Two part series

Finally got out on the bike for the first time in two weeks. What the hell was I doing last weekend that I didn’t go out?

Part one: 30 miles with Trek Senior. Went out to the Baker Park area. Looped around Independence Lake staring from Loretto. Then through Maple Plain to CR 6.

Part two: 15 mile mtb ride with my neighbor on the Luce Line.

Should have road last weekend it wouldn't have been so hard to do a measly 40 mile day.

Have you noticed:

The price of gas has gone down to $2.11. That's about 2 dollars less then just six month ago.

I wonder if we are going to be back in a "shortage" mode next week.

It's funny how shortage supplies work. I was taught it was about demand. In the real world it's about politics.

Workn’ 9 to 5…

…obviously that song is outdated. Who works 9-5 anymore? If I’m not in the office by 8pm I’m toast. And “to 5”…this past week it’s been a treat to get out by 5 it’s more like 7:30-8pm. So anyways, that’s why there hasn’t been any updates.

My heart hasn’t been into working out, but I’ve been doing it anyways. I’m always happy when I’m done, but to get there has been more of a struggle. Last Monday I ran for an hour and did weights. Wednesday I ran and then went to Jody’s class. I sat in the “Hot Seat”. The name comes from a couple of different reasons. 1. because it’s in the front of the room next to the instructor and 2. because it’s truly a sauna up there with the air conditioning cans above your head blowing onto the class. All while making it look like you are not two seconds from passing out from a Jody class—by the way she created a new harder workout, 9 laps of crit racing in Stillwater—it gave me flashbacks of a real crit when the Flanders ladies would show up and kick your butt.

Friday I ran and then went to Matt’s class. Amazing—I have been out done! Two ladies chit chatted in the middle of the classroom like they were sitting at Caribou for the entire hour drinking a latte. No matter what Matt did or tried to say they weren’t listening until halfway through class he had us get out of the seat and start climbing for the remainder of the class. That seemed to work. Matt is more willing to let me know when he is frustrated with my chatting.

Once class was over I went to grab my running shoes and they were gone! Who in their right mind would steal my crusty ol gym shoes? I don’t know what happens at your gym—but I guess crusty shoe snappers are at mine.

Turns out Dan the Man grabbed my shoes thinking it was his wife Judy’s, but this has happen to Kenny at the same gym who lost a really good (expensive) pair of shoes. I had this great blog all worked out in my head about who in their right mind would steal crusty gym shoes??? Since they were found my great blog has gone to waste—but thankfully my crusty shoes are back.

This weekend was a no workout weekend—not by choice. I needed to try to play the role of homeowner. I finished painting a room, got window insulator kits for all of my windows, water heater blanket, stuff to wrap my water pipes, and installed a new thermostat. Yep…this year’s gas bill is not going to get the best of me!

Sunday night I went to a Harvest party. Not sure where we were but according to Vivian (my GPS) we would turn every two-point-five miles until we were completely lost. The Dinner was great—everyone brought something. Then we all headed out to this barn to create a pumpkin masterpiece. I wasn’t creative so I just carved out the word “DAWG” after the REGBRAI Team Dawg. Note: carving text is not as easy as one might assume. On the other hand, there was some very creative pumpkin sculptors in the group. The winner hasn’t been announced but word next to the pumpkin gut bucket was that it was this guy who announced his wife’s pregnancy by carving a women’s womb including fallopian tubes and a baby won. Bob’s 5.9 60” Trek Equinox wasn’t as descriptive as he hoped. Not more than two seconds after I typed this paragraph I found out I was disqualified for “Non pumpkin carving regulation shoes and over the time limit.” I’m contesting my disqualification.

La Madonna del Ghisallo in Italy

It was destiny.

Article 1
Article 2

The Party Is Over

This morning, after Matt’s spin class, I had a WTF moment in the locker room. I noticed that my favorite jeans were not fitting right. Yep, while keeping my energy up to deal with extra workload at work I unknowingly loaded up on things that were not so good for me.

I’ve learned: “having good intentions” towards going to the gym or going for a run doesn’t count as working out when you’re really sitting on the couch watching Survivor or other reality shows. Oh, also…researching a workout plan doesn’t count either.

While trying to put on those jeans it was a big slap in the face that things need to change—and quickly.

Stay Tuned.

30 Years of Reflection

As I embark on yet another milestone in my life I look back at what I’ve done and what I still want to do. It only seemed a short time ago that when I heard someone say they were 30 and thought they were “SOOO OLD”. As I sit here on my last day of being 29 I think—You are as old as you feel and I feel like I’m eternally 17. There will be no “My life is over.” “It’s all down here from here.” I maybe the only person embarking on a new decade and can’t wait for it to happen—and mean it.

The teen years, were the hardest years. Awkward, didn’t know how to fit in, didn’t know who you were and where you wanted to go. The 20’s your first taste of freedom, college, parties, low paying jobs, Ramen noodles, moving every six months. It was fun, but it wasn’t easy establishing who you were or wanted to be. 30, now here is where the fun starts. You’re already established in a job, have a stable home, your head is (almost) on straight, you have outlandish goals that you want to obtain and never saw yourself have when you were younger.

I look forward to what this decade has in store for me.

Where the River Starts

Sorry there are no pictures. I forgot to bring my camera.

This weekend was the Headwaters 100 race or tour. I opted to tour instead of race—or race the tour. Last year this was my first race. I thought if I enjoyed it I would race in 2008. Obviously I enjoyed it, but a bit too much. By the time this year’s race came around I was burned out. I wasn’t ready to race 100 miles much less ride at a high speed. More on that later.

As soon as we got to the cabin I wanted to check out the trails for Sunday’s MTB race—or tour the race. The course wasn’t marked so I went by a map the front desk gave me. In my rookie opinion, it was non-stop rolling hills. My stops to check which direction was quick since it was humid and the mosquitoes were thick. Several times I got to a four way intersection, not wanting to stop I would make a quick decision. I should've stopped since I found myself back at that same spot after doing a short loop. After a while I said “Screw it. This is actually fun. Just keep riding.” At one point I was contemplating a four way intersection for far too long and lost my balance causing myself to fall over to my left side while still clipped in. My right foot came out and for a few seconds after I landing I wasn’t sure what my upper right calve fell on (pedal or handle bar). Once I got up and examined my new wound, that already had a good size bruise developing, I noticed I fell on the egg beater pedal. Fast forward 48 hours later and the bruise is the size of my entire hand with a nice size bruise on my left side where I landed.

I have to admit…although my true love is being a Roadie, MTB was the best part of the weekend. I can see why there is an attraction to be a Fat Tire Junkie.

The 100 Headwaters tour was fast. We wanted to get in to watch the racers, but I wasn’t prepared for the Itasca Park area. Starting the ride to quickly, battling headwinds for 15 miles, then intervals in the park got the better part of me. Sorry guys for being a Debbie Downer. We stopped only once at mile 66 to get the infamous wild rice soup. We had a nice conversation with the ladies at the stop who were amazed that that was our only stop for the tour. We also got to know our new Alaskan friend we picked up along the way who moved to MN a few years ago. Nice lady. We called our group Team Christmas (Holly, Carol, Madonna, Mary, Paul, Dave).

We got in with only 10 minutes to spare before the racers came in (about 4:05) Matt Myers won the race (he’s a cat 1 or 2 with Silver Cycling) with a 2.5 minute lead. Melinda won for the women. Most of the TH guys came in the pack. I heard there was a number of squirrely riders this year in the group. On the last turn, one of the squirrely guys swerved right without looking cutting off Diamond Dave causing him to go down hard onto his left shoulder. Carol and Paul took him to the hospital to get checked out. Luckily he didn’t dislocate his shoulder but was pretty sore. Dave I hope you are feeling better!

Tim gave a great presentation about his personal experience about being a RAAM soloist. I don’t know Tim very well, but his insight into his personal development and what he has learned was deeper than one would expect to hear during a presentation, but very welcomed.

Holly and I opted to tour the MTB race the next day. We stayed together waiting for each other at the top of the hills. She did great even though her ride was a lot harder than mine with no suspension. Tim Case won on a single speed, Jay T came in right behind him on his Orbea, John 3rd, a guy I didn’t know 4th, and Larry S. 5th. It sounded like they enjoyed the course also.

Eventhough the weekend was fun. I was happy to get home and into my own bed!