Go slow

Dr Dre once said, "Today was a good day".  Even though I am writing about yesterday it still applies but I am not talking about it being good because I didn't get killed in a gang related activity as he was.  Unless of course you consider all of the cars on the road a gang and then it would be true, I didn't get killed in my daily life of gang bangin.

The ride over to Westcreek to meet the TnT crew for their Tuesday night ride went by very quickly.  I cannot put my finger on any one reason why it would have been so quick but it could have something to do with there being enough light left in the day for me to make the trip over without turning on the headlight to see, my legs just seemed to be firing on both cylinders (although Phil Ligget would never describe my legs as bronze pistons just driving the pain.  At least not this early in the season.) or maybe because I was riding through rival gang terroritory and didn't see many members at all.  The ones I did see must have feared recourse if they messed with me as they all showed crazy respect.

Once I arrived the pace dropped dramatically for the better part of the evening where I started a different type of endurance training, dealing with the cold!  With temps hovering just a couple (that's 2) degrees above freezing topped with not really moving my legs in a fashion to build up any heat in my cylinders my hands and feet went cold very quickly and stayed there.  At one point my upper lip was so numb it felt as if I had just visited the dentist and a local was injected into my lip to keep me from feeling the pain.  It made it hard for me to talk which I am sure was a pleasant side effect for the others.  I am just glad I didn't have drool running down my face.

After the ride was over I still had to make my way over to Jenn who was chillin at a local coffee house with one of her girlfriends.  The cylinders where on fire again and didn't want to stop.  According to the Garmin (which I couldn't see in the dark) I was pushing 28-29 mph for a bit over 2.5 miles of mostly flat road.  It felt great although I didn't think I had that kind of power in my legs already.  I probably will never have that power again.  It just goes to show you the old adage is true, You have to ride slow to ride fast.

Here we are at the beginning of a new week.  The weekend followed suit as last week and was over before I knew it.  Yesterday Jenn took Petra back to the vet for another X-ray.  We were extremely relieved to be told she should be fine.  Still not totally sure what was causing her stomach to be upset but she is back to chasing Sage around the house and doing her best to eat us out of house and home. 

This week should be another week of decent mileage but more importantly time in the saddle.  Today will be an off day but I plan to be on the bike Tuesday through Saturday.  If Mother Nature doesn't throw too much of a curve ball to use Thursday night I plan on getting a 50-60 mile ride in on Friday.  The pace probably won't be too exciting but the time in the saddle is more important at this point in the season.  Who knows, maybe on Saturday morning I may get in a nice long ride as well. 

Where did you go week?

Looking back at the week that was I am not sure where it went.  It was here and then gone before I knew it.  I was able to get in a good number of workouts without too much effort.  Seems as if I am starting to get into some sort of routine.  Really? I haven't had a training routine in about 5 years.  I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants kinda guy.  Last minute decisions to ride usually provide the best moments on the bike.

Monday's workout was spent on the trainer in front of the good ole boob tube.  I opened the windows, turned up the tv real loud and closed the blinds.  That way all my neighbors good here would be a gunshot every 2 minutes and me wincing in pain for 48.

Tuesday I rode with the TnT peeps inside of Westcreek.  Jenn was out of town so I headed over right after work to get in a few extra miles before meeting up with the rest.  I didn't really want to push the limit.  Just a nice easy spin through the creek.

Wednesday was a beautiful day with temps nearing 60 degrees.  It may have been slightly over 60 degrees but I don't remember that far back. With age not only does the hair start to go but the memory does as well.  Although, I did hear last night you can exercise your memory by doing some sort of exercise followed with socializing with peers.  My memory has no chance, as I usually head straight for the shower and chow hall (dinner table) after a workout.  After work it was a bit too dark and traffic seemed high for the time so instead of attaching lights to the bike which weren't fully charged, I grabbed my running shoes and took the pups for a run.  All three of us passed out for the night almost immediately afterward. 

Thursday and Friday - my legs still hurt from the run.  Was it a good idea?  Sure it was!

Saturday, started with a lot of radar watching to see if the weather was going to break to get in a ride with TnT after the kickoff party in the morning.  We ended up moving the ride to Sunday morning which I cannot participate in due to household income obligations.  I thought I was going to go home and jump on the rollers for a bit to stretch my legs out since they hadn't done anything but yell at me since Wed.  Instead, I suited up and went for a short ride up Old Gun to get the legs stretched out.  The ride went by pretty quickly in less than an hour but did a decent enough job of stretching the legs out.

Once home Jenn and I had to make the decision to take Petra into the vet.  She had been throwing up all night and it continued into the morning.  Fearing she had eaten something and was having trouble passing it we took her down to the docs.  On the way, we came across someone who was a bit too excited to get their boat to the water.  I know it was raining but the runoff on the road isn't enough water to make a boat float.

The docs took a few X-rays of her belly to reveal two masses.  One mass was food they said.  The other was a question mark.  It could be food.  It could be something foreign.  He prescribed no food for the rest of the day and to bring her back for another pic this morning.  Hopefully that question mark will have shifted and/or is gone.  If not she may need surgery.  She hasn't gotten sick since early yesterday evening so maybe that is a good sign.  Crossing our fingers...

End of January

Well here we are and the 2011 edition of January has come and gone.  It means a couple of things, time to look back and compare this year to last year and my plates on the car are due to expire shortly which I should probably take some action on fast.

Last year I was just as motivated to get my rear into gear due to it being the "New Year" and all.  Had a few pounds I didn't want to follow me around anymore and nothing on the schedule until the end of February when I made the decision to go out to Calvin's.  This year I put Calvin's on the schedule almost immediately due to how much fun I had last year.  Walking afterward wasn't too much fun for about a week while my rear healed but fun none the least.

Last week I had started to compare my saddle time monthly totals of this year and last year for the first month of the year.  I had started to feel a bit worried as if I hadn't been putting in enough work through the month of January this year.  Last year I had expectations of being competitive but I didn't foresee being able to produce a result as I did.  I have silently been telling myself in the back of my mind that I want to show up in better shape this year.  A better plan may also work but being in better shape will allow me to fly by the seat of my britches when the plan goes out the window.

I pulled the reports for January 2010 and compared the saddle time to this year.  Even though it didn't feel like it I actually was about two hours ahead of were I was last year.  The workouts are pretty close to being the same type (mostly indoor interval work) which means I actually have about two more hours of intervals in my legs this year verses last year.  That doesn't sound like much because it isn't but it does help to ease my mind in knowing I am not behind where I was last year.  I felt great in the Spring after a Winter of interval work on the trainer/rollers.  Now I should be able to rest my mind for a bit although that little guy on my shoulder is always telling me to "Go harder!"