Denver ride

I've mapped out my ride to Denver from pueblo. I'm pretty excited about it. Well I didn't really map it out myself but from here to springs I figured out how to get there. Overall it's about 130 miles. The person who mapped springs to Denver led me right to the area where my friends live, Glendale. So sweet that part is done. The route through springs seems to follow a bike path anyone have any experience with this route? Here's two links one is from Pueblo to springs and the other is from springs to Denver:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/pueblo/893684358885

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/colorado-springs/233239599797

And vice versa on the way home a couple days later i'm thinking.

On the way I've got a charge spoon saddle and some randonneur tires 700c x 32 tires on the way, some of the way up there is dirt. Once I get the tires I'll take another ride up to springs to test out that part of the route. I'm pretty stoked about it. My planning date is August 15th I'll be back from California by then and it'll be a weekend so should be relatively quiet. Also that's a twenty mile weekend run on my training, my thoughts are that 130 mile ride all day should equal about that same as running : ).

Also I've signed up for the 24 The Hard Way. 12 hour race. Also pretty pumped up for that. 12 hours of pure love. My goal is 50 miles. Here's my logic:

6 mph=10 minute miles
6x12= 72
Not that i'm going to go all out but i can run comfortably for a couple hours at that. Even further into the logic.
4 mph= 15 minute miles
4x12=48

So at a slight truffle I should make 50. How i'll feel after is beyond me. It'd be nice to get a 100k but that's pretty far out there since the longest i'll run is a marathon. I think I may just keep running after the boulder marathon to make it a 30mile run. Which is something else i've got to keep telling myself "I will be using this marathon as a training run. I must not go faster than 8 minute miles." Which is pretty hard because i'm pretty competative but marathon races i'm pretty casual, I just want to finish. I think it'll go well.

Another thing on my mind: Does 130 miles classify as a bike ultra? 100 is a century. But 130 just seems blah. Inbetween double centurys are long, but they have a name, not ultra in the name of that. Hmmm..

24 The Hard Way

Well I think i've made up my mind, Instead of doing the Denver marathon I'm thinking about taking part in "24 the Hard way" It basically is a 1 mile loop and you run it for either 6 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours.

First I was thinking yeah I could do the 6 hour run and definately get the ultra marathon title, easily getting like a 50k under my belt. I then thought about the word easily, screw that I know I can't do the 24 hour right now at the moment so why not bump it up to the 12 hour? I can get a 50 miler under my belt.

Worst thing about me is i'm impulsive. Once I think about it, it's always in my head. For the next couple weeks i'll think about it. It's only in Oklahoma city, OK. So about a 9 hour drive. That's not too bad for an ultra. What I need to do it just register, then I have to do it. The Boulder Marathon is still on though. That'll be a good training run for me. God now I have to train harder, yea baby. It's on a saturday too. sweet that'll give me a day to recover before going back to school.

Shoes, shoes I cant find them

Sadly I just can't seem to find my vibram five finger shoes. I've tore most of this house apart looking for them. Went for my mid week long run ran a few miles around in the neighbor hood. Decided that I'd run over to my uncle's house whom has a treadmill and ran three miles barefoot on the treadmill. Felt pretty good. Think I got a blister though.

I'll keep looking for my shoes though, they've got to be around here somewhere.

I've come across Deanna Adam's blog:

http://ultrarunbikevegan.blogspot.com/

Wow. I've really enjoyed looking through it. She just finished doing the Great Divide tour. Wow again. I've seen this race (not really a race but can't think of another way to put it, maybe adventure?) somewhere before and thought that would be a fun thing to do. Possibly in outside magazine last year or something. She's the same age as me. Twenty. I can't imagine doing something like that now. All on my mind is school, sadly. Man I need to get my prioritys in line. Sometimes I think college can wait, as she puts it college will always be there. Well said.

Which reminds me, I ordered a charge spoon seat a couple weeks ago. The site says they are out of stock but should get restocked in mid july. Which is nowish! So anyday now it'll get shipped out and I'll be ready for a long ride without my ass getting beat up.

Marathon training is going well. I think i'm just about halfway. It's definetely easier than last year. I know I can run the distances this time. I'm pretty sure that I can beat my previous time on the last marathon. Geez all these races what's a poor college kid to do? I'm having trouble making money trying to enter these races! Wish I could somehow get a way to get in for free. If only there is a way, if anyone knows a way let me know : ) I'd be happy with a answer for that.

My last race was the liberty point 5k my goodness that was an awesome race. Let me start by saying it was only 5 bucks. I've never had a race at that cost. No shirt but i'm good with that. I'd be good with all races costing 5 bucks and not getting shirts. Not that I don't like shirts, but I don't think most of them are good looking sadly.

The race itself was nice. I brought my sister and brother along to run it as well. Lined up and it's off. I like to start in the back because then i have to keep slow to pass people, which helps me from starting off too fast. After I past mile marker 1 and 7 minutes I was off. Didn't check my watch again. Just pumped up the music and took off. Finishing in 19:42 a new PR! And under 20 minutes wow! I was pretty pumped.

Now... To find those shoes..

Races

I've been meaning to do this for awhile but have been lazy. It's basically a resume of the races I've run.

In order from oldest to newest

2007:

John Neumann Panther Run-5k

22:01-5th overall

Bolder Boulder-10k

1:01:56

2008:

Pcc/Csup 75th anniversary run-7.5k

34:19-15th overall

Hot to Trot-5k

21:03-13th overall

Denver Marathon-42.1k

3:40:30-335th overall

Rock Canyon Half Marathon-21k

1:39:44-85th overall

2009:

Valentine's twosome (Brandee and I)-5k

30:14-14th overall

Liberty Point-5k

19:42-4th overall

That's it! Upcoming races for me are:

September 20th, Boulder marathon.

Bouldermarathon.com

Hoping for under 3:30 maybe even boston qualifying time

October 18th, Denver marathon.

Denvermarathon.com

Just hoping to get a decent time.

All this for training for maybe a 50 miler in the spring, Still looking for one in colorado. If anyone has any ideas feel free to let me know.

Fenders and cam!

Woot woot. Got myself some new fenders for my bike as well as a vholdr cam.

The fenders are a pain in the ass to get straight, i'm still working on them. Fenders are bike planet xl deluxe? Something like that, I asked the guy if they'd fit on my steamroller he said yes. They look pretty nice, Except everything is still on it. All the straps need to be cut but i don't want to just yet incase i need to move it around. Overall it looks pretty nice.

The camera is pretty nice as well, I don't like the helmet attachment thing it came with. I don't want to dish out 30 more for a velcro strap for the helm. We'll see what happens. I'll try to post a video of a commute or something pretty soon.

As soon as I get some action...

Nice stop there.

Out in Beulah! Nature rocks. Heres a picture of Brandee.

Boulder Marathon

2 posts in 1 day?!

After running the Denver marathon (10/19/08) I bought some brooks. Got fitted by runner's roost and all that. Didn't do any long runs in those shoes until a month after the marathon, and realized they made my knees hurt whenever I did a run more than 3 miles. Bah! So those shoes are a no go now.

For my Birthday my mom has offered to buy me new running shoes and registration into the 2009 boulder marathon!

My old shoes that I ran the Denver marathon in are pretty totalled. They were pearl izumi peak, I thought they were great shoes. More of a trail running shoe though. I made it though the Denver marathon in them though so that's gotta say something about them!

My mom bought me some pearl izumi streak shoes which are supposed to be like the cousin of the peaks I had. The peaks are just more for road running which is what I'm doing. So I'm pretty excited they should be here any day now!

The Boulder Marathon Bouldermarathon.com is September 20, 2009. I've started using Hal higdon's plan for the marathon, I'd like to do the Denver marathon as well which is almost a month after the Boulder marathon and he talks about doing marathons within a month from each other so hopefully it can work.

Anyone else here doing either of these marathons?

Tony's 40 mile ride

Well Monday. Took the new steamroller out for a longer ride then usual. Rode it from home out past the target warehouse rode. I must say I was going faster than I thought. Using the mile markers and my watch I was averaging about a 3:15 a mile. Not bad.

Overall the ride was a good one. I haven't done too many long rides my last ride was a couple months ago and it was a thirty mile ride. Same route just shorter. The last 5 miles were tearing up my butt though. Had to get off the bike and stretch for a bit. But i'm sure that goes away after doing more rides and my butt gets used to the pounding (of the bike).

Today (tuesday) i'm not sore at all which i'm surprised about that. I'm doing something right I think.

I bought a cateye mirco computer for my bike so I can see some more info on my rides. I'm pretty excited I've been without a computer on my bike for about six months. Hopefully my averages have improved!

Messed up hands. Either from lifting or riding.. Maybe both.

Saddle

I'm looking for a new saddle for my steamroller, I'm not too fond of the one that comes stock. Just riding around for a couple days and i can already tell that. 

I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive one.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Steamroller

Just got my new surly creamroller. Damn that thing is sexy.

First impressions is that the steam angle is a bit higher than i'm used to but it feels nice when riding. Super smooth compared to my kilo tt. Wish i would have gotten this bike first but then again if i got this first then the kilo tt as a mess around bike i'd be disappointed in the kilo.

I need to take off the reflectors for the wheels but other than it's good. Maybe a new saddle but that's in the future.

So far the steamroller seems perfect for me.

Steamroller

A new Creamroller is on the way to me : ) Yay.

Finished bike!

Woot!

Finished my bike. It is now painted like an army green. Looks nice. Don't think I put enough paint or enough clear coat. I used an entire can for each. Oh well Enjoy I need to enjoy it while I can i'll repaint it in a couple months or something.

Looks sexy eh?

Better pictures in my flickr.

Stripping that stuff

My Mercier stripped of it's pride.

But soon it will arise.

Stupid Kids

Bah had a crazy experience tonight. Right after leaving my girlfriend's house at around midnight. I start riding home, not even a block from her house i start getting yelled at by these kids in a blazer. I'm no stranger to get yelled at, i don't mind it, well i do but it doesnt get in the way of riding.

After the blazer follows me for a good mile yelling stuff at me they take it to the next level. Rocks! So they start to throw rocks at me, now that kinda is crossing the line. Not kinda crossing the line it is crossing the line. So the first side street i see, i take and try to take a longer route getting away from them. Thinking i lost them the blazer flys by me and flips a u-turn speeds straight at me head on, i jump on the sidewalk (Hurting my precious rims by jumping on the curb) they pass me, flip another turn. Come back and nail me with a bag filled with something. Ouch.

I call the cops right there, trying to look for a plate number... F*** no plate on their stupid blazer. I think they see me on the phone and take off. Or just got their pleasure from beating me down : (. I shut off my lights and try to follow i get a good half mile before the dispatch tells me to stop following them and wait for the police. Cops arrive take info and go looking. I ride home and i'm jacked up, leg hurts from beating i gave it from ride and being hit, but i'm pumped up on adrenaline so i can't sleep. Figure why not jump in my car and go look around.

I head down to where it happened looking around no luck. Hmmm maybe where they started to follow me and i see them, wtf a stroke of luck for me?! call the cops tell them where they are they come and ask if i want to press charges. Hell yes i do, Damn kids. And my justice for today is served i can now go to sleep!! Early ride for class in the morning haha.

Had to get it off my chest.

More Rain!

I need to get a darn fender for my bike after i realize my ass is soaked from riding in the rain... Hmmm maybe buy myself one of these babies my next paycheck. Probably well worth the money.

Rain

Today after work i got my first chance at trying my new cheapy windbreaker in the rain. It was definately worth the money (even though it was on sale). I stayed dry and warm well my upper body did.

Now to work on the lower body...

My first sleet ride.

That picture is from a while ago. Hmm, april 14 i think is the date. Just put it up now because i learned how to send from my phone. woot woot.

Hmmm this thingy is crazy. Maybe later i'll look at it more.