Update: I’ve been had! Well, sorta. The email regarding these two pups had some legs. I mistakenly thought it was new, but from what I hear these two were placed weeks ago. Sorry!
PUP*D
January 15, 2009
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Lumberjack 100
By Rob in GeneralI signed up for the Lumberjack 100 mountain bike race this morning. This will be a huge undertaking this year. The stats I’ve heard are that of the 250 (300 this year) that enter, only half will finish. My only goal is to finish, but it’s going to be a hard, long road to get there. I’m totally pumped about it, even a little freaked out.
The longest I’ve ridden on the mountain bike so far is about 45 miles, which included a lot of double track. My back strength needs to improve a great deal for this to be feasible. I think the back strength will make or break it.
I have a few races on the schedule that may help me prepare for this: 12/24 of Boyne, 8 hrs of Cannonsburg, and potentially the Brighton stage race. There’s also the Massive Fallout route and multiple Potowatomi laps.
Overall I think the greatest training I’ll have this year is commuting. Getting to a point where I’m commuting 40 miles a day twice a week will really help.
This is turning out to be a crazy year. Hopefully my body holds up and I learn a lot about being healthy and staying healthy. I plan to push myself as far as I can (safely, of course).
December 29, 2008
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2009 Fitness Goals
By Rob in General- 200 hours on the bike
- 2,500 miles
- Race Sport Clydesdale
- Weight down to 200lbs at peak (July)
- Shave 15 minutes off Iceman time (2:15:00)
- Commute twice weekly (not including 5 weeks teaching)
- Ride a full century
- Run half marathon in October
- Race a 6-hour solo
- Place top-5 in Sport Clydesdale race
December 23, 2008
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Playing the Mind Game, and Losing
By Rob in Cross Training, Fitness & HealthWinter is a bitter mistress. Since my last post I’ve only ridden once or twice, and likewise with the trainer. I’m gaining weight and losing energy. My motivation to move is losing it’s power over my motivation to eat. Emotional binging has become an issue again. Lots of ground lost.
While wallowing in my own self pitty, I came to a realization. I’ve been fat for a long time. That may sound harsh, but it’s true. I was fat, obese, and I worked really hard to change that. The realization that hit me is this: I have to learn to be skinny. Losing weight is obviously not perminent. People put weight back on, I’ve done it and I’m doing it again right now. What makes this time different is that I see what’s happening and I know how to stop it.
Being healthy is as much of a mind game as it is a physical one. Fall hit, things got busy and I got lazy. I stopped riding as much and started eating out more. My portions grew and the combined slippage caused 10lbs of weight gained and lots of earned fitness lost. This battle is year-long, 365 days, 24/7. It’s hard goddamn work.
Things are going to change starting right now. My wife and I are getting snowshoes and we’re going to start hiking again. I’m going to get on the trainer at least every other day for an hour, no matter how boring it is. I’m going to start regulating calories and planning meals, making lunches, anything I need to do to change my lifestyle. I refuse to gain the weight back. I refuse to ignore the signs I’ve ignored over and over.
This isn’t a New Year’s resolution, this is a lifetime resolution. I want to be a healthy dad and a healthy senior. Planning one’s health is more important than any planning one can do, more important than finances or college funds or retirement.
I’m learning that being fit takes challenging myself to try new activities and forgive imperfect conditions. I may not be able to afford the right equipment, but if what I have will help me be fit then I need to deal with it. A little pain now is worth it.
So I’ll be back here often to keep notes on my progress. Those of you reading this will have to put up with a lot of bitching about old equipment or things that I find annoying. What’s important is that I keep writing. If I don’t I may just slip back into the blinders that hid my problems for a long, long time. Thanks for listening.
November 19, 2008
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Winter Commute: Day One
By Rob in GeneralWell, it’s not technically winter yet, but it’s certainly winter-like. Today was my first commute in sub-freezing temps and it was a blast! I was nervous going in because my setup hadn’t been tested yet, but man I was warm and toasty. It felt good to defy the weather and keep riding. Here’s my setup from the feet up:
Wool socks, regular shoes and full shoe/ankle covers. Toes got cold after about 10 miles. I may try the duct tape trick to try and trap the heat.
Fleece-lined tights with regular riding shorts, rain pants to block the wind. This worked out GREAT. My legs didn’t get cold at all.
Long sleeve base layer, arm warmers, short sleeve jersey, and long sleeve soccer jersey on top. The soccer jersey wasn’t form-fitting enough and got a little soggy. My torso got a little child around mile 10.
Columbia jacket shell, LG gloves, balaclava and ski goggles. Nothing on my head got cold, IMO it was the perfect setup. The goggles kept my eyes from watering which is usually a big problem for me in cold temps. My only issue with them is peripheral vision. I really have to turn my head 180 degrees to check for cars. I don’t love that, but I’d rather see clearly all the time and change up my habits than have murky eyes the whole ride.
This was also my first time riding with studded tires. Given the wheelset is heavier than what I’m used to, it sometimes felt like I was riding through sand. As I warmed up it got easier, but it’s definitely a good workout. I’m using the Innova studded tire. Great bead for the road, haven’t tried it off-road yet.
I’m hooked. Once to twice a week for the rest of the winter is the plan. Getting up at 6am in the cold is super tough, but it’s worth getting to ride outside. Next step is to find my low-temp threshold. My guess is 15-20 degrees. I could be surprised. Hopefully I am.