Sunday, April 19, 2009
What's been going on?
Sorry for anyone that reads this. I haven't been posting again, but here are some updates:
Since my last post Matt Maxwell, Nick Wethington and I completed a century ride in some windy conditions. Over all I was bonking a bit at the end, but that is mainly because I rode this pretty darn hard trying to keep up with these freaks of nature! This was a few weeks ago. Then, last weekend I completed a metric century on a Friday night finishing around 11 at night and then got up and rode at 6:30 and completed a full century. For the past month I have been riding about 25 miles four to five days week. I am really feeling good about Trans Iowa and the Dirty Kanza. I feel more prepared than the last couple of years so we shall see. We now have less than two weeks to go until TI so it should be interesting. I can't wait!
Happy training.
Since my last post Matt Maxwell, Nick Wethington and I completed a century ride in some windy conditions. Over all I was bonking a bit at the end, but that is mainly because I rode this pretty darn hard trying to keep up with these freaks of nature! This was a few weeks ago. Then, last weekend I completed a metric century on a Friday night finishing around 11 at night and then got up and rode at 6:30 and completed a full century. For the past month I have been riding about 25 miles four to five days week. I am really feeling good about Trans Iowa and the Dirty Kanza. I feel more prepared than the last couple of years so we shall see. We now have less than two weeks to go until TI so it should be interesting. I can't wait!
Happy training.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
It's coming!
This past week I was in southern Missouri for four days so I didn't get any riding in, but I did get a nice 6 mile run in. It was incredible as it was on a series of one tenth of a mile to one mile rollers and some of them were at an estimated 15-20 percent grade. I am sure a 85 VW Rabbit wouldn't have made it up some of these hills. I was happy to have averaged 8 minute pace on this run. I will admit though, my calves were not prepared for such steep hills so I felt it for a few days!
On Monday I got my 2nd of 25 25 milers in on the bike. It was windy with gusts up to 40 mph so it was a bit exciting. I will admit, half the ride was in Ames so I really can't say I battled the wind for the whole 25. Tonight, Tuesday, I got out for a nice 10 mile run. This felt great. I took it nice and easy running 9:30-10:00 pace and closed with a 6:50 last mile. I just wanted to get the distance in and took it easy.
I have gotten into that "manic" state again for my training so I am very anxious to see where I am at come Trans Iowa time on May 2!
Happy training.
On Monday I got my 2nd of 25 25 milers in on the bike. It was windy with gusts up to 40 mph so it was a bit exciting. I will admit, half the ride was in Ames so I really can't say I battled the wind for the whole 25. Tonight, Tuesday, I got out for a nice 10 mile run. This felt great. I took it nice and easy running 9:30-10:00 pace and closed with a 6:50 last mile. I just wanted to get the distance in and took it easy.
I have gotten into that "manic" state again for my training so I am very anxious to see where I am at come Trans Iowa time on May 2!
Happy training.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The past couple of weeks!
Sorry, I have been training! I just haven't spent the time to post. Sorry.
On the last update I wrote that I was having some troubles with my shin. I am feeling 100 percent again and am back in marathon training. I won't be running the best marathon ever, but that is ok.
Also, in the last post I talked about a gravel race near Winterset. Let's just say it was 35 degrees and raining and sleeting. I bailed at the halfway point with about 10 other guys. It wasn't worth it for me! I was sick for a good week after that!
This past weekend I did a metric century with Stephen Carney. I converted the Monocog Flight over to a 1 X 8 for Trans Iowa and it rocked! I feel I have about the ideal bike for me for Trans Iowa. We averaged over 14 mph which is good for me! I took Sunday off the bike, but did do a run of 6 miles. On Monday, Tuesday and now today on Wednesday I rode for 25-35 miles each day and ran another 5 today.
I have set a new goal for training for Trans Iowa. Starting today I set a goal of riding 25 miles on 25 different days until the day of the race (May 2). Of course, I will be getting some longer rides in for sure, but one thing I have learned about Trans Iowa is that the guys that commute seem to do really well at Trans Iowa. So, I essentially have 25 of 43 days that I need to ride 25 miles or more. That is a pretty big goal for myself. I will have my work cut out for me! But.... the dividends may be priceless!
March running calendar
March 20 = 7 miles
March 22 = 10 miles
March 24 = 7 miles
March 26 = 7 miles
March 29 = 14 miles
March 31 = 5 miles
If I can keep this up I should be in the best shape of my life come June.
Now... if I could only lose about 7 lbs or so!
On the last update I wrote that I was having some troubles with my shin. I am feeling 100 percent again and am back in marathon training. I won't be running the best marathon ever, but that is ok.
Also, in the last post I talked about a gravel race near Winterset. Let's just say it was 35 degrees and raining and sleeting. I bailed at the halfway point with about 10 other guys. It wasn't worth it for me! I was sick for a good week after that!
This past weekend I did a metric century with Stephen Carney. I converted the Monocog Flight over to a 1 X 8 for Trans Iowa and it rocked! I feel I have about the ideal bike for me for Trans Iowa. We averaged over 14 mph which is good for me! I took Sunday off the bike, but did do a run of 6 miles. On Monday, Tuesday and now today on Wednesday I rode for 25-35 miles each day and ran another 5 today.
I have set a new goal for training for Trans Iowa. Starting today I set a goal of riding 25 miles on 25 different days until the day of the race (May 2). Of course, I will be getting some longer rides in for sure, but one thing I have learned about Trans Iowa is that the guys that commute seem to do really well at Trans Iowa. So, I essentially have 25 of 43 days that I need to ride 25 miles or more. That is a pretty big goal for myself. I will have my work cut out for me! But.... the dividends may be priceless!
March running calendar
March 20 = 7 miles
March 22 = 10 miles
March 24 = 7 miles
March 26 = 7 miles
March 29 = 14 miles
March 31 = 5 miles
If I can keep this up I should be in the best shape of my life come June.
Now... if I could only lose about 7 lbs or so!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
What I have been up to!
WORK!
Since my last post I have been working a ton! In a week and a half I put in 6 14-15 hour days. In between those days I went snowmobiling in the UP of Michigan for three days. This does not lend itself to training! Doh! So, here is the run down.
Since the last post I went for a 5 mile run and had a good one along with a 25 mile ride afterwords. Two days later I ran another 5 and did another 25 mile ride. After the run I was feeling the effects of a stress reaction in my left shin. I have had two stress fractures in my shins before and knew I had to take a break from the running. I then took a week off from the running and then came the week from hell for work hours so I have only run once in two weeks. My plan of running the marathon may be going out the window. I need to get running if I am going to do it. I think I may be healed though so that is good. We will see.
On the riding front, I have been doing ok, but need to be riding more now that my work hours have calmed down. Two weekends ago now I went for a metric century ride with Nick and Matt. We had about 20 mph winds from the north and we rode HARD for 25 miles straight into it. This is when riding a single speed really works you over! I felt pretty strong considering and felt good. The ride back with the wind was nice, but it was still some work spinning out trying to keep up. I finished the ride being right on the edge of bonkville as I wasn't taking in many calories which was the goal. I am trying to do more rides with just water and less calories for now trying to teach my body to just run on my bodies own energy stores so that when I do eat it will be as efficient as possible. I don't know if that will work, but I am trying it.
After that ride I did another 25 miler two days later, but then took off 10 days! Last night I went for a ride for an hour. I was happy to have averaged 14.5 mph on the gravel. With gears I think I would have been in the mid 15's as I was spinning out for half the ride. Today I will be getting some miles in and tomorrow I have a metric century gravel race in the hills around Winterset. Since it will likely be raining I will get worked over for sure, but that is ok. I certainly won't be racing, but will just be riding hard to have some fun.
I should be riding quite a bit now that work has calmed down.... but I have said that before!
Happy training.
Since my last post I have been working a ton! In a week and a half I put in 6 14-15 hour days. In between those days I went snowmobiling in the UP of Michigan for three days. This does not lend itself to training! Doh! So, here is the run down.
Since the last post I went for a 5 mile run and had a good one along with a 25 mile ride afterwords. Two days later I ran another 5 and did another 25 mile ride. After the run I was feeling the effects of a stress reaction in my left shin. I have had two stress fractures in my shins before and knew I had to take a break from the running. I then took a week off from the running and then came the week from hell for work hours so I have only run once in two weeks. My plan of running the marathon may be going out the window. I need to get running if I am going to do it. I think I may be healed though so that is good. We will see.
On the riding front, I have been doing ok, but need to be riding more now that my work hours have calmed down. Two weekends ago now I went for a metric century ride with Nick and Matt. We had about 20 mph winds from the north and we rode HARD for 25 miles straight into it. This is when riding a single speed really works you over! I felt pretty strong considering and felt good. The ride back with the wind was nice, but it was still some work spinning out trying to keep up. I finished the ride being right on the edge of bonkville as I wasn't taking in many calories which was the goal. I am trying to do more rides with just water and less calories for now trying to teach my body to just run on my bodies own energy stores so that when I do eat it will be as efficient as possible. I don't know if that will work, but I am trying it.
After that ride I did another 25 miler two days later, but then took off 10 days! Last night I went for a ride for an hour. I was happy to have averaged 14.5 mph on the gravel. With gears I think I would have been in the mid 15's as I was spinning out for half the ride. Today I will be getting some miles in and tomorrow I have a metric century gravel race in the hills around Winterset. Since it will likely be raining I will get worked over for sure, but that is ok. I certainly won't be racing, but will just be riding hard to have some fun.
I should be riding quite a bit now that work has calmed down.... but I have said that before!
Happy training.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sunday ride!
I am looking at going out for a nice long ride on Sunday around noon! If you would like to join me leave a comment or give me a call!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
This week.
Well, the training has really begun now for my cycling events coming up in the coming months. This week I ran 5 miles on Tuesday followed by a 20 mile ride, same for Thursday. On Saturday I ran 10 miles and then today, Sunday rode just under 50 miles of wonderful gravel. Here is how it went today.
Paul Varnum, Matt Maxwell, Stephen Carney, and Nick Wethington met at my place for what was to be 30-40 miles. It was about 18 degrees with a 5 mph wind from the north, sunny skies and PERFECT gravel. Why is it that frozen gravel is so nice to ride on? We headed north and after about 10 miles Paul took off for home as the pace was just a bit fast. I know I was working to keep up. I ride a single speed with 32 X 16 gearing so 14-15 mph is about my max unless I am getting pushed by the wind. So I was pushing hard to keep up with Matt and Nick on their skinny tired cross bikes and Stephen had his SUPER sweet Cannondale Scalpel that he bought from professional racer, Sonya Looney. I think it is 22-23 lbs for a full suspension.
What I loved about this ride so far was that I was feeling pretty good even though I was having to push somewhat hard to keep up. Nick was leading the way most of the time and I am sure he was just cruising at a casual pace. He just finished the Arrowhead Ultra 135 so he is in top form right now and it showed. We felt good so we just kept on going up to Stanhope, Iowa. We took a break and I had fried potatoes and chicken strips for lunch! Yummee salt!
We took off for home as I was a little late. As in, I was already suppose to be home to eat the awesome lunch my wife was making. Opps. It was REALLY good once I got home though! We were trucking it home, but being tired I lost ground occasionally with Matt, Nick, and Stephen, but these guys are studs so I didn't feel so bad only losing a 1/4 to a half a mile to them.
I got home and Tammy wasn't upset as it was such as awesome day. I have a great wife! And.... her soup really hit the spot!
I loved today as I got worked over real well. Exactly what I needed!
I guess we will see what this week brings on the training front! I will likely only be updating this blog on Sundays. I am a member of facebook and that takes up some of my computer time, but I am trying to be training instead of being on the computer!
Happy training!
Paul Varnum, Matt Maxwell, Stephen Carney, and Nick Wethington met at my place for what was to be 30-40 miles. It was about 18 degrees with a 5 mph wind from the north, sunny skies and PERFECT gravel. Why is it that frozen gravel is so nice to ride on? We headed north and after about 10 miles Paul took off for home as the pace was just a bit fast. I know I was working to keep up. I ride a single speed with 32 X 16 gearing so 14-15 mph is about my max unless I am getting pushed by the wind. So I was pushing hard to keep up with Matt and Nick on their skinny tired cross bikes and Stephen had his SUPER sweet Cannondale Scalpel that he bought from professional racer, Sonya Looney. I think it is 22-23 lbs for a full suspension.
What I loved about this ride so far was that I was feeling pretty good even though I was having to push somewhat hard to keep up. Nick was leading the way most of the time and I am sure he was just cruising at a casual pace. He just finished the Arrowhead Ultra 135 so he is in top form right now and it showed. We felt good so we just kept on going up to Stanhope, Iowa. We took a break and I had fried potatoes and chicken strips for lunch! Yummee salt!
We took off for home as I was a little late. As in, I was already suppose to be home to eat the awesome lunch my wife was making. Opps. It was REALLY good once I got home though! We were trucking it home, but being tired I lost ground occasionally with Matt, Nick, and Stephen, but these guys are studs so I didn't feel so bad only losing a 1/4 to a half a mile to them.
I got home and Tammy wasn't upset as it was such as awesome day. I have a great wife! And.... her soup really hit the spot!
I loved today as I got worked over real well. Exactly what I needed!
I guess we will see what this week brings on the training front! I will likely only be updating this blog on Sundays. I am a member of facebook and that takes up some of my computer time, but I am trying to be training instead of being on the computer!
Happy training!
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