400km ride report

Still too tired for a clever title. The 400km - the ride I dread the most - is now history. It was tough; they're always tough. But I made it and I shaved a few minutes off last year's time.

Bob (seen here at the Tour de Missouri) and I rolled out of Edwardsville at 6:00 am Saturday. The weather cooperated and we made Control #2 in good order. Bob was riding the 200km which he finished in 11:30 despite a bum knee. Truly an audacious performance!

My troubles started in Okawville at mile 78. I had trouble finishing my lunch and it was over 50 miles to the next food & water. By the time I hit mile 130 I just didn't feel like eating and was getting dehydrated. By the time I hit the northbound leg at mile 150, I had recovered somewhat but still couldn't eat much. And at mile 180 it was getting dark which brought my speed down from a daytime average of 15+ mph. The heat played a factor too. Heading north into the darkness, I caught glimpses of the computer reading "12 mph." And, darnit, the headwind I cursed most of the day evaporated just when it could have helped push me home. Though it did reappear as a headwind at mile 220 in the form of brief rain/hailstorm. I'm pretty sure the RBA has weather -control machine. I finished in 19:41, not a great time but a new best for me.

What would I have done differently? I think my fitness was there, but I should have done more bike-specific training. The legs and butt were okay, but my shoulders were sore and I fretted unnecessarily about little aches and pains most of the day. I've done this year's Brevet series cold - no long rides this spring and I relied instead on running to stay in shape since last fall. But Lance was wrong; it is about the bike. That is, I should have spent more time on my bike. The occasional bike commute (12 miles, roundtrip), even on a fixed-gear, is not sufficient. No matter how you slice it though, 252 miles in one day is going to involve a little suffering. I am looking forward to the 600km on June 6-7th. Happily, it allows for a brief nap. And, I rode to work today with no ill effects, so I think I'm good to go...

In other ultranews, Stephen Reynolds, trail-running deity, completed the Jemez Mountain Trail Run 50-miler in New Mexico on Saturday in 15:46. Not too shabby. I'm envious and I definitely want to do a trail fifty someday soon now that Steve has shown it's do-able. Who knows? -maybe my biking fitness will get me there.

300 km in the books

The weather was nice, but it was a tough day. I'm not usually hung up on times, but yesterday I resolved to finish in daylight despite the 7:00 am start and to minimize time off the bike. Nearly made it on both counts. I had to hit the lights and don my reflective vest about five miles from the finish. And the computer showed about an hour and 20 minutes off the bike. Grrr, where does the time go? It was like I sat down for for a leisurely lunch. Though I suffered a bit, it was a chance to see how I could do solo.

Not too poorly I suppose. I finished in 12:57. My energy tanked a little over the last 40 miles when my average speed dropped off from 16 mph to 14 mph. It wasn't the bonk - just fatigue. And as I closed in on a 13-hour finishing time (remember, I'm not hung up on times!) I positively sprinted through downtown Edwardsville. So it was a little excitement at the end of the day which made me feel every bit the time-trialist Boz is!

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.