Sick, Sick, and Sick

Well, i thought i managed to avoid the sickness that swept through the family, but tuesday confirmed my fears on monday night. Indeed i was not feeling good. Tuesday night i curled up like a baby, or how Trent looked like after his power test. ( see Enmark's blog for upcoming photos) I woke up completey feverish and sweat through my shirt, sheets and pillow; a real treat. I managed to drag myself to work and wallow in my illness, wednesday and thursday were each worse than the previous day. Friday and Saturday were a bit better, but Sunday grounded me to the couch, completely wiped out again. Finally as i sit here sunday night, this is the first time i feel almost human in a week. Close enough to human that i am even thinking about setting the alarm for an AM session on the trainer... time will tell.

I managed to torture a bunch of the MOB squad guys this weekend, no no, i am certainly not fit enough to take on a team on my own, but i put them through the power testing for them to benefit from.. Thanx to Mario for opening up his home to have guys trapse in and out all day and to give up a day with the family. There were certainly plenty of horses that showed up to test their merit. The funniest moment was Enmark busting the computrainer with his explosive test. After a quick reboot, he proceeded to do it again and post over 1400W in the explosive test and really showing some sack by holding over 1050W for 10 seconds.

I guess my hopes of making January a good month went down the drain, but hopefully now that i am well and have a few days to get back into the schedule and make February a better month.

Monday AM, Monday PM

Managed to double dip the training sessions again, every little bit adds up for the month, so im chasing it with all i got. It looks like i will end up short of 30 hrs for the month, but 25 is still in sight. Tighten up gents - the fat man is making a run to get under 190 lbs - i was 189.5 this am, lets see what tuesday holds.

Snow day

So I am starting a new streak, and seeing that i did not want to break the streak at just 2 days of riding, and i could not convince myself to sit on the trainer, i decided to look outside. Hmmm.. the driveway was covered with the white stuff. Hmm... trainer??
quick check of the weather channel says its 29 degrees already, Hmmm.. thats enough to break out the cross hog and head into the woods. So off i went with that. The main trail was in pretty good shape and the fluffy stuff created plenty of resistance to heat things up in a hurry, it also helped me with the task of kicking my own ass, since all i had was about 90 minutes to be out. Bears game on ya know. I did venture off into the single track some, but it was slow going and i was doing a better job off killing myself on the main trail. I was able to take another self portrait out in the snow, its no Knackered picture or anything, but it will have to do for now... sorry Enmark. The trail was the perfect choice with the tunes jammin and the legs burnin, i got in a killer 90 minutes in the white stuff.

Da Bears!!!!!!!!!

GO BEARS!!!!!!

Comin at you like a spider monkey!

Today's ride was brought to you by the letter Q, a warm yummy Cinnamon roll from the STC breakfast buffet, and by Talladega Nights. If you have not taken the time to view this masterpiece, I'd say go for it, but make it a GUY FILM day, the little lady will find it dumb i would think. Its everything you wold expect from the trailers on TV, and Lenny and I agreed that our favorite quote was from Rikky Bobby's son Walker who says he will be 'Comin at you like a spider monkey!' Endearing indeed. Well, I enjoyed my cinnemon roll, checked out Lenny's swanky new trainer with WIRELESS readout on a head that we could not figure out why it was 4 sizes too big for what it needed to be. WE had a good 2 hour workout and laughed pretty good at Talledega Nights. The gag reel is most definately worth jumping straight to before you view the actual movie. I defeinately think it will be a good trainer movie to see again.

7 Miler

Well - i decided it was judgement day to see how fat and out of shape i really am. I emailed Haas to get the file for the 7 mile field test we used to use regularly and hooked up the computrainer. After a good warm up, I launched off and settled into what i thought was a good early rhythm. From there i started dialing it up a bit as i reached the halfway mark. I was definitely feeling the lack of riding the last 18 months, but i was determined to post something that i would not be totally ashamed of. I dug deep for the last 1.5 miles and put in what i feel was a decent effort for the course. The test is 7 miles up a 1% grade, just enough to be relentless and definitely enough to scold you if you start out too hard, you need to pull it WAY back to get any recovery. I turned in 22:54 with 228W ave at 99 rpm for those of you that care about the numbers. Looking back to2004 ( the last year i had good data and i would consider myself race fit) it turns out to only be about 30W under where i was then.
Smotty's new plan:

• Keep up the double sessions
• Keep the nose to the grind
• Go out for long rides till i BONK whenever possible

I figure if i can follow that plan, i will get decently fit enough for the Chicken, maybe even the Bone ride. I'm sure in the process i can get some more knackered pictures for Enmark as well.

I'm ready for STC saturday indoor

Cheers

Saturday... High of 26

The weather channel predicts a high of 26 for saturday.
Unless the sounds of wearing everything you own sounds good, STC will be open for willing participants - 8am as always. See you there

Chasing an hour

Well i got up this morning with the best intentions of getting an hour in before Carter got up, unfortunately he was the reason i woke up. So we got up and played while mom and Griffen slept. From there, i thought for sure i could get an hour in on the trainer while Carter slept, as both mom and Griffen were again looking sleepy and thinking of nap time. No dice, as i was exhausted and opted for some couch time to follow up on the explosive opener of 24 and following Jack Bauer around. Alrighty then.. Carter is up, mom and Griffen are eating, i guess its go time! I took carter downstairs with me and managed to keep him entertained from the bike, and i was finally able to get that hour in i was chasing.
If i can manage to get an hour in with a 18 month old and a 3 day old in the house, as well as a recently pregnant still hormonal wife, you can too... mostly cause you can't top the excuses i have!

I Have a Dream.....

I dream of getting a 2 hour ride in on a weekday..
Thanx Dr King!!
Actually STC is in a bit of an unsettled phase now.
I was able to get 2 hours in today, but i am unsure of the next few
days of training schedule. I head out shortly to Pick up Sarah and Griffen and bring them home from the hospital. Hopefully it wont take to long to get back in a rhythm and get my AM rides back in action.
Talk to you all soon

Ice? Sleet?? STC indoors Saturday!

STC will host the usual indoor bike practice, 8am saturday.
Bring your favorite movie, and extra water bottles to carry the boiling water in case Sarah goes into Labor!
I will send out an email if the ride is cancelled.

Waiting for Godot

By no means is this reference the caliber of those from the great William H Stone, but given the crazy week i most certainly feel a resemblance to Vladimir in Samuel Beckett's classic 'Waiting for Godot'. For those that did not have to slug through the novel in high school English, i will spare the expense other than to say the uniqueness of this play is the Seinfeld like blandness of everyday life and the fact that the more you wait for something to get here, the more you realize it seems to never get here.
Wait, snap out of it.. lay off the lattes and dismal cliches.
Alright - back to the surrealness of riding the computrainer.
Double sessions have continued, and much like the beating of Rodney King, its something to talk about, but in reality its of little concern to most.
The Goal is still 10 hours this week, still on target. We will see if a birth throws off the schedule.

Double Dip

Well im glad i could entertain the masses with my knackered picture. It was worth a few laughs today reading the comments.
On a more serious not i did manage to get double sessions in today posting 45 min in the morning and 45 min watching the Gators destroy the wimps from Columbus OH tonight. I dont even think i am going to stay up for the end of the game - i just cant wait until i can collect on my lunch i will win tomorrow. Go Gators!
oh by the way - T-rent, Enmark - even a fat guy like me managed 9.75 hrs last week. I expect this weeks numbers to be down with the new boy due on Thursday - but cowboy up gents. Im back at it with a fury!

The bank was open on Sunday too!!

I was hoping for a nice group ride again on Sunday, but when i arrived at the 'Bucks, the parking lot was bare. I rolled out on my own, so i decided to put the wood to myself and rode out into a brisk wind. I stumbled onto a group that headed out from Chicago, but the skinny guys there put the wood to me up Madison hill and i was unable to catch back on through the rollers on 91st. From there it was more solo time as exhibit 2 shows - no one on my wheel. I was feeling drained, but had some more to give so i put in another 30 minutes on the zoo path to leave me feeling and looking quite knackered after 2 and a half hours out in the wind mostly on my own, and over 1300kj. It was good to try to melt myself in the shower when i got back, and all in all i know its good to bank some time solo, and as Enmark always said - It builds character!

Banking some time

The bank was open saturday for Lenny and I to get 2 hours in on the trainers. We managed 3 - 10 minute intervals and some good times watching Overcoming. Scott and Ritzler called to offer the second session in the afternoon, but i passed on it. Sounds like they had a good ride. Maybe next time i can double up with you guys.

Saturday at STC

Bike practice will be indoors again for saturday. Plan on 2 hours with intervals, lots of bad music, and good fun.

Back in the saddle

ahhhhh.. glad to have the holidays over and can focus in on getting some time on the bike. OK OK at least until the new kid gets here anyway. I've managed some double session AM and PM, and i forgot how much i love it when my sweat towels are still wet from the last workout. Guess its time to raid the holiday inn again. Also still lingering is the winter / spring lung butter cough from the chilly air on mondays ride. Always a favorite of us mid-westerners!

Hey Trent - Ride your bike!!

Happy New Years!!

Thanx to all that came out for the New Years ride. the weather could have been nicer, but the ride was great. Let's hope for a mild winter to get more of these rides in! Check out Lenny's sweet red SRAM hoods!
We managed about 2.5 hrs with the group to start the year off right.