Weather Screwing With My Plans

All of us in the midwest are probably getting sick of this rainy weather. I've hat to adjust my workouts quite a bit this week. Either times of day or flipping days all together. It's been trying at times, but I think it's all working out in the end. I had a nice tempo ride on my "new" loop today. 23 miles with some nice hills to tackle throughout. It should be just the ticket for the Charleston Challenge.

I had initially planned on doing the Farmington 5K this weekend, but I think I will be better off getting in a nice brick session. I haven't done any since prior to my last race in July and I need to get my legs ready for a bike-run transisition. My running is probably as good as it has been. I really feel like my riding is where I've been lazy since my last race. However, after my ride today I feel even more confident about it. I just need to get my weight back down. I was at 207 lbs. today and would really like to be under 203 lbs. for September 16th.

I'd like to get a nice RIT ride in tomorrow. Of course, that depends on if the weather will hold off or clear up for me.

19 Days!

And thing are coming around for me again finally, mostly the mental part. Now I just hope the physical stuff hasn't taken too much of a blow to be where I want for the race. I had a nice long run at Bradley Park today and it was perfect to clear my mind and get things "right". My entry fee has bent sent. My hotel reservations are made. My list is already made out. It's all about getting myself physically and mentally sharp and ready to rock this thing.

Tonight is the August PAMBA meeting. With I-74 Fest coming up, we have a lot to do. As soon as it's done, it's right back at it again for the Midwest MTB Festival next year. That will be a lot of work but it is still such an honor to be hosting it. The best news is that JHiggs is staying on as race coordinator. It has really gotten me excited about the race series again and I have to keep myself from looking too much towards next year. We still have two races left for '06!!

The rest of my week looks like this:

Tuesday/4-Mid
Tempo ride

Wednesday/2-10
Interval run 10/10

Thursday/2-10
RIT ride 2 hours

Friday/6p-2a
EZ run-30 minutes

Saturday/6p-2a
Ride/Run Brick
40/20

Comin' Back Around

This week has been a strange one in terms of how I've been feeling. I started the week off with a hilly tempo ride on Monday. I was hurtin' towards the end, but if I want to be ready for the hills I'm hearing about in Charleston, I need to work at them. Honestly, growing up in that general vicinity, I'm curious where all these hills can be.

Tuesday was one of the roughest days mentally I've had, maybe ever. I was looking for a nice tempo run, but it turned into 30 minutes of doubt and beating myself up. I got through the 30 minutes, but I never felt good at any point during the run and even questioned whether I wanted to keep working towards September 16th. My weight was up to 207 and I just had a nasty taste in my mouth all day.

I follow it up with a pretty good interval session this morning. About my 3rd hard effort into it I started feeling the fire again and could feel my batteries recharging both mentally and physically. No I feel pretty good about things and feel like I have some steam again. I guess I need to go through those tough times. I've never stayed the course for anything this long before and I was bound to have some mental roadblocks. It was good to battle through it and come out better than before.

Grocery store tonight after I throw some rounds at the range. I have qualifications next month and I need to stay sharp. It's been too long since I've been out.

......Followed by a Bad Week

Yeah, I should have known. After a solid 5K effort this past weekend, I have squandered away some prime opportunity for some solid sessions this week. The coaching thing really left me scrambling. Not to mention my diet has been terrible and I have had no structure or plan to any day yet this week. The good news is that my coaching duties are over and now I can get back to me. So inlight of that, I believe a mind cleansing ride on the RIT is in order for tomorrow. Then it's back to my schedule until the Charleston Challenge, one month from today.

I spent last night with two of my old college teamates and friends. I hadn't seen Sean in some time and he just moved back to the area from Ohio. He's a doctor in Galesburg where he grew up. Jake is the head wrestling coach at Pekin. It was nice getting together again. Even nicer that now we're all here pretty close and can do it more often.

Kickapoo Burn this Sunday, Race #5 of the I-74 Series! Killer trail system!

Pretty Good Weekend

Started it off with another 5K PR at Brimfield. I totally didn't expect that kind of run, but I think Howie being there pushed me. I ran a 23:31 for 7:34 miles. Not blazing by any means, but considering where I've came from, I'll take it. I'd love to pull a sub 23 minute 5K this year.

My class reunion was worth the trip. More people back than I expected and we all seemed to have a good time. We closed down the bars and found ourselves at a truck stop for some B&G. And that was how we ended our 15 year reuniuon. It was nice seeing some old friends.

I hope to get some quality days in this week, but I promised to help out at one of the local high school's football practices this week and work on some individual technique stuff with their linebackers and def. line. Luckily it's a 4-mid week so I'll still be able to get some things doen. I need to hit the bike hard this week.

Three Days to the Old Settler's 5K

I'm really looking forward to this race this weekend. I'm not quite sure why exactly. It may be because I haven't done a 5K in so long or it may just be that I'm getting anxious to "compete" again in an event. In all actuality, it will be a nice training run for me. I'm looking for a solid effort and I want to make myself hurt a little bit.

I just got off the treadmill where I did 20 minutes of 1/1 minute intervals. I really should have done those yesterday, but my legs were just dead weight yesterday from the urban ride and my run at Bradley Park. I decided to give them a break and then push them today. I'll try and hit the RIT tomorrow evening after work for a short ride and follow it up with an easy 20 minute run on Friday before work. I'll be off my feet most of the day on Friday while I sit at a Sex Offender Management conference....whee!

I've neglected the bike as of late, but that's not such a bad thing. I see a lot of tempo rides in my future starting next week. The aero bars will probably go back on the bike tonight so I can get a brick session in next week. I'd like to get 3 in before the Charleston Challenge. Two of them will be bike/run and the last will be a very short run/bike/run 7-10 days before the race.

My morning weight was 201! Goodbye Clydesdale class!

Bad Posting

I apologize to those of you that read this. Normally, my non-posting means that I haven't been doing any training. Not the case this time. I've been doing quite a bit of running as of late and now that I am in my 6 week window to the Chaleston Challenge, it's time to start getting fast. It's also time to put the aero bars back on the bike and start working the hills.

This past weekend was the Farmdale Freeride #2. Our numbers sucked, but the racing was still good. I worked also all weekend. I spent Sunday morning with Tiffster and Stag and I hit up a LONG urban ride in the afternoon and evening. We were both cooked at the end. We followed it up with some El Mexicano flautas and some TommyKnocker. Does it get any better than that?

My legs were feeling that urban this morning. I went out for a longerish hilly run at Bradley this morning. My legs felt HEAVY. I think I'll knock a couple minutes off the rest of my workouts this week so I can do the Old Settlers Day 5K on Saturday. That needs to be a quality workout for me and hopefully a solid effort and time.

Damn, my 15 year class reunion is this weekend too. Crazy!