Time for the Death Ride

This weekend is the yearly gathering @ Lost Maples in Vanderpool, TX. This camping/ riding weekend brings together some of the better riders in Austin and also brings out some not so good riders as well. It's called the Death Ride because it's pretty freaking tough. The first hill you come to @ about mi 5 is about a mile and a half long and will just kick your ass. It's pretty much up one side of a mountain and down the back side. The back side is no picnic, it's all switch backs so you can't really get going too fast or you're done for. Lexus uses the same route that we will be riding to test drive their newer models. No joke.
I'm pretty stoked to go since the weather is looking good and I have some good friends meeting me there. I'll be riding Friday afternoon, Sat morning and afternoon and then on Sunday morning. I should get in just about 200 miles. This is a good way for me to jump start my training. The pop up is ready for more action and Vernau is crashing with me the first night. Good company and good times ahead.

Today I rode my bike to work. I still dealing with a sinus cold but I just had to ride. Coming home I learned yet another valuable lesson. When going south on 360 and making the turn onto the Mopac access road don't do it at 33 mph. I did and on a bike......well.... it's a REALLY bad idea!!!!!!! Almost ended up in the willy wackies. I had the wind at my back for the ride home so I was hammering most of the way. It's not everyday I get the wind going with me so I took advantage of it.

If I get Internet service while camping I'll post some pics.

Thanks Ma.

Got this email from my mother this morning.

I thought of you when I read this!!

Here's the deal, I'm the best there is. Plain and simple. I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence.

Love you - your Momma!


I've been sick for 3 days now and this email totally made my day.

This is one badass clothes hanger.

Saving the world 1 pedal stroke at a time.

I rode my bike for the first time to work for 2010. The weather was friendly enough to go in the morning without freezing my ass of and there was plenty of day light. That was 17.5 miles there. Heading back it was a little longer but not by much. The wind wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I had a guy behind me that I wasn't about to let pass me. Once back to the PTC I jumped on my trainer bike and did yet another savage trainer workout with Pain. She's been hitting home runs lately with the workouts and today was no exception. I was sweating my ass off and she wasn't letting up. Good lord I love that!
So.... 1 hour ride in the morning and 2.5 hours after work. I'd say that was a good day.

Plain and simple....I suck at core.

6:00 a.m. and there I am at core with Lapuente. I need more days with her and core but my schedule just doesn't allow it. But I also need more time in the pool and time on the bike. Just never enough time for what I would like to achieve. Oh well....shit happens. But I still suck at core.

Hit the pool at lunch. Had a tough swim. Can't hold the times I used to. I guess I have to get to the pool more than 1 time a week. But I did get some sun on my back today. That was kinda cool.

Riding to work in the morning. should be fun. The ride home is gonna suck. the prediction is saying 15 mph head winds. Only makes me stronger but I am sure I won't be saying that around 5:15 tomorrow.

2 for tuesday

Yeah the title is lame but I lack in creativity right now.
This morning I was motivated enough to get out of bed and train on my own. It's nice having keys to the PTC so I can get my workouts in when needed. I was on the bike @ 6 and off exactly 1 hour later. I really enjoyed the workout. It was similar to the one Pain had us do last week except I made it a bit longer. After a good stretch and shower I was off to work.
After work I did a speed workout with the Ship. It was great running weather so it was a good night for mile repeats. I nailed down 4 of them.
6:45
6:39
6:20
1600 w/ splits
800x2 3:27/ 3:17
Good overall workout as I was never out of my comfort zone. I could have gone faster but there was no need and I am happy with that.

Huge THANK YOU goes out to my sister Stacey for doing my taxes again this year. I suck @ them and she's wicked smart!

Weekend Update

Sat- I rode 55 miles with the team. I broke out my tri bike as the route we were doing wasn't very hilly. I did well until around mi 40 when my shoulders were tight and my power was decreasing faster than I wanted it to. I just have to work on getting stronger. After the ride i did a couple of 1 mile repeats. 7:30 and 7:21.
Sunday - I ran 13 with Riggs and did a couple of Wilke repeats for good measure. Riggs didn't have a lot of knowledge when it came to longer distance nutrition so I did a lot of talking about what needs to be done in order to survive.
Sunday afternoon - I had the KHS tuned up @ J&A's and then Zane did a quick fit for me since my bars had moved a bit. He adjusted my seat as well and that seemed to make a big difference. Once that was finished I went for an hour ride. I was planning on doing more but I didn't bring anything to eat with me and the wind just sucked.
Monday- I took the day off and will be back @ it tomorrow.