's getting late and I'm pretty tired. I got out for a 32 mile ride on this beautiful Friday. It was about 60 degrees and partly sunny for most of my ride...pretty nice conditions for March in central Pa. We've had a warm and dry month...good for outdoor activities...bad for fire threats. There have already been a couple brush fires in the area. Let's hope for more consistent rain as the spring progresses.

I saw quite a few other cyclists out today. It was nice to see others out on the road enjoying the great conditions. :-)

I manged to stop to take a few photos...I'll post them this weekend.

OK, time to hit the hot-tub to relax the muscles in preparation for tomorrows ride. Looking to click off another 25 to 30 miles.

Goodnight.

It's raining cats and dogs.

And I want nothing more than to be pounding out miles on the bike! I love rough weather conditions...it separates the men from the boys in my opinion...and just makes riding that much more fun because no one else is out. I'll have to wait for another day though as I sit in my office with a few more hours of work ahead of me. After that, it's time for a three day weekend filled with fun times with the family and many miles on the bike.

On a side note, I'm toying with the idea of purchasing a video camera so I can capture some riding time. I often want to stop and take pictures to put up here, but that would get in the way of the flow of my rides...so I'm thinking a video camera is the way to go. There is some great scenery where I ride and I'd really like to share it...stay tuned...I think I might be making a purchase soon. :-)

Riders high!

It's in full effect right this moment as I just returned from a 22 mile speed ride!! Good stuff!!

In case you aren't sure what I'm talking about, it's the natural high you get when you run, bike, or do just about any strenuous workout activity. I remember the first time I experienced this "high"...back in college when I used to run like a mad man...about 25 to 30 miles a week. Mix that in with playing tennis and being young, and you have the reason I used to only weight 135 lbs. Not so anymore my friends, old age, laziness, and poor eating habits have me far from that weight...but not for long! Stick with me here and you'll see me do my best Snoop Dog impression and drop it like it's hot, drop like it's hot...

OK, enough with the rap references...on with the ride report. The legs were still sore from my Sunday ride, but that didn't stop me from pounding out 22 fast paced miles...in the wind. Noticing a trend here? It's windy a lot around here...especially in the spring. It's usually on my way home too...so I can really feel the burn in the closing miles. Good stuff though! Even though the legs were sore...they had a good amount of power...which has me encouraged. I will rest tomorrow...then hit it hard Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

Peace out!

Late onset muscle soreness.

The muscles woke up this morning pretty sore. I'll be taking advantage of the hot-tub tonight to help deal with that so I can get in a descent ride tomorrow. Forecast includes 50 degree temps and rain and showers...might have to pull out the "bad weather bike". It's also a Specialized...an Allez Elite...not nearly as nice as the Tarmac, but it gets the job done. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not opposed to riding the Tarmac in the rain, but here in central Pa, we still have salt and crap on the roads from the winter, and I don't want that stuff in the components of the bike. Once we get another good rain or two, the roads should be clear.

Ok, I'm out. I'll report back after my ride tomorrow. :-)

I'm back...

and back with avengence! My plan for the day was to pound out mileage until my legs couldn't take anymore...pushing the pace, hammering the hills, and keeping the heart rate pegged! I was able to do that for 42 miles before the legs said "enough". I was pleased with the mileage as it was rather windy and I added some serious hill climbs to the ride.

My plan now is to let the legs recover a bit before hammering again on Wednesday.

Peace.

8 days and counting.

That's right, it's now been 8 days since I've been on the bike...not cool at all! I have to say though, that the rest has done me a ton of good...because whatever this sickness was, it was major, so it's a good thing I chilled out and got myself back on track. I still have a lingering cough and some specs of unwelcomed snot here and there...but it gets better every day. It killed me that I had to take yesterday off, it was 70 degrees and sunny out. I took advantage of the nice weather and cleaned up the bikes to let them know I'm with them in spirit, and so they'll be ready for the pounding they will take this weekend! If all goes well I'll be out for rides the next three days...YEAH BUDDY...I'm ready!

Bring on the March Madness!!

The sickness is holding on.

Yup. After working hard to have the sickness begin to retreat last week, it decided to fight back with avengence...and has had me down and out since last Thursday. It's finally starting to retreat again so all should be well in a day or two. I decided that rest and time off the bike was probably the best plan of action, so I haven't ridden since last Wednesday, not cool. Temps are forecasted to be in the upper 60's tomorrow...so I'll be out...even if it's an easy ride just to get the legs spinning. Once this sickness is gone for good...I'll be back at this in full swing...which will include more updates and pictures...and maybe some videos.

Happy St. Patty's Day! :-)

Mother Nature.

Ever watch a bird try to fly into the wind? That was me on my bike yesterday as Mother Nature threw out some 30 to 40mph winds during my ride. At one point I got blown right off the road...no worries though...I just dirt tracked it for a while until I could get back up on the tarmac. That sweet old lady can try to slow me down...but she won't stop me...I'm on a mission...and ya better just listen...to my rhymes cause I'm all about...OK...sorry about that...felt the need to break into a little LL Cool J.

Good news, the sickness is beginning to subside...I think it began to retreat during my ride yesterday...I would too...because I was bringing the fight to it pretty hard.

I will be sending out some fundraising letters today...that has me pretty pumped! I'm ready to start spreading the good word about this Challenge so we can make some progress in the financial department. We are well on our way to living a more healthy life and spreading the LIVESTRONG spirit, now it's time to put our money where our mouth is. :)

I think it's time for another quote:

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.

~William Arthur Ward

Down with the sickness.

Great song lyrics...but also an accurate description of me right now. Somethings got me feeling not quite right. I could feel it coming on Sunday afternoon.

I managed to get out in the amazing warm sunny weather we had on Friday and Saturday, totaling about 42 miles on the new road bike. The legs were sore on Sunday, but that didn't stop me from clicking off another 23 miles in wet chilly conditions on the "bad weather bike". :)

Whatever this sickness is (not quite a cold), it won't stop me from pushing on with my plan. Yesterday and today are rest days, then I'll be back at it tomorrow. My hope is to get about a 30 mile road ride in tomorrow, hit up the trainer Thursday night, then another 30 to 35 mile road ride on Friday before Jay comes to town. I'll then be off Saturday for a St. Patrick's Day party...then back on Sunday to pound some hill climbs...YEAH BUDDDY!!!

Take care all.

I am now equipped...

properly! Check this bad boy out!

I took it out for a quick 22 mile loop this evening...it's like a damn Ferrari!!

With 65 degree temps forecasted for tomorrow and Sunday, my butt will be firmly planted in the saddle for multiple hours!

I'll report back from the road after I click off some serious miles.

Peace!

Goals.

I'm a dangling carrot kind of guy...by that I mean I like to have something to shoot for...hence the topic of this post. On this, the day before my "secret weapon" arrives, I thought I'd lay out a few of my LIVESTRONG Challenge goals.

Let's start with my weight, since that seems the most appropriate place to begin. As an adult, my heaviest weight was 202.4 pounds. I know, holy fat bastard! I'm only 5' 5", and I like to "think" I carry my weight well, but that's just porky pig...now matter how you look at it. When I hit that weight, I decided a change was in order...especially considering that when I was in college, and ran like 25 to 30 miles a week, my lowest weight was 136. My friends thought I looked sick, because I was so skinny, but man did I feel AWESOME! I don't think I need to hit 136, more like 160. When I started this deal I weighed in at 189.6. On the scale this morning, 181.2...SWEET...that means progress is happening...I like progress...that means the carrot is getting closer. For this Challenge my goal weight will be set at 160. I think donating one of my chins along with some cash will be pretty sweet. :-)

My second goal is to really take the LIVESTRONG message and apply it to my life from here on out. I have a family, and generally like being alive, so I'm thinking it's a good idea to be as healthy as I can, so I can be around to enjoy life to its fullest. I will apply this message on a daily basis, by remaining steadfast in my approach to fitness, on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. After all, the definition of "health" covers all four areas, and I want to be "healthy". You know, I actually remember that from my high school health class...never forgot the definition of health, just didn't always work to have it be part of my life.

The next goal also revolves around the LIVESTRONG message. I want to inspire others to live more healthy lives and really have the LIVESTRONG message transcend the fight against cancer. We tend to be an unhealthy overweight country, and that is, for the most part, because we don't make good choices. Believe me, I'm guilty...it's easy to make poor choices...they usually taste better. ;-) Seriously though, my hope is to help the message get out that we can all be healthy individuals that lead very fulfilling lives...and it starts with choices...good choices.

So, there you have it...a short list of my goals as I embark on the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Stay tuned...I'll be unveiling my secret weapon after I pick it up tomorrow.

Until then...

SIUNARA

Wacky Wednesday!

At least, that's how it felt today. It was one of those days where I felt like I was operating in "fast forward"...ever have that feeling? It might, I say might, have had something to do with the GIGANTIC mocha latte I started the day with at Dunkin Donuts. I love going there with Jeanine and the kids, there's just something about coffee, an awesome wife, and two beautiful kids that makes the day right. Don't get me wrong, soon after my feeling of love and appreciation...the sugar high kicked in with the kids, and, well, you probably know the rest of the story.

Today is a short entry...it's time for the kids bath and then bed...then a trainer ride while Jeanine runs on the treadmill. It's a pretty cool setup...side by side in the basement.

Only two more days until my mack daddy purchase comes in...my "secret weapon" for the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Details to follow...

Peace out!

Good karma was flowing today.

How do I know? Because I had one of those moments where multiple things just came together and it created what I call a true moment of appreciation...one where you just know that some greater power had something to do with the order of the world for that moment. Pretty cool stuff.

In addition to the good karmic energy of the day is the feeling that this fundraising deal is really starting to take off, and I haven't even scratched the surface yet. I'm thinking this campaign is going to resemble that of a freight train...look out once it's starts rolling...because there won't be any stopping it!

Riding plans for this week include a trainer ride Tuesday evening, a 25 to 30 mile road ride Wednesday, more of the trainer Thursday evening, then hitting the road bike hard Friday and over the weekend. This karma stuff has me ready to pound out some serious miles. Here's to those not fortunate enough to be able to take to the bike due to complications with cancer...this week...I ride for you all.

LIVESTRONG

First post!

Well, here it is, my first post. I'm officially "official", whatever that means. OK, here's the deal. The main reason I'm starting this blog is to chronicle my riding/fundraising efforts for the Lance Armstrong Foundations LIVESTRONG Challenge. Yes, that's right, I've decided to take my efforts to fight cancer beyond simple thoughts and prayers. I've decided to raise some dough, moo la, green paper, coin, dinero, cash money...all to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the fight against cancer. Here's the link to my personal fundraising page.

http://philly09.livestrong.org/don_page10

And the link to the LIVESTRONG Challenge itself.

www.livestrongchallenge.com

Why have I decided to take on this challenge you might ask. Because I've been affected by cancer in many ways, most recently, by losing a client to cancer. I can't disclose their name due to confidentiality issues, but I can tell you that they had an amazing spirit, a fighting attitude, and not one ounce of feeling as though they were a powerless victim. That inspired me to look into some volunteer activity related to cancer...and just a few clicks later...I found the LIVESTRONG Challenge! What a great opportunity! I am extremely excited about it for a number of reasons.

I've always wanted to take a stand against cancer as I've witnessed what the disease does to people on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Having the opportunity to raise money for research is the perfect way for me to contribute...and it doesn't hurt that I get to help others spirits LIVESTRONG by riding my road bike 100 miles in honor of those affected, and those that have lost the battle along the way. This is going to help others and help me at the same time, as I am setting some personal goals to help the LIVESTRONG spirit transcend not only those fighting cancer, but those that can be leading healthier lives. I'll chronicle my personal goals at a later date...for now I'm going to close with my favorite quote.

If one advances confidently in the direction of thier dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. ~Thoreau

Peace.