Sunday, June 29, 2008
Van Dies - But Cycling Lives...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Is my Van Dead?
3:30 PM - Rode cycled for 33 miles with Marc today. We started out in the van toward the Factory Road Bike Path to ride to Xenia and back, but the van stalled and died at a traffic light. I turned the key and nothing happened. So there we were, stuck at a two lane busy intersection like a couple of doofs. I called Doreen who got there pretty quick. Then we called the cops so they knew we were blocking traffic, then AAA to get a tow. The police came, and it was a good friend of mine who I just drank beer with last weekend. He parked his cruiser behind my van and we just shoot the breeze until the tow truck got there. We took it down the street about 2 miles to a garage and dumped the thing off in the parking lot. I've loved that van. We've had it since 1993, and it's showing its age with rust and all. We were just talking the other day about selling it and getting a more fuel efficient vehical. Guess this may be a sign.
Well, once we dropped the van off, we took the bikes out and proceeded to cycle 33 miles in town and country. Man was it windy today (18 mph) so we had to work when heading into the wind.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Getting Stronger - Sleep Helps
June 23, 2008 Monday
Englewood 22 mile Course...
7:45 AM – Road Biked 22 miles (1 hr 15 min; 75 minutes)
I can tell better sleep sure helped with how I felt in my ride tonight. I cycled my Englewood Reserve course tonight, and although I endured some southwesterly wind (about 8-10 mph), I managed an overall 17.7 mph average. But I was going 19-20 mph on the way home. I’m getting stronger on the climbs though, which was dropping me pretty hard in the beginnings of my comeback. I’m still staying in my smaller chainring for 90% of my rides. Until I can get better quad strength, that’s not a bad thing. Today was one of my better rides with less fatigue.
Sleep: 7
Englewood 22 mile Course...
7:45 AM – Road Biked 22 miles (1 hr 15 min; 75 minutes)
I can tell better sleep sure helped with how I felt in my ride tonight. I cycled my Englewood Reserve course tonight, and although I endured some southwesterly wind (about 8-10 mph), I managed an overall 17.7 mph average. But I was going 19-20 mph on the way home. I’m getting stronger on the climbs though, which was dropping me pretty hard in the beginnings of my comeback. I’m still staying in my smaller chainring for 90% of my rides. Until I can get better quad strength, that’s not a bad thing. Today was one of my better rides with less fatigue.
Sleep: 7
Monday, June 23, 2008
Recovery Day
June 22, 2008 Sunday
Walking Can be Good...
Hiked 4.5 miles (90 minutes)
Took today to recover and went on two separate walks of 2+ miles each, both with Doreen. It doesn’t hurt to have Toto here ‘cause Doreen wants to walk more. I had a tough weekend in regard to eating. We went to Gary Doll’s 40th birthday party at Frickers where the beer and food were pretty obtainable, but I survived it. I’m down to 178.5 and it shot me up ½ a pound, but I’ll get it back this week. I’d like to hit 177.5 by week’s end. Got some sleep last night. That’s always a good thing.
Sleep: 9
Walking Can be Good...
Hiked 4.5 miles (90 minutes)
Took today to recover and went on two separate walks of 2+ miles each, both with Doreen. It doesn’t hurt to have Toto here ‘cause Doreen wants to walk more. I had a tough weekend in regard to eating. We went to Gary Doll’s 40th birthday party at Frickers where the beer and food were pretty obtainable, but I survived it. I’m down to 178.5 and it shot me up ½ a pound, but I’ll get it back this week. I’d like to hit 177.5 by week’s end. Got some sleep last night. That’s always a good thing.
Sleep: 9
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Detours Suck!
No "triple" Today
June 21, 2008 Saturday
11:45 AM – Road Biked 30 miles (1 hr 53 min; 113 minutes) and Ran 2.1 miles (20 minutes)
Total: 32 miles (2 hr 13 minutes; 133 minutes)
My goal was to pull a “triple” today, but had to settle for double. What’s a triple? It’s when I go out and accomplish three aerobic events (can’t count lifting weights) back to back. Anyway, my goal was to pull off a run – cycle – kayak. I got through the run and cycle, but ditched the kayak ‘cause I was wasted at the end of the cycle. I think the mountain bike and lack of hydrating from yesterday evening hurt me a little. It could be that I only got 4 hours sleep last night too. I still feel good about what I accomplished today, but I hate not accomplishing what I set out to do. But I’ll give myself an “A” in the common sense category. Today’s stats – ran 20 minutes and cycled 30 miles…ditched the kayak.
On a final note, I WILL NOT be cycling on the Dayton portion of the bike path for awhile to come. There are so many detours around the bridge work going on down there, it’s ridiculous. I understand progress, but why do they need to close the path down in THREE locations? I’m done whining.
Sleep: 4
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Headin' Into the Weekend
Single on the Singletrack…
Friday, June 20, 2008
08:00 PM – Mountain Biked 10 miles (58 minutes) and Ran 2.1 miles (20 minutes)
After a fairly normal work week (2 rather long days) I was able to bolt out of there on a Friday at 4:30 PM and head home. Doreen took off to Columbus with Linda to spend the evening with Bethany doin’ girl things and leaving me single for the night. I kicked back a few hours before loading up the mountain bike and heading to Huffman Trails. Hitting the trails at about 8 PM made for a little cooler evening. I did 10 miles on the various trails, but hit “Hawk’s Lair” for the first time, which is rather knobby (rocks) in the beginning portions and a good variety of turns, dips, bridges, and switchbacks. It’s challenging in terms of keeping and kind of speed, but good for technique. I had to stay in lower chain ring for most of the ride to keep a good balanced spin. I blew a couple spots when there was a tight turn and a quick up with rocks and roots. I hate it when I don’t anticipate correctly and have to pull out the foot out, sometimes even dismounting ‘cause I lost momentum. I found myself getting the shoe back in the clip while moving on the trail several times, which is not always an easy task.
After finishing up, I pulled the running shoes on and ran 2-miles completing a “brick” for the first time this year. It was a good start to the weekend; something I tend to look forward to now since it’s tough to get consistent workouts in every day of the week.
Sleep: 7.5
Friday, June 20, 2008
June 18, 2008 Wednesday
Running with Doreen…
06:30 PM – Ran for 5 miles (50 minutes) and Hiked 2 miles (27 minutes)
I got out and did a 5 mile run while Doreen rode the bike with me on the run. I did the 2 miles as a cool-down. I’ll take what I can get training wise and I needed the running miles to help me increase my cross-training goals.
Sleep: 7.5
June 17, 2008 - Tuesday
Tough to Train on 2 Hours Sleep
I’m finding I need two days a week when I need to put in work hours to keep up and free up time to get out and train. Those days are usually Tuesdays and Thursdays. Unfortunately that means little to no training on those two day/evenings. That’s okay though if I can do 5 good days of training out of 7.
Sleep: 2
Running with Doreen…
06:30 PM – Ran for 5 miles (50 minutes) and Hiked 2 miles (27 minutes)
I got out and did a 5 mile run while Doreen rode the bike with me on the run. I did the 2 miles as a cool-down. I’ll take what I can get training wise and I needed the running miles to help me increase my cross-training goals.
Sleep: 7.5
June 17, 2008 - Tuesday
Tough to Train on 2 Hours Sleep
I’m finding I need two days a week when I need to put in work hours to keep up and free up time to get out and train. Those days are usually Tuesdays and Thursdays. Unfortunately that means little to no training on those two day/evenings. That’s okay though if I can do 5 good days of training out of 7.
Sleep: 2
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
June 16, 2008 - Monday
Tired Legs – but ran anyway
06:30 PM – Ran for 4 miles (40 minutes) and Hiked 1.3 miles (26 minutes)
Sleep: 7.5 Pulse: 42 Weight: 179.5
I tipped the scales this morning at 179.5, which is the first time in about a year I’ve been below 180. That makes me losing 9 lbs so far with 16 more to go to meet my 25 lb goal. I’ve been at this about 5 weeks, so I feel pretty good about it and plan to keep going. I think to lowest I’ve been in quite some time is 178, so I’m looking forward to that 176.5 mark.
June 15, 2008 - Sunday
Homeward Bound #1
06:30 PM – Road Cycled for 31.75 miles (2 hr: 21 minutes)
Today’s Total: Road Cycled for 31.75 miles (2 hr: 21 minutes)
Had a pretty good day at Mom Grassle’s today. She’s been a stoic lady knowing this is the one year anniversary of Dad’s passing. We cooked out and watched a video of him from 10 years ago. Eric didn’t come ‘cause he was sick. We went out to play some cornhole, but Kelly’s tire was flat (nail), so we spent over an hour trying to get the spare down from the under-carriage rack, but it was STUCK. After a neighbor and me finally un-jammed it, we finally got it change. The stupid tire did come down on my head killing my glasses. No cornhole.
I rode about 7 miles with Doreen and Beth on the bike path toward Springfield (nice path) then took off toward home (24 miles) into a 10 mph headwind (bummer). It made me work though, which I need to get my legs stronger. I was really tired at the end, plus the fact I’m losing the weight. All in all, it was a pretty good day.
June 14, 2008 - Saturday
Ridin’ with Marc...
10:30 AM – Hiking 4 miles (1 hr: 25 min or 85 minutes)
04:30 PM – Road Cycled 35.75 (2 hr: 20 min or 140 minutes)
Today’s Total: Hike 4 mile and Cycled 25.75 miles (3 hr: 45 minutes or 225 minutes)
Marc stopped by about an hour before I was planning to go and do about 40 today. He’s borrowed a bike from his boss and is planning to ride a MS-150 weekend ride. I helped him change out his tire tubes and gave some tricks of the trade. He asked me about riding and I agreed to go out and do 15-20 with him then finish up the rest on my own.
We started from home and got on the bike path and did the normal path to Ross/Canal Road, but instead of going all the way to Tipp, we turned left on ---, headed back to Hyde and worked our way back to the path. I warned Marc of the downhill, which I have named Adam’s Hill due to infamous crash there, and he did with caution. I could tell he enjoyed it. The pace was comfortable ending in about 15 mph.
As Marc turned to home at the Rip Rapp parking lot, I continued to Dayton and stayed on the newer section of the path. It’s nice, but as usual, the path ended abruptly at a construction area. So I had to wiggle my way on side streets to Dixie, Keowee, and Webster Streets to the path again. I jumped on it and made my way to Eastwood Park then home via Quail Hollow. That was a climber through there. I was definitely tired at the end of the day. Doreen and I cooked some steak out and enjoyed an outdoor fire with some Bailey’s Cream and guitar. Smooth.
Tired Legs – but ran anyway
06:30 PM – Ran for 4 miles (40 minutes) and Hiked 1.3 miles (26 minutes)
Sleep: 7.5 Pulse: 42 Weight: 179.5
I tipped the scales this morning at 179.5, which is the first time in about a year I’ve been below 180. That makes me losing 9 lbs so far with 16 more to go to meet my 25 lb goal. I’ve been at this about 5 weeks, so I feel pretty good about it and plan to keep going. I think to lowest I’ve been in quite some time is 178, so I’m looking forward to that 176.5 mark.
June 15, 2008 - Sunday
Homeward Bound #1
06:30 PM – Road Cycled for 31.75 miles (2 hr: 21 minutes)
Today’s Total: Road Cycled for 31.75 miles (2 hr: 21 minutes)
Had a pretty good day at Mom Grassle’s today. She’s been a stoic lady knowing this is the one year anniversary of Dad’s passing. We cooked out and watched a video of him from 10 years ago. Eric didn’t come ‘cause he was sick. We went out to play some cornhole, but Kelly’s tire was flat (nail), so we spent over an hour trying to get the spare down from the under-carriage rack, but it was STUCK. After a neighbor and me finally un-jammed it, we finally got it change. The stupid tire did come down on my head killing my glasses. No cornhole.
I rode about 7 miles with Doreen and Beth on the bike path toward Springfield (nice path) then took off toward home (24 miles) into a 10 mph headwind (bummer). It made me work though, which I need to get my legs stronger. I was really tired at the end, plus the fact I’m losing the weight. All in all, it was a pretty good day.
June 14, 2008 - Saturday
Ridin’ with Marc...
10:30 AM – Hiking 4 miles (1 hr: 25 min or 85 minutes)
04:30 PM – Road Cycled 35.75 (2 hr: 20 min or 140 minutes)
Today’s Total: Hike 4 mile and Cycled 25.75 miles (3 hr: 45 minutes or 225 minutes)
Marc stopped by about an hour before I was planning to go and do about 40 today. He’s borrowed a bike from his boss and is planning to ride a MS-150 weekend ride. I helped him change out his tire tubes and gave some tricks of the trade. He asked me about riding and I agreed to go out and do 15-20 with him then finish up the rest on my own.
We started from home and got on the bike path and did the normal path to Ross/Canal Road, but instead of going all the way to Tipp, we turned left on ---, headed back to Hyde and worked our way back to the path. I warned Marc of the downhill, which I have named Adam’s Hill due to infamous crash there, and he did with caution. I could tell he enjoyed it. The pace was comfortable ending in about 15 mph.
As Marc turned to home at the Rip Rapp parking lot, I continued to Dayton and stayed on the newer section of the path. It’s nice, but as usual, the path ended abruptly at a construction area. So I had to wiggle my way on side streets to Dixie, Keowee, and Webster Streets to the path again. I jumped on it and made my way to Eastwood Park then home via Quail Hollow. That was a climber through there. I was definitely tired at the end of the day. Doreen and I cooked some steak out and enjoyed an outdoor fire with some Bailey’s Cream and guitar. Smooth.
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