A day of riding

It was a cold but glorious day to ride. I decided to roll out the Borthwick and ride the trails of greater Denver. The traffic was slim as most people were probably working. I do have a few observation on my day of riding.
1. 28 degrees is cold!
2. Lobster mitts take a bit of getting use to (as I dropped many things today)
3. Cyclist in Denver are NOT friendly!!!
4. Walkers/Runners ARE friendly
5. Riding Singlespeed is the only way to go

I have my plan for TI and it starts in earnest on Monday.

I'm in

Made it into TransIowa....

Can't wait.

10 Degrees at 5:30 am

Brrrrr......
It was cold as I headed out for a hour run early this morning. It took a little longer to gain my stride as all the clothes I was wearing made me feel, well, immobile. I needed to run as I did not get the chance to head to Boulder for the IGSSC. It was okay as I was able to finish up some things around the house, so I can go skiing this weekend or at least head to Breckenridge and sit by the fire. It is suppose to be COLD up in the mountains this weekend.

Tomorrow is the big day for signing up for the TransIowa race. I am more than a little nervous that I will not be able to get in. If I am able to get a spot the training starts in earnest on Monday.

Peace and hopeful for warmer weather.

Holiday season caos

Not time for anything but prepare for the holidays. The workouts are going as planned.
TransIowa registration opens in two days, so I will have to take some time on Saturday to ski in and sign up. Also, it is really cold know and the IGSSC is tonight in Boulder - should be fun.

Peace,
Mike

To the grindstone

My last race was only 3 days ago and I am already in my transition phase of my schedule. I have not nailed down my next 20 weeks but will by the end of next weekend. Until then I plan on hitting the weights hard and logging some spin classes or stationary bike workouts. I have added lunges to my leg workouts - I have muscles that have not been sore for years. The lunges will help skiing this year. I have developed a solid weight program for me that with 2 times a week during a power building period can build huge endurance as well as strength.

Attended my first spin class yesterday where I was not the only one there. It was almost fun and the pain was lost in the energy of the class. Hope to hit one or two per week. My plan of knocking out long slow runs is not as appealing as it once was.

Weight workout:
10-15 minutes warm-up (cardio)
Leg press or Lunges
Bench press
Military press
Leg curls
Tricep push-downs with hanging crunches between sets
Upright rowing
Calf raises
Lunges or Squats
Curls
Incline situps
Squats or isolated one-leg press
Dips alternated with pull-ups
Situp machine
Crunches (if time)
Basketball (if time)

This workout if done at an off hour can be completed in 1 hour 15 minutes.

It is frigid out there, so I be keeping warm inside. Peace!

Season is over

My season is officially over!
The last race was far from stellar as I had a slight fever and was lacking any kind of energy. It was a perfect course that I could have done well at but that is the way life is. As I look back at the season/year, I can am proud of what I accomplished. I race 16 cyclocross races finishing up in 6th place for the ACA state series and had a few top tens. Competed in 6 or more road races and one mountain bike endurance race. Also, I did pace my bro for 38 miles of running at Western States! The miles logged seemed to be down the past few years to around 4000 but the hours I spent running made up for that.

It is now time to relax for a week or so before I need to start hitting it hard for next season. I will be keeping motivated by reading Jason's Blog who use to dice it up with Will Black back in Texas. I still miss those old Lajitas days - long miles, good racing, and lots of beer. Kent , Jeff, and Dave will also help.

Off to prepare my schedule of pain.

Pulling out the trainer

It wasn't my morning to head into the cold darkness, so I pulled out the trainer and sat in front of the tele. Not much on at 5:30 am except the news, which isn't all that motivating.

Next time the rollers come out...

Preparing for the pain

I am in the mode to prepare for pain and train.

TransIowa will keep me training hard over the winter.

I have started to make the shift and get back into my running. Took a short run this morning, it was 29 degrees and the thought of cycling wasn't that appealing.

December's Plan: Rest and build solid base
Weights: Increase reps and add new exercises
Bike: 100 to 200 miles mainly on the mountain bike
Run: Increase to 1 hour three times a week
Ski: 2 to 4 days of Tele
Snowshoeing: ?
Diet: maintain current weight

All for now...

Tuesday blahs

Just back from lifting. I just felt weary as I do not think the day off gave me much recovery and the body is just physically beat. Will load up on carbs over the next few days to get the body ready for the last race.
I am beginning to think of the off season and doing some serious skiing. The mountains are getting good snow and I am ready for a change.
I can't believe the holidays are almost here.

Finishing Strong

All I can say is that the season is almost over and I am riding at my best. Rode really strong this weekend and knocked out some respectable results. 8th on Saturday and 6th on Sunday! Things didn't go well on Sunday as I dropped my chain twice and had troubles shifting but I still pulled out a great finish. The only other race I have placed 6th in was a crit around Mile High.

I need to keep the intensity up for one more week and then I will take a week of forced rest.

Peace!

Weekend of Racing

Spent most of the weekend racing.
Saturday I decided to make the long haul from Lakewood to Longmont to catch some Boulder CX racing action. I was feeling a little under the weather, so I no grand expectations. The course rocked and was just plain fun to race. Bolted after the race to head to Boulder to pick up brewing supplies - I got the makings for a Bock.

Sunday the legs felt weary but the race was one I could get a few more points toward my overall goal of staying in the top ten in the state series. I started off bad going into the first corner almost dead last, then I crashed in a muddy section, then I hooked a pedal on the barrior fencing. I completely lost mental and physical momentum. I realized that I needed to relax and tap out a hard tempo to start reeling riders back in. I was able to salvage 8th.

All this is great training for TransIowa. Only two more weeks of racing before I can even think about putting in base miles. The next three races for me all have points so I will try to remain focused and not eat to much.

The date is set!

TransIowa is set to take place on April 29-30.
I will have to miss the Fruita Fat Tire Fest this year because of it, no bikes and beer for me next year. I will make the trek out in March maybe to log some long grueling miles.

I made my TI room reservations already in the town of Hawarden, IA at the Soo Motel. I hope it will be okay for the few hours I will be using it. Of course I will bring a sleeping bag just in case.

Short run this morning to loosen up the legs for racing this weekend. I could travel up to Longmont on Saturday and to Golden on Sunday. Will have to see how motivated I am to drive this weekend. Sunday, I can garner points and it is close to the house so that may be the only race.

Peace!

Snowy Day

Today it snowed again. Good for me as I have been feeling a tad sick for the past day and needed some down time. My first day off in over a week. Should do some sit-ups and other core work before drinking tea.

I have been researching material and patterns for making my own cycling clothing/gear. There is a lot of stuff out there, even some stores in Colorado. I am hoping to find a good wool supplier that I can make knickers and jerseys out of. The search continues for what I may do when the kids are both in school. I dread the idea of working for the man.

The race schedule is heating up for the next three weekends. Four out of five races count toward the overall BAR series. Currently I am ninth in the old slow guy division, but I am happy with that.

TransIowa

It is now beginning. A winter full of hard base training to prepare myself for the potentially hardest thing I have ever done.

I will try and keep up and document my training.

November Training
Continue to race cross and log many miles before December.
Monday - Run or ride my mountain bike.
Tuesdays - Weights along with some minimal cardio
Wednesdays - Run or ride with a minimum of 5 hill repeats
Thurdays - Easy day on the rollers or pulling my son in the trailer
Friday - Ride easy on my SS
Saturday - Race (ride to it if weather is good)
Sunday - Race

December Training
Plan is to focus on weights and getting to a point I can run 8-10 miles twice a week.
Time off the bike will be brief.

January and February
Lots of tele skiing
A peak a week (plan on snowshoeing or skinning up)

March and April
Ride

More details to come.
Thanks for your support.

Morning energy boost

Woke up this morning tired and not really wanting to go ride. It was 37 degrees out! I downed some coffee and trudged out the door. Once I saw the sunrise my energy level lifted and I pedaled with ease.

Came home to fresh baked muffins, scrambled eggs, and more hot coffee. Drank all the coffee and now it is time to go wrench on my 'cross bike. The sun is shining and it is about 65 degrees on the back deck.

Enjoy your day.

Mid-week blahs

It has been a long week and it is only Thursday. The kids are sick and I have been trying to keep my own illness at bay. Lots of Emergen'C and other assorted vitamins. Needless to say I am staying away from the bike until tommorrow in hopes of feeling great for the weekend.

I will be heading up to see Walt about my new frame today. I am excited and a little nervous.
Also, my training for TransIowa is beginning. They are still working on the date.

More to come - off to down more Emergen'C

Peace,
Mike

Settling in

The weekend brought on more cyclocross racing. Saturday the race was an easy pedal from the house at my daughters old pre-school. The course had a long paved section that sent me into the red zone each time up it. The back side had a killer lock your brakes up descent back to some rolling single track. Ended up 13th after getting caught by two guys with a lap to go. I put in a huge effort with 3 laps to go in an attempt to hold off the chasers but I cracked with a lap to go and ended up behind them. No worries. Drank some Go-Fast had watched the rest of the suffering. Pictures to be posted soon.

Sunday? What was I thinking. I wanted to have a great race because I would have liked to break into the top ten and garner some good points. I was lolly gagging around at the start and ended up in the backrow. The start was narrow and I ended up staying there until the first set of turns. Then gaps opened up and then I just settled in to reel as many people back as I could. The last lap I shifted to the little ring and dropped my chain on the big runup and DS made up some time. I didn't recover and he beat me by about 200 yards.

The next few weeks the racing heats up in and around the house. Time to settle in and start racing like I know I can.

Peace and Happy Halloween....

Weekend cross races

The racing this weekend was great, even though my legs were somewhere else. The course was a good one for me but nothing seemed to feel right. The run-ups were hard and my legs felt like lead running. It is all good! I was able to get out and hangout with old and new friends.

I did not race on Saturday because I went to Veloswap and ended up ordering a new bike. WaltWorks out of Boulder is building me up a new 29er mountain bike. This will be my TransIowa bike, can't wait. No good purchases other than a set of pedals for use on my old mtn bike.

I will now have to purge the bike stuff in the garage before I receive anything new.

Into the suffering

The CX season is in full swing. I have raced 6 times and have managed to grab some ACA BAR points. I am using this 'cross season as a spring board for TransIowa which is in April. I have been logging good miles with the lights and plan to continue to ride through the winter. This weekend is Veloswap so my racing may be curtailed but will try to sneak one race in.

But I need to remain focused on the 'cross thing as I have been asked to join a Team. I submitted my cycling resume to their pres and hope to hear something soon.

I will post a TransIowa update with my training plan soon.

Peace!

The start of the season

So, it has been awhile since I posted anything of substance on this site. I have no grand plans for this posting, other than to prepare for the onslaught of cyclocross season. The race in Breck was just a mere warm-up and weekend to spend having fun.

From this weekend forward there is a opportunity to race at least once. I plan on racing as much as the family allows. The training has been strained over the past few weeks with sick kids and family from out of town. But this is the time of the season I really enjoy racing so I will be out there knocking bars in one of the old guy classes.

Not to look to far forward into the future but I am planning on racing TransIowa in April. My training schedule for the next 6 months will be intense. I am so looking forward to it. I will post my plans and use this as a training log.

Peace to those who actually read this.....

In Action..

First race of the season was last weekend. Boy did I suffer with a bout of bronchitis and the thin Breckenridge air. I completed two races.

Early on trying to hold of a charging pack - okay only a couple back of the packers.
All alone negotiating the barriers at the start/finish area.

Cyclocross

My cross bike is back together and ready for a season of racing......

Racing into middle age

Well, I haven't had time to post anything since my little morning excursion a week ago. Since then I have done 4 races and completed all of them. Some more stellar than others but I was out there. A dear friend always reminds me that showing up is half the battle, the other half is what you do prior (ie training).

Quick Recap
Salida
The road race was HARD! really hard. I was able to hang on for 1/3 a lap! The initial climb was wicked and the pack blew apart quickly, at least that was my perspective. I finished about 30 minutes behind the leader. On Sunday, the criterium was in downtown and it rocked! I felt awesome, even after the battering I gave myself the day before. I hung it all out within the first lap and even got a little gap but the pack reeled me in and spit me right out the back. I did ride with a local guy for the remainder of the race and we just did mindless loops. What fun!!!

Fed Center Race
This is a great circuit race only 3 miles from home. I preperation for the event, I went to a swim beach and laid in the sun. I got shelled but was able to keep the peloton within sight until 2 laps to go. The legs have never screamed so loud.

Bannock St Crit
What a fun event! The legs felt great and my mind was at ease. Just stayed with the pack until the sprint at the end where I sat up and soft pedaled in. My legs had no snap so no sense risking an accident. Rode to and from the event which I logged 68 miles for the day.

Not bad for a 40 year old!

Morning Spin

Took an easy morning noodle around Bear Creek Park and was able to watch the sunrise. Ready for the weekend, time to race. Escape mediocrity!

Good Bye Friend

17 years of service!

Weekend ahead

I have been thinking alot about the race this weekend. Not from the stand point of nerves or of my ability, but from the state of racing in CO. I consider myself a decent racer and tend to have a positive outlook. Since moving to CO, some of that has changed. Living in Austin I was the president of my bike club and rode with a great group of teammates. I have tried many times to join a club or team to no avail. A lot of that has to do with the fact I am not finishing in the top 10 in every race or that I don't toe up to the line every weekend. Just plain frustrating! I believe I have talents that any team would like to have. Oh well!

High country excursion

Headed to the mountains for a weekend out of the heat. I think everybody had the same idea. The trails were packed with avid cyclists knocking out miles climbing Vail pass. I rode from Breck to Vail, roughly 63 miles on Saturday. It was a pleasant way to spend the day. Sunday brought a grueling but short ride up to Hoosier pass in cold, damp conditions.

As I get older the rides I do in the mountains really help calm my soul. The expansiveness of the wilderness with the crisp air and clear blue sky make me realize that life will always be good. On that note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!!!!

The worst has happened!

To all cyclist their morning hit of coffee is what gets them out the door. Well, I have to say my coffee maker is gasping for breath. It has been part of my cycling routine for going on 17 years and has traveled from Marshalltown, IA to Houston, TX to Austin, TX to Denver, CO. Looking for a new coffee maker is harder than buying a bicycle. The technology has changed so much to complete such a simple task. It will probably take me the better part of the next few weeks to purchase a replacement.

I was able to get out for a easy spin this morning without a stout cup of joe. Heading off to the mountains for some long miles and to escape the heat.

Climbing back into shape

Rode in the heat, climbing over 7 miles up along highway 40. The legs were weary from doing hill repeats the day before but I felt solid. Hopefully Salida will be a good race for me.

Heat!

Boy is it HOT! I am suppose to go and do a long climb this evening. 104 on the back deck at its hottest.

I'll update the climb later......

The bike feels good..

I am back at it on the bike and it is feeling good. I did race this past weekend and that did not feel good, but I haven't been racing every weekend since March like the rest of the pack. I am planning on doing a road race in Salida. I am stoked!

It has been a hectic July and the rest of the summer looks to be the same.

Thanks

Pictures

I have figured out the whole picture thing and now will be posting more.



Freewheeling ride in Austin, Texas.













Matt at Michigan Bluff, mile 55!

Looking strong coming out of the aid station.

Is recovery overrated?

Tried to ride the Firecracker 50 two days ago and had a bad day. I am still reeling from the fact that I was unable to finish. The legs had no juice!! They are still tweaked from the effort with my brother. Will spend the next few days trying to recover so I can salvage what is left of the racing season.

Out on the Trail....

Man do I look like crap......

Working the kinks out

Rode today for only an hour. Man the legs are feeling tweaked!! Little pains abound but they at least felt strong and was able to spin some life into them. Four days to my next race, the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge. A fifty mile mountain bike adventure through some great country in and around Breck. I am hoping to hit the five hour mark but I will have to see how the legs feel Monday.

My dad and his wife are out for the Forth and we are planning a traditional picnic right down to the potato salad and hotdogs. Should be a great weekend.

Pain, Pain go away

Painful! That is all I can say. It was both mentally and physically draining to be running for 13 hours throught night with someone who pushed his body to far earlier in the day. Lots of prep talks, cussing, shin splint, and pity parties but he finished 100 miles in 27 hours 37 minutes. Thats a 30 minutes faster than last year. Pictures in a day or two.

My legs ache but in a good way and should be back on the bike in a day or two. It was good to get home and eat all the cookies in the house! To sleep in this morning was the best feeling in the world as I have risen at 4 am the last two evenings I got to sleep. I learned more about myself this trip and hopefully it will make me a better person.

The ups and downs of life bring many joys and disappointments but one has to remember that we are here for only a short period of time and we must push on.

Thanks for reading........

The big weekend

So my foray into running is upon me. My bags are packed, my legs feel good, and my spirits are high. I do have some butterflies, but that is to be expected. Check it the Western States 100 and follow the progress of the runners. I hope to meet my brother at around 7 pm and run with him until 5 am - it should be fun. I bought some battery powered Christmas lights that I am wearing on my pack.

38 miles of dust, sweat, and brotherly companionship = Life changing experience.

Will update will all the details next week.

Lake Kansas

With 15 inches of rain in the area of Kansas we visited I should have been swimming instead of running. You had to run to stay ahead of the mosiquitos which made me feel like I was back in Houston. Did some solid runs and even a short ride through downtown Wichita.

An uneventful trip and glad to be back in CO.

Single speeding to fitness

I have been riding my single speed mtn bike for almost 3 years and am amazed at the amount of fitness that I have maintained. I am not fast, but I have been able to stay steady for all my rides. Had a good ride last night with two other guys and really pushed it, I should be ready for pacing bro at WS100.

Off on another adventure to Kansas.....

Windy

I woke this morning to the sound of the wind hollowing. So what did I do, not roll over like a sane person and continue to sleep, I got up and headed out for a ride. I cut the ride short because the wind was so strong I had to pedal downhill into the wind and only was able to eek out 7 mph. As I rode the cross wind section of the ride, I got hammered and blown into the ditch three times. To compound the unpleasant ride, I got a flat a mile from the house.

Will spend the rest of the day out of the wind.

A running kind of weekend

Decided to stay out of the mountains this weekend in order to have good weather to train. Was able to get in two solid hour plus runs in with a 17 mile ride on the tandem.

Saturday am I heading out into the brisk air for a 6 mile run, I wished the trails were dry but pounding concrete is better than nothing. My bro won the Mens 100k Open division at the Kettle Moraine run last weekend, so I have my work cut out for WS. Got home and loaded up the family and rode to Golden for the Farmers Mkt.

Sunday brought rain and shorter run but a little hillier. The trails are still wet and will probably be that way for a day or two. I'll have to hit the bike for morning rides over the next couple days.

I am working on the groove of a blog, while out running I had all these topics flowing freely but I sit typing without a streaming though process. Maybe just lack of sugar.

Back to the OLN...

A Rest Day

"Recovery is overrated"

My first day of rest in 7 days. Rode yesterday morning and the legs felt great, I even climbed to the top of Grn Mtn to watch the sun rise over Denver. Today, I have been drinking to much coffee and cleaning house. Would have taken the tandem out with the kids but the weather did not allow it.

Hope to get two solid runs in this weekend, as I have only 2 weeks before I pace my brother at Western States.

Why?

Why have a blog?
I am still not sure, but as I approach middle age the urge to share seems somewhat appealing.
I hope to post some of my past writings and continue to create new. Most will be focused around my myopic world of cycling.

Having visited the place that made who I am today helps me reflect better on what the future holds.

Enjoy the ramblings.......

First Velo Soiree Posting

Okay, here we go.

It is a bike party everyday.