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"