Sitting on my thumbs

I tried the trainer a couple nights ago, but the ankle didn't appreciate it. I haven't been able to train for a couple weeks, so I am starting to wither away and I am getting mildly depressed. I worked too hard to lose what I achieved - I guess a little microcosm into the bigger picture of my life.

At least I have a couple goals in mind that have been very motivating. However, these same goals have heightened my anxiety for now because I can't train. So what's a man to do - create a training guide during the down time. If I can't be physical with my goals, I might as well knock out the mental/strategic aspect.

Here's what is on RideCam's platter o' fun this year:

Date: Race @ Location (racing with)
Jan 13: National College Sprint Series AR #1 @ Natural Bridge, VA (Jimmie Jam)
May 06: Frederick Half Marathon @ Frederick, MD (Keither - possibly others)
May 26: Odyssey Wild, Wonderful 24 HR AR Series #2 - New River Gorge, WV (Jimmie Jam)
Jun 09: 24 Hours of Big Bear @ Hazelton, WV (Enter the Draggin')
Jul 15: XTERRA EX2 Off-Road Duathlon @ Flintstone, MD (???)
Oct 13: 24 Hours of Moab @ Moab, UT (Enter the Draggin')
Oct 28: Marine Corps Marathon @ Arlington, VA (Keither)

These are the races I will definitely be attending. Others may be added but my focus is on the endurance-type races. I always wanted to run a marathon, so hopefully this year I can knock that off my list. I am really excited to participate in more adventure races.

Send good vibes of healing RideCam'ers!

Can't wait to see this...

24 Solo. A movie about Chris Eatough and his exploits in the solo 24 hour mountain bike racing world. This cat is ridiculously good. Check out the trailer. Gripped's first attempt at a mountain bike documentary was fantastic, I can only imagine the intensity of this one.

It appears that some of the roads he is riding are some of the roads I traverse on my commutes to work.

I may never train again

Just got over the chest congestion....hell yeah! In celebration, I went for a trail run at Soldier's Delight. A couple minutes in, I am picking myself off the ground after a lightening quick fall. Yup, I definitely twisted my ankle...Dammit!

Back to work

Not 100% and it was a chore getting my sleepy butt out of bed. I still woke up with a coughing fit, but just one and not as major. I think the meds and lack of physical exercise has left me a little drained of energy. Starting to feel like a lump on a log. But back at the place that most likely made me ill and dusting off some older projects. I'm surprised the building was still here based on my long hiatus!

I really want to start training for the half marathon scheduled for May. I really want to do just about anything outside...this inside stuff sucks! Keither....you better be training. Any RideCam'rs interested in running?

Who will be number 3000?

What? What? I almost have 3,000 visitors (not unique), which is quite an accomplishment for a small blog. Whoever it is will get a special prize...not sure what it is and is limited to what I have and...here's the small print...not necessarily giving out a prize...bitches!

Gosh darn...not much to report other than I've been pretty sick with some sort of chest infection. Probably because I've been training too hard and not drinking enough alcohol to kill small, deadly microbes that leach into my chestissis!

Seriously, I haven't done shite, but drink the Quil family medicine (both Ny and Day) and take some of the strongest meds on the planet (z-pak). This bug is hardcore and my restlessness has increased 100-fold. I can't stand to have grass grow beneath my feet...must do something!!!!

Of course this is the weekend that all sorts of people call and ask to do really fun stuff...I miss hitting Canton in the mouth with the post college crew, hitting a UNC game at Chapel Hill with my high school buds and watching the Division Championship game with my work buds...dammit it to hell!!!!

Oh well...Tell me to get well soon!

Just a quote

"Who does not love beer, wine, women and song remains a fool his whole life long." - Carl Worner, 19th century beer bottle craftesman.

There are a lot of things going on in the above paragraph. The obvious is the fantastic quote. Although I think one can love all those things and still be - at least - a loveable fool. Also, seriously, we need to revamp the beer bottle industry. Bottles are so spartan these days..bring on the true craftsmenship!

That's all folks {cough}

My first AR is in the bag!

I am sick (was sick before the race...prolly didn't help), so I will bullet point.

• I did way better than expected
• We got lost - 15+ miles lost
• My partner was awesome - although he said sorry way too much.
• We were in the top 5 (out of 50ish teams) before we got lost.
• We had the best cheerleading section out there!
  
• I love this stuff - I hope to do the one in May!!!

{cough, cough} Bed time! Some pics from my pop.

Before the race















Prologue (1.5 mile run under the Natural Bridge)














After being lost for 2.5 hours...about to hop on our bikes

RideCam out!

...until I return from the adventure race in VA. Looks like we'll have some rain...booo! And apparently I will still be feeling like shit...booo! Other than that...let's rock this thang!

Pray for me ...pray hard!

Stay classy and dry RideCam'ers!

Ruh-roe

T minus 2 days and counting until the big day hits and I am feeling like a big bag of shite. I woke up this morning with a very sore throat which has subsided, but I have never been so tired. I can barely keep my eyelids open at work...well, less than usual...asshole!

I have been dosing myself with OJ and Cold-eze Zinc drops, which will hopefully knock this monster out of my system. 2007 has started off well, so I don't want it to go in the bag two weeks in. I owe it to my teammate and myself to rock this race as hard as I can...so damn you to hell sickness!!! Damn you straight to hell.

Good ol' Mr. Buffet

...not Warren (although I'm a big fan). Nope, I mean the Jimmy "It could be my fault/Salt-salt/wubba-wubba-wubba/fins to the left" variety.

I've had his tunes whippin' through my head the past couple of days. He is definitely one of the modern era's greatest poets, speaking to generations of fans who so desperately crave the lifestyle he touts in his lyrics.

One chorus has been resonating in my brain bucket though. It sums up for me, how life should be lived:

I'm growing older but not up,
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck,
Let those winds of time blow over my head,
I'd rather die while Im livin than live while I'm dead.

God damn right, Mr. Buffet!



Adventure Race countdown: T minus 3 days and counting. The weather calls for rain...cross fingers that the rain will come after we cross the finish line first!

Nice lil' weekend

Not too much by the way of excitement. On Friday, I headed down to Walkersville to hang out with my buddy, Keith. He and another friend were busy finishing his basement. After some negotiating, we finally headed to downtown Frederick...shocker. It was a good time, ran into some old friends, made some new ones. [The athletic feat took place in the morning with some trainer work...good times...trying to get something in everyday to prepare for the upcoming AR.]

Part of the negotiation was that I help drywall on Saturday. I was all amped to get up early and run, but c'est la vie. The manual labor was enough of a workout. After about 7 hours of work , we cleaned up and headed out to watch some football. Afterwards, I headed to see my parents - who were worried sick because I was neglecting to check my cell phone. Mah bad!

Sunday, I got up and ran 5-6 miles and had a lazy day. I did work on my Paragon for the race - I mainly ride single speed during the winter months - the bike is pretty much dialed in [knock on wood].

That's all.

TOUGH

And I thought waking up early, sipping on a cup o' joe and hopping on the trainer was hard. Check out this crazy effer!

Thanks Me llamo Bradley for the inspiring shot! Although - as you mentioned - I'll stay inside. However, I do highly anticipate the first mountain bike ride in the snow. Let's cross our fingers that the first ride won't be next week during the adventure race. I better stop talking about it or it just might happen. So far, accuweather.com is saying low 50's no rain...meteorologist man, so help you God if you are wrong!

Dancin' in the Moonlight

..no, not the Thin Lizzy ballad. This rendition pertains to the fantastic moonlit mountain bike ride at Seminary last night. The trails were a little damp and the air was chilled, but the pace was fast - albeit a little sketchy on the loose terra firma.

Back to the moon. At one point, when we had to turn back to get a forgotten tool, I thought the moon was a headlamp from another rider. I actually had stopped and waited a couple seconds - I thought the rider could have the tool we needed - before I realized that it was no rider, but the moon, baby!



Insert Thin Lizzy line... 'it's caught me in it's spotlight'.

The view was pretty fantastic - wish I had my digicam.

I also conquered a hill on my single speed that has been nagging at me for a while...YAR!

Again, both Hoppe and Toby put on a show...good stuff.

Got home ... talked to neighbor who offered a token of concern in the form of beer ... talked to the folks ... made chili ... showered ... slumbered ... ironically, woke up to ... yup ... Dancin' in the Moonlight. This is after I already decided on today's blog title. Hopefully '07 will be as interesting.

Back on track

The focus is on the adventure race, which happens in less than two weeks. Last night I rode the trainer for 45 minutes...thinking this was going to be my only exercise for the evening. I hopped off, felt pretty good and hit my small OM loop which is a little over 2 1/2 miles.

I figured it was time to see how the transition may feel. My run started really strong...maybe too strong. I guess my engine was primed and ready to rock. I may need to harness the energy a little better at the start of the 10 miler on the 13th.

Oh well, this will be my first attempt at an adventure race and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more on the course.

The fast life....

I am no longer built for the late nights and raucous behavior that I honed in my college days. The past couple of days definitely reminded me of that.

Thursday. A few buddies and I rallied around Fed Hill and hit up dinner and some local watering holes. Lost bank cards...never to be found again. Got up Friday and ran a couple miles and felt good as new.

Friday. Volk and I hit the Rock and Roll Hotel in DC to see Lake Trout. A good location although a little smokey, and it was also an all ages show which always seems to louse up the atmosphere. We ended up getting home around 3:00 am.

Saturday. Needless to say, it didn't take too much to de-motivate me from running or hopping on the trainer...my body needed rest in more ways than one. So I wrote off Saturday. OK, so I did jog a little...then watched Tenacious D.

Sunday. I spent the day watching football in DC with my boys and then we painted the town...starting at Four Courts for dinner and then all points around the nation's capital. The intention was to see George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, which got nixed due to outrageous ticket price and the proximity of good bars. It was a fun evening for sure...what a great way to end such a weird year!

So...now my focus is the upcoming AR race. More details to come. Oh and I'm also planning on running the Marine Corps marathon in October...