<2weeks to Flying Pig. All the "big miles" done. Been lazy as ever though more fast miles than ever before.
Been averaging 6:40 ish for 5-7 mile runs and managed a couple of fast 10 milers, an 18 miler and 3 fast 15 milers. On Sunday did my last 15 miler - cold, snowy and a wind that was hard to fathom. Made it round in 1:35 so exactly 7 min pace - bit slower than I was want but not too bad.
Now it is the taper and maintenance phase - did a 5 miler at lunch today - fairly easy at approx 7 min pace.
Might skip tomorrow and do 7 on Thursday am.
Ho Hum, waiting game now, patience and healing
Showing posts with label Dogzbollux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dogzbollux. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Senile Moment!
Bugger me you know you are getting old when you can't trust your memories anymore.
Very strange string of events over past couple of days has me in a real daze. Going back over 20 years to a Middle School Trip to Dinard in northern France. I have (and have had or years) a very singular memory, about a girl I liked oddly enough (unrequited not so oddly enough, but them's the breaks). Anyway she (Louise Whitehouse, see I even remember her name!) was of particular interest to me at an age when I was just becoming aware of girls. She was going out with one of the "A-list" boys, Kevin Pit and as I wasn't exactly A-list material (lower C-list I suspect) I barely even spoke to her. Anyway I don't think Kevin was on the trip and she had actually talked to me on a couple of occasions which probably had got my recently emerging hormones right in a pickle.
So the scene is set.
We went to France by bus and ferry, now I don't remember the bus driver clearly but he was old (bearing in mind I was about 11 or 12, so he could easily have been 20 and counted as geriatric). Louise (the target of my developing affections) was a "well built lass", which probably went some way to explaining both my (and Kevin Pit's) interest in her I fear. Seems it might have attracted the rather pervy attentions of the bus driver as well cos Louise complained very loudly about him groping her! I was shocked, horrified and in some prepubescent way enraged! I can remember trying to stand between her and him whenever possible the next few days.
Well how this all ties together is with a song I vividly remember from this trip and have always linked with these events - Elvis Costello's "Everyday I write the Book". The song opens with the words "You say you don't know what love is, when your old enough to know better, when you find strange hands in your sweater". This line resonated in my young mind and reignited my fury at the bus driver (whose hands in Louise's sweater I had always felt this was s direct reference to). And the chorus with its "I'm giving you a long look" was always strangely melancholy, as I had given Louise many "long looks" but she never looked back! Oddly though the next year (post-Kevin Pit) we did become pretty good friends (though never an "item as I was far too scared to ever ask her out) and in fact I think she was the first girl to ever call me "Darling" - I remember the words hit me like a tazer!
Anyway you get the picture - young (unrequited) love and that summer and the song have been linked ever since - to the point where, whenever I hear the song I can picture the foyer of the hotel in Dinard when Louise spoke up about the Bus Drivers mucky paws.
So here's the rub..... Last weekend (some 20+ years later) I am in Okemos library and I spot Elvis Costello's greatest hits. I check it out along with a Thurston Moore disc. Sure enough the CD has "the song" as well as another favorite "Veronica", which is all about an old lady with dementia and which always drives me to the point of tears (I'm a daft idiot). Listened to the CD tonight for the first time. Check out the sleeve notes and "Everyday I write the book" reached #28 in the UK charts and was off the album "Punch the Clock" released in 1983 - three years after my trip to France!! I left the Middle School for High school in 1981 and never saw Louise again.
So this whole time (for nigh on 20 years) I have had a completely erroneous memory! Wow when you can't trust your own mind what is there left? I spent about two hours checking the web to see if maybe the song was released in the UK before the US. Apparently not. Bugger!
Till next time - if I remember
DB
Very strange string of events over past couple of days has me in a real daze. Going back over 20 years to a Middle School Trip to Dinard in northern France. I have (and have had or years) a very singular memory, about a girl I liked oddly enough (unrequited not so oddly enough, but them's the breaks). Anyway she (Louise Whitehouse, see I even remember her name!) was of particular interest to me at an age when I was just becoming aware of girls. She was going out with one of the "A-list" boys, Kevin Pit and as I wasn't exactly A-list material (lower C-list I suspect) I barely even spoke to her. Anyway I don't think Kevin was on the trip and she had actually talked to me on a couple of occasions which probably had got my recently emerging hormones right in a pickle.
So the scene is set.
We went to France by bus and ferry, now I don't remember the bus driver clearly but he was old (bearing in mind I was about 11 or 12, so he could easily have been 20 and counted as geriatric). Louise (the target of my developing affections) was a "well built lass", which probably went some way to explaining both my (and Kevin Pit's) interest in her I fear. Seems it might have attracted the rather pervy attentions of the bus driver as well cos Louise complained very loudly about him groping her! I was shocked, horrified and in some prepubescent way enraged! I can remember trying to stand between her and him whenever possible the next few days.
Well how this all ties together is with a song I vividly remember from this trip and have always linked with these events - Elvis Costello's "Everyday I write the Book". The song opens with the words "You say you don't know what love is, when your old enough to know better, when you find strange hands in your sweater". This line resonated in my young mind and reignited my fury at the bus driver (whose hands in Louise's sweater I had always felt this was s direct reference to). And the chorus with its "I'm giving you a long look" was always strangely melancholy, as I had given Louise many "long looks" but she never looked back! Oddly though the next year (post-Kevin Pit) we did become pretty good friends (though never an "item as I was far too scared to ever ask her out) and in fact I think she was the first girl to ever call me "Darling" - I remember the words hit me like a tazer!
Anyway you get the picture - young (unrequited) love and that summer and the song have been linked ever since - to the point where, whenever I hear the song I can picture the foyer of the hotel in Dinard when Louise spoke up about the Bus Drivers mucky paws.
So here's the rub..... Last weekend (some 20+ years later) I am in Okemos library and I spot Elvis Costello's greatest hits. I check it out along with a Thurston Moore disc. Sure enough the CD has "the song" as well as another favorite "Veronica", which is all about an old lady with dementia and which always drives me to the point of tears (I'm a daft idiot). Listened to the CD tonight for the first time. Check out the sleeve notes and "Everyday I write the book" reached #28 in the UK charts and was off the album "Punch the Clock" released in 1983 - three years after my trip to France!! I left the Middle School for High school in 1981 and never saw Louise again.
So this whole time (for nigh on 20 years) I have had a completely erroneous memory! Wow when you can't trust your own mind what is there left? I spent about two hours checking the web to see if maybe the song was released in the UK before the US. Apparently not. Bugger!
Till next time - if I remember
DB
Thursday, March 31, 2011
First MTB ride of the year!!
Think the lack of alcoholic beverages being sunk is negatively impacting the old blogging output. But that's another story. Last 5 weeks before Flying Pig and so focus still is on the road running. Weather has been lousy, cold and freakin' miserable which has made it impossible on some of these early mornings to drag my sorry arse out of bed to run in the dark and cold. Work a bit crazy so lunch running has also been curtailed, not a Rosy picture if 180 is to be attempted. But them's the breaks. Manage a few 5 and 7 milers during the week - dropped the 5 miler time to 34.13 which is a fastest for the year but still 45 secs from where I need to be. Last Sat was the local track club 30 k run (18.6 miles for all the metrically challenged amongst you). Well sounds kinda like fun to me, so 9 am Sat morning and I am in Mason with a group of 20 or so like minded souls. Weather is almost perfect (bout 20 oF too cold, but still as a still thing and sunny). Course is two laps of rolling country lanes. Straight from the gate I run with what looks like it will be the lead pack, feelin' good so not too bothered, after a mile one other runner (Jeremy) and I hit the front and push the pace. Nice uphill from 1 to 2.5 miles and life is good - cold hands but the hill helps generate some body warmth. Before you know it and 4 mile is done - spot on 7 min/mile pace (that'll do). We settle in and enjoy the countryside. At 8 miles there is a short out and back section and as we emerge we see the guys running behind us, we have about 2 min on them at this point. Long gradual hill to just before 9 miles then back into Mason for the end of lap one. Pushed the last 3 miles and go through 15 k at approx 1.03. Second lap and feelin' spritely. THink about pushing it up first hill but Jeremy isn't too into that idea so we settle in and cruise. Again before I know it we pas the 2.5 mile marker, "only about 6.5 to go" I think - hum! Must be tired the math is a bit dodgy but what the heck. Before we know it we are back at the out and back - bit further in front of the guys behind us and it's looking good. The hill does for Jeremy though, I shout encouragement but the poor guy is knackered. At top of hill I look back and we are being chased down hard! Into mason and I feel great actually, finish in 2:10:30, almost spot on 7 min/mile - I'll take that a slightly positive split but the second loop was taken fairly easy. Will need to step it up slightly for the Pig. Sunday and daughter #2 and I catch up with Ski-ing Eric and his eldest daughter for the first MTB of 2011 (maybe). Temp is still hovering about freezing so trails are O.K. We hit Harris and do both upper and lower loops, lower loop is a bit soggy and we have to pick bikes up on occasion but we make it round. Short trip to the pump track, but that is a bit soggy so we don;t ride that more than once round. Short ride, only 3 miles but the girls have fun and that's the point. Coffee, hot chocolate and home. More early morning runs, but Mr Mark is home for this weekend so hopefully I can get a fastish 15 in with him on Saturday. Finally caved a bought some new runners - moved away from NB this time to Asics - looked cool and were in the sale. Wearing them as I type to break the in, will be their inaugural run tomorrow am (a steady 7), did same route this morning in 47;29 (sub 7 so that's O.K. (pictures to come) Till next time DB
Friday, March 25, 2011
Run that got away!
Well holy moley wot's goin' on?
Referred to a run in the last post that I had not even mentioned previously - wot gives my man? Well the story goes like this, Mr Marky Mark headed west for a while - reckons he's working across there but from the extensive pictorial accounts of the mountain bike adventures he's having with his mate Gus I have my doubts. Anyway he was back in good old MI for a week. Wanted to run at weekend but the Bollux-clan went North doing that slidy down a hill thing. So a date was made for the Wednesday night. 5:30 and Mr Mark is at the Bollux household and we are on our way.
Runs a bit fast does our Mark. I feel darn good for the first bit - down Okemos, right onto Bennett. By time we hit the crossroads and turn onto Hulett I am feeling on a roll. Through a neighborhood and we head up Jolly. The undulating terrain is actually quite refreshing and I am digging the up hills. After Okemos the bigger hills feel even better, even pull away from Mark for a short time - he's just being kind. On Dobie the work starts but we are moving at a fair clip (I think). Grand River beckons and although there are bits when Mark is pulling away from me I still feel like I am relatively flowing. At American Home Fitness we turn onto Hamilton and up the final hill. We are talking and I mention that I want to try and run around 6:30 min/mile pace, Mark reckons we have been at around that pace and that is encouraging. At the Travellers Club Mark suggests we take it down a notch and cruise in. Finish at the Bollux House with a clock at 67 min and change. Bit soddin sore that night, next day find out why.......... Mr Mark has clocked the route at 10.7 miles. Means the run was at well under 6:30 pace - bloody soddin hell. fastest 10 mile run I've ever done (again).
Pace appears to be there - need to work on the distance and need to keep the training mileage up, and that has been a bit of an issue the past three weeks.
Ho Hum
DB
Referred to a run in the last post that I had not even mentioned previously - wot gives my man? Well the story goes like this, Mr Marky Mark headed west for a while - reckons he's working across there but from the extensive pictorial accounts of the mountain bike adventures he's having with his mate Gus I have my doubts. Anyway he was back in good old MI for a week. Wanted to run at weekend but the Bollux-clan went North doing that slidy down a hill thing. So a date was made for the Wednesday night. 5:30 and Mr Mark is at the Bollux household and we are on our way.
Runs a bit fast does our Mark. I feel darn good for the first bit - down Okemos, right onto Bennett. By time we hit the crossroads and turn onto Hulett I am feeling on a roll. Through a neighborhood and we head up Jolly. The undulating terrain is actually quite refreshing and I am digging the up hills. After Okemos the bigger hills feel even better, even pull away from Mark for a short time - he's just being kind. On Dobie the work starts but we are moving at a fair clip (I think). Grand River beckons and although there are bits when Mark is pulling away from me I still feel like I am relatively flowing. At American Home Fitness we turn onto Hamilton and up the final hill. We are talking and I mention that I want to try and run around 6:30 min/mile pace, Mark reckons we have been at around that pace and that is encouraging. At the Travellers Club Mark suggests we take it down a notch and cruise in. Finish at the Bollux House with a clock at 67 min and change. Bit soddin sore that night, next day find out why.......... Mr Mark has clocked the route at 10.7 miles. Means the run was at well under 6:30 pace - bloody soddin hell. fastest 10 mile run I've ever done (again).
Pace appears to be there - need to work on the distance and need to keep the training mileage up, and that has been a bit of an issue the past three weeks.
Ho Hum
DB
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Runnin', Runnin', Runnin!!
Bin runnin' a bunch and that's about it really.
Weather as mad as a box of frogs. Warm.....winter's over. Snow and bloody frozen, no it isn't. Warm as a warm thing, yep it's over. Soddin ice storm! Nope it ain't. Over 60 oF, well that's deffo it now. Running in the morning and it's below 20 oF!!!!!
Most runs have been 5 or 7 mile efforts. Couple of 5's under 35 min but nothing under 34 min yet, even when I am running pretty hard. Condition shave been nasty - ice and mud - but even so.
Managed a couple of decent efforts, 12 miles a couple of weeks back. First 5 with MLW and then 7 more on my lonesome at a bit more of a stretch. Last weekend, after a very lazy week - had a chesty cough and thought better of running too much - I was desperate to get a reasonable run in. Saturday came and the weather was pretty soddin' miserable. Low 30's and windy. Worst running weather ever! I was (in the words of the immortal Randy Jackson) "not feelin' it dawg!" Didn't want to run, but heck life ain't supposed to be fun is it? So a 15(ish) route sketched out, initial 10 mile loop (of the Mark fast run fame - see last post) and then a 5 mile smaller loop. By the first light (0.8 miles form home) I am suffering. Nearly just turn round and go home, but hang a right and off we go. Three miles in and still not feeling great - decide it's not going to be fun or fast but shite lets just get miles done. At 8 miles I am 50/50 on just taking a short cut home for a 8 mile total. Few firm words to myself and I battle on. Hot now, over dressed. Decide that at 10 miles I drop by home and divest somewhat - risky move as I might quit but a test of my will power. Hit home at 70 min so the pace isn't that bad! Chuck down my over vest, gloves and even my outer long sleeve layer. Lighter and cooler I head out for the final five - bit looser and happier. Last couple are a struggle but I finish in 1:45 and change. The old iphone (mapmyrun app) gives up after 12.39 miles, but the time is 1:34:30 (6min 50 sec miles). So in the end it appears I have manages about 15.5 miles at 3 hour marathon pace. Initially feels kind of cool. But then I feel sick for rest of day - almost throw up in the library and have to sit down to gather myself. Hhhm, maybe pushed a bit too hard.
Either way fastest 15 miler I've ever done in training and a good sign. Clearly can push myself. And without water or aid stations maybe that explains the nausea afterwards. Legs as sore as F the next day. And chesty cough back with avengence. Oh well. Flying Pig is only 6 weeks away
Later.
DB
Weather as mad as a box of frogs. Warm.....winter's over. Snow and bloody frozen, no it isn't. Warm as a warm thing, yep it's over. Soddin ice storm! Nope it ain't. Over 60 oF, well that's deffo it now. Running in the morning and it's below 20 oF!!!!!
Most runs have been 5 or 7 mile efforts. Couple of 5's under 35 min but nothing under 34 min yet, even when I am running pretty hard. Condition shave been nasty - ice and mud - but even so.
Managed a couple of decent efforts, 12 miles a couple of weeks back. First 5 with MLW and then 7 more on my lonesome at a bit more of a stretch. Last weekend, after a very lazy week - had a chesty cough and thought better of running too much - I was desperate to get a reasonable run in. Saturday came and the weather was pretty soddin' miserable. Low 30's and windy. Worst running weather ever! I was (in the words of the immortal Randy Jackson) "not feelin' it dawg!" Didn't want to run, but heck life ain't supposed to be fun is it? So a 15(ish) route sketched out, initial 10 mile loop (of the Mark fast run fame - see last post) and then a 5 mile smaller loop. By the first light (0.8 miles form home) I am suffering. Nearly just turn round and go home, but hang a right and off we go. Three miles in and still not feeling great - decide it's not going to be fun or fast but shite lets just get miles done. At 8 miles I am 50/50 on just taking a short cut home for a 8 mile total. Few firm words to myself and I battle on. Hot now, over dressed. Decide that at 10 miles I drop by home and divest somewhat - risky move as I might quit but a test of my will power. Hit home at 70 min so the pace isn't that bad! Chuck down my over vest, gloves and even my outer long sleeve layer. Lighter and cooler I head out for the final five - bit looser and happier. Last couple are a struggle but I finish in 1:45 and change. The old iphone (mapmyrun app) gives up after 12.39 miles, but the time is 1:34:30 (6min 50 sec miles). So in the end it appears I have manages about 15.5 miles at 3 hour marathon pace. Initially feels kind of cool. But then I feel sick for rest of day - almost throw up in the library and have to sit down to gather myself. Hhhm, maybe pushed a bit too hard.
Either way fastest 15 miler I've ever done in training and a good sign. Clearly can push myself. And without water or aid stations maybe that explains the nausea afterwards. Legs as sore as F the next day. And chesty cough back with avengence. Oh well. Flying Pig is only 6 weeks away
Later.
DB
Sunday, February 27, 2011
They think it's all over!!!
Well English soccer fans will understand the quote! Nobby dancing and all that.
Anyway, middle of last week and the temps suddenly went through the roof - in the 40s for goodness sake. Sub-bloody-tropical, kind of. With the snow rapidly disappearing and the advent of spring apparently on the horizon the Bollux-brain turned to pursuits more summertime. Checked out the bikes and obviously work needed - the Big Dog (moncog 29er) needs a new seat post, and a damn good clean/bit of TLC, the fixie needs new bars! Switched (actually turned and chopped) the dropped bars back three years ago in Columbia MD to give it the "hardcore" messager chic look. Yeah well. This look was O.K. for Columbia which makes "Stepford" (as in "Wives") look a bit non-conformist. But up here in MSU territory where fixies are two a penny and they all seem to have the messager stylee cow horns, it looks a wee bit sad. So time to replace the drop bars and convert it back to a true "let's kick some arse" training machine.
Couple of nice warm runs and then..........bugger me the winter returns with avengence!
Course the weather turns just in time for the weekend. Friday nice and warm, Saturday morning (when I'm heading to track club for the Tombstone X) and it's 24 oF!
Hit Mount Hope Cemetery at the appointed time, interesting run this one. One mile (or a tad over) lap and, oh lets do the math, you run it 10 times to complete the Tombstone X. Great because you run past the clock each mile, no guessing, no checking the clock, no second guessing the spacing of the mile markers. You know the pace you are running. Hit the pavement - two guys set off like rabbits (don't see them again) but me and one other guy find a rhythm - first mile 6:15 bit on fast time but not too bad. Route is fun, flat for first couple hundred yards, then a fair hill, but once at top of hill its down and undulating back to start. Second mile 11:45 min, holding strong. Third mile and feelin' good at top of hill have to wait for the guy I've been running with. When he comes back to me, he doesn't even pause, straight past me without a glance - all about business this guy! By mile 5, I am feeling the pace. My guy pulls ahead and I have no answer, wonder if I will even make it to the end - bit disheartened. Get a life DB!! Ease the pace back and try to relax. 5 miles and through in 31 min (plus change), 6 miles 37 min and change.
Keep the pace smooth and even find a steady groove to finish the ten in 64:04. The pace I needed to be hitting in prep for Flying Pig.
Sunday another 9 miles at about 7:30 pace - tired on Monday. Sunday and the weather arrives big time. Over night 8-10 inches snow, roads a joke! No running Monday. Tuesday run the train run, to Edgewood, Sanner farm and Middle school XC course. Wow hard as a hard thing - 5.1 miles, takes me 55 min. Break trail basically the whole way, up to my mid-shin in snow. When I get back on the road my running shoes feel like clogs! Make a strange click click sound. Realize by bloody soles have frozen! Love this winter in MI stuff.
Bit lazy rest of week. Run 7 on Friday at 7:00 pace, plan a 14 miler for Saturday but end up going downhill skiing at Caberfae instead, complete with pizza and too much beer (screw it ying and yang and all that). Next week will have to put miles in to make up for my laziness
Later!
DB
Anyway, middle of last week and the temps suddenly went through the roof - in the 40s for goodness sake. Sub-bloody-tropical, kind of. With the snow rapidly disappearing and the advent of spring apparently on the horizon the Bollux-brain turned to pursuits more summertime. Checked out the bikes and obviously work needed - the Big Dog (moncog 29er) needs a new seat post, and a damn good clean/bit of TLC, the fixie needs new bars! Switched (actually turned and chopped) the dropped bars back three years ago in Columbia MD to give it the "hardcore" messager chic look. Yeah well. This look was O.K. for Columbia which makes "Stepford" (as in "Wives") look a bit non-conformist. But up here in MSU territory where fixies are two a penny and they all seem to have the messager stylee cow horns, it looks a wee bit sad. So time to replace the drop bars and convert it back to a true "let's kick some arse" training machine.
Couple of nice warm runs and then..........bugger me the winter returns with avengence!
Course the weather turns just in time for the weekend. Friday nice and warm, Saturday morning (when I'm heading to track club for the Tombstone X) and it's 24 oF!
Hit Mount Hope Cemetery at the appointed time, interesting run this one. One mile (or a tad over) lap and, oh lets do the math, you run it 10 times to complete the Tombstone X. Great because you run past the clock each mile, no guessing, no checking the clock, no second guessing the spacing of the mile markers. You know the pace you are running. Hit the pavement - two guys set off like rabbits (don't see them again) but me and one other guy find a rhythm - first mile 6:15 bit on fast time but not too bad. Route is fun, flat for first couple hundred yards, then a fair hill, but once at top of hill its down and undulating back to start. Second mile 11:45 min, holding strong. Third mile and feelin' good at top of hill have to wait for the guy I've been running with. When he comes back to me, he doesn't even pause, straight past me without a glance - all about business this guy! By mile 5, I am feeling the pace. My guy pulls ahead and I have no answer, wonder if I will even make it to the end - bit disheartened. Get a life DB!! Ease the pace back and try to relax. 5 miles and through in 31 min (plus change), 6 miles 37 min and change.
Keep the pace smooth and even find a steady groove to finish the ten in 64:04. The pace I needed to be hitting in prep for Flying Pig.
Sunday another 9 miles at about 7:30 pace - tired on Monday. Sunday and the weather arrives big time. Over night 8-10 inches snow, roads a joke! No running Monday. Tuesday run the train run, to Edgewood, Sanner farm and Middle school XC course. Wow hard as a hard thing - 5.1 miles, takes me 55 min. Break trail basically the whole way, up to my mid-shin in snow. When I get back on the road my running shoes feel like clogs! Make a strange click click sound. Realize by bloody soles have frozen! Love this winter in MI stuff.
Bit lazy rest of week. Run 7 on Friday at 7:00 pace, plan a 14 miler for Saturday but end up going downhill skiing at Caberfae instead, complete with pizza and too much beer (screw it ying and yang and all that). Next week will have to put miles in to make up for my laziness
Later!
DB
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Just Sayin!
Never actually been to Idaho! Don't really know squat about the state - probably (definitely) couldn't even point to it on a map of the Good Ol' U S of A. So what gives I hear you say?
Well on way home the other night I followed a car from the great state of Idaho! Know this cos of the Idaho tags! Which is why I'm tapping away at the keyboard (rather than watching American Idol, OK so that's not the only reason).
The tags in question (and I have pictorial proof) bear the legend "Idaho, Famous Potatoes". OH COME ON!!!!! Is that really the best the state has to offer? 
Doesn't even claim "Good" or Delicious" Potatoes, just famous! Jesus in a campervan that's a bit on the lame side!
Just sayin'!!!
DB
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Winter, is it nearly over?
Week started as cold as a coild thing - soddin' freezin' and to be brutally honest it was starting to get a bit old! It's not been above freezing since before New Year and temps in the tyeen in the am are usual. Monday (after the Superbowl), hey not a huge football watcher, but coming from Baltimore it was nice to be Big Ben and the Steelers come second, and little chance of an early start. Took running gear to work but desire was low and idea of luch running was discarded before morning coffee.
Tuesday and pride forced me out at lunchtime - complete with handweights. Usual 5 miler through the arboretum, but meeting commitment at 1 pm meant I had to keep the pedal down. Tough still in the park - 1.5 miles of very slow progress so the rest had to be full on. Made it back in less than 40 min, not bad considering conditions.
Wednesday a early morning jaunt - did the sidewalk 5 miler and felt pretty good, 35:44, over 7 min mile pace but slidy running at times so not tooo bad. Thursday was super cold!! I stayed in bed but MLW braved the conditions! What a girl.
Friday and "went long(ish)" the big loop, Jolly and Hamilton for a solid 7. Past the Elementary School sidewalk not plowed - buggers. But kept things going and finished in just around 50 min so another 7 min pace run in difficult conditions.
Weekend, well Saturday lazy!!!! Got to love it. Sunday and a group run! MLW friend Connie (fast female) brought two friends along - good guys. Did an icy 9 miler. Slow start but last 3 or 4 done at 6 min pace with a guy called Jeremy - potential train partner. Jason (the other guy) is the "New Spence" - should be a blast to train and do stoopid stuff with.
Lets see how life plays out - time is now for ADVENTURE!!! Too much living safe - makes a man lazy, bored and boring. This life thing is too short (and I'm probably over half way through - the good half at that) so lets put it out there and see what happens.
Catchya Lata,
DB
Tuesday and pride forced me out at lunchtime - complete with handweights. Usual 5 miler through the arboretum, but meeting commitment at 1 pm meant I had to keep the pedal down. Tough still in the park - 1.5 miles of very slow progress so the rest had to be full on. Made it back in less than 40 min, not bad considering conditions.
Wednesday a early morning jaunt - did the sidewalk 5 miler and felt pretty good, 35:44, over 7 min mile pace but slidy running at times so not tooo bad. Thursday was super cold!! I stayed in bed but MLW braved the conditions! What a girl.
Friday and "went long(ish)" the big loop, Jolly and Hamilton for a solid 7. Past the Elementary School sidewalk not plowed - buggers. But kept things going and finished in just around 50 min so another 7 min pace run in difficult conditions.
Weekend, well Saturday lazy!!!! Got to love it. Sunday and a group run! MLW friend Connie (fast female) brought two friends along - good guys. Did an icy 9 miler. Slow start but last 3 or 4 done at 6 min pace with a guy called Jeremy - potential train partner. Jason (the other guy) is the "New Spence" - should be a blast to train and do stoopid stuff with.
Lets see how life plays out - time is now for ADVENTURE!!! Too much living safe - makes a man lazy, bored and boring. This life thing is too short (and I'm probably over half way through - the good half at that) so lets put it out there and see what happens.
Catchya Lata,
DB
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Snowmaggedon! Hits Michigan
What a week! Started off kind of calm - Tuesday broke out my newest training aid! Oh Yeah. Couple of 2 lb hand weights, idea to build a bit of an upper body work out into my running. Lunchtime 5 miler, cold as heck and with the weights. Quite a change, slowish run but by the end I am mightily cream crackered.
Tuesday night and all hell broke loose - all over the news, fear in people's eyes! Plague! Pestilence! Four horsemen of the apocalypse seen in Mason (though that's normal for a Tuesday evening apparently!). BIG winter storm coming in, so bad MSU cancels classes preemptively to protect the safety of the student body - first time since 1994. I prepare with a trip to Meijer to get the essentials, milk, bread, bathroom tissue, snow shoes (I kid you not). In the end the world doesn't end but it does snow a bit.
With school cancelled and MSU calling in quits for the first time since 1994 there is little to do but..... shovel the bastard driveway for 2 hours!! Quite enjoy it actually, freakin cold but I'm out there in my "big coat" and am roasting, at least my body is. Turns out my hands, not so much! Hurt a bit while I'm shoveling but then stop, oops! When I get in doors realize maybe shouldn't have ignored the pain, two middle fingers on right hand (once they have warmed up) are an ominous purple and swollen, bit tingly (once the pain stopped too) - bit of frost nip I think.
Afternoon and after couple of phone calls it's time to break out the new snowshoes! Out with "Mr Winter" himself Eric - he's got 4 wheel drive so we take his car. Hit trails off Sylvan Glen and spend a toasty hour tramping through the woods, on trail, off trail - who cares cos who can even see the bloody trail? Big time fun, must organize a winter camping trip out here - snow shoe in tent the night and out next day (sounds like a plan). Come across a "deer overnighting spot" a group of deep impressions in the snow where the poor beasts have huddled down overnight. Glad I'm not a deer.
Friday, back at work and hit the usual 5 miler at lunch - wow! Whole different run with 12 inches of snow in the arboretum! 1.5 miles of breaking trail in 1-2 feet of snow (complete with my hand weights) slows a 35 mi run to a 45 min run and total body workout!!
Saturday and SWMBO and I head North!! It's downhill time. Mr Eric's half ton celebration so we hit the slopes - he's a bit bloody good so don't see much of him during the day. He makes it look so effortless - I'm a tense block that strains every muscle as I head down the green slopes. Feeling brave I do make one trip down a blue slope - wow scary. I'm not exactly a downhill kind of guy!! Evening is spent in the Coyote bar - frequented mainly by "beelers" in - good food (probably) and too much beer. Great end to a great week - need to drink less and run more - could be a challenge in the coming week with all the bloody snow - sidewalks not cleared yet and forecast to be as cold as a cold thing. Let yous guys know how it goes.
Tuesday night and all hell broke loose - all over the news, fear in people's eyes! Plague! Pestilence! Four horsemen of the apocalypse seen in Mason (though that's normal for a Tuesday evening apparently!). BIG winter storm coming in, so bad MSU cancels classes preemptively to protect the safety of the student body - first time since 1994. I prepare with a trip to Meijer to get the essentials, milk, bread, bathroom tissue, snow shoes (I kid you not). In the end the world doesn't end but it does snow a bit.
With school cancelled and MSU calling in quits for the first time since 1994 there is little to do but..... shovel the bastard driveway for 2 hours!! Quite enjoy it actually, freakin cold but I'm out there in my "big coat" and am roasting, at least my body is. Turns out my hands, not so much! Hurt a bit while I'm shoveling but then stop, oops! When I get in doors realize maybe shouldn't have ignored the pain, two middle fingers on right hand (once they have warmed up) are an ominous purple and swollen, bit tingly (once the pain stopped too) - bit of frost nip I think.
Afternoon and after couple of phone calls it's time to break out the new snowshoes! Out with "Mr Winter" himself Eric - he's got 4 wheel drive so we take his car. Hit trails off Sylvan Glen and spend a toasty hour tramping through the woods, on trail, off trail - who cares cos who can even see the bloody trail? Big time fun, must organize a winter camping trip out here - snow shoe in tent the night and out next day (sounds like a plan). Come across a "deer overnighting spot" a group of deep impressions in the snow where the poor beasts have huddled down overnight. Glad I'm not a deer.
Friday, back at work and hit the usual 5 miler at lunch - wow! Whole different run with 12 inches of snow in the arboretum! 1.5 miles of breaking trail in 1-2 feet of snow (complete with my hand weights) slows a 35 mi run to a 45 min run and total body workout!!
Saturday and SWMBO and I head North!! It's downhill time. Mr Eric's half ton celebration so we hit the slopes - he's a bit bloody good so don't see much of him during the day. He makes it look so effortless - I'm a tense block that strains every muscle as I head down the green slopes. Feeling brave I do make one trip down a blue slope - wow scary. I'm not exactly a downhill kind of guy!! Evening is spent in the Coyote bar - frequented mainly by "beelers" in - good food (probably) and too much beer. Great end to a great week - need to drink less and run more - could be a challenge in the coming week with all the bloody snow - sidewalks not cleared yet and forecast to be as cold as a cold thing. Let yous guys know how it goes.
DogzBollux on a "beel"
Till next time
DB
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tiddly Pom!
"The more it snows,
Tiddly Pom,
The more it goes,
Tiddly Pom,
The more it goes,
Tiddly Pom,
On Snowing,
And nobody knows
Tiddly Pom,
How cold my toes,
Tiddly Pom,
How cold my toes,
Tiddly Pom,
Are growing"
So in trying to get my blog back on an even keel I am struggling to find my "voice" to a certain extent. So stealing words from an esteemed bard seemed to be a good idea. And the sentiment struck a strong chord this week! Never knew Winnie the Pooh (for those were his words) was a Michigander!
Bugger but it keeps on snowing! Hasn't been above freezing now since I don't know when! In the mornings a temp in the mid 20's is considered a bit on the warm side. Been a good week all in all though (so I should quit my bloody whinging).
Monday, after a couple of beers on Sunday evening (to overcome the ski-associate soreness) was never going to be a morning run. But like a good chap I took kit to work and forced myself to brave the "winter weather warning" that was in place and hit the road at lunch time. Sidewalks were on the definite slick side which prompted a bit more caution than I would have liked. Pushed when could but finished feeling relatively good in 38:30 for 5.1 miles. Yeah I know that's slow, but you weren't there buddie - it was a fair effort. Tuesday morning and it was a morning run - usual route - but in the spirit of the moment a bit of a harder run than usual. Aiming for pain and "hey" be careful what you ask for. Run hard on the pavement and try to stay fluid on the trail. As soddin' ever no obvious track over school fields so break trail again.
Thursday run at work again and am feeling it a bit more now - put a pretty good effort in, despite some dodgy underfoot conditions to finish the 5.1 usual route pretty much exhausted in 36:44. Bit of mental calculation and a target of sub 33:00 is in place if the Flying Pig is to go as planned. Some work to do. Friday and despite a weeks worth of tired I manage to drag my sorry arse out of bed and do a longer run - add a loop onto Grand River road (adds about 1.5 miles) to make my Friday run 6.5-7.0 miles. Guess what? Bloody school fields!! Been snowing again so no soddin' trail. Last 2 miles a slog through freash snow. In the dark at one point (as life ceases to have any real meaning) I am half convinced I am (in the light of my LED headlamp, trying to find a trail in the snow, with a vicious wind blowing) actually on Mount Everest dreaming of being safely back in Michigan! Wot a saft bastard I am!! Should stop reading all those mountaineering books.
On Friday I plan my weekend runs, two options (i) a long(ish) run though the trails or (ii) as I had planned weeks ago enter and run the Polar Bear 5 K in Okemos. The idea here is that I need, speed and competition to sharpen up my running. And a competitive 5 K will fit snugly into the need for pain that I am trying to establish. I don't like running 5 K, too short, too painful. Also it exposes your speed (or lack thereof) rather unsympathetically. I um'ed and arh'ed. Looked at the web site, checked last years results - not reassuring!! The places 2-7 were all taken by highschool XC runners! Oh so no pressure then! Like I really want my arse handed me on a platter by a group of guys too bloody young to date my eldest daughter!
But you know, in life you have to make decisions. And I always say to my group at work that they should never be afraid to fail. that always succeeding is a sign of not setting your standards high enough! Holy Mary Mother of God!!! If I'm going to talk the talk maybe I ought to freakin well walk the walk! Realized I have never, ever really set myself up to fail. And I consider that a weakness in my character. I have friends who have entered races and just not been able to finish! I have never done that. Time I learn to live a little - in short it is time I "grew a pair" for F's sake.
In a small step toward this lofty goal I signed up for the 5 k and felt the usual nervousness that accompanies any competitive race for me. I try and establish a number of "game plans" one is to try and track the highschoolers and let them pull me along. Another is to take it like a time trial on a bike and just expend my energy evenly across the course. A couple of goals were set, under 20 min as a minimum and sub 18:30 as a more realistic vision of what I should be capable of.
RACE DAY!!!
A dinner party the night before (at our house) was not the ideal preparation - but I was careful and didn't drink that much. So no hangover to deal with. Temp a solid 20 oF. No worries.
At the start and the usual group of fit and not so fit looking runners - I know enough to ignore what people look like as this tends to be a very poor predictor of how they will run. But the group of highschool runners is impossible to miss. I'm not sure what a group of high school runners is called - maybe a "stride" or a "bound" but they occupy space with an air of confidence which is most un-nerving to a guy (like me) whose chronological age could comfortably shallow any two of their's.
When the air horn signals the start of the race I decide to try and trail the highschoolers. A (very) young and (very) black guy takes off like a rocket - and we never see him again. He is 17 as it turns out and wins the race by a street in 16 min and change! Not sure what his story is but would be very interested to know. What I dop know is that there is a similarly African looking lady running and she passes me after about a minute with a smooth running style that makes me feel like the rusty old Model T that I am. I have no option but to let her go. By the time we turn off the road onto the trail section I am feeling the pace - I have the kind of O2 debt that makes MMA fighter tap out and mountaineers to reach for the O2 bottles. I assume I am probably at around the 6 min mark and grasp a quick glace at my watch. Shock horror!! It reads 2:30 - this is going to be a very long race! I have to settle down, screw the young kids, let them go! Settle my pace and breathing to a comfortable rhythm. The kids have snuck 15-20 feet on me but now I am holding my own. Guy at the side of the trail is shouting out numbers, 5:45, 5:46, 5:47. Even in my anoxic state I register that this is probably the mile marker. Gadzooks Batman!! I'm still in the game. Focus on smooth strides and all that crap. A guy comes to my shoulder and we run together for a while (I assume its another highschooler, but a glance sideways tells me it's another old bugger like me - BOLLOCKS). Together we start to gain on the youngun's in front and eventually overtake a group - including the first women (who in passing I nearly trip in a Zola Bud, Mary Dekker like incident. Fortunately no harm no foul.
At nearly two miles I pull ahead of old guy but at 2 miles he passes me and I have no response. Especially as another runner pulls to my shoulder then past me! Crap whole thing is going to hell! Then we hit March Road and know less than a mile to go. Head down and press. Two runners come back to me and I pass them. Couple of nasty little inclines I wasn't expecting where the left sidewalk (heading south) drops down below road level - only 10-15 feet but ashock!. That and the icey conditions are a challenge. Very, very pleased when the runners ahead turn right into the village center - means less than 0.2 miles to go. As I turn the corner MLW shouts out "come on, nearly there" then "he's right behind you, don't let him past!" Yeah I knew there was a runner on my shoulder, but MLW shout had a Pavlovian effect. I started sprinting and finished the race at a canter!! 18:18, good enough for 4th overall and second master (bugger), still first in age group (40-44) and beat all but two of the highschoolers. Pain and a reasonable time - not a bad day. Followed by XC ski-ing for good measure!!
Life is good!
DB
Tiddly Pom,
The more it goes,
Tiddly Pom,
The more it goes,
Tiddly Pom,
On Snowing,
And nobody knows
Tiddly Pom,
How cold my toes,
Tiddly Pom,
How cold my toes,
Tiddly Pom,
Are growing"
So in trying to get my blog back on an even keel I am struggling to find my "voice" to a certain extent. So stealing words from an esteemed bard seemed to be a good idea. And the sentiment struck a strong chord this week! Never knew Winnie the Pooh (for those were his words) was a Michigander!
Bugger but it keeps on snowing! Hasn't been above freezing now since I don't know when! In the mornings a temp in the mid 20's is considered a bit on the warm side. Been a good week all in all though (so I should quit my bloody whinging).
Monday, after a couple of beers on Sunday evening (to overcome the ski-associate soreness) was never going to be a morning run. But like a good chap I took kit to work and forced myself to brave the "winter weather warning" that was in place and hit the road at lunch time. Sidewalks were on the definite slick side which prompted a bit more caution than I would have liked. Pushed when could but finished feeling relatively good in 38:30 for 5.1 miles. Yeah I know that's slow, but you weren't there buddie - it was a fair effort. Tuesday morning and it was a morning run - usual route - but in the spirit of the moment a bit of a harder run than usual. Aiming for pain and "hey" be careful what you ask for. Run hard on the pavement and try to stay fluid on the trail. As soddin' ever no obvious track over school fields so break trail again.
Thursday run at work again and am feeling it a bit more now - put a pretty good effort in, despite some dodgy underfoot conditions to finish the 5.1 usual route pretty much exhausted in 36:44. Bit of mental calculation and a target of sub 33:00 is in place if the Flying Pig is to go as planned. Some work to do. Friday and despite a weeks worth of tired I manage to drag my sorry arse out of bed and do a longer run - add a loop onto Grand River road (adds about 1.5 miles) to make my Friday run 6.5-7.0 miles. Guess what? Bloody school fields!! Been snowing again so no soddin' trail. Last 2 miles a slog through freash snow. In the dark at one point (as life ceases to have any real meaning) I am half convinced I am (in the light of my LED headlamp, trying to find a trail in the snow, with a vicious wind blowing) actually on Mount Everest dreaming of being safely back in Michigan! Wot a saft bastard I am!! Should stop reading all those mountaineering books.
On Friday I plan my weekend runs, two options (i) a long(ish) run though the trails or (ii) as I had planned weeks ago enter and run the Polar Bear 5 K in Okemos. The idea here is that I need, speed and competition to sharpen up my running. And a competitive 5 K will fit snugly into the need for pain that I am trying to establish. I don't like running 5 K, too short, too painful. Also it exposes your speed (or lack thereof) rather unsympathetically. I um'ed and arh'ed. Looked at the web site, checked last years results - not reassuring!! The places 2-7 were all taken by highschool XC runners! Oh so no pressure then! Like I really want my arse handed me on a platter by a group of guys too bloody young to date my eldest daughter!
But you know, in life you have to make decisions. And I always say to my group at work that they should never be afraid to fail. that always succeeding is a sign of not setting your standards high enough! Holy Mary Mother of God!!! If I'm going to talk the talk maybe I ought to freakin well walk the walk! Realized I have never, ever really set myself up to fail. And I consider that a weakness in my character. I have friends who have entered races and just not been able to finish! I have never done that. Time I learn to live a little - in short it is time I "grew a pair" for F's sake.
In a small step toward this lofty goal I signed up for the 5 k and felt the usual nervousness that accompanies any competitive race for me. I try and establish a number of "game plans" one is to try and track the highschoolers and let them pull me along. Another is to take it like a time trial on a bike and just expend my energy evenly across the course. A couple of goals were set, under 20 min as a minimum and sub 18:30 as a more realistic vision of what I should be capable of.
RACE DAY!!!
A dinner party the night before (at our house) was not the ideal preparation - but I was careful and didn't drink that much. So no hangover to deal with. Temp a solid 20 oF. No worries.
At the start and the usual group of fit and not so fit looking runners - I know enough to ignore what people look like as this tends to be a very poor predictor of how they will run. But the group of highschool runners is impossible to miss. I'm not sure what a group of high school runners is called - maybe a "stride" or a "bound" but they occupy space with an air of confidence which is most un-nerving to a guy (like me) whose chronological age could comfortably shallow any two of their's.
When the air horn signals the start of the race I decide to try and trail the highschoolers. A (very) young and (very) black guy takes off like a rocket - and we never see him again. He is 17 as it turns out and wins the race by a street in 16 min and change! Not sure what his story is but would be very interested to know. What I dop know is that there is a similarly African looking lady running and she passes me after about a minute with a smooth running style that makes me feel like the rusty old Model T that I am. I have no option but to let her go. By the time we turn off the road onto the trail section I am feeling the pace - I have the kind of O2 debt that makes MMA fighter tap out and mountaineers to reach for the O2 bottles. I assume I am probably at around the 6 min mark and grasp a quick glace at my watch. Shock horror!! It reads 2:30 - this is going to be a very long race! I have to settle down, screw the young kids, let them go! Settle my pace and breathing to a comfortable rhythm. The kids have snuck 15-20 feet on me but now I am holding my own. Guy at the side of the trail is shouting out numbers, 5:45, 5:46, 5:47. Even in my anoxic state I register that this is probably the mile marker. Gadzooks Batman!! I'm still in the game. Focus on smooth strides and all that crap. A guy comes to my shoulder and we run together for a while (I assume its another highschooler, but a glance sideways tells me it's another old bugger like me - BOLLOCKS). Together we start to gain on the youngun's in front and eventually overtake a group - including the first women (who in passing I nearly trip in a Zola Bud, Mary Dekker like incident. Fortunately no harm no foul.
At nearly two miles I pull ahead of old guy but at 2 miles he passes me and I have no response. Especially as another runner pulls to my shoulder then past me! Crap whole thing is going to hell! Then we hit March Road and know less than a mile to go. Head down and press. Two runners come back to me and I pass them. Couple of nasty little inclines I wasn't expecting where the left sidewalk (heading south) drops down below road level - only 10-15 feet but ashock!. That and the icey conditions are a challenge. Very, very pleased when the runners ahead turn right into the village center - means less than 0.2 miles to go. As I turn the corner MLW shouts out "come on, nearly there" then "he's right behind you, don't let him past!" Yeah I knew there was a runner on my shoulder, but MLW shout had a Pavlovian effect. I started sprinting and finished the race at a canter!! 18:18, good enough for 4th overall and second master (bugger), still first in age group (40-44) and beat all but two of the highschoolers. Pain and a reasonable time - not a bad day. Followed by XC ski-ing for good measure!!
Life is good!
DB
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Windy Winter Week
Been cold, been snowy - so no chance of any bike related shenanigins. It's been too bloody long. Both road (fixie) and the mountain bikes (2 x SSers) are spending countless weeks of inactivity hunkered down in my garage giving me scaving glances as another day passes without a ride. Course I feel guilty, especially when I occasionally see other hardy (or is that stoopid) souls out on their bikes - crikey the roads are so slick in places!
Perfect Running Conditions - Michigan Style!
Either road up! Been a week of running - since I have now committed myself to attempting to get sub 180 for the marathon at this years "Flying Pig" I have been trying to get some momentum going with the running. Basic idea right now is to get used to running hard and hurting! Last year was all about the 50 miler and so much (like pretty much all) of the running was super slow and easy. Now it's time for pain again.
Monday, ran at lunch from work. Usual 5 miler, down to cemetery, into arboretum round the trails back to cemetery, lap of cemetery and back up the hill through the technology park and back to work. All good to start out - feeling great! Once off the road life is more interesting as the link to the cemetery is virgin snow to break trail through - only 3-4 inches but the drag is there. In the cemetery the roads are slick so time for caution. Arboretum trails are rutted and slick - trying to keep an even stride is tricky and the slight hills in the park really take it out of me - I can feel the tingling in the shoulders that is a sure sign that I am entering O2 debt.
Back into cemetery and now the wind (that I hadn't noticed on the way out, cos it was behind me pushing me along - which explains why I felt so good!) is in my face - biting. In minutes the cheeks are raw and then numb. By the time I an back in the technology park I am done! Running on empty, PERFECT! Last 2/3 mile is purgatory just willing myself on. Pass colleagues going the other way, just starting their run, but can barely manage a feeble hand wave. Keep the pace to the end and am spent - slow cos of the conditions but the effort was there.
Wednesday and Friday mornings and it's an early run - 5:15am out of bed, 5:30 am and I'm out on the road. North on Okemos Road - picking up the pace to a tempo run by time I turn right. Try and maintain pace over Tacoma and Manitou to the trail head. Been meeting a fellow runner each morning (also wearing a head lamp) exchange Hi's then hang a right onto trail to Edgewood school. In the snow and before dawn the brush lined snow laden trail in the moonlight reminds me of Narnia - I'm looking out for the Snow Queen every morning. Onto Ossage, trying to lift the pace, left and up Manitou - left and lift the pace up the hill to the next trail head. Straight on onto the field - right down the hill left and across the snow covered field to Dobie. On Dobie back to tempo running - build pace steadily to railroad tracks - aim here is to achieve the shoulder tingling O2 debt by time I hit the tracks. Pause to pick up a stone from the tracks then onto the middle school field. More breaking trail - every day the snow is smoothed by the wind blown snow - over soccer fields onto XC course. Legs burning and pace bloody slow by now - but its a good strength workout and knocks the wind from you too - especially when the wind is blasting into your face, feeling like it's stripping the skin from your exposed face. Onto the trails - tough running slick and uneven. Then hang a right onto the very "rural" trails leading behind Delta Dental - running the deer trails. Final obstacle is the short sprint up onto the top of "Mount Okemos" to drop the stone gathered from the railroad onto the cairn I'm slowly building and then it's time to head home.
Wednesday the weather was a balmy 20 oF, but Friday life was a bit more challenging, 8 oF but with a significant breeze leading to a wind chill of -5 oF (them monkeys are not having any babies any time soon!)
Saturday morning and it's time to step it up with a road run with Mr fast running Mark. Bit late getting going so instead of scheduled 10 miler, time is only available for a 7 miler. BUT the weather is brutal. -8 oF with wind chill and snowing. Head out fast to try and push it, but the reality is that I am not nearly as fit as I had thought/hoped! After 2.5 miles I am done. From pushing the pace I am reduced to just trying to hang on to marks shoulder. By time we get onto Okemos Road heading south (3.5 miles) I am head down just keeping the legs moving. Don't quite see the icy ridge bordering a road entrance in time catch my right big toe on ice like concrete and suddenly I am face down spreadeagled in the road sliding on the ice. No harm from the fall but the big toe is bruised and sore. Finish the run "on fumes" another run where effort was a "10" but the speed was a solid "5". Need the hard miles to go in over the next few weeks.
Sunday and even freakin colder!! -(that is minus) 5 oF air temp!! when we get up. Unbelievable! Had off to Caberfae ski resort with MLW and daughters #2 and #3. Awesome day, super fun trails (from novices like us)! Well worth the 320 mile round trip! Might even get into this going down hill idea! Bit of down hill confidence wouldn't go amiss with my MTBing!
Cheers
DB
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Let's try this again
O.K. so lets give it one more go at resurrecting this corpse of a blog!
Been up here in MI for nearly two years now and the cold hard honest truth is that the mountain biking has pretty much gone out the window! In MD it was just so bloody easy - great trails just a 10 minute car ride from house. Here nearest "proper" trails are 20 min away and are PANTS!
Not been completely lazy though. Done lots running since we've come up North. Did my second 50 miler in September 2010 - freakin hard despite lack of hills, might tell you about it one day.
Both MLW and I are signed up for "Flying Pig" in May - MLW for the half and me for the full marathon. Hopefully the last marathon I will ever do, hoping I can get the proper training done get under 180 minutes and e done with the whole thing.
Running pretty regular - three times last week, all just 5 mile early morning (5:30 am) affairs, mix of road, trail and the local middle school XC course - the snow on the ground has made the trail bits super fun - breaking trails each time. Turns the 5 miles into a run that feels like more like 7.
Each run finishes at the top of a newly man made "hillock" that over the winter has been a fantastic place to stand first thing in the morning (long before sunrise) and watch the stars - truly magical on these snowy mornings! Started to build a cairn at my star gazing place - add a stone each time I run the route - what a plonker!
This weekend it's been winter sports, Sat and Sun XC ski-ing (sore legs tonight), and last night it was cold enough to warrant a night outside in the tent to start acclimatization for the ice climbing trip scheduled for next month in PA! Temp got down to 8 oF not quite as cold as the -2 oF from last years camp but a bit on the chilly side!!
Till next time!
DB
Been up here in MI for nearly two years now and the cold hard honest truth is that the mountain biking has pretty much gone out the window! In MD it was just so bloody easy - great trails just a 10 minute car ride from house. Here nearest "proper" trails are 20 min away and are PANTS!
Not been completely lazy though. Done lots running since we've come up North. Did my second 50 miler in September 2010 - freakin hard despite lack of hills, might tell you about it one day.
Both MLW and I are signed up for "Flying Pig" in May - MLW for the half and me for the full marathon. Hopefully the last marathon I will ever do, hoping I can get the proper training done get under 180 minutes and e done with the whole thing.
Running pretty regular - three times last week, all just 5 mile early morning (5:30 am) affairs, mix of road, trail and the local middle school XC course - the snow on the ground has made the trail bits super fun - breaking trails each time. Turns the 5 miles into a run that feels like more like 7.
Each run finishes at the top of a newly man made "hillock" that over the winter has been a fantastic place to stand first thing in the morning (long before sunrise) and watch the stars - truly magical on these snowy mornings! Started to build a cairn at my star gazing place - add a stone each time I run the route - what a plonker!
This weekend it's been winter sports, Sat and Sun XC ski-ing (sore legs tonight), and last night it was cold enough to warrant a night outside in the tent to start acclimatization for the ice climbing trip scheduled for next month in PA! Temp got down to 8 oF not quite as cold as the -2 oF from last years camp but a bit on the chilly side!!
Till next time!
DB
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Betcha thought I was gone huh?
Yep it's been a strange old year - getting no less starnge I can tell you.
The lack of Patapsco standard trails has put a big dent in my MTB time - poor old bike just sits there in the garage and sulks as I walk past. Not even much road biking........so not much motivation to hit the blogshere and prattle away.
But, if ya thought that meant I've just spent the last year sitting on my ever expanding arse drinking beer - you'd have thunk wrong! Well mainly wrong.
Cut down on the boozing (Holy Moly must be serious!) and hit the roads/trails with the Marks. Mid weeks early (and I mean seriously early - 5:30 am for F's sake) starts often times with Running Mark (6-8 miles) and then weekends 10+ miles at often stretches with pace below 7 min/miles with "fast" Mark.
By March (with Running Mark training for marathon) plenty of miles on the books. So all set up for first race in MI - the Pinkney Trail 1/2 marathon - race report to follow. Hard run but great day and a podium finish! Couple of trips back to MD and even a sneaky night ride at Patapsco. All building up to the "big one" in Hell on 09/11/10 second 50 miler.
Who said MI would be dull? No freakin way!
Later (good to be back)
DB
The lack of Patapsco standard trails has put a big dent in my MTB time - poor old bike just sits there in the garage and sulks as I walk past. Not even much road biking........so not much motivation to hit the blogshere and prattle away.
But, if ya thought that meant I've just spent the last year sitting on my ever expanding arse drinking beer - you'd have thunk wrong! Well mainly wrong.
Okemos MI, it's where the Bollux-clan reside
Cut down on the boozing (Holy Moly must be serious!) and hit the roads/trails with the Marks. Mid weeks early (and I mean seriously early - 5:30 am for F's sake) starts often times with Running Mark (6-8 miles) and then weekends 10+ miles at often stretches with pace below 7 min/miles with "fast" Mark.
By March (with Running Mark training for marathon) plenty of miles on the books. So all set up for first race in MI - the Pinkney Trail 1/2 marathon - race report to follow. Hard run but great day and a podium finish! Couple of trips back to MD and even a sneaky night ride at Patapsco. All building up to the "big one" in Hell on 09/11/10 second 50 miler.
Who said MI would be dull? No freakin way!
Later (good to be back)
DB
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Death By Raft (almost!)
Morning after my night in the back yard and it was still F'in cold - the Brass Monkeys would go childless!! But hey no excuse to creep inside and get into a warm bath. Oh No! Not the Bollux-way at all. Time for some ill-advised fun on the Grand River, what could possibly go wrong!
Kevin had asked if I fancied a trip down the river in a raft - in January, in Michigan - sounded like fun. Up for it. Dropped car off in Grand Ledge and headed back up stream to Lansing in Kev's car to the drop in. Raft, not so much a raft as a dingy - kind of thing you buy for your kids at the beach - and the oars are a kayak paddle cut in two with duck taped ends.
Alarm bells should have been ringing but were remarkably silent at this point. Drag the SS. Deathtrap into the water and clamber inexpertly in, only got a bit wet - at 11 oF how much trouble could that be? With my and Kev's weight the dingy "jack knifes" in the middle, with the bow and stern pointing skywards and us sliding together in the middle. Alarm bells heard in the vague distance.
"So.... it's about 12 miles to the car" says Kev, "how long do you think it'll take? About an hour?" Alarm bells are suddenly deafening!! In the middle of the river, already wet, freezing conditions, with more like 3 to 4 hours of paddling in front of us. Things could go seriously wrong here. But no choice other than forwards. I have a three hour window before MLW wants me home to go XC ski-ing - potential disaster. Paddled like a mad thing to pick up time but fatigue soon kicks in. Fingers and toes losing feeling, legs cramping and life is F'in super! All I can think is "if something goes wrong, I'm not even sure what I'll tell the emergency services in terms of an excuse"
Scenery is pretty spectacular - ice laden trees overhanging water, herons, even some kind of daft mammal swimming in the river - what was that all about?
After three hours though things are a little out of control - very cold, my iPhone has stopped working cos it got wet (so no GPS) and both absolutely knackered. Ice formed on gloves to point where bending fingers is difficult - gloves have hardened like cardboard. Time to abandon ship!!
Decide to hit the next boat ramp we see and get a ride home. Phone Kev's wife to come and get us - no idea where we are (no GPS) so she just heads out in our general direction and we will call when we hit land and have an address she can plug in the car's Garmin. Spot a ramp and paddle our frozen arses off to hit it. Getting out of boat onto terra firma - over nice ice shelf is fan-freakin-tastic. I go through the ice up to my knees and fill my boots with super-chilled water. Kev trips and goes into the water up to his elbows on both arms. Drag the boat ashore and now life is seriously F'ED UP!! And life just gets better, as we dragged the boat up to the road Kev finds he has lost his phone!! Dropped out his pocket when he tripped! So....... no way to contact Kev's LW, both very wet and getting seriously cold, dangerously cold. Stumble back to river and for the first time today the gods are smiling at us. Kev's phone is found, perched on a chunk of ice, out of the water and still operational. Wife called and back to road to wait. We accost a local dog walker to ask if we could perhaps, maybe find someplace (maybe indoors?) to avoid dying of cold. In true Michigan friendliness the walker does not even break step or make eye contact. "I suggest you call 911" is the sum total of the discourse.
In the end Kev's wife finds us, we are neither arrested or die - so it's all good really. Something to look back on as a (somewhat extreme) adventure. To be sure today we got away with one!! the gods will not always be this benign and we were lucky.
Oh the fun we had
DB
Kevin had asked if I fancied a trip down the river in a raft - in January, in Michigan - sounded like fun. Up for it. Dropped car off in Grand Ledge and headed back up stream to Lansing in Kev's car to the drop in. Raft, not so much a raft as a dingy - kind of thing you buy for your kids at the beach - and the oars are a kayak paddle cut in two with duck taped ends.
Alarm bells should have been ringing but were remarkably silent at this point. Drag the SS. Deathtrap into the water and clamber inexpertly in, only got a bit wet - at 11 oF how much trouble could that be? With my and Kev's weight the dingy "jack knifes" in the middle, with the bow and stern pointing skywards and us sliding together in the middle. Alarm bells heard in the vague distance.
"So.... it's about 12 miles to the car" says Kev, "how long do you think it'll take? About an hour?" Alarm bells are suddenly deafening!! In the middle of the river, already wet, freezing conditions, with more like 3 to 4 hours of paddling in front of us. Things could go seriously wrong here. But no choice other than forwards. I have a three hour window before MLW wants me home to go XC ski-ing - potential disaster. Paddled like a mad thing to pick up time but fatigue soon kicks in. Fingers and toes losing feeling, legs cramping and life is F'in super! All I can think is "if something goes wrong, I'm not even sure what I'll tell the emergency services in terms of an excuse"
Scenery is pretty spectacular - ice laden trees overhanging water, herons, even some kind of daft mammal swimming in the river - what was that all about?
After three hours though things are a little out of control - very cold, my iPhone has stopped working cos it got wet (so no GPS) and both absolutely knackered. Ice formed on gloves to point where bending fingers is difficult - gloves have hardened like cardboard. Time to abandon ship!!
Decide to hit the next boat ramp we see and get a ride home. Phone Kev's wife to come and get us - no idea where we are (no GPS) so she just heads out in our general direction and we will call when we hit land and have an address she can plug in the car's Garmin. Spot a ramp and paddle our frozen arses off to hit it. Getting out of boat onto terra firma - over nice ice shelf is fan-freakin-tastic. I go through the ice up to my knees and fill my boots with super-chilled water. Kev trips and goes into the water up to his elbows on both arms. Drag the boat ashore and now life is seriously F'ED UP!! And life just gets better, as we dragged the boat up to the road Kev finds he has lost his phone!! Dropped out his pocket when he tripped! So....... no way to contact Kev's LW, both very wet and getting seriously cold, dangerously cold. Stumble back to river and for the first time today the gods are smiling at us. Kev's phone is found, perched on a chunk of ice, out of the water and still operational. Wife called and back to road to wait. We accost a local dog walker to ask if we could perhaps, maybe find someplace (maybe indoors?) to avoid dying of cold. In true Michigan friendliness the walker does not even break step or make eye contact. "I suggest you call 911" is the sum total of the discourse.
In the end Kev's wife finds us, we are neither arrested or die - so it's all good really. Something to look back on as a (somewhat extreme) adventure. To be sure today we got away with one!! the gods will not always be this benign and we were lucky.
Oh the fun we had
DB
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Lazy B!
Lazy B, yep that's me.
Slowed down on the old blog, mainly cos life is so much more busy right now - new job and youngun's doing loads of crazy sh%t - water polo for C's sake! What's that all about?
Anyway, despite crazy busyness been really doing quite a lot really. Lots of adventure type stuff and been training if not everyday (like the New Years Rezzies initially prescribed) then certainly 3-4 times a week. Two and a half months in and I've probably strung more runs together this year so far than I manged all last year put together. Nothing too long yet, 13.5 miles longest yet - remarkable as a run less for it's distance than for the fact that I was desperate for the loo within 10 min of starting. Few dodgy moments that even had me searching newspaper boxes for paper in case I could find a secluded spot to "lose some weight" so to speak. Tell you what, high visibility, neon yellow HAT Run running shirts are great when you want to avoid getting hit by cars when running - when you want to sneak away for a sneaky poo, not so good.
In the end no harm no foul, managed to make t home with my dignity intact!!
Earlier in the year the fun was mainly enjoying the nice cold weather up here in MI! MLW got me an industrial strength sleeping bag (rated down to -15!!) for Crimbo so needed to check it out. So one cold Saturday in January I shovelled the snow down in a patch in the back yard, pitched the tent - so cold one of the bendy poles snapped. That night just happened to be the coldest of the year! Down to below zero!!! as I head out for the night. Lowest I actually confirmed in the tent was -2 oF. Smashing, crowned me the "King of Cold" with the guys, coldest night camped out by any of us! Nice and warm in the new bag and a nice rime of ice inside the tent in the morning as evidence that I had indeed kept breathing all night. Quite an adventure, but the next day (Sunday) the adventures really began.......... Fill you in next time!
Slowed down on the old blog, mainly cos life is so much more busy right now - new job and youngun's doing loads of crazy sh%t - water polo for C's sake! What's that all about?
Anyway, despite crazy busyness been really doing quite a lot really. Lots of adventure type stuff and been training if not everyday (like the New Years Rezzies initially prescribed) then certainly 3-4 times a week. Two and a half months in and I've probably strung more runs together this year so far than I manged all last year put together. Nothing too long yet, 13.5 miles longest yet - remarkable as a run less for it's distance than for the fact that I was desperate for the loo within 10 min of starting. Few dodgy moments that even had me searching newspaper boxes for paper in case I could find a secluded spot to "lose some weight" so to speak. Tell you what, high visibility, neon yellow HAT Run running shirts are great when you want to avoid getting hit by cars when running - when you want to sneak away for a sneaky poo, not so good.
In the end no harm no foul, managed to make t home with my dignity intact!!
Earlier in the year the fun was mainly enjoying the nice cold weather up here in MI! MLW got me an industrial strength sleeping bag (rated down to -15!!) for Crimbo so needed to check it out. So one cold Saturday in January I shovelled the snow down in a patch in the back yard, pitched the tent - so cold one of the bendy poles snapped. That night just happened to be the coldest of the year! Down to below zero!!! as I head out for the night. Lowest I actually confirmed in the tent was -2 oF. Smashing, crowned me the "King of Cold" with the guys, coldest night camped out by any of us! Nice and warm in the new bag and a nice rime of ice inside the tent in the morning as evidence that I had indeed kept breathing all night. Quite an adventure, but the next day (Sunday) the adventures really began.......... Fill you in next time!
Soddin' Cold
DB
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Where'd the time go?!
Wow, nearly the end of Feb already. Where the hell is the time going?
No posts for over a month - fortunately the blogging desert hasn't reflected a lack of activity but rather a lack of time/opportunity/desire to get down to the writing. Much has been going on and it will take a few posts just to get up to date.
First things first though - have some administrative duties to attend to before the saga of the first winter proper in MI can be recorded.
(i) review of 2009! Bit of a strange old year - most of the year was spent considering, then organizing and finally surviving the relocation from MD to MI. Realized that was considering the move as far back as February - when I did the George Washington Birthday marathon - geez that feels like more than just twelve months ago! The chaos didn't make for a particularly productive year race wise. One marathon (though did manage a PR and a 4th place overall and 1st Vet), one ultra (Hat run again) and a somewhat disappointing 10 miler, Baltimore 10 miler. So with the exception of 64 miles running not other competitive miles! To keep my life a bit interesting I initiated the Mi 1000 on my fixie and finally finished the year with 1038 miles on the fixie! The cyclometer registering a rather anticlimactic 968 miles when I ceremoniously replaced my cyclometer batteries to start 2010 with a clean slate - as a result of 70 "lost miles" from my first weekend in MI (courtesy of a dropped computer!). On the other hand there have been some pretty outstanding bits to 2009 too! Rode in CO for the first time ever! Converted the Big Dog to a fixie! Not a bad year on the whole. Now then DB get out there and take 2010 by the horns!
(ii) New Years Rezzies - bit late but wtf! The year of sub 180/160 to bracket the easiest and hardest of my resolutions! Sub 180 is a bit on the optimistic side refers to target marathon time! Been 26 years since my first marathon and with the passing of the years the time is now or never probably if breaking 3 hours is ever going to happen. Means dropping over 6 min from the PR! Sub 160 is my target weight in lb! Prob the easiest of the resolutions - though not been as easy as originally though and the weight remains a solid 10 lb above this target despite two months trying to shed the excess weight! Other resolutions reflect usual race targets - another 50 miler and one race of 12 hours or longer. Last one is actually to start the DFL sportswear line I have been considering for the last two years. Designs done just need to pull the trigger on first run of shirts - the T-shirts will be advertised here if it ever happens.
O.K. so the posts for 2010 have restarted - time for a beer!
Cheers
DB
No posts for over a month - fortunately the blogging desert hasn't reflected a lack of activity but rather a lack of time/opportunity/desire to get down to the writing. Much has been going on and it will take a few posts just to get up to date.
First things first though - have some administrative duties to attend to before the saga of the first winter proper in MI can be recorded.
(i) review of 2009! Bit of a strange old year - most of the year was spent considering, then organizing and finally surviving the relocation from MD to MI. Realized that was considering the move as far back as February - when I did the George Washington Birthday marathon - geez that feels like more than just twelve months ago! The chaos didn't make for a particularly productive year race wise. One marathon (though did manage a PR and a 4th place overall and 1st Vet), one ultra (Hat run again) and a somewhat disappointing 10 miler, Baltimore 10 miler. So with the exception of 64 miles running not other competitive miles! To keep my life a bit interesting I initiated the Mi 1000 on my fixie and finally finished the year with 1038 miles on the fixie! The cyclometer registering a rather anticlimactic 968 miles when I ceremoniously replaced my cyclometer batteries to start 2010 with a clean slate - as a result of 70 "lost miles" from my first weekend in MI (courtesy of a dropped computer!). On the other hand there have been some pretty outstanding bits to 2009 too! Rode in CO for the first time ever! Converted the Big Dog to a fixie! Not a bad year on the whole. Now then DB get out there and take 2010 by the horns!
(ii) New Years Rezzies - bit late but wtf! The year of sub 180/160 to bracket the easiest and hardest of my resolutions! Sub 180 is a bit on the optimistic side refers to target marathon time! Been 26 years since my first marathon and with the passing of the years the time is now or never probably if breaking 3 hours is ever going to happen. Means dropping over 6 min from the PR! Sub 160 is my target weight in lb! Prob the easiest of the resolutions - though not been as easy as originally though and the weight remains a solid 10 lb above this target despite two months trying to shed the excess weight! Other resolutions reflect usual race targets - another 50 miler and one race of 12 hours or longer. Last one is actually to start the DFL sportswear line I have been considering for the last two years. Designs done just need to pull the trigger on first run of shirts - the T-shirts will be advertised here if it ever happens.
O.K. so the posts for 2010 have restarted - time for a beer!
Cheers
DB
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Meryy Christmas.... and a Happy New Year
So come Dec 27th it was time to head south to the Ol’ Burg in MD for the New Year. Time to reconnect with old friends and to hit some old trails. Some doubt as to ridability in the wake of the big storm that hit MD a week before Christmas but in the end “No Worries”. Emails are sent to set up rides at Patapsco, unfortunately Mr Todd is no available as he is traveling with his folks but the kind Gentleman is good enough to donate his bike to “Yours Truly”. As it turns out two rides are arranged – one in daylight with Biking Sean and a nocturnal adventure with Hard Biking Brian. And due to the vagaries of my life in the end they both end up taking place on one day. Ace fun, sore legs!
Mr Todd's 69er (ooer missus)But the fun in MD starts with two chilly runs with Mr Running Sean. First is a 50 min trip round my old “Hilly Run” – hey it ain’t got no flatter since I have been in MI! Next morning and the wind is bitter! All the running clothes are donned and we head off from the Mall, Sean, MLW and me for a jaunt around Wild Lake. Right leg is sore but holds together for another 50+ min run, all good.
The dawn of the next day sees Biking Sean picking me up at 8 am for a trip to Landing Road and a reacquaintance with the loveliness that is Patapsco. Great to get back on these trails. Take the “old” usual route along Morning Choice to the “loggy section” (despite my time in MI without log overs all is well). First stream crossing is fun with steep ramp on far side and freezing conditions – trails are as hard as a hard thing.
Its good to be back
Bikin' Sean..... bikin'
Up and over and I am actually feeling OK (a feeling that would not last the day). Down to the next watercrossing and onto Belmont life is good. Down Belmont hill and the next stream crossing is too bloody deep! Forget to “half pedal” and soak the feet - clever move! Up onto Ridge (via the grinding middle route) and then along Ridge to the White hike only trail. Who in their right mind will be out on the trails this early on a frigid Dec morning? No one sane so the decision to hit the white decent is taken. Few changes at the top end (including a superfun set of steps) which has me questioning if we are on the right trail but by half way down all is familiar again. At base of hill realize we have used up over an hour of our allotted time and it is time to wend our weary(ish) way back to the car. This is the point where Sean discovers his gears are frozen! In a big gear, oh the joys of single speeding are ever more obvious. Let me tell you the Water Break “in the dog” as Craig Gordon would say is no fun. Mr Sean walks up! I’m motivated and doing OK until rear wheel hits a patch of ice on one of the minor step ups and I am suddenly on my arse! Pick myself up and struggle to the top with lungs threatening to make a bid for freedom! Right at top along Morning Choice via derelict houses and back to car. Ninety minutes of effort, feelin’ fine and happy to be alive.
Night ride scheduled for a 9 pm launch, many calls/emails/texts fail to raise George so it is scheduled to be just me and Brian! In end Brian ropes in two friends (Mike and Dennis) to add a bit more spice to the ride! Nothing like riding with new people to add some edge to the ride. Had a few drinks even before the ride starts (courtesy of a dinner invitation MLW accepted on my behalf and I fulfilled, in full biking regalia, “men in tights!”). Oddly Dennis also admits he is probably biking “over the limit” too thanks to a couple (or so) pre-ride cocktails so it’s all good. Full of beans and good humor as we head to Belmont and down the hill. At the top of Belmont I badly mis-judge a patch of ice to everyone’s bewilderment and the bike just launches out from under me – down on my arse with a right old thwack, sore bum for days. Down Belmont hill and all is good – over the water crossing – I remember the drenched feet from earlier and hang way to the right (beyond the “stepping stones”) following Brian’s lead and keep the footsies nice and dry – Dennis and Mike take the traditional line and I can hear them swearing behind me as I clear the water. Up the hill, the left hand trail to the top (taking in the “extra point” big log over at the top –which bizarrely doesn’t cause me any agro) and thence down to the Ridge trail junction. I’m given the choice of route so choose to repeat the morning ride along Ridge and down the white “Hike Only” trail. Brian is very happy with the choice and the other two don’t know what I’m talking about. Half way down the white and everyone knows where we are – used to be the “old” Ridge Trail and lots of nostalgia ensues – memories of ancient rides in the mid 90’s and earlier. At the bottom there is decent in the ranks! Force of will wins the day and we head to Soapstone (big mistake). Was a time I could take Soapstone – especially when it is hard and grippy like tonight. But Mi has taken its toll! Half way up and I am completely done! Mike (with gears) crushes it!! Passes us all and is still accelerating. But for the rest of us (all on SSers) it is a death march to the top. Dennis is feeling his cocktails and announces there is no F’in way he is climbing another hill – so we agree Vineyard and back to HC. Take the cut through trail that George nearly killed himself on (silly double drop off which looked no more ridable tonight than then) way back when and down Vineyard. By bottom I am in last place (a position II was to maintain for the rest of the ride).
Over Swingbridge and back to Ridge. Stop at base of the major climb for “team photo” and then the agony begins.
Night ride scheduled for a 9 pm launch, many calls/emails/texts fail to raise George so it is scheduled to be just me and Brian! In end Brian ropes in two friends (Mike and Dennis) to add a bit more spice to the ride! Nothing like riding with new people to add some edge to the ride. Had a few drinks even before the ride starts (courtesy of a dinner invitation MLW accepted on my behalf and I fulfilled, in full biking regalia, “men in tights!”). Oddly Dennis also admits he is probably biking “over the limit” too thanks to a couple (or so) pre-ride cocktails so it’s all good. Full of beans and good humor as we head to Belmont and down the hill. At the top of Belmont I badly mis-judge a patch of ice to everyone’s bewilderment and the bike just launches out from under me – down on my arse with a right old thwack, sore bum for days. Down Belmont hill and all is good – over the water crossing – I remember the drenched feet from earlier and hang way to the right (beyond the “stepping stones”) following Brian’s lead and keep the footsies nice and dry – Dennis and Mike take the traditional line and I can hear them swearing behind me as I clear the water. Up the hill, the left hand trail to the top (taking in the “extra point” big log over at the top –which bizarrely doesn’t cause me any agro) and thence down to the Ridge trail junction. I’m given the choice of route so choose to repeat the morning ride along Ridge and down the white “Hike Only” trail. Brian is very happy with the choice and the other two don’t know what I’m talking about. Half way down the white and everyone knows where we are – used to be the “old” Ridge Trail and lots of nostalgia ensues – memories of ancient rides in the mid 90’s and earlier. At the bottom there is decent in the ranks! Force of will wins the day and we head to Soapstone (big mistake). Was a time I could take Soapstone – especially when it is hard and grippy like tonight. But Mi has taken its toll! Half way up and I am completely done! Mike (with gears) crushes it!! Passes us all and is still accelerating. But for the rest of us (all on SSers) it is a death march to the top. Dennis is feeling his cocktails and announces there is no F’in way he is climbing another hill – so we agree Vineyard and back to HC. Take the cut through trail that George nearly killed himself on (silly double drop off which looked no more ridable tonight than then) way back when and down Vineyard. By bottom I am in last place (a position II was to maintain for the rest of the ride).
Over Swingbridge and back to Ridge. Stop at base of the major climb for “team photo” and then the agony begins.
Team photo - let the pain begin!
I am done, cooked, knackered – rest of the guys flow up Ridge and I struggle after them actually manage to stay on the bike all the way to the rockgarden and clear it but the “the wheels come off” so to speak! Hit a patch of ice and I am down again. Cascade is a nightmare; I think I ride over every patch of soddin ice and hit the ground every bloody time – no flow, mojo out the window just a hideous struggle. Realize this is what I am missing – haven’t had a decent work out like this since left MD. Need mates who will happily take me out and destroy me. Back on Morning Choice and I gather myself a bit but last hill beyond the “loggy bit” is another nightmare. I am gasping and groaning just keeping the pedals turning and Brian is happily riding just behind me happily chatting away hardly out of breath! Soon enough it is over though hard, brutal and absolutely beautiful! Sit in Brian’s car share a beer and a few yucks and it is time to draw a curtain on my MD riding once more. Back to Running Sean’s house and a sleeping bag downstairs so that I don’t disturb anyone’s sleep. Next day is New Years Eve and the end of the Noughties! The decade that brought me to USA, introduced me to mtbing and now has taken me away from Patapsco for pastures new up north. But I will return!
Happy New Year
DB
Happy New Year
DB
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Solistice Ride 2009
Well the winter solstice arrived in Michigan and the biking-gods were kind! Weather was perfect, freezing for the past week, fresh snow on the ground - who could ask for more? Having talked this ride up I even managed to convince to more Okemosians to join in the fun. Hard running Mark has been night riding before and wanted to test a new light he had bought, but Bob (with whom I had ridden once at Birchfield back in late summer) had never done the night thing. I lent Bob my "proper" light and mounted my old 10 w halogen bar light on by monocog (Big Dog).
8:30 pm and we meet at the assigned place then head (somewhat illicitly) onto the trails. They are in absolutely perfect condition! Just enough tracks to help navigation in the dark - with the small puddle of orange light provided by my halogen lamp - but the majority of the snow was crunchy goodness. First sections and we take it easy, all just settling in to the unfamiliar feel of riding in the dark me for the first time fixed! Trails are not technical but with the lack of coasting it it challenging enough not to be boring. Scoot alongside the river through some mildly rooty and bumpy sections until we cross the road Harris Park. Have to carry bikes over a chained up gate suggests that perhaps we shouldn't be doing this but what the hell! Its the Solstice and we are biking.
The trail here passes very close to several "MacMansions" and a persistent barking dog puts my nerves on edge for a while until the trail pitches back into the woods and we are alone in the quiet darkness again. At the half way point (close to Meridian Road) we stop and take the required "team photo". Then we head back along the lower (and slightly more technical) trail to the steps (which are negotiated with our bikes on our shoulders cyclocross stylee).
Take in some very nice tight single track on the way back to Van Atta Road and thence back to where we started - hung a right to take in the "muddy crossing" - half way along trail is a new fallen log, slightly at angles to the trail and covered in snow. A bit bigger than any log I've tackled on a fixie but I give it a go (or three) and fail miserably each time (this riding fixed is going to take some learning). Over the frozen muddy crossing and back to the "interesting" bit of trail. Bob nearly comes a cropper into the stream but manages to save himself courtesy of a tree branch he can cling to until he has disengaged himself from the new Time Attac pedals he is using (for only the third time). Up the hill, under the log branch and we are back at the trail head.
Suggestions of a beer are made and accepted so we cruise along Dobie to Dusty's Tap Room where in our snow covered biking gear (see photo) we bemuse all the ther patrons. Fortunately without my glasses I can't really see much so am comfortably ignorant of the strange looks we are attracting.
Trip home is a bit on the nippy side, having thawed out and gotten wet in the bar but "no-one died". Awesome ride! Good for the Soul!
Happy Solstice!!
DB
Friday, December 11, 2009
Trek Madone - now faster!! Ha Ha
Just heard that Trek have managed to make Lance Armstrong's Madone even faster!!!
They let Alberto Contador ride it!!!
They let Alberto Contador ride it!!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Ridin' the Big Dog!!
So the Redline 29er Monocog was set up as a fixie not so long back and I've been riding it around the burg to get accustomed to the new feel of riding fixie on the MTB. Just so happened that this Sunday I had a couple of hours free! Meant to go for a road ride but with the snow decided an MTB would be a better option. Went for a night run Sat pm to check out the trails (bit soft in parts but mainly frozen) and then crossed my fingers for a nice cold night to firm them up. Sunday morning rose bright and cold - 25 oF lovely. Though the temp hardly warranted it I chucked on all my winter gear, in anticipation of slower than usual progress. 
The Big Dog!!
The Big Dog!!Hit the local trails off Dobie Road just after 8am and had the whole place to myself (pretty much). I rode EFI of trail - through to Meridian Road and back along the lower path - has been washed out but with the frozen conditions the trail was hard and perfectly ridable. None of the trails are what you would describe as technical but managed to negotiate my first log overs on a fixie - the second of which was a reasonable size and despite the snow I didn't come a cropper once. Took the trail to the "muddy Crossing" for the first time and it was frozen solid - rode straight across. Back closer to Dobie I took the more fun route back over the small stream and under the fallen tree. All went swimmingly.
Trails to myself!
Back on Dobie - headed to Harrison then as time was still available took in the Meridian Nature Area to the Elementary school - again nothing too challenging, but it was enough to just ride off road and resist the urge to coast when the trail got a bit bumpy. Think I'm going to get to like this.
Back home cold and happy - not until a lot later I realized how tired and sore my legs were - guess with all the fun I hadn't realized I was actually getting a reasonable work out -despite the slow pace.
Need to hit these trails at night now - definitely a viable prospect.
Monday and despite cold and potential snow managed a commute to work on the fixie - used the Light and Motion head lamp for a change - what a difference!! Actually able to ride at decent pace in comfort - a must in future - though the trip home was a bit dodgy in the snow which makes me wonder if the cycling commute should be be left for days when the weather can be relied upon to be kind.
Cheers
DB
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