Embro? Maybe?

Temps were in the low 70's today. Tomorrow promises more of the same, with lows in the 50's. I may get to slather on some Belgian Kneewarmers tomorrow while I kill my legs doing Tabata intervals. I may not sleep tonight, eager with anticipation :-)
 

 

Rain. Check. Pain. Check. Hurray for intervals!

I woke up to rain. Bleh. Got breakfast, fed the dogs and kitties, checked the web. Bam. No rain. Yay. Finished cleaning teh bathroom, suited up and went out to do some hill intervals, specifically Stetler road, then Steigerwalt hollow road, repeat. My legs were a bit tired; climbed like a rock. Oh well; it's the workout, not the speed that's important.
Next, on to Lower Allen park to do plyo. Hide away so no one can see me lest they think I'm crazier than they already do. Running the steps seems to be a good training excercise for cross; felt good. Easy pedaled home. Got a little wet. Burned like 1200 calories. This cross season I hope to NOT have tired legs before the season staRts. Looking promising so far.....

Sometimes it's not about racing

Sunday, Aug 23rd I did the Livestrong Challenge century in Philly. 6k+ riders and about 800 runners. I managed to raise $400, which surprised me. It's hard to find someone who hasn't been affected by cancer, so really, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that people are willing to donate to a cause such as this.
I got up (well, I was up almost all night) bright and early at 4:45am and got ready to drive down. Sunrise on the turnpike is actually quite pretty. After playing phone-tag with Rob, we finally met at the staging area. I met Kurt, his friend, and Pat his brother, all of us comprising Team Fish or cut Bait. We headed out, barely moving. After a while things thinned out and it became easier to keep up a decent pace. Pat would surge ahead on the descents; Kurt was pedaling like a madman up the hills; I just kept my own pace. We skipped the 1st "Power stop" and then Kurt and I pulled ahead to the 2nd stop. Waited for Rob and Pat there.
Off we went in team fashion but it soon became apparant that Kurt and I would be ridng ahead for most of the ride.
Tons of hills-Kurt kept flying. At the bottom of one of the larger climbs I passed him and then never saw him again. I waited for a bit at the next stop but didn't want to wait too long so i went on without them. Lots of killer hills; Satan at the top of 2 for reelz! saw Pat at the 80? mile stop-he was being saged back. 50+ miles for him, which was good since he apparantly hasn't been able to train much.
My legs were hurting since past mile 62 I was in uncharted territory for me; I haven't done a century in over2 or 3 yrs. Kept hydrating and pounding the gels and fruit. Got to ride with some nice people and ended up finishing what turned out to be 95 miles (on my 'puter) in 5' 38". not bad but time wasn't the goal.
I waited for quite while for them to finish and then had to go. Rob called as I was on 76 heading home; they had just finished.
I was a bit sore and extremely tired but I'll do it agin. It effs with my cross training but that's OK.

Someone DID die.

That's really too bad. A 60 yr old man, doing what he loved. My heart goes out to the family. I'll say it again; these charity "fun" rides can be not so much fun if you don't be careful and pay attention. Be safe out there.

Freds, Posers, and Douchschnozzles (new word)

After a yr haitus from any "charity rides", I did the Lancaster Bike Club's covered bridge metric century. I did this for 2 reasons; 1, I was going to ride with my friend, Dave, who I haven't seen in over a yr and 2, I probably should ride a ride >2 hrs if I want to finish the Livestrong Challenge century without dying. I get near the place and traffic is actually backed up onto the interstate. Me, being incredibly clever and hating to sit in that mess, go down to the next exit, head back up, and BAM!, no waiting.
Reg line was well run and quick, meet Dave at the port-o-potties, and notice on the way over, that there are an INCREDIBLE # of Freds, Posers, and soon to be named, Douchschnozzles. A veritable clusterf*ck of them. I am fearful for our lives. I have no worries w/Dave; he's an experienced rider and knows what the h*ll he's doing.
We go off and go zipping by group by group of people totally oblivious to the fact that they are on public roads, not the TdF and yes, there are cops at intersections but there are also cars behind and coming the other way; you DON'T have the right to take up the whole friggin lane. The inevitable "racer dudes" go by in pseudo-pacelines, only to have us (ok, me) pass them at the top of the hills. A side note; do not wear a 1) polka dot 2) green or 3) Maillot Juane if you haven't earned it!
We see Rabbit at the lunch stop. Minus his "posse". Meh. End up in decent shape (miles 42 on were uncharted territory for me this yr). A good ride, no one died (that I know of) and we didn't get taken out by any Douchschnoozles. Yay. I think I may make the century next weekend. Although I won't try to keep a17-18mph pace like we did today. Unless they want to. :-) And tomorrow it's cross training in earnest! Plyo! Intervals! Dead legs! Whee!