Trailer Surfing

The Off Season

Well I just enjoyed a restful week off. I usually take this week off for deer hunting and to spend time with the family. I did not see a deer in the woods even though I spent quite a bit of time sitting. I did however manage to get drunk 4 nights in a row and closed the bars on 2 of those nights. So I guess I accomplished something. On Wednesday I had finally recovered enough to get to the Y. Decided to start weight lifting again. I hadn't lifted in 9 months or so. It wasn't that bad. I started easy but, discovered I hadn't lost any strength really over that last year. Which was nice I can start right where I left off. I was sore but, I managed to lift and do the elliptical for at least an hour on Wednesday, Thursday and, Saturday. The one thing I am going to do different this year is, I plan on doing maximum strength workouts this year. Last year was first year lifting and I took it fairly easy. Hopefully I can build more explosive strength in my legs. I also am using barbells in my hands for the step up instead of the barbell on the shoulders. Its just faster when the gym is busy. I'm not sure if I can keep doing it, my hands are weak. I tried doing dip downs instead of step ups and realized I was just asking to hurt my knee. So the game plan is to lift into February and start mixing riding in toward the end. For now I am cross training on the elliptical machines at the Y. They feel comfortable and give a good workout. I usually do some intervals on them after lifting. Not sure why. Well what ever you do this winter remember to ">

For the Troops

Not a politcal statement.

Reforestration Camp Duathalon race report

This was a fun race to do. The weather was beautiful. 70 degrees and sunny in November? It was warmer than ur race here in August. Also the first race I have done with a MP3 player. That was nice some tunes while I tore it up. I thought this would be a good course for me and it was. I am not a runner but, I managed to finish the 5k in 23 minutes. I started out fast and had to back it down a little after the first 2k. I was averging 194 HR and hitting 196 on the hills. Still not many people passed me on the run. So I must be getting faster. I averged 192 HR for the run. I averaged a more normal 182 HR for the bike portion. This still left me a huge hole to try and make up. I sat down changed my shoes and grabbed my camelbak and jumped on the TOP FUEL. Immediately I started passing people that passed me in the run. By the time I hit the first signletrack I passed about 10 people. Later on in the singletrack I caught 2 faster guys. I got too excited trying to catch them and wiped out. I still managed to catch by the next doubletrack and hammer past them. I was really pushing hard the whole way. My legs started to cramp about half way thru the first lap but, I just spun the cramps out every time it happened. I saw Dan thats on the Flyers with me, at the start of the second lap but, it took me half a lap to catch him. I really had to hurt myself to get in front of him before a section of singletrack. That was halfway thru the second lap and we rode together till the end of the singletrack and then I got a gap and took it to the finish. So I finished 3rd overall which was also 3rd in my age group. Out of about 58? I should have had 4th but Ben Neubauer had a mechanical while leading the race. The race was fun and well set up with live music and great free food. The cheering was loud and and appreciated. I only wish they had time splits for the run and bike. I must have had close to the fastest bike split in the race. I never saw the guys who finished ahead of me, they finished the run before I did. They beat me fair and square though. I managed to lose one of my ergon bar end grips during the race. I had adjusted them before and must not have tightened that one enough. I was going back to where it fell off and a nice couple gave it to me. Big Thank You. I also won a good jar of salsa which I already ate some of. Before the race I managed to take Family down to the playground by the Zoo. I think the kids enjoyed it. It was some nice down time before the race. Hopefully I can find some pics later...