GD60

Much wow!   I would do it again exactly the same tomorrow if I could, well maybe I would make a few minor changes :)

Shows were great.   Love visiting SF, it's arguably my favorite city although NY will always have a special place in my heart.   The only thing I didn't like in hindsight was all the walking.  I walked ~30 miles over the long weekend and my hips are still feeling every step of them.   They're getting better but slowly.   I just didn't expect to feel this crushed, especially since I felt pretty good going out there.  More rest is clearly whats on tap.

Regardless, it was one of the best experiences I've had in a very long time.   Until next time SF and D&C...

The Tour de Echelon

I suppose this is the third year I've attempted the TDE, I didn't finish the first year because I snapped the crank on my bike, but I completed it last year, and I even got the t-shirt...  So, it was a given I was going to do it again this year.

I finished the majority of the event yesterday to coincide with the end of the actual TDF.   We still have the TDF ride on saturday, yes I'll make it up OD unless they have a bike in the hotel which I doubt, after I get back from #gd60.  I'm a little disappointed I won't be able saturdays class live because I set my PB on it last year, but shit happens.

Anyway, it was a very rewarding experience this year and Echelon made it a lot easier by posting the rides OD very quickly (so I could do them after work if they were in UK time or during the day).  Staying current was important because, to be honest, it gets depressing when you have 3-4 long rides to make up like I did last year.  Aside from that, I set two PB's during the event.   Both on hills.   I finished in the top 10 seven times on live classes, and only missed the top 20 once.  It was stage 8 and I clearly was suffering.   I don't really care about the OD placement, because those don't factor in the live riders and I know I don't work as hard.  I took 14 of the 22 rides live which was I am pretty excited about and as of today rode 344.90 miles (I'll update with TDF after I ride it).

So what would I like to improve for next year?  I'd like to get a minimum of a top 20 every live ride, and I would prefer a top 10 in each live ride.   Yes, that will be hard.   It's hard to push yourself every day for ~22 straight days, tough titty.  I'd also like to maintain the cadence of riding it every day.   While I missed *some* of my regular workouts, it was a nice break, and focusing on the TDE only kept me from getting too worn out.

Pin earned, and on to getting ready for my charity ride this fall.   I do have a little detour out in SF first :)  Talk soon...

TDF

Not gonna lie, the fitness of the TDF riders is insane...   I thought I was in "good" shape but after watching those guys I can't imagine what it takes to get to that level...

#teambordel 

A lot late this month

I'll start by saying yes I know this post is very late.   Hell, there are only ten days left this month, and I have no excuses.   That said, this might be the first time I've written a monthly post and already achievcd the Apple monthly goal.   So, at least one thing is going well :)

It's not going to be a surprise, but June didn't go as planned.  I've been struggling with some joint issues, more on that later, but I decided to take the time in VA as an impromptu rest cycle that both helped and hurt, but let's review my goals for June:

• Get closer to 215 again
• Ride 350 miles -  I would have set it for 400 but we're going to VA for a little bit, and that's going to mean no bike.
• June Apple Fitness challenge
• Run at least every other week
• Walk at least twice a week
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my June challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts
• All the bonus points in #mc54
• Weather permitting - Global running day challenge

Weight Results:

• Starting Weight:  229.80
• Ending Weight:  226.10

Exercise Info:

• Number of rides:  56
• Time on exercise:  21:46.20
• Distance on rides:  240.29
• Number of runs:  2
• Distance running: 6.23
• Number of walks: 20
• Time walking: 6:00
• Distance walking:  16.34
• Number of rows: 0
• Time rowing: 0
• Distance Rowing: 0
• Number of swims: 0
• Distance swimming: 0
• Weight Workouts: 1

Well, let's call this another "lost" month.  I felt like I did the best I could, given the circumstances I was in.  We spent ten days up in VA and I didn't ride the whole time.   I brought some cycling clothes, but after breaking three bikes, I really don't want to break another one, especially one I don't own, so I missed the mileage target by a long shot.  I'm 750 miles off my annual goal, and while that's still "possible", it's definitely unlikely.   I didn't give up my daily workouts, but I ended up walking on Teresa's treadmill.  That was in an attempt to make sure I was ready for the race on the 4th, and more on that later.

Let's talk about what went well in June instead.   I walked a lot.  I even ran a bit, and felt like I was in good running shape.   Times looked "ok" and I ran the race on June 1 to get my Orange medal.  I felt ok after the time up in VA.   I got the Apple stuff ok.  Gold in fitness challenge etc...  Global running day, even if it felt like I was being punished.   Even Merinda went and got that one :D  It all felt so right early in the month

So what went wrong?   I really don't know.   My weight has been holding, albeit higer than I'd like.  I felt pretty shattered once I got home and, although I'll talk more about July, skipped the 4 miles on the 4th.   Joints have been very sore and walking, even running, is temporarily on a hold while I figure some of that out.   I got a referral to see an orthopedic surgeon, so I'm going to find out what's wrong with my knees/hip, but I need to be able to walk without pain in SF and that's only 2 weeks out.

Ok...  Time to stop whining about June, there will be some come July, but lets set out the goals I would have wanted for July:

• Get closer to 215 again
• Ride 400 miles
• Ride the TDE!  
• Live as often as possible
• Stay current
• July Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my July challenge
• Apple July Challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts
• All the bonus points in #mc55
• Beat last years time in the 4 on the 4th

I can already tell you that I won't beat my time on the 4th.   I didn't make the race, but that doesn't affect me saying it would have been a goal. Everything else should have been attainable, and I already know where I'm going to fall short.

This is going to be a shorter than usual post.   Maybe because I'm 21 days later and already know what I want to say, maybe because I'm a little burned out.   Today is a TDE rest day, and I am goign to take full advantage of it.

I probably won't post until after I get back from Cali, so enjoy the rest of the month, I'll make an effort to post after I get home..   Talk soon!

It's sad that I feel the need to write this...

I'm going to just simply state that I am beyond embarassed by the need to post this, but recent events as well as things I've seen people I know put on social media make me feel compelled to say it anyway.

You can simultaneousely love your country and not agree with the policies of the government.

Yes, MAGA people I am speaking to you.  I don't revere your leader.  I find him crass and obnoxious and quite frankly a repulsive person.  No, I never voted for him, and I never will.   I don't agree with him or most of his policies, yet I still love my country.  I was born here, and unless he destroys the country, I will live here my whole life.  I belive in the ideals of America, and I firmly believe in the Constitution and as such, do not believe that the intent of our founders was to have an unchecked executive.  If you think that we should revere the President ask yourself why our military swears an obligation to the Constitution instead of the President.  I'll wait for the answer.

Presidents come and go, but the damage that is being wreaked on our country will take generations to repair.

"When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty"

Thomas Jefferson

There's a lot to talk about this month.

Hey it's June and summer has arrived in Florida.  We went from drought to rain forecast every day.   I'm glad for the plants because they're looking a little rough, but it's going to be hot and sticky out all the time, and that's no bueno.

Oh, you aren't here to listen to me complain about the summer here?  Yes, I have shit to talk about on the fitness front too.   I think I already talked enough about the triathlon and my disappointing finish, it's a little more disappointing because there's no way I can do the Tarpon tri this year, so it's going to be one and done this season.   I would talk about the race I ran on Sunday, but that falls into June, so let's just say it felt a little like redemption.  Otherwise, to be honest, May felt like a complete let down.  I seem to be gaining weight, had a bad race and overall felt like I was stuck in neutral all month. 

No sense in beating around the bush, lets get at it.   What were my goals for May: 

• Finish Triathlon with no walking during the run
• Maintain my weight
• Ride 300 miles
• May Apple Fitness challenge
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my May challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts.
• Row post triathlon

Weight Results:

• Starting Weight: 224.6
• Ending Weight: 225.6

Exercise Info:

• Number of rides: 73
• Time on exercise: 27:12:46
• Distance on rides: 408.54
• Number of runs: 1
• Distance running: 3.11
• Number of walks: 10
• Time walking: 3:16:18
• Distance walking: 6.61
• Number of rows: 0
• Time rowing: 0
• Distance Rowing: 0
• Number of swims: 1
• Distance swimming: .25m
• Weight Workouts: 6

I really don't know where to begin with last month.   I guess I'll just start with the things I did well at.  I hit my reduced mileage target, which was a nice change for this year.  Like I've said before, I focused on some different things this year and it's showing, and not in a good way.   To address that, I am planning on doing more "longer" workouts, and more endurance exercises, so I hope to see a little more distance.  I also got all the Apple and challenge goals accomplished, and I've been fairly consistent on the weight training.   I still take a lot of bootcamps, mostly because it's what they have in the AM, but I am trying to take the Spring into the gym program on Mondays when it's live.

So what's failing me?  Let me start with the elephant in the room, and that is me.   My weight has been creeping up pretty consistently the past 2 months.   Maybe it's muscle, maybe not.  Either way, it's going to stop this month because I know I haven't been eating as well as I wanted to.   I ended the month up a bit, made something delicious and almost started June at 230 pounds. .  I've also ignored the rower and now the reflect.  I didn't swim, I didn't run and I only walked because Apple forced me to.   I performed poorly at Dunedin and it just made my month seem awful.  Not much more to say other than I haven't spent all this time and effort to piss it all away...

Since I don't want to dwell on that, what is going to be different this month?   Glad you asked because I'm goign to be a little more firm on goals:

• Get closer to 215 again
• Ride 350 miles -  I would have set it for 400 but we're going to VA for a little bit, and that's going to mean no bike.
• June Apple Fitness challenge
• Run at least every other week
• Walk at least twice a week
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my June challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts
• All the bonus points in #mc54
• Weather permitting - Global running day challenge

So what's changed?  Well, instead of maintaining my weight I am going to actively try to lose a few pounds again.   My weight has crept up to just around 230 and that seems a little much for me.   Yeah maybe it is because of the birria grilled cheese etc... but I think there's a lot of junk food going in my mouth and I need to stop eating poorly to figure out if I've gained muscle or fat.  I'm going to keep the bike target a little lower because we're going to be away, and I don't want to be bike focused up there.  Since we're driving I might bring some bike gear, but I'm going to plan on more floor exercising and walking.  We'll see.    I'd like to go over 400 again, but I'd prefer to be realistic and then surprise myself.

The rest are pretty routine.   A little more run/walk focus coming on this month.   I have a race on July 4th and I'd like to perform well in it.   Yes we're going to see Stick Figure the night before, but I'll try to behave at the show and get some sleep.  Plus there is Global running day and the Apple challenge is walk/run focused, so I'll need to get a thirteen more 2+ mile workouts in.

On a final note, let me say June started better than I expected.  Although my weight went up again, we'll talk about that in a month, I ran a 5k on Sunday and I did ok.   Decent pace.  Not great, but far better than expected and no pain.   Yes, I'm sore today, but that's ok.   Should be fine for Wednesday night, and with that I've said enough.  Talk soon!

GD60

Yeah!

Tickets?  Check...

Hotel? Check...

Flight?  Check...

Can't wait.