What does snow have to do with it?

My riding week was 405 miles, though I fell short of my long ride goal (again) of 160 miles.  It's up to 180 miles for today as I'm looking at the clock typing, knowing good and well that I have to get on the bike soon.  12 hours on a trainer, just doesn't sound very appealing to me.  I've done it in the past and have survived, but that was 15 years ago.  I'm much wiser now...NOT!

Why!? WHY!?...you may ask.  Well your body won't adapt to riding 3,000 miles across the country by sitting on the couch eating bon-bons. Once your schedule is set, the challenge is sticking with it.  Yes, there are stumbling blocks along the way.  But you can't get discouraged, just mark it off as a bad day and continue forward.  

I was stuck on the beltway Wednesday evening with many of you.  After traveling 6 miles in 6 hours, I decided I had enough.  So I turned around and drove back to work (2:30am) and slept on the couch.  I finally made it home on Thursday (our office closed) and was welcomed by 3 fallen trees.  I cleared up the essential one, but still have a couple to clean up.  For some reason, I don't see that on my training schedule. Missed a long ride that day.

In the meantime, my crew chief, Edgar and my assistant crew chief, Susie (my wife) are hard at work organizing and planning out all of the details leading up to the Race Across America (RAAM) in June.  One can't imagine what all goes on behind the scenes of an event like this.  But details are of the utmost importance.  And it's just not RAAM.  Like I said earlier, this is all a progression...a learn process.  We have the Sebring 24 hour Challenge next month, a crew training/meeting, the Heart of the South 500 the following month and then my longer, supported training rides leading into June.  I'll cover this more in future posts and let you know what the other crew members are doing as well.

...right now, I've got to get on the bike.

Cheers everyone!  And remember not to get discouraged by disrupted routines.  Things happen!  Let it go and keep moving forward toward your goal and we'll get there together.

...still no warm sunny photos

Currently, I'm riding at my mileage goal for the week (365 miles).  Though I am not following my daily schedule.  I fall behind each weekend and work hard through the week to catch up, then repeat the following weekend.  It's going to be the coldest temperature of the season this weekend.  I will have to force myself to get out there and ride, even if I have to break it up into sections.  The long, endurance miles are important.  We'll see what happens.

My last Sunday ride was nice and steady, though the route was very flat (under 4,000' of climbing).  The wind and overcast sky made the ride chilly.  I managed only 100 of my target 140 miles, so had to make up the miles through the week.

Only 144 days remain until the start of the Race Across America.  Training needs to tighten up.

If you're training out in the cold, make sure you bring a cell phone, cash and a credit card (and perhaps a small lighter).  If anything should happen you don't want to be stuck out on a country road in the cold without a means of rescue.

Cheers everyone and thanks for your support.

Just another week...

Well another week has gone by and I've managed to keep my target mileage up. But only through a series of morning and evening indoor spins.  My goal was 345 miles for the week and I rode 370.  It's tough on the weekend, because those are supposed to be the gravy miles.  Long and easy.  But the winter isn't cooperating and it has made the roads and trails a bit on the dangerous side.

One of the few bad sections of the W&OD trail on Sunday.

I need higher quality miles leading into the Sebring 24 hour Challenge, in February.  Right now it appears to be a big enough challenge just to get some long rides in.  Keep checking in.  Sooner or later I'll have a nice sunny photo to post with warmer temps.

If you haven't noticed, the Homer Simpson countdown clock was up for a brief period of time.  I had to remove him because he wouldn't stay in one place.  Long story....just like all of the others still to come.

See you in a week.

159 days until RAAM

159 days 'til RAAM.  One week of new years training and I'm already falling a little behind (i.e. rode 310 miles, but needed 325).  I had over 100 miles of spinning.  Spinning miles are a little tougher to do, but a great way to focus on your form.  Though I've done several centuries on an indoor trainer, it's not my preference.  Saturday and Sunday were good rides, though on Sunday I under dressed and had to cut the ride short after a few rain showers.  I also tend to under hydrate in wet weather, because of the dirty country roads (i.e. natural fertilizer, to be polite). Would you drink out of that water bottle?  ha! It was actually empty already...and I do carry a cloth to wipe the crud off the mouth piece prior to drinking.  I'm trying my best to emulate the tough riders out there.  I keep telling myself the days are getting longer and it's warming up.  It's all in the mind....