Been a while since I've givin the blog some love. I have been keeping busy though, mtbing a ton, a hike here and there and some great core workouts. The trails have been in the best shape possible (for winter) for some time now and I have been out on them for 2+ hr rides the last 6 days in a row. Tech skills are improving daily and I am getting a little too fit for this time of year. Ill fix that problem over the next few days by celebrating new years at Blue Mountain then hanging around for some snowboarding fun. weather looks like shit, so purchasing a lift ticket might not be worth it. We'll see how she goes.
So 2010 wraps up tomorrow night. I was going to write a season review, but I got to lazy. I will call it a success though and leave it at that. Sure I had some crap races, but solid results that surprised me made the lows easy to forget.
Hopefully the thaw passes quick, and the trails get some new snow. Road riding is not an option for me!
Thanks SHCC for the new trails that keep popping up. Loving them!
Happy new year everyone!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Snow is Here!!!
So its been a little while, I know, but I have been busy. School is done now, except for 4 exams, that I should do a little studying for to maintain my decent average.
I have been training quite a bit lately, both on and off the bike. I have done 3 laps of lunges around my block with 15lbs in each hand, and the third time I felt very strong. Lap four is tomorrow after classes, and I would step up to the 25lb dumbbells, but with a lot of riding planned for the weekend I figure I will crush another lap with 15's.
I mtb'd in the Hood last weekend. It was awesome riding with the ground finally freezing, but it got better on Monday with the 10cm of snow we got. It took me about 1/2 hour to get used to the snow, and start to bring speed through turns, but once I started to feel it I was having a blast. The trails were even better today, with some trials bikes going through and packing down a nice line. Unfortunately part of the furthest north trail (before Mud Lake) is destroyed because of some clear cutting around the hydro poles. As long as they do a good cleanup, the trail will survive, but not be nearly as cool with the forest gone.
I plan to go back Friday morning, and probably one day on the weekend too. I'm taking full advantage of the conditions because our winters are so unpredictable, and it could easily thaw and or rain any day. Just wish I lived closer, but I am bringing my bike with me to school, and then heading there right after, as its only 20mins further.
Going to keep this routine of intense strength 2 days a week, with riding or hiking/running on the 5 other days going till the end of the holidays. Short strength sessions get mixed in whenever I feel like it, but are mainly just core. Soon some snowboarding will get mixed in there. Can't wait to get out again!!
I got some got training in last night at Henri's big 19th.......some beer pong! The two of us as a team were unbeatable, but I started to fade later on and could not support my new partner well enough to succeed. Last time I played was almost a year ago, so the lack of endurance was expected. It was a great time though. Happy bday son!
I have been training quite a bit lately, both on and off the bike. I have done 3 laps of lunges around my block with 15lbs in each hand, and the third time I felt very strong. Lap four is tomorrow after classes, and I would step up to the 25lb dumbbells, but with a lot of riding planned for the weekend I figure I will crush another lap with 15's.
I mtb'd in the Hood last weekend. It was awesome riding with the ground finally freezing, but it got better on Monday with the 10cm of snow we got. It took me about 1/2 hour to get used to the snow, and start to bring speed through turns, but once I started to feel it I was having a blast. The trails were even better today, with some trials bikes going through and packing down a nice line. Unfortunately part of the furthest north trail (before Mud Lake) is destroyed because of some clear cutting around the hydro poles. As long as they do a good cleanup, the trail will survive, but not be nearly as cool with the forest gone.
I plan to go back Friday morning, and probably one day on the weekend too. I'm taking full advantage of the conditions because our winters are so unpredictable, and it could easily thaw and or rain any day. Just wish I lived closer, but I am bringing my bike with me to school, and then heading there right after, as its only 20mins further.
Going to keep this routine of intense strength 2 days a week, with riding or hiking/running on the 5 other days going till the end of the holidays. Short strength sessions get mixed in whenever I feel like it, but are mainly just core. Soon some snowboarding will get mixed in there. Can't wait to get out again!!
I got some got training in last night at Henri's big 19th.......some beer pong! The two of us as a team were unbeatable, but I started to fade later on and could not support my new partner well enough to succeed. Last time I played was almost a year ago, so the lack of endurance was expected. It was a great time though. Happy bday son!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Recent Adventures
2 week rest period is now over, and I feel ready to get back on a training schedule. My schedule will be very loose though, something along the lines of ride as much as I can, with weekends dedicated to the longer rides, and short rides thrown in through the week when the weather is favorable (snow, or frozen ground), or I simply feel like it. Starting tomorrow I will be doing some type of strength exercise every day. Some days simply a few sets of push-ups, and others 2+ hours at the gym (which I have not been to since last February). lunging around the block might go down on Monday, with no weights. 25lbs in each hand by Christmas.
So the past couple weeks I actually got quite a few things done. I did MTB once, because I am addicted and had to get my fix. It was fun, and my MTB felt like a monster truck after only riding the CX rig since the Squeezer.
last week, with the help of some friends, we turned 42lbs of pork into over 100 sausages, with 5 different types of spice mixes, including Frank's and Sharp Cheddar cheese. Original Italian turned out the best, but I think with more, better quality cheese, the Franks one could be a huge hit. I think they will have to be hand packed though with big chunks of cheese rather than the cheese being ground into the pork. Lots of work but I think will be well worth it.
On Friday I drove to Montreal after school, getting there just after 1am. Got to drive my friends BMW, a nice change. Saturday we hiked Mont Royal, and explored the downtown area, then after a quick nap it was time for some pubing. We started the night of at a pub that sold beer in giant test tube like contraptions that had a wood stand with a tap at the bottom to poor. That was 8 pints between the 3 of us, then we pressed on pub to pub, trying different local brews at each of them. Hit maybe 6 or so meeting up with more peeps along the way, then it was time for the dance club. Not much of a dancer, but it didn't matter.
Woke up Sunday with no sign of a hangover, and then hit the city again to go for brunch with a friend going to Concordia. Then some more visiting, and a fine dinner before going back to get the pubs we missed. The is something for everyone there, the variety is amazing. Hope to go back in the spring for a similar trip.
This week I went for a couple hikes in Shorthills. I like to run down hills and up hills, because I find walking them boring and more tiring. So I cover ground pretty quickly, getting trails that they say are 3hr hikes done in less than an hour. I hope to do this once a week through the winter because its excellent cross training and very relaxing mentally.
Can't wait for the snow to fall! So much fun to MTB through.
All for now, until next time enjoy this one
So the past couple weeks I actually got quite a few things done. I did MTB once, because I am addicted and had to get my fix. It was fun, and my MTB felt like a monster truck after only riding the CX rig since the Squeezer.
last week, with the help of some friends, we turned 42lbs of pork into over 100 sausages, with 5 different types of spice mixes, including Frank's and Sharp Cheddar cheese. Original Italian turned out the best, but I think with more, better quality cheese, the Franks one could be a huge hit. I think they will have to be hand packed though with big chunks of cheese rather than the cheese being ground into the pork. Lots of work but I think will be well worth it.
On Friday I drove to Montreal after school, getting there just after 1am. Got to drive my friends BMW, a nice change. Saturday we hiked Mont Royal, and explored the downtown area, then after a quick nap it was time for some pubing. We started the night of at a pub that sold beer in giant test tube like contraptions that had a wood stand with a tap at the bottom to poor. That was 8 pints between the 3 of us, then we pressed on pub to pub, trying different local brews at each of them. Hit maybe 6 or so meeting up with more peeps along the way, then it was time for the dance club. Not much of a dancer, but it didn't matter.
Woke up Sunday with no sign of a hangover, and then hit the city again to go for brunch with a friend going to Concordia. Then some more visiting, and a fine dinner before going back to get the pubs we missed. The is something for everyone there, the variety is amazing. Hope to go back in the spring for a similar trip.
This week I went for a couple hikes in Shorthills. I like to run down hills and up hills, because I find walking them boring and more tiring. So I cover ground pretty quickly, getting trails that they say are 3hr hikes done in less than an hour. I hope to do this once a week through the winter because its excellent cross training and very relaxing mentally.
Can't wait for the snow to fall! So much fun to MTB through.
All for now, until next time enjoy this one
Monday, November 8, 2010
CX Nationals
I find it kinda funny how the only nationals I took part in this season was CX, which is my weakest discipline. Well I guess I only did it because it was only an hour drive away.
So I think I did alright. I beat 10 guys, which was exactly how many I thought I could if I were to have an alright day. I was hopping to feel some more power, but I didn't at all. I had to suffer to to keep the pace above tempo, and any attempts at attacking would leave me completely gassed for several minutes. Seems to be the same story for every cross race I did this season.
I'm starting to think that I might be the kind of person who can only be fast once a year. I don't mean one weekend, I mean fast for 2 or 3 months. Or I am likely just burnt out from my first full season of racing, and made it worse by tackling the marathons and the squeezer through September (although they are my favorite events of the year that I never want to miss) when some rest wouldn't have hurt.
I never wanted to take cross serious before the season started, but have learned from it that I am a much more competitive person than I thought. Going into a race "for fun" is really no fun at all. If you are not prepared, you will be dying to hold on to a wheel of someone that you could have crushed a month ago, and before you know it you are getting lapped and won't even be completing the full race. I'm still glad I did the races I did because I learned a lot and it kept me on the ball the past couple months.
I have started to think a lot about next season, and have a good idea about when to do what. Unfortunately I will have to miss a couple races to fit in the rest periods that I neglected to take this season. I plan to start my intensity sooner for a better early season, then after a break in July I will build for a peak in August/September. I want to do the GMSR as a cat 1, So I will need some serious power early September, and than taking a 2 week break after that should have me feeling a little fresher for some CX action.
It looks like the next couple weeks are going to be very restful for me. I am just going to focus on charging the batteries before strength training season.
So I think I did alright. I beat 10 guys, which was exactly how many I thought I could if I were to have an alright day. I was hopping to feel some more power, but I didn't at all. I had to suffer to to keep the pace above tempo, and any attempts at attacking would leave me completely gassed for several minutes. Seems to be the same story for every cross race I did this season.
I'm starting to think that I might be the kind of person who can only be fast once a year. I don't mean one weekend, I mean fast for 2 or 3 months. Or I am likely just burnt out from my first full season of racing, and made it worse by tackling the marathons and the squeezer through September (although they are my favorite events of the year that I never want to miss) when some rest wouldn't have hurt.
I never wanted to take cross serious before the season started, but have learned from it that I am a much more competitive person than I thought. Going into a race "for fun" is really no fun at all. If you are not prepared, you will be dying to hold on to a wheel of someone that you could have crushed a month ago, and before you know it you are getting lapped and won't even be completing the full race. I'm still glad I did the races I did because I learned a lot and it kept me on the ball the past couple months.
I have started to think a lot about next season, and have a good idea about when to do what. Unfortunately I will have to miss a couple races to fit in the rest periods that I neglected to take this season. I plan to start my intensity sooner for a better early season, then after a break in July I will build for a peak in August/September. I want to do the GMSR as a cat 1, So I will need some serious power early September, and than taking a 2 week break after that should have me feeling a little fresher for some CX action.
It looks like the next couple weeks are going to be very restful for me. I am just going to focus on charging the batteries before strength training season.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Parma Cross
Finally a solid cross race.
I took way to long to get locked into my left pedal, resulting in a poor start, but it was fun passing a bunch of guys on the tight and sketchy forested gravel section. I made may way up to Mr. holeshot Henri before the first lap was over, and went by going a little faster than he could handle after a week of 1hr of training.
Soon after I was in the 4th,5th,6th train and was going solid. They had short barriers out, which myself, Henri and Mcgyver29r were hoppin, and gaining a couple seconds on the rest of the field each lap because of it.
About half way through I was in 4th or 5th with a small gap, and had a fluke crash behind the stair run-up. I was getting ready to dismount, and my pedal ejected me while I was standing on it on the left side. The ground was super bumpy here, so maybe that made my foot turn or something, but anyway I got up fairly quick after rolling down the trail for a bit. My bike was on the other side of the trail, and as I started to run over to it the 5th place guy came by yelling watch out! I failed to regain contact with him after that.
I forget now If I caught a guy, or he caught me, but I was around him for several laps, going back and forth. Late in the race we both came into the barriers at the same time, with me hoppin and him running. I was on the right, and landed hop 1, pointed a bit left, and he was running on the left, drifting right to the center. We came together between the barriers, and next thing I know I am flipping through the air over barrier 2. I slammed down hard, and had the wind knocked out of me pretty good. Right side/ribs hurt, but not to bad. I got rolling again, just soon enough to hold off the chaser in 7th. I couldn't catch the guy in 5th after that, but rolled in for 6th with a solid gap, and got a nice $25 pay out for that.
It felt good to actually go fast when I hammered. Still not much punch, or explosive power, but if I train and rest well, I think I can get some for next Saturday.
Thanks mom/dad for the drive, and recovery meal after!
Eyedea aka Micheal Larson R.I.P.. Thanks for being real and motivating me along. E&A all day!!
I took way to long to get locked into my left pedal, resulting in a poor start, but it was fun passing a bunch of guys on the tight and sketchy forested gravel section. I made may way up to Mr. holeshot Henri before the first lap was over, and went by going a little faster than he could handle after a week of 1hr of training.
Soon after I was in the 4th,5th,6th train and was going solid. They had short barriers out, which myself, Henri and Mcgyver29r were hoppin, and gaining a couple seconds on the rest of the field each lap because of it.
About half way through I was in 4th or 5th with a small gap, and had a fluke crash behind the stair run-up. I was getting ready to dismount, and my pedal ejected me while I was standing on it on the left side. The ground was super bumpy here, so maybe that made my foot turn or something, but anyway I got up fairly quick after rolling down the trail for a bit. My bike was on the other side of the trail, and as I started to run over to it the 5th place guy came by yelling watch out! I failed to regain contact with him after that.
I forget now If I caught a guy, or he caught me, but I was around him for several laps, going back and forth. Late in the race we both came into the barriers at the same time, with me hoppin and him running. I was on the right, and landed hop 1, pointed a bit left, and he was running on the left, drifting right to the center. We came together between the barriers, and next thing I know I am flipping through the air over barrier 2. I slammed down hard, and had the wind knocked out of me pretty good. Right side/ribs hurt, but not to bad. I got rolling again, just soon enough to hold off the chaser in 7th. I couldn't catch the guy in 5th after that, but rolled in for 6th with a solid gap, and got a nice $25 pay out for that.
It felt good to actually go fast when I hammered. Still not much punch, or explosive power, but if I train and rest well, I think I can get some for next Saturday.
Thanks mom/dad for the drive, and recovery meal after!
Eyedea aka Micheal Larson R.I.P.. Thanks for being real and motivating me along. E&A all day!!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Getting fit again
Finally starting to feel strong on the bike again. Today was the first ride that I felt good sensations while hammering since the Squeezer.
I went over to hydro hill, and climbed it 10 times. Didn't race up it, just went steady, and made sure to get my heart-rate above 170 each time. 42x28 seemed to be the perfect gear, with the occasional double up shift before standing. After the reps I cruised through some singletrack in the Decew Falls area, then enjoyed a nice push from the wind all the way home. Total ride time was 1h50mins. Wanted to do more trails, but I figured I should go home and eat/rest for tomorrows race in the US. I am doing the NY state champs down in the Rochester area. Hillbilly Hustle looked like fun too, but its a far drive for a 1hr race.
This week I chose to do most of my training on foot. Running is not fun, but for some reason I am more motivated to run, than to do intervals on the bike; at this time of year. Maybe its because I suck at running and know that I can easily improve at it, which I have. Tues and Thurs were both 10km runs with 10reps up the stairs at lock 2. Did different agility drills that Morka introduced to me. After Tuesday my legs felt completely torn apart. I could barely walk, and going down stairs was very painful. After an easy spin on Wed I was ready for it again Thurs and got'r done feeling much better.
I think next week will look very similar to this one. I will shorten the runs and make Thursday easier to have a tapper effect for Nationals.
I have also started to do some strength training; to my upper body anyway. Pumped out 120 push-ups this week, 2+x that in sit-ups. Also a bit of curls, shoulder and tricep work. You don't realize how valuable this training is until you're riding at your limit, and start to fade because your arms and core are to weak to keep your bike stable; or when you enter a technical bit of singletrack and you have to slow down because you've got nothing in your body to maneuver your bike around.
Hopefully I feel good tomorrow, and even better next Saturday.
Later.
I went over to hydro hill, and climbed it 10 times. Didn't race up it, just went steady, and made sure to get my heart-rate above 170 each time. 42x28 seemed to be the perfect gear, with the occasional double up shift before standing. After the reps I cruised through some singletrack in the Decew Falls area, then enjoyed a nice push from the wind all the way home. Total ride time was 1h50mins. Wanted to do more trails, but I figured I should go home and eat/rest for tomorrows race in the US. I am doing the NY state champs down in the Rochester area. Hillbilly Hustle looked like fun too, but its a far drive for a 1hr race.
This week I chose to do most of my training on foot. Running is not fun, but for some reason I am more motivated to run, than to do intervals on the bike; at this time of year. Maybe its because I suck at running and know that I can easily improve at it, which I have. Tues and Thurs were both 10km runs with 10reps up the stairs at lock 2. Did different agility drills that Morka introduced to me. After Tuesday my legs felt completely torn apart. I could barely walk, and going down stairs was very painful. After an easy spin on Wed I was ready for it again Thurs and got'r done feeling much better.
I think next week will look very similar to this one. I will shorten the runs and make Thursday easier to have a tapper effect for Nationals.
I have also started to do some strength training; to my upper body anyway. Pumped out 120 push-ups this week, 2+x that in sit-ups. Also a bit of curls, shoulder and tricep work. You don't realize how valuable this training is until you're riding at your limit, and start to fade because your arms and core are to weak to keep your bike stable; or when you enter a technical bit of singletrack and you have to slow down because you've got nothing in your body to maneuver your bike around.
Hopefully I feel good tomorrow, and even better next Saturday.
Later.
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