Its now mid September, and time to look at how my riding goals for the year are coming along.
Last year my goals were to ride 2,000 miles for the year, and at the Bike MS in New Bern to ride 75 miles each day. I made the goal of riding 75 miles both days at Bike MS, actually going 85 miles on one of the days, but I fell short on my goal for 2,000 miles. At the end of the year I had only done 1,641 miles.
The goals for 2010 were as follows. To do a century for the first time (a 100 mile ride), and increase my yearly mileage to 2,500. Bike MS finished last weekend, and I was successful at doing the century. At this point in time I have finished 1,770 miles towards my yearly total. That means that I have 730 miles to go. It's possible, but doubtful that I will make it. There are only 15 full weeks left in the year, and there is already less daylight left to get in rides safely when I get home after work. I only have to average just over 48 miles a week to get to my 2,500 mile total, and I could do that with just one long ride each weekend. So the goal is still in play, just on the doubtful side.
I mentioned in a previous post that I had decided to add in a few runs every week or so, instead of only running during the winter. I am seeing some good results from that decision. In the past couple of years, when daylight started getting short, I would start my running program. In order to keep my knees and ankles healthy, I would do a very gradual build up. There is an excellent set of podcasts at http://www.djsteveboy.com/intervals.html that I would follow. I would start with the first day to 5K 10 week program, the go to the gateway to 8K 10 week program, then finish out the winter with the freeway to 10K 10 week program. I usually would not finish the freeway to 10K program since by then there would be enough daylight in the evenings to start riding again after work. This year I am starting with the freeway to 10K program instead of building up to that point.
My new workout routine until spring is now to run 3 days a week and bike once on the weekend. If my weekend ride brings me up to my year end goal of 2,500 miles, then good. If not, thats OK too. I am offsetting that goal by adding in the goal of running a 10K race by the spring. This spring it will be 20 years since my last 10K race. Its time to do that again, knees and ankle willing.
See you on the road.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
New Bern Update
Just finished the Bike MS weekend in New Bern.
The weekend started out with a team get together at the Harmony House B and B. Since Team CBC is sponsored by Carolina Brewery, there was beer. It was good. There was even cake, in celebration of Bob's birthday, so I guess you could say we had cake and ale.
Bob Okerkirk is our team captain, and does almost all the organization work for us. Setting up the training rides, sending out countless emails, letting all of us know what going on, etc, etc. It makes my head spin thinking of all he does to make sure we have an easy time at each event. Since his birthday is next week, a few of our members organized a surprise birthday cake. We also brought cards. With 160+ members, Bob got lots and lots of cards. A good way to start the weekend.
Saturday morning was a near perfect day for my first attempt at a century. The sky was clear and the temps were moderate. It stayed in the low 80's all day. Here we all are lining up for the start.
I ending up riding the full 100 miles with another CBC member, Chris Knodel. Here is a photo of Chris looking pretty chipper at our 75 mile rest stop. I don't think I looked that spry and chipper at mile 75.
The best news was that I did make it to mile 100. It turned out to be a leisurely 100 miles, at just over 6 hours of actual riding time. Here I am at the finish, trying my best to look as chipper as Chris. I don't think I was successful at that.
After a few minutes to cool down, have dinner, and a few CBC ales, discussion turned to day two. Chris wanted to do the double. I thought it might be possible. As a precaution, I went over the route maps and figured out that I could start the 100, and around mile 75 or so hop over to the 75 mile route. That would give me a shortcut of around 15 miles if the legs were not feeling up to doing the full 100. Knowing that last year I did 75 miles on day one and 85 miles on day two, I felt that was possible.
However, it was not to be. Below is a photo of the Team CBC tent with those camping out waking up to the day two news. I was glad I stayed in a hotel. The rains were brutal during the night. The day two news was that due to heavy rains and possible continuing thunderstorms, the 100 mile route would be cancelled. So the only choice was to do either the 50 or 75. Saturday's ride started with 2,600+ cyclists, at the start for day 2, there looked to be a lot less than that.
After a brief look at the skies, we were leaning toward only doing the 50. The two routes split at the 21 mile rest stop, so the final decision as to which route to take could be left till then. At the rest stop, the skies looked as if additional storms could start at any time, so we went with the 50.
Of course, as we finished, the sun came out. You can't see the sun from this photo, but I do look a bit more chipper after finishing 50 miles than I did after finishing 100 miles. Next years goal, weather permitting, do the double.
The weekend started out with a team get together at the Harmony House B and B. Since Team CBC is sponsored by Carolina Brewery, there was beer. It was good. There was even cake, in celebration of Bob's birthday, so I guess you could say we had cake and ale.
Bob Okerkirk is our team captain, and does almost all the organization work for us. Setting up the training rides, sending out countless emails, letting all of us know what going on, etc, etc. It makes my head spin thinking of all he does to make sure we have an easy time at each event. Since his birthday is next week, a few of our members organized a surprise birthday cake. We also brought cards. With 160+ members, Bob got lots and lots of cards. A good way to start the weekend.
Saturday morning was a near perfect day for my first attempt at a century. The sky was clear and the temps were moderate. It stayed in the low 80's all day. Here we all are lining up for the start.
I ending up riding the full 100 miles with another CBC member, Chris Knodel. Here is a photo of Chris looking pretty chipper at our 75 mile rest stop. I don't think I looked that spry and chipper at mile 75.
The best news was that I did make it to mile 100. It turned out to be a leisurely 100 miles, at just over 6 hours of actual riding time. Here I am at the finish, trying my best to look as chipper as Chris. I don't think I was successful at that.
After a few minutes to cool down, have dinner, and a few CBC ales, discussion turned to day two. Chris wanted to do the double. I thought it might be possible. As a precaution, I went over the route maps and figured out that I could start the 100, and around mile 75 or so hop over to the 75 mile route. That would give me a shortcut of around 15 miles if the legs were not feeling up to doing the full 100. Knowing that last year I did 75 miles on day one and 85 miles on day two, I felt that was possible.
However, it was not to be. Below is a photo of the Team CBC tent with those camping out waking up to the day two news. I was glad I stayed in a hotel. The rains were brutal during the night. The day two news was that due to heavy rains and possible continuing thunderstorms, the 100 mile route would be cancelled. So the only choice was to do either the 50 or 75. Saturday's ride started with 2,600+ cyclists, at the start for day 2, there looked to be a lot less than that.
After a brief look at the skies, we were leaning toward only doing the 50. The two routes split at the 21 mile rest stop, so the final decision as to which route to take could be left till then. At the rest stop, the skies looked as if additional storms could start at any time, so we went with the 50.
Of course, as we finished, the sun came out. You can't see the sun from this photo, but I do look a bit more chipper after finishing 50 miles than I did after finishing 100 miles. Next years goal, weather permitting, do the double.
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