The Off Season Part 2

Well I have four weeks of lifting in already. This week I got in a pretty solid ten hours of training. With four hours of lifting, three on the elliptical and, three on skiing. Next weeks plan is to start the maximum strength phase of lifting. I have to admit to being a little nervous about it. Never having lifted before last year. I am really happy I don't seem to have lost any strength from last year. I never tried leg pressing more than 300 pounds. And now I should be aiming for more than 450 really. Oh well I guess I will find out how I do. I just have to stay positive and make sure I don't hurt myself. Maybe I will surprise myself. I am glad the ski trails are open finally. I managed three hours of skiing last weekend at the camp. It was just amazing out there after the big snow. So the plan is weight lifting followed by elliptical at the Y. Then on the off days skiing at the camp or Perkins park across from house. I don't lift during the summer because I have a physical job. My thoughts are that work is enough to maintain my strength during the season. So far everything seems to bear that out. I seemed to have started right where I left off last year. The only thing that I may try to work on during the summer are my abs. Guess you just can't have strong enough stomach muscles. Maybe if you could crack a walnut with your bellybutton, you could give them a rest? Oh and just so I don't get sued the picture is from the Training Bible by Friel. Buy it if you are just starting or are stuck in a rut. It will make you fast if you are MOTIVATED. Hope you get what you want for the Holidays.

Are you doing the New Years day ride?

Because certain people said I didn't update enough. :)

Little Pick You UP

Get Some go again
by Henry Rollins Band

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...

More Zombie Wasting

http://www.hairclub.com/zombiegame/

Can you make it to the Mansion?

Fastest in January stir crazy by march.

Well it finally happened. The rain forced me inside and onto the trainer. Had a solid 45 minute run outside then I jumped on the trainer for another hour and 45. Felt good afterward. Would be nice to still be outside though. I'll probably try to go to the Y tonite. Then I want to squeeze in a Road ride Sunday before the big game. Its supposed to be 45 anyway plenty warm. Well so far Christi and I have not caught swine flu even though both of the kids are sick. The both have had very high fevers. Up to 104 degrees. I just keep washing my hands. Are your knuckles supposed to be bleeding? I am really looking forward to the Duathalon at the camp. I just have to get thru this next week without getting sick. Then hopefully a little turkey cross on Thanksgiving. So I can have a good appettite. Because, lets face it we all just ride bikes so we can eat lots. Right?

Schwag and Watch out for those Jetts

Good times at the WORS banquet last night. Didn't win any big prizes but, I did get a nice womens purple fleece. I was able to trade that at the WORS table for a nice set of Bibs. Cause you can't have enough cycling clothes. I was not one of the lucky ones who got some Jett clothing. All I can say is watch out for those jetts.

Yyyyyyyyy. M. C. A.

So first trip back to the Y in about six months. Since early april I think. It went well did another brick. Guess what? I can walk the next day. This running stuff isn't that bad. I'll still get k

illed at my Duathalon. At best I'm running about a 8 minute mile. Oh well just have to make some time up on the bike. Kinda bummed about working out indoors but, you gotta do it to stay in shape. I figure I'll probably only have about 1 day each month to ride outside in Dec, Jan and, Feb. My house is now a recovery ward as Paige has the Flu. Hopefully I am not throwing up at work next week. Because, I have to go to Minoqua for three days. Just have to keep washing hands and getting lots of sleep. I did not do the Rat race last night. Not sure if anyone showed its been so crappy. I will do another brick tomorrow tho. Maybe I'll go for a longer one. I'll probably have to burn off the calories from the WORS banquet tonight. Glad another crazy week at work is over. Working 45 hours and only getting 40 gets old after a while. On the bright side the work is getting closer to home. Not having to drive 2 hours to work would be nice. See you tonite if your going to Stevens Point.

Boo Zoo and Pumpkin Carving

The Family and I went to the New Zoo for some quality time with the animals and CANDY. We went on friday night. Paige went in her princess costume and Alana went as a little lion. Christi went as her normal beautiful self and I wore my usual ugly mug. We had some fun and we got some candy. We should we paid enough to get in. After having some fun with the sheep and Forrest the cow we jumped on the inflatable pirate ship and bouncy castle for a while. Then we headed home to eat Candy. Saturday we carved some pumpkins and boiled another one for pumpkin pie. Yum. It was also my Birfday so I did absolutely nothing in the morning. I would have gone for a bike ride but, I did my very first brick ever. Bike/run. I did that on friday and could hardly walk on saturday. I am getting ready for this. So then saturday we went to my friends Scott and Lorra's house warming party. We brought along 2 bottles of apple pie and I think a good time was had by all. Except Lorra was pissed when I burned one of her pumpkins. Sorry Lorra.

Boygan Race Report

What a fun race. It was a blast to go to sheboygan and compete in my second comp race. I used to think sheboygan was a technical course until I raced bear paw the previous race. The new Top Fuel might have had something to do with too. So the race started out pretty typical. The starts in Comp are faster than in sport. So I just hung toward the back on the start and tried not to get in peoples way. The leaders were flying and I felt like I got boxed in by a few slower people. Then when we got to the first single track, Dead stop. Kinda figured something like that would happen before the race. I think I heard there was a crash in the top 10? Oh well not like I expected to do well. So first lap went well. Climbed the izer got the 5 spot. Second lap stuck behind 2 females in first section of single track. Couldn't get by till the road. By that time 5 other guys had caught up to me again. Jump to early out of single track and realize I'm going to run right into this chick. Slam on brakes and Hes down. Crap now I have to pass all these people again. Second lap went well otherwise. Climbed the izer again but, no more money. Third lap was going great just kept reeling more people in. Especially on the road portion, I was flying up that thing. Got to the crick crossing and spun out on the bank. Had to get off and run. Then I tore bibs wide open while jumping back on. Showing off my pasty white man flesh. Climbed the izer again, popped up front wheel at top. Kept going though. Fourth lap I caught a guy I recognized from bear paw. I had stopped when I heard a elite was coming through at bear paw and 2 comp guys went by then. Didn't know at the time but, I had been in 3rd place. So this was the guy that took 3rd. So I yelled at him on the course, he probably thought I was crazy. Passed him by and never looked back. Fourth time up the izer I got to the top. Popped front tire up brought it down and fell over. Just didn't have the power after almost 2 hours. Sped off to the finish, tried to catch 1 more guy but, couldn't quite. Final results 25th overall 3rd in age. I am really looking forward to next year especially the camp and wausau which suit my riding style. Plus I need to get the Top Fuel set up for me. I never even adjusted the shocks. Just went and rode. I have to say that bike is a ROCKET ship. Felt so confident on that bike it was crazy. Just pick your line and go. What roots? What rocks? I didn't do the log jump because my front tire was low. It had around 20 psi in it. At one point I hit a rock and felt the rim hit hard. So after that I babied it in the corners and jumps. Or it could be I'm a wimp.

First Post

This my first Blog hope it dosn't suck. Like this guys day...