Urban Playground

Got to compete in a fun little race this weekend. Urban Playground is a pretty cool festival that went on around Downer Ave that supported the parks and trail systems. Sat morning, after the all you can eat pancake breakfast (bad idea), the Velo Trocadero club put on a pretty fun 1-on-1 sprint race, about 200m long.

After losing my first heat because I was in way to high a gear, I won the next 4 and came in 3rd overall. Pretty sweet. My prize package included a bottle, t-shirt, about 10 sport drink packs and a large can of Endurox. For the $10 entry fee, I think I made off pretty well and had a damn good time.

The low point was watching a friend take a somersault midway through his sprint. At first, I thought his fork exploded on him, but it turns out the spokes died. It looked like someone spun his wheel and took a box cutter to all the spokes on the ride side. The spokes were all broken in the middle, not at the bug or the rim, wild. He got up right away and walked it off. The wheel is destroyed obviously.

Later in the day, watched the BMX riders. Very impressive, especially the front flip to end the show. I was sad that I missed the track stand and skid competition. Good day.

Be the Lion

So I followed a link the other day, http://outside.away.com/magazine/1295/index.html, and figured out if you manipulate the "1295" you can basically re-read any old Outside Magazine since 1994. (0301, for example, will get you March 2001's issue)

Anyway, I'm reading an article about Jack LaLanne here and LOVED this analogy;

"Now, you listen to some of these so-called sports-medicine experts today--shit! It's just shtick. It's just something else to sell. Warming up," he scoffed, adjusting a red ascot fitted neatly into his jumpsuit, "warming up is the biggest bunch of horseshit I've ever heard in my life. Fifteen minutes to warm up! Does a lion warm up when he's hungry? 'Uh-oh, here comes an antelope. Better warm up.' No! He just goes out and eats the sucker. You gotta get the blood circulating, but shit, does the lion cool down? No, he eats the sucker and goes to sleep. And that," he concluded, folding his arms into a variation of the pose, "is the truth."

Now, i'm someone who does do a pretty good job of warming up and cooling down, but I thought this was very interesting. I think from now on I'm just going to be the Lion.

See it and do it.

Labor Day Weekend

So while trash talking at work on Friday, I came up with the slogan, "3 days, 300 miles." Way ambitious, but I was looking forward to a long mileage weekend.

Friday night I got in about 20 miles. Rode with Theodore and Chris just up Lake Dr and back. I then proceeded to go out on Friday night and got housed. Makers Mark on the rocks all night long. Friday mileage: 20.00

Saturday was a recovery day, I was actually pissed. Recovering from a hangover isn't nearly as satisfying as recovering from a series of good workouts. Saturday mileage: 0.00

Sunday was gorgeous. Got up and went to church, came home and got ready. In my jersey pockets I carried; wallet, keys, ipod, 2 gels, pretzels. I had a bottle of cytomax and a bottle of water as well.

My Polar S720i decided to can out from a dead battery. It's 3 years old so it was about time. $59 to send it in to get repaired? I think not. That's lame. I think a Suunto T6 may be in my future.

I knew my ride was going to end at Pewaukee lake, so I started out N on Lake drive to start before I headed out west. The ride north and south was uneventful, but i was hot. I made it west, but after 30 miles I was out of fluids and needed to refill asap. Next stop; Grandma's. I knew Grandpas fascination with orange Gatorade would pay off. Stopped and chatted for a bit, refilled both bottles and headed on my merry way out to the lake. Took about a half hour to get there, and there was a stiff headwind the entire way.

Got to the lake, put my suit on and chilled with a Deanna and her family for a bit. As we were ready to leave, I decided i'd ride home. Stopped at the BP got some MORE orange Gatorade and continued on.

Side note on Gatorade; it is way to sweet for me. After about two bottles I was completely uninterested in it.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. It was deceivingly hot, and my sweet farmers tan only became more pronounced as I manged to get way too much sun. I averaged about 18.7 mph during the roughly 3:30 ... but was aided by a few nice stops.
Sunday Mileage: 68.50

Monday I spent at home in Rockford after I drove home to hang out with mama and papa. We had a nice hike in the park, but the bike stayed secure in the car of my trunk. I had intentions to ride when I got back to Milwaukee, but couldn't find anyone to ride with. Monday Mileage: 0.00

So my weekend mileage was less than stellar, but I got a good ride in, got to recover from that ride and do lots of other things I needed to get done. My schedule for this week is going to look something like this;

T - team ride
W - recovery ride
T - class
F - tempo or intervals
Sat - NOT going Lake Geneva HIM, but may see if I can change to the sprint tri.
Sun - IM WI to watch Willy and Bennet.