Yes I’m still here.  Can’t even begin to describe how busy I’ve been.  Currently working on new blog format.  Race season is so close to being over then I can finish things up.

I’m really not happy with were I’m at training.  I feel so out of shape.  Maybe it’s because I know this year was a building year so I have a different mentality.  Last year I was out for blood but this year, racing expert, I know I don’t have a chance at the podium.  I need to pick up my training so next year I can competitive. 

That is how far I had to walk in my socks after my bike tire exploded on my road bike.  The tire shredded so no hope of fixing. 

Source: Bicyling Magazine

Caffeine has long been demonized as a diuretic.  On paper, that means it should lead to dehydration and heat stress, especially when you consider that it also raises your heart rate and increases your metabolism. 

A review of ongoing research recently revealed that caffeinated drinks don’t make you pee that much more than equal amounts of beverages without the buzz.  The stimulant also doesn’t worsen the effects of summertime heat.  In fact, caffeine makes you feel better.  Numerous studies have shown that it lowers your rate of perceived exertion while improving your strength, endurance and mental performance.  Even better, researches from the University of Birmingham, in England, found that riders who drank a caffeinated sports beverage burned the drinks carbs 26 percent faster than those who consumed a non-caffeinated sports drink, likely because caffeine speeds glucose absorption in the intestine. 

Today was a VERY active day for me.  In the morning I swam 1/2 mile, lift weights, core workout and ran a short 3 miles.  All day I felt starved no matter what I ate.  I tried high protein since it’s suppose to make you feel full longer.  Didn’t work.  Then this evening I ran another 3 miles and that just added to it.  My body is starving but I know I’ve fed it enough.  I keep drinking water hoping that will subdue, but I just burn more calories walking to the bathroom every 10 minutes. 

I’ve been doing pretty good following my plans, hopefully it continues.

Okay here’s the situation, I ordered some clothes from Eastbay on Friday. That same day I ordered pedals from Backcountry (or whatever that new name they gave their mountain bike division). Anyways, I received shipping notification from both later that day. The Eastbay order originated in Wisconsin and Backcountry in Salt Lake City. This information came directly from Fed-Ex and UPS.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Both orders have schedule delivery of the 29th. How is it that it will take a week for my Eastbay order to arrive in Michigan when another order, via UPS, from Utah, will take the same amount of time?

My theory is that Fed-Ex does not want to deliver to quickly otherwise there is no reason to order their other expedited services. It should take at most four days. I know we had a holiday but Fed-Ex still moves packages they just don’t deliver on holidays. When I order from Zappos, they ship out of Lexington, KY using UPS. I get my order in two days. This supports my theory that Fed-Ex is just sitting on my order.

Have my first stage race coming up this weekend.  Saturday is a time trial and a short-track race, while Sunday is the normal XC race.  Not really a high priority race for me, just something I wanted to try out. 

I actually had a good training week this past week. I believe I put in 9 hours total, which for me is good. I’m still feeling disorganized with teaching so that does eat into my training time. The spring semester ends soon so I’ll have no more excuses to get out of training.

On sunday I did have a strange episode with my training. I rode 40 miles then proceeded to run 6 miles. However a mile into the run I just collapsed on the street. I didn’t really feel it coming at all. One second I’m running and the next second ian face down on the road. I’m guessing I just pushed myself too far that day. I’m sure my nutrition wasn’t up to par either.

This weeks planned workout. Hopefully I can follow it. 

First is the crankset.  Currently running XT, which has been working great.  I just got the itch to upgrade and found an amazing price on it, so I went for it.  

Now I’ve decided to move to SRAM for a couple of reasons.  First, I broke the casing around my XT shifters so I figured if I need to replace the shifter, now would be the time to consider upgrading.  Then I saw SRAM came out with custom colors, in my case red, I just had to get it. 

Now here is where things could get interesting.  I am moving from triggers to grip shifters.  It peaked my interest when I noticed many racers, both locally and pro, use these types of shifters.  The thing I love about them already is that they are crazy cheap and significantly lighter.  Hopefully I like them.  

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From my last three races.

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The worst thing happened this week; my saddle broke. I was using the specialized team toupe saddle which is primarily a road saddle, however given it’s light weight I used it on my mountain bike. Well, the carbon shell broke. Today I bought a new specialized phenom sl saddle which is much like the toupe only built for mountain biking. The extra strength adds 10 grams. It’s disgusting how much these saddles cost.

Other than a face plant into mud, it was a fun trail to ride.  I’m am very unhappy with my fitness level so I need to pick things up.  I have another race this Sunday so hopefully my head stays focused.  It’s going to be a long race.

First race of the season kicked off Sunday.  The prior to Sunday was sunny and 65 degrees.  Sunday was rainy and 40 degrees.  I was frozen to the core prior to starting. 

This is my first race in expert and the good news is that I destroyed my time from last year.  I should note that last year we only had to do one lap.  Experts do two laps.  Even my second lap time was 2 minutes slower than last years first lap. 

The good news is that I didn’t finish dead last.  There were 8 people below me and a whole bunch above me. 

Things are going to change.  I started this blog to hold myself accountable to my training.  My new job teaching drained the majority of my time which resulted in less training.  The semester is over so it’s time to pick it up.  After getting owned in this past race, I am ready to tear it up.