Miracle Ride

Miracle hill challenge 2013 Saturday June 8 Didn't get much sleep the night before as I changed my mind at near midnight about which bike to take. Had to work til maybe 1:30 am and got up at 5:30 am. Had a modest breakfast and a caffiene pill. No time for coffee.  I drove to the start, this year starting from Furman University. I got my packet and found that I was number 2! At about 7 am we left. Doug Guth led us out, but had a problem with his computer and he told me to lead the group out. Yikes. I didn't know the exact route thru Furman, but luckily had my que sheet and pulled it out. In a few miles a fast group pulled ahead and I was off the hook.  It was a very foggy morning as we rode toward Daucasville and then Ceasars Head. I took a wrong turn and for almost half a mile before I realized it and turned back. Got back with Doug for a while. At a rest stop before CH I lost him for good. He was ahead of me.  Met Ms. Rose Wilson. She was on a triathlon bike and said she was going to do Lake Tahoe ironman  (IM) this summer and make a vacation out of it. I passed her before CH but she would finish before me. She was 50-60 years old I would guess. Doug would later marvel at her speed.  On CH I met and talked to Rex Morgan. He is a serious triathlete as well. We talked of Lake Placid IM and tubular tires. We climbed CH at a moderate pace. Rex felt it was an easy pace. My average HR was 149, not into the red zone, but close.  I think it took me 50 minutes to do the 6 plus miles climb. Stop there at the ranger station to fuel up and use bathroom.  Met up with two guys after CH ranger station and we did a pace line for the next 8 miles or so. Each time I pulled my HR went up like 20 beats. I had to drop and find a place to pee again. Went up a driveway (nearing Brevard) and got caught by a very quiet Prius - very embarrassed.  Got on then with Dr. Bruce Gray's quartet (Jay, Stephen and ?) We rode along the east fork of broad river. Plenty of trout fishing was going on. Later we saw a male turkey in a field of turkeys with his feathers spread real big displaying.  Such a great route, except for the Walnut Grove climb - very steep. Hey it is a challenge, not a stroll in the park.  After the church rest stop on 178 I was joined by David Smith, a manager at Hubbell lighting. He had never done a ride on 178 and I told him of the road and it's appeal. Zoom down from the eastern continental divide, across the state line, into Rocky Bottom, and finally down Beasley Gap and the 20 or so switchbacks. What a road.  Ride past SC 11 and onto 288 to the Miracle Hill Childrens home. Eventually a pack of about 8 joined us before we got to the home. Rest stop refuel and bathroom. I had to rush to get back to the group as they left.  Turkey vultures were seen right before Daucausville as they flew off some road kill right before some riders up ahead got to them. They caused me to wreck last year.   It was now getting mighty hot and full sun. I was starting to cramp. Made very strong Gatorade back at the home and hoped for the best. I was thankful the cramps subsided.  Got to the end and clock showed 6:45. I had probably 20 to 30 minutes of stopped time so about 6:20 ride time. Pretty darn good for a ride that in April I didn't think was going to happen with me in it! I didn't have a cycle computer, but was told the route Had 7,000 to 8,000 feet of climbing. No Paris Mountain this time but we made up for it. Great route,  event, people, and weather. $160,000 raised. Amen. What I ate: Shot blocks. 200 calories 2 honey stinger gel 120 x 2 =240 cal GU = 100 cal banana 100 Gatorade 4 bttls =~ 400 bonk breaker ~127 cal Peanut butter pretzels est 20 pcs =~300 cal Cookies est 200 cal At the end I continued eating sandwiches, Pepsi, potAtoe chips. Add it all up, and, well, it's alot.

May 10 - 27 update

Memorial weekend Since May 10th started riding again and like I'm making up for lost time. Almost 180 miles in 5 days (while off work) and included a trip to Saluda.  On May 20 a 41 mile ride klkto "old camp Indian".  On May 21 a 71 mile ride to Caesars Head ranger station.  Preparing for the Miracle Hill cycling challenge charity century on June 8th.  Monday May 20th was 3rd visit to Doc about my right knee. No MRI planned and I am hopeful my knee stays just OK. It is still not right, but it is better.   Apartment pool opened on the 23rd so back to swimming soon. May 24 did 25 miles. May 25: I started at 6:30 am and rode 22 miles to Miracle Hill childrens home near Pumpkintown. It was 50 degrees upon starting and because I only wore a jersey and shorts it was freezing.    Joined group for ride up Ceasars Head. Stayed with a newbie/first timer Mary up CH and we did the climb in 1 hour 3 minutes (well behind the main group). I didnt want her or anyone left behind.  Main group took off just as we came into ranger station. I began eating pretzels and cookies. Got 2 bottles full of egg nog, y ha gottcha, Gatorade.   Then I debated on chasing them as they went toward Brevard and over to US-178. Would have been about a 115 mile day. Too much.  I did go solo up to Camp Greenville and "Pretty Place". Back to MHCH. Ate a bit then joined Jerry and Marsha back to Marietta. Solo home with 7.3 hours riding, 95 miles and 7,500 feet climbed total. Because I went easy and it was cool, I wasp Start trying a little jogging on May 26 with 3 miles.  Wait til after June 8 much more than that distance.  Also did a "tempo with hill sprints" 22 miles.  This is all very routine for me over the past, but after being injured, it (particularly the 95 miler) felt epic.  

May 2013 begins

May begins Went to dr again and he put me on oral script NSAID. Diclofenac is generic name.  Not been running, but he said I could. So other night I rode 11 miles. Yep it felt weird. Still don't want to run.  If still not better, then MRI.  The above was written May 9th

Veg

April 22 Vegetables are good for you.  So today I went to the orthopedic doctor for my right knee. It has been very bad the last 3 days. I barely made it thru work this weekend. Sore and swollen. Took X-rays (nothing bad seen). Doc shot some cortisone into the knee.  Synovosis (??) I guess was the diagnosis. See doc in two weeks.  It is such a nice day and after the appointment I just sat in the truck and vegetated. Watched squirrels playing, listen to the radio. Read. Ate some snacks. Drove to the Y but then just sat and figured out my mpg for the last few months. Read some more. Listened to the radio.  I came to the Y to swim, but this vedging thing is nice. But I need to exercise some. Heck I signed up to do a century early June. I could just be a volunteer.  I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I am grateful to be able to walk, that I got into see the doc on short notice, that I can swim. Thankful I don't have arthritis (yet).  I could go on.  I guess Kobi Bryant was tweeting recently how down and out he is. He can't play basketball. He is bummed and worried he may have to retire. He has a few dollars that may get him by.  Over 3 hours after I was done at the Dr. I guess I will step out and head into the pool. But I'm not excited about it. Not one bit. Yawn. I want to take a nap. Vegetables are good for you, but being one is nice too. 

1st Quarter finish

End of march So I'm sitting here in the parking lot of Bi-lo and I just got done shopping. Hungry. A block of sharp cheddar cheese stared me down. I nearly never buy blocks of cheese but I had to have it. Anyway this will not help me achieve a lower "race weight". I did choose the reduced fat version. I'm am sure Dr. Oz would approve.  Training over the last couple of weeks has been ok. Right knee has been the focus of concern. Went to Indiana on 3/15 and ran the treadmill a few times in mom's basement. On the 19th I was in downtown Chicago overnight and I jogged the sidewalks/streets for about 4 miles at night. Ran the stairs in the hotel (a tower). Anyhow after all that my knee was sore and stiff. Off of running for a good while to help it heal. Torn cartilage or tendinitis not sure. Pain is low. Dr. Visit if it persists.  A MTB ride in the woods prior to Indiana/Chicago trip may have been where the knee stress peaked; climbing a very steep little hill and I felt something.  Doing the Cooper River Bridge run was a goal a year ago but it is April 6 and I work Fri/S/Sun. So I would have had to take vacation. The knee is not good and my training has been weak too. So maybe next year.  So swimming all I want and a gradual buildup on the bike. By the end of April I hope to peak on swimming with a sustained effort of 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 miles in the pool. My PR in distance was a few years ago at about 3.3 miles in like 2-1/2 hours. I've been doing 500 yards to 1700 yard timed efforts within larger swims, but no days over 2500 yds (1-1/2 miles).  Easter weekend rode 30, 20, and 56 miles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Right knee seems ok. Friday took the QR TT bike out with a new cassette and gave normal 22 mile (1500 feet vert) loop a good effort. 1 hour 18 minutes. Oh yea, forgot to inflate  tires (23c) and they were 70 and 55 psi !! Dumb. A lot better than a recent 1 hour 36 minute effort on the heavy Allez.  Sunday ride towards Saluda, but rain started and I chickened out; turn back at Mine Mtn. Road. Drizzle off/on whole way back. It was 65 to 70 degrees so it was ok. 3550 feet vertical. Beautiful flowers and a greening up going on.  Spring has sprung.  Well I ate over half the cheese block (360 calories, 200 fat calories) with a bunch of  pretzels to go with. Yogurt and a big navel orange. Dinner is over.  April 1st 2013

Jan/feb review

January February review There were no official events these months but still training in the 3 sports. Might run twice a week at most. Try to go to the Y and swim every day I'm off but usually it works out to 2 times a week.  Bike rides with Gusto Cycles bike shop on my off Friday and Saturdays if possible. Had one epic ride in Feb where a snowstorm hit at the end of a 50 mile ride and I rode about 5 miles in it.  I signed up for the Miracle Hill bike ride (100 miles) on June 8 so I will be training for that.  No commitment on the Charleston bridge run 10k. I want to do it but work that weekend.  

March start downtown

On  march 1 I rode with the Gusto Cycles group which was actually a bunch of the Finishstrong bike team. We went to Paris mountain and climbed up. I decided to not return with them yet go down the backside and to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. I headed down the mountain and it had lots of debris from a recent storm. Got on the SRT and headed downtown. Got there and went up main street and ate a snack and people watched a bit. I noticed signs saying no parking after 11pm. So I thought "what event?". Was there a run? I am so dumb for not knowing.   Later I saw a Trek Travel van with bikes on it. I went and looked at it and it was by the fancy old hotel. Then I saw t-shirts in boxes by the hotel fountain or circle. I rode over to them to see them. I then eavesdropped on an older guy (R.D.) near the shirts and another young guy greeting a young lady (NG) and a gentleman. I recognized the young guy as John Stoer a local elite runner. He was in his running apparel.  So this lady was saying she just flew in. She and the gentleman were also in running wear. The RD guy told the lady that he went to school with Bob Bowman. I think Bowman is the guy who started Nike. I watched as the 3 of them ran off. I figured that a race was tomorrow. I talked to the older guy (RD= race director). The race was the Reedy River Run (RRR). A long tradition in Greenville but one I had not done yet. I started thinking "what if I sign up?" The gusto ride on Saturday morning was cancelled due to possible snow on Saturday morning per last email I had but one of the Finishstrong guys said Beth may have changed her mind.  So I rode back up the SRT and up the backside of PM and home. 45 miles total. Ate a pasta dinner and I later called my mom and she looked up the race info online. This was at 8:30 pm. I drove back downtown (not really knowing if i would make it before the 9pm closing) and walked into the Ale House and registered for the 10k race at about 8:55. I was the last person to register!   So last minute.  Got my bib number, a t-shirt, studied the course route on a big poster board and left with the people who had just helped me. They were taking out the left over t-shirts. I seemed to be following these darn t-shirts around town.  I drove home, set my alarms and ate some more. I remember watching the 11pm news and they had a segment about the race. And they interviewed the race director!   He said to pin your bib to the layer closest to your body because you will take off layers as you run. I went and slept on that advise.   Got up about 6:30 am and ate cereal. Had made cookies night before and ate about 6-8 of them. Drove downtown around 7:45 am. It was snowing lightly as I drove, So yes it was cold. I parked right by the 6 mile mark on broad street.  I saw lots of people running around in small groups and alone. I had on a heavy coat and gloves and sockhat. I ran across the reedy river falls bridge to a public restroom. It was occupied.  I ran to another near the Lazy Goat restaurant. I got done with my last minute "system flush" and was back outside. Those cookies were not sitting too well in my stomach but I hoped I would be ok.  I ran to the start area then back to my car and took off the coat, exchanged the heavy gloves for thin ones, and the sockhat for a baseball type hat. Jogged back to the start. I had on my cheap walmart (Starter) running pants and a long sleeve technical tshirt under my new white RRR t shirt. I was cold.  There was no rain but the road was wet. I ate an energy gel at the last minute and unable to find a trashcan I shamefully dropped the wrapper as the starting gun went off. I did not see the first mile marker but estimated a 8:00 pace. At mile 2 I took the split and it was 14:45. Much faster than I expected. Also the heart rate monitor was showing like 172 bpm. I was nearly maxed out if it was accurate. Mile 3 at 21:40. A very light drizzle occurred but not for long. By now I was warm to the point of sweating and glad I shed before the race. We ran along the river and through Cleveland Park. At mile 4 I took the split of 28:40. I was loosing energy badly but it was flat. A guy wheezing or hacking up a lung was passing me.  At about the same time a guy about 10 years old was passing me too. I was wishing i could hang on to them. At mile 5 it was 36 plus minutes. Still a wonderful (for me) average of like 7:20 pace. Then the hills started. I took small strides but did not stop to walk even though my body said " walk! ". Up McDaniel and I was getting passed alot. Up Broad street past my car and up to main street.  Downhill the last 1/4 mile I flew. I finished in just under 48 minutes. I squat down for several minutes leaning on a pole. Seriously exhausted.   Grabbed a waterbottle from a guy and walked. Grabbed a sandwich and found a place to sit and eat (beside Pedal Chick bike shop) and continue recovering. I knew I would soon be getting cold as I cooled down. Headed for the car (jogging) and got back on the warm stuff and headed back to the finish. Got more free food and walked.  I heard an announcer say that at 10:45 they would award prizes. I went into the military outfitter store and looked around. Store has been there many years, has many old and interesting items. No 12 inch dagger or gas mask for me today. Later stood then sat on curb and listened to the winners. Non cash winners got a special glass tumbler. Actually I curled up and fell asleep for awhile. I stayed for the whole thing and the RD said if you can hear me come up and take one of the remaining glass tumblers. So I got a little something else out of it.  Very pleased with result (47:40 chip time) considering I only had run about 17 miles in the last 4 weeks!  Also the "longish" bike ride with 2x paris mtn had not helped my legs to be fresh. Good amount of biking and swimming helped my heart be able to cope.  I was 181 of 985.  Wonder what result I could have gotten if I had trained for it.  Oh yea, the girl who flew in was 22 year old Neely Gracie from Lake Orion, Michigan and she was the first female with a time somewhere less than 34 minutes. She broke the course record and won almost $1,500. The overall winner had a time of just over 30 minutes.