Sala- meandering ?

March 29 ride Rain soaking, creature catching and metal salvaging ride.  Goal was to ride a long slow ride up to Saluda and get a 60 plus mile ride in March. Rain was scattered about and T storms possible. So I headed for them of course. 100 percent humidity.  12:50 pm leave apartment (after much prep) on 45 lb Trek touring bike. Rain bike and loaded touring bike. Rear panniers lightly loaded. I recently added a longer mudflap to my front fender that comes about 1-1/2 inches from the floor. It is almost 5 inches wide there so hardly any tire spray hits the drivetrain or my shoes.   Stormy skies, but dry at first. I expected to ride alot in the rain. I wore my winter helmet. One with all the vents taped over so almost no air or water could leak in. Winter shoes, knee warmers, arm warmers. It was 60 degrees or more, but being wet would chill me.  1:30 pm. Willis #3 gas station at SC 253. Rain had started so I took off my yellow vest and put on rain jacket and florescent reflective vest.  1:50 Tigerville. Rain stopped. Slower than normal, but making pretty good time. Took Dividing Waters Road past "machine gun Sam's" place. Passed a snail and went back to look at it. It retreated into it's shell when I tapped on it. I threw it off the road to save it. 2:20 start watershed climb -  Started seeing small creatures on the road. Had seen them several years ago too and didn't know what they were. I researched and found them to be eastern newts. Small red or brown/red salamander. Most of them were dead. Run over by cars. Stop to get a close look at a live one. It barely moved like it was in a stupor. Flicked several off into the roadside leaves. Kept going realizing I can't save them all. Saw a large (3-4 inch) bright red one and saved it. As I rode I realized they were a lot more (although mostly dead) of them than before so their range is expanding. Saw them right up to the state line.  3:10 at state line stop and walk up to Palmetto Trail sign and read it. A hiking only trail with a 9 mile section shown in detail. It was raining moderately now.  3:30 got to picnic shelter in Saluda. One of my favorite spots in the world. I was getting chilly now so I got out the yellow vest and zipped sleeves onto it. Got out a head warmer for under the helmet.  Put on nitriles gloves (think latex gloves) for under my full finger bike gloves. Go to the bathroom and (surprise!) it is heated. I wanted to stay in there. Wish i would have stayed in there that whole time. I got warmed up a bit, but had to get back on the road.  3:55 leave Saluda. The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to shine thru the clouds.  4:15 SC state line.  All I needed was 20 minutes of no rain to get down the 6 mile escarpment, but near the bottom the rain restarted.  4:33 Callahan Mt rd I decided to punish myself with this steep road. The beauty and tranquility of this road is appealing. I climbed past the old Poinsett bridge and was in my lowest gear (28x32). I needed it and lower. A 10 foot piece of copper wire lay across the road so i got it and put it on the roadside. I strongly thought about keeping it.  As I descended Callahan Mt I had to squeeze the brakes hard as it was very steep and the rims were wet. Found a no trespassing sign on roadway and took it with me. Sheet aluminum is handy to have.  In a few miles I came to SC 11 and Perdue fruit market. A state trooper and a wrecker were there. Oil slicks and pieces of cars all over the road.  Big wreck was being cleared up. People standing around.  This is a remote area so a unusual sight.  5:15 Tigerville - the sun was out, but in the rearview mirror it was very dark clouds. Had to stop and stretch but needed to keep running away from the dark clouds.  5:35ish past Willis 3 gas station and stayed on SC 253. Saw big hunk of wire on road - went back to look it &  it was a nearly 1 inch diameter and 3 foot long piece of aluminum cable for high electrical flow. I took it with me. Right before Sandy Flat I spotted a license plate that expires in 2015. I took it with me. I was going to the DMV soon anyway. A few miles from home a light rain started up just a few minutes.  6:26 got to apt So I was out there over 5-1/2 hours when I have done the ride in ideal conditions in less than 3-1/2 hours. This ride connecting with nature helped relieve some of the stress from work.   A ride perhaps more typical in Portlandia or the great northwest. I enjoy those warm yet rainy rides for the ambiance it gives to a slow ride. Going up the wooded watershed - it was like a tropical rainforest. 

Late-mid March: ramping up

Mid late march Been riding on the road more and have done 30, 40 and 49 mile rides. Registered for Miracle Hill cycling challenge century so I need to keep ramping up for that.  Progressing on my running and swimming too.  Striving for a year above 500 miles of running so 10 miles a week is needed. Behind average now so trying to get the runs in. Last week only 6 miles but this week will have 18. Less treadmill runs as the weather improves. Have to be careful to avoid injuries. A long run might happen but 6 miles is the most so far.  Had a 3300 yard (2 mile) swim recently. Happy I'm able to do it yet sad my left elbow that I broke still has limited range of motion and pain.  Said no to Parris Island Tri and Reedy River 10k/5k recently but still looking and staying flexible for a last minute decision type race. A cheap local 5k would be great. 

End of February

end of Feb.  I have had time to reflect on W. C. Off road triathlon. It was great. I finished it. I did pretty well too. Middle of pack overall.  On the run knowing the course was not so critical, just aerobic conditioning. My running shoes were a little slippery and I might improve by wearing off road running shoes with deep lugs. I did pretty well for as little run training as I had.  Of course the kayak was new to me and I was slow, but I improved even during the race.  I could improve a good bit if I had more time in a boat. Not sure how that or if that will happen. Maybe I could rent an even faster boat. Epic makes the fastest ones it seems called "surf skiis". They are long and sleek and light.  The bike was ok. I was getting tired during it and frustrated not knowing the course. Knowing it next time will help. The gearing was ok but even lower than a 22 x 28 would be good. I Didn't expect some of the steeper hills we encountered. I'm not on a real light bike and sure a high end lighter bike would help. Doubt I will buy one, but maybe a rental would be nice.  Always thinking of ways to go faster is why racing is a good challenge.  My modest training for this event, not the long hours like for B2B, allowed me to be in the mix and experience some exciting racing.  What's event is next? Maybe a 5k or 10k run and/or a sprint triathlon soon. I signed up for Clemson sprint triathlon in May and I will do the Miracle Hill challenge in June.  Just read a new blog by a guy that does long distance bike races of 300, 500 miles and I think he has done RAAM. Always looking for a new challenge. I am now following him and will hopefully get my eyes opened more to that type of event.  My brother in Oregon has been wanting me to go there and join him on a riding event. I have ridden there many years ago. The big event of Cycle Oregon is in September and I look forward to that. A week long ride with thousands of others. Up to 489 miles and 35,000 feet of climbing. RAAM = Race Across AMerica. A sleep deprived bike race by extreme individuals or teams. West to East. 

Winter Challenge raceday

Winter challenge 2 Saturday Feb 15, 2014 So here is my story. I am not Mia Angelou. Bear with me.  So at 2 am I awoke to the sound of rain. Got up and found I had a big plastic trash bag.  Ran to boat and covered the opening. Didn't want to turn upside down and harm the rudder. I used bungee cords to secure the bag around the rim. Ran back to bed.  At 7:30 am was awoke by a noisy vehicle. It had got cold and wind was whipping, pushing the truck around.  Yuk.  Conditions were to be cold, windy and lots of mud. I thought forecast was for high 55  degrees so.. darn.  So I got out of bed at 8 am and went to cabin 2 to see what was going on. They were putting the swag bags together. Water bottle, samples of chamois butter, Hammer fizz tablets, stickers and the Under Armour T- shirt.  They were not ready to hand out timing chips.  I went and took my bike shoes, helmet and bike to the transition area. Took paddle and PFD to the kayak and removed the plastic bag. Made up two water bottles if Gatorade. One for the bike and one for the kayak.  Back to the cabin about 8:45 and had a bagel and half a banana. Not too much or it would be sloshing around my stomach.  Went and got into winter weight tights and on top the Underarmour Tshirt with a bike jersey over it. On that I put on a pile jacket. I stowed a rain jacket in a hatch of the boat just in case of the wind chill. I was wearing a warm sock hat. It was maybe 40 degrees and very windy but hard to decide what to wear during each leg of the race. I had a Powerbar I stuck in the boat and two gels in my jersey.  More people were arriving all the time. I went and said hello to Katie Malone, Brad Freidrick, Laura Haupfear and Janice Garrett. All part of the Malone team. Talked with other athletes. Met Paul. He won the event a few years ago. He looked about my age.  They were running late on the prerace meeting and therefore the race start. Chris and Michael talked about the course and all that stuff. I ate a gel.  At about 10:50 am the Duathlon runners started. I took off my jacket and sockhat off and put them in the boat. I left on my gloves. It had warmed up with sunshine but still windy. A run in the sheltered woods could get hot.  At 10:55 or so we were off across the dam and into the woods. Lots of ankle twisting and muddy running. The course had been shortened by about a mile due to the storm damage. I was fine with that. Tried to breath through my nose as a way to govern my pace. Didnt want to overdo it. My heart rate monitor was still not working.  After about 46 minutes the run was done. Ran right thru the transition area toward the boat. Got my pile jacket on, then the PFD. Got in the boat and a volunteer pushed my boat out.  So here it was. The moment of some fear. I was now paddling and I was pretty ignorant and inexperienced. Did I mention part of my training over the years consisted of the video game Monkey Ball 2 (the boat race). It is a simulated kayak on a river. I have done well against my daughters when we played. So I got that going for me.  I watched others pass me (there was alot of that over the next 1.3 hours) and I watched their technique. My main concern was to not flip the boat over.  I stopped several times to drink Gatorade. Ate half of my energy bar. put on my sockhat.  Steering was very hard - kept going left then right and not straight. I noticed others that had their rudders in use (despite the organizers discouraging it). After about 15 minutes of struggle I asked someone to unhook my rudder so I could use it.  My gloves were getting soaked from dipping in the water as I paddled. Sigh.  This was helping a good bit but I kept having to coordinate my eyes with which foot pedal to push and also to let up on the other pedal. I think my first lap of 2 miles was nearly 30 minutes.  There were lots of logs just below the surface of the water that I couldn't really see until I was right on them. The boat would skid across them. The rudder did not break off thankfully.  Laps 2 and 3 were about 25 minutes. The wind at the dam end was very strong and there were small waves and the boat was getting pushed sideways quite alot. Capsizing became a real fear.  So I skidded into the shore and I was pulled in. It was hard to get out and harder to walk. My legs were like the logs I ran over. Took off my hat.  Ran into transition area, put on my helmet, took off my wet running shoes, unhooked my bike and ran out. Put on one shoe as I rode across the dam but had to stop and put on the other one before going up the hill into the woods.  Did the 2 miles in the woods and was starting to pass riders. Hey, I was passing people. Back across the dam. Back into more woods and came to a creek we had to walk across on timbers. Lots of mud and water on the path. Pass more riders. Lots of sand too. Had to cross over SC 39 (sherriffs there to stop cars). As I entered back into the woods I saw Paul coming out. He was so far ahead!  I started following a guy that was going good but I passed him only to hear him say I should have turned. I caught back up to him and just followed. He was my carrot. We were making good time. Had to duck under trees that were across the trail. We went thru singletrack with lots of roots, twists, and small downed trees to jump across.  I was having to deal with my right handlebar grip coming off. Totally wet and loose. The rain last night or my wet gloves had loosened it up. Ahhhh! One huge downhill I was going fast and saw a arrow to turn left but it was too late. I was stuck in deep sand. Some how at 1/2 mile per hour I shifted down to my lowest gear and went back to the trail. Hiked over a tree and climbed a very steep hill. And so on it went.  Stopped and drank a few ounces of Heed from a lady at a table. My waterbottle was so coated with sand and muck I couldn't bear to drink from it.  Nearing the crossover SC39 I began to give it everything. Less than a mile to go. Crossed over and I began to fly down the road and passed a few more riders before crossing the finishing mat.  I squeezed the rear brakes to lock up and skid a near 180 to end my ride. I then got off and splayed out on the ground. My heart and lungs were maxed out.  Finished at 2:08 pm. Gathered myself and took my bike and leaned it against a tree. Went into the cabin and got a bunch of food including a can of regular Coke which I never drink. It was good.  Ate. Talked. Went to the awards ceremony. Packed up the bike. Got the boat and dragged it to the truck. Paul helped me lift it up on top.  Took a long time to pack, secure the boat and continue eating. Just enjoyed the nice warm day.  At about 5 pm got in my truck and drove off into the sunset.  My results were as follows.  3:12:21  overall time [30th] of 63 triathletes Run 45:40 [14th] T1. 0:18 Kayak 1:21:18.  [51st] T2. 1:20 Bike 63:47  [28th] Adventuregeekproductions.com Winterchallenge.net

Winter Challenge prep

Winter Challenge 1 Day before the race Feb 14, 2013 Got a late start to the day. Slept in after a late night watching some olympic speed skating.  Went to Sunrift Adventures and got the kayak.  I rented a Wilderness Experiece Focus 150. 15 foot long touring kayak is pretty sleek and fast. Red in color and with a rudder. The seat system is called an Phase3 Airpro; it seems very well engineered and comfy. It was a new model at the end of 2013. Model year 2014 ! It had not yet been used. I found the owners manual under the seat. In other words it was an excellent boat to be using. I have a strong desire to own this boat. It is so nice. But at $1600 it is not justified. How much would i even use it?  I am glad to be able to rent it. And if i do this race again or want to kayak, i will specify this exact boat.  Keep in mind i am  new to kayaking. I know some but still.  I hope all my swimming will be good enough to get me by as a paddler.  Left there about 4pm had to drive thru alot of greenville traffic to get to I 385. Roads were good after recent snow-pocalypse. But as I drove south of Columbia on 321 it was some snow on the roadside yet. Then on SC 3 the trees were down all over the place. Tree branches sticking out into roadway. It was dark at that time so treacherous.  Govenor Nikki Haley said it looked like a hurricane came thru after she toured the area.  Found a small sign at entrance (lucky) and went half mile down a rutted dirt road. Came to some cabins and a few guys talking.  Michael and Chris Williams run the show. Michael williams is surprisingly from Zionsville Indiana. He does the marketing  for Festool, a german company that makes wood working tools for guys like Norm Abrams.  At this point Not sure if this is a triathlon report or a back country camping adventure report.  A small camp fire was going and 3-6 people were there. Chatted a bit with them. Frogs and ducks maybe were making noises out in the swamp lake. It is a 75 acre black water swamp ( means the water is clear water !). A tributary of the Edisto river that drains out by Charleston.  Jefferson and his wife Kristen drove from Delaware. He was running the timing system. How he drove in the big snowstorm  is a miracle.  Pulled my kayak thru the grass to the waters edge. I got some advice on the kayak from a lady named Luke. she was one of the workers.  I shined my flashlight for  Michael as he dragged big logs from the waters edge.  Back at the camp fire, Michael and Kristen felt a small earthquake. Then it seemed all the animals went quiet. It was weird. I was moving around and they were sitting. A full moon struggled to shine thru the clouds. Rain was rumored to maybe happen tonight.  Mike said ice had fallen off the trees and clumps of ice litter the trail. That and all the tree limbs and debris would make it a tougher than usual course.  There was no electricity and also no running water due to storm damage. Also the Oh yea porta potties not delivered. 120 racers coming tomorrow. not good. No power.  No running water.  A toilet in cabin 2 that would have to be flushed with lake water. Or hike into woods.  I left the fire about 10:45 pm and went to the truck. Listened to "This American Life" on NPR and ate a late dinner.  Oh yea. The boat is manufactured by part of Confluence Watersports, a company headquarterd in Greenville. It was made in Greenville. Maybe I should try to get a job there, since I'm practically an expert kayaker now.   Spent a long time writing this and was finally in bed lights out at 1am. 

Mid February

Mid February So the winter weather keeps me indoors much of the time but a few outdoor runs but many on the treadmill. Swimming at the Y. Riding in the woods when possible. Not much road biking now.  My injured elbow is still hurting/hindering me, but so glad it is better. Hard to tell what the next months will bring to healing. I can curl like 20 lbs on the left versus 25 lb on the right arm.  Winter Challenge triathlon coming up will be a true challenge if i can get there with this snow-pocolypse in SC Feb 11-13th. Will have to see. I'm not in great shape for the event and i have no expectations except to finish it. I expect to be sore and worn out from it.  Trail run in the woods 7 miles. Kayak around a swampy lake 6 miles. Bike on trails in the woods 10 miles.  I am not a kayaker. 

Funny bone - not humerus - bone head

Mid January  So it is back to injury. This is getting old. This entry is long and tedious, but it is my emotional therapy. I need to vent and account for myself.  On the 9th I had ridden for about an hour and a half in the woods on MTB. I went back toward my apartment thru the apartment complex on the perimeter. I was trying to stay in the dirt on outskirts of the parking lots. I came to a right angle corner (at parking lot) where the dirt was uphill. I tried to hop over the corner and did not make it. That was so stupid; I had gotten over confident on my ability. I began to fall into the asphalt and was unable to unclip my shoe. My forward speed was near zero.  I held my left hand out and I landed on my hand then arm. Great pain in the elbow was immediate.  Was unable to bend arm straight or bend it closed normally. Iced the joint awhile and went to bed.  Next three days I went to work. It was a struggle. I wore an elbow pad that was very snug. My lower arm swelled as well as the hand. On Sunday I noticed a large bruise on the inner left bicep.  I swore I would go to the doctor on Monday, but I argued myself out of it. Tried some easy swimming (900 yards) and that was quite bad form; my left arm just would not work right and get straight. Did a 21 minute treadmill run after that. Didn't really get hindered by the elbow there.  Monday night the sharp pain persisted (when even trying to pick up a light item) reinforced my need to go and get pictures and diagnosis. I was dumb to wait the extra day. On Tuesday I went in to dr office about 10 am. My internal medicine people worked me in. Got about a dozen X-rays of wrist, arm and elbow. No obvious fractures were seen by the dr. but they needed the radiologist to do formal review. At about 5:20 pm I got home from a 22 mile road bike ride. A wonderful 58 degree afternoon ride. Riding in the aero position with most of weight on good arm. Just as I came into my apartment, the dr called me and said there was a "radial head fracture, non displaced". Advised to see orthopedic dr asap. Worked Wednesday [today] and plan to work Thursday, but wore homemade sling made from 26 x 2.1 inner tube. Got lots of chiding about that.  At least I was wearing some gloves but should have worn ones with heavily padded palms. And I was wearing a helmet. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and two long jackets. No skin was scrapped off at all. I was also stupid to try the maneuver at or near the pavement. Falling over in the woods can usually offer a softer landing (if a big rock or root or tree is not there).  I assume that I will recover to where I can ride MTB again. I will need to start wearing elbow pads and knee pads. Heavy pants and ankle padding.  There are no cars or loose dogs to collide with in the woods but there are hazards that I must better prepare for. I have pads and such and may buy more or different types. I am fairly new to MTB so i need to learn about what i can do. I need airbags all over my body! I now have another prescription for pain medicine (Lortab). In July of last year my crushed finger gave first. Accident with dog gave second. I still have many left over from those scripts. Now yet another. BTW I was also prescribed an NSAID called Meloxicam (Mobic) to reduce pain and swelling at joints. There is a lot to be said about these pain pills and now I feel part of that conversation whereas a year ago I was not.  Many at work urge me to stop riding my bikes. Or to get a tricycle. They laugh or make fun at my ongoing wrecks. However I can't see giving any of this up. I must improve my prevention and protection.  I think I will shift back to mostly or much more running. My knees will be treated with care and hopefully they hold up well.