Good, Bad, and Ugly!

Well, let's start with The Good. I had a good four mile run at English Landing. Went west out on the farm road next to the river for .83 miles before I ran into a swamp. Returned back to the trail in the park and completed a four miler with these splits. 11:34, 10:09, 9:59, and 9:18, plus I walked another half mile.

The Bad: Was going to take Chris with me and let her ride her bike while I got a run in. However, my bike rack wasn't secure enough and her bike bounced out onto the street. I took it to the shop (Cycle City) and the damage was estimated at around $80.00 (bent wheel, bent derailleur, and a damaged gear shift). Decided to put that money into a new bike instead of putting another $80.00 in a bike I paid $75.00 for used.

The Ugly: Before I started my run I put my keys in the pocket in my running shorts. Checking to make sure they were secure, I began my run. Somewhere around .75 out on the farm road I didn't feel my keys any more. They just weren't in the pocket any more! I stopped my watch and back traced my steps for a quarter of a mile walking slowly so as not to miss my keys. I was trying to remember where I ran in the grass, from time to time, so not to run in the ruts on the path. I stopped due to hearing a clinking sound coming from my running shorts. I pulled my shorts away from my belly and there were my keys right in my, uh, uh, private area. Now, I don't want to hear any crap about not feeling my keys due to being dead in that area!! You hear?? The lining of my shorts stopped the keys from falling to the ground. If that were to have happend I would have probably heard them hit the ground.

To summarize: I Totaled Chris's bike, lost my keys, but still got my run in and still found my keys, albeit warmer than when I put them in the pocket with a hole in it.....Mike

Split Weekend!

My plan was to ride with Rob, his nephew Nathan, and Sean for 12 miles then return to pick up Brandon to ride an additional 15 miles. Brandon is working on his cycling merit badges and needed two ten milers, two 15 milers, and two 25 milers before he can attempt his 50 mile goal. I made the turnaround at Camden Point and headed back to the van. I returned home expecting Mindy and Brandon to show up at 10:30. They arrived at 11:30 and it was starting to get hot. Since Brandon decided to bring a friend, I had to load three bikes in the van, one inside and two on the rack. After loading the bikes, I told the boys we had to get going. I was more than just a little pissed when I found out they forgot their bike helmets! I should have just stayed with Rob, Nathan, and Sean!!! Obviously, there was no ride! Anyway, Brandon came this morning and we got his 15 miler in, but not without incident. Too involved and lengthy to document here in this blog. I'll relate the incident when we get together for our MRC run, walk, ride, eat or whatever....Mike

Close call, and a fall

I was out for an easy ride this morning when I came to a busy intersection. As I approached the corner on the trail that was right next to and parallel to the road, the light turned green in my direction, so I started to head into the crossing. At the same time a car next to me on my left, and heading in the same direction, turned the corner and into my path. I squeezed the brakes and stopped just before he sped past me. We missed each other by probably 30 inches, though it seemed closer than that at the time. I was not quick enough to get out of my clips, so I toppled over to my right. The car kept on going, happily without me underneath it.

I got a little scrape on my right leg, but other than that and a some embarrassment, I was fine. I take the responsibility for not being more defensive, but I definitely had the right of way. I typically don't assume I'm going to get my space, and I don't know why I did this time. I'm just glad I was a little lucky. -- Rob

Bringing up the rear

Rode this 38-miler with Nathan (my niece's husband), Sean (colleague from church) and, part way, Mike. We were riding in the shade with the temperature about 65, so it was downright cold for the first 15 miles. After Mike turned back at mile 12, it was me on a hybrid, and the two young guys on road bikes for the next 26 miles. If it had been a race, I would have finished a distant third (though they were still within eyesight). We all worked real hard on this ride, and our average doesn't reflect the true speed. 7 of the miles were over 17 mph, and 17 were over 15. We had a few miles under the teens because of traffic, and that pulled the average down.

By the time we were done, my quads were shot from trying to keep up with the fast guys. They waited on me quite a bit, but admitted they were hurting, too, at the end.

The GPS reported I burned 1,980 calories, and I think it was every bit of that. Great workout and fun ride.

38.4 miles in 2:33:21 for an average of 15.02 mph -- Rob

Great Week of Biking and Running!

Decided to really test the waters this morning. After the five miler on Monday I thought I would try an eight miler around hilly Lake Waukomis. I walked a full minute after each mile, just to be on the safe side, and still averaged in the 11:00s. Ran the last mile in 8:49 just to finish strong. I am really pleased how this week went with regards to biking and running. From Saturday to today I rode a 50 miler and a 35 miler. I ran the five miler Monday and finished up with the eight miler today. Rest day tomorrow and another 50 miler on Saturday. The ride Saturday will be broken up into two rides, one with Rob and his nephew, and the other with my grandson. FYI, I've lost 12 pounds in the last three weeks......Mike

Green light

Saw the doctor about my hernia and set the outpatient surgery for Monday. He gave me the green light to ride or do anything I was comfortable with until after the surgery, when I will be grounded for 3 or 4 weeks.

With the go-ahead from the doctor, I decided I would carry out my usual exercise routine for the week, and that called for a short but fast ride. I chose a route through the Riss Lake area, which I hadn't used in quite a while. It's hilly and can be quite difficult depending on how fast you want to go. After a slow start to warm up, I pushed it all the way. It was helpful that for a change it was relatively cool and there was little humidity. I didn't even take water along, since I knew I'd be out less than an hour. I was a little surprised by my overall speed, which I think was helped by my new clip shoes.

More cool days like this one would be very nice.

13.72 miles, 55:16 min., 14.9 mph average. -- Rob

Great Weather, Nice Ride!

Got in a real nice 35 mile ride this morning. Left the house at 6:40, unloaded the bike in Ferrelview and headed north. Was going to make it a 25 miler by making my turnaround just past Camden Point, but, since I felt good and it wasn't that much further to Dearborn, I continued north. Rode a little past Dearborn until I reached 17.5 miles on my Garmin and made the turnaround. Stopped at the cafe in Dearborn and sat outside to rest and hydrate. Headed back home and picked up the pace (as usual). Had no problems, but the vehicular traffic was heavy (for the Interurban) going out and practically nill coming back. The reverse could be said about cyclists. I saw zero bikers going out, probably due to my early start, but counted 9 on my return back to Ferrelview. Trip took 2 hours and 46 minutes and averaged 12.5 mph. Nice easy consistant pace.....mike