Hands (paws) against the wall, please...

I need a break!  OK, but only for a day:-)  I've been on the go non stop for a while and I think it's starting to mess with my health a little.  How long can a person go on little sleep and a surplus of exercise and not come up short somewhere?  Between the hundreds of miles biking a week or the running or working and working on the house...I have realized that I am tired.  So...today is a break day.  I am going to watch a movie at home and stay at the house.  Cleaning will be inevitable, but what can I say...at least I'm relaxing, right?
There is a busy week ahead including more miles on the bike with a trip to ride with Kent on Saturday and exchange stories.  I also have a TT coming up next Monday so stay tuned to a write up.  I have only run twice this week and feel like I may have to start doing that again if I'm going to stay in running shape. Plus, the advantages of running and learning pain management are greater than biking.  This will help set me up for better riding in the future.  It is also easier to control my weight when running. 
I was able to get down to about 185 the last three weeks, but noticed a slight gain after only running a few times this week even with all the biking...
Anyway...break day!  Maybe I'll even see if I can catch up on the almost non existent sleep I get with a long nap.  I did want to leave you with this picture that I found incredibly amusing as I have one of these dogs and they are big time trouble makers...in a good way, of course:-)

I'm currently accepting captions in the comments section and will add the best one:-)

Nice Rides and Some Wine

Saturday couldn't come fast enough. I have been wanting to start building my mileage soon and what better way than to actually have some time to ride without worry. I was hesitant at how I was going to do it. I wanted to get a little speed out of the deal and don't really like riding the whole time alone, so I contacted another local recumbent guy, Allan Duhm, to see what he was up to.
He recommended the Bartow group out of the Bartow civic center on Saturdays. I showed up and was greeted by a great group of guys.  Allan showed up, but forgot his seat pad, so would try to meet us out on the ride.  The ride started out great.  My goal was miles and I wanted to try my best to not drop anyone and to work on nutrition.  We sat right near a 21 average for the first half of the ride and everyone did well taking turns pulling and rotating through. I was the worst as I had to be reminded of my speed and I thanked everyone for the reminder.  Great guys! We stopped a couple of times. The second, at a place called The Market somewhere out in BFE.  I was actually surprised that we received cell service.

At The Market

The funny part came when I went to pay for my Gatorade and used my card.  I wanted debit and everything went well.  I thought I could here the receipt print so I said thank you and the nice couple waved me out.  When I was outside, grabbing my bottles, the man said that it didn't take debit, but credit was needed.  I followed him inside to see a huge line of angry customers waiting for me to sign the receipt.  I apologized for keeping them waiting and the woman behind me gave a growl.  She had two big steaks she wanted to grill.  I told them I was 63 miles into a 100 mile ride and I was delirious and didn't know what I was doing.  They were all cool with that answer.

Enjoying the garbage smell!

Some of the group enjoying the milk cartons and the "Mountain" ice.

 After we refueled and enjoyed the nice little milk carton chairs, we proceeded on our way constantly checking in on Allan.  It didn't seem like he would make it.  By this time the temperature was getting hot and we were hot.  We pulled into the finish with a 20.6 average for 80 miles.  I asked if anyone wanted to go back out with me and the answer was a unanimous, "you're crazy".  Off I went.  The ride went fast and I finished with 102 for the day feeling good and accomplishing my goals.
After I drove home and showered, I was back off to my friend Tim's house to meet his family and caravan to the blueberry wine factory for some live music, dancing, and self catered food.

The best beer I've tasted!!

This turned out to be a great place to go.  The music was great and the people were really nice. Many danced and I enjoyed the beer and wine and the food we brought.  I think I enjoyed the beer and wine too much as I woke up with a huge headache and felt generally crappy. But, I knew a nice ride would make me feel better. So, off I went to meet the Publix 540A riders.  I was hoping for a nice 60 miles, but 75 was agreed upon.  This was a faster ride and I was feeling crabby.  At about the half way point, my body started to feel better and I was able to start making some break away chances.   Allan remembered his seat pad and was looking good.  He would make a break a couple of times only to be reeled in on the hills.  I took advantage of this on a nice roller and grabbed his wheel. A nice local young woman df rider jumped on mine and we bolted down the long downhill.  As we started back up and Allan started to slow, she made her move and I jumped on her wheel.  I passed her and then proceeded to pull at a strong pace. She looked tired so I asked what she wanted to do and she said that she only had enough for the one attack.  I said I would slow and let the group catch.  I then saw a local df guy who had openly cut me off twice during the ride, try to make the move to jump on us. I told her I was going and she could slow so ramped it up and watched him fall off.  I then saw Jason and another friend making the gap.  They looked stronger than the other guy and caught up.  We worked together, gaining speed and distance.  They kept up almost to Homeland where Jason yelled out he was stopping. He looked spent. I stopped just long enough to grab some water out of the hose and watch the others start coming into the station.  Allan didn't stop so I jumped on and we rode together till the hills into Lakeland where I pulled away and he went his own way back to the house.  I finished about two minutes ahead of the group and felt great about it.
I went home and showered and drove back over to Tim's to see the movie Battleship at the Mugs and Movies with his brother and niece.  It was actually pretty good!  Then it was time for me to finally go home and play catch with the dog and enjoy the time to clean and do laundry...big weekend!

Love This Dog!!!

 One thing is for sure and that is I'm glad no one will see me naked as after 300+ cycling miles this week, the tan lines I have developed are NOT attractive...even my hands...YIKES!!!

What a Race!

If you have been following my blog, you would have noted my intent to run the midnight run in Dunedin the morning of the 4th.  I have run this event one other time and remembered the event fondly.  There are a lot of people that run this and it is very well organized. Although, we did have to stay a very long time as my mom and I both won plaques that year.
As the time came to leave the house, I was having second thoughts. I have only been running for about three months and I'm not doing it to be competitive. It is more of a therapy type of thing and a cross training tool for my biking.  But, I knew that if I didn't leave, I would regret it. So, out the door, I went. As I arrived, I remembered how many people liked the event as I had to park in the parking lot the farthest away from the event in an unlit area.  This actually turned out to be a great thing as it forced me to walk a ways and keep warm as arriving an hour and a half early was advised.  I walked and retrieved the shirt and number and walked back and then walked to drink some water about a half hour before the race started.
There are two other events scheduled and the mile run is first up at about 11pm.  Watching these runners tackle this event brought back memories of my younger years running track in high school and I was glad they were running it and not me.  The 5k was next up and I started running 10 minutes before start time and stretching.  I stopped paying attention to the start and should have as it filled up and I was only able to fight my way up to the first third of the pack right behind a gracious woman with a flag who let me in front of her at the last minute. Bang!
We were off. Or should I say, we were slowly mingling.  It took me at least twenty seconds to get free and find a way out across the start and then run back and forth across the street to clear running. Once on my mark I picked a few people and just ran at there pace.  The first mile was pretty quick at 6:40 from the timing judge. This gave me a 6:20 or so first mile. I was doing okay, but knew from my own experience that I tend to go out too fast in these events so decided to slow a click. There was a really tall guy and a young woman in her mid twenties with a nice pace so I stayed with them for the next mile before he died and she picked it up.
I knew then that I would just have to run my own race and it felt good to finally be clear of the thousands of people and really cool to see so many on the return leg cheering me on as they ran their own race. I returned the cheers several times and loved it. Nearing the last bridge, I was overtaken by two really strong 10-12 year olds and felt somewhat old.  But new It was their time and they looked great challenging each other. Over the bridge we went and another teenager popped up. He looked ragged and when the water hand out came he lept at the chance, although a bad idea and it was funny he echoed my thoughts as he started to drink it and faded back choking.
The race was almost over and the last 200 yards were coming up. I kicked it up a little and noted 22:00 as I crossed the line.  This gave me about a low seven minute mile and I was very happy with that.  It was a zoo at the finish so I walked and stretched on the way back to the truck as a cool down and changed my shirt for the long drive home.  On the way, I enjoyed a banana and some water.
As I sit and reflect on the race this early morning, I am most happy with two things: That I did it and that I was able to do it where I had enjoyed so many good memories. It's a great run and I highly recommend it to anyone young and old.

Positives and Negatives

This last week has proven itself to be full of positives and the opposite.  The rain stopped, finally, Wednesday. And, I was finally able to get my bike out for a long ride.  My brother came out for the weekend and we rode everyday together except Sunday so we could spend his last day with Jared before he left.

Joe trying to convince Jared that the powdered water is over by the milk...

 I ended up doing 40 miles after he left as the chocolate bar I found hiding in the jar put me in the deficit for the week.  I hate finding those things...:-(
Joe and I managed to pull some honey from the hive and all seemed fine with the bees except the dearth was slowing them down a little so I removed the top super.
Today, before mowing the yard,I noticed no movement near the hive. I checked only to find no bees anywhere near the hive. I opened it up and found hardly anything...not even a dead one anywhere and only a few bees scrounging for leftover honey.   I just seem to be having the worst trouble with bees (damn females) and won't peruse the possibility of another nuc.  They are just too expensive to continue with no product to show for it.  I had almost forty lbs of it before the heat and it is almost all gone.

Only a few bees hanging around looking for the rest of the honey:-(

 The good news is that I put in a pretty good week riding and running.  180+ miles on the bike and just under 20 running for a 5 day period.  I'm looking forward to the midnight run in Dunedin, tonight.  Hopefully it will be all good news.  I am hoping to run and finish and make the hour drive home tired.  I haven't been timing myself at all when I run and feel all the better for it.  So, tonight, it's up in the air on how my time will be as I have no idea.  Wish me luck:-)

Caged Mouse

Tropical storm Debby is upon us and I am feeling caged and wanting to get out!  I have just spent 8 or so days keeping up with the hardest race on the planet and now the rain is upon us and I'm still locked in the house!  Yes, I have some things to do, but the plants are growing without me and the bees are making honey without me.  I want to bike, but high winds and rain would not make good bed fellows to my bike and would probably put me in a bed permanently if bad visibility put me in front of a driver that couldn't see properly.  Even my favorite suffer-fest, the Polk County TT was canceled for today due to the yuck.

I guess I'll have to take a chance and go for a run later and soak my shoes to the bone with muddy water and sweat.  While I've been running the past few months, I decided to go for it and sign up for that midnight run!  I placed third in my age group the last time I ran it years ago and it has always been a source of good memories for me; running over a metal bridge in the moonlight and only really seeing directly in front of you and only hearing footsteps and breathing...

Nothing a few more boards and a level can't fix right?

At least I managed to replace some of the front deck and steps before it rained so I don't fall on my arss on the old slick surface that was the old decking.  I still need to do the rest, but at least it's a start and inch by inch it's a cinch, right?  Some of the old loose tiles in the kitchen have also been replaced and I am looking forward to putting some grout on them before they loosen up again. 
So, after all these years, I'm learning that I need to be outside more than in and riding my bike makes the world go round more than being locked up like a mouse in a cage in the rain.

RAAM

The next couple of weeks, I may not be writing much on my blog as I have been happily wrangled into providing coverage of Team Bacchetta RAAM for their blog on their quest for a four man mixed record crossing of the great United States of America on their Bacchetta CA 2.0s.  This is a grueling race and we have a few amateur RAAM racers and a couple veterans.  The crew is great and hopefully will be able to keep up with these very fast riders.  So, follow along at the provided link and enjoy the race!

Pic of the X-day

I took this a while ago and a conversion yesterday brought it back to my memory. It was taken during the beginning of winter and yet it has been so hot these past two days as to make it feel like the rays were burning the leaves off the trees.