October 31st, 2005 § 0
A bit under the weather. Went into work to get a few repairs done, got only 2 of them done and then had to proceed back home. Brain is clogged up which is causing headaches and a running nose.
It all started Saturday night. Thought I had slept it off Sunday but apparently not. I blame FJ. Here that Hughes?? You were the first one sick. Back to bed I go until someone brings me Nyquil to knock my ass out and hopefully this stupid cold/flu thing.
October 26th, 2005 § 3
A bit of explaining to do is in order I believe.
Me and Mr Cider Jack – well a few Mr Cider Jacks – are going to sit down and do my explaining.
A few kind hearted folks have asked me rather confused why I am all about this training plan that starts November 1st. Yes I am aware that it’s only November. The training is for what I’ll be doing which is endurancing racing. Which to explain it as a lovely co-worker explains it…. I’ll be doing races on my bike for “too f’n long.” Many of the ones I want to do in the next couple years are 100 milers, or 50 milers. On a mountain bike. In the woods. Like a crack head. Training for this for a normal person is about 7 months. Well almost a year so 10 to 7 months for a good solid training schedule.
No next year I don’t think I’ll go out and win everything I enter, or anything I enter. I want to finish and do somewhat well for the young female that I am. Next season I actually am looking at it as a base year.
Because I realize these few things…
1. I haven’t raced in how long?
2. I haven’t been injury free in how long?
3. Oh.. I haven’t had time to really ride for how long??
On to why I’m doing this. Why not road race or do simple XC racing? XC racing is on the schedule but it isn’t my main focus. I’m an off character if you haven’t noticed. Things that are easy are no fun for me. Plus I think the training that comes with 9 hour long races will help me for the goals down the road if this racing thing ends up being a sour bag. Long slow miles on the bike will be great for touring.
The other hidden agenda for this is biking is one of the few things that makes sense to me anymore. I can enjoy it and have my time to think. Many things to figure out on the bike this winter. The $120 bucks a month I’m paying is more like therapy than training I would think. Pushing myself to the limit is something I need to do right now. As is racing.
Jeannie is moving down this spring (oh yes I am engaged. SURPRISE EVERYONE!) In May we start our life together (no not the marriage.) We hopefully will be moving in together then. Where? Who knows. For so many reasons I am looking forward to her simply being close. 4 hours is a long way to be apart for a year and a half. My head should be on atleast somewhat straight before she gets here. Right now the only life I can truely mess up is mine. Soon it will be ours. I’m not thinking that life will sort itself out in the next 8 months but I would like to have a better grasp of the next year.
No my head is not on straight right now. I’m still recovering from being burnt out. Boston I miss some days. I miss the responsibilty. I miss Matt and Chloe. I miss being on my own. I wasn’t ready for the hours or the lack of riding or lack of life. I killed myself in 6 months. I’m still cynical and bitter at times. No longer my cheerful/carefree self. Who knows if ever when that will be.
A ton of rebuilding and restructuring has to be done. As I said I don’t know if I will ever be my oldself but growing and change is part of life. My birthday is coming up which I treat much like many treat New Years. A time to meditate and make many lists. Maybe in all of this I’ll remember how to blog again.
Time for more Mr Cider Jack and a phone call to the lovely girly girl.
October 26th, 2005 § 0
October 25th, 2005 § 1
Current Temp : 43 degrees F
Feels Like : 37 degrees F
Good ole mid-atlantic in the fall. Freezing rain until 4am it looks like. Hopefully at 7:30am when I wake up it really will be partly cloudy and 43 out like weather.com states. Of course the rain returns it looks like on Friday or maybe Thursday night.
Not sure how much longer the riding partner (Kim) will be riding with me outdoors. Dragging her out in the dark and freezing rain tonight probably wasn’t the greatest idea. We only went 8 miles and then I bought her some coffee (I do well with bribes). I’ve loaned out my trusty trainer to her in hopes that it will win her over to purchase one so we can then transfer her over to my spinning partner as well. She doesn’t do well in the cold I’m not going to hope for much. Even if only on the really nice days it is better than nothing!!
October 25th, 2005 § 0
Only a few more days of sleeping in and being warm for the winter. Who knows maybe I’ll grow a strange love for freezing rain and wet painted lines on the road.
I’m excited to say the least. Something new is on the horizon that noone including myself knows the outcome for. It’s fun to have some control of your life every once in awhile.
October 23rd, 2005 § 1
Everyone that rides has their stories. The best ride, their favorite steed and their dream bike among others.
I’ve had my share of bikes. Fixed gears, high end road bikes, high end mountain bikes. Ones outfitted with Record, XTR and pure bling. Bikes with color codes and weight limits. Now I’m one of those freaks that love steel and standard geometry. Too many bikes in my collection right now. 4 to be exact. 1 more in the works.
There is always going to be a hole for bikes I no longer have. Either that I sold or totaled. Ones that I’ll never have back that I had some sort of bonding with. The pista that I did my first 60 miles fixed on. The road bike that I spent many hours as a junior on. With age I have learned to research and keep my bikes for longer that I used to. Now they are kept for atleast 2 seasons. Two or three of my bikes I probably will never part with.
Who knows where all these thoughts come from. Probably the fact that I am purchasing a new bike soon and trying to make the right decision. Hopefully it will be that much closer to my dream mountain bike. Probably not seeing it won’t be custom and over $1k.
October 23rd, 2005 § 0
Blogs:
http://carlosdajackal.blogspot.com/
http://loonyone.blogspot.com/
http://sologoat.blogspot.com/
http://epicriding.blogspot.com/
http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/
http://www.ridewithnickmartin.blogspot.com/
http://geocities.com/sloaneanderson/index.html
http://www.bdiddys.blogspot.com/
http://www.dirtstories.blogspot.com/
October 22nd, 2005 § 0
Making the executive decision that I am not riding into work today. Driving home this morning it ws 50 degrees and rainy. On top of that I need to goto the bank and also be able to ride home. It will probably be dark at 6:30 when I get out of the shop. Seeing I haven’t found my charger for my lights and I don’t really want to purchase a new light system yet. (I’m waiting on the new Blackburn X series to be released.)
That’s my side note. I didn’t want to drive in and feel guilty that I lied to you all. Anyways Shirley Surly (my pink 1×1) is at the shop needing some TLC. I somehow caused a flat spot in the rim and I think my tire needs to be booted. That is also beside the fact that it needs some routine maintence and love.
Off to take a quick nap before going back to retail lala land.