Did I miss August?

Wow August 3rd seems like a long time since my post, here was my last three weeks...

My brother Brad, his wife Kim and their daughter Addison came to Walker to visit my parents from Toronto on the 7th for 10 days. My siter Angela, her husband Brock and their son Owen (who was born last April the same day as Addison) came the next weekend for a week. We were up north both weekends and it was nice to have everyone together, even if it was only for a couple days.

The Leech Lake Regatta was the weekend of the 9th so my brothers Phil (who lives in Walker aslo), Brad, my dad and myself gave that a try. Phil bought a badmiten set and the next weekend we played that all weekend.

Yesterday was state road race and I awoke with my cold acting up and skipped the race for a short mountain bike ride at the north loop.

I packed up my mountain bike yesterday afternoon to send it out to Winter Park so it is there by Friday when Charlie and I fly out for the long weekend to visit my sister and do some riding. There is a race out there next saturday we may do but it is named "King of the Rockies" and us being flat landers we will more than likely wimp out.

The kids start school on Tuesday already, man did summer fly by.

Sure!

I had all day to ride and needed to get 3 hours to stay on track to go into Chequamegon where I want to be fitness wise (CTL 100, TSB +10). So after it rained all morning and looked to do so all afternoon at 3:00 I decided to bring my bike in the basement and spin on the trainer. I managed two hours and that was it. The only thing that kept me going that long was the X-Games Rally car races - fun stuff, but that was only an hour. Bored, hot and hungry I had enough. Sure enough after I got done, put the bike away, changed and made a Mojito the sun came out. Oh well the 2 hours got my CTL up to 82, TSB -25 with 6 weeks to go until Cheq so I just have to keep at it.

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.

My legs are still a little heavy from this past weekends riding. Saturday went on Jim's hill ride, see HERE for the details and a map from Doc's GPS.
Saturday evening got a Massage from Larry from "the Fix".
Sunday Jim and I got in three laps at the north loop in about 1 hour and 40 min.
Today I took off to rest for the Tuesday night ride which is always fast.

TOGC

I raced the 2^nd annual Tour of Granite country this past weekend. After the rain delay and start time mix up Saturday morning it went good and the weather cooperated for the most part.

The circuit race was the most fun. The pace yo-yoed from a nice easy ride to all out just to keep up. It was a hard weekend and I haven’t been feeling to strong the last few weeks.

I haven’t seen the results yet but I am quite sure I was DFL after two stages. I pulled out of the road race ½ way through, first time I have ever quit a race.

The next few weeks before the State road race I am going to switch my training to a little different approach to see if I can make some progress. Chequamegon is less than 8 weeks away and I need to really work hard if I am going to break the elusive, for me, 3 hour mark. Let the Quest begin!

 

Bull Fights

I have been getting a bunch of Bull Fighting pictures sent to me lately, must be the season. Here are the best or worst two.

One the road again

I have been getting some road miles in the last two weeks, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday each week. Before that my last road ride was the Marty road race on May 3^rd. 5 weeks! So my fitness was really down and I struggled but I am getting there.

The new Super 6 is riding great, still tweaking position a little.

I rode with the Tuesday group again tonight. Good ride. 12 guys, 55 miles, 3 hours, 1 flat, 1 wipeout.

We went down and rode the upcoming Sprinters Classic road race course. It has one small and one medium (for around here) climb, a few rollers and a long slight down hill to the finish in Marty.

I didn’t really notice that is was warm during the ride but I was very dehydrated after the ride.

I set a new PR for 1 minute max power going up the Alp last night, it must have been on the first part of the climb because I cracked about ½ way up and had to slow way down.

The bruise on my leg from Saturday is getting bigger and more colorful, sorry no pictures, losts of purple and greenish yellow.

Think it didn't hurt?

Here is the bruise the "hidden branch" left on my leg saturday when it pushed me into the river.
Yes it is where the sun doesn't shine much.

Mountain bike/swim

I went for a MTB ride today along the river. The water was high and covered the trail in one spot. I new it was a narrow section and hugged the bushes on the right side of the trail. I didn't see the tree branch hiding in the leaves and ran into it. It pushed me off my bike to the left right into the river. The next thing I know I am under water laying on the bottom of the river on my side with my left foot still clipped in. I quickly stood up (the water was waist deep) climbed up the bank and took inventory. Glasses, computer, bottle and cell phone (in a baggy of coarse) all intact. I had to try my phone to make sure it still worked and took a picture.



Here is the scene of the crime. The bush on the right with the hidden branch. The water isn't very deep on the trail where my bike is but about one foot to the left it drops to about three feet deep... a nice little spot for a dip.

Cruisin'

Riding around St Cloud.

Greener pastures

Rode about three more hours west of Walker in Chippewa national and Paul Bunyan state forests this morning.
The picture show how much it has greened up in the area compared to two weeks ago.

The mosquitoes are out in force also but as long as you don't stop your ok.