Change One Dog's Destiny

This is the week I ride the First Annual Riverution -- 75 miles surrounding Lake Pepin.

The animals I ride for have no voice. They have no choice. Only a destiny you can help right.

For my part, I wish I could write the words that fill my heart -- but they don't exist. This has been an exceptionally trying year for animal rescue groups. Pets that have been part of a family for years are turned loose. They are found tied up, under trailers, in wetlands -- sick and confused needing treatments and surgeries that only volunteers and your support can provide.

These animal have one thing to give -- unconditional love. For my part, I have ridden my bike over 1,800 miles to train, to raise funds and awareness. If you give $5.00 or challenge me per mile, what will you get? The satisfaction of providing unconditional love to a family or a child and fulfilling the destiny of a great dog who lives only to provide that love.

You can donate at my site or at LRRoF

The group and the dogs they care for need your help desperately. Hopefully you can find it in your heart to throw some good money "to the dogs."

LABstrong

Quick Update

... before a more generous post next week.

Mileage has been slipping terribly due to a number of factors. So, today I put my foot down and told my staff that I would be training in the morning and in after that. I rode 40 miles this morning and it was almost surreal. Now many bikers saw a pod of playing dolphins? Or got within two feet of a wild osprey? I bet I am the only one.

So tonight as I relax with a brew of some sort and the angst and anger of the work day fade, I will sit back, recall my captured moments and smile.

LABstrong

I'm Güd

...and that's bad. I caught some funk going around and it totally dog boned my training this week. I can feel my muscles turning to marshmallow goo.

I had good rides last week and a decent Spin class Saturday. Since it was a holiday weekend I opted to stay up "Rock Star" late (anything past 11:00) and tipped a few with Todawgz. It was fun and I knew I had Monday to make up a ride. I put in about 25 on Sunday and readied for 60+ Monday. Sunday night I was tired, but having rode and done chores in searing heat I was not surprised. I readied my gear, set the alarm and hit the sack Pre-Rock Star time.

Monday I got up and felt dead. But I knew the Riverlution is coming and I had to ride. I pulled my a** out of bed, turned on the coffee and fed Shilo. And sat. Then I made oatmeal. And sat. Then I walked Shilo. Surly that would get my system going. No luck. Finally, I looked at the calendar and saw two weeks of training left. I sat. My mojo was squashed by rationalizing the time off the bike Monday. I spent most of the day prepping frames for painting -- stripping and copious amounts of sanding.

I haven't been on a bike all week. My energy has been very low and my stress has been high. Too much work to stay home and I choose to listen to my body rather than pound it at the gym. To me that doesn't spell heroics, it spells disaster.

Ten plus hours of sleep last night and I have some energy again. I am hopeful to Spin tomorrow the ride Sunday. Maybe not 60+ but something of significance. Then hopefully a full week to train HARD!

FYI an article in Road Bike Weekly talks about age and the descending opinions on training/versus age and what it can do to our immune systems. They also note the standing record for the Race Across America is 14 years standing and held by a team of three 50+ year old men.

LABstrong

CSS

...or Crime Scene Sanibel. Yup, I'm a law breaker. I headed out Sunday morning for a long training ride. The temps were cool (77º and humidity making it feel 82º). But there was some over-cast, minimal breeze and some shadows to ride in.

I was warmed up and hitting my stride as I entered onto Sanibel. Note, the island has no traffic lights and only one four way stop sign -- which I approached, all by myself aside from the four cars turning right into their own lane. So I get to the only 4-way stop, nary a car in sight. I slowed down, hand signaled a stop, then a left and made the turn. Just then some guy yells "Nice stop!" as he turned right in a big 'ol pick up. Great. I spent the next few miles wallowing in my midwestern guilt, recounting the article in Road Bike Weekly I just read how 19% of the cyclist are responsible for the bad blood due to their violation of traffic rules. Make that 19.01% now. Sure, would NASCAR be as interesting if Dale, Jr. had to signal each turn? Or if Mark Martin had to yield to Tony Stewart? Of course not. But I just broke the law, pissed some guy off who will undoubtedly project his anger onto some poor cyclist following he rules. My apologies. I should know better having been pulled over earlier in the year for running a series of Sanibel stop signs. And, yes the cop was on a golf cart but I still contend it was gas powered!

So I continued on, letting the "incident" fade away along with work worries and focused on my goal. I ended at 52 miles and felt pretty good with out having a huge energy deficit. Really the only problem is the heat. I have noted this year my body cannot handle it as well as in years past. As soon as the sun rises higher and the Ma Nature cranks up the thermostat, I begin to fade, despite copious amounts of water, Cytomax and Shot Bloks. Anyway, I did it and I am pleased that my training is staying on course the best it can.

Looking forward to a three-day weekend!

LABstrong,

Try As I Might...

training has been taking a back seat (or is that saddle?) Work, as always seems to edge me out of riding and weekday Spin classes. Then there is the South Florida rain which hits just about the time I chamois up. I am fine getting wet, just not whacked by lightning.

Last week I rode several days and did Spin on Saturday followed by copious amounts of yard work and painting. The heat took it's toll and I felt like a slug Sunday morning as I decided to go for a ride or out for breakfast. But Nifi was already into chores and had her day planned. I decided to change my 55 to 25 miles and let my body rejuvenate from the prior day's heat.

I headed out, my legs feeling like lead filled sausages in a goatskin casing. Fortunately there was a little cloudiness so the temps did not skyrocket too quickly. I was feeling better at the halfway point so I pushed further and ended up with 35 miles. I was doing my "climb" on the way home and got passed by a couple roadies on the way up. I dropped the hammer an tagged their wheels over the top and nearly passed the tail guy. Felt pretty proud of my effort. Then I read how Travis climbed Mount Washington. I felt like I was riding a tricycle after that! Damn.

This week has been quite stressful at work and has interruped some riding time again. With The Riverlution and Seagull on it's heals, I need to bust the 50 mile mark soon if not this weekend! Gonna try.

LABstrong

It Felt Good

...to ride last Sunday. In fact it felt good to train all week and not do a weight routine. I got in many rides, decent Spin workouts and logged a 45+ mile ride on Sunday. I felt all excited Saturday night and was ready to head out -- might have been the wine though.

Sunday when I started it was about 78º. I had a great tailwind for the first half -- meaning a headwind the second half. I was feeling pretty spanky about mile 40 and confident that I had an appropriate fitness level to ride the Riverlution. But about then Mother Nature cranked the heat up to about 93º and it zapped much of my enthusiasm and energy. I was well hydrated this time (four bottles and one stop for more fluids) plus some Sport Beans meant I could finish my goal mileage.

Looking forward to next Sunday and pressing further.

LABStrong

Quad Killers

So, based on last weeks apathy, I determined that it is best if I put my sessions with T3 on hold until after my Century season. Thankfully, I got his voice mail. Last Friday we did balance basics, like one leg hops forward and backward, trying to stick the landing on one goat-like foot while not touching down or hopping. Man it was hard and hugely cardio. I was not great and wobbled a lot. I did that until I could do each set with five "perfect" landing. Take that Mary Lou Reton! Now I'm just dating myself. Which leads me to say I am glad to have Nifi back in town. So is Shilo -- I think she smiled for an hour.

Anyway, I did make Spin twice this week and the road once so far. I am amazed that my quads are still a little tender from last Friday's antics but nothing to keep a good goat down.

I am getting really excited about the upcoming Riverlution and getting all my schwag in order.

The Cycle Continues