All Airport Team

So the other day I was researching the 2010 Mohican 100K dates (that's 60 miles versus the real 100 mile race for those of you scoring at home). I'm on the NUE website and for giggles I click on the Shenandoah 100 results from this year. First photo I see....some guy in a DarkHorse 40 shirt standing on the podium. (I must say he didn't look quite as excited as the dudes on the lower podiums).

So I get to thinking...Monte can win the first time he enters a 100 mile event, what does he have that I don't have? Now I know you're thinking thousands of hours of training, sacrifice and more athletic ability in his big toe than I have in my body, right?

WRONGO!!!! He has ink and I don't. Sure is a lot less painful to have a dragon etched into your calf than train for about 500 hours. SO..............GAME ON!

Catching Up with some Photos

Have been busy since the half marathon and kind of loafing exercise wise. Did finish in 1:52 which was right at my goals. Here are some photos of the kids and dog...

Race Week Prep

Well race week is here so better get serious about this race next Sunday.

So good chance I overdid the 1/2 marathon training. Had a nice plan that was similar in feel and theory to the Joe Friel plans I use for Bikes and Tri. The race is 7 days away and not sure what is going on with my Hammy. Pretty sure I strained it doing a simulated 5K last Saturday. Did 12 miles that next day and my legs were toast at mile 9. The week before I finished 10 miles going away strong. Of course I did not slack off until yesterday (one week later) when I thought best to shut it down after 4 miles and walk home. Figured I was doing more harm than good.

I felt really strong on the previous two long runs and I have greatly improved my time in the 6 mile Tempo Runs. All of those were done with poor nutrition and hydration plans. (No I will never carry a freaking water bottle with me on a run). So taking two full days off then Friday off, with couple short high effort runs sandwiched it to keep fitness. Not too mention hitting The Stick! Think with the rest and proper eating we should feel pretty good by Sunday.

STAY TUNED!

Yes I will do any thing for SWAG

Even open a Twitter account....guess I better train a touch harder since my time is being broadcast across Facebook all morning. I worked with these guys for my print and interactive marketing when I was downtown. Real good designers and even better dudes. They are huge into social media so I am trying to help them while helping myself develop the social media stuff. Plus did I mention i love free t-shirts? Won't have to worry about what to wear for the 1/2.

Will You Sport a TweetMyTime Shirt at the Columbus Marathon?

by nateriggs on September 30, 2009

Race day for the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon is getting closer. So is our little BETA test of TweetMyTime. It’s exciting, and as of today, we’re at about 250 registrants who will be sharing their race information across the social web. That’s 250 people who’ve all decided that TweetMyTime is a cool idea and worth trying out. We’re stoked about that!

"Life sure has a sick sense of humor, doesn't it?"

I was already quoting Point Break before Swayze passed. Weird.

Had a busy and fun weekend (all results aside). Made my first appearance inside Athens High School since 1997. Went to the AHS Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony last Thursday. Few new walls and updated decor but the place is pretty much the same. Same gates we used to climb over and same Auditorium seats. Pretty funny. It was nice to see PJ honored and to take some time to reflect and remember. Got to see his Mom, Sister and Niece who is the same age as Grace. Went out with Kris, Tink, Jimmy and Kelby after the ceremony. That was pretty cool to share some stories and just catch up with each other. Cool until I rolled onto Verbena Lane at 1:00 AM Friday Morning.

"You'reJohnny Utah, Number 9, Ohio State Buckeyes...I watched you beat SC in the Rose Bowl"

Capaldi came to town for the game so we played Kinsale Friday evening with Grant and one of his buddies. I tell you this golfing every two months is starting to pay off. Luigi fired 94 from the Blue's. LONG COURSE and tough slope so felt real good. Greens were beat up on top of being tricky and slick. Stopped counting 3 putt Bogeys on the front...but had a couple nice runs at Bird. Then we had the usual tired slicearoosky going on the back nine.

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory -

As for Saturday Night it was absolutely electric in the 'Shoe. It is the highest rated college football game ever on ESPN. The crowd was great, too bad the QB in Scarlet did not play as advertised. Still surprising to most that it was that close. Oh, well kind of used to it. Nice of the Bengals to follow suit on Sunday. NOT A GOOD FOOTBALL WEEKEND HERE. And I was so looking forward to it.

Oh yea, since it took us 3 hours to get home after the game I felt good Sunday. Rode up to Prospect before the Bengals Game. 40 miles felt great and think I found a replacement for Sbux Doubleshot Espresso which is becoming hard to find, Caribou Expresso. COLD AND TASTY TREAT with enough calories and kick to get you home. Entertaining thoughts of the Cbus 1/2 Marathon on 10/18........

Luigi's Top Five Training Refuling Stops

5. Past Times Dairy Bar - Prospect, OH. Giant Cones, $2.00 shakes and free water.
4. Hellas - Shawnee Hills, OH. Maybe not bike related, but I am a regular....
3. White Castle - Central, OH locations. Can you say "Crave Case"?
2. Cheshire Market, Cheshire, OH (best when Link orders for the group)
1. Lumpy's Five Points Drive Inn - Butler, OH. "Utah, Get me TWO!"

Top Five Anger Generators ( updated to reflect my weekend)

5. Hillbilly Michigan fans from Ohio who have not idea why they like them.
4. Hillbilly Ohio State fans who route against Michigan in non conference games. HELLO MORON??? The Big Ten has enough issues without Michigan sucking eggs.
3. Tipped passes........
2. Not running a QB sneak from the 2 inch line when your QB is the biggest dude on the field
1. Vanity Plates (yea like this is ever being demoted from #1)

Autum Comes to Columbus

Nothing worse than the end of summer. However, the start of college football and a good Labor Day party sure help ease the pain.

Verbena Bash Five is over and done. Think we have the magic food formula going forward...16 Beer Can Chickens were consumed...yummy. Don't they look "happy"?

Took Grace to her first OSU game on Saturday. It was Africa Hot but I think she had a good time. For never having been to a game her instincts at the concession stand were right on. Game Dog, Pretzel, Skittles, Big Coke. NICE WORK for someone that size. She gave Pa-Paw Greg and I a run for our money. But don't you worry I got my three game dogs down without any trouble.

Did get in two quick laps around P2 with Jason and Nick before the party Sunday. I had a nasty wipe out, going too fast for my skills, bounced off a root or two and missed Nick's Bridge (sound familiar). Either I was lucky or I am leaning how to crash. I Supermaned off the bike in mid air and managed to land face first in the muddy ravine away from the bike. Not even a scratch...

"I hear they got some tasty burgers"

It's been two weeks since my somewhat abbreviated affair in Orange County. Things have settled down a little so it's time to put the next big goal on the calendar. Of course my goal is a return to BFE NY to defeat the 2010 DH40, but need a little carrot in the middle. Or as an old Mentor likes to say "BHAG" (Big hairy audacious goal). Once you put something in writing especially on the World Wide Web then you have to meet it, right? Yea I know no one reads this, but it is out there.

So here is my next BHAG: COMPLETE THE 2010 MOHICAN 100 (KM that is, I'm not naive enough to think I can do 100 miles, but I think I can work up to 60 in the next 10 months).

OK now that it's out there I needed someone to train with. Well it took about 30 seconds to convince Nick. Next step? Better get out to Mohican SF and start working some climbs. Training goal is to get around the 25 mile loop two times by the beginning of May. My logic says that if I can get around the 50 miles of tough climbing then I will be able to do the race course which includes one lap of this course, some other hills and some rail trail and flats.

Went out yesterday and let that course beat the hell out of us. By the end my quads were absolute jell-o, but I felt much better than I did when we went out there a month or so ago. At least I could pedal to the parking lot this time. Just got to keep training and hope to get up there a couple more times this year.

Oh yea, speaking of carrots, we now have a carrot of sorts to keep us riding Mohican. I would like to introduce everyone to Lumpy's Five Point's Drive Inn in some small town on Rt 97. TWO THUMBS UP!!! Stopped on the way home for good ole fashioned dairy bar food. Foot long coney dog was a little over cooked, but the coney sauce and perfectly steamed bun made up for it. Not to mention it comes standard with my favorite Hot Dog toppings, Sauce, Mustard and Onion. Nothing less and nothing more. I watched in awe as Nick destroyed a brownie sundae before our food came out. Then was thoroughly intrigued when his burger was so good he ordered a second one to go! Glad he got one for me as well...
"Mmm-mmmm. That is a tasty burger"

See That Coon Hound Over There?

With everything else that has been happening this year, we could just not handle not having a Lab running around the house any longer. We got up Saturday and told the kids we were going to visit some "friends" with lots of "kids" in PA. Grace was speechless when we walked in and took her a little while to figure it out. Even though we had been brainstorming dog names the entire trip. The new "pup" is a fox red Yellow Lab. He came from the most wonderfully crazy kennel in Western PA. She had over 75 Labs and the females were in the main area so you had to wade through about 15 of the happiest waist high dogs you would ever meet. Jack had it after one trip through, but Grace loved them. We knew we had a choice of two puppies, but Grace handled everyone she could get her hands on and a few she was not supposed to have her hands on.

The yet unnamed pub has been a perfect gentleman during his first two days on Verbena Lane! He had never been away from his brothers or put into a crate. He's now spent both nights in his Crate and only whined for about 5 minutes the first night. We have taken him out at 4:00 AM both nights and he did his business and went back to bed. This morning he was patiently waiting on me to come down. Couple of accidents are to be expected, but he is really good about going outside whenever we take him out. Of course his "area" is out around Leo's Garden in hopes he can pass along some of his traits to the new dude.

He is an eight week old bundle of joy who already lives to make us smile. Grace is mad because no one woke her up to feed him at 7:00. School starts Wednesday so we'll see how anxious Grace is to get up early then!!!!!

The DarkHorse "Thirty"

Stewart State Forest is basically a giant Swamp surrounding an airport in Southern NY. The best thing I can say is at least it is not in the mountains. Right from the gun I could not control my HR. Nerves, heat, humidity, lack of fitness, the up and down course, were all factors. I survived lap one or rush hour as it more resembled. Lots of hike a bike and some slippery trails but made it back into the feed zone in one piece. Thanks to my crew chief for the fresh bottle and kick in the pants. Off I go to lap two. Did I mention it is closing on on 90++ degrees at this point?

Nice crash midway through lap two, but bike and body seem to be in working order so we keep going. End of lap two I am exhausted. Three hours on the bike, cannot physically drink and eat enough to combat the heat. I tell the crew I want to stop and I get an earful, fresh bottles and a push. Off we go on lap 3 of a scheduled 4. Did I mention the heat and humidity yet??? Hard to train for 95 degree race. I feel like I am peddling in sand...check the tires, no flats...just running out of gas. Get myself to the "secret" feed zone at mile twenty-eight, sit in a chair and consume the coldest PBR ever. Seemed like a good idea at the time, plus I knew I was not going to make the 4th lap. Got even rougher after that pit stop but made it back in. UNCLE!!! Quick snap at the crew who had every intention of sending me back out. Throw the bike into the weeds, and throw Jason under the hoses (water truck hose to cool outside, Harpoon IPA hose to cool inside).

Thanks to Grace, Joc, Mom and Monte for the support. I hated to DNF but just could not do another lap at a fast enough pace to keep from getting hurt. Not to make excuses (but I will) only about 50% of the starters finished the race. Great Race, Great People, Great Times, will be back and better prepared for all FORTY MILES in 2010.

Everybody in the car. Boat leaves in two minutes...

...or perhaps you don't want to see the second largest ball of twine on the face of the earth, which is only four short hours away

Well it's Tuesday and I still feel like I got hit by a truck...so let's back up to a few days and I'll walk you through my weekend. Great trip over to the Meadowlands area with Mom and Grace on Friday. Met up with Joc and Monte for dinner at an old school NJ diner. Great to catch up with them and also to see Reggie and Ike. Saturday started off well enough with a nice tune up ride through the rail trails, mental hospital and some Urban NJ singletrack. Great ride, cool sightseeing and good cool down conversation. Of course I was apprehensive about finishing 40 miles, but at Noon Saturday. No worries.

Mom, Joc, Grace and I head off to do our official Touron thing. We just HAD to take Grace to see the Statue of Liberty, didn't we? Well six hours of standing in line and 90 degree heat later, it seems she would have been pleased as punch just to hang out in the hotel. Oh well live and learn. I eat, crank the AC and get Horizontal for the next 10 hours. At 5:45 AM Sunday we are loaded and on our way to Dunkin Donuts....was the coffee the best part of the day? Stay tuned!

"Always with the Negative Vibes Man"

Can somebody save me a Growler?

OK so now its Wednesday, my body hurts, my legs have not recovered from last weekend and I am a little freaked about the most recent course review I read. I was looking forward to some dirt roads (recovery time). Gee Thanks Monte.

All I can do is show up and ride I guess. My biggest fear is coming around with one 10 mile lap to go and everyone else is drinking beer and eating chicken.

That's all I can Stands, and I can't stands no more!"

My questions for Popeye are these a) does spinach stop calf cramps? b)does spinach soothe the Nethers?

My training for the Dark Horse seems to be as complete as it is going to get. Last Friday Nick decided he was going to ride home to Toledo for his HS reunion. Being the ever accommodating training pal, I says "I'll go partway with you". In reality I have never been on a bike for five hours so this was a perfect opportunity to answer some questions, test my race day nutrition plan and see how my body responds.

STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH...did i mention I forgot to Stretch first?

Rode with Nick to the 40 mile mark and turned for home. (Only excitement was a detour and a funeral procession filled with Model T's and Harley's. and one requisite Hillbilly that had to blow past the whole crew.) So I really felt great at the halfway point, but I could feel a pang coming on in my calves. Stopped for fluids and caffeine at the 58 mile mark, short rest to stretch and off I went. I fought off the cramps for about 15 more miles. Then as I would stretch my calves, my quads would cramp...vicious circle of pain and suffering for the last 5 miles. Locked up once and was powerless to move, but made it to the shoulder. Man did I want to be off that damn bike. Got home laid on the floor and literally could not move for a little while. But shower, hot tub, Mexican Feast and I felt good by bedtime. Saturday felt great except for well you know...I just did not get on a bike seat that day. Think I can fight the cramps with some better (or some) stretching everyday this week.

Sunday was the final training push so I loaded up Stevie and went over to Alum by ourselves. Waited until 3:00 and 90++ degrees so we could get the full effect of the training. Rode for 2:45, hardest part was battling the heat and humidity since it has been such a mild summer. Aside from some never before developed blisters (may need a dry pair of gloves or two for the race) and the aforementioned issues from Friday I seem to be as ready as I'll ever be. I had plenty of fluids but I was craving a COLD drink for the last half hour. That jug in the cooler did not stand a chance. Quick bath in the spigot, exhausted and off dinner at G-Marie's. Could not wait for the AC, I get there and 5 perfectly capable adults were waiting on the sofas for me to Grill the chicken. Yea, never was good at hiding my emotions...

"Looking good Billy Ray!"

"Feeling Good Louis!"

First of all, I am SOOOO tired of all this rain! It is August not April. All I do is mow my damn lawn.

So last Sunday Nick has a new bike and we are fired up to tackle the climbing at Mohican SF again! Get up at the crack of ass and surprise; its raining again, oh oh its raining again. Fast forward 6 hours and ND and I are doing laps at P2. I would compare riding three hours at P2 to running on a track to prepare for a Marathon. Gets a little mundane but hey it's close and it dries fast.

Now on to the good stuff...Nick brought out his new to him fully loaded dual spring job for this ride. Yes he has retired the Urban commuter disguised as a mountain bike. So he is feeling good and smoking me for the first lap ++ as I am trying to pace myself and watch my HR. Just as I am thinking that the new rig seems to be a little fast for his skills (At least the root covered trails slow you down and make you work on the HT). Then I hear just hear CRUNCH and SILENCE. As I round the bend I see him attempting to stand in a gully that is about shoulder deep. (its a tricky approach but it he did miss the widest bride on the trail). As I drag his bike out of the gully and straighten a few things he takes personal inventory. Pretty lucky that the torrential rains of the summer allowed his helmet to bury itself the bank. Dude looked like a broken QB that had just been squashed in to the turf with all the mud stuck in his helmet. So busted helmet and what looks to be a broken finger and off we go.

Anywho, back to me. I am pretty timid on my first lap or two after my crash the week before. But after his crash and some adjustment to my new helmet which is hurting like hell, I am in a groove. We do 4 laps or 23 miles of pedal, brake, pedal, brake which is the most we have ever done. Then we are back at the car. I feel really good and I cannot believe I drug my fat ass around for that long so its time for a reward. I mean we really wouldn't want to loose weight would we??? What's a reward for three hours of singletrack, one broken helmet and one upcoming X-ray w/$50 copay?? That's right...CRAVE CASE!!!!!!!

"and you ain't got none...."

"...cause your on the Welfare and your Daddy's an alcoholic. "MMMMM ICE CREAM".

Speaking of great comedy routines and Welfare, this is a $1.70 cent SMALL ice cream cone dipped in chocolate. Yes it is bigger than Nick's (a.k.a. JR and LDY) head and he was covered with melted ice cream by the time he finished. Of course I didn't spill a drop.

Friday Night Lights

How I recall the Progression of Friday Nights over the past 40 years:

1. Doritos, Dukes of Hazard, Love Boat
2. HS Football Games, Camping out in The Plains trying to score beer and/or chicks and normally failing on both counts
3. Papa Joe's and $1.00 Gyros
4. Random Cat's Eye run
   
5. Misc. Bar Stools and Patio Chairs
6. Sofa and a movie
7. Patio Chairs, neighbors and FIRE
   
8. 40 mile bike rides for ice cream then come home and chase the kids till dark.
   

Who Knew...they have hills in Northern Ohio?

So Jr. and I decided not to participate in the XterraOne race this past weekend (long story). BUT really needed to get a good long replacement ride in, so what do we decide to do? That's it, go to Mohican State Park and call out the 25 mile trail that Spokejunkes calls an "Epic" ride.

Sunday comes, up out the door, stop for gas, stop for other issues...2 hours and 60 miles later we roll into the lot. Dress, under the bridge see the singletrack going up but choose to follow the big red arrow that says "mountain bike trail" up a gravel road (large loose gravel) then I hear comical laughter coming from my mouth as I am untangling Jr. from his bike. Not only did he fall over in the loose gravel on this stupid hill, he fell over the side. Not to mention, we were on the bridal trail. OK, back down the hill, find the bike trail off we go. Getting our groove on, trying to keep the heart rate in check and feeling pretty good about our bad selves. "No way we are going to let anyone pass us, we are rolling". Yea, right, here they come, matching kits, two hours of water...FOUR SINGLESPEEDS doing mach 1. Well so much for confidence...

...Just keep pedaling, just keep pedaling, just keep pedaling. Do the first 8 miles in an hour, not bad for rookies. Then Mr. Mechanic un-clips and leaves his cleat in his pedal. Yes this happened to him two weeks ago and one would assume he put them on tighter this time? You know what they say about assume. After 12 mosquito bites, 50 F-bombs and 15 minutes he concedes we are not going to get the cleat out of the pedal and his right foot is riding BMX style from here on out.

Hit some nice climbs and fast downhills and roll under the covered bridge at the halfway mark. It's been a great ride, feeling it, but none the less feeling strong. We are a little confused about the trail and some dufus in Van's catches up with us and points us up the road. He says something to the effect of "there is a really good climb here and then look out for mile 21". Soooo, off we go up the hill, then up another hill, then up another hill, then a little down hill, then a gravel logging road that goes, that's right uphill for about a freaking mile, turn left down a quick twister then up another hill...OK mile 18 and I am still going up. What the hell was that dude talking about just a hill up ahead here, then lookout for mile 21? When am I going to stop climbing??????? My legs are jelly, my heart rate jumps 20 bpm just thinking about the next hill and I want some answers: A) we parked in a damn valley so we have to go down sometime, right? B) what the hell could possibly be at mile 21 that could hurt me after all this? C) I don't want to come back as a Billy Goat in another life, but I could use a pack mule to get me out of these woods.

Hit mile 20 start to decend and one should feel good, but all I can think is "wait until mile 21". Cross the road and surprise! Up another damn hill, down the valley cross the bridge and I hear Jr. up ahead yelling "hit it hard, keep coming". My brain is no longer getting oxygen so I just pedal past him and there it is. Mile marker 21, relatively small hill ahead. Hit it, make it about 1/3 up, lungs explode, shale and gravel flying everywhere, come on legs move...nope, dead end. Some how I get off safely and as my lungs beg for Oxygen Jr. passes me pushing his bike telling me "I would have made it if I had seen it...blah, blah, blah."

About a mile later, as I am unpuckering from the straight down rocky switchbacks I somehow survived, I am wandering why the hell I am out here and how the hell I am going to get out of the woods alive? Then two older dudes fly by and tell us, don't worry it gets easier every time you do it. If they can do it that fast, we can do it that fast. How did they know we already couldn't wait to come back?

I think Hot Dog The Movie said it best, "We were small, but we were slow, next time we'll have uniforms."

Alum Creek P2

Last Sunday LDY (also know as Jr. on the road), JL and myslef got out to P2 in the early afternoon. Did two fairly solid laps on the bike, took two small breaks on lap two. Once for a drink and adjustment and the 2nd because one of us forgot to unlock his shock, hit a small stump at full speed and almost succeeded at saving the co-pay for the vasectomy. Our Transition was a little slow because we had to lock up the bikes. Legs felt good and took us about an hour to cover the trail on the run. Trail is a little over 5.5 miles but this map i found shows shorter. After a half price chocolate milk and post ride Jr. Bacon Cheeesburger felt pretty good. Feeling much more confident for Xterra and DH40. We'll see....

Last Saturdays Ride

So rolled out of the rack at 7:15 on a Saturday and was ready to go at 7:30. Where the Heck is Junior? Text msg, coffee and paper on front porch. Finally 8:05 weather looks like it is going to roll in so I roll out alone. Decide to try new route to Prospect, I follow SSL road all the way in. Take a pic of the welcome to Prospect sign and send to Jr. He has text me a few times thinking i went back to bed. Anyway roll home averaged almost 19mph on the ride (which again is good for OFWG). Feeling strong will see how legs hold up with mock Xterra tomorrow.

No Blood No Foul

Well made it around P2 twice last night very dry and dusty. Did some fairly fast laps (for OFWG) and felt strong at the end. I'm pretty sure that is the first time I have not crashed in two consecutive laps...although I did somewhat "fall off" a the start. The Lady did a fabulous endo right in front of me!! luckily he broke his fall with his head.

Kids say hey from The Beach House

Back to work

So just back from fabulous relaxing week at the beach. Even managed to hit Starbucks everyday and keep up with work. I have been busy booking meetings the last few months which is great, just have to keep the momentum up!

Have my first ever Xterra Race in under two weeks. It is a little shorter distance than most Xterra's which are typically "Olympic Distance". Swim 1/2 mile, mountain bike 12 and trail run 4.5. Think I am going to opt for the Duathlon option (2 mile trail run in lieu of the swim) since my swim is weak. The run will be harder on the legs but I will be able to keep my heart rate under control for the bike and 2nd run portions. Was able to run a ton on the beach last week, but have been off the mountain bike for two weeks. Oh well its not like I was going to win. "Finish Vertical and buried in the Pack" is the fat guys race motto.

There has been talk of doing a 40 mile Mountain bike race...need to see how the Xterra goes first.....

Getting Started

Lets see what this looks like online. Always made fun of Blogs but thought this might be therapeutic to actually put my thoughts online for everyone to see. Just cannot think of anything exciting to say right now!!