Enjoying my lunch....and blogging.

I broke down - got some Wendy's today and I really feel complete. I have been fighting the urge for about a month to stay away from fast food for monetary and RAAM reasons. I have shed some unwanted weight and as the workout schedule ramps up - my calories burned is increasing and I can cheat a bit... not b/c it tastes good but more so a mental vacation I guess.

Tonight is spin class and tomorrow is the big spin class for a day (24hr) starting at 6 pm. My butt is going to be sore.

Point to remember: TSH is going well and strong and still need support. thank you in advance!


ac

Magic pixy dust and SHAZZAM....

After being totally dehydrated and all things associated with flu - details spared - I headed out for some miles on the single speed RAT to test the ankle. 4 days off the bike was a killer but I dont remember 2 of the days as they were spent in a cloudy haze doped up on magic pixy dust (pharmaceuticals) in efforts to dull the pain of the little bugs dancing in my blood stream.

Super windy, chilly and with dreams of mocha's by the fireplace in my head...I hesitated to even put on the battle gear of weird colored lycra in fear of the cold and frozen fingers. At that moment I realized - with a quick glance at the RAAM site - that each day counts. Grab the granola bar, extra hand warmers, extra gloves and threw on the 08 TSH jersey over the top of my jacket and cranked some POM on the pint sized juke box and away I went.

All streets and no trails and it took until the top of super prime to get warm. I have noticed that the SP climb is getting easier and easier - this is good - but then again it is a lower gear but I'll take the little victories to get to the goal.

My turn around spot was EC ski parking lot and as always I look for the likes of Neil, Bernie, John and so on - no luck. Heading home was a chore into the wind and it didnt take much to drop my temp to points of unusually uncomfortable. No ankle pain and my body is still overcoming the dehydration. I am amazed at how much water you loose with the flu if you are not careful.

Got home with some time to spare, grabbed the kids and went to Target, got some dinner fixins, made some popcorn after dinner, played some UNO with the kids and then made a fort downstairs and enjoyed a Lucasfilm creation - Return of the Jedi. I have this movie memorized - sad....and I am proud. Great to share some memories of my kidhood with my kids. Besides, I was sick of getting handed 5 straight losses to my youngest in UNO. After the 5th win I smiled, said good job, he laugh at me and then I pushed him over....I am a bully and after the incident where he lightsabered me where it counts - he had it coming.

Enjoy the weekend!

ankle and flu

Gotta love a bum ankle and a bout of the flu. good timing I guess in that I was told to ice the ankle and stay off the bike for 3 days. in comes the virus and knocks me out for 3 days. go figure. not much riding this week and I tried to spin on tuesday - light - but it wasnt the best idea....so i had pizza instead and watched everyone else spin to coach troy.

should be all game for riding in the snow tomorrow however. yipee!

day off

was able to sneak in a ride today outside. I have been starting with the 144 loop in reverse. good climbs, rollers, in and out of the wind and so on. the road is clean. add in some champlin riding and it makes for a good quick 2 hour jaunt.

I will really be happy when the weather turns warm...er.

4 hours - just under by a few mins

great day and biked with the duke on the trails today - fun times. the up and downs were tricky on a single speed but i felt good and it was great to ride with someone other than my mp3 player. if you had the chance to ride outside - good for you!

I got some pics from the CR Dam - the big chunks of ice were really neat and there were LOTS of people on the dam.

sorry - had to cut it short before.


Jay gives a call about noon and says he is suiting up and heading up to my place - about 8 miles through the park on the snowmobile trails. by the time i got home and kitted up and heading out - I come to super prime and he is coming down SP....as he predicted. he is good with estimates. we go to south diamond lake road - go west and pick up the snowmobile trail heading to the park. lots of up and downs - the effort on my single speed in the snow was a lot like Chequamegon 40 but without traction. each hill i had to jump on. nothing better than finally riding with people again and that it was Jay is even better. solid wisdom and solid friendship. we make our way into the main part by the horse camp and head in at a reasonable pace - no wipe outs - we get to the campsite on the hill and then to the bridge by hayden lake road and then to the ski chalet thing through the park- lots of ups...not so many downs. I was cookin in my clothes as my HR was hanging above or just below threshold the whole way. once there i opted for the urban route through Champlin on 109th then to the dam and back to the park and home. It was just under 4 hours and enjoyed the weather all the way.

I did miss putting on the rear fender though - and my back was really wet...stinks. I did meet a gal at the ski area that came up to me laughing as I was fiddling with my earphones. she asked - "where in the world do you bike around here?" well, trails and roads I said but you have to be a bit more careful. she was excited and was going home to get the mt bike out. people - biking is not just a summer sport - you will enjoy some wonderful sights in the winter that you just cant get in the summer. plus...you will burn mucho more calories in the winter keeping warm...throw in a single speed and enjoy the workout.

see ya on the trails/roads and spin class.

ac
ANdy

Trail Head....

did you guys/gals see that new Orbea at the shop...funky dark carbon fiber one with the brand new D/A on it - holy smokes. 15lbs with the heavier wheels. so...if ya got an extra 6100 bones burning a hole in your pocket...have at it.

2 hours of fun and no wipe outs...

After a long week at work - Ed I know read this and yes I love my job - I was ready to frag my computer...with a frag grenade (not defrag).

I was able to unwind a bit with Jordan during the all new Samurai Phriday - funny story will tell on a ride sometime. So, I slept in this morning and spent some time with the family that I am sure forgot who I was. headed out and got two hours in on the SSS (sexy single speed) Colnago. Windy again from the west so I headed west and maxed my threshold as much as I could. Took a 5 min break at EC and headed to the shop and saw B.Dahl pass the other way in his truck...good to see you Bob if it was you - someone waved and you drive a Nissan right?

Felt good - felt strong...but that is by myself and not with other riders so we will see when the group rides kick in more. Bad week for riding however - way short on hours.

enjoy the weekend.

ac

RAAM bio - THS 2009

My bio - long winded of course - would you expect anything else?

RAAM BIO Andy

RAAM - it is official now...

Yeah - we are in and registered. I am actually nervous...riding - no....getting to Cali - yes.

more today - just under 2 hours...I think.

I ended up going out for another big gear push - I need to put the 16t cog back on but didnt think about it today. So, into the wind I go. I did a double tap of super prime and then headed west on Fernbrook and that sucked. went to Territorial and out towards Fletcher a bit - realized my time was short - headed back to the park and ran into Cowan, Thomas leaving from skiing...through the park - 109th - to the shop and then around Champlin etc ( like the Local but not the Local ) and headed home into the wind. Again - based on hours but wow - it hurts with that gear...I should rename the bike - Threshold or Threshold discomfort or Painful....came home and cleaned up.

ahhh - well...watch out for the black ice - i dug hard twice today on that stuff...bruises and humbled pride.

enjoy the day.....

ac