Category: run

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Exploring

Sunday dirt exploring and scouting for new links to my favorite roads. The usual suspects were at D2R2 baking and sweating in the heat. I spent the weekend with the family enjoying the water at the beach.

Sunday morning I explored some dirt in Colchester. Was nearly defeated by a dead end – but a motorist assured me that what was left of a road did go through to my destination. I made a weak attempt at the muddy trail on the skinny tires – was swarmed by bugs and left it for another time when I have reinforcements.

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Run


We’re signed up for the Boilermaker in July. Took a ‘first run*’ today in the Intervale with the Maya pup – 1.5 miles. Cold and sloppy – but better than trying to run on the MUP. Off again this afternoon to repeat the experience, and maybe double the distance.

*run, of course is relative – it was slow – but fun.

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2007 Cycling Goals

A work in progress, my 2007 cycling goals.

Tangible:

  • Get to my typical end of summer riding weight by March 1
  • 5,000 miles in the UMCA Year Rounder Competition
  • Super Randonneur Series
  • Century a month (in addition to my brevet schedule) – beginning March 1
  • Establish 3-4 RUSA Permanent routes in Vermont / Champlain Valley Region
  • 1000k or 1200k (Paris-Brest-Paris looks like it is out of the budget and schedule for this year)
  • Ride the Highlander in W. NY as a pacer for a friend – focus on sharing cycling experience and having fun
  • Long distance training ride from my home in Burlington, VT to my in-laws in Utica, NY
  • Ride the Mad River Valley Century Ride as a pacer for a friend – focus on sharing cycling experience and having fun
  • Organize and ride a version of the Six Gaps with a group of online and local cycling friends
  • Run a half marathon (still looking at the calendar to see how it fits / conflicts with the SR series)
  • 2 bike camping trips (weekenders) summer / fall

Intangible:

  • Increase training intensity focusing on hard, fast rides so I can start to hang with the semi-fast boys and girls. (I think the fastest boys and girls will be out of my reach for some time!)
  • Work on my climbing – this will feed off of the previous intangible
  • Keep a pleasant attitude on the bike – I’m slower than most and faster than some – focus on enjoying the ride and celebrating where I’m at at this moment in time
  • Stay healthy: keep my body happy and the anemia I suffered with last season in check
  • Ride lots – including going car lite when work doesn’t demand the auto travel
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Boston / Cycling and Running Thoughts

I was in Boston Thursday for a trade show at the Seaport World Trade Center. I watched the fishermen pictured above sorting their rigging as I navigated the seaport area for some lunch. I attended Build Boston, an architectural and construction trade show. I met with some clients, wandered the exhibition floor, and played around at the SketchUp booth with the Google boys. I’m probably going to upgrade my old old version of SketchUp – the new software has made leaps and bounds in regards to drawing and object management – which will help with the presentation end of the design work I do.

I had a tight schedule and missed out on a few bike related visits. I was hoping to drop in at Independent Fabrications and see how the new shop has come along since the last time I visited to finalize the design of my ClubRacer. I also wanted to stop at Harris Cyclery and browse for some winter / rain gear as well as look at a Carradice saddlebag for the IF. Between meetings I did have a chance to visit the Bill Rogers Running Center at Faneuil Hall. I picked up a new pair of Asics Nimbus shoes – which I hope treat my feet better as I rediscover running and my body remembers how good it feels to locomote on two feet.

All the driving I did to and from Boston left me plenty of time to start sorting out goals and event priorities for next season – and the training and fun that will get me there through the winter. Jen and I are building a work / play / training / event calendar so we can support each other in our goals. I’m planning an aggressive cycling schedule for next season and I have a few running events that I’d like to target. On the calendar for the bike is a full brevet series – of which I will probably combine rides from the Boston Brevet Series and the Berkshire Brevet Series. I’m on the fence about heading to France for Paris-Brest-Paris. It would be an incredible expereince – but the drain on the pocketbook and the logistics of flying across the pond for a 3 day endurance ride seems daunting at the moment. If I don’t do PBP I’ll be tackling a stateside 1000k – perhaps the Oregon Randonneurs Portland to Glacier ride, or their “Poor Man’s PBP”. I’m working up the running side of things for a half marathon or relay in the spring. There’s a great one here in Burlington, and it looks like they have a New Years Day 5k that I can use as a fitness benchmark, as well as an event called the “Half Marathon Unplugged”.