Ten year old blog

Lots of things have changed in the last 10 years, since I first started this blog.  I was a young man then, (am still a young man, now!) but I also have a perspective on life that is far different from that which I held in 2005.  Optimism is a powerful force, and I have begun to believe a force that will change the world for the better.  Optimism can also change the brain; something I have felt first-hand.

I am optimistic about a number of things.  Although I had a bit of a setback in my training back in March, I feel like this little complication, in the end, is going to make a stronger person and athlete. There are numerous reasons for this:

#1.  One of the very best ways to recover from any sort of injury is to eat lightly, but also consume a wide variety of fresh foods and as much protein as one can stand.  I have done that, and it has reaped tremendous benefits so far.  Also, I am now religiously taking supplements and fish oil, something I've never done in the past.  Fish oil is great stuff, and I can really tell a difference.

#2.  I realize what a charmed life I've lived so far.  I mean, I've traveled and worked throughout much of the country, and in my 20s did some quite dangerous jobs, with nary a scratch.  Jobs like, at the ages of 22 and 23, using a chain-saw to cut down massive Hemlock trees in miserable and rainy and slippery cold conditions, sometimes in the snow and sleat.  I have ridden and raced bikes for 30 years now, and although I had some spills, none were really all that serious.  I have never had a car accident and never broken a bone (except when Miguel and I were playing that bizarre little game we had engineered where we threw a small white ball against the side of the family room wall in Kirksville and I broke my pinky.  This game required throwing oneself against walls and was basically a cage match.  Or perhaps we were wrestling when this happened?).

#3. I am amazed at the body's ability to heal itself.  What incredible creatures we are.  I have found that yoga is also a tremendous assistant to healing, and wish I had time to do more.

#4. I also am continually grateful at what a wonderful family I have.  Not just my immediate family, who are my raison d'etre, but I am blessed with two of the most incredible parents one could ask for and talented, kind, exceptionally intelligent and altruistic siblings,

I cannot wait to ride with Miguel when he is here, and will recount some of our adventures here. This photo is from the middle of March--back on the horse.

Good ride today

Another good ride today, something like 28 miles with one hard hill climb.

Old Plank Rd. Climb: 4:30 minutes.

The perils of sprinting

This blog is almost 10 years old!  Time to keep updating it.

About 18 years ago, some time in July I believe, maybe early August, I did the Mt. Evans Hill Climb. It was one of the best results I've ever had, 36th I believe out of about 63 people.  For a non-climber, it was epic and one of the transcendent days of my life.  I've always wanted to be a climber but as I'm about 190 pounds when I'm pretty lean, it just isn't the cards for me.  

Fast forward 18 years.  Cycling, next to my wonderful family, and maybe part of it, is again a predominating force in my life. While doing a little acceleration for a city limits sign (and I've jumped for this sign a million times) on one of the first rides of the year, one of two things happened--1. My gears skipped and/or I then clipped out of my Speedplay pedals simultaneously, and/or 2. I just plain old clipped out of my Speedplays at 32 miles an hour at the very least.  I could not control my bike and in a horrific crash where I basically flew over the handlebars and forward awkwardly on to the pavement, landing first on my shoulders and then smashing the back of my helmet with great force (shattering the back of it) I was knocked out for about five minutes or so, and when I came to I had a terrible headache and body was ripped to shreds.

The helmet most possibly saved my life.  The first thing I thought about when I came to was not how my bike was, or how messed up my body and head were, but about the most important people in my life--Kelly, my wife, Lucy, my 9 year old, and Lillian my 5 year old.  I also wasn't completely aware that I hadn't brought others down with me in this spill, especially my dear brother and lifelong sporting compadre who had just made it into town for his annual spring visit. Michael miraculously avoided a disastrous chain reaction fall--all those years of racing and cat like reflexes somehow prevented making the crash more awful than it was.  I love, love cycling, but never want it to take me away from or hurt the people dearest to my heart.  It is a conundrum, because the sport does make me so very happy.

Fast forward 5 weeks and I'm still recovering, but mainly from the effects of what was a bad concussion.  I lost my equilibrium and was nauseous and fatigued for weeks, and each day it gets better, but I still struggle sometimes.  Today, I did this ride  in a great time, somewhere around 1.45.   I felt strong and this was such a confidence boost. 

First Tue Nite World in several years

Last night, Michael and I headed out to the Tuesday night ride, roundabout St. Charles Rd. and Rt. Z.  He hooked up with the A ride, I hooked up with the B ride.  I ended up dropping the B ride.  (Sorry about that ladies!)  I need to do the A ride next time, so I can get appropriately dropped by Cat 1's.

I have to honestly say that it has been 5 years since I've really felt this fit, and/or excited about the sport of cycling.  What makes this year different, however, is that I have no intention of racing anymore, at least not on the road.  I will probably do a couple of the cyclocross training races in the fall, maybe . . . But my main intention is the following:  becoming as fit as I possibly can.   This has been a goal of mine for a number of years, but things just got in the way, personal things: job change to management level job that wasn't the best fit at first, having a baby/toddler, and other personal stuff.  

I know, I know, I should have kept cycling through this, but sometimes with little time and with many things to worry about, one just lets things slide.   I gained a lot of weight, and was miserable in my skin for over two years.   These two years are truly the longest time I've been away from serious cycling since my hiatus in the early 1990s.  I did not feel comfortable with this break.  I need the sport in my life, almost like I need water to live.  

I really like the fact that this is not some kind of "comeback" to racing.  It is a comeback to really living life fully, honestly.  And being there for my girls and inspiring them to be fit, also.  Kelly and I are both on this road to fitness together.  

Life is so good.   I really am enjoying my career again . . . after years in the wilderness.   I live in this amazing town, with so many resources and opportunities for my family and my own interests and hobbies.  I have such great friends (a shout-out to Dean, the most loyal and supportive friend a man can have) and am surrounded by a loving extended family.  Most importantly, I've reconnected with the sport that has meant so much to me over the last 30 years.  Indeed, next to my family, it has been my raison de'tre.  I knew that when I was 15 years old.  And it is not just a sport, it is a lifestyle.   

Dec 8 and 9

Dec: 8 Swimming--30 minutes/18 laps.

Diet?

Dec: 9  Swimming--35 minutes 20 laps.   Diet:  Breakfast:  1 banana.   Lunch:  Tomato Soup with a sprinking of blue tortilla chips on top.  Dinner:  Light

"Trail of Tears"  1.2 hours cycling.

Cycling, take 125

It's time to start thinking about 2014 and cycling again. I'm no spring chicken, and that's the truth. I'm 42 (or am I 43?) I can honestly see myself edging toward two different worlds: I've always had a side that is drawn to the humanities and contemplative work: this is one of the reasons I work for the wonderful and progressive regional library system here in Mid-Missouri, and a professional position at an archive/museum before that. I also have a very active side--of course, this blog has been about both my life as an archivist/reference librarian, as much as it has been about my life as a cyclist. Well. . . probably more as my life as a cyclist. And my struggles to stay afloat in my career during the recession.

3 dimensional printers, devices that are far smarter than some humans, ebooks, digital magazines, urban fiction (are we now truly in a dystopia?), these are now some of the issues I wrestle with every day in my current job. And I actually really enjoy it, for the most part. I've learned a ton. 21st century, semi-urban reference librarianship is more about the meshing of technology with contemporary culture and need, than it is about finding a reference book in a 40 volume collection. It is fascinating and demanding.

But, I also need to reserve time for my other main passion: cycling. But where does cycling fit it? It actually has to fit in--because I need to stay fit in order to achieve those other things. And, heck: I enjoy cycling. But one can get immersed in non-athletic pursuits and neglect other things. In fact; here's the truth. If I don't ride I get kind of fat. And fatter. And fatter.

2014--let the training begin! 1.5 hours riding today.

Orbea--take 2

This is a photo of the Orbea from last year. It was hardly being ridden at that point. There will be many more photos to come, hopefully some action shots!

4 Days off

I just took 4 days off the bike, after a feverish 3 weeks of riding again. I was, admittedly, overtrained and tired; feel good and refreshed now, and will do a nice Gibbs ride loop tomorrow morning. It's interesting how one feel after time off the bike. I remember when I was racing as a junior, I had all the time in the world to train, and would regularly put in 260 mile weeks on the bike. I remember feeling guilt when I'd take 2 days off. Sometimes I'd take even 3, and my legs would feel abnormal when I touched them to the pedals. Now, I'm lucky to get a 2 day block of training in, but it works that way . . . I can ride myself into the ground, a block of training as it were, and then take a few days off. It's not a systematic program, but will become that way.

Back in the saddle

I've started cycling again. After nearly three years away from the sport (with some sporadic riding, but I've mainly been away for huge chunks of time) I felt like it was time to start again. Not, perhaps, on the competitive side, although I might do a low-key local road race like the Show-Me State Games Road Race. I can't tell you how good it feels to be riding. It is kind of like a life-blood to me, like running is for Kelly. More in a bit!

3 straight days of interval workouts

I had 3 days off in a row, and made the very best of it, doing speed-work on each and every day. You gotta make it count. Thank goodness for the new daylight cropping up in the mornings, time soon for morning rides!

On a quest now to lose 15 pounds by the time Prof. M. Smith comes into town. I think I can do it. 2 pounds a week. Cutting out all sweets until July 4th.

Finding fitness again

Me in Petersburg, Alaska, 1993


Been awhile since I posted.

Since I began my love affair with cycling and bike racing, I've had a few years when I hardly rode a bike at all. Actually, strings of years--most famously between 1992 and 1993(aside from one strange, stoned sojourn in April of '93 on a borrowed mountain bike around the outskirts of Mitkof Island, where I was living at the time).

I stayed in shape back then, though, through a fairly unforgiving regime of hard manual labor and hiking. My job required it.

Last year was a bit different. In the midst of the "Great Recession" at work, not knowing one day or the next if and when I would have a job, with a brand new baby and a lot of sleep deprivation, I touched the bike just a handful of times, mainly when Prof. M. Smith was in town. I lost touch with it. Didn't even do the Kirksville century.

In October of 2010, in the midst of one of the most harrowing periods of my work life (nearly 35% of my colleagues would eventually be laid off) I was invited to join a new masters team out of St. Louis. It was a bright spot in a dim time. In some ways the very thought of it helped me get up in the morning, when there, at times, didn't seem like there was a whole lot to get up for.

But, thank God, I wasn't laid off. Lillian is now 18 months old and no longer a baby but a bustling toddler. It is easier to find training time (not a whole lot easier).

The main problem is that I'm still struggling terribly with finding fitness. Because of the dissipation of last year--I'm still in a hole. I'm not even near racing shape, and would be embarrassed to find myself on a criterium course. I have enough knowledge about myself to realize that, however much I love bike racing, off the back at a criterium would be far too much of a blow to my morale. It will all come back, but slowly.

And something I've realized is that finding fitness again, finding my ideal weight and feel for the bike, is far more important than the actual racing part.