Monday, April 30, 2012

In the end, all worked out

I was supposed to work a track meet tonight. Funny how a stormy forecast worked out in my favor...

If things had gone as scheduled, there would have been a track meet starting at 5. I would have had time for one workout. Perhaps if the meet went quickly there would be time for another after, perhaps not. Either way, it would have been a long evening.

The AD asked me what I thought of rain chances a little later in the afternoon. By then, the weather bureau began to upgrade the possibility of severe storms. Shortly after a line of storms developed over central Illinois, and it began marching east, sealing the fate of the track meet.

I was free! This meant two workouts. Two workouts, IF that line of storms didn't reach us first.

I got on the bike and headed into a biting headwind from the southwest. The plan was simple; get south as fast as possible and reap the tailwind coming home. It was a great plan that began to unravel almost immediately.

Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now!
You have to ride south,
And you have to ride hard!
I can ride low with the wind in my face,
And I can ride TRUTH all over the place.
But that is not ALL that I can do, oh no...

With these slick pedals
I ride a fast pace.
(How could you ride fast
With shoes that still lace?)

From the far southern reach,
To the big final hill,
Adoring fans yell,
"There goes IronBill!"

And then, in the south,
The clouds started thickening.
As the ride wore on,
Their pace ever quickening.

Could he get home
With his cell phone intact?
(It camped unprotected
In his cute fanny pack.)

And then, what happened?
In Bedford they say,
His muscular legs
Grew three sizes that day.

Now that the power
Of Steve Jobs poured through,
IronBill had the strength
Of three Millers, plus two.

He whizzed down the highway,
Going thirty-five plus.
Even managing to pass
A worn-down looking bus.

With the ride all complete,
And the bike put away,
Came the very first drops,
Of the rain on the way.

*Apologies to Dr. Seuss.

I didn't really think anyone would want to run - after all, there was a thunderstorm on the way. To my surprise there were several present at the office. Miller, Kathy, Bartlett, Robin, Jimmy, Mark Ryan... wow. I was happy to see the run would happen in this crowded week, and we started on.

About a half-mile in the rain started. It was warm, the rain felt quite good, so we kept going. The strength of the rain only increased as the run proceeded, but never did it dampen our spirits. The sun finally popped out at the end, by which time we might have seen a tenth of an inch or so. There had been light thunder and lightning, but I'd rate the "storm" as an "Ambient Noise Storm". Harmless, and just the thing to make you fall asleep on a warm summer's eve.

Tomorrow is going to be a quick run or ride, depending on weather, then Leisa's dinner.

Wednesday, ride and run?

Thursday, ride, Lighthouse, 5PM. 

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Those who missed the ride...

Are girls.
Are losers.
Are momma's boys.
The list goes on.

Actually, we did have one of our own use the "momma" argument to beg off the ride, even as he stood there with a bike on the rack. That totally misrepresents the situation, of course, but it's my blog. Had to have an interesting lead in, didn't I?

I don't know what Jimmy and/or I said to the Hammels this morning, but in a rare instance of them communicating telepathically they bolted, as if by signal, and left Jimmy and me behind. The first part of the run had been so easy, but the last couple of miles got progressively harder until, near the end, we were running around 85% or so. At least I was! So I said screw it, went all in, and passed them both. Sure, the run was barely under 40, but that last mile was hard.

All I can say to that is if Kathy had run that hard yesterday she'd have broken 1:40:00. ;)

I went to the gym afterward, using what was left of my energy to do my weekly circuit workout. Ordinarily the gym is too polluted with neophytes learning the ropes to even think about circuits, but Sunday is always empty in the morning. I set up nine different stations and passed through them without pause until the workout was done. It's very aerobic and efficient to boot. It cuts the workout time in half for me.

Jimmy and I met again at 2 for the ride. Rand was waiting with the Motobecane, which was too bad since I rode down to the Lighthouse. I wanted the extra miles, so... It wouldn't have mattered. Unless I'd arrived with a bike rack (and I wouldn't have), I would have had no place to put the bike anyway. I appreciate the effort, and he was even nice enough to drop it off at my house. Now to get Leisa on board...

Jimmy and I did the Amish country, nice and slow. The wind seemed more east than anything, that is, until we turned for home. Then we noticed the northeast aspect. It wasn't terrible at all. As winds go, it was a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Enough to know it was there, not enough to be detrimental in a serious way. We finished into it on the highway and still kept decent speed, so it couldn't have been too tough.

Tomorrow... not sure what's going to happen. I will ride if weather permits, do the track meet, then run after. If it's not too late, I'll add the swim.

Tuesday, ride or run, but not both. Women of Excellence at 6:30, Leisa is invited. I wouldn't miss it for anything!

Mike Jarrard has scheduled a ride at Lighthouse Thursday, 5 PM. I plan to be there, and all are invited. Book signing and autograph session afterward. 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Races everywhere

It was cool and threatening rain this morning. Perfect racing weather!

Rand, Kathy, Larry Moffatt, and Scott Breeden were in Louisville. The rest of the gang was in Bedford. There was a race here this morning, but for one reason or another most of the guys avoided it. I couldn't pass on a race within a block of my house, so I went. It was for a good cause anyway, how could I refuse?

I won't beat it to death with details, so let's keep it to the bullet points:

  • Aaron Ritter was pre-race favorite
  • I took the lead from the start
  • Two middle schoolers passed, but I had them back before the mile
  • 5:42 first mile
  • Ritter passed me in third mile
  • He won in 18:01, I was second in 18:26
Two weeks out from a marathon and running a 5k that fast? I'll take it. I hoped for sub-19, got much better? Take it take it!

Now that the insignificant is out of the way, let's talk about the really good stuff.

Thanks to Galloway, we had accurate results before the runners themselves could get them and contact us.
  • Kathy was 1:40:16, a huge PR and won her age group
  • Rand was 1:37:38 - I don't know if this is his best (Kathy thought so)
  • Larry was 1:32:25, a good time considering his injury, and;
  • Scott Breeden went 1:10:02, won his age group, and was 10th overall in a big city race with pros.
I'd commented on the ride yesterday I believed Kathy could go under 1:40:00, and she came close. I also knew Breeden could rule at Louisville. I hope this stokes his fires a bit, and perhaps he could go back next year really aiming at it. I bet he could get 1:06:00 without too much effort. He ran this time doing nothing much more than high mileage. 

We are running in the morning at 8, then riding at 2 from Lighthouse. All welcome!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Down goes Allen! Down gooooesss Allen!

If you ride, you wreck. That's that, there is no other way. No person is immune, no person escapes. Sometimes it just takes longer to happen...

Allen, Galloway, and I started the morning with a swim. Well, not exactly. I actually started my day with an all-too-early phone call from my corporation-provided health care provider. Turns out they had my measles vaccination in (the one I have to get because of lack of proof of having had measles). No biggie, shots don't bother me a bit, but I sure could have used the extra hour of sleep.

So I jostled myself alert, got my shot, then went to McDonald's. I ate a burrito, drank my drink, then headed to the pool. That takes us back to Allen and Galloway.

Tim just gets in and does his job. No mucking around, no time wasted, just dive in and go. It's a trademark thingy. I told Allen I'd swim quickly, watching him the whole time, then I'd help him. He grabbed a kickboard and flippers and went to work.

I found I could catch Galloway about every 150 yards. My 1000-yard swim was over in about 15 minutes, then it was on to Allen.

We worked on creating a better breathing opportunity in his stroke. I helped him introduce a Michael Phelps "gallop" to his stroke. Phelps has a distinctive asymmetric stroke, and it's perfect for someone wanting more time to breathe. Allen hadn't perfected before we left, but he was improving quickly.

After leaving the pool, we met at Lighthouse. We kicked out, headed up the road, and somewhere just past Highway 60, on the climb to the Bernards, it happened. I was alongside Allen when, and I saw it exactly when it happened because I just happened to be looking at his back wheel, his bike overshifted past the inner cog on his cassette. The rear derailleur instantly bundled up, and I started yelling, "STOP! STOP!" Allen continued to try to grind through it, and it firmly wrapped his chain into his axle until the wheel froze.

He stopped then.

When his wheel locked, he fell over. We got him upright, checked his bike, and finally unstuck the chain from the axle. The rear wheel would not spin free. At first I was afraid he'd damaged the axle. Then I looked at the brakes, and found the rear wheel had warped badly enough to rub on every turn. By opening the calipers all the way, we found a way to get the wheel spinning freely.

Decision time. Allen wasn't hurt, no spokes were broken, and other than a warped rim he would be able to ride. If he wanted to. He only hesitated a moment, then we continued on.

Allen started the day wanting 50-60 miles. Galloway didn't want nearly as much, so we knew we'd part company at some point. We discussed heading back towards the start and doing another loop, but Allen's first suggestion told me his mind was set on 337. So we parted with Galloway by Orleans Elementary and headed to Bromer.

The wind was blowing in our faces most of the way out, so I pulled, slowly. Allen was to my rear, offset to the right to stay out of the wind as much as possible. I stayed upright to provide as much wind break as I could. Before too long we were there.

After Allen refueled, we started the way back. I laid it out thusly; I'd pull 22-23 on the flats, a bit faster on the downhills. I assured him we would get some assist from the wind, so it shouldn't be too tough. I was wrong, at least at first. At the very best we had a crosswind, but for the first half of the ride back it was more headwind than anything. Finally, on the back half, things got better, improving to outstanding by the final stretch.

We hit Huck's after that, then headed for home. It really wasn't bad, even though the wind was in our faces the rest of the ride. Even the highway stretch wasn't bad. I held 25 mph or so for most of it despite a strong headwind. Allen hung in there right behind.

Allen complained of wrist and knee aches, other than that he was none the worse for wear after his first crash. On a scale of Galloway to Heatherly I'd have to rate it as a Miller - that's where you fall over while barely moving but hurt your wrist.

Running a 5k in the morning. There will be the regular 8 AM group at Parkview, the race is at Circle K at 9, and the Louisville races are, well, at Louisville. Good luck to the Derby Festival runners!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Sore calves

After the track meet tonight, Kathy and I did an easy 5-miler down to the circle and back. We were a bit over 39 minutes, not a hard run, but my calves were twinging off-and-on throughout. It's something that has crept in bit-by-bit over the last month, I even felt it at Boston some, but tonight after the run my calves are sore.

That's worth noting.

I won't run on 'em tomorrow, and I will most likely just jog the race on Saturday. For that matter, I won't run hard at all until Indy, and if things don't straighten out, I won't run Indy.

The thing to bear in mind is I did bike HARD last night, and pretty hard the night before. I also ran hard Tuesday, or at least, harder. With a brick on both Tuesday and Wednesday, I might have pushed things a bit further than I should so soon after the marathon. At least, those are my initial thoughts on the matter.

Of course it may all be nonsense. After all, I'm Buff Bill at the moment. That's right, I'm still pumped full of the testosterone injection that I achieve naturally when I go to the gun shop and chisel my guns. Good thing the gym is full of mirrors so I can adore myself from every angle. Anyway, my viewpoint is not currently that of a distance athlete, but of a self-adoring, narcissistic (redundant?) body nazi.

There is a swim tomorrow at 9 AM, followed by a ride at 11 AM at Lighthouse. Allen wants 65 or so, so I am thinking of ways to make everyone happy. What I think we might do is do the normal loop, turn at the Bernards, doing the Bernard loop a couple of times. That would add 33 miles to a 31, making 64. If he wants to fight over the last mile, we can stretch one of the loops further out. Anyway, that gives us a stop if we need it every 16 miles or so, Galloway can ride with us most of the first loop (and anyone else who's available), and we should have a gentle introduction to longer rides.

I guess the other alternative would be to ride the Amish loop to Orleans, then head out to the Washington/Orange line, then come back. The wind will be from the east, making the return leg pretty fast. It's a tempting option.

I'll let Allen decide tomorrow. 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tit for tat

I got called out on an error in yesterday's post, and though normally I have a heartfelt desire to quickly correct my mistakes, the unnecessary pains this person put me through to extract three simple pieces of information induces me to respond in cryptic kind.

Correction: 37, 27, 19

It threatened to rain again as I set my mind to a ride. Since I got lucky yesterday, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot again. This time I had more factors in my favor.

1. The wind was from the southeast, which meant tailwind home. That meant anytime I needed to turn around, I'd get an instant boost.

2. I was on the Airfoil. It's a faster bike, so I would be able to get to the turnaround faster. Not a bad idea if you have rain forming in the area.

I got low and stayed there, pushing the pedals southward into darkening skies. The heavens spat their disdain for me in small driplets, scattered widely and landing ineffectively. This only made the clouds grow angrier, and near the 8-mile mark I began to wonder if perhaps I should turn back. As a gambler by nature, there was only one thing to do; roll the dice, accept my fate.

Once I turned west, things got a little easier. I had a quartering tailwind, and that pushed me the final mile or so to the highway, where things really took off. To 10 miles I'd averaged 20 mph into a steady headwind. Things of course really picked up once on the highway, where I topped out at 35 mph. All of the way north on 37 was between 27 and 33 mph average. Of course there was still the cut, but even that was easier because of wind. Up Washington Ave I was still carrying 25 mph.

In the end it totaled 54:15, a little over 22 mph average. That's a nice ride.

I met Sully, Kathy, Robin, and Jimmy at the office at 5, and we ran 5. Nothing spectacular there, and other than the aforementioned butt chewing, it was a modest paced run of 39 minutes. Late in the run it began to rain, a steady and quite pleasant event, and the run ended in peace. And that was the day (no swim).

There is a track meet tomorrow at Parkview, which I am working, and Kathy and I have a planned run after (around 6 PM).

Friday, 9 AM swim, 11 AM ride from Lighthouse, 60 miles (weather permitting). 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Ride, Run, Rift

It wasn't promising for a ride tonight. Checking the iPhone app (weatherbug) showed swatches of green splashed all over the Lawrence/Orange county region, and the car windshield displayed the visceral evidence. I was just off work, going through the motions of getting the backup bike ready to go, balanced on the edge of going or not going.

It will be tough to get the week in as it is. I lost yesterday due to winds, and today looked like a loss as well. That would give me four more days for riding, but the weather doesn't look any better as the week goes on. Finally, almost with the toss of the coin, I went for it.

Time only allowed a 20, and the course would have to be Mitchell. The wind was steady from the northwest, so going out wouldn't be a problem; coming home could be. Thankful for the extra 15 minutes before the run tonight, I pedaled steadily south.

On Rabbitsville I spotted Mike's Tracker parked at Lighthouse. I considered stopping to wait, but I hadn't the time. The other consideration was to reverse at 10 and meet them coming back. In the end I didn't have the time, so I did the regular bit. I went down 37 at a good clip, making it home in under an hour.

Turns out it was the smart way to go. I met the gang at Parkview, and lo and behold there was Strunk! Turns out he was going to meet Mike, but they bailed due to... drum roll... RAIN! What?! I pointed out I spotted them there when I rode by, but Strunk is too cool to be phased by that. He passed the blame off to Allen and Mike.

Jimmy and I did the tempo, 3 miles at a 6:50 goal. Of course we didn't. The first was 6:49, close, but the next? 6:36. The last, uphill mile? 6:41. It wasn't hard, really. I could hold it all the way through a mini, I know. I could have done it tonight, and I'd ridden 20. Kathy ran pretty solid, holding under 7:45 average on an 8-minute goal.  Robin tossed in a couple of sub-7:45 miles.

After the run I went right over to the gym. It was packed. The gym was conducting a membership drive, and I'd say it's working. With the promo going on, I waded into the crowd. I didn't want to have to come back later, because I knew if I went home I would stay home. The lift went well, despite having to work around so many folks.

That's a complete day! Over 2 hours of working out will stimulate the ol' metabolism.

Ride tomorrow, run, and swim. Thursday is a track meet. Friday looks like a 9 AM swim, 11 AM ride. Run, perhaps after the ride.

Oh, and for what it's worth, McDonald's built a team starting in 2008 with the Tour de France in mind. As yet, they've not put together a team good enough for an invite to the race. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Resuming training

This week saw the return to a more-or-less normal schedule. Yesterday was a run, lift, and ride day. Today I did only a run and swim, mainly because the wind was severe enough to make it unsafe to ride the cut. I didn't have time to ride before the run if I drove to Lighthouse, which would have been the only way to make it safe.

The run was only 5, but Rand, John T., and I did it in 37:47, and it was no trouble at all. Conversation was lively and animated. Sorry to drag you down that road again, Rand.

My swim felt good. I guess I shouldn't call it a swim as much as a pull. I put on the pull buoy and went. Fifteen minutes later it was done. I'd considered going 1500, but it didn't take me long to reconsider.

I finished the Boston Edition of OtR, and you can find the link on the right. It's PDF, so you can download and print if you wish. There are lots of pictures and a few first-hand accounts of the trip. I'm still looking for reports from the other runners, so John T., Jimmy, Kathy, Robin, Miller... I'm happy to build another copy. I know folks love to read the personal accounts. I do, anyway.

Tomorrow is the last Tempo Tuesday of the spring season. This weekend is Louisville, next weekend is Indy. After Indy we start the weekly pace line at Spring Mill. However... the first week will be a Monday instead of Tuesday due a conflict with BNL track. It's been proposed and voted on, so too late to argue!

Looking for a ride on Friday, a run, and maybe even a swim. Details to follow.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Double double

The last two days have been more or less the same - 5-mile run in the morning, 31-mile bike in the afternoon. The only variation is that today I also lifted. The effort is telling. It amounts to over 5 hours of training in two days, something I haven't done for a little while.

We've been talking about races we plan to do. Rand is doing Louisville next weekend, Kathy is going to run with Chelsey at Indy, Jimmy's doing Indy... As for myself, I don't know what the next real race will be. I'm going to run the 5k from Circle K on Saturday, though it will really only be a jog. More and more I'm thinking Terre Haute is out of the question. Instead, I might do Crane this year. It's close, I could do it and be home in a much shorter time frame. That would help out with Leisa's event.

Saw Jimmy's new wheels today. Nice. He, Galloway, and I did the ride thingy. I thought we might have a couple more show, but it didn't happen. Rand is worried a bit about Louisville, I suppose. Don't know what happened to Miller. Dan was busy, Kathy can't be talked into it... the list goes on. Soon, very soon, we'll all be riding.

It was a bit cool again, mainly because of the wind. Going south, no problem. The sun was out, and it was actually quite nice. It was another matter altogether going north. The wind was stiff and strong and cool. I didn't miss the jacket going out; I missed it a bunch coming back. Thank you, Kathy, for the arm warmers. They saved the day for me.

I will double again tomorrow if all works out. Probably Tuesday, too. Wednesday looks like rain, 70% chance the last I saw. Thursday is a track meet, then we're off school again this Friday. That day, if the weather allows, I'd like a big bike ride, maybe 65 or so. County line and back through the Amish country? It could happen. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

We ride again

Lighthouse is becoming an old friend. I'm not quite ready to run yet, so today was another ride. It was the scheduled one, set up by Allen in Boston before we left. John T. was there, along with Mike. Miller couldn't quite get there in time. We may have to make adjustments to the timetable to allow him access in the future.

It was as expected a leisurely stroll through the country. There was a semi-strong wind that occasionally blew out of the southeast, but nothing serious enough to hamper the ride. It was all told a fun ride.

Of course we stopped at Huck's. What a beautiful night to kick back, ride easy, take a break, and come home. It just doesn't get much better than that. Maybe if we had more folks with us?

I did sample my new McDonald's riding outfit. Mike debated whether or not McDonald's has a Tour de France team, mostly with himself, because I know what the packing said, and the order. Not that I really believe he's wrong, but the possible out for the company is McDonald's may have built a team for the Tour and wasn't invited. That's always a possibility. Not all teams get in.

Amazing, my back doesn't hurt at all. I'm enjoying being able to bend over and tie my shoes. I guess that's part of the reason I am in no hurry to start running again. A little more time to heal hasn't hurt (literally).

I've stolen the write-ups from WinD and Allen, and am currently working on my second. It won't be long and we'll have it done. I'll post the publication soon!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Reflecting, and then some

There is a period of time after a hard effort, especially one as stressful as the 2012 Boston Marathon, where you're caught between the "not-quite-mentally-sharp-again" malaise of post-race recovery and the "it's-too-far-back-to-remember-clearly" eventuality. I find myself there at the moment, trying to collect my thoughts about what's transpired. As promised, I plan to devote a great deal of space to it in a for-print version of OTR, so there will be more. For now, I spend what little free time I've had since being back trying to reflect on it.

I got a good chance on today's ride. That's right, I drove down to Lighthouse and rode the Amish country, a full day ahead of the planned group ride. I felt I needed to do something, and so long as I could stay in the relative flat of the area, and given the wind was almost not there at all, it seemed like a decent idea.

I'm glad I didn't go for more. It was a good ride in that I averaged 20 mph with no push. What was bad was I had a really hard time finding a focus of any kind. That's definitely a sign to me I haven't recovered completely from the race. As if I didn't know that already from the sore quads, biceps, shoulders, etc...

It was a beautiful day. Light wind, blue skies, green pastures and trees... it's too lovely for words. Perfect temperatures didn't hurt a bit, either. Too bad my mind kept wandering off to oblivion. I could have enjoyed it so much more had I been present in mind.

Jimmy texted me while I was out, asking for quotes for the newspaper article to come. I thought of a few, but I think I settled on this one:

"I could not have asked for a better group of friends with whom to endure the nearly unendurable."

You like that? For me, the weekend could best be summed up in that sentence. It was a fun trip interrupted by a hot run. I really enjoyed getting to hang out with the guys in a city I really do love.

Enough mushy. Tomorrow we ride!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Boston is done!

I'm sitting in a hotel business room typing on the community computer, so this will be a very brief preview of posts to come.

It's been a whirlwind trip. We arrived Saturday and it's been pretty much non-stop since. Food, expo, food, walking, food, expo, food... you get the idea. Jimmy's posse snuck in a baseball game, but other than that, the itinerary was pretty much the same.

As you all know by now, Boston the race was a hot one. Very hot. We all survived, and there will be many stories to tell. I will try to get a story from all of us to include in a PDF newsletter edition. I also have lots of pictures and may gather some more from others. I think it could be a very comprehensive look at the event from multiple perspectives.

For now I need to go back to the hotel room and figure out how I'm going to get all this loot on the carry-on luggage. We leave the hotel in a couple of hours...

Thursday, April 12, 2012

FAST!

The track meet took waaay longer than I though it would. You know, I thought I was being so smart to pick high jump as an event. How long could it take? How about the opposing team's bus was long gone by the time we got done. It went way over schedule, so my plans were upended.

I considered not riding at all, as if it was a cosmic sign perhaps I shouldn't. Since I don't believe in astromony and all that star-predicting stuff, I ignored the tea leaves and loaded up. I'm glad I did.

Now it could be that I'll be sorry for what happened. No. Come what may, I'm glad rode. I decided to do something different tonight, altering the normal ride for something I don't often do. Since it was so late and traffic so light, I opted to continue on 37 all the way to Mitchell. All the way. If you ride to KFC from my house it's nearly a perfect 10-miler one-way.

There was no wind to speak of. The air was cool but not cold. Traffic was light. The pedals seemed light. In short, it was the perfect time, the perfect place, and the perfect conditions to ride. I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

I didn't crush. Keeping constant pressure on the pedals, the miles peeled away quickly. At 10 miles I was under 27 minutes - and it's uphill most of the way to Mitchell. That meant I would probably be under 54 for the ride if I only held pace. Easy.

As I expected, the way back was even faster. Slowly dropping altitude until the cut kept the speed up. The cut? Yeah, it hurt the average, but that's the gig. Out-and-back means the cut twice, once up, once down. No need to whine about it.

The final number was 52:58. That's over 22.6 mph, the fastest training 20 I've ever done. It's a legit time, totally, because it was out and back on the same course exactly. Yes, I'll keep it.

Went to swim after, but it took a little time to get in. It was crowded! Eventually I did get in for a short one, and the day was done.

Tomorrow Galloway and I will ride at 11 AM from Lighthouse. Jimmy and I will run from the office at 5. I'll get a lift in too, then that will be it before Boston. 

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Double, not triple

I got my ride. It was cold. It was windy. It was short. But it was fast.

There was a steady NNW wind that made the trip south on the 20-miler quite easy. By 10 miles I was sitting at  21.75 mph average. Now the hard part - turn north into the wind and keep the speed. I didn't want to really crush, just hold steady. The flats were easy enough, but any uphill was greatly hurt by the steady headwind. I finished with 21.1 mph. Yeah, I lost. So what? I'd climbed the cut into the wind. Of course it was slower.

We met at Jimmy's at 5. The running is starting to feel better, looser, easier. Jimmy, Kathy, WinD, and Robin turned early for 4. Rand, Bartlett, Miller, and I kept on for 5. I was in at 38:22 without any push.

I didn't swim. Erin is still sick, we had someone in on the deck for a while, I had some work to do, so I passed on it.

There is a track meet tomorrow, and I have to work it. If I get done in time, I'll do another ride. If not, I'll probably take the day off. I will lift regardless.

Run on Friday, 5 PM, 3 miles. 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Way too windy to ride

I don't care what I intended for today - with winds topping 30+, there can be no ride. It's not safe. I probably should have ridden last night, I knew it then, but done is done. I will have to hope for better tomorrow.

We did run tonight. We only did 5 miles, adding to it a series of short strides. There were only mild complaints from the gallery during the event. There was grudging admission after the fact that they helped. I won't say by whom to whom.

It's winding down. We'll do another short run tomorrow, then for some, that's the last run until Boston. I can't do that. I'll need to run once more, probably Friday, or I'd be too flat to run that far. It's not that I expect to run well anyway - 80 degrees anyone? I just don't want to start by feeling awful. No sense in that.

I will ride tomorrow one way or another. In fact, I hope to get out a little the next couple of days, then ride a little longer on Friday. Two more runs, three rides, and I'd be totally happy. It's likely I'll get at least one more lift, maybe two, before we leave as well.

As much as I'm looking forward to the trip, I can't wait for it to be over. It's delaying my real training goals, which I want to embrace. I guess the good side is my back still doesn't hurt, a very welcome change. Perhaps if I can keep the running mileage lower over the summer I'll have a good chance to heal properly. Put that on my goals sheet!

So, how do I keep myself from gaining 10 lbs. this week...

Monday, April 9, 2012

If this is taper...

Man, didn't feel "tapered" tonight. The only workout I did was a 5-mile run, and it didn't feel good until the end. The guys were talking about how great the Boston forecast looked, then I just read a Twitter post that suggested a high of 80 that day.

Uh-oh. I've done that before.

On the positive side of things, I have absolutely no time goal in mind. I know I can survive a slow coast to the city if I can carry a drink with me, which is exactly what I plan to do. Those hot 20's with Jimmy this cycle have given me the confidence I can do it. It'll be like a 26.2 mile parade. I'll practice my royal wave. It'll be cool.

All this considered, I'm not going to worry much about treating this like a race. I will train pretty much normally, maybe slightly reduced, then rest the last couple of days. I don't want to be hurt going in is all. There have been slight high-calf twinges, so I've eased off for those. That is my concern, not the race from now on.

Another benefit of a warmer day is it'll be easy to wait for race start in balmy weather. Other than the dread, that is. Heh.

Tomorrow we are going to do a simple workout featuring perhaps some strides. It won't be hard at all. I'll ride before. I think at this point I'll ride the next two days, then Friday. I'll run again Wednesday and Friday, lifting also twice more this week. I want to pick up training again seamlessly after we get back next week, focusing on riding. Twenty miles per week running, riding moving up to 150-200. 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Busy Easter

There was a run this morning, and Jimmy, the Hammels, and I took advantage of a cool but beautiful day to train. We did an easy 5-miler and parted company.

This was only the beginning for yours truly.

I had my burrito, then went to the gym. I changed up my lift routine a bit. Since no one was there, I was able to set up three stations at a time and went to rotations. I don't normally lift that way because it ties up a lot of units, but hey, it was clear. It was a very nice change of pace, and it sped up the workout considerably. As far as lifting is concerned, it's a very aerobic workout.

Since Leisa and Erin had to work crib room and I didn't want to sit in a crowded pew alone, I opted to stay home and give Leisa an Easter gift. She wants the deck pulled up, but before that can happen we had to remove the awning attached to the carport. I felt I could get the fiberglass off before she came home, so I set to it.

I had just enough time to get the fiberglass out and pop into the shower. We were going to the in-laws for lunch, so I had no choice but to quit working on the awning and get ready.

After the meal, it was time to head home to mow grass and maybe get another crack at the awning. I hit the grass, then jumped on the awning. I just about had it completed before it was time to ride. Things were going pretty well.

Allen was there, I unloaded my bike, then Mike showed with Greg and Morgan. Dan had mixed his start time and would try to hook up with us later; Jimmy bailed flat out. It was a bit of a late start, but eventually we did get off.

With a tailwind it didn't take long to reach Huck's. We all went in to grab a snack, then went out to eat. That's about when Dan caught us. Funny, funny stuff. I know he had a heck of a ride to get to us.

We turned for home, taking our time until the highway. On the final two miles, Greg, Mike, and I let it out a bit. We got upwards of 30 into a slight headwind. I was on front until Greg pulled alongside. There is no question he could have dusted me any time, but he hung right at my side. Mike trailed slightly behind, staying clear of the debris on the shoulder.

The ride done, it was back to the awning. Within 15 minutes I had it finished. This made Leisa happy I know, and I was happy she didn't try to do it before I could finish it.

Tomorrow is a run. I don't know if I'll ride, as I have a doctor's appointment. Maybe after the run? Swim? We'll see...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Cooler, but fun!

Allen, Dan, Mike, and I met noonish at the Lighthouse for the Amish tour. It was nearly identical to last night, with a strongish northeast wind blasting in the last vestiges of early spring. Though seasonal, it was an odd juxtaposition to the last few weeks of abnormally warm weather.

Dan revealed he is joining the cadre of Kestrel owners - or is that, "Kadre of Kestrels"? Kestrel or no, it is another carbon bike in our group. Let's see if we can recount:

Miller - P2 carbon
Mike - P3 carbon
Jimmy - Airfoil carbon
Rand - Airfoil carbon
Bill - Airfoil carbon
Kathy - Talon carbon
Allen - Talon carbon
John - Talon carbon
Dan - Talon carbon
Jake - Trek carbon

We still have the holdouts in Galloway and Strunk. That's not to say their bikes aren't good - they are - but we are looking at the carbon trend, aren't we? Anyway, it's going to be an interesting biking season if motivation is increased by buying a new bike.

10-mile run tomorrow morning, breakfast after. Sunday AM run is likely in peril given it's Easter; the 4 PM ride at Lighthouse is looking pretty solid. 

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Lonely ride, of course

There was no doubt in my mind I would be riding alone today. It had turned colder, it was windy, and it seemed everyone had something else to do. So when I arrived and no one else was there, I wasn't a bit surprised.

That's the good thing about Lighthouse - it isn't hard mentally to start from there, because you don't have the cut staring you in the face at the end. It's a flat course, it goes fast, and it's pretty. The Milky Way and Diet Coke thingy in the middle doesn't hurt my motivation a bit, either. Everyone needs a carrot, but truth be told, I don't like carrots. Give me the Milky Way.

As mentioned, it was much cooler and windier today than the last few days. Despite this, I was able to hold 19.7 mph without really trying at all. Give that to the flat course, I guess. I did ride aero all the way, which helps a lot. Other than a soreness in the middle-upper back, I've nothing to complain about doing so.

Speaking of back, going on two days without low back pain. I can't believe it. I'm thinking of getting one of those "______ days since an accident" signs in front of my house, except of course it would say, "______ days since low back pain". It's not like I'd have to buy a lot of numbers or anything.

Erin still didn't feel like swimming, but since I want to hit at least two days a week, I went. It was a bit crowded, more than April normally has. I was able to jump into a lane with Hein, but I must have done something wrong because within 200 yards he left the lane. Fine by me. I was able to complete my workout very quickly and get out before two others joined me. Lucky too - they didn't look like swimmers. It would have been a chore to pass them over and over.

Allen is getting better every time I see him. Rand is working hard on him. In fact Rand is working hard on a lot of people. I spoke to another fellow that complimented Rand's coaching. Way to go, Rand!

We are riding tomorrow from Lighthouse Books, 12:15. Allen needed a slight change of time due to a previous engagement. Makes no difference to me!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Only a run, for cryin' out loud!

You would think a guy used to training a couple of hours a day would handle a measly 40-minute with ease. You would think this same guy would feel fresh afterward. On the first point you'd be right; on the second, dead wrong.

I'm dead tired. I lifted before the run, ran 5, then ate supper. I'm ready for bed, and it's way too early for that. I'm dog tired, plain and simple.

The overall training level by time is 14 hours a week, pretty good, but nothing near what I've done in the past (18-24 hours per week). True, I'm building up, but not that much and not that fast. It's hard to nail down.

Lucky for me there isn't much on the docket for the next few days. Just a bike and optional run for tomorrow, a ride on Friday, and a 10-mile run on Saturday. There may be a swim tossed in tomorrow for good measure. None of this will be done at hard pace, though it does at to volume.

One lucky break is being off on Friday. I should be able to catch some rest then. At least that's what I'm hoping.  

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Go, just go

Spring is a fun time of year even as it's a trying time of year. You have to love the earth coming back to life, the green of the fields, the flowers, the trees, warmer temperatures... so much to love. On the other hand, it's also a time when training levels go back up, and it can be challenging to drag out to do yet another workout.

Saturday's 20 lingered into yesterday's run, and ultimately the bike and swim. I felt tapped in all of the above, yet completed everything. That's experience. It's supposed to be tiring when you are building up, it's something that must be endured if there is to be a clear reward later (in the form of great races).

Today was a bit better, so much so I put the bike first, even on a day when the run is the emphasis. The tempo was scheduled as a 3-miler at 6:30 pace. It wasn't supposed to be particularly hard, just a sharp workout. I figured it wouldn't be fun regardless of what I did before, so I dragged out the Kestrel and went for a ride.

The wind was odd tonight. It was a west/northwest/southwest deal which effectively means it was more-or-less in my face the whole ride. It wasn't terribly strong, just always there. It didn't peel too much off my speed. I hit 20.7 mph for the average, more because of being stopped for traffic than anything. It's getting to the place where holding 20-21 mph on this ride is routine.

Just for clarity's sake, when I say "20-21 mph" I mean the average speed, not every single moment I'm on the bike. What I have mastered is the course. I know where to take it a little easier and where to make the time. There'll be times I'm at 15 and times I'm at 30, but generally if I'm on a flat it's 20-22 mph. Cruising.

Later in the run, we readied for our respective tempos. Nick, Josh, and Aaron comprised the 5:45 group; Jimmy, Miller, Rowan, and I made up the first chase group at 6:30; Allen, Robin, WinD, and Kathy had similar time goals of around 8 minutes and were in the next group, and; Dan was the sole member of the late group.

We had a great vantage point from which to watch the lead runners. They of course extended quickly away from us, but they were still in sight for the entirety of the run. They appeared to be under the first mile, slowed a great deal the second mile, and a bit more on the third. Aaron fell off the first mile, caught up, then Josh fell off, leaving Nick and Aaron to finish together. Josh trailed maybe 20 seconds back, and I finished 20 seconds back of him.

Yup, I was gaining, slowly but surely. Our group had started slightly behind theirs, maybe 10 seconds at most, and midway through the run I saw it was pointless for me to try to hold designated pace. I was up, comfortable, and gaining on the next group. Might as well see what could happen. 6:20, 6:20, 6:17 and it was easy. Looking beyond Boston, I like how Terre Haute is shaping up (if I do it). My goal is to run 6:15's, and I think it would be an easy goal to hit.

Jimmy, Miller, and Rowan finished a bit behind, and they too were under their goals. I was 33 under, they were 18 (15 second separation). The rest of the group hit their numbers, and I'd say generally speaking the Boston group is looking pretty solid. If we can all stay healthy for a couple more weeks, it should be a fun day for everyone.

Tomorrow is just a 5-mile run, swim, and lift. I pushed the lift to tomorrow because it balances the week better and made no difference in the overall scheme of things. 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Taper and triple

I'm supposed to be on taper, though it'd be hard to tell at the moment. Tonight was a run, ride, and swim. None of them were long, but they combined for around two hours of training.

When I got home from work I was pretty beat, sore, and mentally out of it. I decided to skip the ride for then, leaving the possibility of riding after the run if I felt better. This was a lie; the chances of feeling better about riding after running were slim at best.

The run sure didn't seem to open the possibility up much. It felt awful and sluggish. It got better by the end, however. The time wasn't awful, and since I felt a bit looser and there was plenty of daylight left, I decided if I could get a quick bite to eat and get on the bike by 6:30, I'd go for a short ride.

Dinner put away, I was riding by 6:28. The northeast wind meant I would have a harder time of it coming back, but there was nothing to do for it but to go. Easing south, I kept telling myself to just get to the turn and nothing else would matter. At 10 miles I was just barely under 20 mph average. This would likely drop, I thought, as I turned north.

It didn't. Despite the wind, despite being tired, I dropped into aero and carried at least 23 mph all the way to the bridge at the cut. As a result the finishing average was exactly 21 mph. It turned out to be a much better ride than I'd anticipated, and well worth the effort.

Twenty minutes later Erin and I were headed to the pool for a quick swim. A thousand yards of pull was all I did. Erin swam quite a bit more, so I took the time to help a few people with strokes. And so the day ended.

Tomorrow is Tempo Tuesday, the last before Boston I suspect. We're doing 3 miles at a moderate pace, 7.3 total. It shouldn't be that hard of a workout, so I'll ride before if it isn't pouring rain by then.

Reminder: ride Thursday from Lighthouse Books, 5 PM.