Two hundred kilometers, one gear

Bob and I completed the first Brevet of the season yesterday in smart order. The fixed-gear performed flawlessly and the ride went pretty well for my first ride over 40 miles since last October. Who knows maybe I'll try the 300km on old blue.
Yesterday's pace was leisurely because of the fierce winds. I've done the calculations, but it seems the best wind is little or no wind. Yesterday featured a crosswind all day long and temps in the low 40's... and rain. A perfect Randoneurring debut for Bob; if yesterday didn't scare him away, nothing will.
This is a shot from last year's event. We had to take a different route from the one represented here because of flooding in the low lying areas. But that was okay because it meant most of the farm dogs were stranded on the roofs of their dog houses and could only bark as we paraded by.

Brew-to-Brew

Brew-to-Brew 2008 is in the books. It wasn't too bad; I had a low patch from miles 25 to 30, but after that it was mostly smooth sailing. Thanks to Stephen for keeping us going in westward direction and to the race organization and the KC Trail Nerds and their terrific aid station that propelled us through leg 10 much faster than last year.

Today I rode a spinning cycle at the YMCA for an hour to loosen up my legs. I can't wait until Saturday and the first Brevet; hopefully the weather will cooperate

Brain at absolute zero

The countdown to the Brew-to-Brew has begun. My mantra throughout will be: rediscover the inner turtle (well maybe not this turtle). On the 22nd I ran 16 miles at a leisurely pace to see how my race would go: it worked out well and I finished feeling I could do another 27-28 miles. Last Saturday's run was less spectacular, but I still feel like I'm ready. I just need to book a room, find an ironic t-shirt, and get some last-minute supplies together. This is an exciting week. I'm looking forward to Sunday's run which promises mild weather and then - the following day - I'll mothball the running shoes and become some sort of Biking Giant.

I'm really more of a biker, but winter ultra-running is a nice change of pace and it's a weight-bearing exercise which Ed Pavelka has convinced me is important for cyclists to engage in. Still, it's hard not be excited about this year's cycling season: following the Boz's meteoric rise through the ranks of road and off-road racing; knocking out the Brevet series, completing the Five-star century series on the fixie, and (though France is out of the question) maybe taking a bike tour in Colorado or New England.

The above picture of Sammo was taken at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich a few years ago - left foot in the western hemisphere, right foot in the eastern hemisphere, brain at absolute zero.

Spring is Here!

Well, not really. But this winter, any day that it's not snowing or raining torrents is spring-like. Brew-to-Brew training has been going well enough. On the 8th, I did another urban marathon (in my new shoes) which went fine. Last weekend I took just a short run on Sunday before Church. The weather was nice, but my gut rebelled (probably from too much pizza the night before) and I sprinted from porta-potty to porta-potty looking for TP. A meager four miles. C'est la merde!

Today I'm beginning my taper for April 6th. I'll do 10 to 15 miles this morning and maybe 8-10 next weekend - but fewer miles and maybe some biking will be the order of the day. After all, the cycling season begins the Monday following B2B. I'm very excited about knocking out the first 200km on the fixed-gear bike. I have a spiffy new Carradice bag to put on the revamped fixie - so, stylistically, I'm there. Now let's just hope the wind is not too bad on April 12th.

Semi-serious

Actually, the training regime has been going well despite some snowy weather in these parts. I've been hitting the spinning cycles at the local YMCA twice a week in order to keep my sea legs under me and running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Last Saturday, Stephen and I hit the Katy Trail for a brisk 20-miler. I'm excited about the Brew-to-Brew on April 6th.

I'm even more excited about the grand opening of Big River Running here in South Saint Louis. Ben there - though he looks about 17 - was very knowledgeable and hooked me up with a pair of Brooks Adrenaline shoes. I'm glad City residents don't have to travel to, say, Chesterfield just to buy a pair of running shoes from a dedicated running store. Pay them a visit and spend lots of money.

Time to get Serious

I ran today in my Psycho Wyco trail shoes. They felt like they were permeated with cement - stiff and unyeilding. I developed a blister after four miles! How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!... 2 Samuel 1:25. But the time for excuses and lamentations is drawing to an end. I intend to get serious about consistency and quality of my workouts. Fewer junk miles; less whining. It's worked for my pal, the Boz. He went from the neophyte randonneur you see on the right:

To this:
simply by getting serious about his goals. I've mapped out a schedule for the next six weeks which takes me up to the Brew-to-Brew on April 6th. I'm going to see what happens if I stick to schedule of mixing hard and easy efforts and practice intentionally raising my AT rather than avoiding it. Maybe there's not much need for 400 meter intervals in preparation for a 44-mile race. But practicing 8-minute miles will make 9:30's a lot easier. What the heck, it's only 47 days - if I don't like being serious, I can return to my life of sloth and avarice.

Psycho Wyco 2008

Fun, fun, fun. Lots of mud and lots of walking but I finished. The first loop of this 50 km trail run was tough and it only got tougher as the weather warmed and the permafrost turned to alternately slick, yet shoe-grabbing, soupy mud. For 20 miles. It took a while, but it wasn't bad for a first effort.

Stephen kept us moving forward and made sure I didn't tarry too long at the aid stations. I enjoyed it. I have to think that any future trail run less than 50 miles in length has got to be easier than Saturday's run. Once the old legs loosen up, I'm going to register for Brew-to-Brew.