Miracle Hill Cycling challenge

Hot day Saturday as I rode the century for Miracle Hill Ministries. Procedes of this charity ride went to help the homeless.

This year was a great new route that stayed in SC and started and ended in downtown Greenville. Just a few of the positive changes for the event.

And my daughter Kristen joined in a did a wonderful effort raising money and doing the 25 mile route. A big adventure for her to "solo" and build confidence. Her first organized ride. I was torn to ride with her or stick to my plans. She had done her route before on the Swamp Rabbit Trail (SRT) which is a rails to trails deal. I am so proud of her. She took 2 hours 20 minutes for her ride. I have bigger plans for our future rides!

The ride was cleared for the first hour by police as we rode thru the city. About 60 of us doing the century disrupted traffic. When we got to Paris Mountain we were on our own. I chugged up the hill in under 18 minutes which is better than usual. We then proceeded toward Ceasars Head. Got in with a good pacing group and drafted some until the base. That group included John Rundell (breaking the wind) and Kristie Aldredge (SC masters woman marathon record holder) and her husband.

Did the climb in 43 minutes which was good but conserving energy for the rest of the long day Doug Guth and Rob Dempsey were my riding partners for the next hour or two as we headed toward Table Rock. Great views of this awesome feature. The high heat began really kicking us. Doug did a century the previous weekend and had started the day by riding from home. He was getting dehydrated and energy waning. I decided to ride at my own pace and pulled ahead. Rob was somewhere up the road. I was in no mans land as they say. I gained a second wind and began digging deep to finish strong. I met up with Rob finally and we rode across the Daucausville area.

I kept my pace up on the hills and using my aerobars (homemade) to get into my aero tuck. I left Rob behind as I was in the zone and determined to get to the finish as fast as I could and get with Kristen ASAP. Rob was very strong and right behind me but as he told me later his legs were feeling the pain near the end.

I finished at about 1:35 pm and had 6 hours 10 minutes riding time on my computer. 7500 feet of climbing. I guess I was 4th to finish the century. Jessica and Debbie were there too to cheer me in. Rob was about 5 minutes back and I cheered him in. I arrived at the stadium in time to hear Kerrie Roberts mini concert as we sat in the shade. I had stomach cramps that took a little while to subside.

Doug was cheered in later and he rode to me and Kristen. He high-fived Kristen for her great ride. He also battled a leg cramp as he dismounted. Time for us all to eat and recover.

Later I would enjoy cold A/C, pizza, and a movie with Kristen.

Mid to late may status

Friday. Swam 1500 yds. Bike 22 miles
Saturday. Bike 67 miles. Carolina Triathlon group for 30 of it.
Sunday. Run 6 miles. End another round of antibiotics.
Monday. Bike 22 miles hard.

Monday was my first ride with the Ergomo power meter
200 watts ave. 224 watts normalized. 850 watts max

Hope I can avoid getting sick again !

Lance

I remember back in 2004 when I went to the Tour de Georgia and watched the pros race. I saw them time trial in Rome, GA. Then the next day I returned to see them in the mountains. I was in Delonega, GA. I saw Lance get out of the team bus afterwards and I followed him. I had brought my bike and was able to get around pretty well.

He went to a trailer with the initials USADA on it. There was a crowd formed around it (as there was everywhere he went). He came out and maybe signed a few more autographs and got on his bike. I got on mine. He went one way and I went another. I knew he would head back to the bus.

I rode hard for about 30 seconds and intersected him. I rode beside him and was able to take his picture as I rode. I didn't know what to say. I just rode. Then he was back at the bus and out of sight. He had to get through a huge crowd clammoring for autographs.

So in my own tiny way I raced Lance and then rode with him. Good memory.

Today he is still dealing with doping accusations. I wish the government would not do their inquiry. We know our heros of the peloton have probably doped in the past. But if the tests are negative then stop there. Design better tests. Or maybe we need a new cycling federation that allows doping. No more tests. Anyway, I'll keep loving watching bicycling races and cherishing memories of them.

Early May status

I have gotten in a couple 75 mile mountainous rides in lately. One to Ceasars Head with Paris Mountain and last Saturday to Saluda with PM also. Getting in shape for the Miracle Hill Century on June 4th.

Had a 2500 yard swim last Friday which is the longest this year. Not as much long swims as last year but I am progressing. My speed and endurance keep improving. The pool at the apartment is now open and at months end I will end my trips to the Y.

I ran 13.5 miles Sunday night at midnight on a cool but humid night. The run down Wade Hampton to the Handlebar and back. I did it in 2 hours so I was pleased with that. Almost did the GHS swamp rabbit 5K with my daughter. She is not where she wants to be with her training/readiness so we skipped it. I have never done an "official" 5K before. Many on my own, racing myself. Maybe soon.

I missed the Lake Murray triathlon on Saturday. I did it last year and liked it. Oh well. I may do the Caine Halter sprint in June held in Greenville.

I hope to soon have a "new to me" system on my bike soon. It is a meter that records power data. Still working on installation.

What about using Crisco?

Langley Pond International Triathlon. April 23, 2011. Near Aiken, SC

I had been thinking about participating in the Langley tri for a while but never committed to it. On Wednesday before I left for work in Clinton I frantically put together my bike. The crankset had been taken off a few months ago. The tires were nearly flat.
After work got out Friday morning I checked the forecast for Aiken. It looked like any storms should pass in the night. I expected a cold swim.

After a few hours sleep I decided to drive south. I went to the bypass around Greenwood (never been there) and followed some directions a lady at work gave me (turn left at Bojangles/CVS, etc). I came to a most interesting town of Edgefield. It had old huge plantation style homes and big turkey statues all over downtown, each decorated differently. I wondered why they had done that?! The national wild turkey center south of town explained that.

Got to the site around 5:30 after getting a little lost. I registered and went to the Go Tri Sports booth. The salesman told their wetsuits were marked way down and I bought one. But not after about an hour of putting/getting it on and convincing myself it would work. It was size SMT by Blueseventy model FUSION. I guess it was small mens tall. Yea a really skinny guy. It took so much effort to keep squeezing myself into it. It was the only size they had that might fit me and I wanted a full suit for the 70 degree water. I had planned to wear just tri shorts but chickened out.
Had to buy a new thing of Body Glide ($10!!) cause I couldn't find the one I brought.

So it is near sundown and most everyone had left the park or was leaving. I decided to try out the suit in the pond. I got in and went only a short distance to be safer. Swam in small circles and went over to docks for about 10 minutes. Got out and needed to use the bathroom. But wait I was trapped in this wetsuit.

There were some RVs and a popup VW van that were in the park overnight so I was lucky I could just stay put. Didn't have to go search for a spot to park. After changing and preparing and eating it was 9 or 10 pm. I was compelled to organize my mess somewhat so I did that.I could see Katie Malone's (tri coaching service) RV lights still on late. I got in the back and was laying down about 10:45 pm.

Woke up at 2am from noise another camper made. Put on more clothes and shut my side windows. Went back to sleep.

Got awake at 6:10 or so. The Setup Events PA music started at about 6:20. Van Morrison started things off. There was Beatles (good morning), cat Stevens, greatful dead, instrumental and more. Pretty mellow music to start.

I ate a Powerbar for breakfast. Went to tje portapotty before the lines formed. Then i took my bike and other stuff over tp the transition area.

So with about a half hour before the start I began putting on the wetsuit. I used the BodyGlide all over my entire body except my face! I struggled to put it on and thought about how long it would take to get it off. I walked over to the beach where all the participants had gathered. Group prayer and then national anthem. The first wave was off at 8 am. I think we in the second wave waited until 8:03 am.

Out of water in about 33 minutes which was about 5 minutes ahead of my prediction. I was surprised because I had swum badly. The suit must have really helped me. I had such a hard time seeing where

On bike. Pass so many others ( but the Sprint field was out on the same course) that I lost count. I do pretty well on my non TT bike. Wonder if I had a tri/TT bike with deep aero wheels what I could do.

Start run

Finish line and it showed 2:40 something. I realize i need to subtract 3 minutes for delayed wave start. So I was done in under 2:38. Real happy.

Ate. During awards. Leave 12:15 head north

Got home 3 pm pick up kristen

Progress

Over the last few weeks or more I have been on the road to recovery. I had an illness for about a month. I have been swimming and running a few times a week. I'm getting in longer rides too. I recently did the Ceasars Head climb. It took about 44 minutes to do the nearly 6 mile climb. That along with some 15 to 16 minute climbs of Paris mountain (backside) I am regaining my fitness.

I have seen my swimming speed increase steadily as the need to rest between laps decreases. I did a 6.6 mile run in a hour which is good for me.

I had a wonderful ride this week with my daughter Kristen on the Swamp Rabbit Trail from Furman to reedy river falls downtown and back. It was a warm Spring day and good stuff was seen.

I ponder what events to do and what goals to have. The main goal is to keep having fun with others as we sweat it out.

into the storm

It was nearing midnight on April 4th. It was a windy warm night and the weatherman had shown an approaching storm system that was supposed to hit around 1am. I decided to squeeze in a run that would be an hour and get me back inside before the rain hit. I headed out the door and planned on a common route down Wade Hampton Blvd (WHB). I would run out 3 miles or 4 miles if doing well and turn around.

I got ready and headed out the door. Down the hill and across Mountain Creek, up the grade to WHB. I hit the BB&T bank at about 10 minutes and got onto WHB. Toward Walmart I went and At mile 2 it was 20 minutes. Slow pace so I opted for the 3 mile mark as a turn around. The headwind was 15 to 20 mph so I was looking forward to the tailwind. I could see lightning in the distance to the northwest. I felt a drop of water but no rain. So I got to mile 3, which is Joe Joes Fish Market, at 30 minutes and turned back. The storm I felt was getting close.

As I ran I felt faster due to the lack of headwind. Back to near Walmart and the wind started really pushing me. I began to fly. Well nearly. The wind had kicked up to maybe 40 mph. I was going fast (for me relative to myself). Only 2 miles to go. I came to the railroad overpass and started to climb the hill. I increased my effort as well out of fear of the storm on my heels. I flew up the hill and began to screeam down the other side. Crazy winds of 50 to 60 gusts tangled my legs and I struggled to not fall. The wind came from all directions. I was thinking oh crap here it comes.

Nearing the BB&T bank the rain started to hit. A daily light rain at first and the thunder chimmed in. The final 1.1 mile to safety so only about 9 minutes at this rate. I ran down toward Mountain Creek and the intensity of the storm increased. My top was wet but the feet were still fairly normal. Onto Mill Estate Road and only .6 mile to go. Down down to the pit of the bridge crossing. A river was flowing in the street.

Now up the brutal 17% grade out from the bridge- slowly I climbed. The gutter was a torrent of fluid. Not much lighting here but the lightning reflected the volume of water everywhere. The thunder was now hitting only a few seconds after the lightning. Serious dread but only 3 or 4/10 of a mile to go.

I climbed closer to Reid School Road and the lightning was followed right by the crashing noise. Code red. Run faster. Max it out baby. I hit the entrance to the apartments. Code red code red was all I could say to myself. Only a tenth of a mile to go. My shoes were like buckets of wet cement. I was wetter than wet-Superwet. I neared the doorway and swung it open and ran into the hallway/ breezeway. I was safe but dripping water everywhere.

Another great run. Time to strip and hit the shower.

I later heard on the news the next day of all the damage from the storms. Thousands without power, People killed in Georgia and stuff like that. I survived to run another day (or night).